It's true what they say: Britain and Ireland love a curry. Over the course of centuries, countless curry recipes have made their way to the British Isles from South Asia and beyond, from the creamy and mild to the fiendishly spicy. Today, with thousands of curry houses to choose from, tracking down the best might seem like an impossible challenge – but it’s one we’re not afraid to take on. We’ve rounded up the standout curry spots from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus the nine official regions of England, and ranked them to the best of all.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the very best curry restaurants in the UK and Ireland – counting down to number one.
Our ranking is based on the popularity of each restaurant, taking into account awards, accolades and reviews, as well as the opinions of our expert team.
Inspired by India’s elite clubs, where members of high society rub elbows, Gymkhana is a sophisticated take on a curry house. Dark wood, green and red leather upholstery and warm lighting make the restaurant somewhere to really take your time, luxuriating in the atmosphere and the two-Michelin-star food. Classic Indian cuisine is on the menu here, so expect to find the likes of achari paneer tikka (made with pickling spices), tandoori masala lamb chops and lamb shank rogan josh, all cooked to perfection.
Loved by locals, Caernarfon’s Curry Scene is a hot spot for Indian and Bangladeshi curries. Whether eating in the restaurant or ordering a takeaway, customers enjoy dishes bursting with flavour, created by a team that's truly passionate about delivering the best experience possible. Aside from the range of delicious curries – from king prawn tikka pasanda to lamb dhansak – reviewers regularly shout out the chicken pakoras. They say they always receive a warm welcome, too.
Upmarket Raval is in the perfect location for dinner and a show, with the Glasshouse International Music Centre nearby. Voted the best fine dining restaurant outside London at the Asian Curry Awards 2024, the brasserie offers both luxury tasting menus and an à la carte menu brimming with exciting dishes. Choose the seven-course tasting menu for a culinary journey across India, from lightly spiced Bombay lobster with mango to North Indian caramelised gulab jamun dumplings with vanilla ice cream and cardamom syrup.
Respected chef Asma Khan has built an all-women team at Darjeeling Express, bringing home cooking and family recipes to a restaurant setting. What began as a dinner club soon developed into one of London’s best-loved Indian restaurants, serving an array of street food inspired by Kolkata and the chef’s royal ancestry. A set dinner menu and à la carte lunch both offer an authentic taste of India – think Indo-Chinese prawns with chilli and garlic, saag keema (spinach and ground beef) and traditional sweet coconut ladoo: sweet and sticky coconut balls.
Founded in 2003, Rasam has been feeding the people of Dun Laoghaire for over 20 years, and the restaurant has even made it into the Michelin Guide. With staff hailing from various regions of India and a menu informed by holistic Ayurveda (a traditional wellness system), the restaurant makes use of local produce in dishes that aim to offer more than different proteins cooked in a single sauce. Unexpected items such as beetroot chicken and mango prawns keep you guessing and make every meal exciting. Satisfied customers recommend finishing off with the kulfi, a creamy, fruity dairy dessert.
Refined dining with a relaxed feel awaits at Masala Junction, an award-winning restaurant that's been feeding Nottingham since 2015. Impressive vegetarian and vegan menus make this restaurant welcoming to everyone, although it’s the meaty goat curry – flavoured with garam masala, chilli, coriander and herbs – that diners rave over in reviews. The light and airy restaurant, set within an old bank, is a beautiful place to dine; however, if you’d rather enjoy the food in the comfort of your own home, takeaway is available too.
Newtown’s Bahar is a proper takeaway, selling all of the British Indian classics – plus burgers and cheesy chips for those who aren’t in the mood for spice. Korma, Madras, vindaloo and bhuna are all on the menu, with your choice of protein. Some slightly less common dishes are there too, like the hot, sweet and sour Dhanu shabjee. While it’s a go-to place to pick up a takeaway, tables are available to book too, whether for a special occasion or a casual night out.
Aktar Islam heads up Opheem, a restaurant that’s bagged two Michelin stars in the city where he grew up. Combining Indian flavours with global cooking techniques, the restaurant strives to go beyond tradition and push the boundaries of what Indian food can be. The result is a seasonal menu of five or 10 courses (plus a lunch menu). You can expect to find British ingredients with Asian attitude, from tandoori hogget (sheep) belly to Orkney scallop with daikon radish, apple, almond and XO sauce.
Sealord brings authentic Indian flavours to Wexford with a menu of Keralan chicken, Goan fish and South Indian lamb curries, plus tantalising starters including butter chicken wings – tandoori wings in butter, chilli and garlic sauce. The food and atmosphere are loved not only by locals, but by visitors from India too, who say the restaurant is truly a taste of home. The service gets top marks, and deliveries and takeaways offer the same great quality as any dine-in meal.
