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Dicey Dishes and Rockabilly Vibes at Hoy Hoy

2018-04-20 Claire L. Squire ShanghaiWOWeng

There is a kinda new kid on the block along Maoming Lu. Hoy Hoy has replaced the Grumpy Pig and is a rockabilly bar. Sort of.

 


Described as ‘Inferno’s kid sister’, it’s the only bar in town that has a rockabilly theme. However, it’s a little lackluster, so don’t expect to walk in the door and be greeted by the 1950’s in a polka-dot dress. It’s more like being greeted with Spotify's rockabilly playlist on shuffle, decorated with some plastic framed posters on the wall… But it’s cute. Overall, the vibe is nice, and when the weather is good they open up the French doors to give it a slightly European feel.

 


Whilst the décor may be a tad on the basic side, they have some pretty cool weekly events that include a stand-up open mic night and upcoming plans for live music nights. So that’s pretty cool…

 


They have a pretty basic range of classic cocktails that are alright. Their signature, the ‘Hoy Hoy’, is a pretty solid order. It’s refreshing and punchy, and although it makes for the perfect sip on a summer’s day, it does come with a pretty hefty price tag of RMB 70, so you might be better off sticking with a beer if you're planning on having a few rounds.

 


The Moscow Mule (RMB 60) was good. That black bit on top of the lime slice is charred ginger, so whilst it looks a bit suspect, it actually smells really cool and adds a bit of funk to a pretty standard Moscow Mule.


At the back of the bar, there’s a ‘restaurant’ with a weird urban decay feel to it - think concrete and exposed lighting… Apparently this also doubles up as an event space.

 

 

They serve a good burger for RMB 68, but don't expect the quality to be on the same level as what The Grumpy Pig used to serve you. It comes with cheap Chinese bacon and that weirdly orange sliced burger cheese. It’s alright as burgers go… and the portion is big… so you still leave full. You can order from the restaurant and eat there, or walk it through to Hoy Hoy.


You have a myriad of options when it comes to food, and I would recommend that you steer clear of the following dishes:

 


Smoked salmon and kidney bean salad RMB 48… Yes, you read correctly, smoked salmon and kidney beans. Served in half a wine bottle on a chain stand. I don’t know if this is absolute genius or pure insanity… I feel like this dish is a metaphor for my life… or my job… or maybe my future… chained to a bottle in some restaurant in Shanghai. Either way, just order the burger.

 


If you’re feeling mad, order this dish of seaweed, meat sauce and French fries for RMB 28/48, depending on portion size… But probably don’t. Just get the burger.

 


There’s also the signature pork sandwich RMB 68. DO NOT ORDER THIS. If you’re hungry, just get the burger.

 


Oh, they did have this baby food-type of dish: mashed bananas and cream in a cup, with a chocolate smiley face. Turns out no one can go wrong with bananas and cream. I would go back for this RMB 25 banana pudding. It was actually delicious.


Final verdict: Hoy Hoy could be really cool, but they need to develop their theme and really go for it. Right now, we’re not convinced by the rockabilly-ness of the bar. Just playing a few songs isn’t really enough. The food, well, pretty awful (apart from the burger, which is fine), they need to have a serious rethink there. But the drinks are good, the weekly events are fun, and it does have potential to be a nice neighborhood bar. We're watching you, Hoy Hoy.

 

Address: 65 Maoming Lu

Tel: 13818937693

Hours: Daily, 7pm-1am


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