Founder Ping Wong is of Chinese and Malaysian heritage and combines traditional Asian recipes with western ingredients.
The current menu includes satay chicken dumplings with mixed spices, curry powder and coconut milk; and spinach and tofu dumplings with shiitake mushrooms and carrots.
The business has traded at a number of street food spots across London including Spitalfields Market and Startisans in Covent Garden.
Set to open this summer, The Ugly Dumplings is a collaboration between Wong and investment partner Philipp Chaykin. The pair are planning to introduce a new contemporary dumpling menu and brunch offer.
“We are very excited to open our first concept restaurant in Carnaby, in the heart of London,” says Wong. “With high profile openings for Din Tai Fung and The Dumpling Shack on the horizon, 2017 is set to be the year of the dumpling. However, we are proud to debut this unique concept with a place of its own in the market.”
Located on 1 Newburgh Street, the two-floor site is tiny at just 700 sq ft. It was home to the original Pitt Cue Co. restaurant, opened in 2012, and briefly traded as hot dog concept RockaDollar before becoming Little Pitt.
Shelley Sandzer acted for The Ugly Dumplings.