The news comes just two months after the chef announced she had left Jinjuu, the Korean restaurant she opened in Soho in early 2015.
Joo’s new restaurant, Seoul Bird, will ‘emphasise the bold flavours and considered cooking that Joo is known for’.
Known for being the host of Food Network's Korean Food Made Simple, Joo has created a menu ‘inspired by [her] Korean-American heritage’ with the help of former Jinjuu head chef Andrew Hales.
Chicken wings, thighs and tenders will feature on the menu; coated in Joo’s secret seasoning, double fried ‘for extra crunch’, and served alongside an Asian slaw of red cabbage, daikon, onion and carrot, tossed in a citrus soy dressing.
The menu will also include a Signature Seoul Burger consisting of a double-fried chicken fillet drizzled with a soy and gochujang glaze; bibimbap rice bowls with crunchy veg, pickled daikon, edamame beans, crispy onions and a soft poached egg; and sides of truffle-loaded seaweed tater tots, and kimchi mac and cheese.
“Seoul Bird is my interpretation of true Korean comfort food, from the shatteringly-crunchy fried chicken to the warming, spicy gochujang sauces,” says Joo.
The West London shopping centre is currently seeing a host of food and beverage operators preparing to set up shop.
Later this month, Lima London founders Gabriel and Jose-Luis Gonzalez will launch Venezuelan-inspired fast casual concept Sabroso on The Balcony. While next month, Stevie Parle’s Pastaio will open its second London restaurant on the centre’s Southern Terrace.
It was also recently confirmed that high-profile restaurateur Alan Yau will open a new location of his Turkish street food brand Yamabahçe in Westfield London next year.
