Liu Xiaomian x The Stranded

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 Friday 14th 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 Standard. The team behind Marylebone’s The Jackalope are 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, who are both from the same town in China’s spice capital Chongqing, 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 the customer favourite 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 has 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.”