In Wood Wharf, the restaurant will introduce a “more considered dine-in experience” alongside Hong Kong–style siu mei (roasted meats), which the brand is known for.
At Canary Wharf, Mama Li will continue its central offer of siu mei, which is prepared using authentic Cantonese techniques using a charcoal-fired roast duck oven.
The four signature roasts will include crispy pork, BBQ pork, soy chicken and roasted duck - served with rice and seasonal vegetables, with custoemrs able to select one, two or three meats and personalising their plate with additions such as fried egg or house chilli.
Alongside these familiar dishes, the Canary Wharf menu will introduce a wider range of soup noodle dishes, including roast duck lai fun and wonton noodle soup, as well as a selection of cha chaan teng options, including bolo bao with butter; golden scrambled egg with char siu and rice; and salt and chilli pork chop with rice.
The Canary Wharf location will also introduce a new range of tea-based cocktails, developed in-house to pair specifically with Cantonese roast meats.
Expanding on Mama Li’s earlier express-led sites, the Canary Wharf location includes a dedicated dine-in space, with over half the restaurant dedicated to seating, alongside a continued grab-and-go offering.
The restaurant has been designed in collaboration with interior architects Macaulay Sinclair, aiming to create a space that feels warm, welcoming and lived-in with nods to Hong Kong cafe culture.
“With this opening, it was important to us that we stayed true to the food our customers already love, while giving ourselves room to show more of how Cantonese food is really eaten,” says Catherine Hua, founder of Mama Li.
“The new dishes, and the space itself, reflect the everyday meals I grew up with - comforting, familiar and designed to be shared with loved ones around the table, but just as comforting when enjoyed on your own.
Founded by Catherine Hua and her mother, Mama Li originally launched as a dark kitchen before opening its first site in Tower Bridge in 2020, followed by the launch of a London Wall location in 2024.