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Where to Find Indian Food in London: Brick Lane to Southall Complete Guide

May 20, 2026

6 min Read

By Samridhi Puri

London is home to one of the largest Indian diaspora communities in the world outside South Asia. That one fact alone explains why this city does Indian food like almost nowhere else in Europe. Whether you are after a proper Punjabi thali, a bowl of Hyderabadi biryani, or a Kerala fish curry that could make your grandmother cry with joy, London has it. And it has been doing it for decades.

But knowing where to go is the real challenge. The city is vast. The options are overwhelming. And not every place with a plastic curry house sign deserves your time or your appetite. If you are also planning to visit London's top attractions alongside your food tour, the London Tourist Pass from Alike is the smartest way to save on entry fees across the city.

This is your no-nonsense, honest, complete guide to Indian food in London, from the famous curry corridor of Brick Lane in the east to the brilliant South Asian suburbs of Southall in the west.

Quick facts about Indian food in London

Key area	Brick Lane (E1), Southall (UB1/UB2), Tooting (SW17), Wembley (HA0/HA9)
Currency	British Pound Sterling (GBP)
Nearest airport	Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW)
Best time to visit	Year-round, though spring and early autumn are most pleasant for outdoor market browsing
Language	English (Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali widely spoken in Indian neighbourhoods)
Brick Lane to Southall	Approx. 45-60 min by public transport (Central or District line)

Brick Lane: London's most famous Indian food street

Brick Lane in East London (E1) is the first place most visitors think of when they hear 'Indian food in London.' It has been a hub of Bangladeshi and Indian restaurants since the 1970s, when the area became a focal point for the South Asian community settling in Tower Hamlets.

The stretch between Whitechapel Road and Bethnal Green Road is lined with curry houses on both sides, many of which will send staff out onto the pavement to beckon you in. This is part of the experience, and also part of the noise to cut through.

Alike tip: The restaurants on Brick Lane that send touts to the door are almost always the tourist-facing ones with laminated menus and inflated prices. Walk to the quieter ends of the street, or duck into the side roads like Hanbury Street and Fournier Street, where locals actually eat. Places like Aladin on Brick Lane and Tayyabs on Fieldgate Street (a short walk away) serve the real stuff and have long queues to prove it.

The area is also home to the famous Brick Lane Market on Sundays, which draws a mix of street food stalls, vintage shops, and bagel shops that have been there since before the curry houses arrived. A Sunday morning walk from the bagel shops at the top of Brick Lane to the South Asian grocers at the bottom gives you a proper sense of the neighbourhood's layered history.

Southall: where Indian food gets serious

If Brick Lane is London's most famous Indian food street, Southall in west London (UB1/UB2) is its most authentic. Often called 'Little Punjab,' Southall has been a centre of the British Sikh and Hindu Punjabi community since the 1950s. Walking down The Broadway, the main high street, you could easily forget you are in London at all.

The Southall Indian market stretching along The Broadway and South Road is where Indian food in London really comes into its own. Shops sell fresh paneer, deep red chilli powders sold by the kilo, ghee in large tins, and mithai (Indian sweets) in glass counters that look exactly like they do back home. This is not a food market for tourists. It is where the community actually shops.

For eating, Southall delivers across the board. You will find proper Punjabi dhabas serving dal makhani and sarson da saag with makki di roti, South Indian restaurants doing dosas the size of your arm, and sweet shops where the jalebi comes fresh and dripping in syrup.

Alike tip: During Diwali (usually October/November), Southall Broadway transforms into one of the most spectacular Diwali celebrations outside India, with lights, stalls, and events running across the neighbourhood. If your trip happens to coincide, do not miss it. Equally, during Vaisakhi in April, the area holds a large procession with free food distributed outside the gurdwaras.

Indian restaurants Brick Lane vs Southall: which should you visit?

This is the question every traveller asks, and the honest answer is: they serve very different purposes.

	Brick Lane (E1)	Southall (UB1/UB2)
Cuisine focus	Bangladeshi, North Indian, some Pakistani	Punjabi, South Indian, Gujarati, Mithai
Vibe	Touristy but lively; good for atmosphere	Local community hub; deeply authentic
Best for	First-timers, quick curry fix, market browsing	Food lovers, grocery shopping, cultural immersion
Getting there	Shoreditch High Street (Overground) or Aldgate East (Tube)	Southall station (Elizabeth line from Paddington, ~20 min)

Top Indian restaurants in London worth going out of your way for

Here is a curated list of places that experienced travellers and local food lovers actually recommend in 2026, spanning different cuisines, neighbourhoods, and budgets.

1. Tayyabs, Whitechapel (E1)

One of East London's most legendary names for Pakistani-Punjabi cooking. The dry meat dishes and daal are exceptional, portions are generous, and the queues outside are worth it. Book ahead or arrive early. Located on Fieldgate Street, a short walk from Brick Lane.

