There are so many of these lists – London is bursting with Indian food. And most of them are fantastic but these are the ten best Indian restaurants in London from my 10 year old life in London.
The reasons I believe I am qualified to write this post:
- I grew up in India, eating Indian food,
- I grew up in Calcutta, the best city for food in India (no, I don’t care if you are from Delhi, this is not a debate. This is an established fact. If you grew up in Bombay and have come to argue about this, please for everyones sake, just let it go. If you are from Lucknow, I am willing to listen to you talk about kebabs for 10 minutes).
- My mum is an excellent cook. I know what you are thinking – everyone thinks their mum is an excellent cook. No, this is not the case here. Objectively, my mum is an excellent cook. I was recently congratulated for my 10th wedding anniversary and one of our friends who attended our signing ceremony at home said “congratulations, I still dream of those prawns” in the same breath.
- I love food, love good restaurants, love eating out.
- I have eaten at almost every Indian restaurant in London.
- Its in the genes. My mum is Bengali and my dad is Punjabi – food is a very important part of life.
1. The McDonald’s of Indian food: Dishoom
Although I hate McDonald’s (I am a total food snob, not price wise but quality wise so I haven’t had Mc Donald’s in decades) but the point I am trying make with this is consistency. You will never have Dishoom food and be surprised. It is consistently good every time. Even the food snob that I am, Dishoom is fantastic. The menus are perfect, the decor is gorgeous, the drinks are delicious and the food is elevated comfort food – whats not to like?
Tip 1: If you are tired of queuing (although even the queuing in Dishoom has its charm – free cardamom tea anyone?), they take bookings for groups of 6. The one in Kings Cross is the largest so easiest to get a table. No one in Kensington needs to get up for breakfast, so the easiest breakfast table is there.
Tip 2: every Dishoom has a dish that you can only get in that particular Dishoom. The Nalli Nihari Biryani at Kensington and the Salli Boti at Carnby Street deserve special mention.
2. Best overall: Brigadier’s
I survived the pandemic because Brigadier’s started delivering to us since we lived nearby. Their butter chicken wings is the best thing I have ever eaten. No disclaimers.
I love the overly masculine decor and the very welcoming service. I hate the prices but somehow never feel it wasn’t worth it.
3. For the most authentic Bengali* food: Chourangi
I have done all the overtly Bengali food places like Darjeeling Express, Kutir, but Chourangi feels the most Calcuttan to me, starting with the name and the fact it has eleesh on the menu. I went there for my birthday last year, ordered everything I missed about eating in Calcutta and loved it all.
*Sadly, my expertise is limited to Calcuttan Bengali food which is what I have considered, not Bangladeshi Bengali food.
4. Best dosa: Sarvanabhavan
Growing up in Calcutta, it was the Tamilian dosa that I grew up eating. I admit I took it for granted. When I took my Greek, Turkish and Portuguese friends to eat dosa in Sarvanabhavan, I saw it in new light. Their disbelief that its all vegetarian, its made of rice, its so perfect. Its Indian food like they have never known before. There is no better breakfast. Sorry crepes, no amount of Nutella will help.
5. Best fancy Indian food: Bibi
Bibi has everything in a restaurant that annoys me about restaurants and eating out in London. 2 hour table limits, very high prices and the least relaxed atmosphere ever. But I can’t fault the food. Bibi is where I had Indianised oysters – it blew my mind. This is the restaurant I want to go alone (your dinner companions are a liability here and DJ is especially relaxed and leisurely at dinner so a total liability), sit in a corner, order everything on the menu and eat it all without judgement.
6. Best Malabar: Quilon
I am not a big fan of the Michelin guide (there is only 1 Chinese restaurant with 3 stars and too many French ones, I am suspicious already), but Quilon has a Michelin star and deserves more.
What I like is its not gone the way of most other Indian restaurants in London by upping the spice to be ‘authentic’. (Quick lesson: all Indian food is not spicy, spice actually doesn’t mean hot, spice means flavour – remember, turmeric is a spice).
Tip: go for lunch and ask for the set menu. All Michelin star restaurants are required to have a set menu to retain their Michelin star. You will eat everything they serve at dinner at half the price – with Indian hospitality. Its divine.
7. Best Indian pub food: The Glad
There are many things I miss about leaving SE1 and The Glad is on that list (along with Borough Market). Its run by an Indian brother-sister duo and they know how to do their goat sliders. I had no idea Indian pub food could be a thing but they do it so well.
8. Best fancy South Indian: Trishna
Loved the food, hated the service. I think they were just overwhelmed by their success. Can’t blame them since the food is different from what you get in most other Indian restaurants and fantastic.
9. Creative Indian: The Tamil Prince
Its a pub with creative, slightly fancy Indian food and they do it so well! The beef uttahapam is delicious. I have gone twice in the last six months at around 5 pm or so to eat dinner – no regrets.
10. Best old school: Veeraswamy
Most old school Indian restaurants in London are actually Bangladeshi (this is a fantastic insight into the curry culture of Britain). This is an Indian one that seems to have survived the pandemic and more – proper old school and so good.
Tip: most Indians in London know to steer clear of restaurants with Raj and Tandoori in their names. They are old school and not exactly authentic but Veeraswamy is not one of those.
If your favourite Indian restaurant isn’t on this list, please comment below with your pick. Extra points if its one I haven’t been to – maybe I need to amend the list the best Indian restaurant in London list soon!
Thank you for reading.
– Anisha
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