I sit back and enjoy a citrusy, creamy drink called Mont Blanc on a breezy evening at the newly- opened Mojoe House in Saibaba Colony. The drink, a combination of orange juice and coffee, is accompanied by a platter of rice paper rolls. Shaped like mini baskets, they are stuffed with chicken, cheddar and mushroom. The dish looks inviting, and combined with the interiors: arty walls, soft lighting, and Bryan Adams’s ‘Summer of 69’ drifting through the air, lends an easy charm to the setting.

“This is my childhood home. I was born here, and I have a lot of beautiful memories attached to this place,” says Nandita KS, who along with her husband Vikash G, started the cafe out of a shared love for coffee and nostalgia. The cafe also has for sale ceramic mugs, textiles, and products sourced from local artisans, and a line of handmade crochet bags. 

What began as a dream of opening a neighbourhood speciality coffee spot, soon evolved into an all-day café with comfort food and warm hospitality. “We realised it had to be a place for everyone,” explains Vikash, adding, “Not just coffee and pastries, but food that makes people come back for more. We wanted every dish to feel nostalgic. Nothing too fancy, but something memorable.” That search led them to chef Mathangi Kumar, trained in French cuisine, and a food consultant with over 16 years of experience with projects spanning across Chennai, Goa and Bengaluru. 

Over crunchy chilli-cheese rolls, served in a pool of gooey cheese stew, and okra tempura sitting pretty with labneh paired with spiced honey, a sweet-creamy-savory dip, the duo talk of Chennai’s vibrant cafe culture that inspired them to take the plunge. cl to the Mojoe House story. Their fascination with brewing began at home with their own beans, moka pot and coffee machine, before turning it into a full-fledged business idea. “There wasn’t a single place in the neighbourhood serving the kind of coffee we loved,” they say. “Everything started because of coffee.” They worked with speciality coffee roasters to curate signature brews including blueberry lattes, orange-infused coffee creations and the now-popular corn latte. 

Along with Mathangi, they curated a menu that balances familiar dishes rooted in comfort but with a thoughtful spin. The result is a menu where South Indian influences meet Asian and global techniques and cafe-style presentation. There is Vietnamese roll inspired by sushi flavours, layered with vegetables, chicken, shiitake mushrooms and pickles wrapped in rice paper; karaage-style fried chicken dusted with Szechuan spice; avakkai oil fried rice finished with a drizzle avakkai pickle oil; and the Malaysian-inspired roti sarang paired with mutton curry reminiscent of gravies made in homes across Tamil Nadu. She focused on creating flavours that would appeal to Coimbatore’s evolving palate. “People here still enjoy familiar Indian flavours,” she says: “So I wanted dishes that even picky eaters would enjoy, while still introducing them to something different.” 

As we talk, more food appears on the table. Andhra’s fiery pachi mirchi kodi, that has tender chicken pieces served with green chili sauce and the Korean café-inspired corn milk latte. While I sip the blended corn milk with espresso topped with toffee sauce, I also bite into chicken and enjoy the smoky and tangy spin. A standout dish must be the avakkai oil fried rice, where the classic Asian rice, pickle, and the egg kalakki on top come together in an irresistible combination. The roti canai sarang burung, a popular Malaysian street food, is a toad in the hole roti served with mutton sukka and a gravy pour on top where crisp bites of flaky parotta soon give way to meaty chunks. 

They add that Mojoe House represents Coimbatore’s changing food culture. “Earlier, they would go to Chennai or Bengaluru to try new food. Today, they want those experiences in their own city,” observes Mathangi 

“Coimbatore is changing rapidly,” says Vikash, adding “Five or seven years down the line, the city is going to boom. And automatically, the food scene will too. We want our neighbourhood café to be a welcoming space for families, children, coffee enthusiasts and casual diners. A place that feels like a living room, where people can sit peacefully, eat well, and feel at home.”

As we wind up the conversation, I try the chocolate babka French toast topped with mocha mascarpone cream and a dusting of cocoa powder, and layered chocolate baklava with raspberry coulis, that bring a smile with every bite. 

Located at 71 D, Bharathi Park, 7th Cross Road, KG Layout, Saibaba Colony. A meal for two costs ₹800 approximately. For reservations, call 9944470791