Jan Lee opening Bó Drake in Soho

It’s an exciting time for Korean food lovers in Soho as alongside Judy Joo’s Jinjuu in January comes Bó Drake, an East Asian BBQ restaurant and Anju bar. The brainchild of Jan Lee, the restaurant opens later this month on Greek Street. Jan’s inspiration for the restaurant stems from the combination of his Chinese heritage, British upbringing and extensive travels throughout Korea and East Asia. “I grew up in my family’s kitchen and restaurants,” said Jan. “My wife who is originally from South Korea introduced me to the life changing, fiery and flavoursome Korean cuisine. All of these experiences have influenced me and shaped the foundations of Bó Drake.” The menu will offer an emphasis on smoked cooking methods alongside more traditional sweet and pickled influences from South-East Asia, all using British seasonal produce. Signature meat dishes include smoked Bobo chicken with sriracha, lime and herbs, Dan Dan smoked belly with chanterelles, spring onions, peanut and noodles and pork and eel dumpling with Sichuan peppercorns and chilli oil. For seafood, diners can tuck into Loch Ryan oysters with apple and kimchi mignonette and fatty tuna bowl, with avocado, jalapeno remoulade and rice. The vegetarian dish selection includes spicy buckwheat noodles, cucumber, Korean pear, dashi and egg, grilled corn cob, with cotija cheese, cayenne pepper and lime and Jan’s kimchi and potato pancake. Finally, desserts include soft serve ice cream with maple cream cheese and plum soji and persimmon sorbet. Prices will range from £7 for smaller dishes to £18 for larger mains. The bar area will offer Anju-style drinks to compliment the food, such as wines and cocktails, as well as the traditional Korean spirit, Soju. The restaurant’s interior will combine East Asian and European architectural influences, alongside progressive present-day design techniques. Original features such as 18th century red bricked walls, timber flooring and exposed brick beams will compliment modern ceramic lighting and a stand-out oak bar. Jan’s objective with Bó Drake’s interior is to create a contemporary and casual dining space, with a relaxed atmosphere, combining a mix of cultural backgrounds and design methods. The finished design will embody the eclectic culture of Soho, with a nod to Jan’s Asian family heritage. Jan Lee said he hopes Bó Drake will be 'an exciting and welcome addition to the current London dining scene'. Bó Drake opens on Greek Street in Soho for lunch and dinner in mid-December. Follow @BoDrakeSoho on twitter for updates.