Reviews of Darjeeling Express. (Restaurant) in London (London).

Darjeeling Express

926 Reviews

144 Comments

Restaurant

Indian restaurant

2a Garrick St, London WC2E 9BH, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Darjeeling Express, Restaurant in London (London)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

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Open hours of Darjeeling Express

Reviews of Darjeeling Express

F. G.

This food is sublime, humble, sophisticated. Takes you to places you had never been to. It’s an adventure, a journey, a delight to the senses. What a huge honour to be here. For me, chefs have always been like rockstars. Much respect to them. They elevate one of the aspects anthropologists say makes us truly human: the art of cooking food. 100 of of 10!!! This is the first time in my life I have been emotionally touched by food. I even cried. I talked to the staff and told them this had been the greatest experience and they were so kind and happy to hear it

V. B.

Very nice evening. I had the royal thali, which was a bit too much food for me, but I enjoyed the small dishes letting me try a bit of everything. Food was solid but most dishes were not especially memorable (the yellow dhaal was unusually good and the desserts were pretty special). Service was attentive but a little unpolished. Overall worth a visit but nothing exceptional.

S. R.

We celebrated our anniversary there. An amateur of fine cuisine, I once saw the Chef's table episode on the owner of Darjeeling Express and decided that next time I'll visit London, I'll experience the food there. We were not disappointed : the service was excellent, the food exquisite and the cocktails very good. I even bought the signed book as a Christmas gift for my mother.

D. L. M.

Yum yum yum is all I can say! Went there for a birthday and wasn't disappointed at all. Service was fantastic, and Asma herself came out and gave the restaurant an amazing speech - absolutely inspired. Really tasty food, portions were great. Would highly recommend!

f. s.

I’m SOOO FAN!! I loved this place, the food was really really amazing. The attention was great, and all the dishes we tried were divine. 100% recommended. The best yogurt with beetroot ever. The prices are perfect for the quality of food.

C. P.

It's been a while I haven't had such tasteful Indian food! The freshness that u could smell the aroma of the herbs : cardamon coriander tamarind. Just amazing. The deco is beautifully designed. The colour reminded me of Rajastan. Soft pink everywhere. Well done. Definitely coming back :)

A. D.

Amazingly flavourful food! I don’t know how else to best describe the food at Darjeeling Express. Most of the dishes I hadn’t eaten before and they weren’t familiar to me. The one thing I can say is how amazing the flavour was. Every single morsel of food I put in my mouth was an explosion and joy of flavour and seasoning. I got to meet Asma and I could feel the soul and love that goes into the food that makes it so tasty. The service was very friendly and it made us feel like we were having dinner at someone’s house - it was very hospitable. It’s a place where I can close my eyes and enjoy the food - the pure experience of eating. Not many places like it exist in London anymore.

n. j.

Sublime! We visited Darjeeling express on the eve of Diwali and what we experienced was an absolute exposition of the finest flavours! The Indian restaurants in London fall well short of what DE presents to you. Firstly, the royal thali is hands down the defacto choice on the menu. The thought, selections and flavours added to the thali aptly justify the price for it. Portion sizes of the starter are perfect. Aloo bonda and bhej were lip smacking. The mains included Shahi paneer, cooked to perfection Kala channa and spicy Bengali dum aloo. The crispy Puri and delicious rice add a companion to the mains. My pick was the beetroot raita! The desserts are sooo unique and again in very good proportion. The kheer was creamy with mild notes of cardamom. If you the above is not enough to prompt you to book a table, the service here is one of the most warmest I have experienced. This gem deserves all the praises it gets and I can't do much justice via mere Google review.

A. S.

I have to be honest, I had high high hopes for Darjeeling Express, which had been on my wish list for a long time. I was lucky enough to secure a 6:30pm booking in the days up to Christmas, for my partner and I. On the advice of the server, we both ordered the Royal Thali, the only difference being mine was the meat version, and my partner's was the vegetarian, both coming in at an eye-watering £55 each. The only remaining choice was a 3-course set menu (£40). It's worth noting, I am a big eater. I say this, because the Thali's are massive - we could easily have shared one, but that wasn't allowed. They come in three courses, a starter (3 dishes), the main thali (7 dishes), and dessert (2 dishes). As you've gathered, the price was very high, most likely given the prime Covent Garden location, but more disappointing was the food. Everything was tasty, and there were some wins (anything with prawn), but everything was so rich - if it wasn't bread or rice, it was either creamy or buttery, with very few exceptions. I found it far too much, but important to say I can't fault the standard or quality of food. It was just excessive, and they have put a price on that. The restaurant atmosphere started out very muted, as we were early diners, but improved as the evening went on. If you're looking to spend £70+ per person on an Indian meal (Meal + Drinks + Service), then London is bursting with far better eating experiences and you will have plenty (plenty!) of change from that. It is also worth noting their corkage fee is £35 per bottle - I say this, as many of London's Indian restaurants are BYOB and in my experience very few will charge you anything (but, granted, they don't sell alcohol so nothing to lose).

j. w.

I came in for a late lunch solo. Seated me right away. My server must have been new because she was incredibly nervous, but she did a great job! My dish was amazing and I would definitely come back. Pretty sure the owner is Bengali as well, which is an added bonus.

