Korean fried chicken tickling tastebuds in Warrington Market

From noodles to bao buns and chicken to spicy fries, there promises to be something on the menu to suit all tastes and appetites.

Here, in latest Food and Drink feature, owner Alan Atherton shares the secret to his success and his hopes for expanding the business in Warrington and further afield.

If you would like to be featured as our Business of the Week, Trader of the Week or appear in one of our Food and Drink specials, email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk

Eastern Point inside Warrington Market

What’s the name of the café/restaurant/bar/pub?

Eastern Point

What’s the address?

The Cookhouse

Unit 34

Warrington Market

Are you the owner/manager?

I am the owner

When did your open the business?

It opened nearly three years ago with myself and my business partner Barry Bullough purchasing from my friend Christian Turner on April 1, last year.

Garlic ginger noodles

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Are you local to the area? Did you grow up here?

I live in Hollins Green but grew up in Manchester.

Tell me a bit about your business

We have served Korean food since I took over. I’ve worked to my strengths focusing on speed of service. I’m putting steps in place to get top quality food to the customers as quickly as possible.

What do you do? What services do you provide?

We serve Korean food - everything from noodles, fried rice and our very popular bao buns. Our Korean fried chicken is our best seller by some distance. It’s chicken thighs in soy sauce tossed in flour and fried. When it’s cooked, it’s mixed with a homemade garlic and ginger sauce and plated up with our legendary Seoul fries, which are topped with sriracha mayo, pickled onions, spring onions and shallots and a sprinkle of togerashi. Our bao buns are also really popular and come with a choice of filling – pulled pork, chicken or mushroom as well as a good selection of vegan options.

Bao buns filled with chicken, pulled pork and vegan options are a popular choice on the menu at Eastern Point

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Why did you decide to open your own business?

I know Christian opened it with his brother who travelled to Korea a lot so that was the inspiration behind the type of food served. Barry and I had been looking for a business opportunity for around three or four years and ultimately wanted to get into Warrington Market. This was the perfect place to achieve that ambition.

What’s your business background?

I’ve been in catering for around 25 years covering everything from fast food to restaurants to hotels.

Why this type of business?

It’s all I know! It’s what I’m passionate about.

How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect your business?

Chris kept the business open during the pandemic and lockdowns, doing deliveries. He did an amazing job to not only keep it open but also build the brand name and be successful.

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Seoul fries topped with sriracha mayo, pickled onions, spring onions and shallots and a sprinkle of togerashi

What makes your business different to others in the same area/field? What sets your business apart from your competitors?

We have so many customers who keep coming back for more! There aren’t many places close by that serve similar food to us. I pride myself on consistency and that shows with the repeat trade and custom. Clearly, we’re doing something right.

Why do loyal customers return to your business?

Consistency again. It’s such a big part of what we do – making sure everything we cook is just as good if not better than the last dish we served.

What’s next? What do the next few months hold for you and your business?

We are looking at the possibility of opening a restaurant in Urmston and maybe one in Golden Square.