Oxted, Indian Restaurant Guide

2024 Review: This suburban subcontinental offers an unusual take on Indian street food, having been set up by three brothers keen to pay homage to their grandmother’s cooking, inflected by her travels in Africa and Saudi Arabia; its “authentic” recipes attract nothing but positive reports.

“Delicious fresh cooking – lamb biryani in particular is fantastic” – justifies the trip to this high-quality Indian in the boonies of West Dulwich. It’s run by Rajasthan-born chef-patron Dayashankar Sharma (who first won renown at the now-defunct Grand Trunk Road in South Woodford).

“Outrageous value” is not the only reward of a journey to the outer-limits of the metropolis and this “small”, “top-notch Indian” in a trafficky parade of shops in Ewell. You will also discover “Indian food the likes of which you have not previously experienced, full of such a variety of delicious flavours that it’s hard to limit your choices” – “rich but so tasty”. (Food commentator, Andy Hayler, who has visited every Michelin three-star on the planet, is a major fan – he’s reviewed the place 13 times!). Top Menu Tips – “best are the starters”: “super pani puri”.

“Reliable curries. Quite spicy!” – This stalwart Pakistani restaurant has played a leading role in Tooting’s development as a destination for curry-lovers over the past three decades, under founder Zahid Iqbal and now his son Numan.

2024 Review: “Always delicious”, this well-known Pakistani canteen on Tooting’s ‘curry corridor’ offers the “same fun and good-value food as it has for years”. A favourite of local boy-made-mayor Sadiq Khan (so come on foot or by public transport), it has an offshoot in Coulsdon, on London’s southern fringe.

2023 Review: “Very helpful staff” add to the appeal of this Balham High Street Indian, of over 15 years’ standing. Whether it should be a perennial inclusion in TripAdvisor’s top 10 London restaurants is debatable, but the (limited) feedback we receive says it’s worth a visit.

“The food never disappoints” at this better-than-standard Nepalese and Indian specialist on the edge of Blackheath Common. Notwithstanding the choices of artworks and wall hangings, the contemporary interior avoids the classic curry house look.

“Tasty! very tasty” – the scoff at this old-school curry house near Wandsworth Common, whose steady standards make it one of the longest-running entries in the guide.

“Interesting and unusual Indian food” – “not heavy curries at all, but a less familiar range of dishes, with very well-judged spicing and a huge range of delicate flavours” – again inspires rave reports for this superb Brit-run chain (founded by Will Bowlby & Rik Campbell), which also has a brilliant service ethos: “cheerful and obliging throughout and very prompt”. In 2025, they opened their latest 80-cover outpost in Shoreditch, which also introduced a debut breakfast menu alongside an all-day 50-cover Kafé and bar concept (serving street-food snacks). And coming soon – a launch in Covent Garden’s Neal’s Yard is planned. Top Menu Tips – “date and pistachio kuicha is particularly good; excellently light panipuri with tomato rasam”.

“This old favourite” serving South Indian food “remains a pleasure” and remains a model of consistency under founder Claire Fisher, as it has been for more than 20 years. Top Menu Tips – “the homemade paratha is heaven on a plate and the spinach dal the stuff of dreams”.

“Very ‘now’ venue”, serving up an “interesting and unusual take on Indian food” on the former site of Balham favourite Lamberts (RIP). It is absolutely the place for “under-30s fulfilling their weekend curry vibes” – so “if you want a decent relaxed curry with a difference, then mid-week is your best bet”.

“Quality cooking and ingredients” and an “innovative style of dishes” make this East Dulwich two-year-old a “refreshing change from the standard Indian” – and “such a welcome addition to the neighbourhood”. The latest opening from Sanjay Gour and Simeron Lily Patel, the team behind suburban superstars Dastaan and Black Salt (see also); like them, it “has been compared to Mayfair restaurants offering similar cuisine”. Top Tip – “go as a party so you can taste the whole menu”.

“Excellent, tasty Nepalese and Indian cuisine” is to be found at this outfit with “a good chef in the kitchen” that is “new to Blackheath”, having enjoyed a good run at former premises in Lewisham. There’s also a branch in Hither Green.

“Authentic dosas”, idlis, vadas and uttapams are on the menu at this “welcoming” three-year-old South Indian vegetarian restaurant with a “lovely local feel and super food”. A spin-off branch opened in Milton Keynes branch in late 2025.