Before diving into our curation of the best Pakistani restaurants in London, imagine yourself walking through the mighty snow-capped mountains and panoramic river valleys and passing by the vibrant smiles of the Bedouins who are the keepers of the secret recipes, all engulfed in the aroma of the spices while getting to taste the magical portions of food prepared in the most authentic ways with age-old recipes in this journey. Hungry already? Checking out the Best Pakistani restaurants in London adds to the list of top things to do in the UK in a week here.
Top 10 Pakistani Restaurants in London
Pakistani diaspora stands as the second largest ethnic minority in London and has been touching the hearts of the residents of London through its legendary food recipes and hospitality. While you browse for the best Pakistani restaurants in London, you will find an expansive list of places that looks like a fine dream for food lovers. Pakistani restaurants in London have proved to be one of the best things to happen to the vintage city, especially with the sizzling kebabs, simmering haleem, aromatic biryanis, mixed grills and fusing naan dotting the city landscape. The uniquely rustic Pakistani canteens, the fusion of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and South Asian flavours and the welcoming aura of these restaurants make it a rare combination for Londoners and visitors to the city. Can't keep calm and want to check these top Pakistani restaurants in London out? Here we go. Buckle up!
1. Lahore karahi
Location: 1 Tooting High St, London SW17 0SN, United Kingdom
Google Ratings: 4.1/ 5 Stars
Timings: 10 am to 12 am
Must Try: Lamb nihari
The place is not something you just stumble upon but discover as a food lover. The Lahore Karahi was established in the year 1995 and has taken its customers on a flavourful ride ever since. The Pakistani classics served with extra servings of love here are to be savoured until the next visit; you won't be able to keep yourself, believe us. Some of the crown dishes you can't pass are mixed grill, which consists of lamb chops, chicken tikka, chicken wings and seekh kebab, chicken biryani, and eclectic lamb nihari, which simmers slowly, embracing the flavours of the spices and turns the meat into a silky textured wonder. They also got their name as the best curry house in London by acclaimed The Guardian and The Evening Standard, so n=ist no surprise this is one of the most famous Pakistani restaurants in London.
2. Dawat Takeaway and Restaurant
Location: 256-258 Upper Tooting Rd, London SW17 0DN, United Kingdom
Google Ratings: 4.4/ 5 Stars
Timings: 8 am to 12 am
Must Try: Tandoori King Prawn
Time travelling is on the menu. Yes, really! They take you back to the majestic Mughal era with their ambience, which is a fine blend of the Mughal era and contemporary cultures. Once you settle in the grandiosity of this place, you must buckle up for the spice trip of Pakistani food in London. The dishes that will allure you just start gorging are the special mixed grill, chicken jalfrezi, tandoori king prawn and much more. You can enjoy the delectable food at all the listed restaurants very conveniently from our state-of-the-art student accommodations in London.
Pakistani food is famous for its amazing street food, and so is London! Check out our webstory on the 8 best street food places in London.
3. Spice Village
Location: 121 Upper Tooting Rd, London SW17 7TJ, United Kingdom
Google Ratings: 4.4/ 5 Stars
Timings: 12 pm to 11:30 pm
Must Try: Spicy Prawn Karahi
This is one of the best Pakistani restaurants in London, which provides the old world-Pakistani delicacies with an enchanting presentation where each dish has its one-of-its-kind serving style cloaked in smoke with fancy platting. The place boasts of its tantalizing chats and fast food (street food), with a variety of options to choose from. Customers have praised the spicy prawn karahi bursting with flavors from the bottom of their foodie's hearts. Spice Village will satiate your thirst with the best mocktails around the city. You will never forget this Ace of a place.
4. Namak Mandi
Location: 25 Upper Tooting Rd, Tooting Bec, London SW17 7TS, United Kingdom
Google Ratings: 4.4/ 5 Stars
Timings: 12 pm to 12 am
Must Try: Crispy Chapli Kebabs
The ambience here sparks the hidden desire of every foodie to forget the calorie counts and just go on a never-ending culinary journey in one of the best Pakistani restaurants in London. Categorically a Pashtun restaurant, it is a place that can satisfy the cravings for Pakistani food. The showstopper, Afghan naans, when in union with the flaming karahi cooked just right, create a romantic affair of flavours in the mouth like none other. The crispy chapli kebabs add to the palate in the most efficiently dominant way.
