Mama Lans is one of the eateries located in Brixton Village. I recently stopped by for a quick bite, and I really hoped it would have been a treat. Although I had planned on trying out several items from their menu, the boa bun caught my eye and I couldn't resist giving it a try. I opted for the mama chicken boa, it's one of the largest I have had. While the bun was soft and fluffy, I have to admit, the chicken could have used a little more seasoning to really elevate the flavors. Unfortunately, the service was nothing to write home about. We were barely acknowledged and left feeling a little disappointed in that department. I would probably still revisit to try other menu items. read more

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After a busy afternoon food was most definitely needed and having seen someone eating dumplings here earlier, I jumped at the chance to give it a try! It's a really cute little piece with seating outside and in. I'd say there's only enough seating for around 20 people max but if you can grab a table it's definitely worth it. I opted for the chicken noodle salad and we shared the beef and pork dumplings. The service was fast and you could tell straight away that the food is cooked fresh and well. The noodle salad was cold which I wasn't expecting but it was delicious! There was tons of chicken in it, perfectly spiced in a satay like sauce and I loved the sprinkled peanut on top! Now to the dumplings! My gosh, they were SO good! Soft, juicy and a huge piece of meat and spice in the middle! I didn't want them to end. I could have easily eaten another plate! If I returned I would leave the salad and just eat two plates of dumplings. They were just too good! Price wise, for Brixton market central it's pretty decent - around 30 in total for two noodle salads, two portions of dumplings (both large portions) and drinks! read more

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They do some things really well and just need a bit more rounding out to become five stars. Came here on weds night and it was packed notwithstanding that the night was cold and there were only 2-3 tables inside and the other 6 tables were outside in the cold. As mentioned previously the waitresses were overworked with only 2 to serve the entire restaurant and we felt neglected and even though they apologised we still felt like we had to flag down whoever wandered close to our table to order. However once you manage to squeeze in your order it does come very very swiftly. I would recommend the spicy beef noodle soup. Although some of the beef were slightly chewy (due to the beef cuts not the cooking) the noodles were notably hand made and fresh. Soup was not too hot so it's enjoyable. Also recommend the pork dumplings (we ordered the prawn and the mushroom as well but both were incomparable). The teas served were quite nice. I had the ginger rock sugar tea which was a large serving and was delightful. Would not hesitate to go and try their other three branches. Particularly looking forward to the large branch in Stratford Olympic village. Meal for two with tea came to £15 each. read more

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The Asian representative of Brixton Village Market. Mama Lan is a small business with big flavours. I love that it's family owned and I even got the pleasure to see mama and papa Lan at work when I had my dumplings at the 'bar' table. I've only had the dumplings here but I'm sure the other dishes are good. I always mean to try the other dishes but I'm just too taken with the dumplings to sway. So if you're in the area definitely a place to check out for a dumpling snack.* *remember to check the market's opening times to avoid disappointment. read more

Mamalan - dumplings - yum! - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

Was passing by in the Brixton area, so a little visit to one of the many places to eat. Actually wanted to go to Nanban for ramen as it was cold out but it was closed that day. Fancied something short and sweet so popped into Mama Lan. Ordered some Pork and Chinese leaf dumpling and some spicy crispy chicken wings doing the trick. the crispy wing were oood but I felt it was missing some sweet sauce or something. The dumplings were good with vinegar and soy sauce, and was good to sit under cover outside in the market. read more

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Delicious prawn and tofu dumplings! I got the order for takeaway and the transport to Lewisham didn't dilute the flavours at all. Pillowy dough, dumplings chock full of diced prawn and tofu and served with a spicy chili sauce that wasn't too hot. Friendly waiter and they accept card only. Yay! read more

