When I was growing up in Beijing, my mum and grandad ran a popular market stall selling homemade dumplings, baos and all kinds of delicious street food. The incredible flavours kept customers coming back for more, with many becoming great friends of theirs! 

In 1998 our family moved from Beijing to London, but we found that the quality of Chinese food in the capital was pretty poor. Cut to 2010 – mum and I decided to start a weekend supper club from my family’s living room. It was our response to the greasy, MSG dishes on offer in London – our idea was to cook and share fresh, delicious dishes mum had taught me at a young age in China.  Guests loved it, so when a space came up in Brixton Village market it seemed like the perfect opportunity. After a year of supper clubs I quit my job as an accountant and opened up my first restaurant – I haven’t looked back!

Since mum had supported me from the very beginning, I had to name the restaurant after her – “MamaLan”.

Ning, Founder