Ottolenghi co-founder to open Taiwanese noodle bar Kung Fu Mama

Ottolenghi co-founder, Noam Bar-Chang, and founder of Kung Fu Mama Retail, Chris Hsu, have announced the upcoming opening of Taiwanese noodle bar, Kung Fu Mama.

The new restaurant is set to open in a “prime position” on Long Acre, Covent Garden on 8 April.

The restaurant is designed for eating in, with 9 covers inside and 4 outside, as well as takeaway or local delivery.

The ingredients will be oven-baked rather than deep fat fried, with seed oil swapped out for extra-virgin olive oil, and salt, sugar and fat levels kept to a minimum.

Bar-Chang said: “We couldn’t be more excited to showcase our contemporary take on the vibrant, authentic flavours of Taiwan to London this year. My husband, Garry, introduced me to the true brilliance of Taiwanese cooking 17 years ago, so when Chris and I met we immediately bonded over the richness of the cuisine.

“We set out to develop quality, healthy food that we would happily give to our kids every day, and we think we’ve done just that — all while making it fun. I am incredibly proud of the work we have done with Ottolenghi in revolutionising the global perception of Middle Eastern food, and Chris and I can’t wait to do the same with Taiwanese food.”

Hsu added: “Kung Fu Mama Retail is the first and only brand to bring sun-dried noodles to the UK. We’ve built a loyal fanbase through retailers including Selfridges, Whole Foods and Sainsbury’s, so now feels like the perfect time to show London’s adventurous foodies the true versatility of sun-dried noodles by putting our twist on the bold flavours of Taiwanese street food.”

Founded by Chris Hsu and Evelyn Lee, Kung Fu Mama Retail is a brand which offers premium Taiwanese sun-dried noodles to the UK market.