Having already made a name for itself in the north of England, cult Indian street food restaurant Mowgli has made the move to Scotland, choosing the capital city of Edinburgh for its first site north of the border.
Mowgli was founded by restaurateur Nisha Katona in Liverpool in 2014. In 2017, the company received financial backing from private equity firm Foresight Group to the tune of £3.45 million, and today operates 10 restaurants in locations including Birmingham, Cardiff and Manchester. Interestingly, Mowgli has never opened a site in London, with founder Katona previously stating that she was uncomfortable with the financial risk associated with opening in the UK capital.
Mowgli Edinburgh is found on Hanover Street in the city’s New Town, where diners can expect the usual mix of modern, laid-back interiors, with some subtle references to the restaurant’s Indian heritage. As far as the food goes, Mowgli is well known for its menu of sharing plates, which are a step above your usual curry house fare.
Specialising in chaat (Indian street food) and tiffin boxes, some of Mowgli’s signatures include treacle tamarind fries, a Himalayan cheese toastie and the bunny chow – a spicy chicken and potato curry that’s served inside a hollowed out bread loaf.
Mowgli is also popular because of its inclusive approach to dining, offering dedicated gluten-free and vegan menus, as well as a children’s menu which features the likes of paneer and rice followed by handmade ice cones for dessert.
Commenting on the opening, Katona tweeted: “We are utterly thrilled to be moving to Hanover Street just off Princes Street with an aim to open this winter. Five years ago when I started Mowgli, if you told me I’d be opening in this city of cities I would have checked your clootie dumpling.”