JKS AND LUKE FARRELL LAUNCH SUMMER POP-UP VIET POPULAIRE AT ARCADE

Luke Farrell’s bánh mìs, made famous at their Soho pop-up Viet Populaire, are back by popular demand from Tuesday 2nd August at Arcade Food Hall at Centre Point.

Returning for a limited time only and in collaboration with JKS restaurants, the pop-up follows the success of Luke’s Southern-Thai restaurant, Plaza Khao Gaeng.

The Giveaway:

To celebrate the launch, Arcade Food Hall will be giving away the first 100 bánh mì from 12pm on Tuesday. Those lucky customers will also be in with the chance of winning a golden ticket which gifts them free bánh mì’ for the whole duration of the pop up.*

The Story:

Viet Populaire is a re-imagining of Luke’s bánh mì obsession which began with the opening of his original site, Viet Baguette, one of the first bánh mì shops in London. With its limited run on Rupert Street in 2021 which garnered a legion of fans, the latest iteration of this Hanoi-inspired concept will once again offer up the Vietnamese street food classic in central London, Tuesday to Sunday.

The Bánh mì:

Vietnam's own, 'bread of the people' is light, with a crust like cracked sugar and a fleeting texture. Viet Populaire serves it Hanoi style - baked daily, faithful to the Vietnamese original.

Each baguette is served warm with a still-crackling crust. Pâté, bright yellow butter mayo, head cheese (pressed ham with offal, tongue and fat), roast pork and fried tofu offer richness, melting into the fresh-out-the-oven bread; whilst fresh herbs and vegetables (think carrot and mooli vinegar pickle, soused chillies in Maggi, cucumber, coriander and rau răm) add a sour pop.

The herbs and chillies featured on the menu make their way to Viet Populaire from Ryewater Nursery in Dorset, where Luke has curated and grown his own collection of Vietnamese herbs within his tropical greenhouses.

A brand new bánh mì and breakfast staple will also be joining the line up at Arcade, available from 10am - 4pm. A perfectly crisp fried egg will top the traditional paté, butter mayo, pickles, and herbs. The full menu includes:

Breakfast Bánh Mì – Fried egg, paté, pickles, herbs

Classic Bánh Mì - Head cheese, roast pork, paté, pickles, herbs

Tofu Bánh Mì - Tofu, tomato sauce, pickles, herbs

The Drinks:

The drinks offering reflects Vietnamese café culture, where guests escape the traffic and listen to beautiful birdsong while lazily sipping a Vietnamese ‘phin’ coffee. The signature dark filter coffee roasted with butter and vanilla, dripped over condensed milk, will be on offer in the morning.

Design Notes:

The ornate birdcage on display, brought from Vietnam by Luke himself, is a nod to those often seen along the front of cafés in Hanoi. People bring them so that the birds can learn each other’s songs. Whilst the birds have been set free, their beautiful songs still play through speakers within.

Viet Populaire at Arcade will open as an addition to the full line up on the lower ground, available for eat-in or takeaway on Tuesday 2nd August.

Opening hours:

Tuesday - Friday: 10am - 11pm

Saturday: 10am - 11pm

Sunday: 12pm - 7pm

T&Cs apply

For more information, please contact Lois on l.brown@gemmabellandcompany.com.