Yauatcha brings in top filmmaker Wong Kar Wai as it closes for a year-long makeover

It's hard to imagine now, in a city where getting great dim sum is easy, but the arrival of Yauatcha in Soho back in 2004 was a BIG deal. Not only was this an egalitarian effort by Alan Yau of Michelin-starred Hakkasan to put great food on the table at a bargain price, but the place looked completely different to anything else out there. We can remember valiantly trying to find our way into the loos in the stygian dark of the dining room. It was a hit from day one.

Now, 22 years later, Yauatcha's owners are hoping to give the place a major facelift, and they've chosen an unexpected person to help them. The creative consultant will be none other than acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wai. And, given the director's signature visual style, we can only expect that the new look Yauatcha will be an absolute vision.

"A great film starts with a great story, and so does a great restaurant," said the director. "It is my great pleasure to take part in this new chapter for Yauatcha Soho’s distinguished story."

As you might imagine, a makeover like this isn't a small job. So Yauatcha will close for a year to allow the redesign to take place. If you want to catch it in its original state one last time, the final service will be lunch on 26 September.

And to tie in with the new look, they're also planning to give the menu a major overhaul too. Chef Fan Choi (formerly at Aulis Hong Kong and the Michelin-starred Mora in Hong Kong) joined the group recently as Research and Development Chef, and he's bringing in a more seasonally-led menu.