A Cardiff restaurant that only launched earlier this year has already closed its doors, with the team behind it now teasing a new “permanent” home for the concept.
Independent hot chicken restaurant Doolally opened on High Street in March, taking over the former Chai Street site just moments from Cardiff Castle in the city centre.
The venue quickly built a following for its globally inspired take on hot chicken, moving away from the traditional Nashville-only approach and instead offering five different “sauce lanes” inspired by flavours from around the world.
Customers could choose from Seoul for milder Korean-inspired flavours, Hanoi for extra heat, Kingston for smoky Jamaican spice, Bombay for a fiery kick, and Nashville for those wanting the classic inferno-style experience.
At the time of opening, the team described Doolally as a new independent restaurant from the same people behind Chai Street, with many early reviews praising both the chicken and the bold flavour combinations.
However, despite only opening in March, the restaurant appears to have closed in April, with the High Street unit now reverting to Chai Indian Bistro.
In a message shared online, the team reflected on the short-lived pop-up concept and thanked customers for supporting the venture.
“The pop-up is done,” the statement said.
“You showed up. You brought people. You argued about sauce lanes in public. Seoul loyalists. Kingston converts. The table that ordered Nashville twice and said nothing.
“We came to Chai Street with five sauces and a fryer. You turned it into a thing. That was the whole point.
“Cardiff went Doolally.”
Despite the closure, the team has confirmed the concept is not disappearing for good, teasing that its next plans are permanent.
“The next move is permanent,” the statement continued.
“Same chicken. Same system. A proper home. Details are coming.”
The High Street venue has now returned to operating as Chai Street, which describes itself as “the long Indian afternoon, transplanted” and continues to serve food, cocktails and chai daily from its location next to Cardiff Castle.