This is a traditional chinese supper club, ran by the friend of a friend. We went a couple of weeks back and... NOM! I had read articles about supper clubs and everyone stressed that it may not be perfect, or timely, or well organised, or anything particularly professional. Well, Mama Lan's is all of those things and I was very impressed. Ning, the girl behind this gig, learnt to cook from her mom (a homemaker) and her dad (a former VIP chef in China). Her talent is impressive, and the food... well, let's just say we didn't leave a single crumb and had to fight for the last dumpling. And there was a lot of it. Even a six-foot-tall 3000-calories-a-day black-hole-of-food walked out of there positively stuffed. Now that s a lot of food! I'm not familiar with traditional chinese food, nor am I particularly eclectic when it comes to authentic flavours (I wouldn't know where to start with some) but I would definitely recommend heading to Mama Lan's if you can. The ingredients are fresh, Ning showed us how to make dumplings ourselves, and the flavours are amazing, even for a western palate! She organises dinners ever few weeks, and they're all announced early on at http://www.mamalan.co.uk Table only seats 12, so if you want to try real chinese flavours, book early! read more

Mamalan - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

Found myself with a quiet Saturday afternoon so decided to treat myself to some Chinese street food at the pleasantly poky Mamalan, buried within Brixton Village. I ordered the following: - King prawn and water chestnut dumplings - Beef and spring onion dumplings - Mama hot wings The dumplings arrived at the same time and the first thing you notice is the colour. The prawn variety come in a clean white shell and the beef a pleasing dark yellow, somewhat like mini Jamaican patties which feel oddly at home in their Brixton setting. The prawn dumplings have a lovely mix of textures with a gentle water chestnut crunch balanced by the springy chunks of prawn. The beef dumplings are the winner however and demand to be eaten whole with a splash of black vinegar due to the explosive juices which jump out with every bite. The wings were crispy and satisfying if slightly overdone. They trade on the notion that crispy chicken wing skins require little external flavouring which is a solid philosophy but nothing groundbreaking. Something I did and would recommend is eat the dumplings first before scraping the leftover spring onions and dumpling sauces onto the wings for added tastiness. The place itself is small so to guarantee a seat I would advise picking a window of time well (before the lunch/dinner rush). I went at 3pm on a Saturday and had a place to sit inside which was worth the wait. Besides, building an appetite especially after a swift walk up the Brixton station escalators make most meals better. There is more seating outside which would be a good option for the warmer months too. One last word of warning is that the beer is a bit steep at £4.50 for a bottle of Tsingtao but it's a must with these types of street food dishes. If you're after some decent Chinese street food in London, this is worth a visit. read more

Pretty much the number one reason to go to Brixton. Cram yourself in a tiny table and order the dumplings. Don't bother doing anything stupid like sharing, get your own. GET TWO ORDERS. If I had my time at Mama Lan again I would just keep ordering plate after plate. They are that good. And she's adorable too. That women knows how to crack out a plate of dumplings, I tell ya. The only downside was 2.50 for a 'Monkey' green tea, which turned out to be a teabag. Bit steep for that, Mama. I wish I was there right now. read more

This is an adorable little noodle joint in Brixton Village. We've only tried the vegetarian options, but have enjoyed every visit. The fried tofu and mushroom noodles are great and the fried tofu bits are spongey and absorb the broth for a squishy surprise! The noodles have been perfect every time and it's great to watch them prepare your brothy bowl right in front of you. The downside is that the chopsticks they provide are a bit short for eating noodles. The veggie dumplings are superb and so are the adorable ladies that make these mini masterpieces. I suggest sitting at the bar and watching them roll up the dumplings that you are about to enjoy. The staff is very friendly, and attentive. Stop at the shop on Coldharbour Lane and BYO. Grab some friends or roll solo, you won't be disappointed. Yet another reason why Brixton is tops. read more

Come here for the dumplings not the noodles! The menu is brief, and too the point. Two soupy noodles (one tofu, one beef), two types of dumplings, and a few sides. I ordered beef noodles, and some dumplings. And at £7.50 for a bowl of noodles, I'd say it was pretty pricy for a hole in the wall kinda place. The noodle soup was fine, the beef very tender. The noodles however, what a disgrace! Firstly, they pre-cook them in individual portions, and secondly they reheat them in individual portions. Being boiled twice means that the noodles are overcooked, soggy and stodgy. Plus, for a table of four, by the time the first person has finished their meal the last has yet to receive their dish. read more

Dropped by here for the vegetable dumplings and tea, we skipped the noodles as we were only looking for a small snack. Prices are reasonable, and the dumplings were really good. No complaints. Ideal if you're looking for a quick bite. read more

