Debenhams launches pan-Asian restaurant concept

17 July 2015 by Neil Gerrard

Restaurateur Eddie Lim has teamed up with retailer Debenhams to open a new pan-Asian restaurant concept in its stores.

Lim, who owns Mango Tree in Belgravia, London, will open the first Chi Kitchen on the ground floor of Debenhams' flagship Oxford Street store in the autumn, with further sites planned in stores across the UK.

Mango Tree's group executive chef Ian Pengelley, who is also group executive chef at Chai Wu and Pan Chai in Harrods, has designed the menu for the new restaurants.

Designed by Harrison, Chi Kitchen on Oxford Street will have its own designated entrance from Henrietta Place as well as access from within the beauty hall of the store.

With 68 covers, the restaurant will have a range of seating options; deep upholstered window booths, high stools at a dining counter, and surrounding timber tables and chairs.

The dining counter will double as a sushi bar, and will deliver freshly prepared sushi and sashimi, while an open-plan robata grill will be a focal point.

The restaurant will open throughout store hours, starting with breakfast, when it will serve pan-Asian dishes such as Korean omelette with seafood; kaya toast (with Singaporean coconut jam); rice porridge with chicken; and Chinese bubble waffle with fresh betties.

The rest of the menu is divided into sections of small plates such as pumpkin korroke, avocado wedges and various spring rolls. Salads will include seaweed salad and pomelo, prawn and micro salad, and a selection of dim sum.

Larger dishes such as items from the grill: beef kushiyaki, Korean steak with Bulgogi sauce and sea bass with chilli and lime, and noodle and curry dishes: duck ramen, Vietnamese pho (chicken or beef), and Nyonya chicken curry will also feature on the menu.

Lim said: "We are absolutely delighted to be collaborating with Debenhams on this exciting new project, Chi Kitchen. Our aim is to build a brand exclusive to Debenhams, which is going to offer not only good pan-Asian food but also good energy to Debenhams' loyal and new customers. The food will be exotic, colourful and incredibly tasty."

Debenhams UK director of space planning Mark Jordan added: "We are delighted to be broadening our food offer and partnering with a fantastic, unique brand such as Chi Kitchen to offer our customers an exceptional, new dining experience. We are very proud to be working with Chi Kitchen exclusively on this new concept and look forward to introducing it to our customers in the coming months."

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