A. K.

Every time I come back to Darjeeling Express, chef Asma and her staff get to surprise me. I must admit the first time I came to the restaurant a bit more than 2 years' ago was because of the Netflix show, Chef's table. However, the 2nd time onwards, they kept me as a customer because of their outstanding food and service. From the starters to main dishes, everything packed with flavor and "umami". One item that should deserve more attention from customers is the lovely Mango Lassi! Best in London! If you enjoy traditional Indian food, this place is a must. I would definitely go back again and again.

R. D.

The best biryani I’ve had in a very long time! Loved the experience of dining at the Darjeeling Express.

D. 1.

Incredible food and an incredible experience. I’ve been both for lunch and dinner now and both were brilliant. I’m vegetarian and they cater perfectly for meat, veggie and vegan.

S. J.

We found out about the restaurant from Chefs Table, and it did not disappoint. Every dish we had was incredibly tasty, the service was great, and the decor and atmosphere were perfect.

C. J.

This is everything a restaurant should be and Asma and her fellow cooks and service staff are exceptional. If you can book it in advance, go to one of the biryani supper club events. Also the cocktails have brilliant touches of Indian and Nepalese flavours. This is a must if you live here or if you are visiting London.

K. S.

Had a great experience. Personally, not quite keen on chicken momos. Shahi paneer was very good. Next time would be interested in trying the thali dish. The staff members were very hospitable. Had a good time there overall.

A. K.

We loved the supper club experience at Darjeeling Express. The food was delicious and clearly made with love. The owner Asma Khan spoke about the dishes, what they mean to her and her team, and why they had been selected. The waiting staff were excellent. We will be back again.

Y. B.

Excellent food, friendly staff and cosy atmosphere! We went for lunch and tried 2 large plates - prawn malai curry and lamb tamatar gosht, side - bengali aloo dam. Loved all the dishes, definitely want to come back again.

S. P. N.

If you can, please go for the Sunday supper club. Its quite an experience! Delicious food comes along a side of Asma's thought provoking stories and tales that force you to have varied and provocative conversations. The thoughts are as good as the food is and this truly is a overall experience. An absolute no nonsense presentation from good chefs who cook with passion and gusto! What a treat indeed. P.S: Skip breakfast and possibly have a salad for dinner the previous night if you do end up coming here for the supper club.

A. K.

Fantastic Indian food experience in the centre of London. We went there after a long long lockdown break. The deli menu isn't exhaustive but the dishes have an authentic taste. The puchkas are great if they're your thing. As vegetarians we also liked the Kala chana rice plate. The mango lassi seemed like a real lassi unlike the general experience of mango lassi in London. Kid loved it and the guy serving us brought us an extra one just because we liked it. Excellent customer service throughout. Now I know why it takes such a long time to get a reservation.

O. W.

Amazing food . A great experience. I would have given 5 stars but our table was right next to the toile so we did not enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant. The toiled was extremely cold , the water was freezing when I washed my hands was looking forward to drying my hands with the warm dryer but the air from the dryer was also cold . I would suggest they fix all that . The food was 👍👌

M. K. S.

Very satisfying lunch… Great team / Great place 🙏🏻 Couldn’t meet Asma as she was away in Maldives …

N. M.

Found this spot after seeing it on chef’s table and, despite going with high expectations, I was not disappointed at all - this is easily one of the best Indian restaurants in the city. Highly recommend the bihari phulkis, the aloo dum and the puchkas for appetizer - the bihari phulkies are particularly delicious. The prawn malaikari main is divine, amazing flavor and a generous serving of prawns. We had that with paneer and the peela pulao, and the whole meal was absolutely delicious. The staff was super friendly, and the team is super inspiring. Visited the new venue and it is incredible! The service could be better but the food and the decor are incredible, can’t wait to be back

N. P.

Absolutely love Darjeeling express! Always such a lovely experience when dining, as you can see from the photos it’s great value and we even got to take some home for lunch the next day. Thank you for an excellent night!

E. C.

I can't decide what was best: the food, the service, or the ambience. The 3 course menu was good value for money considering the quality of food. We received the best service I think I've ever had in a restaurant. The staff were so friendly and attentive. Can't wait to come back.

R. H.

Superb birthday meal courtesy of my sons on August 7 th. The food was so homely yet so skilful- delicately spiced in places and packed with a punch in others- obviously cooked with care and love by the all female cooks. Asma Khan’s passion for both the food and her staff was evident when she came and spoke to the room. Tasty food pure and simple. Shukriya.

Y. M.

We are here back in September 2019. We saw this phenomenal owner and chef on Netflix, so when we visited London from the US it was a must eat place for us. Sadly, there were no reservations available and we tried to book them well in advance. Sooooooo, we chanced it one day, left our hotel from Covent Garden in pouring rain, enjoyed the long adventurous walk there, to take out chances. The owner was so gracious and accommodating. We arrived at lunch time before it opened. She graciously allowed us to dine at a “community table”. The food, beverages and service were out of this world. We’ve never had some delicious Indian cuisine ever. We love Indian food, and sample it everywhere we go to. We had eaten at devs al nice Indian restaurants in London already. But THIS!! This place is incredible because of its food and the wonderful hospitality of the owner. We can’t wait to visit again! Thank you!

