Craving a lavish gourmet meal? Fill up your tummies and check out Jia Oriental Kitchen in Colaba for an Asian food delight!
If you are a hardcore Asian food lover, getting the right place can be a hassle. Finding food that hits the perfect spot becomes a game of hunger and frustration. Leave your stress aside as we review Jia The Oriental Kitchen in Mumbai. Located with their only branch close to the iconic Colaba market, Jia The Oriental Kitchen specializes in Asian, Cantonese, Japanese, and Thai delicacies. The Kitchen also has a separate bar that prepares exclusive cocktails and mocktails in different flavours and preparation styles. The upscale oriental kitchen offers food that surely can't be missed by any Asian cuisine lover!
Appetizers to kick off our meal
We began our meal with a non-veg appetizer, the Mongolian chicken, and Honey Chilli Lotus Root as a Veg starter. The Mongolian chicken closely resembled a well-cooked Chinese-style chicken lollypop, although the texture and pieces were bite-sized and crunchy. The chicken was tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, and the red Szechuan sauce paired up the appetizer quite well.
The Honey Chilli Lotus Root was a little on the sweeter note, but the crunch made the texture balance it out. Often while cooking Lotus Root, it becomes very important to cook them well enough, or they could remain raw and hard. Honey Chilli Lotus Root was cooked to perfection and did not taste raw, making it perfect for a pre-meal snack.
Sushis are a must-try at Jia since they prepare authentic recipes with fresh ingredients. We tried their Jia Special Roll, which is a Prawn Tempura roll with avocado and truffle sauce. From the first bite itself, we could make out the freshness of the ingredients and the crunchiness of tempura-style prawns. Paired with mayo and soy sauce, the sushi was a fresh delight to the meal.
Vegetarian lovers definitely must try their steamed Truffle Edamame Dumplings. The dumplings were well-steamed, and the filling was prepared in perfect proportions. The quantity was slightly less for the price, but the taste made up for it. The dumpling was soft, and the filling was savoury to our tastebuds.
Main course delights
For our main meal, the staff at Jia recommended their Classic Paneer Chilli, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Sizzling Prawns in black bean, and Blue butter Japanese fried rice. The classic paneer chilli was soft and spicy, filled with onions and bell peppers. However, the sweet and sour chicken was very sweet and we would not recommend it for someone who likes their main course spicy.
Served on a sizzling plate, the black bean sauce had a perfect indulgent flavour that paired well with the texture of the prawns. We were particularly excited to try their blue butter Japanese fried rice, and it did not disappoint our expectations. The rice was blue in colour and buttery in texture, making it melt in our mouths. The green onions and veggies gave it a slight crunch, and pairing it up with Paneer Chilli was a decision we will never regret.
Drinks and desserts to get refreshed
From their exclusive bar menu, we went ahead and tried their Coffee Julep and Cranberry Kiss. Coffee Julep was Rum infused with Coffee and lime juice with fresh mint. The rum slightly overpowered the coffee essence but had a smoky aftertaste that lingers in your mouth. Cranberry kiss was a recommended mocktail with cranberry juice and lemon extract with fresh mint. It served as a quick refreshment for a hot afternoon and was refreshing with balanced sweetness.
To end our meal, the staff recommended their popular Jia melting chocolate dome. The chocolate dome comes with a brownie and vanilla ice cream hidden under it with hot chocolate sauce poured all over. The dome melts and drools over the brownie, and do we need to mention how satisfying it looked? Chocolatey in every bite, the dome made us crave more of it with each bite.
Next time you are around Colaba and want to treat yourself to a guilt-free indulgence, head to Jia Oriental Kitchen and try it for yourself!
Where: Near Colaba Causeway, Mumbai
When: 11:30 am – 3:30 pm, 7 pm – 11:30 pm
Price: Rs. 2.5k for 2 people
Also Read: Order Roman-style sourdough pizza from Pizza Dude in and around Colaba, Mumbai!
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