PepsiCo opens a Lay's potato-themed restaurant in China, bringing a new brand experience to Shanghai

April 27 2026: PepsiCo’s potato chip brand Lay’s has officially opened China’s first Lay’s Potato Restaurant in Shanghai’s Xintiandi district — an immersive, limited-time brand experience that reimagines the potato and the Lay’s chip through menu innovation, design, and collaborations. The restaurant is the latest example of how PepsiCo is working to grow in the away-from-home channel and create new meal occasions associates with its brands.

Located in one of China’s most trend-forward lifestyle hubs, the restaurant blends food, fashion, and art to invite consumers into Lay’s brand world — creating moments designed to be experienced, shared, and remembered.

Tapping into a growing consumer trend

In recent years, consumer priorities in China have shifted from ownership to experience-from immersive exhibitions and themed dining to brand collaborations and experience-led consumption, younger consumers are increasingly seeking moments that are tangible, shareable, and emotionally meaningful.

“As part of PepsiCo’s growth strategy, we’re connecting our brands to the food experiences consumers are increasingly seeking—creating new ways to enjoy Lay’s beyond traditional snacking and helping unlock new occasions in the away-from-home channel,” said Nina Mu, Chief Marketing Officer, Greater China Foods, PepsiCo. “Shanghai is an exciting test-and-learn market for us, and this restaurant brings together culinary creativity, culture and partnerships in a way that can inform how we build brands across geographies.”

With a distinctive façade and interactive interiors, guests can explore potato-inspired dishes and drinks that bring Lay’s flavor cues to the table—helping make the space a new destination for locals and visitors.

Reimagining the potato: Endless creativity from a single ingredient

The debut of the Lay’s Potato Restaurant in Shanghai goes beyond celebrating the intrinsic value of the ingredient—it redefines the entire experience around the “farm-to-table” concept. From imaginative potato-based dishes to artistic exterior installations and thoughtfully designed interior spaces, Lay’s embeds its brand story into every detail. Guests can explore a diverse menu that showcases the versatility of potatoes throughout the day. Inspired by premium potatoes and classic Lay’s chips, the menu reinvents familiar dishes through a fusion of Eastern and Western culinary techniques. From appetizers and hearty mains to light bites, desserts, and signature beverages, the offerings cater to a variety of occasions—from casual breaks and social gatherings to light meals—bringing new layers of enjoyment to everyday dining.

The restaurant also debuts four Shanghai-exclusive mashed potato creations, pairing a creamy base with ingredients including strawberry, mango, shrimp, and octopus to balance sweet and savory notes.

For the opening, Lay’s collaborated with Michelin-starred chef Francesco Bonvini and chef Tian Shuai on a limited-time menu that follows the potato’s journey—from planting and harvest to the finished chip.

Co-creation and crossovers: Elevating the brand experience

Beyond the menu, the restaurant uses spatial storytelling and interactive design to create a multi-sensory experience—strengthening Lay’s connection with culture-driven consumers. Lay’s partnered with fashion brand 8ON8 to create art installations, including façade characters that playfully depict the transformation from potato to chip.

Inside, the first floor features potato-and-chip-inspired textures and design elements that turn the ingredient into the centerpiece of the space. On the second floor, the “farm-to-table” story continues with tabletop displays that trace the path from farm to factory to chip, plus a terrace and private dining rooms designed for social sharing.

A dedicated retail zone offers limited-edition Lay’s merchandise, from potato-inspired packaging and accessories to co-branded fashion items. The products extend the experience beyond the restaurant, giving fans new ways to bring Lay’s into everyday moments.

A new benchmark for brand experience innovation

The Lay’s Potato Restaurant is a new milestone in experiential marketing—bringing Lay’s brand promise to life through food innovation, co-creation, and immersive design. The concept helps strengthen connection with younger consumers and offers learnings that can inspire brand experiences across markets.

As a flagship brand within PepsiCo’s convenient foods portfolio, Lay’s continues to explore new ways to engage consumers through culture, culinary creativity, and partnerships—expanding what a snack brand experience can be.

Media contact: Katie O'Mahony, katieomahony@pepsico.com

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $94 billion in net revenue in 2025, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and drinks, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that places sustainability at the center of our business strategy, seeking to drive growth and build a stronger, more resilient future for PepsiCo and the communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.