E. D.

We had dinner in the lead up to Xmas. Great service, very careful and considerate of CoVid regulations and worries. The food was amazing. Perfectly spiced and everything we had was delicious. Highly recommend for dinner and authentic Indian.

k. d.

I had been wanting to try Darjeeling Express for a long time, finally came today and it did not disappoint! Excellent curry, fantastic kind service, complimentary sparkling water, such a fabulous place for lunch! Thank you! 🍛 🫓

C. T.

Really fantastic experience. Staff were really friendly and helpful, all the food was delicious, great atmosphere. Slightly more expensive than expected - the thali is £55 - but otherwise really good.

S. B.

Easily the best Indian restaurant in the UK! Went here after some inspiration from The Chefs Table and we were not disappointed. We did end up having to wait an hour between courses, but the quality of the food more than made up for it

E. M.

BIRYANI SUPPER CLUB Delicious food, “Lamb Dum Biryani” non stop refill so you can bring back home for dinner again.

L. H.

Wow possibly the best Indian in London, and I’ve been to Jamavar, gymkana etc. love it here !

M. Á. G. P.

The best culinary experience I've had in a very long time. I haven't been to India but this food... I mean, the flavours, spices, combinations, everything takes you in a trip over to India. Great quality of food and the service is attentive, honest and super professional, you still can feel how they enjoy doing their job. Julien was our best host ever! Made us feel at home. Even the great chef Ashma Khan approached our table at the end of the dinner to ask how was everything. Any way a really recommend experience!! 10/10

J. L.

Authentic indian flavour, top notch service with great ambience. I ordered aalo paratha with dal and gajar halwa. No doubt one of the best aalo paratha in London. Gajar halwa was great too, I would like my portion bit big though😋

S. S.

Can't praise it enough! Just superb! Not pretentious food, lovely presentation and sublime taste....

O. P. -. S.

Some of the best Indian food in London. You can really taste the love, care and attention in the dishes. Incredible. An absolute must go.

k. p.

I always love coming back to Darjeeling Express. - not just for the food but for the wonderful service and just to listen to the owner Asma, telling us many wonderful stories - from opening the restaurant, her Netflix 'Chef's Table' journey and how she and her super team managed to launch a new restaurant space during the lockdown. I love the depth of flavour and variety of the menu - although 'secretly', i am coming back every time for the tangra prawns. For my most recent visit, I ordered the Royal Thali option and loved being able to try lots of different dishes - both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. And when i can, I will be back for her legendary lamb biryani supperclub - it's a must-try.

J. H. L.

I had the best prawn malai curry I had eaten for a quite a while. The place is packed so make sure you make your reservations early! The Indian Iced Coffee with ice cream is a sweet finish to the a very flavourful curry (plus really good rice).

A. K.

Had Puchkas (Golgappa, Pani Puri). Very authentic taste. A bit strong on Cumin power but it was still very good.

N. K.

A must for Biryani lovers. This place offers a genuine Biryani wedding feast experience by offering Biryani that has been cooked on a large scale. It is served with love and with unlimited helpings and they let you take home the rest too so the experience doesn't just end there. Asma herself is present and offers an insight on the history behind the food which gives you something to think about while you're nomming along on the food.

A. Z.

Supper club was amazing! Asma is really just like your Asian aunty at a family dinner where she would not stop until you eat more!! The biryani was amazing but her stories and speech throughout the meal was even better!!!

O. C.

I can’t even begin to tell you - there was life before visiting this amazing restaurant, and life after. This meal was outstanding, the balance between flavourful food and the spices was perfect, nothing overpowered anything else. And the dessert - carrot, one of my five a day! Beautifully moist. Excellent atmosphere, book in advance. Even if it’s months in advance (like me), it’s worth it. Can’t wait to come back.

R. A. F.

Restaurant was super cosy and welcoming, staff were brilliant! Indian wine was like something I have never tasted before and went very well with the meal. The aubergine, the goat and the paneer curry were a few we tried, each one exquisite. Highly recommend the goat! Beetroot chop side was also delicious. Highly recommended, book well in advance.

a. d. s.

What a great evening! We were a group of 4 who came for dinner. Having watched the chefs table episode, we were all very excited for our meal and to hopefully meet Asma. We were not disappointed on either front! With the chef not only cooking our food but also giving a speech and coming around to our table personally. Such an experience! The food itself was amazing. We each ordered the Royal Thali and gosh was there a lot of food. None of us could finish it! Such great flavours and depth to each dish. Only slight hiccup was that our mains took nearly an hour to come out to us but the staff were super apologetic. All in all a fab night and well worth a visit

M. G.

Being from Kolkata, I had to give this place a try. We ordered paratha, aloo dum and chicken roll. Everything was super delicious and the portion was reasonable. We are definitely coming back once we are back in London. Oh! Do try the Karma Cola for your drink. It's yummy!

A. “.

It took us over two months in advance to book to eat at Darjeeling Express. The food was really flavoursome and prepared with love. Definitely worth the wait. Only wish we could try more dishes on the menu.

A. H.

Amazing experience. We visited with our 8 year old daughter. The waiters were clearly busy but still very attentive and took the trouble to explain everything clearly. My wife and I had the Thali and our daughter was able to pick her own main course and share with us. We cook a lot of Indian food ourselves and I often feel we can do better than most Indian restaurants, but not here. Every single dish was an experience. We will definitely be back.

