The team said there has been a “lot of late nights” to get everything in order
New Japanese Cafe Shokupan in Aigburth.(Pic Andrew Teebay).
A new cafe is opening in South Liverpool this week. Located in the heart of Aigburth, café Shokupan is preparing to welcome its first set of customers through its doors tomorrow morning, Thursday, May 14.
The venue sells sandos made with freshly baked Shokupan bread, alongside speciality coffee and baked goods. Shokupan, also known as Japanese milk bread, is a popular white loaf famous for its ultra-soft texture, subtle sweetness, and rich milky taste.
Typically served in thick slices, it gets its light, fluffy consistency from the tangzhong or yudane technique – a method where flour and liquid are pre-cooked into a paste before being mixed into the dough, helping the bread stay moist and airy for longer.
The small team said it was passionate about creating “great food and a friendly community vibe” at the 276 Aigburth Road venue. Alongside its food offerings, the site also has a cosy corner where customers can relax and browse the illustrated novel library.
Shokupan in Aigburth is selling a special type of bread
In a post shared to the brand’s Instagram page, the team said: “After much anticipation, we’re pleased to announce we are opening this Thursday, 14th May.
“We’ll be serving coffee, matcha, tea and cookies to get the ball rolling. We’re still working on our food menu – hopefully we’ll have sandos and more available by the end of the month.
“We’ve been putting in a lot of late nights at the shop, working super hard to get everything ready for you. It’s been so lovely having people pop their heads in every day to say hello and offer words of encouragement.
“Your support has kept us going. We can’t wait to welcome you.”
The venue will be open from Wednesday to Friday between 9am and 4pm and Saturday to Sunday from 10 am to 4pm.
Dhanya Kalathil and Meenal Abhyankar, owners of the White Tiger Restaurant in Kings Dock
Also opening this month, is the city’s newest Indian restaurant at Liverpool’s Kings Dock. The venue is from long-time friends Meenal Abhyankar and Dhanya Kalathil, who are telling diners to “expect the unexpected”.
The venue, which has cost around £500,000 to create, prides itself on promising a “vibrant and flavour-led dining experience”. The venue aims to introduce a new concept to the city, according to the pair.
Meenal and Dhanya, both 47, have spent more than 20 years working as doctors in the Liverpool City Region, balancing demanding careers in medicine with family life.
The pair said their move into hospitality is not a departure from that world, but an extension of it – a “passion project rooted in care, connection and community”. You can see inside the venue here.