2. Dishoom, multiple locations

London's best-known Irani-Indian all-day cafe concept, with branches in Shoreditch, King's Cross, Carnaby, Covent Garden, Kensington, Canary Wharf, and Battersea. The black daal (cooked for 24 hours) is the dish to order. Good for groups, couples, and solo travellers alike. Book well in advance; queues are long without a reservation.

Alike tip: Dishoom does not take walk-ins easily during peak hours, but they always keep a few spots for walk-ups at the bar. Show up, put your name down, and grab a chai while you wait. The bar is one of the nicest spots to sit in any Dishoom branch anyway.

3. Gymkhana, Mayfair (W1)

A two-Michelin-star Indian restaurant that takes colonial-era club culture as its design brief and delivers extraordinary modern Indian cooking. Kid goat methi keema is a signature dish you will think about for a long time after. On the pricier end, but a very special meal. Located on Albemarle Street in Mayfair.

4. Brigadiers, City of London (EC4)

Another JKS Restaurants project, this one styled around the Indian Army mess hall with an enormous bar and a focus on barbecue and Indian street food. The kebabs and the cocktail list are both excellent. Located on the Bloomberg Arcade near Bank Station.

5. Roti King, Euston (NW1)

A tiny, no-frills Malaysian-Indian spot on Doric Way near Euston that serves some of the best roti canai in London. Not strictly a sit-down Indian restaurant, but the curry dipping sauces and the dhal are good enough to walk from the other side of town for. Gets very busy; arrive early.

6. Lahore Kebab House, Whitechapel (E1)

A true East London institution, serving Pakistani and Punjabi food for decades. The tandoori mixed grill and the lamb chops are the things to order. Large portions, very reasonable on cost, and consistently busy with locals. Located on Umberston Street, just off Commercial Road.

7. Brilliant Gastro by Dipna Anand, Southall (UB1)

The original Brilliant Restaurant on Western Road closed in 2025 after 50 years. The family has since opened Brilliant Gastro by Dipna Anand at Parkside Yards, 1 Seva Drive, Southall, serving Punjabi dishes with a modern gastropub twist. The East African Indian influence that made the original famous carries through to the new menu.

8. Punjab Palace, Southall (UB2)

Previously trading as New Asian Tandoori Centre and known locally as Roxy's, this Southall late-night institution rebranded in December 2023. Located at 114-118 The Green, Southall, UB2 4BQ, it remains the place for after-hours Punjabi food: fresh naan, slow-cooked daal, and seekh kebabs straight from the tandoor.

9.Jaffna House, Tooting (SW17)

The oldest Sri Lankan restaurant in London, open since 1991 at 90 Tooting High Street. Consistently rated among the best Sri Lankan spots in the city by Time Out and The Infatuation. The crab curry and the hoppers are the things to order. No-frills, good, and beloved by the local community.

10. Gujarati Rasoi, Borough Market

A beloved Gujarati home-cooking operation that started as a home kitchen and now trades as a stall at Borough Market and now trades as a stall at Borough Market. The vegetarian thali reflects genuine home-style Gujarati cooking and has developed a loyal following among London food lovers. Check their current trading schedule before visiting.

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Restaurant prices and trading status verified as of May 2026. Always check current opening hours and menus directly with each venue before visiting.

Beyond Brick Lane and Southall: the traditional Indian London neighbourhoods you should know

London's South Asian communities spread across the city in ways that give each area its own distinct food character. Here is a quick neighbourhood guide for the Indian food traveller.

Tooting, SW17: South London's best address for Sri Lankan and South Indian food. Upper Tooting Road is lined with Tamil restaurants, South Indian sweet shops, and grocery stores stocked with ingredients you will not easily find elsewhere. The area is also home to a strong Gujarati community.

Wembley, HA0/HA9: The Ealing Road area in Wembley is one of the finest places in London for Gujarati vegetarian food and Indian sweets. The mithai shops here are exceptional, and the street food on Ealing Road during festival periods rivals anything you will find in major Indian cities.

Green Street, East Ham (E6/E7): A lesser-known gem for Indian food in London, Green Street in East Ham has a thriving Indian and South Asian market street with excellent sweet shops, street food, and restaurants representing Gujarati, Punjabi, and South Indian cuisines. Less tourist traffic, more authentic experience.

Drummond Street, Euston (NW1): A short street behind Euston station with several long-running South Indian and Gujarati vegetarian restaurants. Dosa and chaat are the specialties. Small, unpretentious, and good.

