Best Thai or Indian restaurant London

[Prettybubblesintheair]

Sorry not an aibu but we’re going into central london on Saturday and looking for recommendations for a really good Indian or Thai food restaurant please! Budget £125 for both, only dh drinks and he’ll be happy with a couple of beers. Not too posh or too casual with a good, vibrant atmosphere.

Thank you!

Thanks so much everyone! We like the look of The Heron but we’re going to look at dishoom too.

The Heron thai food is incredible but should say that part of its charm is it's a very normal un-fancy looking boozer that happens to do amazing Thai food. I like dates like that but see how you roll!

The Eater's London restaurants guides are very good, really dig out some hidden gems: https://london.eater.com/22586805/best-food-london-restaurants-where-to-eat

Another vote for Supawan for Thai which is about two mins walk from Kings Cross stn, at the bottom of Cally Road. Housed partially in a florists - cool stylish venue and amazing food that is not your standard green curry / pad Thai fare. Google Jay Rayner’s review for an idea.

I will never understand the love for Dishoom. The breakfasts are great but the lunch and dinner menu is just meh. There’s a reason you rarely see Indian people in Dishoom… (I’m Indian).

Gunpowder would be my choice for Indian in central London. It is a bit trendy and it’s not your usual Indian fare, but it’s excellent.

Supawan is great food but definitely on the very casual side and located in the still not so great but near kings X.

Bit not but!

Tamarind
Cinnamon Club

I liked Dishoom too but the queue is a pain. Not in the same league as the others.

Ivy Asia is supposed to be amazing but I've not been.

People suggesting cinnamon club- have you been recently?

Cinnamon bazaar is the most casual and cheapest of the 3 cinnamons but my favourite post pandemic. Kitchen is always deserted and club struggles with staffing.

Oh my gosh the lamb chops from Gunpowder are amazing! Beautiful food 💕

The Tamil Prince is excellent South Indian if Islington isn’t too far out

I love Fatt Pundit for Calcutta style Indo-Chinese

Agreed! I love their bacon naan but the rest of the food is just ok.

Brigadiers.

Bibi if you can get a table. Fatt Pundit also a good shout.

Plaza Khao Gaeng is excellent and you can book.

Yes! The lamb chops at Gunpowder are amazing - easily the best in London. The whole menu is brilliant though. The venison doughnuts deserve a shout out too. But even their broccoli dish is delicious!

My Indian family all love it but think it's expensive

Interesting, @OneTC. I’ve never met an Indian person who likes it (apart from the great breakfasts!) It’s the one place I can think of where people suggest going and all the Indians in the group roll their eyes and groan! My parents went once with a group of their (also Indian) friends years ago and still complain about how disappointing it was! No price complaints though. Perhaps it depends on which region of India your family are from as maybe it depends on the specific dishes one cooks at home? Would be interesting if it turns out that it depends on regional spicing and cooking preferences.

I was going to suggest cinnamon kitchen, but I've not been there since pre pandemic (and DC) , sounds like a PP has been more recently and it's not what it was which is a shame, the food used to be great

I feel like dishoom is just a trendy place to go. It's truly not that good and the service can be poor. Plenty of better suggestions, gymkhana etc

A bit late but the strand continental for Indian. Next to Somerset house. Excellent food and very reasonable

Why are people suggesting these (admittedly) good restaurants when budget is £125 for both. No point in suggesting gymkhana or bibi with that in mind! I would suggest dishoom (as many others have), kricket and hoppers. I have heard good things about Tamil Prince and smoking goat. Busaba eathai is a decent chain restaurant

But if you can up your budget - Bibi is amazing

Masala Zone, Covent Garden. There are other branches all over London but this one has Rajasthani puppets hanging from the ceiling. Very cool.. And amazing Thalis too!

I think the food is good but the atmosphere not so much
Maybe because they now open at weekends which they didnt use to do