THE green light has been given for the expansion of a popular Belfast-based Taiwanese street food restaurant.
Bao Bun on Botanic Avenue, will open a second outlet in the city on the Lisburn Road after planning permission was granted earlier this month.
The new restaurant will open in a former hairdressing salon premises, which has been vacant since November 2017.
In addition to the new restaurant, the development plans, originally submitted in October, include the creation of an apartment on the upper two floors of the building.
The Taiwanese restaurant will open alongside a number of established cafés and restaurants including; Café Maud's, Greens Pizza, Deane & Decano and Bengal Brasserie. The new eatery will be located next door to Café Fish and just yards from The Chelsea Bar.
Bao Bun first opened in Belfast in 2017 and the Taiwanese street food concept has proved a hit amongst customers.
The restaurant specialises in gua baos, a Taiwanese steamed bread filled with meats and a mix of vegetables and toppings.
The restaurant has one listed director on Companies House, 57-year-old Alan Boyce from Belfast.
Meanwhile plans have been submitted for a new petrol station and forecourt in Toome, Co Antrim.
The almost 5,000 sq ft development on the Roguery Road, being brought forward by Craigavon-headquartered Endeavour Building Ltd, also features a service station building, associated parking areas, including a coach set down area, as well as electric vehicle charging points.
Planning permission was previously at the site for a petrol filling station development