Alike tip: Green Street in East Ham is one of London's most underrated Indian food streets and sees far fewer tourists than Brick Lane. Head to Ambala Sweet Centre on Green Street for fresh mithai, or Vijay's Chawalla for chaat that rivals what you would find in Ahmedabad. The 58 bus runs directly from Walthamstow to Green Street if you are coming from the northeast of the city.

The Southall Indian market: what to buy and where to go

The Southall Indian market along The Broadway and South Road is a full sensory experience that is worth visiting even if you are not planning to cook. Here is what you will find:

Fresh vegetables and produce: Bitter gourd, drumsticks, tinda, and varieties of leafy greens that are very difficult to find in standard supermarkets.
Spices and dried goods: Sold loose by weight, at a fraction of supermarket prices. Kashmiri chilli powder, dried methi leaves, and hing (asafoetida) are all worth picking up.
Mithai and sweets: Ambala and other sweet shops along The Broadway sell fresh barfi, gulab jamun, and motichoor ladoo by the box.
Indian snacks: Namkeen, papdi, chakli, and sev in varieties you will not find on any supermarket shelf in the UK.
Indian textiles and clothing: Salwar kameez fabrics, dupattas, and readymade Indian wear at very competitive prices.

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Getting around London's Indian food neighbourhoods

London's public transport makes it straightforward to hop between neighbourhoods. Here is how to connect the main Indian food areas:

Brick Lane: Shoreditch High Street (Overground) or Aldgate East (District/Hammersmith & City line). A 5-10 minute walk from either station.
Southall: Southall station, served by the Elizabeth line from Paddington (approximately 20 minutes). A direct and easy journey from central London.
Tooting: Tooting Broadway station (Northern line). Southern branch, so travel from the centre takes around 25-30 minutes.
Wembley / Ealing Road: Alperton station (Piccadilly line) is closest to the Ealing Road area. A walk of around 10 minutes.
Green Street, East Ham: Upton Park station (District line) is the nearest. Green Street is about a 5-minute walk from the exit.
Drummond Street: Walking distance from Euston station (Victoria and Northern lines, as well as National Rail).

Alike tip: The Elizabeth line (opened fully in 2022 and now operating across the full route) has transformed travel time between Paddington and Southall. What used to be a longer journey on the old stopping services is now a quick and smooth 20-minute ride. If you are staying anywhere near central London or the western zones, Southall is much more accessible than most visitors assume.

Indian dishes to try while you are in London

London's Indian food guide would not be complete without a list of what to actually order. Here are the dishes that the city's Indian restaurants do particularly well.

Butter chicken: You will find it everywhere, but the versions at Brilliant Gastro by Dipna Anand in Southall and the mid-range Punjabi spots in the area are closer to the original than anything served in most European countries.
Biryani: Biryani: For a neighbourhood-style version, the biryani at several of the Whitechapel spots is excellent. Brigadiers near Bank Station also does a strong version worth ordering.
Dosas: Drummond Street and Tooting are your best bets. A good masala dosa served with sambar and three chutneys is one of London's great affordable meals.
Chaat: Pani puri, bhel puri, sev puri. Green Street in East Ham and the Wembley area have the best chaat in the city.
Seekh kebabs: Tayyabs and Lahore Kebab House in Whitechapel set the standard. Cooked in a proper tandoor, served with raw onions and green chutney.
Halwa puri: A weekend breakfast staple in Punjabi households. Several Southall restaurants serve it on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Arrive early because it sells out.

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A few things to know before you eat your way through London

Nothing complicated, but a couple of details that make the experience smoother.

Many of the restaurants in Southall are unlicensed (no alcohol), though this varies. Tayyabs in Whitechapel does serve alcohol. Always check before you sit down if it matters to you. The food at many unlicensed spots is better than at licensed ones, so it is worth considering a soft drink with your meal.
Service charges vary. Many restaurants add a discretionary 12.5% service charge automatically. You are entitled to ask for it to be removed if you are not satisfied, but most places earn it.
At Dishoom specifically, same-day queues for walk-ins are longest between 7pm and 9pm. If you can eat at 5:30pm or later after 9:30pm, you will walk in much more easily.
Southall Broadway gets very busy on weekends, particularly Sunday afternoons. If you want a quieter experience at the market and the sweet shops, go on a weekday morning.

The thing about Indian food in London

London is not trying to replicate Indian food. It has its own version of it, shaped by decades of migration from Punjab, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, and every other corner of South Asia. That version has evolved into something that is its own thing, and in many cases, it has pushed the quality of Indian cooking in ways that have fed back into the conversation about what Indian cuisine can be.

Brick Lane gives you the history and the noise and the experience of being in London's most famous curry street. Southall gives you something closer to the actual thing. The wisest answer to 'Brick Lane or Southall' is always: do both, do them on different days, and eat until you cannot move.

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Good read: How Much Does a Trip to London Actually Cost?

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