We popped in here on a rainy day, and after reading reviews about how spicy the food was, I asked for recommendations on what WASN'T spicy. She pointed to the toastie. I'm not really a sandwich girl but I gave it a go, and now, 3 weeks later, I can't stop thinking about it. I am sad nothing like it exists here where I live, and sadder that I am not a clever enough person to replicate it. read more

Darjeeling Express - Butter Chicken Toastie - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

Located on the third (top) floor of the Kingly Court off Carnaby Street. This Indian restaurant is a must visit. The Chili Cheese Toastie is served on perfectly grilled bread, with melted cheese, green chili chutney, chopped onions, and chili. Mild in heat and a delightful way to stay off your meal. The paneer korma had cubes of paneer cheese that was perfect in texture (had the bite and texture of firm tofu) and was bathing in a luscious coconut cream and tomato gravy. Ma's Chingri was most excellent! Perfectly grilled prawns in a wonderfully flavoured panchoran curry. Both mains were served with pulao rice. Light, fluffy, and a perfect base to sop up the yummy curries. read more

Food was really delicious and flavorful. Dinner was a set 3 course menu. Tiger prawns was the first course... coming from the US, these are shrimp ;) Was expecting big prawns but they were a bit tiny but packed with big flavor 2nd course (main) I had the gobi aloo and was awesome. None of the dishes are particularly big but we ordered additional sides and appetizers. 3rd course of dessert was the srikhand which is a vegetarian dessert. It's yogurt and was actually good for soothing the tummy. Service was 5 star and love the atmosphere here as it's lively and intimate at the same time. read more

Loved the food here - its been on my bucket list since the Netflix show, however always missed it either because there were no reservations available or other plans! Came here for lunch where we wanted to snack and not eat a big meal - got the lemon soda (yum!), bihari moong dal bhajia, puchka, chilli cheese toast and chicken keema toast. Every single thing was incredible. I'd gladly come back here! read more

Like others, I came here because of Chef's Table! Well my friends watched it and told me to come, I don't watch it myself! Came on a weekday lunch right at opening and was able to get seated right away. The restaurant did get filled up quite a bit in the ~2 hours I was there! Service was great, restaurant was beautiful, bathroom was clean and great. We also love a women-run business. All the cooks in the kitchen are females! I ordered the KOSHA MANGSHO which is a Bengali style slow cooked meat curry in a thick clingy gravy, after my server told me it was quite popular. Freaaaak was it good! Huge portion, so soft and tender. The meat was just falling off the bones (I don't know if it actually had bones but it was that soft) and getting stuck in my teeth in all the right ways. I also got the PARATHA which you can totally skip, it just tasted like flour. Skip!! I also ordered the MANGO LASSI and it was amazing. I wanted to order more but gotta keep my wallet in check! A must visit! I wish I could come back with more people so I could have tried more food. read more

Great food and service! The restaurant is located on the top floor of Kingly Court (there is a lift and stairs in the center of the court). Reservations are usually required, as we saw customers get turned away without reservations, and the restaurant gets booked up fast! The dinner was serviced as a prix fixe Royal Thali that costs £65, which is a decent price. You just have to choose your first and second Katori dishes, and everything else comes included. The Methi Chicken from the First Katori section was my fave. Got to try the Saag Keema and Kosha Mangsho from the Second Katori which were great as well. The desserts were tasty, and complimentary chai tea was served as well, which was the perfect end to the meal. Their mango lassi and cocktails (got the cocktail flight) pair with the meal perfectly. Glad to have found this gem for a delicious Indian cuisine option. read more

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Fantastic food and a very extensive menu. This became our go-to spot,,actually,ordered twice from them this week. So far we have loved everything we have tried. Looking forward to the next visit. read more

Super flavorful meal - definitely on the pricier end as it is prefix but everything that came out was delicious. Fantastic service and super attentive. I love how you get to try and mix a little bit of everything on the plate that comes out. The sour flight was also very good. My standouts were the bread that comes with your meal, so fluffy and light! I wish we got extra. The paneer is coconut-y and creamy, I'd definitely go back for it again. read more

