Heritage Chinese brand Songhelou, recognised as a ‘Time-honoured Brand of China’, has opened its first international restaurant in Chinatown London, marking a major milestone for the 18th-century concept. Founded in 1757 during the Qing Dynasty, Songhelou is known for its Suzhou-style noodles and traditional cuisine from the Jiangnan region in Eastern China.
Located at 22 Wardour Street, the 3,600 sq ft restaurant spans three floors and offers 144 covers. Its menu features a range of soup-based noodle dishes with optional toppings such as Sweet and Sour Squirrel-Shaped Bass, Suzhou-style Braised Pork, Sizzling Eel Slices in Oil, and Stir Fried Crab Meat and Roe—many of which have deep roots in centuries-old Chinese culinary traditions.
The restaurant interior has been styled to evoke the calmness of Suzhou’s historic water towns, with natural materials including bamboo, grey stone, and antique copper used to reflect the aesthetic. This design approach aims to offer an immersive dining experience rooted in the brand’s cultural heritage.
Emma Matus, Head of Restaurant Leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “Chinatown London is a window to the Far East, a destination to enjoy a collective of cuisines that cannot be found anywhere else outside of East and Southeast Asia. Steeped in history and a staple of China, Songhelou is an exceptional addition to Chinatown London, embodying the traditional experience this destination will always be renowned for.”
Mr Pan, Chairman of Songhelou, added: “As Songhelou’s first steps outside of China since conception in 1757, it was extremely important for us to partner with a location that both appreciated and championed the history and traditions the brand embodies, with a well-informed customer base. Famed for its vibrant and authentic food, drink and culture scene, Chinatown London’s reputation as a home away from home for those from ESEA appealed to us, and we are honoured to take visitors on the culinary journey from the streets of Soho to Jiangnan, delivering an authentic Eastern gastronomic experience.”
Songhelou joins a growing line-up of destination restaurants in Chinatown London that specialise in regional Asian cuisine, further reinforcing the area’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading hubs for authentic East and Southeast Asian food culture.
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