Indian: Top 10 Best Restaurants For Curry In Central London

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If you’re visiting London, or indeed England, for the first time, chances are you’ll want to sample the national dish. Afternoon cream teas, fish and chips, pie and mash, roast Sunday lunches; nothing is as popular in this country as Indian cuisine. We Londoners love to go for an Indian.

So you find yourself shopping in central London’s Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden triangle. You need to give your body sustenance before your West End show in the evening. You’ve got a real hankering for spicy curry or tandoori. Luckily, you’ve done the smart thing and booked ahead of time at one of Zone 1’s finest Indian restaurants thanks to this handy guide to the Top 10 Best Indian restaurants in central London.

Tags: Central London, Rest of the World, Restaurants

Mint Leaf
West End / Bar / Restaurant / Cuisine: Indian

West End - A stylish, contemporary Indian restaurant with exemplary service. The emphasis here is on taste rather than size (which many Indian restaurants are guilty of). The seafood selection is especially worth choosing from. If you're after a bit of buzzing atmosphere, book yourself in for a Friday night (if you can, it's very popular). To book a table at this Indian restaurant, follow this link.

Trishna
Marylebone / Restaurant / Cuisine: Indian

Marylebone - Offering an innovative twist on the coastal cuisine of south-west India, this minimalist sister restaurant of Trishna in Mumbai (acknowledged as one of the best seafood restaurants in the world) delivers a simple menu showcasing the freshest British seafood, meat & vegetables, and has many of the Mumbai restaurant's signature dishes. To book a table at this Indian restaurant, follow this link.

Tamarind
Mayfair / Bar / Restaurant / Cuisine: Indian

Mayfair - Holder of a Michelin star, this Indian restaurant features an eclectic array of dishes centred around the native tandoor ovens in which breads, meats, game, fish and shellfish are cooked in the North West Indian style. The restaurant's chef continues to explore the sub-continent for exciting new dishes. To book a table at this Indian restaurant, follow this link.

Benares by Atul Kochhar
Mayfair / Bar / Restaurant / Cuisine: Indian

Mayfair - Atul Kochhar's chic Michelin star Indian restaurant in central London has a vibrant menu that explores delicately flavoured dishes from all corners of the subcontinent. The Pan Fried Lobster Tails are particularly recommended. Our restaurant critic said it had "colourful cocktails and impeccable service" and was a "Great mélange of European delicacy and Asian flavour." To book a table at this Indian restaurant, follow this link.

Moti Mahal
West End / Restaurant / Cuisine: Indian

Covent Garden - This West End Indian restaurant has a curved wall of glass separating the kitchen from the dining area, so you can watch the chefs in action. The menu resurrects time-honoured dishes from rural India, introducing a culinary narrative highlighting long-forgotten recipes from the Grand Trunk Road. Close to the Royal Opera House too. To book a table at this Indian restaurant, follow this link.

Veeraswamy
Mayfair / Restaurant / Cuisine: Indian

Piccadilly Circus - Veeraswamy (pictured above) is the oldest surviving Indian restaurant in the UK, possibly the world, and has welcomed famous faces such as Edward Prince of Wales, Indira Gandhi & Charlie Chaplin. The menu draws from the classic cuisines of the West coast and North of India and is prepared by a team of regional specialist chefs. To book a table at this Indian restaurant, follow this link.

Chor Bizarre
Mayfair / Restaurant / Cuisine: Indian

Mayfair - "Best for authentic Indian food and unusual dishes. Great décor and friendly service." This was the verdict of our restaurant critic after visiting this Indian restaurant. Allegedly, it's the only restaurant outside of the Kashmir Valley that has access to the secrets of Wazwan, the legendary ceremonial feast of 36 courses. Impressive. To book a table at this Indian restaurant, follow this link.

La Porte des Indes
Marylebone / Bar / Restaurant / Cuisine: Indian

Marylebone - This Indian cocktail bar is designed as a hunters' perch with beautiful paintings of animals on the wall, hurricane lamps, rattan wall coverings, cane furniture, palms trees and tiger skin rugs. Low lit candles and soft background music give the bar a cosy intimate feel. Bar food includes samosas, chicken tikkas and pakoras. To book a table at this Indian bar, follow this link.

Gandhi's Restaurant
City of London / Restaurant / Cuisine: Indian

Holborn - Convenient situated within walking distance of Chancery Lane and Holborn tube stations (great for City workers), this Indian restaurant explores the finest ingredients of Indian cuisine, infusing every dish with elements of Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani cooking, supported by an excellent range of curries. To book a table at this Indian restaurant, follow this link.

Masala Zone Soho
Soho / Bar / Restaurant / Cuisine: Indian

Soho - This is a fun, casual Indian restaurant in central London serving real Indian food at unreal prices - under £14 per head - in a sleek Indian folk art setting. The Masala Zone name has rapidly become one of the most popular restaurants serving Indian food in Britain. Very close to Carnaby Street for all you shopaholic curry-lovers. To book a table at this Indian restaurant, follow this link.