Darjeeling Express - Paneer - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

I'm ruined for Indian food anywhere other than Darjeeling Express. The service was kind and attentive. The food was exceptional: chili cheese toastie, paneer, and a fab NA ginger margarita. Loved every bite. read more

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By far my fave London restaurant. We came for the fixed dinner menu and I think could eat their korma every day for the rest of my life. Cocktails are quite cool as well. Bought the cookbook before I left as an added treat!! read more

Darjeeling Express - Fave cocktail with toasted marshmallow on the rim - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

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Love this place! Went there after seeing Usma on Chefs Table on Netflix and it didn't disappoint. Was like a trip back to my childhood. So much fun to see Bengali cuisine celebrated and elevated read more

- excellent Indian cuisine - really enjoyed the chicken dish - the flatbread is good; wish they had garlic - clean venue with a beautiful bar - excellent prawn starter - bread with meat was crisp - pass on the burger Excellent chicken and prawn dishes. I enjoyed the chicken more, but the prawn dishes were very silky. The prawn appetizer was well worth it and larger than anticipated. read more

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Honest review, walking in and perhaps due to rush hours. Felt neglected and cornered but somehow my server Lulu noticed my energy and went above and beyond to make me feel welcomed. Food spoke volume for itself but end of the day, one cares about how they are treated. Lulu made me feel like a guest in her personal home and I don't think a simple review can justify how special my night ended. Meal was yummy and luckily here in London we have loads of quality Indian food in town but my first time feeling like I have a personal dinner with lulu. Thank you for respecting my presence tonight. Best wishes to you! read more

A little hard to find at the top of Kingly Court but SO worth the climb. Some of the best food we had in London. The atmosphere was warm and buzzy and service is supreme. Portion size is a plenty and the owner came by to greet us. She said they make paneer to order ! Thus the fluffy, fresh melt in your mouth parcels of cheese. The puffy bread was also to die for. We recommended this place to friends and they had the most amazing experience as well. Dine here and you won't be disappointed. Reservations are recommended. read more

Darjeeling Express - Stunning & equally delicious - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

One of the must try restaurants in London! You definitely will not be disappointed. Everything on the menu was delicious! Yes, I tried them all, compliments of others in my group who let me taste what they have ordered. Honestly, the best chai tea I have had so far!!!! Highly recommended! read more

While it is near impossible to try every single Indian restaurant in London, if you ever get the chance, please try to eat at this establishment. Our server Radha was absolutely amazing in providing detailed information about the dishes on the menu, including what comes in a thali and how it is made. His hospitality provided a very warm, welcoming feeling, and even though my family was late, he still provided service to the best of his ability. At €65 per person for a thali, the amount of quality food you get is definitely worth the price tag (which includes a finely picked selection of deserts). Darjeeling Express if one that I will surely visit next time i'm in the city, and so should you. read more

Gawd!!! London is known for great Indian cuisine. So it's no surprise to find a solid restaurant but holy shot this food is kick ass. The staff know what you need and guide you through each flavor. The paneer alone is kiss yo momma good, but the goat and chicken curries holy hell good. read more

Darjeeling Express - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

Asma Khan, a chef and owner of Darjeeling Express, has a delightful restaurant with the most amazing serving here! The food at the restaurant was scrumptious and specially appreciated by the Calculation ( Kolkota wallaahs) The service was incredibly friendly and attentive, the ambiance elegant and wonderful. We enjoyed seeing food being prepared, adding flavor to our dining experience. Asma found the time to stop at our table to say hello. This was an extra-special bonus! We had the Kosha Mangsho, which was absolutely the best we have eaten. Prawn Malaikari, Mirchi Ka Salaan, Tamarind Dal, Aloo Paratha & sweet yoghurt. Our only regret is that we wished we could have eaten more. Looking forward to dining at Darjeeling Express on our next visit to London. read more

