The London restaurant scene is bursting with great Indian restaurants and many of them are halal. With so many Indian restaurants around, trying to find a good one may seem daunting so we’ve made it easier for you to find a great fit. We’ve split them into categories to help you find the perfect restaurant for any occasion. Whether you want something for breakfast, a quick bite at lunch or somewhere for the family, look no further than this guide.
Sharing Plates / Lunch menu – Talli Joe
Talli Joe offers Indian half plates inspired by regional flavours. Their £10 lunch dabba brings to London an Indian tradition popular among Mumbai’s office workers. Served on weekdays from 12pm to 4pm. Read our review here.
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Image credit: Talli Joe
Street Food – Chit Chaat Chai
Formerly a market stall, Chit Chaat Chai now has a permanent site in South West London. Unlike most Indian restaurants, the focus here is not on curries but on beautifully presented chaats with incredible textures and flavours – sharing is encouraged! Read our review here.
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Image credit: Chit Chaat Chai
Breakfast – Dishoom
Dishoom pays homage to the post-colonial Irani cafés in Bombay with distinctive decor across the restaurants. Queues are common particularly in the evening though reservations are taken for groups of any size for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is served from 8am to 11.45am on weekdays and from 9am to 11.45am on weekends.
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Image credit: Dishoom
Fine Dining – Gymkhana
A restaurant from the siblings behind some of London’s best restaurants (see Trishna and Hoppers), Gymkhana is inspired by the Colonial British-Indian gymkhana clubs where members of high society socialised. The Michelin starred restaurant serves contemporary Indian food using seasonal British ingredients with a strong focus on the tandoori oven and chatpatta sharing dishes.
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Image credit: Gymkhana
Supper Clubs – Darjeeling Express
Darjeeling Express started off with supper clubs at self-taught chef Asma Khan’s home in Kensington followed by residencies at various sites in London. Critics from the Evening Standard, Observer Food Monthly and the Financial Times have praised Asma’s food with Fay Maschler rating Darjeeling Express as one of the 15 best London restaurants of 2015. Now a restaurant in Carnaby’s Kingly Court, Darjeeling Express is one to check out. Read our review here.
Cheap Eats / Quick Bites – Kati Roll Company
Kati Roll Company is originally a New York restaurant which has been brought over to the UK. Serving spiced meat and veg mixtures in paratha wraps, this Soho cafe is covered with Bollywood posters and the wraps are great to go or to eat in. Prices start at £2.95 for one roll or £5.40 for two.
Image credit: Kati Roll Company
Jamavar first caught our attention this year when it was featured in the 2018 Michelin Guide and having tried their lunch menu, we could see why. Beautifully presented and delicate dishes created by ex-Gymkhana / Trishna executive chef, Rohit Gahi, are served at this fine dining establishment. Read our review here.
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Vegetarian – Vijay’s Chawalla
Image credit: Vijay’s Chawalla
Street Food Trader – Chaatit
From the streets of Mumbai to the streets of London, you can find Chaatit at various food festivals and events serving Mumbai sandwiches, masala chips, wraps and more. All of the food served is vegetarian with plenty of delicious vegan friendly options too.
Family Friendly / Group Bookings – Saffron Kitchen
Fusion dishes and Mumbai street food make up the menu at Saffron Kitchen. The spacious restaurant is great for families and the private rooms are perfect for large groups.
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