Indian restaurant operator Mayo Hospitality HK Limited has opened its first outlet in Hong Kong – Bindaas restaurant.

The Indian tapas bar and restaurant, its full name Bindaas – Bar + Kitchen – marks a plan to use Hong Kong to leverage the city’s favourable location to expand its business in the broader Asia region.

Located at the corner of Hollywood Road and Aberdeen St in the Soho area, Bindaas – Bar + Kitchen offers a modern style of traditional Indian food alongside craft cocktails and fine wines.

Mayo plans to open more restaurants in the city before expanding into the Mainland market, according to Bindaas MD Sanat Patel, who has won prestigious Times Food Awards twice for his restaurants in India.

“Indian tapas is getting famous in India but we can’t find a similar place in Hong Kong. Doing business in Hong Kong is very easy and efficient, so that is also why we decided to start our first venture in the city to introduce our new food culture,” said Patel.

“Hong Kong has a very large expat base and people here love dining and entertainment. The restaurant and bar scene in the city is thriving. Also, it is close to the huge food and beverage markets in the Mainland. Therefore, Hong Kong is the ideal starting point for us to develop our business.”

Associate director-general of investment promotion Dr Jimmy Chiang said with Hong Kong renowned as “the culinary capital of Asia” with a large number of international and Mainland Chinese visitors, it is an ideal place to showcase and develop exciting food and beverage concepts like Bindaas.

“We wish Bindaas – Bar + Kitchen every success in the city.”

“Bindaas” is Hindi slang meaning “chilled out and carefree”. Bindaas restaurant uses the “bindaas” style to provide traditional Indian food with a unique contemporary twist. Its signature dishes include NaanZa, which is an Indian version of pizza, Chingri Malai curry, Boti kabab, Bindaas tandoor chicken and cocktails like the Kala Khatta margarita, the Sheikh Chili and more.