I found out about this place on Chef's Table. I was excited to try it out when we visited London recently and I am so happy I did. We went for dinner to try the Royal Thali. Certainly more pricey than I typically dine but it's special so why not. Wow I loved it!! I picked the chicken and prawns for my first and second course and the prawns are the star dish for me. It reminded me of something I've had at home but different enough that it's not the same. It was so comforting. I enjoyed the little desserts that came with it too. We ordered Mango Lassi and that was also well done, I can tell they use really good ingredients. Service was great and I would love to visit again. read more

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This place is tucked away in Kingly Court; I smelled it before I saw it. It was a bit of a trick to find but well worth it. Absolutely everything I had was phenomenal. I had the prawn and chicken main dishes. Everything, the tea, the mains, the sides, and the desserts were aromatic, deliciously spiced and well balanced. There were a wide array of flavors and new dishes I'd never tried before. From the desserts, I especially loved the apricots with pistachios and cream. The server was charming and friendly. This place is fantastic and well worth the price. read more

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We made reservations for their lunch hour well in advance for a party of four. I really wanted to do the dinner... but they were all booked. The food is a solid 5/5. I wish I was hungrier to eat more! The prawn malai curry was about the most perfect dish I could eat. The chai was a solid favorite, with a spicy kick at the end. The iced Indian coffee had me craving more than just one. The service was meh... he seemed genuinely uninterested in serving us maybe because we looked a tad lackluster, but honestly, the food was so amazing that it made up for the mediocre service. When I'm back in London, I'm definitely making a reservation well in advance for their dinner menu! read more

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Had a wonderful meal at Darjeeling Express. The restaurant is in Soho which is a very cute part of London. Apple maps lead us outside the building, but you have to make your way into Kingly Court to find it on the top of floor near the lift. The service was loverly and the atmosphere magical. We were a party of three and tried several different selections from the prix fixe, and the food was absolutely delicious including wonderful desserts to end the meal. We also ordered some non-alcoholic drinks including tasty lassi and fantastic chai. All in all an evening to remember. read more

We came for lunch and ordered the chicken and shrimp masai curry which both came with rice and we're very good. The vadu pau bun however is not as good as the one from dishoom. Towards the middle of our meal, we found a fly in our curry, which really dampened the experience. We told the staff, who were shocked and claimed it never happened before. Questionable kitchen hygiene. read more

Darjeeling Express - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

I rarely give out 5 stars, this is well deserved. Superb food and excellent service leave you wanting for nothing more! We came in on Friday at 12:30 for lunch without a reservation. They took our number and said they'd call us within an hour if a table became available. 30 minutes later we got a call and there was a table waiting. Like in the Netflix series, Asma Khan is walking around and talking to people while she delivers food as well. She takes time to listen to questions and answers without rushing off. You feel very welcome. The rest of the staff were exactly the same, attentive and wanting to please but not overbearing. We had the Channa Chaat and Shikampuri Kabab to start. The starters came out fast and were both were delicious, lovely spice and subtle heat. There was a little wait for the main but as we heard when talking with the waitress later, everything is made fresh daily and each item is finished on order so mains take a little longer to get out. We had the Goat Kosha Mangsho and Prawn Malaikari, both were outstanding. Because we said we liked hot food, they added extra chilli to the Prawn and brought out some fresh chilli. The food does not taste like typical Indian restautants, it is more like homemade food with lots of flavour and none of the added fats and fillers. We left well fed and happy. If I lived here, I would be back weekly! read more

