Indian restaurants in London: things to know before you go

Whether you love a sweet korma or a spicy madras, below we’ve answered some common questions about Indian food.

What is the best Indian restaurant in London?

London is the capital of cuisine in the UK. Indian restaurants are springing up all the time in the capital – and here are three sure-fire way to discover the top indian restaurants in London:

• Look in the Michelin Guide. It’s the world’s most iconic dining out guide, so you can’t go wrong when selecting the best of the best Indian restaurants in London.
• Read Jay Rayner’s tips. The Guardian food critic is one of the most respected voices on the restaurant circuit – find out which Indian restaurants in London are Rayner’s favourite in his weekly columns.
• Check out Groupon’s highest-rated Indian restaurants. Read our customers’ reviews and see star ratings of London’s Indian restaurants – there’s bound to be an eatery near you that’s been chosen as best of the bunch.

Where did some of the most popular Indian dishes originate?

Some of the most popular Indian restaurant dishes actually originated in the UK. For example:

• Tikka Masala – perhaps the most popular Indian dish in the UK – was first cooked up in Britain. It’s claimed that it was created by Glasgow chef Ali Ahmed Aslam in 1971. As the story goes, a bus driver returned his late night chicken curry, claiming it was too dry. The chef reportedly added tomato soup and a handful of spices, and the much-loved Chicken Tikka Masala was born.
• Balti - a British-Indian fusion dish which the Midlands city of Birmingham claims to have invented in the 1970s. Traditionally cooked in the dish it’s later eaten in, you’ll find Balti houses galore in Britain’s second city.

What are some good recipes for Indian-style curry?

Indian-style curry runs the gamut from ear-popping, meat-filled vindaloos to milder vegetarian dahls – with every sort of spice profile and ingredient list you can imagine in between. The range extends way beyond the saucy dishes many people typically think of as curry.

The best recipe for Indian food depends on what you’re looking for.

• For example, here you’ll find a great range of different styles of Indian recipe that won’t be too difficult to cook.
• If you want to try something a little different to what you’ve seen in your local Indian curry house, however, you could do worse than Rick Stein’s recipe for whole egg coconut masala.
• To push the boat out even further, get your hands on a copy of the Prashad Cookbook, which is packed with vegetarian recipes from the titular Michelin-starred restaurant.

Of course, with all the chopping, frying and simmering required to prep an Indian dish, you might want to check out some of these cookery classes first.

What is the best Indian restaurant on Brick Lane, London?

There’s no shortage of Indian restaurants in East London’s trendy and culturally diverse streets, Brick Lane is packed with a host of delights. Many of these claim to be the best in London. While beauty is in the eye of the tastebud when it comes to restaurants we love, Sheba is a great choice. Rated highly by Groupon customers, its history runs back to the 1970s. Today it’s well-known and well-loved for its no frills look and feel – all its energy goes into the tasty dishes it serves up. Sheba’s also critically acclaimed, winning then Best UK Curry House Award in the Cobra Good Curry Guide 2013.