The Best Indian Restaurants in London for 2026

Updated and fact-checked: September 2026 · Written by Clara Whitby, The Londonologist.

Britain fell in love with Indian food long ago, and London is where that love runs deepest. The city has more than a thousand Indian and South Asian restaurants, from cheap curry houses that have fed generations to Mayfair dining rooms with Michelin stars. For an American visitor, this is one of the great food experiences London offers, and often far better and more varied than Indian food back home. This guide names the restaurants worth your time, tells you what they cost in pounds and dollars, and explains how to book the hard-to-get tables.

Why London Does Indian Food So Well

London’s Indian food is the product of a long shared history, and it shows on the plate. You will find the regional cooking of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, from Goan seafood to Punjabi grills to Keralan curries, alongside the British-Indian classics the city invented. Chicken tikka masala was famously popularised in Britain, and the humble curry house is a national institution. The range is huge, so this guide splits it into the special-occasion tables and the cheap, brilliant local favourites. For more places to eat, see our guides to London food tours and halal food in London.

The Best Indian Restaurants in London

These are the names to book, from all-day icons to tasting-menu destinations.

Dishoom

Covent Garden, Shoreditch, King’s Cross, Kensington and more · all-day Bombay cafe

The one everyone means when they say they love London Indian food. Dishoom recreates the old Irani cafes of Bombay, and its bacon naan roll, black daal and chai have a cult following. It does not take bookings for small groups at peak times, so arrive early or expect a wait. A meal runs around £25 to £30 a head (about $35 to $40). Worth it.

Gymkhana

Mayfair · refined, Michelin-starred Indian

One of London’s most decorated Indian kitchens, styled after a colonial-era sporting club, famous for its game dishes and its tasting menu. This is a special-occasion table. The tasting menu runs from around £110 (about $150); book well ahead.

Trishna and BiBi

Marylebone and Mayfair · modern, Michelin-level

Trishna brings the coastal cooking of southwest India to Marylebone, while BiBi in Mayfair serves an inventive, personal take on the food of the subcontinent. Both are Michelin-starred and both deliver a memorable meal at around £60 to £90 a head (about $80 to $120).

Brigadiers

City of London · Indian barbecue and beer

Inspired by India’s army mess bars, Brigadiers pairs smoky grilled meats and rich curries with a serious drinks list and even sport on the screens. Lively and fun, with mains around £16 to £28 (about $21 to $38).

Amaya and Benares

Knightsbridge and Mayfair · grand rooms, grill and tasting menus

Amaya built its reputation on the tandoor and the open grill, a sophisticated Knightsbridge room that is easy to love. Benares is a long-running Mayfair fine-dining Indian. Both suit a dressed-up dinner, at roughly £50 to £90 a head (about $67 to $120).

Kricket, Gunpowder and Hoppers

Soho, Spitalfields and beyond · small plates, big flavour

For modern, sharing-style eating without the fine-dining price, this trio is hard to beat. Kricket serves sharp small plates in Soho and Brixton, Gunpowder does punchy home-style dishes in Spitalfields, and Hoppers brings Sri Lankan and South Indian street food to Soho and beyond. Expect around £30 to £40 a head (about $40 to $54).

Darjeeling Express

Soho · home cooking with heart

Asma Khan’s restaurant serves the food of a Kolkata home, cooked by an all-female kitchen, and it has a devoted following. Warm, generous and personal, at around £35 to £45 a head (about $47 to $60).

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Curry Houses, Brick Lane and the Cheap Classics

Some of the best Indian food in London is also the cheapest. For a legendary, low-cost feast:

• Tayyabs (Whitechapel): a Punjabi institution famous for its sizzling lamb chops, always busy, bring your own beer or wine. Around £15 to £20 a head (about $20 to $27).
• Brick Lane (East London): the historic heart of the Bangladeshi curry trade. It is touristy and hit-or-miss now, but still an experience, and the area around it has excellent newer spots.
• Tooting and Southall: for the real thing at local prices, South London’s Tooting and West London’s Southall are where Londoners go for outstanding, inexpensive South Asian food.
• Drummond Street (Euston): a short row of long-running vegetarian South Indian cafes, ideal for a cheap dosa.

These are also great value for anyone watching the budget; see our guide to eating on a budget in London.

What Indian Food Costs in London

Indicative prices at the time of writing; they change, and dollar figures use a rate of about $1.34 to the pound. Check the live rate before you travel.

How to Plan Your Indian Meal

• Book the big names ahead. Gymkhana, Trishna, BiBi and Amaya take reservations and fill up, especially at weekends.
• Dishoom means queuing. Arrive when it opens, go off-peak, or use the waitlist. It is worth the wait.
• Tayyabs is BYOB. Bring your own beer or wine, and expect a lively, no-frills room.
• Spice levels are flexible. Ask staff to guide you, and remember that the best kitchens balance spice with flavour rather than just heat.
• Go beyond the centre. Tooting, Southall, Wembley and East Ham reward the short trip with outstanding, cheaper food.

Keep Exploring London

The Bottom Line

For a first taste of London Indian food, book Dishoom for the atmosphere and Tayyabs for a cheap feast. For a special night, Gymkhana, Trishna or BiBi will not disappoint. And for the real, unpolished thing, take the Tube to Tooting or Southall. Few cities on earth do Indian food this well.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Indian restaurant in London?

It depends on the occasion. Dishoom is the best all-rounder for atmosphere and value, Gymkhana and Trishna are the top choices for Michelin-level cooking, and Tayyabs in Whitechapel is the classic cheap feast. The best one for you depends on your budget and how dressed-up you want the evening to be.

Is Dishoom worth it?

Yes. Dishoom is a genuine London favourite for its Bombay-cafe setting, its bacon naan roll and black daal, and its fair prices at around 25 to 30 pounds a head. It does not take small bookings at peak times, so arrive early or use the waitlist rather than turning up hungry at 8pm.

Where can you eat cheap Indian food in London?

Tayyabs in Whitechapel is the famous cheap feast, and it is bring-your-own-alcohol. For the real thing at local prices, head to Tooting in South London or Southall in West London, both packed with outstanding, inexpensive South Asian restaurants. Drummond Street near Euston is great for a cheap South Indian dosa.

Is Brick Lane still good for curry?

Brick Lane remains the historic heart of London’s Bangladeshi curry trade and is worth seeing, but it is touristy and quality varies restaurant to restaurant. Many Londoners now prefer Whitechapel, Tooting or Southall for better food, though the wider East End around Brick Lane has excellent newer places.

Do you tip at Indian restaurants in London?

A discretionary service charge of around 12.5 percent is usually already added to the bill in London, so check before adding more. Tipping culture is lighter than in the United States, and there is no need for a 20 percent gratuity on top of the service charge.

What is the best area in London for Indian food?

For a range in the centre, Soho and Marylebone have excellent modern Indian restaurants. Whitechapel and Brick Lane are the historic East End heartland, while Tooting, Southall, Wembley and East Ham are where London’s South Asian communities eat, and the food there is superb and cheap.

Do you need to book Indian restaurants in London?

For the fine-dining names such as Gymkhana, Trishna, BiBi and Amaya, yes, book ahead, especially at weekends. Dishoom does not take small bookings at peak times, so arrive early. Cheap curry houses like Tayyabs are walk-in but can involve a wait at busy times.

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