Indian/SE Asian
Sagar - 157 King St, W6 9JT 020 8741 8563
This South Indian restaurant is a mere hop, skip and jump from the Lyric Hammersmith, making it a handy place to pop in after a show. Crisp, fluffy masala dosai comes with a beautifully spiced filling of roughly mashed potatoes or you can opt for the even more delicate rava (semolina) version. The accompanying sambar, and the coconut and coriander chutney, are sparklingly fresh and vibrantly flavoured. Sagar specialises in Udupi cuisine, the vegetarian temple-style cooking from Karnataka, in south-western India. The flavours are subtle, sophisticated, understated yet clear and distinctive, and the food is light and healthy. Service has always been friendly and professional on our visits. Open Mon-Thur 12noon-2.45pm, 5.30-10.45pm; Fri 12noon-2.45pm, 5.30-11.30pm; Sat 12noon-11.30pm; Sun 12noon-10.45pm. Licensed.
Nauroz - 219 Field End Rd, Eastcote, Middx HA5 1QZ 020 8868 0900
Join the raucous crowds at this Pakistani restaurant for freshly cooked and fiery curries prices £3-£9. We recommend soaking up the robustly spiced deigi gosht (lamb curry cooked on the bone) or the moong makhani (black urid and kidney bean dahl) with Nauroz’s enormous, crisp naan breads. The savvy owners founded (and subsequently sold) the still-brilliant Five Hot Chillies. Open Tue-Sun 12noon-12 midnight. Unlicenced. BYO. No corkage charge.
Sitaaray - 167 Drury Lane, WC2B 5PG 020 7629 6422
Bollywood-themed Indian restaurant serving an abundance of smoky kebabs, plus rich curries, in a glittering environment complete with memorabilia and flatscreen TVs. The food’s decent for a theme restaurant and the service is charming. Meal for two with wine and service: around £60.
Rasa Samudra - 5 Charlotte Street, W1T 1RE 020 7637 0222
Like its north-east London sibling (the original and cheaper Stoke Newington Rasa) Rasa Samudra is a real treat. The pink facade is impossible to miss, so grab a cosy table and await a fine southern Indian feast. Special popadoms and pickles set the tone, while vegetarian and fish-based mains are a spice sensation,. Everything comes prettily presented. Bring anyone you want to impress.
Imli - 167-169 Wardour St, W1F 8WR 020 7287 4243
From the folk behind prestige Mayfair Indian restaurant Tamarind, Imli’s friendly philosophy is that food is for sharing, so food is presented tapas-style in small portions allowing you to order several dishes. At lunchtimes there’s a meal deal offering a three-dish multi-choice menu for £7 with options to tack on flatbread and daal (£2) or dessert (£3.50). Mouthwatering spices and herbs litter the main menu, with dishes such as chicken with smoked tomato and fenugreek sauce, Goan-style pork, and aubergine or prawn masalas with rice. Tempting deserts include raspberry sorbet with black salt. Tangy thyme lemonade is a highlight of the impressive list of non-alcoholic drinks, but there’s wine and beer to be had, too. Imli’s contemporary décor is also several notches above that of most cheap-eateries: bright orange paint, rich woods, mahogany-hued mosaic tiles, trailing beads – and there’s a cool jazz soundtrack to accompany the hot food. Open daily 12noon-11pm. Licensed.
Mandalay - 444 Edgware Rd, W2 1EG 020 7258 3696
Authentic Burmese cooking - How they do it for the price we don’t know, but the Ally family continue to produce some of the most spectacular south-east Asian dishes in London with no drop in standards since they opened a decade ago. Burmese food is best described as a mix of Thai, Chinese and Indian influences, but with its own distinctive mix of sharp, hot, salty and sweet flavours. It’s best to follow the Allys’ suggestions to try a range of types of dish. It’s a very friendly little café and deservedly popular, so much so that two sittings a night are not uncommon. Lunchtime sees a set menu offer of three courses for £5.90. But don’t come here if you’re expecting a fancy affair; no amount of good food or endearing service can disguise the low-rent premises, a brightly-lit shop unit on an unlovely stretch of the Edgware Road. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm, 6-10.30pm.
Banana Leaf Canteen - 75-79 Battersea Rise, SW11 1HN 020 7228 2828
With its communal benches and sassy young staff, Banana Leaf Canteen’s twist is serving a primarily Malaysian menu incorporating journeys to the other south-east Asian ports. Best is to opt for one of the platters including your choice of main dish with rice, salad and starter snacks. Vegetarians will love the spicy aubergine and tamarind curry. Chargrilled chicken baker jawa (marinated in Javanese spices) accompanied by sweet chilli salsa is tender and full-flavoured too. The well-heeled locals are occasionally braying, but this is a fun, lively spot for a quick, casual dinner.
