BRITAIN’S best curry houses have been unveiled at a prestigious annual industry awards.
The Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA), which celebrates pan-Asian cooking in the UK, has announced its finalists for this year, with the overall winners to be announced on October 6.
Over 1,300 establishments were nominated this year by diners and food enthusiasts[/caption]
The awards, widely regarded as the most prestigious in the Asian restaurant industry, will bring together top restaurateurs, politicians, and celebrities.
Over 1,300 establishments were nominated this year by diners and food enthusiasts.
The awards choose the top Indian and pan-Asian restaurants in every region around the country, alongside other accolades including Newcomer of the Year, Streetfood Restaurant of the Year and Asian Fusion Restaurant of the Year.
The Newcomer of the Year category features finalists such as Solas-Kitchen from Dalgety Bay, The Bombay in Swanley, Durbar Spice in Orpington, and MITR Restaurant based in Royston.
In the Streetfood Restaurant of the Year category, Punjabi Heaven from Leeds, My Delhi Newcastle in Newcastle upon Tyne, Mr Chaat in Bolton, and Zaap Thai Street Food from Nottingham are competing for the top spot.
Regional Restaurant of the Year finalists include Himalayan in Belfast, Firangi from Glasgow, Spice Delight in Penarth, and Freya’s Grill in Darwen, among others from across the UK.
Meanwhile, the Regional Takeaway of the Year category sees Slumdog Delivered from Edinburgh, The Maharaja in Manchester, Mela Indian Takeaway from Bristol, and Malabar Feast in London vying for recognition, alongside other establishments.
Mohammed Munim, founder, member and chief executive of ARTA, said: “Asian restaurants and takeaways have long played a vital role in the UK’s economy and culture.
“Their contribution through job creation, community impact, and culinary excellence, deserves to be recognised.
“Every nominee is a testament to the industry’s resilience and we look forward to celebrating them on October 6.”
Full list of finalists
Newcomer of the Year:
- Solas-Kitchen, Dalgety Bay, Dunfermline
- The Bombay, Swanley
- Durbar Spice, Downe, Orpington
- MITR Restaurant, Royston
Streetfood Restaurant of the Year:
- Punjabi Heaven Restaurant, Roundhay, Leeds
- My Delhi Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Mr Chaat, Bolton
- Zaap Thai Street Food, Nottingham
- Japanese Restaurant of the Year:
- Wakaze, Leicester
- Takayama Restaurant, Ipswich
- Maneki Ramen, Worcester
- Oishii Japanese Restaurant, Hertford
Asian Fusion Restaurant of the Year:
- SIBU, Batley
- Mina Steakhouse, Cambridge
- Yakitori House, East Kilbride, Glasgow
- Wadud’s Fusion of Thai & Indian Restaurant, Cressing, Braintree
- Turkish Restaurant of the Year:
- ETCI Kitchen, Brighton and Hove, Brighton
- Nova Park Royal, London
- Troia Southbank, London
- SAVCI Turkish Mediterranean, Stopsley, Luton
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Northern Ireland:
- Himalayan, Belfast
- Indian Ocean Restaurant, Holywood
- Nu Delhi Restaurant Lounge, Belfast
- Yaks, Bangor
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Scotland:
- Firangi, Cambuslang, Glasgow
- Masala Twist, Glasgow
- Sidhu’s, Perth
- Yorokobi by CJ, Aberdeen
Regional Restaurant of the Year – South Wales:
- 1988 Indian Restaurant, Sully, Penarth
- Mango Tree, Cardiff
- Rasoi Waterfront, Swansea
- Spice Delight, Penarth
Regional Restaurant of the Year – North Wales:
- Ijazz Indian Cuisine, Wrexham
- Junction Tandoori Restaurant, Llandudno Junction
- Spice of Llanberis, Llanberis, Caernarfon
- Valley Spice, Corwen
Regional Restaurant of the Year – North West:
- Freya’s Grill, Darwen
- Thamin, Littleborough
- Venus Lounge Restaurant, Heywood
- Wild Ginger Restaurant, Littleborough
Regional Restaurant of the Year – North East:
- Sachi’s Burley, Burley in Wharfedale, Ilkley
- Sherkhan Of Alnwick, Alnwick
- Soami’s Trio By Parvin Kumar, Consett
- Soho Tavern, Gateshead
Regional Restaurant of the Year – West Midlands:
- Bao To The Broth, Hereford
- Millennium, Birmingham
- Monsoon Majestic Indian Dining, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Newcastle
- Tamarind, Balsall Common, Coventry
Regional Restaurant of the Year – East Midlands:
- House Boat Restaurant, Derby
- Shapla Spice, Ripley
- Silchar Indian Dining, Hinckley
- Spice Lounge, Brackle
