Bunzai, a new Asian-inspired burger and fried chicken restaurant, has officially opened on Berry Street in Liverpool city centre. The venue is co-owned by Tommy Lee, Andy Rong, and Henry Chiu, the latter being a familiar face behind one of Chinatown’s oldest hospitality offerings, North Garden Restaurant.
The trio, friends for over 20 years, decided to become business partners after a suitable plot became available in Chinatown. Bunzai replaces the “picture-perfect” Hi Kitty and prides itself on selling Asian-inspired burgers, wok dishes, and loaded fries. To celebrate the opening, a 50% discount on food is available this weekend.
From Friendship to Business Partnership
Tommy Lee, 39 and from South Liverpool, told the ECHO: “The opportunity came about when a plot we liked became available in Chinatown. We felt it was the perfect location for the type of food we were doing, and that it was time to bring something new to the community rather than just another Chinese restaurant.” He emphasized that Bunzai is “built on recipes cherished by Scousers and tourists alike for decades,” combining familiar flavours with popular food formats.
Lee added: “On the surface, it's a Chinese-inspired burger and fried chicken restaurant, but it's built on recipes cherished by Scousers and tourists alike for decades. Everyone can expect something of a paradox. You're getting flavours you know and love, combined with food that everyone is familiar with. It's 30 years of recipes, passed down from one generation to the next, being applied to burgers, fried chicken and loaded fries in another amazing, friendly environment.”
Handcrafted by the Owners
The restaurant has been in the works for two years, with the owners contributing significant manual labour. Lee noted: “It's taken a lot of elbow grease to get here. Andy tiled the entire restaurant, while Henry and I fitted the floors, painted the walls and built the booths. We faced a lot of obstacles that sidetracked us and brought progress to a halt at times, but we worked so well together that we've created a restaurant we're incredibly proud of.”
Henry Chiu, also the director of Bunzai, is behind Chinatown's North Garden, which opened on Nelson Street in 1990. Chiu began working there after university in 2009. He said: “I really wanted to open in the area because I have invested so much in it — not just in North Garden, but in changing the image that everyone has of Chinatown. It's not just a tumbleweed; it's my home, and I'm extremely proud of my community for putting our heads down over the years and getting on with things.”
Community and Longstanding Connections
Chiu highlighted the importance of community and shared success: “Success, when achieved alone, is amazing, but it can be a lonely road. Success shared with friends and family builds a stronger community, where we all play a part in making this amazing place we call home even better.” He recalled regulars from North Garden who first visited in 1990 as 18-year-olds after clubs and have since become great-grandparents, with third-generation family members still visiting.
Chiu concluded: “The key is to do what we are doing now at Bunzai, and that's to welcome people with an open mind, in the same way Liverpool has come to embrace the Chinese community. There is no magic pill and no lottery win. It really comes down to a choice when you see someone walk into your restaurant - and your home. Do you care, and do you want to give them the best experience you can? Sometimes all it takes is a chance encounter to create amazing friendships and bonds that last for decades and weave you into the fabric of this incredible city.”