S. B.

Amazing food, Asma Khan deserves all of the hype this place gets. The momos and shrimp with coconut sauce were especially wonderful, but we loved everything we ordered.

G.

Great Experience. We managed to get a table on a Friday night without booking. Staff was extremely polite. Food quality was very high, with great combination of flavours and presentation. Go for the channa(chickpeas), papri chaat, prawn curry and goat stew ( delicious)!! The whole place is run only by women, the only male was an Italian dude 😅 Cocktails are delicious too! Definitely recommend

T. M.

Had the Thali and it was all amazing! It was a very generous portion of food and had to leave most of the dessert as was too full. Had the best masala tea ever.

A. S.

The staff are really nice and ambience is quite warm but the food is really overhyped, unfortunately. Its just like any other mediocre Indian place. Feeling quite underwhelmed, to be honest, after spending £133 for 2 people. Not worth the money at all.

J. M.

Lovely Indian food experience, tasted like proper homemade food. Will be looking forward to try the byriani

L. S.

Everything you've read about the staff is true, they were all truly fantastic and deserve a raise! At this restaurant there were moments of absolute food bliss and moments of mediocrity and for an establishment with this many awards every dish should have blown me away and they didn't. Now let me start with the moments of bliss, The Puchkas were like tiny delicate cauldrons of flavour, light & filled with chickpeas and potatoe, finshed off with tamarind water, an absolute delight for you mouth. Next the Bihari Phulki, Lentil fritters, crispy with the right balance of spices and heat, topped off with two deliscious sauces one hot and one sweet, a perfect accompaniment. For my main, I had the Jeera Paneer, which was creamy with a light tomatoe and cumin touch that had me licking my fingers and calling for more puris so I could finish off the remaining sauce. Now for the mediocre, the Goat Kosha Mangsho left me distinctly underwhelmed, the meat was tender, but that was about all it had going for it, it was bland and lacking in any real flavour. The dhal was so mundanely average that I can barely bring myslef to write about it. The Kala Channa, which I was really looking forward to, again lacked any real depth of flavour and had me wondering where the ginger was, because all I could taste were the chillies. Overall I feel like I've had better curries and for a fraction of the cost in many of the establishments in Tooting. For all its awards and the expense, each dish should have led me on a culinary journey my mouth would not forget, sadly many of the dishes will soon be forgotten.

J. R.

I visited Darjeeling Express for the first time with a friend for lunch and we were not disappointed. The food was absolutely delicious, full of spice and flavour without being overpowering. My friend, HH, remarked how the dishes tasted authentically homemade which is very unusual for a restaurant. It was also a pleasure to meet the owner Asma Khan who was generous with her time with us. Finally the service was great as well.

F. D.

Both ordered the Thali. Overall it was really good! However, we took a bottle of wine after our cocktails, thinking the dinner would last a while and we would have time to enjoy it. It turns out the starters were served about 3' after getting our cocktails. And then it was directly followed by the main. Meaning when we finished our main, the bottle of wine was still almost full. They made a mistake on my desert, so I did not get the apricots. The waiter noticed because the cream pot was there, but he pretended the cream should not have been there, where in reality it should have together with the apricots and not the yogurt. Overall, very good food but definitely too pricy, with too little explanations and advice from the waiters (typically on why we should not have gotten a full bottle of wine).

G. B.

Loved the atmosphere and service. Everyone was so attentive and homely. The food was just like my mother used to cook, inviting, delicious and flavoursome. Asma came out to give a passionate talk about her struggle for obtaining the building and a heartfelt acknowledgment to her staff and chefs. Worth many more visits for sure.

M. M.

Really lovey service - great prawns and great paneer curry! Some of the other starters were a bit too sweet and heavy for my taste but all was good quality, well spiced and presented nicely!

E. T.

Top level of kingly Court on Carnaby Street, heard lots of good things before coming. What a gem! Quality, modern Indian street food with authentic curry! Not your usual balti or bhuna! Chaat, fried lentils and king prawns for starters, goat curry and aubergine curry for mains, puffy soft fried bread to accompany those lovely dishes. It’s yummy and enjoyable. Interesting selection of cocktails, the bar man was very enthusiastic. Only comment is a slow service - we waited over half an hour between starters and mains. Other than that it’s all good. Thank you for a lovely meal!

N. G.

One of the most delicious meals I have had. Thoroughly impressed all around! We went off the back of a recommendation (and a hint about it soon featuring on Chef's Table on Netflix). I can't honestly complement the service and food enough. I nearly cried when I tasted the goat curry! We ordered maybe too much (3 starters, 2 mains and 3 sides for the two of us) but we just about managed to finish it all. We will definitely be back.

P. Y.

I’ve had a lot of great Indian food growing up, in a city with a sizable Indian population. This is probably the most fine version of Indian cuisine I’ve ever had and it was def worth it. Recommend the goat kosha mangsho, prawn malaikari, puchkas (although surprisingly spicy for me), and the mango lassi!

M. H.

Had high expectations from reviews. Brilliant food and a buzzing atmosphere. Highly recommended!

C. H.

What a triumph! We had the 'Calcutta to Darjeeling' tasting menu and loved every bite. The restaurant is decorated to perfection and the team were friendly and helpful. Can't recommend highly enough!