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Hertfordshire:
- Dalchini Spice, Shefford
- Raj Of India, Welwyn Garden City
- Tamarind, Potters Bar
- The Cochin Indian Restaurant, Hemel Hempstead
Regional Restaurant of the Year – East Anglia:
- Sushi And Salad, Ely
- Rose and Mango, Saint Neots
- Lowestoft Tandoori, Lowestoft
- Shilpa Indian Restaurant, Papworth Everard, Cambridge
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Essex:
- Rim Jhim Spice Indian Restaurant, Colchester
- Moonlight Tandoori, Harlow
- Maharani Indian Restaurant, Colchester
- Kelvedon Spice, Kelvedon, Colchester
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Kent
- The Bombay Restaurant, Orpington
- Prince of India, Faversham
- Indian Valley Restaurant and Takeaway, Orpington
- Shozna, Rochester
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Surrey:
- Bay Leaves, Epsom
- Trishala, Redhill
- Rishi’s in Slate & Grain Brasserie and Bar, Hackbridge, Wallington
- Coulsdon Spice, Coulsdon
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Sussex:
- Akash Indian Restaurant & Takeaway, Horsham
- Calcutta 16, Shoreham-by-Sea
- Moonstone Sri Lankan Restaurant, Brighton and Hove, Hove
- Tamasha, Lindfield, Haywards Heath
Regional Restaurant of the Year – South Central:
- Chennai Express, Fleet
- Mint Lounge, Southampton
- Spice Lounge, Burford
- The Paradise Balti House, Petersfield
Regional Restaurant of the Year – South West:
- Chilli’s, Weymouth
- Indian Queen, Saint Columb
- Royal Jaipur, Landford, Salisbury
- Salkaara, Henleaze, Bristol
Regional Restaurant of the Year – North London:
- Pinos Warung, Chalk Farm, London
- Taste of Goa, Finsbury Park, London
- Ruhit’s Indian Cuisine, London
- Taste of Nawab, London
Regional Restaurant of the Year – City & East London:
- Mumbai Square Restaurant, London
- The India, London
- Bengal Village, London
- The Famous Curry Bazaar, London
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Central & West London:
- BKC – Biryani Kebab Chai, Tyburnia, London
- Durbar Tandoori, London
- Maharaja of India, London
- Tajmahal Indian Cuisine, London
Regional Restaurant of the Year – South London:
- Colombo Kitchen Putney, London
- Mumbai Delight, London
- Saka Maka Hither Green Indian Restaurant, London
- Toba, London
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Scotland:
- Slumdog Delivered, Edinburgh
- Azaad Takeaway, Invergowrie, Dundee
- Gurkha Kitchen, Fraserburgh
- A Touch of Spice Takeaway, Coatbridge
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Wales:
- The Masala Indian Takeaway, Colwyn Bay
- AMK Indian Takeaway, Colwyn Bay
- Saffron Kitchen, Pontnewydd, Cwmbran
- Paprika Indian Takeaway, Pen-clawdd, Swansea
Regional Takeaway of the Year – North West:
- The Maharaja, Stretford, Manchester
- Masala Bay, Oldham
- Indialicious, Rochdale
- River Beal Indian Takeaway, Rochdale
Regional Takeaway of the Year – West Midlands:
- Lime Pickle, Birmingham
- Little Bengal, Catshill, Bromsgrove
- Spice Nation, Hollywood, Birmingham
- Village Spice, Telford
Regional Takeaway of the Year – East Midlands:
- Miah’s Takeaway, Heanor
- SunSushi, Far Cotton, Northampton
- Masala Takeaway, Sherwood, Nottingham
- Shipon Tandoori, Chesterfield
Regional Takeaway of the Year – East Anglia:
- Eastern Spice, Ipswich
- Urbanchai, Cambridge
- Lime Takeaway, Bury Saint Edmunds
- Bhujon Indian & Bangladeshi Takeaway, Tring
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Essex:
- The Raj Tandoori, Southend-on-Sea
- Kaani Kaana, Chelmsford
- Tina’s Kitchen, Gants Hill, Ilford
- Balti Night, Braintree
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Hertfordshire:
- Aroma, Radlett
- Balti Village, Harpenden
- Saffron, Borehamwood
- ChilliGo, Waltham Cross
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Kent:
- A Taste of India, Chatham
- Jhal Chilli, Maidstone
- Sher E Bangla, Longfield
- Mum’s Thai, Chatham
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Surrey:
- Rice and Spice, Ewell, Epsom
- Purbani, Guildford
- Curry Master, Epsom
- Jalsha Indian Takeaway, Ashford
Regional Takeaway of the Year – South West:
- Mela Indian Takeaway, Montpelier, Bristol
- Blue Mango, Taunton
- Black Peppers, Bristol
- Myra’s Korean and Japanese Restaurant, Dorchester
Regional Takeaway of the Year – South London:
- Malabar Feast, London
- Nazran’s Indian & Punjabi Cuisine, London
- Passage to India Takeaway, Norwood, London
- Samrat, London
