Named after the famous egg noodle soup made with a spiced broth and topped with crispy noodles, Khao So-I offers an elevated take on Northern Thai cuisine.
The launch follows a successful pop-up last year at nearby Thai Patara Oxford Circus.
Former Fallow director of guest relations Oliver Darrington will lead the project as director of UK operations for the group, which operates a restaurant in Bangkok alongside its original location in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand.
“Having spent four years at Fallow, I was seeking a new challenge to bring something special to London,” he says. “Khao So-I had tremendous success with their pop-up last year, proving the city was missing this authentic, elevated Northern Thai dining experience, famed for their sumptuous bowl of Khao So, a signature soup noodle dish from Chiang Mai. Market Place proved the perfect location to launch our brand in the heart of central London.”
One Voice Hospitality acted on behalf of the landlord Woven Spaces and Thomas Pain & Company acted for Khao So-I in the transaction.
“We absolutely love placemaking and making a difference to Central London. We leased the property within three months of taking instructions ,which is quite a coup,” says One Voice Hospitality founder Ted Schama. “Khao So-I is an exciting, globally relevant brand that brings both authenticity and ambition to Market Place and beyond.”
Khao So-I comes at a busy time for contemporary Thai restaurant in the capital.
Recent launches include David Thompson’s Long Chim, John Chantarasak’s AngloThai, Singburi and a second restaurant for JKS Restaurant’s Speedboat Bar.
Yesterday (24 July), it was announced that Patara’s Soho site would become Platapian, which will offer traditional family recipes that reflect the diverse regional influences of both Southern and Northern Thailand.