© Hou de Sousa / Photography: Bicubiks

Although being a Chinese restaurant, Happy Panda brazenly defied the usual cliché interior you’d find at most establishments serving this cuisine. Situated at Paseo San Francisco, a shopping centre in the tony Cumbayá district of Quito, the owners once again tapped Hou de Sousa, the New York City-based design practice which designed a new interior seven years ago, to lend the premises a fresh look with a similarly bold modern signature. The design takes full advantage of the double-height 213 sqm. (2,293 sq.ft.) space, and sees a canopy of colourful lantern-like chandeliers, crafted from paracord and painted steel tubes, as its most striking feature. Having a more-or-less triangular shape, seating is placed on the perimeter, and comes in booths, a wall-lining sofa with tables and chairs, and standalone tables and chairs lining the glass façade.

Mind you, all chairs and tables of the venue’s previous interior have been reused. The core of the restaurant comprises of two separate islands, also triangle-shaped and covered in corrugated steel, which embed a bar and cashier counter on one side, and two booths on the other side. Interestingly, Happy Panda‘s kitchen is situated on the mezzanine floor, which has been remodelled to take on the shape of the base of the aforementioned lanterns. The mezzanine’s walls are covered in corrugated steel as well, adding an increased visual coherence to the setting. Walls are clad in plywood panels with a cut-out motif and paired with whitewashed oak floors. The menu at Happy Panda lists many classics from Chinese cuisine, and includes dishes with pork, beef and fish, all paired with either rice or noodles, in addition to a handful of vegetable dishes.

Happy Panda
Paseo San Francisco, Avenida Interoceánica, Ground Floor (Cumbayá)
170901 Quito
Telephone: +593 2 3222004
Daily 11-10

© Hou de Sousa / Photography: Bicubiks