T. M.

I finally managed to go there. As many, I came to know that place by watching Netflix documentary. Went here for lunch on Friday. Place was full but not packed. Casual vibes and nice opened kitchen Food wise we had : Starters Puchkas: quite nice and extremely light Beetroot chop: could be considered as spicy but good for my taste. Like the dipping sauce. Main: Prawns Malakari: probably my favourite dish. Liked the finest of this dish. Perfectly seasoned with the right amount of coconut flavour. Side: Mirchi Ka Salaan: if you don’t like spicy don’t go for that one. It’s well done dish. Nothing outstanding Puris: very fluffy and hot. Nice ! Overall experience is great. Like the place and the way the dishes are served. Thumbs up to the cooks as the dishes are very fine and light but high in flavours. From my point of view I could argue on the price range and could easily see the same at slight lower price but I understand the reputation and location. Would come back to try other dishes !

C. J.

Excellent service and incredibly tasty dishes. Perfect final meal of our trip.

S. C.

Finally made it after watching Chef's Table pre-lockdown and waiting a long while to enjoy the flavors of Asma Kahn's prolific Indian restaurant. It felt like a pilgrimage, traveling over an hour from east London. The Thali lunch is incredible and filling, only £20 for a variety of Indian classics and your choice of chicken, lamb, prawn or vegan options. The prawns were my favourite. I'll say the dishes could be a bit spicier, I want my mouth to be on fire! Oh, add a side of roti to make it even more authentic. Lunch is casual so dress as you like. I hope to return soon for the Supper Club and experience the biryani I've heard so much about.

A. W.

4.5 stars - great atmosphere and service, un-pretentious despite the Netflix fame. Food was fun, flavourful and inventive. The puchkas for example had an interesting blend of texture and temperature, but honestly could help but notice the smell of sulphur in the sauce and wouldn’t want to have it often - but glad To have tried it.

A. V.

Tried lunch at the Deli and it was excellent quality for a very correct price. Will definitely come back!

t. t.

Goat curry, spicy shrimps, eggplant, onion...smells, tastes, ambiance, service. We did not reserve a table but came at the beginning of dinner 5:45. Got a table, a table close to heaven! Thank you

R. R.

Some of the best Indian food you can find in London! Had the Royal thali which was a delicious array of dishes. Highlights were the juicy spicy prawns and light fulkas. Desserts were absolute showstoppers too. Service was impeccable. Look forward to our next trip!

Y. M.

Lovely ambience, food and experience.

S. D.

Located on the third floor of Kingly Court, Darjeeling Express offers a cozy and tucked away not so secret indian restaurant. Best advised to book in advance but on weeknights you can walk in at opening time provided you are a couple. Good lighting and ambiance, plenty of fresh trailing plants to create mood. Most of the lights are a soft spheres that arent too harsh. Tables are pretty packed so go early rather than late, on a week night. Good cultural music that isnt too loud, water is offered on the table as well as a menu range of Indian non alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. The Sula wine is good! They also offer cocktails, lassis, thums up, etc. Wine is by the glass or by the bottle. The starter has a sweet tamarind dipping sauce whereas the look like the indian answer to chicken poppers (without the meat). The exterior is crunchy with red onions , the inside is soft and mild but not doughy. The green chili sauce that comes with the starter is extremely fiery and hot. The starter on it's own is dry but with the sauce it is good and pairs well. This starter reminds me of the crispy fried onions you get on sushi The brown rice is extremely fresh and well cooked and has wild rice mixed in. Puris extremely nice, not undercooked! Paneer curry not too spicy and very creamy. Also not too oily or fatty.

A. B.

Amazing food. The Goat Mangsho kosha and the Tangra chilli and garlic prawns were just outstanding. Would definitely be visiting again. The puchka's and the papri chaat totally reminded me of Kolkata street food.

B. B. P. B.

Amazing restaurant. Went on Saturday lunch, got 3 courses + tea well under 75 minutes without being rushed. The location is really convenient and the decoration is splendid. The food is fantastic, with imbeatable value for money while still having outstanding food quality. The staff was friendly and welcoming. I strongly recommend the puchkas and the masalai chai, which were simply out of this world. My new place-to-go when visiting London.

J. C.

A great find, fairly authentic but modern takes on Indian/Bengali cuisine. Standout is definitely the prawns starter - perfectly cooked. Curries were great too, they don't shy away from proper chilli and spice that make you want to come back for more. Nice front of house staff too.

A. S. I.

The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was so warm and friendly - the staff were really great. The tangra garlic chilli prawns are a absolute must-have. Also the gajjar ka halwa is delicious (but not enough to share between two - get your own!)

N. C.

Dish is delicious 😋 came here because of the Michelin ⭐️ But too many people ⏳Waiting the main dish for long long time ~time is running out 🕯 ps. it is on the top floor , so need to check the map more detail. At the first i cant find the information on the ground floor. The ground floor full of many different kind restaurants .

