London has reaffirmed its status as a powerhouse of Indian cuisine, with twenty-two of its restaurants securing coveted spots in the prestigious British Indian Good Food Guide 2025. While the top honour went to Raval Indian Brasserie & Bar in Newcastle, the capital demonstrated its culinary dominance with a significant presence in the national top 100.
Celebrating London's Indian Dining Excellence
The British Indian Good Food Guide is an independent annual publication that celebrates the very best of British-Indian dining across England, Scotland, and Wales. It rigorously assesses restaurants on a set of key criteria, including the quality of cooking, consistency, hospitality, and the overall dining experience.
This year's guide highlights the incredible diversity and sustained quality found within London's vibrant food scene, from long-standing institutions to beloved neighbourhood gems.
The Prestigious 'London Icons'
A special distinction was awarded to six establishments, crowned as 'London Icons' for 2025. This elite group is recognised for their sustained excellence, which has been instrumental in shaping London into a global capital for Indian dining.
All six icons are located in central London, and each has held a Michelin star at some point in its history, underscoring their exceptional standards. The honoured restaurants are:
- Cinnamon Club and Quilon in Westminster
- Gymkhana, Jamavar, and Benares in Mayfair
- Veeraswamy in Mayfair, which holds the distinction of being Britain's oldest Indian restaurant, located just off Regent's Street
A Guide for Every Palate and Occasion
Beyond the icons, the guide features a wide spectrum of London's Indian restaurants. The selection ranges from the opulent to the casual, ensuring there is something for every diner.
You can find plush dining rooms like Trishna in Marylebone, alongside more relaxed, community-focused favourites. These include Time Out recommendations such as the vegetarian specialist Rasa in Stoke Newington, Babur in Forest Hill, and the ever-popular Dishoom in Covent Garden.
The full list of London restaurants featured in the 2025 British Indian Good Food Guide is as follows:
Central London
Cinnamon Club (Westminster), Quilon (Westminster), Gymkhana (Mayfair), Kanishka (Mayfair), Benares (Mayfair), Jamavar (Mayfair), Amaya (Belgravia), Tamarind (Mayfair), Veeraswamy (Mayfair), Trishna (Marylebone).
City, Soho & West End
Dishoom (Covent Garden), Kricket (Soho), Hoppers (Soho), Tandoor Chop House (Covent Garden), Zaika (Kensington), Gunpowder (Spitalfields), Brigadiers (Mansion House), Café Spice Namasté (Docklands), Darjeeling Express (Soho), Bombay Brasserie (Kensington).
South and West London
Kutir (Chelsea), Kahani (Chelsea), Shiuli (Twickenham), Heritage (Dulwich), Babur (Forest Hill), Chokhi Dhani (Battersea).
North London
Rasa (Stoke Newington), Masalchi (Wembley).
This comprehensive list showcases the geographical spread of top-tier Indian cuisine across the capital, proving that exceptional flavours can be found from Wembley to Twickenham.
