Radnor High School alums Pearl and Paul Somboonsong of WIN Hospitality opened Mama-San across the street from their alma mater and minutes from their Wayne restaurants, Blue Elephant, and soon-to-open Maison Lotus at the old Margaret Kuo’s.
Folks who frequented Azie on Main were bereft when the popular Villanova Asian spot closed last summer. Where would they get their Drunken Noodles and tasty Azie rolls?
Six months later, there’s an answer: Mama-San – and it’s right down the street.
In the strip center bookended by Estia and Pietro’s, Mama-san joins Honeygrow and Federal Chicken & Donuts as fast-casual options in what’s become Radnor’s mini-restaurant row. It replaces Jose Garces’ Buena Onde taqueria, which never found its footing and folded after two years.
If you liked Azie, you’ll feel right at home at Mama-San.
Owners are the same, some staffers will look familiar, and many Azie favorites are still on the shortened, quick-serve menu.
Order at an in-store kiosk or online. Then take home – or take a surprisingly comfy seat – and feast on ultra-fresh sushi rolls, poke and noodle bowls, and assorted Asian-fusion fare. (And yes, those Drunken Noodles and Azie rolls are as tasty as ever.)
Wash everything down with sake, Sapporo and other Asian-inspired elixirs – as soon as the liquor license arrives in the next week or so.
The elevated décor is also a refreshing surprise and not the afterthought of most fast-casual joints.
In three months, architect Francesca Carney, a Radnor High School alum like the Somboonsongs, transformed a vanilla space into a vibrant, modern eatery. A tree graces the foyer; a handful of inviting half-moon booths line the rear corridor.
“We thought there was something missing in the area after we closed Azie last year,” explains Pearl Somboonsong Murphy, who along with her younger brother, Paul, took over WIN Hospitality when their parents retired. “There was nowhere for quality sushi between Bryn Mawr and Wayne.”
WIN also owns Blue Elephants in Wayne and Pottstown, Thai Pepper in Ardmore, Teikoku in Edgemont and Azie in Media.
Mama-San is WIN’s first fast-casual spot and if all goes well, won’t be its last.
“We think this concept could be scalable,” Pearl says. “It’s our testing ground. We’ll see what works and what doesn’t work.” She says she and her brother worked closely with the chef to offer high-quality items that can be made in three minutes.
About that name: Mama-San pays tribute to Peal and Paul’s mother, Sutida, whose staff at Thai Pepper called her the Asian honorific more than 30 years ago.
Next up for the Somboonsongs: Maison Lotus in downtown Wayne, just weeks away from her closeup after a yearlong total makeover of the old Margaret Kuo’s. If past is prologue, Ms. Lotus will be well worth the wait.
Mama-San , 226 N. Radnor Chester Rd., is open daily 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. On the menu: $6 starters and soups; Maki rolls $8 to $15; $12 fried chicken sandwich; $14 chicken, shrimp or tofu bowls; $16 poke bowls; $20 Bento boxes; Order online for pickup or delivery or dine-in. Catering with optional sushi chef available.
