TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwanese businesses are seeking to increase their presence in the gastronomic market of South Korea with the opening of a restaurant and a handmade drink shop in Seoul recently.

Taiwanese-style Japanese restaurant Sunway Siokudo (三味食堂) opened its doors in the upscale Gangnam District in mid-April, while bubble tea maker Tiger Sugar (老虎堂) made a debut in the boisterous district of Hongdae near Hongik University in March, Liberty Times cited a report of Yonhap News Agency.

According to the report, Sunway appeared to be a tourist magnet among South Korean visitors in Taiwan, its signature delicacy “giant salmon sushi” hailed as a must-eat. The new restaurant in Gangnam has reportedly become a smash hit with long queues of eager diners.

The new shop by Tiger Sugar, particularly known for its brown-sugar tapioca milk, has also gained considerable popularity less than a month after its opening among South Korean youths frequenting the shopping hub.

In addition to Taiwanese cuisine, a number of Singaporean and Vietnamese restaurants such as Banh Mi Phung are also planning to secure a place in the flourishing culinary scene of South Korea’s capital. Industry experts believe the trend can be attributed to the growing number of locals embracing Southeast Asian food, wrote the report.