The taste of Hong Kong has officially arrived in London's Docklands, as the popular restaurant group Mama Li opens its third and most ambitious site in the capital. The new venue in Canary Wharf's burgeoning Wood Wharf district began welcoming diners at the end of January 2026, marking a significant evolution for the brand founded on family recipes and a quest for authentic Cantonese flavour.
A Culinary Journey from Family Kitchen to Canary Wharf
The story of Mama Li is one of memory and migration. It was founded by Catherine Hua and her mother, who sought to recreate the genuine taste of Hong Kong's iconic roast meats—Siu Mei—which they felt was missing in London. What started as a personal culinary project, rooted in treasured family recipes, has blossomed into a small chain celebrated for its comfort, generosity, and everyday Cantonese flavours. The new Canary Wharf location at Rivington Walk represents a deliberate step into a more considered dine-in experience, catering to the area's workers, residents, and weekend visitors alike.
The Heart of the Menu: Signature Roasts and Nostalgic Classics
At the core of the offering remains Mama Li's celebrated Siu Mei. Four signature roasts are prepared using traditional Cantonese techniques: crispy pork, BBQ pork (char siu), soy chicken, and roasted duck. The latter benefits from the depth of flavour imparted by a dedicated charcoal-fired roast duck oven. Diners can personalise their plates with choices of rice, seasonal greens, a fried egg, or house chilli sauce, opting for one, two, or three-meat combinations.
Beyond the roast counter, the menu expands to showcase the breadth of day-to-day Cantonese cuisine. This includes comforting soup noodle dishes like roast duck lai fun and wonton noodle soup. A strong nod to Hong Kong's beloved cha chaan teng café culture is also present, with nostalgic favourites such as bolo bao (pineapple bun) with butter, golden scrambled eggs with char siu, and salt-and-chilli pork chop rice.
A Designed Space Blending Grab-and-Go with Relaxed Dining
Departing from its earlier fast-casual format, the Canary Wharf site dedicates over half of its space to seating, aiming to blend relaxed dining with the grab-and-go convenience needed during busy lunch periods. The interior, designed in collaboration with the award-winning studio Macaulay Sinclair, draws inspiration from the warm, lived-in, and informal atmosphere of Hong Kong's classic cafés, reinterpreting it within a modern framework.
A notable new addition for this location is a line-up of tea-based cocktails. Crafted around fragrant jasmine, lychee, and other teas, these drinks are designed to complement the rich flavours of the roast meats while offering a contemporary tribute to Cantonese tea culture.
For founder Catherine Hua, the expansion to E14 stays true to the original mission. "Our goal remains to serve food that feels like home," she affirms, ensuring that even as the setting grows more sophisticated, the soulful, comforting essence of Mama Li's cooking remains unchanged.
