The pair will open Kung Fu Mama on Long Acre in Covent Garden next month serving a contemporary take on authentic Taiwanese flavours using Kung Fu Mama Retail’s dried noodles.
The bijou site will have space for just nine covers inside and four outside and will serve a concise menu of healthy noodle dishes with ingredients that are oven-baked rather than fried, seed oil swapped out for extra-virgin olive oil, and salt, sugar and fat levels kept to a minimum.
Menu items will include noodles with chicken thighs in a ginger and sesame sauce; beef in a sichuan pepper sauce; mapo tofu with spicy minced pork; and portobello mushrooms in a three cup sauce.
A selection of bao sandwiches will also be available filled with either chicken with home-made pickle; soft shell crab; and – in collaboration with pioneering plant-based brand, Oh So Wholesome – a vegan patty with sauerkraut and basil sauce.
Side dishes will include vegetables tossed in a number of different dressings designed to cater to every spice level, while a single dessert option will be the Taiwanese night market classic dish of mango shaved ice with passionfruit and lime.
“We couldn’t be more excited to showcase our contemporary take on the vibrant, authentic flavours of Taiwan to London this year,” says Bar-Chang.
“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 is the founder of Taiwanese noodle chain Shuang Ren Hsu, which launched in Taipei in 2009. In 2019, he and his wife Evelyn Lee moved to London and set up Kung Fu Mama Retail to import premium Taiwanese sun-dried noodles to the UK.
“Kung Fu Mama Retail is the first and only brand to bring sun-dried noodles to the UK,” he says.
“We’ve built a loyal fan base 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.”
Kung Fu Mama will open on 8 April.