Four popular Asian eateries – Malaysian hawker diner Papparich, Korean fried chicken joint Nene Chicken, and Japanese dessert makers Kurimu and Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart – have joined forces and opened a four-in-one venue in Brookfield Place, a new hub connected to Wynyard station. It’s the first time diners have been able to visit all four brands – all born in Asia and owned by Melbourne’s ST Group – under one roof.
Ride the escalator down from Wynyard’s George Street entrance to find two main stations: one dedicated to savoury and the other to dessert. The colour palette is friendly and inviting, with calming tones of green and vibrant neon signs. It’s a cross between a fast-food joint and a hawker market.
Start with Papparich’s famous curry laksa, heaving with bouncy noodles, a hot curry broth and chunky chicken, or its deeply satisfying char kway teow. Finish by biting through one of Kurimu’s crunchy-on-the-outside, creamy-in-the-middle choux pastries. Or, opt for Nene’s famous sweet-savoury fried bulgogi wings. Need to run? Take away a six-pack of Hokkaido Cheese Tart’s oozy pastries topped with strawberry or blueberry. There’s also a boba (bubble tea) and soft-serve station.
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SIGN UPThe venue is brainchild of Allan Lam, owner of the Brookfield Place outlet.
“It’s the first in Australia, four brands into one shop with three cuisines on offer,” Lam tells Broadsheet. “People here can order both savoury and dessert. I often see people grab a laksa or roti for lunch before grabbing a few cheese tarts to take back to the office.”
Lam believes this model offers diners efficiency and flexibility. “Labour shortages have been terrible because of the pandemic,” he says. “So, managing one set of staff as opposed to four is much easier. We cross-skill them in multiple cuisines so we can always easily fill positions if people go down sick or they’re unavailable. For them it’s great skill-wise – not only are they learning to cook fried chicken, but they’re also learning to bake pastries and desserts.
But ultimately the experience is all about the customer.
“We want this to be a fun place for people to hang out during and after work. We want people to come in and enjoy themselves.”
Papparich x Nene Chicken x Kurimu x Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tarts
Shop HC34, Lower Concourse, Hunter Connection Level, 301 George Street, Sydney
Hours:
Mon to Fri 8am–8pm