F. C.

What an amazing lunch. Best kashmiri spot in town. #halal

S. M.

I do believe in the restaurant's ethos however it was far too expensive considering what was served and the level of service provided. My friend and I paid over £66 EACH for a small selection of food (over £169 including drinks!!!) (which was stated as £55 each on the menu BUT did not make it clear that the price was excluding of VAT which they then charged on the bill) I did find that a little sneaky. In addition, the service was delayed by over an hour which led the owner to come out and apologise with a speech to the whole restaurant. Appreciate the appology but you still decided to charge us a £12 service fee at the end AND ask for extra for a donation on top. You also stated not to leave a bad review which we should be entitled to do if the service does not meet the standard we would expect for what we pay for. The actual food itself was alright, again, not something that justified paying what I did. I also question whether the menu is sustainable ( for the £55 (plus 20% VAT offering) given the small amount of different foods that need to be prepared Vs how long it takes to make and the amount of people to serve. From the previous reviews it looks like it's not the first time delays to serving this has happened. Why not focus your attention on the £35 (plus VAT) course meals instead. I also think there are far too many flavours going on which ruins the meal as everything almost tastes the same. The £55 offering should be split up and offered in 2 to 3 separate courses. With regards to the donation, why not incorporate this into the price of the food? If the owner truly believes in helping countries against starvation then promoting a "10% cost of each meal goes to charity" or a "for each meal purchased we provide that back to the community/charity" would be something that we can all get behind rather than trying to get people to pay that on top of, what is, an expensive meal. Sadly, given the cost of the food, lack of transparency in the menu with the VAT it's very unlikely I will be recommending or coming back to the restaurant.

S. P.

Food was amazing, taste was very good, ambience was good, but It’s ridiculous way to have dinner. If one person wants to eat Thali than whole table have to eat Thali not mix and match with Thali and three course meal. Best to have A la carte menu and also a good wine list will help.

P. H.

Real authentic food. Friendly service. No e interior. Netflix did well to feature them in Chefs table. Highly recommend. You will need to make a reservation well in advance..

A. G.

A wonderful birthday experience for my fiancé, it had been on her bucket list since she saw the episode of Chef's Table when it came out. Delicious and interesting cocktails preceded a well balanced platter of many different dishes. My personal favourites being the char grilled prawns and the lamb, this was followed by a delicious and light dessert. The service was excellent and I would recommend it to anyone.

D. L.

You can taste the love that Asma and team put into every dish. It's been 2 weeks since we went for a special occasion, and we can still savour the delicious flavours. Top notch service and can't wait to go back for the biryani supper club and more thalis!

w. t.

Great experience to have a brilliant same Asian taste, make u feel like home. Was there with friends. Nice staff but even they don't know what they r serving. They changed dishes titles to attract customers rather than keep its originals. Ever green golden 70s music but still they don't know about it. An Asia knows better their things than a group of foreigner staff. BUT if u like Asian food then must hit Darjeeling. Even they charge u triple the price of market but hey it's Kingly Court and everything is expensive in centre city.

R. T.

Very good Indian restaurant, you really need to book! However it never hurts to call in and see if they have had a cancellation.

F. N.

The food is heavenly made. Everything tastes so good and touches your soul. Asma Khan explained the food and autographed a copy of her Darjeeling Express book. Me and friends had an unforgettable dinner.

l.

We had great expectations for Darjeeling Express. Although food was tasty, some of the dishes were pretty tiny and felt a bit like 'this is it?' service it's exceptional though, quick fast and friendly.

l. p.

Our favorites - chicken chaap, gajar halwa, masala chai and mango lassi. Going back again to try other items. No biryani and Puri on the menu as they show on Netflix though 😁 They are completely booked for the next two months so please reserve ahead.

K. W.

Such delicious food! All of the dishes we had - from side dishes to main dishes - were spicy, flavorful, beautifully textured, and really hard to stop eating.

W. W.

The best Indian food in London - hands down. I especially love the bihari phulki, mirchi ka salaan and perfectly made fluffy puris

C. p.

Found out about this place from watching chefs table on Netflix, and it did not disappoint. Wonderful 3 course meal with excellent service.

T. P.

Excellent flavoursome and punchy flavours with great cocktails and friendly, attentive service. Moreover, the restaurant offers a great alternative to the male dominated restaurant scene with the kitchen fully staffed by female chefs!

K.

We were looking forward to our reservation here for a few months! We had a delicious lunch and absolutely loved the vegan options - I ended up trying a few things I’d never had before which was great. The zucchini fritters dipping sauces were a great shared starter- I highly recommend the Kala Channa (black chickpeas) they were DELICIOUS. It’s a very busy restaurant but service was super quick - I loved the all female staffed kitchen. It took us a minute to find the restaurant but it’s located on the top floor in a food/bar courtyard - with lots of options for spots to hang out.

F. A.

Best Indian food in London! Service amazing, flavor on point! Highly recommend the Goat! And the Rita with pomegranate!

B. T.

Food & drink: 7/10 Service: 6/10 Decor & atmosphere: 7/10 Service speed: 6/10 Cost: 5/10 The best: Tasty mocktails, paneer and prawns. The worst: Basic service and overpriced. Lowdown: Express isn't how I would describe the service...Food service was slow, having to wait 50 minutes for mains after starters. We were dismissed and told that this is indicated on the website and expected. Did a quick search on the website and it isn't stated there. Staff were not overly friendly except at the end when they were collecting payment and seeing us off. Food is good but doesnt match the price. Insta: @bmjteh

L. W.

Delicious food and gracious hospitality. The new restaurant location is really nice.

