Husband and wife co-founders George Chen and Cindy Wong-Chen announced that China Live, San Francisco’s must-visit epicurean destination and home to the highly acclaimed fine-dining concept Eight Tables by George Chen, will be coming to Seattle in early 2021. China Live’s new location at Amazon HQ’s public campus at the AWS Tower will offer an immersive culinary experience featuring market-driven cuisine from Greater China with a Market Restaurant/Curated Bar and Retail Market. The Seattle location will feature in-depth exploration of this grand cuisine through food and drink, interactive experiences, and a masterfully curated retail section.
“Opening here is the heart of Amazon campus with a world-class company will shine new light on the culinary exploration of China Live’s mission of showcasing the best of modern Chinese F&B products and services,” said Chen. “China Live is an interactive culinary experience that showcases the finest of Chinese cuisine. China Live Seattle will share some design and cuisine visions of the San Francisco location but will not be a replica, instead it will reflect the terroir of the Pacific Northwest, utilizing the bounty of culinary products from local farms, fisheries and ranches,” adds Chen. “We look forward to bringing something different to Seattle’s thriving culinary culture and to showcasing the finest sustainably produced artisanal Asian food as well as unique beverage offerings to a new, enthusiastic audience.”
China Live Seattle will feature a restaurant and marketplace designed by Cass Calder Smith AIA, a California and New York City-based firm that has won numerous design and architectural work such as The Bostonian Boston by Millennium Hotels and Print in New York City. The new 13,000 square-foot space in Seattle with over 300 seats will feature full-service restaurant/bar/retail components and will offer a weekly changing menu of local and seasonal products. Items expected to be on the menu include local interpretations of Chinese favorites such as Salmon Corn Fritters with Sambal Chili, Applewood Smoked Ribs with Five Spice and Fresh Sashimi Bar featuring locally sustainably caught fish. San Francisco favorites like China Live’s signature dim sum dish, pan-fried Sheng Jian Bao (SJB), and Chinese BBQ/charcuterie such as Peking Duck Pockets will also be offered.
Elevating the interactive dining experience, several open kitchens will be placed throughout the space for guests to see cooking in action including fiery woks, cold salad preparations, unique desserts, and slow-cook clay pot stations to encourage guest interaction and education. Each open kitchen will showcase the fresh clean cooking of Chef Chen’s creations and enlighten all the senses at China Live Seattle surely bringing fresh culinary excitement to the Seattle market.
China Live will also feature a hidden bar with some of the most unique mixology created by the Cold Drinks Bar well-known bar team. Multiple bars within the complex will offer the finest libations including on-tap master brews, kombacha and hard-soda.
China Live’s Retail Market will feature global and local presentations of artisanal products such as house-made condiments, spices, teas, jams, granola, snacks, unique Asian seeds and produce plus highly curated cookware, cutlery and gifts. Knowledgeable guides will assist guests with exploration and education through tastings and presentations. Four television screens will stream videos of multiple Chinese cooking techniques and culinary discovery for added entertainment.
“Our Retail Market offerings are meant to inspire culinary exploration,” says co-founder Cindy Wong-Chen. “Our goal is for our customers to bring a piece of Chinese culinary culture into their own homes by showcasing exclusive products that have been personally selected by me and George from our travels in China, Asia and beyond.”
China Live Seattle is located at 2107 Westlake Avenue at the corner of 8th Ave and Lenora. The Market Restaurant will be open from daily
