Following the smashing success of JOMO Coffee & Cakes in Sai Ying Pun, JOMO brought its second establishment – JOMO Kitchen & Health Hub – to Monterey Place in Tseung Kwan O in late 2019.
As a health-conscious café, JOMO is not only determined to use the finest natural ingredients, but it’s also an oasis to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Inspired by the term JOMO (joy of missing out), the founders of this café seek to create places where Hong Kongers can find tranquillity.
Surrounded by top-class construction, Tseung Kwan O South is a “world within world”. After a 10-minute walk from TKO MTR station, we were facing the glamorous waterfront, soaking up the sun.
JOMO’s interior follows a modern Japanese, minimalist style through the use of greenery and wood, harmonising with the comfortable surrounds.
Much like the original café, the menu here features a great selection of pastries (both vegan and non-vegan), savoury brunch-style dishes and coffees. However, several items, such as the yuzu chiffon cake and green smoothies, are exclusively offered at JOMO Kitchen & Health Hub.
The chiffon cakes ($52/slice) are for sure the essential JOMO order! Just one bite and you’ll be hooked on the spongy and fluffy texture. From black sesame, to Earl Grey, to yuzu, each presents a distinctive flavour.
On our first visit, we tried the yuzu flavour, which was fragrant and refreshing. The whipped cream on top was light as air, only taking a few seconds to melt in the mouth. Best of all, these chiffon cakes are so airy that you’ll have no sense of guilt afterwards!
Much to our surprise, JOMO’s matcha roll cake ($48/slice) comes in second place on our must-order list. While the roll maintains a fine balance of sweetness and astringency, it also offers a silky finish. I’m sure we’ve all came across the taste of artificial matcha, which is always overly sweet and fake. Luckily at JOMO, this isn’t the case.
The hojicha cheesecake ($52/slice) was a bit underwhelming. The cream cheese was tangy enough, but it somehow masked the smokiness of the hojicha; if one was given a slice of normal cheesecake alongside, it would be hard to tell the difference between the two.
Salmon and cream cheese have always been gorgeous bread fillers, but even so, JOMO’s open-faced sandwich was mediocre. The salmon sourdough ($118), served with garden-fresh veggies, had no prominent taste. Although the portion of salmon was generous, it didn’t make up for its slimy and mushy mouthfeel. On the plus side, the pickled onion and crispy lotus root did spice up the dish a bit, leaving a subtly sweet aftertaste.
The Okinawa brown sugar espresso soda ($50) is surely one of the best summer drinks on JOMO’s list. Sprinkled with thyme, this carbonated coffee has a smoky oak flavour that tempted us to take one sip after another. It could also serve as a palate cleanser between cakes.
Disappointingly, the milk chocolate ($45) was barely palatable. The cocoa powder hadn’t fully dissolved, so a lot of granules remained floating on top. The drink diluted in the blink of an eye owing to the excessive amount of ice cubes used.
Verdict
JOMO Kitchen & Health Hub is no doubt a hidden gem of the TKO district. Though the savoury dishes didn’t leave us with a lasting impression, their chiffon cakes are always on point: pillowy, moist and flavourful – simply divine. With JOMO’s slowly growing fame, make sure to come early to beat the crowd.
Shop G01, G/F, Monterey Place, 23 Tong Chun Street, Tseung Kwan O, 2331 3003 (with another JOMO location at Water Street in Sai Ying Pun)
For more reviews like this, like Foodie on Facebook
