The man behind the hugely popular Korean/Japanese restaurant Dotori is getting ready to open a second place, this time in the City. Alan Tse has been running the much-loved Finsbury Park spot for the past eight years, during which time he also managed to squeeze in training at the Japan Culinary Institute in Tokyo.
Now Tse is gearing up to open The Azuki Room, just off Chancery Lane. He's taking over the site that used to be The Pineapple Club on Rolls Passage and is turning it into what he's describing as an intimate new Japanese restaurant, "blending fine Japanese cuisine with the soulful energy of a Tokyo backstreet izakaya."
It'll be a two-floor affair, with a terrace, in the heart of London's legal district. There will be a set lunch and tasting menu in the evenings, but later on the venue's 2am licence means it'll be more of an izakaya lounge vibe. "Binchotan-fueled, chef-driven, late into the night," they say. Sounds like a London salaryman's dream.
Christie & Co were behind the sale and described the building as "a hidden gem off Chancery Lane".
More about The Azuki Room
Where is it? Rolls Passage, London EC4A 1HL
When does it open? Late September 2025
Find out more: Follow them on Instagram @theazukiroom
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