I echo the comments of others; spend your money on their dumplings, not the noodles. We ordered the beef and pork dumplings - both of which were tasty and fresh. Yum! We also ordered all three of their 'snack' offerings - vegetable balls, chicken wings and seaweed salad, the latter being my favourite. Will come again, especially for the dumplings. read more

Great cold noodles. It's the best thing they do. The veg option comes with strands of dried bean curd which goes really well with the noodles and spicy sauce. The dumplings get three stars. They are tasty but I have definitely had better elsewhere. read more

I've been to Brixton Village on several occasions, and have long been dying to try the local legend, Mama Lan. It appears to even have expanded to Clapham, Dalston, and Stratford! There are usually long queues to get one of their few coveted tables, but on a Tuesday evening, we arrived just a little before 7 PM and the whole market was oddly empty so we were seated right away. The menu is pretty simple: there are a few noodle soups, a few dumplings, and some other snacks and sides. We both ordered the beef noodle soup (it says spicy on the menu, but I assure you it is hardly spicy at all), and the beef and pork dumplings. The pork dumplings are supposedly with "Chinese leaf," which upon further research is what I would call a Napa cabbage. I was a bit disappointed that our dumplings didn't arrive first, as that seemed to be a more natural way to do things. Instead, we got the beef noodle soup very shortly after ordering, and it was a good sized portion with hearty stewed beef, a great soup, and thin, tender bok choy leaves. However, it wasn't the size of a large ramen bowl where you would only expect to eat just that one thing, so it was a good thing we ordered the dumplings. Both of the dumplings we got were pan fried, and I suppose £1 per dumpling is quite standard across London, but I still find it surprisingly expensive. Together with the beers, the meal was about £20 per person - a decent cheap eat, but hardly a steal, especially considering you are sitting in the cold with your coat on. That said, they use high quality meats from Ginger Pig and it was all extremely authentic and tasty. read more

Excellent service, really good dumplings. These guys are making a killing here. £5 for 5 dumplings and £2 for Tsingtao pijo. Thanks Mama Lan! We loved it! read more

Not just great dumplings, but great beef noodle soup as well! This place is always full on the weekends - but with quick turnarounds, you'll get a table quickly. Tables are only 2-4 though, so large parties might find it tricky. Service isn't a strong point with overstretched 1-2 waitresses, but you don't come here for the service, but for the excellent dumplings. There are three types on the menu, one boiled and two pan fried. We tried all three - all three were pretty good, although the beef dumpling was a bit weird (its not that usual to find one in China!) read more

Brixton Village has so many great restaurants, this does not disappoint. This restaurant felt like a street stall, intimate with views of the kitchen. To eat I had the veggie balls and shrimp dumplings. Was far from disappointed. The food was really good and mouth watering. As a bonus the service was wonderful. Look forward to coming back! read more

Mamalan - Veggie balls, yummy - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

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This is the first supper club I have ever been to and it was so good it turned me onto the idea of attending others! The food was unbelievably good - I don't say that lightly - the dumplings were disappearing off plates at an alarming rate because they were so good (pork option and mushroom option) and there were lots of smaller accompanying dishes like salads. I like plenty of foods and don't consider myself hard to please, but on the other hand I am also hard to impress, but this food really stood out. We also got shown how to make the dumplings ourselves, which was great fun. I recreated them for my own dinner party recently and although I need a bit more practise with forming them into the right shape, the recipe was spot on and it tasted great! There was also a mocktail on arrival and a great dessert. The chef is authentic and original and the atmosphere was really warm and cheerful. I am planning to go back just with my boyfriend (instead of with several friends) so that I can meet some new people! read more

We didn't even get a chance to order anything. The waiter was super rude for absolute no reason. The menu is as tiny as the place. Terrible experience. read more

I'm now a regular at Mama Lan but Brixton Market is where I first experienced this authentic, modern Chinese eatery. Tables are few but we got lucky and found some cosy seats inside. We shared some dumplings as a starter and then had the vegetarian noodle soup. Spicy! But full of great flavour and fresh ingredients. I had never been a fan of Chinese mushrooms before but the quality at Mama Lan was amazing. The cocktail I ordered was called Red Lantern (similar to a Whiskey Sour) - excellent as well! read more

