Who’s the King of the concrete jungle? In Edinburgh, it might be the Indian street food restaurant, Mowgli, when it swung into the city in 2023. Known for ‘fuss-free’ Indian cooking, Mowgli hopes to dispel the unhealthy curry stereotypes created by takeaways up and down the country. It believes real Indian food is “extremely healthy, often vegan and always packed with fresh flavour.”
Founder Nisha Katona launched Mowgli in Liverpool, in 2014, before a second location in Manchester opened a year later. There are now restaurants all over the UK, including Birmingham, Oxford, London, Cardiff, Leeds and many more cities. Nisha, a self-described ‘dedicated curry evangelist’, is also responsible for the menu – which is loaded with fresh, healthy, flavour-packed dishes with tonnes of vegetarian and vegan options.
Using a team of hand-picked ‘curry virgins’ for the kitchens, with no built-in preconceptions of Indian cooking, Nisha still trains every Mowgli chef herself. Expect firm favourites on the menu to make their way to Edinburgh, like the Bunny Chow – a fruity, hot, chicken and potato curry served inside a bread loaf; a classic Goan fish curry; and an Indian chip butty with fenugreek kissed turmeric fries.
The location Mowgli has taken over on Hanover Street in Edinburgh, and is legendary for its decadent décor, once it does, we expect all the glitz of its other restaurants. While every Mowgli is different. Key features often include glittering living trees and swing seats – while Nisha has hinted herself at a gold-panelled decor in Bristol.
“Here she is. Don’t you love her madly…Well I do- I love the bones of this big old demanding listed building dowager and she will take lots of TLC and time but we aim to open this summer/autumn,” said Nisha Katona on Instagram. “Do you like the graphite and gold panelling I have been playing with in the last photo? I’m braver with Mowgli than I could ever be in my own life in so many ways”
It looks like Mowgli will take up residence in the spot of the B-listed former Clydesdale Bank building on Hanover Street. To learn more about Mowgli head here.