Indian restaurants in England
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Akbar's
Bit of an Egyptian theme going on at this exceptionally popular Indian restaurant – sarcophagi and cat-gods watch over the cutting-edge decor beneath a 'night-in-the-desert' ceiling. The traditional curry dishes come in pyramid-size portions, and they don't take bookings – expect to wait 30 minutes for a table on weekend nights.
reviewed
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Kennington Tandoori
This local curry house is a favourite of MPs from across the river, including former Prime Minister John Major.
reviewed
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Mela
Despite its location in the heart of theatreland, this bustling Shaftesbury Ave eatery serves some pretty authentic dishes from across India (with an emphasis on tandoor) and there is magnificent choice for vegetarians. We love the décor too, with colourful papier-mâché Ferris wheels and naive paintings of carnivals and fairs (mela means 'festival' in Hindi).
reviewed
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Diwana Bhel Poori House
The first of its kind and arguably the best on this busy street, Diwana specialises in Bombay-style bhel poori (a sweet-and-sour, soft and crunchy ‘party mix’ snack) and dosas (filled pancakes made from rice flour). Thalis offering a selection of tasty treats are £6.75 to £8.50 and the all-you-can-eat lunchtime buffet (£6.95) is legendary.
reviewed
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Masala Zone
This spacious place with outside seating set back from Upper St in Islington is one of the best budget Indian options in London. Thoroughly modern in design, it serves up meals centred on its famous thalis, as well as tandoor and grilled dishes. There are now several other branches throughout the capital.
reviewed
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New Tayyab
This buzzing (OK, crowded) Punjabi restaurant is in another league to its Brick Lane equivalents. Seekh kebabs, masala fish and other starters served on sizzling hot plates are delicious, as are accompaniments such as dhal, naan and raita. But with Tayyabs now appearing regularly in guidebooks and the huge London Royal Hospital round the corner, you should expect to wait for a table.
reviewed
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Café Spice Namaste
Chef Cyrus Todiwala has taken an old magistrates court just a 10-minute walk from Tower Hill and decorated it in ‘carnival’ colours; the service and atmosphere are as bright as the walls. The Parsee and Goan menu is famous for its superlative dhansaak (lamb stew with rice and lentils; £14.95) but just as good are the spicy chicken frango piri-piri and the Goan king-prawn curry. Bonuses: they make their own chutneys here and there’s a little garden behind the dining room open in the warmer months.
reviewed
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Amaya
Hidden down a little arcade behind Starbucks lies a swish, stylish restaurant, with low-lit interior, colourful jewelled inlays in the wood, hanging crystal strings and chandeliers. But what will really hold your attention are the chefs at work in the open kitchen, as they slave over an iron skillet (tawa), charcoal grill (sigri) or clay oven (tandoor). Varied set menus (including vegetarian one and an express lunch put the emphasis on sharing dishes with your dining companions.
reviewed
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Kastoori
If you're a true curry junkie and neither Brick Lane nor Whitechapel will do, the capital's contemporary hotspot is in the suburban wilds of SW17 - or Tooting. Near Tooting Broadway and Tooting Bec tube stations, you'll find rows of neighbouring curry houses, from Bangladeshi to Sri Lankan, including Kastoori. Here you'll get excellent Gujarati cuisine, by way of Africa, which is obviously lovingly homemade, rather than churned out on an assembly line. It's like no other Indian you'll ever eat.
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Benares
This restaurant, in a prime Mayfair location, is the first independent project of Atul Kochar, who a few years ago became only the second Indian chef in the world to earn a Michelin star. The interior is made up of dark wood, taupe upholstery and cream walls, while the small but choice menu brings together the four corners of India with contemporary dash.