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Yes and oh yes. Asma Khan was there! She said goodbye to us! She exudes warmth and care :) With a friend, last night (I'm still basking in the glow) I ate dinner at Darjeeling Express. We shared a completely vegan meal and a glass of the Chenin Blanc (£5). It was all. So. Good. Best Indian meal I've eaten in the UK. For starters, we ordered the Bihari Phulki, a plate of bite-sized (or in my case, trying to make them last longer, two-bite-sized) lentil fritters, served with chili and tamarind sauces, £8. We also chose the Channa Chat, made of slow-cooked, toothsome chickpeas topped with red onion, chopped green chili, fresh coriander, and sev, a garam masala (chickpea flour) fried noodle, crushed into palate-tickling bits, £7.5. For our main we shared the Khatte Baingan Aubergine, which comes cooked in a rich, thick sauce of tamarind, coconut, almond, and peanut, £14. We shared an order of the Brown Basmati, seasoned with with onion and cardamom, £3.5, to go with. Were we ever wowed. Yes we were. We're both into talking. But there were moments of speechlessness as we tasted our way through the abovementioned banquet. Service was fantastic. And what made it all even cooler was to see some of the same staff from Netflix's Chef's Table working in the kitchen and dining room. Yassss I say to a woman-owned-and-operated cooperative restaurant. Happy to pay the 12.5% gratuity. read more

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Lots of folks will tell you "come to London to enjoy great Indian food". This restaurant makes it a true statement. We booked weeks in advance to get a 7pm table for two. The place was packed. Literally, the tables are tightly squished together, barely elbow room to eat. Walk-in hopeful diners were turned away at the door. We ate 4 items, plus dessert. All delicious. Spicy enough to put my mild palate wife into chili overload, easy enough on my iron stomach and tongue. The smooth French rose wine was the perfect accomplishment. Service folks all wonderful. 80 pounds includes mandatory 12% service charge. Highly recommended. read more

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Fantastic. One of the best meals I've ever experienced We are here on vacation and had seen this restaurant profiled on chef's table on Netflix. A heartwarming episode. You always worry the meal can't live up to the incredible personal story here. But it did and more. The black chickpea first course was so flavorful. Both the paneer and prawn main course were rich but not over the top heavy. Dessert was three flights, each different but excellent. Everywhere the flavors really ran deep and subtle. Service also was top notch. Everything was done without asking. The staff explained every thing that hit the table. And they truly looked to enjoy their work. 65 pounds for three courses is a bargain here. Congrats to the whole team at Darjeeling. read more

We came here for dinner a couple nights ago. FYI the address attached to the Yelp account is incorrect: the location on Garrick street is closed and the only operating restaurant is in Kingly Court in Soho. We're bummed to report that we didn't have the best experience with Darjeeling Express even though we really wanted to love it. First thing that happened was that they cancelled our reservation a couple weeks before our trip with no warning or explanation, so we had to reshuffle our itinerary to be able to go and then they booked us again for the wrong date so it was a bunch of hoopla that was frustrating. We got sat in the main dining room by the bar and we loved the breezy ambience. We've both been to India, and it definitely felt like you were in one of the upscale cafes there. The rose spritz deflated the situation, however, because it was 75% ice, which is such a faux pas in our eyes. They start you off with their version of potato chips that are served with a couple chutneys and those were really nice. For dinner, you have to do the prix fixe thalis, so we got one of each: chicken and channa, one with beef tamatar and the other with paneer. We don't want to go through every single dish that came out on the thali, but we will say that there were some highs and lows. We both loved the chicken and the dal, and the rice was wonderful ofc. The chickpeas ate a bit dry and the paneer was soggy, disintegrating the second that you tried to eat it. The beef was falling apart and the sauce was delicious but again, we felt like the dish needed a bit more moisture. Almost everything needed more salt and of course there was none on the table. What we can say for certain is that we liked the food at Dishoom much better and found it to be more fairly priced. Sadly none of us enjoyed the desserts--we took one bite of each and that was pretty much it. The carrot one was interesting though. Our server was very nice but he spoke so fast with such a thick accent that we had a lot of trouble understanding him and he didn't seem to make the time for us. We do want to say that Asma Khan was there that night and she made the rounds stopping to talk to each table, and chatted with us two times. She is lovely--beyond lovely! And the fact that she does that speaks volumes. We wish that we loved our meal, but we only just liked it, and we certainly felt that the thalis that you're forced to order are not worth the value. Having said that, we're glad that we tried it, and hope that others might have a more positive experience. read more