J. V. D. K.

Thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Darjeeling Express! Will be back and can’t wait to try more dishes. Was also very cool to meet Chef Asma Khan, who was just a warm and genuine as she is in the Netflix series.

N. E.

Great experience lovely staff and great food. My sister and I got the Tangra Chilli Garlic Prawns to start then Goat Kosha Mangsho and Prawn Malaikari with sides of Peela Pulao rice and Paratha bread. Definitely recommend a booking just to make sure you get a table. To drink I got the Mango Lassi if you love mango you will love it! Would definitely come back again for sure!

K. A.

Amazing food, gorgeous venue, and lovely staff - can't wait to return!

F. E. D.

Had lunch there...it was a limited but rich menu...the food was good and portions were good...service was friendly...only comment is it wasn't spicy enough even though we asked for our main dishes to be extra spicy... Good experience overall

S. q.

What an experience with this cosy Indian restaurant, everything was just perfect with the right amount of spices and amazing taste. Highly recommended. Just remember to book before going as it is packed

F. B.

Like eating the most delicious home cooked South Asian food, just at a restaurant with friendly staff and an inspirational host and head chef in Asma Khan. An instant favourite. Would highly recommend.

M. B.

Excellent restaurant, friendly staff and delicious food. I had the prawn curry which was lovely. Would highly recommend.

A. J.

The food here was fantastic, proper Indian food!! Highly recommend giving this place a go. The service was on point with friendly staff who are willing to help you pick from the great menu, the chicken curry was delicious with tender chicken thighs and the daal tasted like my mum's! The only down side is that getting a table can be tough, so book in advance people.

A. J.

I could not recommend this place enough !! Genuinely the best Indian food I've ever had, served in the traditional way. The restaurant is gorgeous, located in arguably the nicest part of London, service is great and Asma Khan's food is incredible. If you're ever in London and craving amazing Indian food, Darjeeling Express is the place you should look for !!

C. M.

Amazing food. Attentive staff. Slightly on the pricy side for size of portions but definitely worth a visit. Would recommend.

V. C.

We went to this new restaurant as a group of 9 for dinner and they accommodated us on Friday night without a reservation (I think the kitchen closes at 10pm though). It's on the top floor of the lively Kingly Court and there's a lift to get there. Service was excellent and the owner/chef was lovely - she came out to interact with guests. The other staff were also excellent at accommodating any extra requests we had. The food was just as delicious. Chilli garlic prawns are a little expensive but huge prawns cooked well. In the mains, methi chicken, venison kofta (very soft meatballs) and prawn malaikari were wonderful dishes with very flavoursome sauces. Paneer korma and goat kosha mangsho were also good. Portion sizes were plentiful and we had no room for dessert. On the drinks side, I wasn't a big fan of the curry leaf martini. The sweet basil lemonade and Vollenwelder sweet Riesling were good drinks. Guests enjoyed the Thums Up and Limca though they seemed to have been brought over from India many months ago! A great experience overall.

A. M.

A friend and I came here after watching the Chefs Table episode, and we were not alone. Even with reservations there was a queue out the door before it opened. We ordered far to much food but it was all really tasty! The staff was fantastic. I’ll definitely be coming back

J. C.

Warm, delicious, comforting food. Attentive, kind staff. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

J. W.

Food was great, maybe spicy for most people. The waiting time for the main dishes was more than half an hour for our table.

j. c.

After having to postpone twice due to the pandemic, we finally made it to the supper club with our friends. This is one of the most special meals I have had in a very long time. The passion behind the food, the story telling and lack of pretension creates a very meaningful experience. Although relatively pricey, knowing you are helping Asama's cause, as well as getting a unique dining experience is well worth it!

S. B.

Fantastic, great place to eat. Asma is a legend.

L. L. C.

I'd been meaning to try the Darjeeling Express for a long time and I wasn't disappointed. From the delightful front of house staff, to the short but carefully designed menu, the excellent presentation, everything was superb. My puchkas were a revelation, a delightful combination of textures and flavours, mains (we had goat, chicken and paneer) were generous, fresh, and tender. Even the basics like rice and puri were way above average. We'll definitely be back, and make sure you book to avoid disappointment

G. F.

Great food, and a lovely setting just off Carnaby Street. Quick & friendly service supports the top class food. The lentil notes were out of this world. I booked but you may be able to get a seat just on the day.

A. F.

I have been coming to the Darjeeling Express since it opeend in Kingly Court and this is my second time at Biriyani Supper Club. It was a great experience and they were very accommodating to my girlfriend's back issues. Asma is a charming host and naturally, the food is excellent. This is probably the best Indian restaurant in London and we will be coming back!

D. S.

The best food inspired by Kolkatta... friendly warm welcoming people... awesome menu. Had a refreshing Chaas (traditional butter milk drink), Phuchkas (very authentic) as a light snack... simply amazing

t. b.

This is a MUST PLACE to go when in London. Fantastic location and the best food ever. We loved the service it was 10 out of 10. ❤️ We will be back.

K. R.

Such an amazing evening! We were lucky enough to spend a fantastic Friday night at the their supper club event. Highly recommend! The food and evening were wonderful!

A. T.

Loved it. Food was as if it was home made. With the right level of spice. Quick and efficient service.

R. M.

Loved it! The food was full of flavour and absolutely delicious! Charming atmosphere and great service!

