Hoppers launches international outpost in Doha
The restaurant, which opened last week, is located in Barahat Msheireb Downtown and takes its cues from the group's three London restaurants with a menu that combines Sri Lankan and South Indian influences across a range of dishes including short eats, curries, kothus, hoppers and dosas.
Hoppers is led by chef and restaurateur Karan Gokani and opened its first site in Soho in 2015. This was followed by restaurants in Marylebone and King's Cross, which opened in 2017 and 2020 respectively.
As well as being Hoppers' first international location, the opening in Doha also marks the first move into the Middle East for a brand operated by multi-concept group JKS Restaurants.
Speaking at the Restaurant Conference back in September, JKS co-founder Jyotin Sethi discussed the prospect of international growth opportunities for the group, which operates growing brands in the capital including Bao and Berenjak alongside singular restaurants such as Gymkhana, Bibi and Brigadiers.
"There are real growth opportunities in the Middle East, Asia, and the US," Sethi said.
"There’s plenty of conversations going on at the moment and we’ve got to work out how we best want to do that. We are lucky that our brands have an international following – but do we do it ourselves, do a JV (joint venture) or is it a licence structure? Each has its pros and cons."
It is yet to be confirmed which approach has been used to launch Hoppers Doha.