So I'm watching Netflix one day and I see that a few new episodes of "A Chef's Table" have been added. I notice one about an Indian cook and because I am of Indian heritage, I naturally click to look on. It turn's out Episode 2 from Season 6 is about Asma Khan, a West Bengali cook and restaurateur who runs "Darjeeling Express" in Kingly Court in the middle of Soho, off of swinging 60's headquarters of Carnaby Street, who employs a kitchen staff of only women and presents recipes not normally found in other Indian restos but ones which are largely based on her West Bengali aristocratic background. While watching the episode, all the memories of foods I grew up with came flooding back to me since I too come from a similar West Bengali background given that my dad's side of the family were landed gentry in Murshidabaad, West Bengal, India. Detour to History lesson: People may forget this but once upon a time, royalty and aristocracy existed in places like India, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka. And while those empires like the Mughal Empire have disappeared, their jewels, their titles, their riches, their thrones, plundered and taken away, the culture was never fully eradicated and one area it continued was the unbelievably rich and decadent food which the Mughals celebrated and which were passed on into ancient, Muslim families all over the Indian subcontinent, from grandmother, to mother, to daughter, generation after generation with very little changes. Just to give you an example of how truly decadent the Mughals were about food, specific cows were fed nothing but saffron, which is a tiny and very expensive spice/herb. Imagine how much saffron you would need to have on hand to feed a cow daily. Now imagine that they breed these specific saffron cows, for 10 generations, and all that time, they are fed nothing but saffron daily, the cow from the 10th generation will have the flavor of saffron so embedded in it's meat genetically that that is precisely the one which is served up to the Emperor's table. There's in a scene in the Netflix episode where Asma is walking through their mango orchards with her father back in West Bengal and discussing the merits of Langra mango vs. Fosli mango (different varieties which you will never find in your local supermarket). Again this brought me back because we also had mango orchards of very rare varieties of mangoes which barely exist now. Like Prince's mango, Queen's mango etc. Again these were varieties developed over time for the Emperor, specific mangoes you would eat in a particular order to cleanse your palate and get your palate ready for the richer varieties which you would eat later on. Asma makes her mango lassis with some of these mangoes. Asma really is doing service to history because if these recipes aren't recorded properly, they will disappear forever. Watching the episode and seeing things like Suji Halwa (semolina-based sweet) covered with silver-leaf and real gold leaf or Payesh (rice pudding made with jaggery) or Shamai Halwa (vermicelli sweet made with milk and mixed with spices and nuts), basically stuff I grew up eating in places like West Bengal and Old Dhaka, in areas like Laalbaag, convinced me that I had to come here. I was surprised that I was able to get a reservation so easily but maybe the Netflix -generated interest hasn't hit yet. Nonetheless, I had the Tangra-style Chilli Garlic Shrimp, the Prawns Malaikai, the mango lasso and the lemon-scented basmati rice - all of it was amazing. I even saw some of the cooks which were in the Netflix episode. Service is very friendly and it was an overall, great dining experience. My only regret was not seeing Asma or watching the giant pot of sealed biryani being opened up on the premises. Go now before the crowds come in. read more

Map Heads Up....it is inside the Kingly Courtyard...a bit hidden from the street address....once we found it we encounter a superior wait staff from around the world. The food was spectacular and well worth the price. The staff inside and outside the kitchen took the time to wish my wife a happy birthday. I highly recommend dining here if you are in the area! read more

I flew to London just to try this place! Like many others I saw the Chef's Table episode and knew from there that the food would be amazing! The menu changes day to day so be sure to book a reservation in advance. read more

