Japanese restaurant giant Curry House Coco Ichibanya launches in Soho

Japanese restaurant chain Curry House Coco Ichibanya has opened its first London restaurant.

The launch follows Filipino fried chicken giant Jolibee and Taiwanese dumpling house Din Tai Fung.

Coco Ichibanya has more than 1,000 restaurants in Japan and another 150 throughout South East Asia and the US.

The site opened on December 12 on Great Newport Street in Soho. It’s not only the company’s first London set up, but its first in Europe, too.

Coco Ichibanya specialises in curry rice (karÄ“ raisu). The dish is vegetarian or meat-based – pork, beef, or hashed beef – and sauces range from mild to “level ten” heat. Tonkatsu is also served, as are burgers, seafood plates, and egg dishes.

The arrival looked as though it would not have as big a marketing campaign as Din Tai Fung (which brought the likes of Boris Johnson and Stephen Fry to its launch).

Rather, it was spotted by Independent journalist Ibrahim Salha.

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