The food was good. The service is frustrating. Untrained wait staff were continually leaning over my food to get to the till and clear tables (rather than walking around me). At one point the waiters cash pouch was literally in my noodle soup. I asked to be moved and she looked at me as if i was getting in her way. read more

A lovely little gem, hidden away in Brixton market. It's tiny - barely a corner - and as such their menu is equally shrunken, but what it does is great. They offer what can only be described as Chinese peasant food (three types of dumplings, noodle soup, chicken wings) for very reasonable prices - £4 for about six big dumplings. If you hang around long enough you might be lucky enough to catch the matriarch (I really, really hope that she is eponymous Mama Lan) creating them with her own fair hand, including the dough for the skins, and that'll make you appreciate the low price even more when you realise just how labour-intensive these little bites actually are. I lived in China for a year (as I mention in every other review I write) and so I know good dumplings. In fact, my friends even taught me how to make them, and it transported me back eight years and half-way across the world as I watched her mix flour and water with chopsticks, divide the dough into three sets of three; roll, squeeze, flatten, fill and pinch. We were sat at the bench in front of the "kitchen" and I completely ignored my friend as I became hypnotised by her deft craftmanship. We tried all of the dumplings and some fried vegetable balls. The food isn't necessarily better than what you'd get at venues across London, but I liked the lack of pretension, the authenticity, and being able to watch how it happens. In China, a hole-in-the-wall cafe with an open kitchen is the sign of an honest, respectable place (it proves they have nothing to hide) and I liked that they'd used exactly that approach here. Their offerings are perfectly good - not stunning - but I wouldn't want or expect anything different. Londoners used to upmarket Chinatown joints may be disappointed and I certainly wouldn't recommend this as a destination restaurant, but if you're in the area or craving some fresh, low-priced dumplings, then definitely pop in (and go for the pork). Delicious home-cooked Chinese food, just like Mama used to make. read more

Ever heard of supper clubs? I hadn't until I went to this little gem. A friend suggested it and dragged me out there and I'm glad she did! I wasn't sure about going to a stranger's house for dinner, but Ning was warm and welcoming and made us feel at ease from the get go. The flat was spotless and the tealights created a really nice atmosphere. There was a gorgeous non-alcoholic green tea mojito waiting for us on arrival. Mama Lan's doesn't serve alcohol, but we were all warned in advance and brought our own. I had been promised an authentic, home-cooked nothern Chinese meal, but having been to Beijing before and experiencing the real thing, I didn't expect to be impressed by the food at all. But that's exactly what Ning and the Mama Lan team accomplished! The starters were amazing! The seaweed salad was perfectly crispy and deliciously spicy and the vegetarian cakes in crispy tofu skin melt in my mouth! It raised expectations, but the main (spring pancakes, spiced lamb skewers and the vegeterian option, three treasure stew) was more than up to it and again managed to surpass them. My favourite had to be the lamb skewers and for a Greek to say that... More importantly, these were authentic flavours (there was no sweet n' sour in sight!) and Ning was able to give us a little background info for every dish. "This is a dish my mum used to sell at the market", "this is my own take of a traditional Beijing dish", "pancakes are eaten typically in spring" etc. The very exciting bit came with Ning's demonstration on how to make pancakes. A few of us (yours truly included) got up and tried their hand at making them too. I'm now thinking I might actually try them at home! All in all it was a lovely evening, hosted by lovely people, where the conversation flowed and the food delighted. Definitely going back there! read more

Great Asian restaurant in Brixton Village. Small and friendly . Absolutely amazing noodles and dumplings.

The dumplings are amazing! They alone are worth the travel from North London to South London. I can't wait to go back to try them again.

Stopped here recently for a quick lunch. The ribbon tofu salad was a gorgeous blend of balanced Thai flavours. Whilst dumplings were good. Everything is very fairly priced. Service was fast and friendly. read more

I ordered the prawns dumplings they looks like Japanese dumplings They could be everything but not HarKau or prawns dumplings. No prawns inside this thick pastry. I still haven't idea what is inside. Also my dog refused to eat. Second day I lost the money and the orders in the rubbish. I ordered 5 times with "Hungryhouse" I think I never do again. read more