Seven restaurants across south London have been named finalists for the Asian Curry Awards, an annual celebration of the UK's Asian and Oriental dining sector. The shortlist, compiled through public nominations, includes Spice Village in Croydon and The Pepper Tree in Clapham, alongside other venues from Coulsdon, Putney, and Vauxhall.
Organised by the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), the awards are widely known as the "Curry Oscars" within the industry. They recognise excellence across a range of cuisines, from Indian and Bangladeshi to Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean. The programme also honours chefs, restaurateurs, and businesses that have made significant contributions to the sector.
213 Finalists Across 46 Categories
This year, a total of 213 finalists have been shortlisted across more than 46 award categories. The categories span Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year, Takeaway of the Year, regional honours, and specialist cuisine awards. Twenty-one of the finalists are based in London, with seven located in south London, highlighting the capital's strong presence in the UK's Asian food scene.
The south London finalists are: Bengal Bliss in Coulsdon, Colombo Kitchen in Putney, Curry Leaf in Old Coulsdon, Mumbai Delight in Vauxhall, Samsara Restaurant & Bar in Croydon, Spice Village in Croydon, and The Pepper Tree in Clapham. These venues represent a diverse mix of cuisines from across Asia.
Individual Accolades and Public Voting
Alongside restaurant and takeaway awards, the programme recognises individual achievement through accolades such as Asian Chef of the Year, Curry King, Lifetime Achievement, and Legacy Awards. The shortlist was compiled through public voting, with nominations submitted by food lovers from across the country.
Over the coming weeks, judges from the Asian Catering Federation, including some of the world's leading chefs and restaurateurs, will assess the finalists before selecting the overall winners. The winners will be revealed at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair, London, on Sunday, November 15.
Ceremony Hosts and ACF Chairman's Comments
The event will be hosted by BBC news presenter Samantha Simmonds, alongside former Apprentice finalist Anisa Khan, who will present awards to the businesses and individuals judged to have set the benchmark for excellence in the industry over the past year.
Chairman of the Asian Catering Federation Yawar Khan said: "The Asian Curry Awards set the standard for excellence across all aspects of our industry. We celebrate with the best of the best and are delighted to see public voting increase year on year." He added: "Alongside the excellent cuisine we champion with these awards, we also take time to celebrate the achievements of individuals and recognise the generous contributions they make to their communities through their charitable giving and their time. I look forward to meeting all the finalists in Mayfair on Sunday, November 15, to present these awards."
