Any true-blue lover of Indian cuisine knows about JoJo – the culinary gem has been an institution in Wan Chai for over 30 years! Having already educated a whole generation of HK foodies on authentic Indian flavours, owner Kuldip Uppal decided to shut down the restaurant late last year to give it a complete overhaul – menu included.
The new JoJo – which soft-opened last week – looks happily refreshed and ready to run smoothly for another three decades. The biggest draw here is its revamped menu, which features delicacies from the Grand Trunk Road, one of Asia’s largest ‘highways’ that ran from Calcutta in West Bengal, past New Delhi and the Pakistani cities of Lahore and Peshawar all the way to Kabul, Afghanistan.
Chef Arjun Singh, who previously ran Delhi’s famed Baluchi restaurant, has curated a wonderful range of ever-popular Indian sub-continental snacks like the Iranian Jujeh Kebab (saffron-marinated chicken bites) and Pakistani Lamb Seekh Kebab. Foodies should also check out lesser-known regional specialties like the Chettinad Fish Fry, the melt-in-your-mouth Afghani Baigan, or eggplant, and Sorshey Mach, a classic Bengali fish dish flavoured with mustard and spices. If you’re thirsty, the fully stocked bar offers an assortment of alcoholic beverages including Indian beers and single malts.
In describing the new JoJo menu, the soft-spoken Uppal says, “We couldn’t do away with the old menu completely, so we’ve still kept some fan favourites. But the rest of the menu is completely dedicated to introducing dishes from the Grand Trunk Road to Hong Kong diners.”
This ‘something old, something new’ approach seems to guarantee success. Despite a complete refurbishment of venue and food, JoJo has retained the same easy-going comfort food vibe that helped it build a loyal and passionate fan base for three decades. And now it looks set to educate a whole new generation of Hong Kongers on the delicious flavours that are so quintessentially Indian.
JoJo. 2/F, David House, 37-39 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai. 2527 3776.
Text: Tenzing Thondup
Images: JoJo Indian Restaurant