The Taiwanese culinary scene in London is expanding eastward with Kung Fu Mama‘s planned opening at Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Place in early 2026. This marks the restaurant’s second London location following its successful Covent Garden debut last year. The expansion reflects the growing momentum of Taiwanese cuisine in the capital’s food landscape.
Kung Fu Mama was founded by Noam Bar-Chang, co-founder of Ottolenghi, and Chris Hsu, a retail entrepreneur and founder of Kung Fu Mama Retail. The pair brings a combined vision of delivering high-quality, nutrient-dense Taiwanese food that is both healthy and affordable for London diners. Hsu’s Taiwanese background notably influences the restaurant’s concept, including its distinctive mural design. Bar-Chang brings extensive industry experience after being involved with Ottolenghi for 21 years before launching this new venture.
Bringing authentic Taiwanese culinary traditions to London with a vision for accessible, nutrient-rich dining experiences.
The menu centers around sun-dried noodles prepared using traditional hand-folding techniques. Signature dishes include chicken with ginger and sesame noodle bowl, 12-hour beef with Szechuan pepper noodle bowl, Grandma’s beef and tomato noodles, and traditional beef noodle soup. For those seeking plant-based options, the Portobello mushroom with Romano pepper noodle bowl provides a flavorful alternative. The restaurant prides itself on using extra-virgin olive oil instead of seed oils in their preparations.
Beyond noodles, Kung Fu Mama offers oven-baked bao sandwiches with fillings such as chicken, ginger sesame chicken, and soft-shell crab. The menu is rounded out with sides including cucumber salad, wood-ear mushroom salad, and mixed greens. Dessert options feature mango shaved ice cream and pineapple pie. The restaurant’s culinary approach emphasizes moderated use of salt while maintaining authentic Taiwanese flavors.
The Canary Wharf location will follow the design approach established at Covent Garden, featuring a custom typeface and cultural references that honor Taiwan’s culinary heritage. As the UK’s first sun-dried noodle restaurant, Kung Fu Mama presents a contemporary take on traditional street food.
The restaurant joins a growing Taiwanese presence in Canary Wharf, which already includes Bian Dang at Cannon Workshops and Din Tai Fung’s fourth UK location at Crossrail Place.
According to the founders, London’s enthusiasm for Taiwanese cuisine has exceeded their expectations, and this expansion aims to firmly establish these flavors within the UK culinary landscape.
