A NEW trendy noodle bar bringing Asian street food to the Eastgate Shopping Centre will open to customers next week, it has been revealed.

Bosses at the shopping centre have confirmed that Chopstix Noodle Bar, offering a wide range of Asian street food, will open at the food court on Tuesday.

The new Chopstix will be the second restaurant in south Essex, with one already proving popular at Lakeside shopping centre.

Basildon labour councillor for St Martin’s, Jack Ferguson, believes the decision to open the restaurant represents a positive development to boost visitors in the area.

He said: “We do need a way to improve footfall in the town centre and opening a restaurant and filling empty units is a way to entice more people to go to the centre.

“The council can do things to make this happen, to make people actually want to return to Eastgate once again where before it has been lacking reasons to get people through the doors.

“It is something we aim to improve in the future.”

Chopstix already has restaurants in Romford and across London.

A spokesman for Eastgate said: “Chopstix is going to be in the food court in Eastgate filling one of the empty units there. It will offer a variety of Asian-inspired dishes, enhancing the dining experience and choices at Eastgate Shopping Centre.”

Chopstix, which evolved out of an initial stall at Camden Market, is the largest Asian inspired quick serve restaurant in the UK and has an emphasis on serving food incredibly fast.

A spokesman said: “Our food is so fresh it virtually jumps from our woks to our boxes and it’s all down to our ‘wok master’ chefs delivering it every minute, of every hour, of every day.

“Nourishing noodles, wholesome chicken, beautiful beef and perfect prawns, cooked with fresh vegetables and superb sauces making us the ‘go to guys’ for boxed fresh flavours; just ask our customers.”

“Even though our dishes are simple, they are jam packed with Asian flavours that tantalise the taste buds. Whether you’re a caramel drizzler or a salt & pepper lip smacker, the Chopstix toppings range will take you to a world of wonder.”