Mammy Pancakes

About Mammy Pancakes

Hong Kong’s street food brand Mammy Pancake launched its first international franchise in London in May 2025, opening in Portobello Road. Known for its award-winning bubble waffles and six consecutive years of Michelin street food recognition in Hong Kong, the business, which was founded in 2009, has more than 20 branches in Asia. The UK launch is led by franchise partners Brendan Ho and Donald Lai - long-time friends with complementary business backgrounds and a shared commitment to “bringing authentic Hong Kong flavours to a broader audience”. Donald, who previously worked as a consultant on campaigns for brands such as Costa Coffee and Wagamama, left a six-figure role in March 2024 to commit full-time to Mammy Pancake. Ho was previously in investment banking and has grown up in a family that runs multiple restaurants in Hong Kong and mainland China. Ho told Propel that the company plans to open ten-plus sites in the UK over the next three years. He said: “We want to give Londoners and the wider UK market access to genuine Hong Kong street food, executed with the same quality and heart that made it a staple of our childhood.” In August 2025, Lai told Propel that now is the prime time for launching Hong Kong concepts here, and that he is planning to expand the brand outside of London. Lai said. “Because a lot of people have moved from there to the UK, it’s the perfect time to be launching Hong Kong brands into the UK. There’s also been more of a general internationalisation of the UK palate, whereas ten years ago, we may not have got the reception we’ve had. We’re looking to open two or three more in London next, and we see real value in opening a flagship store in Soho or Chinatown. We deliberately chose a culturally rich area of London to launch in, and we hope to take the concept to other cities with a big international mix, like Manchester and Birmingham.”

Why franchise with Mammy Pancakes

• ✓The UK flagship will feature signature products such as Earl Grey bubble waffles, alongside UK exclusives including crème brulee, sticky toffee pudding and pistachio. Seasonal specials and drinks like strawberries and cream special and Hong Kong-style milk tea will round out the offering. Where possible, core ingredients will be sourced directly from Asia to maintain authenticity, while select UK produce will be used to develop regionally exclusive flavours. The pair said they see high potential for Hong Kong street food in the UK market, especially among younger consumers seeking unique, globally inspired food experiences. “We’re not just bringing a product over — we’re bringing a culture and a legacy, and this is just the beginning,” said Lai. “We hope to open additional locations and make Mammy Pancake a household name across the UK.”