New Taiwanese noodle bar to open in Covent Garden

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.  

Set to open on Long Acre, Covent Garden, on 8 April, the fast-paced eatery will be dedicated to showcasing a “contemporary take” on Taiwanese flavours via dishes crafted using Kung Fu Mama Retail’s signature sun-dried noodles. 

Designed for eating in – there will be nine covers inside and four outside – taking away, or having delivered locally, everything on the menu has been designed with nourishment in mind — with ingredients oven-baked rather than deep fat fried, seed oil swapped out for extra-virgin olive oil, and salt, sugar and fat levels kept to a minimum. 

Noodle dishes will include chicken thighs in a ginger and sesame sauce, beef in a spiced Sichuan pepper sauce, Mapo tofu with spicy minced pork, and Portobello mushrooms in an umami-rich three cup sauce.  

Elsewhere on the menu, there will also be bao sandwiches designed burger-style, soft shell crab, and a vegan patty with sauerkraut and basil sauce.   

The design features a “humorous font” by Scott Wittman, a mural illustrating the story of co-founder Chris Hsu and his Taiwanese influence, and graphic depictions of the dishes in place of TV screens. 

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.”