Birmingham hardly abounds with Gujarati veggie restaurants, so Jyoti’s isn’t competing in a crowded market, and could almost get away with being bad. But it’s not, and, after a single, sublime meal, even rampant carnivores will grudgingly admit that omitting meat does not mean an absence of flavour.
Jyoti’s is a family-run joint, serving South Indian snack items like masala dosa and a smattering of the North Indian dishes that have become menu mainstays in the majority of British Indian restaurants.
If you’re dining with a fussy/intolerant/diet-conscious individual (or are one), Jyoti’s clearly annotated menu is a joy. Starters are perhaps the most fun part; try a multi-textured, tastebud-tickling bowl of bhel puri, patra – a Gujarati speciality of stuffed, rolled colocassia leaves and mogo chips – chillied cassava fries popular amongst the East African Indian community. Order the trio, and you’ll still have change from £10.
A firm nod of approval from Jamie Oliver might have pushed Jyoti’s into the public consciousness, but both Hall Green locals and Brummies from further afield have long since known it as the place for platefuls of pani puri; the stuffed semolina shells best described as ‘flavour bombs’. Thalis and £13 per person set menus are easy options for the indecisive diner (there are 70+ main courses) with a big appetite and a small budget.