Dishoom is one of the most highly recommended chains of Indian restaurants in London – and it’s no surprise why. We’ve been to a few of their restaurants, both in London and in Edinburgh, and the food has been incredible every single time. We’re going to dive into what we ordered and what we recommend you try if you’re planning on visiting one of Dishoom’s locations.
Table of Contents:
Dishoom: Our Review
We’ve now been to three separate Dishoom restaurants: Shoreditch, King’s Cross, and Edinburgh. When we visited Shoreditch it was for a work meal, so unfortunately we have no photos from this occasion but we do have pictures from both King’s Cross & Edinburgh!
When you get to Dishoom you are likely to have to queue. At King’s Cross we waited in the outside queue for about 15 minutes, where we were served with a complimentary glass of sherry. We were then moved down to the bar whilst we waited for our table – we were perhaps here for roughly 20 minutes.
Once our buzzer went off we were shown back upstairs to our table – a very long large table with a lazy susan at either end. As a group of four we sat at one end of this table, whilst another group of 4 were at the very end. Throughout our meal a solo eater and a couple also came to sit in the middle of the table (there was still plenty of space between each party). On previous occasions we’ve just had a table to ourselves.
We went for a mix of different dishes to all share, all of which were vegetarian friendly as two members of our group were non-meat eaters. Here’s what we ordered:
- House black daal (for us this is a must-order at Dishoom)
- Okra fries (this was the first time we ordered these and they were delicious! They were served with some dips that were quite spicy)
- Gunpowder potatoes (these were a brand new dish for me to try & they were exceptional! Mildly spiced and full of rich limey taste)
- Mattar paneer (a delicious curry in a creamy tomato sauce that’s not too spicy)
- Garlic naan (because you cannot have an Indian meal without naan – Dishoom’s are pretty thin. You can also get a vegan naan if needed)
- Awadhi jackfruit biryani (this is an excellent vegetarian dish, again it has some limey taste, and the jackfruit is cooked to a delicious texture)
- Dishoom chocolate pudding (on our first visit to Dishoom, we indulged in dessert. This is a melt in the middle chocolate pudding served with chilli ice-cream. Very delicious but you’ll likely be too full from the curries for a dessert!)
- Aflatoon’s colada (this was the tee-total version of Dishoom’s pina colada, and it was very tasty)
What’s Popular on the Menu at Dishoom?
One of the great things about Dishoom is just how large their menu is. In the restaurant the menu is presented on a newspaper-like sheet which can be a little overwhelming at first glance! Luckily, the staff are super helpful and will talk you through the menu and let you know how much to order for how many of you there are.
When looking at what’s the most popular thing on the menu, the House Black Daal comes up time and time again. Cooked for over 24 hours, this is a super creamy daal, unlike any we’d tried before (in fact we love it so much it’s one of the things we cook the most out of the Dishoom cookbook)!
Other highlights of the menu include:
- Roomali rolls (paneer or chicken) – perfect for a lunchtime visit
- Dishoom house chaat
- Sheekh kebab (lamb)
- Basmati kheer
- Bacon naan roll (breakfast menu)
There is a decently sized vegan menu which is great if you’re looking for a restaurant that can cater to a variety of dietary needs. You’ll also find a small menu of dishes suitable for younger children.
For those looking for a tipple alongside their meal, make sure you take a look at their cocktail menu which features Dishoom takes on classic drinks, including the Bollybelini, Colaba Colada, and Meenakshi’s Mojito.
The Background of the Restaurant
Dishoom first opened in 2010 in Covent Garden, the restaurant was designed to pay homage to the Iranian cafes seen in Bombay in the 1960s, which have slowly been disappearing since. It was founded by cousins Shamil and Kavi Thakrar, as well as Amar and Adarsh Radia (who left the business in 2017).
Today, Dishoom has 10 restaurants across the UK with 7 in London, 1 in Manchester, 1 in Birmingham, and 1 in Edinburgh.
Where is the Restaurant & How to Get There
Dishoom has a collection of 7 restaurants across London, meaning there’s almost certainly one near you!
- Kensington
- Shoreditch (this was the first Dishoom we visited)
- King’s Cross (this is a very large restaurant & wait times aren’t too long)
- Carnaby
- Covent Garden
- Canary Wharf
- Battersea
Each location is relatively close to a tube route – we suggest using Citymapper to find the easiest way to get to Dishoom from your location.
FAQs
Dishoom offers a slightly unique take on Indian food – the flavours are unlike those that you’ll get in your local takeaway curry house. A close attention to detail is definitely paid to ensure that the taste of all the food really pops.
The atmosphere in each Dishoom is also fantastic, with lots of dark wood and moody lighting, it’s a great spot for a romantic meal in London.
Dishoom is very much a walk-in restaurant – so if you’re visiting at a meal time you are very likely to have to queue – however they do their best to get you into the building and into the bar whilst you wait for your table. Last time when we queued outside they brought our sherry and a non-alcoholic drink as a complimentary treat whilst we waited.
If you’re booking before 6pm you can however make a reservation, and if your group size is 6 or more you can book a table anytime during the day.
Dishoom is currently owned by founding cousins Shamil and Kavi Thakrar.
The House Black Daal is the most highly reviewed dish.
Typically the queue for Dishoom tends to be about 30 minutes – but this can differ depending on location and the night.
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