Champor-Champor - 62-64 Weston Street, SE1 3QJ 020 7403 4600
Innovative Malaysian cooking in an eclectically exotic-setting. Ostrich may appear as a satay, or frogs’ legs in the congee. Meal for two with wine and service: around £70.
La Porte Des Indes - 32 Bryanston Stree, W1H 7EG 020 7224 0055
Indian - A classy modern Indian restaurant with an unusual French twist - they take many of their influences from the once French-ruled Pondicherry region of southern India - which makes for an interesting take on proceedings. You'll find dishes like cassoulet de fruits de mer - a spicy take on bouillabaisse - as well as a vast range of thalis, tandooris and classic Indian dishes. Surrondings are stylish and modern; service is seamless.
Benares - 12a Berkely Square House, Berkely Square, W1J 6BS. 020 7629 8886
Indian - If your usual idea of an Indian restaurant incorporates a back-lit waterfall picture and a fake palm tree, this place in London's Berkely Square will knock you for six. It's stunning. Once you get over the interior you'll go through it all again with the menu. To eat at Benares is to eat so well that you feel like will never be the same again. The benarasi chaampen (cardemon spiced lamb chops) is superb; service is exemplary.
Masa - 24-26 Headstone Drive, Harrow, Middx HA3 5QH 020 8861 6213
An Afghan restaurant that’s worth a trek to the end of the Bakerloo Line. Savour the meaty kebabs, central Asian dumplings and Indian-inspired curries in showy surroundings. The meals are simple, flavoursome and deliciously spiced. Main courses start at £4.50, and two people can have a two-course set meal for £19.50. There is a BYO policy too, making this an even cheaper night out. Open daily 12noon-11pm. Unlicensed. BYO. No corkage charge.
Radha Krishna Bhavan - 86 Tooting High St, SW17 0RN 020 8682 0969
If you’re looking for a memorable but inexpensive Indian meal in a remarkable setting, Radha Krishna Bhavan is just the ticket: the sunset-scene wallpaper, life-size dummy of a Kathakali dancer and random South Indian kitsch easily evoke a holiday in Kerala. The food’s the real deal too, as long as you stick to the house specialities, such as mild vegetable curries, masala dosais (fried pancakes), idlis (steamed breakfast cakes) and dry vegetable stir-fries (called thorans). The South Indian seafood dishes are also good, but it’s really the vegetarian dishes that shine. Open Mon-Thur, Sun 12noon-3pm, 6-11pm; Fri, Sat 12noon-3pm, 6pm-12midnight. Licensed.
Ram’s - 203 Kenton Rd, Harrow, Middx HA3 0HD 020 8907 2022
Surat in south Gujarat is a famously food-obsessed city and its vegetable-laden Surti specialities are the base of the menu at this popular lilac-toned restaurant. From the long, mostly very authentic, list we’ve enjoyed scrumptious khandvi (steamed chickpea-flour spirals topped with mustard seeds and finely grated coconut) and ratalu (purple yam fritters flecked with cracked black pepper) alongside tasty own-made pickles and chutneys. Shrikhand, the thick, mildly spiced concoction of drained yogurt, sugar, cardamom and saffron, is properly dense and rich, and an essential finale. Thalis cost £4.99 at lunch and £8.99 at dinner, while individual main courses are £3.50-£5. Open daily 12noon-3pm, 6pm-11pm. Licensed.
Mint Leaf Restaurant - Suffolk Place, SW1Y 4HX. 020 7930 9020
Indian - A contemporary Indian restaurant where the decor is half the appeal. The food is excellent too, but it's the dark wood, screens, flowers and modern feel that you'll tell everyone about the next day - if you can remember it after the cocktails. The cooking is elegant and inspiring with new takes on classic dishes.
Base Camp - 552 High Rd Leytonstone, E11 3DH 020 8988 3904
Run by a Buddhist, this charmingly homely restaurant with an open kitchen and rock-bottom prices is a great place to introduce children to spicy delights. The Nepalese menu incorporates influences from Mongolia, Persia and the Indian subcontinent, with nourishing ingredients, including tofu and black beans. Kids and parents will love the chicken kadju with cashews, nutmeg and milk. We also recommend momo (a starter of steamed or pan-fried lamb dumplings) and pork choila (shredded meat cooked with ginger, garlic and spices). Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm, 6-10pm; Sat 6-10pm. Unlicensed. BYO. Corkage 50p per glass.
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