TV chef’s Korean restaurant plan revealed for city
A RENOWNED TV chef is set to open a Korean restaurant in Birmingham.
Sunday Brunch regular Judy Joo is opening her first venue outside the capital.
Joo, who was also a chef on the recent ITV show Cooking with The Stars, is co-owner of Seoul Bird restaurant, which serves Korean street food and fried chicken.
Appearing on Sunday Brunch this week, presenter Simon Rimmer told viewers she had opened two restaurants in London over the last two years and explained she was opening a third in Birmingham.
Joo who is Korean-American, revealed: “It has been a challenging time for hospitality over the pandemic, but we have decided to go for it!
“Now we have opened Canary Wharf, we have a third site coming – in Birmingham. Can’t say where exactly – it will be disclosed shortly.”
Rimmer seemed bemused about the idea of opening in Birmingham, so far from other restaurants in London, though fellow guest Vernon Kaye piped up: “There is sign of life outside London,
you know Simon!”
Joo founded Seoul Bird with business partner Andrew Whales after the pair’s food tours across South Korea.
The brand specialises in Korean fried chicken including Korean Fried Chicks, brined for 24 hours before being double fried, and served with an Asian slaw of red cabbage, daikon, onion and carrot, tossed in citrus soy dressing.
Diners can also enjoy ‘Seoul burgers’ – fried chicken in a freshly baked potato bun.
Other dishes include Korean fried cauliflower, crispy mini potato hash browns, served with gochujang mayo, sweet potato noodles with baby spinach, carrots, onion, peppers, egg omelette, soy and sesame.
As well as being co-founder of Seoul Kitchen, Joo has an impressive CV – she was a regular on Iron Chef UK alongside Michelinstarred chef Tom Aikens and hosted Food Network’s Korean Food Made Simple.
The star chef’s new restaurant joins other Birmingham Korean restaurants Toppoki in Chinatown, and Seoul Kitchen in Suffolk Street Queensway.