Norwich city centre Asian restaurant coming to Castle Meadow

Mon Experience will be taking over the former Abbey Coins and Medals Shop in Castle Meadow after plans to convert the use of the site were approved by Norwich City Council.

Thidar Win has owned Win Asian Mini Market next door for three years and will be offering a range of Thai, Japanese and Mon food - an ethnic offshoot of Burmese cuisine.

A former city restaurant owner, she said: "My passion is food and I've had people keep asking me if I'll be opening another restaurant, so when the opportunity was there next door I had to take it.

The new restaurant is taking over the former Abbey Coins and Medals Shop in Castle Meadow (Image: Newsquest)

"I want to offer people a range of different options for everyone to enjoy.

"Thai is quite hot and spicy, while Japanese is quite clean and Mon is in the middle, offering good flavour without being too spicy or mild.

"Mon food is different to Burmese food, more similar to Singapore or Malaysian cuisine.

"They'll also be a range of drinks and cocktails as well.

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"I love food and creating food, creating something fresh, from scratch and seeing my customers enjoy the things I make is priceless for me.

Thidar Win, owner of Win Asian Mini Market and the upcoming Mon Experience restaurant (Image: Thidar Win)

"I'm very excited to get back to doing what I love."

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Work is due to start on the site soon with Thidar hoping to open up to customers shortly after the new year.

Mon food consists of ingredients such as the use of bamboo, fresh herbs and spices, giving it a unique flavor.

Some popular Mon dishes are Eromba consisting of fish, mashed vegetables and rice, or Thingyan rice, often served with a salad of cured fish, sour mango or Marian plum.

Thidar said she hopes to open the new restaurant shortly after the new year (Image: Newsquest)