Sri Lankan restaurant brand ISSO Group has launched its first international corporate outlet in the United Kingdom with the opening of ISSO – Prawn Crazy in London’s Canary Wharf financial district.
Located at 25 Cabot Square, the new restaurant marks the company’s first overseas expansion and its first outlet outside Sri Lanka. The company said the launch represents the first direct international expansion by a Sri Lankan-born restaurant brand into the Western market under its own corporate framework.
The 90-seat restaurant has been designed to cater to the high-volume lunch and dinner demand in Canary Wharf and incorporates kitchen automation technologies, including robotic wok systems, to improve speed and consistency in food preparation.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer Apinash Sivagumaaran said the company’s objective extends beyond opening restaurants, aiming instead to build a scalable operating model for international expansion while promoting Sri Lankan cuisine and locally sourced ingredients in global markets.
The restaurant’s menu centres on export-grade wild-caught Sri Lankan prawns sourced from coastal communities in Jaffna and Mannar through a supply partnership with Alpex Marine. According to the company, the prawns are individually quick frozen within hours of harvest to preserve quality before being exported.
The opening menu has been developed by Head Chef Karan Kashyap, who has previously worked at several well-known London restaurants, including the Michelin-recognised Veeraswamy. The restaurant also serves imported Sri Lankan beverages, including Lion Beer and Lion Stout, alongside a selection of wines and spirits.
ISSO Group said the London outlet is intended to serve as the foundation for further expansion across the United Kingdom and continental Europe.
