London’s most talked-about spicy noodles are coming to The Strand. In true lucky Chinese style, the first 66 bowls will be given away free, so form an orderly line from Friday14th November (a date also considered particularly lucky in the Chinese Yellow Calendar)! Liu Xiaomian, London’s cult-favourite Chongqing noodle specialists, are opening a new pop-up at The Stranded, from the team behind Marylebone’s The Jackalope, serving fiery, aromatic bowls in a brand-new pub, perfectly paired with frothy pints and a warm, buzzing winter atmosphere.
Charlene Liu and Linda Liu, both from the same town in Chongqing, China’s spice capital, were brought together by fate in London. Inspired by their shared roots, they launched Liu Xiaomian in 2017 to bring fresh, spicy flavours from Chongqing to London. What started as a small street-food stall has grown into a London sensation. Their flagship restaurant in Kingly Court, Carnaby opened in 2024 and was hailed by The Times for bringing “heat, heart and serious flavour” to the capital.
The menu leads with their signature dishes: Chongqing Xiaomian (wheat noodles) 重庆小面 and Hot & Sour Glass Noodles (sweet potato starch) 酸辣粉, offering layers of spice, aroma, and texture. With unique flavours like Minced Pork & Chickpea to flavourful vegan options, diners can also enjoy mind-numbingly good, silky pork Wontons (老麻抄手), alongside seasonal, spice-packed sides, like customer favourite the cucumber salad, finishing with sweet and icy desserts. Every dish is crowned with addictive homemade chilli oil, delivering bold heat and layered flavour in every bite.
New pub, The Stranded, recently opened to the public, seats around 300 guests, with a dedicated 20-cover Liu Xiaomian dining area. Guests can pair their bowls with the pub’s special, froth-topped Czech beer, giving customers the best top around, alongside trendy treats such as in-house bubble tea and their very own, upcoming coffee robot (there’s a first for everything). It’s the perfect setting to enjoy noodles, drinks, and a lively atmosphere in central London this winter.
“We’ve loved working with the team behind The Jackalope, and The Stranded feels like the perfect next step,” says Charlene Liu. “It’s a stylish new pub with vast amounts of seating in central London, perfect for everyone visiting The Strand this winter. We are really excited to get this pop-up off the ground and hit the ground running.”
“Our noodles have always been about comfort, fresh ingredients, and a menu that’s accessible to everyone,” adds Linda Liu. “We offer a range of dishes with varying spice levels, customers often find it funny that I personally go for the mild option, while Charlene opts for extra hot! That’s the beauty of our bowls: something for everyone, bold, vibrant, and made to share. The Stranded gives us the chance to welcome even more Londoners into that experience this winter.”
The Liu Xiaomian kitchen will officially open on 14th November, with menus and bookings available at https://www.liu-xiaomian.com/booking from mid-October.
This winter, dive into steaming Chongqing noodles, silky wontons, and addictive homemade chilli oil, perfectly paired with a frothy pint in the welcoming, brand-new surroundings of The Stranded. Be among the first to experience London’s hottest new pop-up. Hot, spicy, and comforting, Liu Xiaomian x The Stranded is an unforgettable seasonal experience — the place to be this winter, bunker down and come and get deliciously stranded on The Strand this winter.
Liu Xiaomian — Carnaby
Perched on the first floor of vibrant Kingly Court, this intimate noodle bar brings the flavours of Chongqing to the heart of London’s West End. Expect fiery noodles, wontons and sides in a cosy, modern setting that has quickly become a Carnaby favourite.
Address: First Floor, Kingly Court, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW
Opening hours: Tue–Sat (lunch & dinner service) 12–2.30pm & 6–9pm, kitchen closed Sun–Mon
Website: www.liu-xiaomian.com
Bookings: www.liu-xiaomian.com/booking
Instagram: @liu_xiaomian
Facebook: @Liuxiaomian
Liu Xiaomian — The Stranded Pop-Up (Charing Cross)
The newly opened Stranded on The Strand is now home to Liu Xiaomian’s signature spicy noodle dishes, bringing their famous Chongqing Xiaomian, Hot & Sour Glass Noodles, silky pork Wontons, and addictive homemade chilli oil to central London. Guests can enjoy steaming bowls alongside the pub’s special, froth-topped Czech beer – so good it’ll have you foaming at the mouth with delight – as well as bubble tea and a coffee robot, all in a lively, modern setting. A dedicated 20-cover Liu Xiaomian dining area ensures an orderly line to slurp your winter-warming noodles in style.
Address: The Stranded, 430 Strand, London WC2R 0JR
Opening hours: Thu–Sat, 12–2.30pm & 6–9pm, kitchen closed Sun–Wed
Pub website: www.thestrandedldn.com
Bookings: www.liu-xiaomian.com/booking
Instagram: @thestrandedldn
Liu Xiaomian — The Jackalope residency (Marylebone)
Hidden beneath the characterful Jackalope pub in Marylebone, this basement residency has evolved from a shortterm popup into a muchloved fixture. Guests can enjoy bowls of spicy Chongqing noodles in a uniquely pubmeetsnoodlebar setting that’s been described as one of London’s best kept foodie secrets.
Address: The Jackalope, 43 Weymouth Mews, Marylebone, London W1G 7EQ
Opening hours: Tue–Sat (lunch & dinner service)12–2:30 pm, 6–9 pm, kitchen closed Sun–Mon
Pub website: www.jackalopelondon.com
Bookings: www.liu-xiaomian.com/booking
Instagram: @jackalopelondon