South East Asian restaurant Ka Pao set to open in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter

An exciting new South East Asian eatery has been added to the list of unique signings at Edinburgh’s St James Quarter.

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Ka Pao will join an already varied feast of Scottish and international food and beverage options as St James Quarter prepares for its first phase of opening on June 24.

The new opening will be Ka Pao’s second restaurant, with their first located in Glasgow’s West End.

St James Quarter is set to open its first phase on 24th June 2021, with Ka Pao due to open this autumn.

Its South East Asian inspired menu boasts delicious dishes such as salt and szechuan pepper oyster mushrooms, pork and prawn rice noodles, roast pork belly and red curry of hake, sea trout and langoustines.

While the restaurant has not revealed its Edinburgh menu, diners will be able to expect fresh, flavoursome dishes as well as a selection of aromatic cocktails.

Together with the recent announcement that The Gannet and Erpingham House will be joining Bonnie & Wild’s Scottish Marketplace within St James Quarter, the addition of Ka Pao, from the team behind Ox and Finch, will help provide St James Quarter with a diverse upscale dining offer.

Jonathan MacDonald from Ka Pao said: “We are incredibly excited to be bringing Ka Pao to Edinburgh and we know that the restaurant’s fun, relaxed, party vibe will be an excellent fit alongside lots of other fantastic leisure, retail and restaurant businesses at St James Quarter. It is a great development to be a part of and we are delighted with our site, overlooking St James Square and the striking new W hotel.

Ka Pao will be adding their fresh, vibrant, South East Asian flavours to St James Quarter by taking 3,400 sq ft of space on level 4, overlooking St James Square.

“The name Ka Pao is a play on the Thai word for holy basil, the menu is influenced by the cooking of South East Asia. I’ve spent a lot of time travelling and working in that part of the world and have always had a fascination with the food. It’s a passion shared with Daniel and Sandy, our senior chefs, who have also spent time working in Thailand and travelling throughout the region.

“We are looking forward to working on a new project which will create around 35 new management, kitchen and front of house roles, as well as offering opportunities for career progression to our existing team who are absolutely central to everything that we do.”

Ed Corrigan at St James Quarter added: “Ka Pao joining St James Quarter is another major milestone signing for us and their Glasgow restaurant has already been a critically acclaimed sensation. We have all missed that buzz of a night out and are looking forward to Ka Pao bringing their amazing food and aromatic zingy cocktails.

“At St James Quarter we are putting together a diverse food offer that will cater to all our visitors, from casual diners to those seeking a more foodie experience. Ka Pao is an important addition to our roster of excellent restaurants at St James Quarter.”

Following the signings of Tortilla, Black Sheep, Bross Bagels, Salerno Pizza, Kurt Geiger, Peloton, Bonnie & Wild and SUSHISAMBA, now Ka Pao will join the integrated line-up alongside further fashion brands including Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein.

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