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Original poster

Hit me with you Indian restaurant in London recs

82 replies

Citygirlrurallife · 26/03/2023 19:38

We have some American friends coming to stay over Easter and want to take them to a really Indian for dinner… Pref central London, authentic and delicious. Dishoom is my go to but they don’t have any availability for the nights we’d want at a time we need (3/4th April 5:30-8pm) and they’ve been recommended the likes of veeraswamy but ££££

hit me!

OP posts:
ZoeyBartlett · 26/03/2023 22:34

This is an excellent authentic Indian www.punjab.co.uk/ - on corner of Nepalese St and Shaftesbury Ave.

Clymene · 26/03/2023 22:43

No! @Glitteratitar I haven't been for a while but it was my go to doer years

DaysofHoney · 26/03/2023 22:45

Kutir!

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coffeeshopmusic · 26/03/2023 22:50

I would second The Punjab too, value for money compared to the more spenny options.

If you could be arsed to travel out to Southall it'd be cheap and cheerful, and depending on where you go a bit more authentic.

Wigeon · 26/03/2023 23:10

Kricket! So delicious.

Glitteratitar · 26/03/2023 23:19

Clymene · 26/03/2023 22:43

No! @Glitteratitar I haven't been for a while but it was my go to doer years

Yeah I know! I used to go regularly when I was younger. Hadn’t been for a couple of years and then went back, and found the quality to be really poor and the food generally greasy. I actually remember googling if there was a new owner!

kindlyensure · 26/03/2023 23:23

Yes Punjab, ^^Covent garden is really good. (Grandad's black dahl is one of the best things on the menu.)

JurassicParkaha · 27/03/2023 00:07

Indian (from India) and love masala zone soho. Lovely space, great service and cocktails, and their thali is as authentic as my parents cook at home.

BlueBananaLlama · 27/03/2023 00:52

Masalchi by Atul Kochhar at Wembley Park. The food was fabulous, and the cocktails were amazing.

rose69 · 27/03/2023 01:46

The Empress, Lauriston Street, E9. You could take them to Wilton’s Music Hall bar for a drink afterwards.

BigGreen · 27/03/2023 07:02

Gunpowder is delicious and there's a few more branches now.

BigGreen · 27/03/2023 07:04

Tayyabs is a local institution and great but not as fancy as Dishoom.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 27/03/2023 07:08

If you could do lunch rather than dinner, the expensive places will be much cheaper. Gymkhana do lunch for about £40 iirc.

MaryBoggintonTrotterSmyke · 27/03/2023 07:19

Yep Gymkhana lunch is v reasonable
Tayyabs is great but best avoided if there are any vegetarians in your group as it's really all about the grilled meat!

Northerndreamer · 27/03/2023 07:19

There's a big Dishoom in Canary Wharf that you can book for groups of more than 6 people have you checked there for your dates?

Bear2014 · 27/03/2023 07:29

Darjeeling Express would be my top pick, can't believe no one has suggested it yet.
https://www.darjeeling-express.com/

Very central (Carnaby Street), amazing food, all female chef team and a proper restaurant experience.

Tayyabs is nice but it's not Indian and they turn the tables so fast it makes your head spin.

Darjeeling Express | Indian Food Restaurant in London, United Kingdom

Indian food cooked from the heart at Darjeeling Express restaurant by Asma Khan.

https://www.darjeeling-express.com

Howtohideasausage · 27/03/2023 07:31

You can reserve Dishoom for groups over 6. See attached picture.

I’ve been to Benares, Gymkhana and Gunpowder. I think Gunpowder was my favourite.

Hit me with you Indian restaurant in London recs
Abraxan · 27/03/2023 07:34

We went to Quilon in half term. It was really good, but pricy.

GraysPapaya · 27/03/2023 07:35

Came here to say Darjeeling Express! I’m also surprised it hasn’t been mentioned more… in the evenings it’s a set menu but you get tons of the food is like nothing else!

OverHereTryingToFigureItOut · 27/03/2023 07:39

Tayyabs is lovely.

About as far from central as you can get, but Tandoori Lounge in Hornchurch is incredible.

Gooseysgirl · 27/03/2023 07:51

OP... we're always a bit sneaky with Dishoom and book for 4.15/.4.30 (Kings Cross).... a couple of us arrive on time but no earlier, staggered arrival of everyone else, and have a couple of drinks before ordering food which usually takes us up to 5pm. Never been a problem!

Ginmonkeyagain · 27/03/2023 08:31

The exam question is a bit wide. London has a huge vriety of restaurants serving food from tbe Indian sub cintinent and at a range of prices and service fron old school suburban curry houses, to basic but authentic dhosa and grill places to pretty high end dining experiences.

The Pakistani style grill houses off Brick Lane are greay. There is Tayyabs or the lesser known (but I think better) Needoo. The Lahore kebab house is even more basic - long shared tables, Bollywood films constantly playing in the background, groups of men dining after prayers at the Mosque - delicious grilled meats! They are all pretty basic service and surrounding wise but the food is delicious.

If vegetarian food is your thing the dhosa restaurants of Drummond Street or Tooting are great. We love the Ravi Shankhar.

At the other end I would second the recommendation of Babur. It is more suburban London (it is in Honor Oak Park) but the food is delicious, innovative and interesting and will be cheaper than central places. The service is great and they have amazing cocktails.

TeeBee · 27/03/2023 09:17

Another vote for the Tandoor Chop House. Fabulous food!

SophiaSW1 · 27/03/2023 09:35

Only Tayyabs if you accept you'll be massively rushed and you're not looking for a relaxing leisurely catch up!