Sanku Maots’ai plans new Copenhagen opening after water damage

Sanku Maots’ai is working towards opening its second restaurant in Copenhagen after a delay of almost a year. The Chinese chain’s new location will be in Lille Kongensgade, where water damage put the project on hold. Franchisee Lixiang Xu has indicated an expected opening in mid-November 2026, although some practical matters still need to be resolved.

Second restaurant to follow Fiolstræde opening

The forthcoming restaurant will be Sanku Maots’ai’s second in Copenhagen. The chain’s first restaurant in the city opened in May 2025 at Fiolstræde 18 in the city centre. According to KøbenhavnLIV, it received an overwhelmingly positive reception, as reported by Restaurant.dk on 2 November 2026.

The Lille Kongensgade location continues the chain’s expansion in central Copenhagen. It will be another restaurant operating under the same Chinese brand, with franchisee Lixiang Xu providing updates on progress towards the opening.

On 26 October, Xu told KøbenhavnLIV that the restaurant looked likely to open in mid-November. This is an estimate rather than a confirmed opening date. Restaurant.dk also reported on 2 November that the street number in Lille Kongensgade had not yet been announced.

For prospective guests, there is therefore a distinction between knowing the location and having full opening details: the street has been named, but both the exact address and the final date still await public confirmation.

Water damage changed the timetable

Water damage in autumn 2025 halted plans for the restaurant in Lille Kongensgade. According to Restaurant.dk, the resulting delay has lasted almost a year.

Lixiang Xu explained that the age of the building contributed to the time needed to repair the damage. The process has therefore involved not just fitting out restaurant premises to the chain’s specifications, but also dealing with damage to the existing property.

For those involved in, or considering entering, Denmark’s franchise market, the story illustrates a specific local challenge when opening another restaurant under an established brand. Sanku Maots’ai had already opened in Fiolstræde, but work on its next location was nevertheless affected by the condition of the building itself.

It is important to distinguish between the cause of the delay and the tasks that remain. Water damage put the project on hold, while preparations for opening also involve staffing and permits. The expected November opening is therefore the next step in a longer process, not an indication that the restaurant is already ready to welcome guests.

Mini hotpot with ingredients chosen by guests

Sanku Maots’ai’s food concept centres on spicy Chengdu-style hotpot served in small bowls. Restaurant.dk describes the format as mini hotpot, with guests putting together their own dishes by choosing ingredients, noodles and broth.

Customer choice is therefore part of the dining experience. The new restaurant is described as following the same concept already offered at the Fiolstræde location.

The reported reception of the first restaurant provides context for the news of the second. However, it should not be taken as evidence of particular sales figures or an indication of how the forthcoming restaurant will perform. The main news is that the chain is continuing work on its second Copenhagen restaurant after a lengthy postponement.

Work permit and staffing still to be arranged

Before the opening, the chef from China needs a new work permit. Staff who have been waiting during the delay also need to be prepared for the launch. According to Restaurant.dk, both are among the remaining preparations.

The restaurant also faces a local restriction on its street-facing signage: the chain is not allowed to install its large yellow sign on the façade. This underlines that the new location cannot adopt every aspect of the chain’s usual branding.

For the franchise community, the case brings together several practical considerations surrounding a single opening: the building’s condition, staffing, a work permit and signage. All form part of the reported process in Lille Kongensgade.

Practical takeaway: When planning a franchise opening, premises, staffing, permits and signage should be treated as separate tasks. For Sanku Maots’ai’s prospective guests, the next step is to await a confirmed opening date and the exact street number.