Think of Indian food in London the way you think of Mexican food in many US cities. Londoners have moved away from stereotyped ideas of what Indian food is and embraced its full diversity.
If you want to know where to eat the best Indian food in London, here’s a guide to make sure each of your meals is unforgettable.
Image Credit: Kashmir Restaurant. Image Location: Kashmir Restaurant, London
Is London good for Indian food?
With over 8,000 restaurants, the city has a complete ecosystem of Indian food, with Indian restaurants having the second most Michelin Stars in the city – just after French cuisine, but there are also many options for budget travelers.
Dishoom, Quilon and Veeraswamy are well-loved by Londoners and are easily found in central London. Or if you fancy venturing out for a more authentic taste of Indian cuisine, then check out either Asher’s Africana Restaurant, Kashmir's Restaurant or Café Spice Namasté.
The best Indian food and restaurants in London
Dishoom
Closest station: A five-minute walk from King's Cross St Pancras station
What would a Michelin-starred Indian take on British food be like? Dishoom answers that question with two words: bacon naan.
Their reservation policy is complicated: you can book a table for yourself and a couple of friends before 5pm, but after that they only take parties of six or more.
Our advice: go for breakfast during a weekday. They have multiple locations, but we recommend you go to the centrally located King’s Cross branch, a former transit shed where industrial-chic decor meets Persian design.
Quilon
Closest station: A four-minute walk from St James's Park station
Just five minutes away from Buckingham Palace, you can find the first South Indian restaurant to earn a Michelin Star, which it has kept since the award was given in 2008.
Fish and fresh coconut are the two ingredients of choice in South-west coastal India and are featured heavily in dishes like the Quilon fish curry and the prawn masala. While the preparation of food leans traditional, the presentation is a lot more modern.
Image Credit and Location: Quilon Restaurant, London
Asher’s Africana Restaurant
Closest station: A five-minute walk from Alperton station (or a quick jaunt from Wembley Stadium if you're catching one of the NFL games in London)
Here’s a great option if you’re vegetarian, vegan, or just looking for affordable home-style food. Follow locals’ lead and come here for the thalis – meals consisting of many small plates.
While owned by an Indian family from East Africa, the dishes are firmly grounded in the traditions of India’s western state of Gujarat. It is less spicy than other places but by no means less flavorful. Everything is made from scratch so come here with time.
Café Spice Namasté
Closest station: An eight-minute walk from Gallions Reach DLR station
Parsi café culture in India emerged when the Parsi people fleeing religious persecution migrated from Iran to Gujarat in the 19th century. The establishments they created were places of tolerance, where people could mingle freely.
This history of openness and hospitality is alive and well in this restaurant, where the owner enjoys chatting with customers. They also host regular events with special menus. Year-round, go for the beetroot coconut samosa chaat, prawn patia, or the apple crumble samosa.
Kashmir Restaurant
Closest stations: An eleven-minute walk from Putney Bridge station and a fourteen-minute walk from Putney station.
Still relatively unknown, Kashmiri cuisine features curries thickened with yogurt rather than tomatoes and onions, as well as goat and mutton, and intricate rice dishes. While this restaurant also serves more familiar Indian foods, we recommend you go for specialties of the Kashmir-border region.
If you love short ribs, why not try Kabargah, which is deliciously chopped bits of lamb still on the bone. For a vegetarian main that can please even the most die-hard meat eaters, we recommend the eggplant curry. Keep space for dessert so you can be surprised by moong dal halwa, a sweet yet healthy treat made of lentils and nuts.
Image Credit and Location: Kashmir Restaurant, London
What is the oldest Indian restaurant in London?
Veeraswamy
Closest stations: A four-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus station and a nine-minute walk from Oxford Circus station.
Opened in 1926, Veeraswamy is the oldest Indian restaurant not only in London but in the UK—and a real gem. While it first served only food to suit British tastes, Veeraswamy now features a wide variety of regional cuisines.
Its attention to seasonal food and willingness to reinvent itself earned the restaurant a Michelin Star in 2016. Go with an outfit that fits the elegance of the Roaring Twenties-interior decor and prepare to be surprised – there’s no menu on the website.
Feeling hungry?
London is one of the culinary capitals of the world, and the fantastic Indian food on offer is just scratching the surface of the rich diversity of cuisines you can find. Let us start by pointing you in the right direction to continue your gastronomic odyssey: street-food markets. Download the Trainline App to book your train tickets to London.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images