New Indian Restaurants in London (September 2026)

TL;DR 🍛

• London's Indian restaurant scene evolves constantly — September 2026 brings fresh additions and returning favourites worth visiting
• The India - Monument, Amritsari Haveli, and Raaga represent the range from refined dining to regional Punjabi cooking
• Kricket, Saqui, and Bulbul push the creative end of the spectrum — Indian ingredients, contemporary British-Indian approach
• Hyderabadi Bawarchi, BKC Soho London, and Apna Pind bring specific regional authenticity
• Full London Desi restaurant listings are on Desi.Net London

London's Indian Restaurant Scene in September 2026

Few cities in the world match London's depth and diversity in Indian dining. The combination of a large South Asian diaspora, generations of culinary exchange, and a restaurant culture that rewards both innovation and authenticity means you can find everything here — from a 40-year-old neighbourhood curry house to a new-wave Indian restaurant opened by a Michelin-trained chef drawing on their grandmother's recipes.

September is a particularly active month. The summer tourist surge winds down, reservation availability improves, and several new openings that launched quietly in July and August are hitting their stride. This is a good time to explore.

The Restaurants

The India - Monument occupies a prominent position near the City of London. The cooking draws from across the subcontinent rather than specialising narrowly — expect a menu that gives you tandoor preparations alongside coastal dishes and North Indian curries. The location attracts a business lunch crowd and a dinner audience that skews professional; it is well suited for a guest from India who wants to eat well without roughing it.

Amritsari Haveli brings Punjabi cooking to the fore, and it does so with real conviction. The lassi, the amritsari kulcha, and the dal makhani are the things to order. This is not a restaurant that apologises for being what it is — it cooks Punjabi food seriously, and the portion sizes reflect where the cuisine actually comes from.

Raaga has established itself as one of the more reliable sit-down Indian restaurants in its area. The menu is broad enough that a table of six with different preferences can all eat well. The chicken dishes are consistently praised, and the service is warm without being obsequious.

Kricket has been a fixture in London's contemporary Indian dining conversation for years. The small plates format lets the kitchen show range — Keralan fried chicken, rajma tortilla, things that might sound gimmicky but are executed with enough technical care that they work. It is a confident restaurant that has found its voice.

Saqui brings a different register — the cooking is quieter, more restrained, and draws from North Indian culinary traditions without the usual loudness of spice-forward presentations. The ambience is designed for conversation. Book ahead on weekends.

Bulbul has attracted attention for its approach to vegetarian Indian cooking, which takes plant-based South Asian ingredients seriously rather than treating vegetarian options as an afterthought. If your interest runs to Gujarati, Rajasthani, or the quieter side of South Indian cooking, this is worth your time.

Hyderabadi Bawarchi serves dum biryani in the Hyderabadi tradition. The biryani is the point — the long-cooked dum preparation, the saffron colour, the meat that has been marinated properly before being sealed and cooked. For a Hyderabadi in London, this is a reference point. For anyone else, it is an education in what biryani actually is.

BKC Soho London brings a Mumbai sensibility to Soho — street food register, lively atmosphere, and a menu that covers the kinds of things you would eat at Bandra Kurla Complex on a working lunch. The lamb kheema, the vada pav riff, and the chaats are the things to order.

Apna Pind leans into the warmth of Punjabi village cooking — the kind of food that takes its time and lands with substance. It is a comfortable, unpretentious setting, and the food reflects that.

Naadan Spicy brings Kerala to the table. The fish preparations — particularly the fish molee and the meen curry — are the house strengths, and the rice and stew combination is the kind of meal that a Malayali Londoner specifically seeks out.

What Changes Month to Month

London's restaurant scene moves quickly. New openings, concept refreshes, and the departure of head chefs can shift a restaurant's trajectory in both directions. The most reliable way to stay current is the Desi.Net London listings — updated regularly with hours, current menus where available, and community feedback from diners who visited recently.

Insider Tip 💡

For the heritage Indian restaurants in East London — Brick Lane and the surrounding streets — go with specific intent rather than browsing. The area's reputation has made it a tourist destination, and some restaurants have adapted their cooking for a broader audience. The restaurants worth visiting in that area are the ones where you see South Asian families eating, not just tourists. Ask a Bangladeshi colleague where they eat — you will get a better meal.

FAQ

Which restaurant is best for a formal business dinner? The India - Monument and Saqui are both well set up for formal dining — reserved atmosphere, professional service, and cooking that travels well for a guest who may not be familiar with Indian food.

Is there a Hyderabadi restaurant in London that does dum biryani properly? Hyderabadi Bawarchi is specifically named for this. Confirm before visiting that the dum biryani is being served on the day — availability can vary.

What is the best area in London for South Indian vegetarian food? Wembley and Tooting have long been the centres for South Indian vegetarian dining. Several restaurants in those areas specialise in dosas, idli, and the kind of tiffin culture that Tamil Nadu families recognise.

Are these restaurants suitable for large group bookings? It varies. Kricket and Saqui work better for smaller groups given their format. Amritsari Haveli and Raaga are more suited to larger tables. Confirm directly when booking.

Which of these is good for a casual weekday lunch? BKC Soho London and Kricket both operate comfortably in a lunch format — relatively quick service, dishes designed for the format, and central London locations that work for the working day.

Bottom Line

London's Indian restaurant scene in September 2026 gives you a genuinely wide range of choices. The India - Monument, Amritsari Haveli, and Raaga cover the broad middle ground well. Kricket, Saqui, and Bulbul represent the creative edge. Hyderabadi Bawarchi, BKC Soho London, Apna Pind, and Naadan Spicy each do one thing well and do it with conviction. Pick based on what kind of meal you are after — and confirm hours before you go, since London's restaurant schedules change. The full guide to the London Desi dining scene is on Desi.Net London.