Many Pakistani men originating from the Punjab region settled in England and established their communities there. Specifically, you will find a lot of Pakistanis in London. For that reason, many people have opened desi restaurants to serve their brothers the taste of their motherland and cherish the memories of their culture’s cuisine for the rest of their lives.
In recent years, behind many new restaurants are businesswomen who successfully run their businesses and take care to give you the taste you crave. The restaurants serve hot grilled dishes, BBQ bowls, and kebabs and also have a variety of curries to choose from. Although there are so many good desi food restaurants opening in London now. Following are some of the best restaurants among Londoners.
- Aladdin Kebabish
- Lahori Nihari London
- Karachi Cuisine
- The Original Lahore Restaurant
- Masala Wala Cafe
- Namak Mandi
- Tayyabs
- Nedoo grill
- Taste of Pakistan and Take Away
- Spice Village Tooting
Aladdin Kebabish
The name of this restaurant gives off an Arabian Night vibe, but it’s a deep-rooted Pakistani restaurant that uses authentic Pakistani Tarka and masalas. The most popular item in this restaurant is Haleem. It is a very complex dish. If the portion and cooking method are not correct, the results would not be tasty. It takes a lot of effort to prepare this dish. It takes hours of pounding to get everything mixed to get the desired result.
Another star dish of this restaurant is Nihari. They provide one of the best quality nihari in London using ancient and authentic preparation techniques. Other menu items include kebabs and BBQ platters with a variety of bread to choose from.
Location: 147-149 W Hendon Broadway, Hendon, London NW9 7EA, UK
Contact details: 020 8203 9777
Website: aladinkebabish.co.uk
Lahori Nihari London
This restaurant offers a variety of dishes. They not only serve the typical desi dishes available in most restaurants but also focus on comfort food which is rare in most restaurants. Some of the dishes they prepare include bhindi gosht, aloo keema, and daal chawal. These dishes are rare in any restaurant. But they also specialize in Nihari, Quorma, Mutton Kuna, etc. Many families visit this restaurant on Fridays after Jumma prayer and this restaurant is usually packed on Fridays.
Location: 50 Plashet Grove, Upton Park, London E6 1AE, United Kingdom
Contact details: 020 8586 9148
Karachi Cuisine
Karachi Cuisine is one of the most famous restaurants in London. It is famous for its chefs. The restaurant prides itself on the fact that all the chefs are from Karachi and their food has an authentic Karachi feel. It is one of the famous Pakistani restaurants in London which serves two special Desi dishes which are kat-a-kat and brain masala.
Both dishes show the authenticity of Desi food. Apart from these two dishes, there are other authentic Karachi dishes like biryani, qorma, nihari, and Haleem with different types of bread. This restaurant caters to the tastes of people hailing from Karachi and serves them authentic and delicious Karachi food. Karachi food is known for its unique flavors and this is the main motto of this restaurant to provide authentic Karachi food to its customers.
Location: 1113-1115 London Rd, Norbury, London SW16 4XD, UK
Contact details: 020 8689 6868
Website: karachicuisine.com
The Original Lahore Restaurant
This restaurant is most famous for its tikka and BBQ platter. This restaurant’s lamb chops are not only famous among the locals, but cricketers from India and Pakistan seem to be enjoying a plate of lamb chops at this restaurant. Whenever there is a cricket match at Lord’s ground, the legends of the Indian and Pakistan cricket teams stop by the restaurant and enjoy delicious food.
Apart from this, nihari and paya are also available but they are only available on weekends. The restaurant always remains crowded even at unusual meal times. Another famous dish of this restaurant is meatballs. The meatball sauce is simply tempting.
Location: 2-4 Gateforth St, Marylebone, London NW8 8EH, United Kingdom
Contact details: 020 7723 0808
Website: originallahore.com
Masala Wala Cafe
This restaurant is run by mother and daughter Nabeela Muqadiss and Saima Thompson. The restaurant was established in 2015. The main focus of Masala Wala Cafe is Punjabi cuisine. They are eager to promote the authenticity and simplicity of Punjabi cuisine. The menu changes every month and in addition to meat plates, the restaurant also focuses on vegetarian and vegan dishes, so everyone can visit the restaurant and enjoy the aromatic and delicious cuisine served here.
