Mao Chow, born in London as a Chinese takeaway pop-up back in 2017, opened its first brick and mortar site on Mare Street in Hackney two years later, and November 2021 sees Mao Chow open another Hackney location but this time an express branch. The masterminds behind the menu, Julian Denis and Harry Fox, have taken the Chinese takeaway classics they grew up with in the ’90s and refreshed and veganised them for their all-new menu that is now available to us in their new Boxpark Shoreditch location.

The unique new menu is based on childhood dishes that Julian and Harry loved – think Prawn Toast, Kung Pao Chicken or how about sweet fluffy Char Siu Bao? Interestingly, all of the food on the menu at Mao Chow is vegan – Julian and Harry are on a mission to show that vegan definitely does not mean boring. One of the few all-vegan Chinese spots in London, Mao Chow’s approach to bold flavours, hits of spice and carefully balanced textures mean even the most religious carnivores won’t know they’re eating plant-based food. Each dish has been stripped back to its roots and then recreated without the need for meat, keeping authentic flavours and textures in mind.

What can you expect to see on the takeaway menu? This is without a doubt, not your average Chinese takeaway. You can expect veganised versions of Kung Pao Chicken (a spicy, stir-fried Chinese dish made with cubes of chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and chilli peppers), Char Siu Bao (Cantonese barbecue-pork-filled bun), ‘Prawn’ Toast, Cantonese ‘Beef Jerky’ Fried Rice and Ginger-Scallion Oyster Mushrooms.

Website: https://www.mao-chow.com

Address: Mao Chow Express, 2-10 Bethnal Green Rd, London, E1 6GY

Written by Lenny Wright

Photography courtesy of Mao Chow