Hong Kong comfort in a bowl at Souper Joy

In a city famous for its incredible food scene, it takes something special to stand out. Step inside Souper Joy, and you’ll find exactly that: steaming bowls of ramen, flavours you won’t find anywhere else in Leicester, and a welcome so warm you’ll feel like part of the family.

We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Chi, who runs this East Asian fusion restaurant alongside his wife. Chi moved to the UK from Hong Kong as a teenager more than 30 years ago and has called Leicester home ever since. Two years ago, he decided it was time to share the food he grew up loving with the city that raised him.

Chi never went to cooking school. His skills were learned the old-fashioned way, through part-time jobs in Chinese restaurants and takeaways as a young man, where anyone keen to cook was given the chance to get stuck in. Years later, working as a food photographer for restaurants and cafés across Leicester, he took every opportunity to ask the chefs about their secrets and techniques. It sparked an idea: what if he could bring different cooking styles together to create something new?

When it came to opening his own business, Chi knew he didn’t want to open just another Chinese takeaway. Growing up in Hong Kong, he had been deeply influenced by Japanese films, TV dramas and culture, and he wanted to bring Hong Kong street food flavours to Leicester too. The result is Souper Joy: a fusion of Hong Kong, Japanese and Korean cooking, with a little hot pot thrown in for good measure.

The menu is packed with personality. The Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen is the star of the show, made to such an authentic recipe that Japanese customers have told Chi it tastes just like home. For a taste of Hong Kong, the Beef Brisket Noodles are a must. This dish started life as a family meal eaten in the restaurant, until curious customers asked to try it and insisted it go on the menu. Then there’s the Satay Beef Ramen, Chi’s clever take on a Hong Kong instant noodle classic, reimagined as a proper Japanese-style ramen bowl.

What makes Souper Joy truly special is the way it treats its customers. Chi regularly offers diners new dishes that aren’t yet on the menu, asking for their honest opinions before deciding what makes the cut. Even long-standing favourites are fine-tuned based on feedback. Regulars know Chi and his family by name, and if someone comes in feeling unwell or a little low, they’re likely to be handed a hot lemon tea on the house.

“The shop is not only a place to sell food,” Chi said. “It’s a way for us to communicate and build up a community.”

That personal touch extends to dietary needs too. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are prepared separately from meat, and the team takes care to talk customers through ingredients and allergens.

Like many independent businesses, Souper Joy relies heavily on word of mouth, Instagram and glowing Google reviews. Chi is full of praise for the support he’s received from neighbouring businesses and the wider community, describing how traders look out for one another and team up on promotions. Having watched Leicester transform over three decades, he’s proud to be part of a city he describes as safe, friendly and wonderfully multicultural.

And the ambition doesn’t stop here. Chi and his wife continue to develop new dishes, with desserts potentially on the horizon, and Chi admits he dreams of one day earning a Michelin star.

“We won’t say we are the best,” he said, “but we do things differently, in a way you can’t find in another shop. And it’s not just about the food.”

Fancy trying something different? Whether you’re a ramen fan or a complete newcomer, head down to Souper Joy at Northampton Street just a short walk from Leicester railway station. Pull up a seat and enjoy a bowl of Hong Kong comfort, served with a smile and maybe a hot cup of tea.