This baked potato pop-up is getting a brick-and-mortar home on South Street

Chef Ange Branca is turning Mod Spuds from a holiday pop-up into a permanent South Street restaurant, betting that Philadelphia is ready for a fast-casual spot built around loaded baked potatoes.

Mod Spuds, from Branca and the team behind the fire-shuttered Kampar, is aiming to open by the end of April at 1424 South St., the former home of Sweet Freedom Bakery.

The concept grew out of a short residency at Comfort & Floyd that began in December 2025 and extended into January after drawing repeat customers. Branca said the response prompted her to look for a permanent space.

Mod Spuds starts with the familiar baked potato and layers on toppings inspired by both British comfort food and Branca’s Malaysian cooking. Branca said the pop-up’s top sellers were the Malaysian spud (topped with beef rendang, sambal, and ulam) and a classic version (with Heinz baked beans, chili con carne, and scallions). The opening menu is expected to include toppings such as chili con carne, chorizo, chicken tikka masala, barbecue jackfruit, and Philly cheesesteak.

The idea dates to Branca’s time studying in Scotland in the 1990s, when jacket-potato (what the Brits call baked potato) bars were common. She has said it was one of her favorite meals there and that she had long wanted to bring the concept to Philadelphia.

Drinks will include sodas and root beer floats inspired by A&W, the first American fast-food company to set up in her hometown of Kuala Lupur.

“I recently went back to Malaysia and brought my team with me,” Branca said. “One of the fun stops was an old A&W near where I went to high school. I grew up with root beer floats and absolutely loved them. It was this American drink-and-ice-cream combination that I always loved, and it’s still one of my favorite things.”

Branca said the return of Kampar, her Malaysian restaurant at Seventh and Kater Streets in Bella Vista, is still at least a couple of months away. Kampar has been closed since a fire in February 2025, and she said permits, city approvals, construction reviews, and insurance issues have slowed the rebuild.

When Kampar reopens, the main addition will be a daytime kopitiam, or Malaysian-style café, downstairs, in what had been a home for guest chefs. The kopitiam will serve breakfast and lunch items such as coffee buns, curry puffs, and the coffee and tea drinks customers had missed before dinner service. The kongsi — the Malaysian bar and restaurant — will continue upstairs.