Darjeeling Express - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

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Very excited to visit this restaurant. The experience was casual, yet very comfortable. The waitstaff was excellent and the service was top marks. The lunch began with a few of their indian toasties--for you Americans, that's a grilled cheese. We then moved to some little puchkas, pockets of cold flavor with a nice little bitesize crunch. We had the dumplings as well as they delivered a wonderful heat and spice, but not too much. We also had prawns in a golden/orange curry sauce that was tremendous. We sort of ordered everything on the menu and enjoyed every little bit. Make not that some of the dishes have the same sauces, so you may want to avoid the duplicity. You will love this place...namaste. read more

Do not make the same mistake I made by using the Yelp address, it's wrong. Look up Kingly Court instead. A bit pricey £65, but the food is excellent. Dinner is not served a la carte. You get a choice of an appetizer and main dish. It comes with a bunch of sides, rice, and 3 kinds of dessert. read more

Really outstanding food and drinks. Surprising as I've found most high end Indian food tends to be average. Not here. And outstanding service! read more

Absolutely fantastic! Best Indian food I have ever had. Food waa very flavorful, drinks were excellent and service was wonderful. 10/10 recommend! read more

Darjeeling Express - Methi Chicken Prawn Malakairi All Sides - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

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Like other reviews have stated, I was intrigued by the Chef's Table documentary on the owner/chef here and the food is excellent; unique dishes I haven't seen in other Indian restaurants in the UK and US. Michelin-recommended and woman-owned business. Despite it's recent fame, the restaurant vibe is intimate and cozy, while not feeling overly crowded or stifling. Decor is modest, and tables are small and placed close to each other. The only way they could made the space more welcoming was adding a a few small cuddly dogs or something. Service is attentive and generally good. The location is excellent, close to the tube and off Carnaby street. Bathrooms: Clean and functional. read more

Atmosphere is light with a warm feeling of India. The food is of home and any Mother would be proud you found a good substitute. The staff makes you feel relaxed and welcomed and I can't wait to go back and try more treasure of India. read more

They moved to kings court address, we that the pre fix menu and I picked blackened chickpeas and beef. It was amazing-arrive was impeccable and they were able to make changes to accommodate my lactose intolerance. Highly recommend. Not too spicy and the dessert of sweetened Palestinian apricots and pistachios were divinely delicate. Go. Just Go. read more

Incredibly delicious Indian food - this is owned by Asma Khan, featured in Netflix's Chef's Table. Very pretty little restaurant on the 3rd floor of a food court - a bit hard to find the first time but so well worth the trip. We had Murgh ka Saalan (Boneless chicken thighs cooked with dill and tomatoes), Goat Kosha Mangsho (Slow cooked Bengali goat curry with potato), Prawn Malaikari (Bengali Speciality of delicately spiced tiger prawns cooked in coconut milk), Kali Mirch Saag Keema ((HOT! Spinach with minced beef spiced with black pepper and dry chillies). Everything tasted incredibly delicious, flavors very subtle but deep and complex. We had sides of basmati rice and friend bread - and ended the meal with Bengali steamed yogurt dessert and Carrot halwa, garnished with pistachios and served with cream. read more

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This place is busy, so you'll likely need to book 2-3 months early. There are quite a few tables which leads to a very high noise level but you'll feel surprisingly less cramped than I would have expected and the noise does help to minimize the issue of overhearing conversations from the tables around you. Service was generally efficient despite one of the servers seemingly having a bit of a scowl much of the night and being unable to understand our second round wine order: My wife: "Can I get a glass of the Indian white wine" (FYI, there's only one) Server: "The Malbec?" Me: "The Chenin Blanc" Server: "I'll bring you the wine list again" Huh? As expected, the food was fantastic. Cardamom scented brown rice, excellent Paratha, large perfectly cooked chili garlic prawns with perfect seasoning, tender goat coated with an amazing Bengali curry, and an eggplant special in a very good peanut-based sauce. For dessert, a Bhapa Doi steamed yogurt dish was delicious as well. Too bad the wine list is uninspired, we tried all three of the still whites by the glass and only the Indian Chenin Blanc was remotely interesting. Still, I would return any time for the food at Darjeeling Express as everything tasted wonderful and was executed to perfection. read more