Tucked away down a side street in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, This & That Café is the home of ‘rice and three’. A local favourite since 1984, the restaurant dishes up a portion of rice with three different curries from a rotating daily selection. Pile your plate high with chicken tikka masala, lamb and cauliflower, dhal, Bombay potatoes or whatever else might be available when you visit. Offering great value and bags of flavour, and open seven days a week, it’s an eatery with hordes of loyal fans.
Open since 2023, Spice Safari is a relatively new restaurant that's quickly made a name for itself in the pretty market town of Conwy. A varied menu featuring traditional dishes and specialities comes alongside excellent service and the option to BYOB. Don’t miss the weekly chef’s special for the chance to try something a little different; the dish could be topped with gold leaf, served inside a pineapple or presented with a whole charred chilli for extra pizzazz.
Both Nepalese and Indian cuisines shine at Motherland Spice, the Saltcoats restaurant that received the Best of Ayrshire gong at the Scottish Curry Awards 2024. There’s no shortage of options at this family-run restaurant, which has been going strong since 2012, but the specials are a good place to start. Chicken tikka baja (barbecue chicken, onions, peppers, honey and sweet and sour sauce) and lamb tawa (tender lamb in a creamy spiced sauce) are both standout dishes that customers love.
Open until late every evening, Spice Lounge is loved by locals for food that’s always fresh and tasty and service that’s unfailingly friendly and attentive. The restaurant is a top pick for family meals and special occasions, serving authentic Indian food and a few less common dishes, such as lamb monposond – marinated and barbecued lamb fillets with fenugreek and coriander, served in a spicy yogurt and chilli sauce. The staff have even been known to go out of their way to prepare dishes that aren't on the menu to ensure complete customer satisfaction.
Have you ever wondered what really goes on inside a tandoor, the traditional oven at the heart of so many Indian dishes? Visitors to Tandoor at the Chambers get a glimpse behind the scenes, thanks to the restaurant's glass-fronted kitchen. Diners watch the chefs hard at work as they prepare lamb chops, achari duck (made with pickling spices) and murgh malai tikka (succulent pieces of chicken in a creamy yogurt, cheese, chilli, garlic and ginger marinade). Customers say the kale chaat is a must to kick off your meal.
Venture a few miles outside of the Welsh capital to the village of Taff’s Well to discover a Bangladeshi and Indian restaurant with a fantastic reputation. Fans say it’s a real hidden gem, and its location close to the cinema in Nantgarw makes it perfect for a night out with dinner and a film. On top of the high-quality food, with a menu ranging from chicken tikka biryani to spinach balti, the restaurant always delivers excellent service.
Ditch your usual Sunday roast and visit Urban Choola on a Saturday or Sunday lunchtime instead for a thali – a platter of home-cooked Indian food. Choose from vegetables, chicken or lamb, and you’ll receive your selection with a spread of rice, flatbreads, dhal, pickles and chutneys, perfect for sharing with others (or keeping all to yourself). During the week, an impressive à la carte menu makes the most of seasonal ingredients, putting a modern spin on traditional Indian cuisine. Reviewers rave about the lamb rogan josh, butter chicken and Goan fish curry.
Madras Cafe took home the Customer Service of the Year accolade from the Scottish Curry Awards 2024, and it’s not just the stellar service that keeps customers coming back. Local ingredients and Indian flavours come together to create dishes like aromatic chicken biryani, Punjabi paneer with peppers and green chillies, and tender Scottish monkfish in ginger, garlic and chilli. The masala dosa, which sees potatoes seasoned with curry leaves, mustard seeds and crushed black pepper and wrapped in a thin, crispy pancake, is a big hit.
Not every meal comes with a spectacular view of a castle, but that’s exactly what you'll get at Mayur Indian Restaurant in Carrickfergus. Whether you’re visiting the castle or just stopping by for a meal, you’re guaranteed a memorable experience. The family-owned restaurant, which also has a sister location in Larne, has a host of loyal regulars who rate it for both dine-in meals and takeaway. From the lamb samosas to the super-hot naga curry, every dish is prepared with care and attention – and served with kind, polite service that diners always appreciate.
Open since 2022, family-run Curry Cottage picked up multiple awards in its first year, including Best Newcomer at the Irish Restaurant Awards. Serving colourful, flavourful Indian cuisine, the restaurant’s affordable prices, generous portion sizes and great selection of dishes all keep customers happy, ensuring they return to the restaurant time and time again. The makhan chicken, featuring tandoori chicken strips in butter, tomatoes and a creamy sauce topped with almond flakes, is a menu favourite.