Famous vegetarian dishes at the restaurant include kaddu Channa, saag shakarkandi, and gobi aloo. The restaurant claims to provide food that will give you memories of your native country and the taste of your mother’s food in the old kitchen. All the food served here is made with great precision and is characterized by a place in the customer’s heart.
Location: 5 Brockley Cross, London SE4 2AB, United Kingdom
Contact details: 020 3659 4055
Website: masalawalacafe.co.uk
Namak Mandi
Namak Mandi is one of the most famous restaurants in London as it serves authentic Pashtun cuisine. Pashtun cuisine is heavily influenced by Afghan cuisine and is somewhat similar. Pashtun cuisine has a very delicate taste. They don’t overload the food with extra spices like in Punjabi cuisine.
Chapli Kebabs is a specialty of Pashtun cuisine and the best part is the namak mandi. Chapli kebabs are soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. Lamb karahi is cooked in mild spices, tomatoes, coriander seeds, ginger, and garlic. Another specialty dish of this restaurant is the Kabuli pulao. Everything tastes perfect.
Location: 25 Upper Tooting Rd, Tooting, London SW17 7TS, UK
Contact details: 020 8767 6120
Tayyabs
Tayyabas was established in 1972 and since then it has gained a lot of popularity for serving the authentic taste of Punjabi cuisine. You will always find this place crowded. The specialty of this place is Chicken Tikka and Keema Naan served with Chilled Mango Lassi. Apart from savory dishes, they also serve some authentic Pakistani desserts like kheer, also known as rice pudding. This place is always crowded and noisy. So it is better to book a place in advance to enjoy the food.
Location: 83 -89 Field gate St, Whitechapel, London E1 1JU, UK
Contact details: 020 7247 9543
Website: Tayyabs.co.uk
Needoo grill
As the name suggests, the restaurant specializes in grilled dishes. The most popular dishes of this restaurant include lamb chops, chapli kebabs, chicken tikka plates, and many other grilled varieties of chicken and lamb. The meat is so tender and tasty. The most famous and tastiest vegetarian dish in this restaurant is the shahi paneer. The butter sauce is sweet and rich in flavor. The paneer is so soft that it melts in your mouth.
Location: 87 New Rd, Whitechapel, London E1 1HH, United Kingdom
Contact details: 020 7247 0648
Website: needoogrill.co.uk
Taste Pakistan and take them away
The name of the restaurant is a bit misleading. This restaurant showcases the cuisine of the northwestern region of the country. The restaurant’s most popular dishes include chapli kebabs, charsi karahi, and tender lamb chops with mild spices and tomatoes. The owner of the place suggests ordering mild spices instead of extra spicy ones because it will destroy the flavor of the meat. It serves one of the best Pashtun cuisines in London. The chef knows the art of making meat delicious. You wouldn’t find a variety of vegetarian food in this restaurant.
Location: 369 Hanworth Rd, Hounslow TW4 5LF, United Kingdom
Contact details: 020 8572 1298
Spice Village Tooting
Spice Village tooting is another very famous restaurant in London. The restaurant’s most famous dish is masala fish. It is marinated in gram flour and spices and then fried and served with lemon and lime. Apart from that, Daal Gosht is another popular dish among the locals. The restaurant exudes the atmosphere of a South Asian wedding hall, where the feast is more important than the atmosphere.
Location: 32-36 Upper Tooting Rd, Tooting, London SW17 7PD, UK
Contact details: 020 8672 0710
Website: spicevillage.co.uk
Conclusion
A large community of Pakistani and Indian people settled in England. Therefore, it is easy to find Pakistani restaurants and halal food there. Most of these restaurants have kept the authenticity of desi food and have not created a fusion of continental and desi food, but you can also find many restaurants that have experimented with desi food and created a fusion to attract British and new generations of Asian Brits.
It’s remarkable for me to have a site, which is valuable for my knowledge.
thanks admin
I am from london. and i have visited Needoo grill, is it really good in taste and hygenic.