5. Karachi Cuisine
Location: 1113-1115 London Rd, London SW16 4XD, United Kingdom
Google Ratings: 4.2/ 5 Stars
Timings: 12 pm to 12 am
Must Try: Bun Kebab
As the name suggests, this place is going to tickle your taste buds with Pakistani food recipes it has kept secret for generations now. You walk into the spacious dining room that it hosts. The dining room is decorated very warmly with welcoming purple overhead lighting and inviting bright red booths. There is a plethora of choices when it comes to ordering from the menu, and each item is going to get you a little further into a food coma. However, we would want you to try their famous bun kebab. The bun is soft and spiced, and it is served with a mouth-watering patty wrapped with an omelette and fresh salad. Is it a must-order? Yes. Make sure you checkout the best Indian restaurants too
6. Tayyabs
Location: 83-89 Fieldgate St, London E1 1JU, United Kingdom
Google Ratings: 3.9/ 5 Stars
Timings: 12 pm- 11:30 pm
Must Try: Dry Curries
If you live in London and you haven't heard of the Tayyabs, you must not be hanging out with the foodies of the city. This place is one of the best Pakistani restaurants in London. The place can accommodate a lot of footholds in its multiple dining rooms and thus is always bustling with the hunger for exquisite Pakistani food in London. The BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) policy makes it the people's favourite and also one of the most exciting places to dine in. You must not miss their dry curries, the otherworldly lamb chops and the softest rotis in the whole wide world.
7. Gifto's Lahore Karahi
Location: 162-164 The Broadway, Southall UB1 1NN, United Kingdom
Google Ratings: 3.8/ 5 Stars
Timings: 12 pm to 11:30 pm
Must Try: Chef's Special Peshwari Chicken
This place has a string of laurels tied to its name, making it one of the most sought-after and best Pakistani restaurants in London. It is the winner of the best restaurant of the year in South West London, and the fragrant unmatched tastes of Pakistani food in London are the reason behind it. The aroma of special grills, chapli kebabs and the chef's special Peshwari chicken and many such delicacies beaming with the pride of a knight who might have just conquered the toughest kingdom and the most beautiful princess for himself welcomes you. The place is set apart from the rest due to its extensive menu, which hosts some of the best drinks to complement the Pakistani food in London that takes you on a sumptuous journey. If you live in Sheffield, you can check out the 15 Best Restaurants In Sheffield to see if Pakistani food in London made its mark there.
8. Aladin Kebabish
Location: 147-149 W Hendon Broadway, London NW9 7EA, United Kingdom
Google Ratings: 4.1/ 5 Stars
Timings: 12 pm to 11 pm
Must Try: Qeema Masala
Culinary par excellence, which speaks of dedication to the exotic and dramatic flavours of Pakistani food, gets unparalleled justice in the Aladin. Established in the year 1979, this place grew to be the gold dust of Pakistani food in London and is also among the best Pakistani restaurants in London. Aladdin has received praise from the HRH Prince Charles and is listed as one of the "World's Best Curry Houses" in London, tying it up to the royalty of England. The infamous qeema masala melts in your mouth like the softest cotton candy when scooped with buttery naan and becomes a tale to tell all your folks. A thoughtful menu which includes gluten-free and vegan dishes wins the heart of everyone who walks in through that door towards this space of delight.
9. Lahore Kebab House
Location: Whitechapel
Google Ratings: 4/5
Timings: 12 pm - 1 am
Must Try: lamb chops
Lahore Kebab House is a celeb fav restaurant when they have a curry and Kebab craving. This Pakistani restaurant has won several national food awards and has received several international reviews, and we believe this speaks volumes when we say it is one of the best Pakistani restaurants in London. This original BYON Whitechapel establishment holds a special place among the many Pakistani restaurants in London that holds the Lahore name. They've designed this restaurant for Locals who totally dig the skinny, sizzling lamb chops coated in a delicious curried marinade and the softly spiced mutton tikka.
10. Naan Staap
Location: Walthamstow
Google Ratings: 4/5
Timings: Sun to Thu- 9 am - 11 pm, Fri to Sat- 9 am -1 am
Must Try: succulent lamb mince and the dam qeema naan
Naan Staap is a pretty good way, to sum up how people order at this Pakistani restaurant in London. Though this restaurant specialises in takeaways, it's still cosy if you sit in one of the lime green states that make people wonder if it won't hurt to stay back for the carrot and butter glazed number. Customs come back to have some iconic and standout dishes like the succulent lamb mince, the dam qeema naan and the Ferrero Rocher naan, which is lavishly drenched in chocolate sauce and flecked with hazelnuts. With a menu of mouth-watering dishes like these, it's no wonder Naan Staap is regarded as one of the best Pakistani restaurants in London.
It's heart-breaking to break your trail of imagination, which took you through the Pakistani terrains and back to London with the help of aromatic spices, delightful flavours and top-notch ambience. But we must do it as it's the end of this list. However, there is no dearth of Pakistani restaurants on the streets of London. Keep drooling! Make sure you check out Asian restaurants in Brisbane to satisfy your cravings.