'Nothing is too much trouble' is an oft-repeated phrase among reviewers singing The Shalimar's praises. Whether visiting for a special occasion or a casual meal, diners are truly looked after by the restaurant's staff, who go out of their way to meet customers’ needs. The food always impresses too, from the free pickle tray refills (so there’s plenty for your poppadoms) to the delightful curries, including traditional picks like Madras and vindaloo, plus house specials like desi fish curry.
Traditional Indian food takes on Bangladeshi influences at Yuvraaj, a restaurant that receives as much praise for its sophisticated décor as it does for its food. With a name meaning ‘Indian prince’, Yuvraaj aims to deliver a dining experience fit for royalty. The menu goes beyond the usual suspects, offering dishes like Bengali uree bisi – a dish unique to the restaurant, cooked with Bangladeshi runner bean seeds, green chillies, coriander and spices. The special menu, offering a selection of starters and main courses with ice cream or coffee to finish, is highly recommended.
At Monsoon, you'll discover South Indian food that transports you to the streets of Kerala. Tangy ginger and tamarind chicken wings, beef ularthiyathu (slow-cooked beef in aromatic Keralan spices) and chicken biryani are just a few of the restaurant's most popular dishes. The Kerala paratha, a flaky layered flatbread, gets regular shoutouts in reviews and is perfect for mopping up saucy curries. The fish pollichathu is another favourite – to make it, a fillet of sea bream is flavoured with spices and coconut milk, wrapped in a banana leaf and gently steamed.
Syhiba’s restaurants in Sowerby Bridge and Wakefield both offer some standout options that you won’t find on just any curry house menu. Lamb shank cooked in Punjabi spices, karahi curries (a style cooked with fresh ginger, garlic and tomatoes) and paya – sheep’s feet in a spiced tomato and green chilli sauce – all offer a taste of something different. It’s the lamb chops from the grill that receive glowing reviews, though, with many customers saying that they’re the best around.
With so many excellent curry restaurants in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region, it can be easy to miss somewhere like Rajput, located in the village of Wall Heath. Although it might not see as much business as restaurants in the centre of Dudley, those who do visit come away impressed by the delicious food, attentive staff and stylish interiors. The chicken tikka masala is always a winner but, if you’re looking for something new to try, go for the railway lamb, a hot curry with potatoes that was first cooked by chefs working on the Indian railway during the time of the British Raj.
At Kohinoor, fresh produce from Northern Ireland and spices imported from India come together in the most delicious way possible. Loved for its relaxed atmosphere, the restaurant does a successful trade in all the classics, plus a few dishes that are harder to find elsewhere – think rogan josh, pasanda and pudina (a sauce of fresh mint leaves, herbs and spices). Though it can be busy, both the food and service receive positive feedback, and diners say the spice levels are always just right, whether they want their curry mild or fiery.
The dishes delivered to diners' tables at Lavang come with extra showmanship thanks to a few dry ice party tricks. But it’s not just the theatrics and the smart modern interiors that draw people to the restaurant. The menu is stacked with exciting options, from traditional British Indian favourites to authentic South Asian flavours. The smoky Nihari lamb chops are a popular choice to start, and the railway lamb, served with the tender meat on the bone, is a real eye-catcher. Regulars recommend this place for a memorable birthday meal.
The alternative medicine system of Ayurveda inspires the menu at Ruchii. The six key tastes of Ayurveda – sweet, sour, salt, bitter, pungent and astringent – are woven through the dishes and represented in the six spokes of the restaurant’s wheel logo. For the full experience, order a 'six-tastes' thali: a platter of dishes showcasing the complete range of flavours. Elsewhere on the menu you'll find a range of tempting curries, including saffron chicken cooked in yogurt and nuts, slow-cooked lamb shank with onions and cashews, and palak kofta (cheese and spinach dumplings in a garlic and tomato sauce).
Indian street food gets the fine dining treatment at Chaskaa, a Curry House Guide–certified restaurant. A popular spot for a pre-theatre dinner, it’s appreciated for its welcoming atmosphere, friendly service and high-quality food. Fans rave about the monkfish curry, featuring flaky fish flavoured with mustard and curry leaves in a coconut, tomato and onion sauce. The lamb biryani gets plenty of mentions, too – all biryani dishes are fire cooked overnight to produce complex flavours, then served alongside raita and curry sauce.