Kochar has an expert touch when it comes to spicing, although he needs some help sorting out his service, which is a little scatty.
reviewed
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Rasa Samudra
This bubblegum-pink eatery just up from Oxford St showcases the seafood cuisine of Kerala state on India’s southwest coast, supported by a host – eight out of 14 main courses – of more familiar vegetarian dishes. The fish soups are outstanding, the breads superb and the various curries devinely spiced. The same group runs the South Indian vegetarian restaurant Rasa in Stoke Newington.
reviewed
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Al Bilal
It's a given that you cannot leave Manchester without tucking into a curry along Wilmslow Rd, which is as famous as Bradford or Birmingham for its Indian cuisine. There are so many great restaurants to pick from – and some pretty awful ones, too – but Al Bilal's tandoori sizzler will treat you and your tummy right. Like everywhere else along here the service is chaotic and hurried, but what else would you expect?
reviewed
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Masaledar
If you're a true curry junkie and neither Brick Lane nor Whitechapel will do, the capital's contemporary hotspot is in the suburban wilds of SW17 - or Tooting. Near Tooting Broadway and Tooting Bec tube stations, you'll find rows of neighbouring curry houses, from Bangladeshi to Sri Lankan, including Masaledar, a tandoori house with East African specialities.
reviewed
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Radha Krishna Bhavan
If you're a true curry junkie and neither Brick Lane nor Whitechapel will do, the capital's contemporary hotspot is in the suburban wilds of SW17 - or Tooting. Near Tooting Broadway and Tooting Bec tube stations, you'll find rows of neighbouring curry houses, from Bangladeshi to Sri Lankan, including Radha Krishna Bhavan, serving superlative Keralan cuisine.
reviewed
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Veeraswamy
Since 1926 Veeraswamy has occupied this prime 1st-floor location, with windows looking over Regent St – making it Britain's longest-running Indian restaurant. The excellent food, engaging service and exotic, elegant decor make for a memorable eating experience. The entrance is on Swallow St.
reviewed
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Bombay Bicycle Club
One of three ‘BBC’ restaurants in London, though there are also several delivery stations for this upmarket chain around the capital. This Hampstead sidestreet space is all scrubbed wooden floorboards and starched white tablecloths, with an alluring and interesting menu and plenty of veggie choices.
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Cinnamon Club
Domed skylights, high ceilings, parquet flooring and a book-lined mezzanine – this just had to be a library in a former life – and the hushed, efficient staff only add to the illusion. The atmosphere is colonial club and the food modern – or perhaps palace – Indian.
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Vama
Famous patrons of Vama have included Wesley Snipes and King Abdullah of Jordan – so it’s touristy, but targeted at a special class of tourist. Don’t let that put you off. Ordinary mortals come here, too, to sample some of the most imaginative North Indian cooking in town.
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Cafe Romna
More exotic flavours come to the fore at this Bangladeshi fusion restaurant, which exchanges the usual bhuna and bhaji for more unusual regional dishes such as Thither Loboori (chargrilled pheasant with Bangladeshi beans) and Chingri Keemawala (prawns and lamb cooked in a cheesy garlic sauce).
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Lasan
Expletive-loving chef Gordon Ramsay gave his endorsement to this elegant and upscale Indian as Britain's best local restaurant. From our experience, the service and style are spot on and the North and South Indian dishes are ****ing masterpieces.
reviewed
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Lahore Kebab House
This restaurant with a large kitchen viewable through glass is not an aesthetic experience, and ever since City workers discovered it the standard of cooking seems to have slipped. Still, it remains popular with the local community and has some excellent meat and chicken biryanis.
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Shere Khan
Of the almost impossible selection of curry houses along the Curry Mile, we recommend this place above all others for its plush setting, unfailingly good cuisine, polite, friendly service and for the fact that their sauces can be found stocked in supermarkets all over the country.
reviewed
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Red Fort
The menu at this stylish Indian in the heart of Soho has a Northwest Frontier edge, with lots of tender lamb and unusual, tongue-tingling curry dishes that you won’t find at any of its competitors. In the basement is the stylish Akbar cocktail bar (yep, we get the pun).
reviewed
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Aziz
Thought by many to be Oxford's best curry house, this award-winning restaurant attracts vegans, vegetarians and curry-lovers in hoards. There's an extensive menu, chilled-out surroundings and portions generous enough to ensure you'll be rolling out the door.
reviewed
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Zouk
Huge, fancy and totally contemporary, this is the best of a new breed of Indian restaurants, dishing out revamped versions of classic dishes to an enthusiastic clientele that are as mindful of their health as they are of a bloody good curry.
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