R. R.

Well executed food. Service was a bit slow. Not sure if it’s worth the four month wait for a reservation.

J. P.

Fantastic and inctedibly tasty food at this unique Indian restaurant. This place feels special as soon as you walk in. It has something, something very nice to it. Very beautiful idea behind all of it too, if you don't know about it please visit their website to find out. Lovely women working in a lovely place. We were also extremely lucky to see Asma Khan (the founder) in the restaurant when we were there.

T. F.

Stunning. I love authentic food and this is exceptional. Taste and flavour off the planet. Service from the front welcome to seating to order taking was brilliant. Staff were lovely and amazing to hear from Asma Khan, who came to each table, and tell stories of staff and what they did during the lockdown. Will be going back.

H. s. r. e.

The food is really good. However the chaat and lassi were too sweet. Also it is too expensive.

S. K.

Fabulous home cooked Indian food. Love the all female kitchen - the food is packed with flavour and it's great that the menu changes every few months. Fantastic staff and excellent atmosphere. Good for all occasions.

I.

Absolutely outstanding! We visited for the supper club (biryani) on a Sunday and it was just wonderful. Such a generous host serving amazing food with passion - not to mention the impeccable service, cocktails and beautiful dining room. Congratulations to Asma and her team. This place is totally unique and very special.

Z.

What a let down. I went with so many expectations. The food was merely okay - I could have gotten similar quality Desi food from any other restaurant. The tamarind drink didn't taste like tamarind at all either. The server was aloof and didn't ask once if I needed anything else.

S. K.

I am Indian and I think the food is authentic! The chef is a wonderful woman and a gracious host. The cocktails are original and interesting. Highly recommend this place!

A. M.

Great Indian food. Pretty authentic in taste. Unfortunately they did not have a very extensive list of dishes in the menu. But worth a visit for folks around SOHO area.

P. R.

On the top floor of Kingly Court in amongst other eateries the Darjeeling Express is something special in a very unpretentious manner. Real authentic indian served by a Asma, a lady with a long story well worth looking into. The Resturant has featured on Netflix Chefs Table. Chill Prawns were amazing as with the goat curry and Puris. . . Highly recommended.

M. S.

Yes go. Delicious. Every dish has that little something to make it different. The lemon rice. Paneer especially is brilliant.

G. M.

Amazing Food and good service...Asma Khan and her team rocks! Loved our deserts, good portions too :)

S. A.

Usually go to dishoom but waits are so long so thought we would try this and we were not disappointed. Yummy yummy food. Boon in advance fantastic Chai

S. A.

The service and the food were everything I was expecting. I wish the dishes were prepared with more spice, though. Go with a group so y'all can share.

S. A.

Booked beforehand for 6pm, seated quickly with no queuing. Waiters/waitresses were very attentive and helpful. We had the 3 course meal. Small pieces of pakora with tamarind and green chilli dips were delicious! Asked for yoghurt to go with the shaami kebab, chana chaat and dahi chaat (starters) as they were a bit dry. These were quite filling! The main dishes (tamata ghosht, prawn with coconut milk and rice with peas) were flavoursome, good portion size and delicious too! Had the khoobani Ka meetha was a bit disappointing - very small portion size and not how I was expecting. Mint tea is hot water with fresh mint in - I did request for a teabag which was given. It was lovely for Asma to meat the diners and to stop to chat - this made our experience extra special!! Thank you!

S.

Had a fabulous lunch at Darjeeling Express at their outdoor tables. A big thank you to the ladies in the kitchen for the wonderful food with such deep, complex and rich flavours. Thank you also to Shanti for looking after us so well. We cannot wait for the restaurant to fully open so we can experience the full Darjeeling Express experience.

G. P.

My partner and I had such a memorable meal at Darjeeling Express. Everything from the service to the ambience of the restaurant then to the food itself was brilliant. Adding to the specialness was how clearly happy Asma and the team were to be open and welcoming people in to the restaurant. I can't stop thinking about the paneer curry. I definitely recommend visiting Darjeeling Express!

A. c.

Excellent home style bengali food. Good value given portions. Friendly staff and lively atmosphere.

m. c.

Amazing experience! Lovely staff, great food and had a chance to speak to Asma briefly :) I would recommend getting puchkas to everyone!

S. S.

What a lovely experience. Having not being able to go home for now nearly a couple of years, having a meal which tasted every bit homemade with all the smashing chutneys brought me a tremendous amount of joy. You've got all the flavours down team DE, thank you for a fantastic evening

M. K.

My dad and I came here for lunch and we had a wonderful experience! Our waiter Shanti was so accommodating, friendly and welcoming and went above and beyond to seat us even though every table was reserved. He recommended us the best dishes on the menu which were delicious! I would highly recommend a visit here!

A. H.

Small but open restaurant....great food and good cocktails...the goat and chicken were outstanding and the steamed yogurt desert was delicious

N. N.

We went for our second biryani supper club and again the experience was a flavour-full delight. The biryani is the best I’ve tasted. The starters accompanied the main event delightfully, and the stories shared with every dish highlighted the passion shared by Chef Asma and her team.

A. M.

six of us went here last night Friday 20 August .We had a fantastic meal, the food was exemplary.The staff were very friendly, efficient and very well informed about the dishes. will definitely visit again

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