Small plates make sampling the menu at Kachori a breeze, and it’s an offering that’s perfect for sharing. The restaurant’s modern take on Indian food results in fusion dishes that aren’t afraid to be different; think crispy lentil crêpes with asafoetida-spiced mashed potatoes, and Scottish salmon cakes with turmeric, leeks, chives, green onions and raita. For those with a bigger appetite (or those who are opposed to sharing), big plates offer more generous portions – perfect for pairing with the much-loved cocktail menu.
The unlimited Sunday lunch buffet at Spices and Spirits isn’t to be missed. Fans say it’s as varied as it is delicious and that it’s great value for money, too. Combining traditional and regional Indian cooking with modern techniques and flavours, the restaurant goes far beyond curry to bring diners an impressive choice of authentic dishes. From the à la carte menu, separated into vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, reviewers say the chicken kolhapuri – cooked in a thick and spicy chilli, ginger, onion and garlic sauce – is a definite must-try.
Bristol’s Rock Salt brings together Indian and Chinese food, putting Kashmiri lamb and Szechuan pork on the same menu. Part of a group of restaurants that also includes a Thai tapas bar, the venue opened in 2019 and managed to beat the odds to survive the pandemic. Still going strong, Rock Salt offers a pared-back menu that leans slightly more towards Indian dishes, from snacky starters to meaty mains. Customers love the fish curry with mustard and curry leaves – and they say that the cauliflower Manchurian in chilli, garlic and soy sauce is the top pick from the Chinese offering.
You’ve heard of a bottomless brunch, but have you ever had a bottomless balti? Every Wednesday, The Kala Sheep gives guests 90 minutes to enjoy as much chicken tikka (or a vegetarian option) as they like, served with unlimited rice. Opened in 2022 as a takeaway, The Kala Sheep launched as a sit-in restaurant a year later. Now a local favourite run by a dedicated Bangladeshi team, the eatery's focus is on comforting meals and generous portions. Looking for a spice challenge? Go for the super-hot Bangalore with naga chilli–infused chicken tikka.
Find Cidsin at the Craigvrack hotel, where the gin bar might also take your fancy. This inviting bistro’s menu of small and large plates, as well as tapas-style dishes from the tandoor, takes on contemporary influences to create exciting dishes like lightly spiced beetroot and paneer croquettes, and sweet, sour and spicy chicken lollipops. For a savoury twist on afternoon tea, choose the highly recommended tiffin experience. The two-person meal comes with a selection of house specialities, curries, tandoori items, bread and rice, providing a taste of the whole menu.
Winner of Punjabi Restaurant of the Year 2024 at the Nation’s Curry Awards, this Leeds restaurant showcases the Indian region’s food in fun and creative ways. Trendy takes on traditional dishes include masala poppadom cones and scrambled paneer in beetroot wheat tacos. The curry lineup features some Punjabi favourites – the lamb, slow cooked with ginger, garlic, Kashmiri chilli and hand-picked spices, is regularly name-checked in five-star reviews. With a relaxed atmosphere and café vibe, Punjabi Heaven is a fantastic place for a casual but delicious meal.
Live music graces Namaste Punjab twice a week, delighting patrons with traditional South Asian instruments and a lively ambience. The food is just as entertaining, offering a true taste of Punjab, from crispy pakoras to fragrant curries. If you’re not sure where to start, the thali will give you the ‘most Punjab in one plate’, with a spread of dishes to sample (in meat or vegetable versions). This busy restaurant sees a lot of guests for pre-theatre meals, and they love the colourful interiors and great vegan options.
Nepalese restaurant Da Mount Gurkha proves that Indian food doesn’t have a monopoly on incredible curries. Sharing some similarities with other South Asian food, but with plenty of its own personality, the menu at this restaurant could open up a whole new world to those unfamiliar with Nepalese cuisine. Ease in with a plate of momos, the Nepalese take on dumplings, before sampling one of the tantalisingly tasty curries. The lamb curries get particularly positive reviews – go for the house curry, which sees tender lamb cooked in ginger, onion, garlic and tomato with Himalayan herbs and spices.
Family-run Tiffin Restaurant and Bar sits within a Grade-II listed building that was once one of the oldest pubs in town. Tiffins, the tiered lunchboxes traditionally used to deliver food to working men in India, are the inspiration behind the spot's small and seasonal menu, which features small plates, curry pots and bites from the tandoor. Drawn in by the tempting aroma emanating from the restaurant as they walk past, diners often plump for the Goan fish curry with its fiery coconut sauce. Pop in for lunch and you can grab a chicken or paneer tikka ‘naanwich’ for a much better alternative to eating at your desk.