8 Best Butter Chicken in London That Are a Must-Try
As an Indian living in a foreign country, finding authentic desi food without a ridiculously expensive price tag attached to it can be quite a task. But imagine the joy you’d feel when you finally tuck into that piping hot bowl of creamy Butter Chicken that reminds you of home. Sounds heavenly, doesn’t it?
Have you been successful in discovering the best Butter Chicken in London yet? If not, don’t fret because we’re here to help! We’ve curated a list of 8 Indian restaurants in London that will make all your Butter Chicken dreams come true. The best part? We’ve included plenty of options that don’t break the bank! Keep reading to know more.
How we review:
All the Indian restaurants in London that are a part of our list are reviewed based on three important criteria:
1. Value for money
2. Quality
3. Authenticity
Indian restaurants Serving the Best Butter Chicken in London
1. Goila Butter Chicken
Location: London W1U 8AB, UK
Website: https://goilabutterchicken.co.uk/
About the restaurant:
If there’s one thing that Goila’s is known for, it’s their Butter Chicken. Founded by Saransh Goila, the restaurant claims to serve THE best Butter Chicken in the world. According to Saransh, the secret to their magic dish is the tomato to dairy ratio, i.e., 80:20 as opposed to the standard 60:40, fresh local produce, and their mastery over the art of smoke infusion.
Goila’s Butter Chicken:
What sets Goila’s Butter Chicken apart from the rest is the fact that they add absolutely no unhealthy additives. That means no processed sugar, no MSG, and most importantly, no weird fluorescent orange food colouring. According to them, Butter Chicken isn’t just a curry — it’s an art form.
Free-range, herb-fed chickens from Yorkshire are marinated in fresh Indian spices, grilled on eco-friendly charcoal, combined with creamy French butter, and served in a rich tomato sauce. Sounds like a dream, right?
Cost:
Known as one of the best Butter Chicken in London, Goila’s rendition of this cult-favorite Indian dish is £9.75. In our opinion, that’s an excellent deal!
2. Punjab Restaurant
Location: 80 Neal St, London WC2H 9PA, United Kingdom
Website: https://www.punjab.co.uk/
About the restaurant:
Arguably one of the oldest North Indian restaurants in the city, Punjab Restaurant first opened their doors to the residents of London in 1946. Fourth-generation family-owned, this eatery serves authentic Indian dishes prepared using recipes passed down by their ancestors.
The restaurant’s history can be seen on its walls in the form of family portraits, images of frequent diners, framed receipts, and photographs of well-known Punjabi figures.
Punjab Restaurant’s Butter Chicken:
Punjab Cuisine’s version of Butter Chicken, also known as the godfather of all Punjabi dishes, is made by combining succulent on-the-bone chicken and a creamy tomato-based sauce laced with butter.
Cost:
Punjab Cuisine’s Butter Chicken, priced at £13.10, is one of the best budget-friendly Butter Chicken in London.
3. Gymkhana
Location: 42 Albemarle St, London W1S 4JH, United Kingdom
Website: https://gymkhanalondon.com/
About the restaurant:
Gymkhana is an Indian restaurant in London that is inspired by the elite clubs in India. The word ‘Gymkhana’ is a British Raj term that was used to refer to a place of assembly where skill-based contests were held. It was a place where members of the high society would play sports, socialise, eat, drink, and make merry.
Gymkhana in London is best known for its classic Indian cuisine with a contemporary twist. The restaurant is split over two floors. The ground floor, inspired by the mansions of Pondicherry and Kolkata, is decorated with green jewel tones and luxurious printed fabrics. In contrast, the lower ground floor, decorated in peach and red hues, is an ode to the elements of North Indian architecture. The restaurant has also been the proud recipient of One Michelin Star since 2014.
Gymkhana’s Butter Chicken:
Gymkhana’s Butter Chicken is the perfect amalgamation of chunks of tandoor-grilled chicken and a creamy tomato-based sauce. It is undoubtedly one of the best Butter Chicken in London!
Cost:
Gymkhana’s Butter Chicken is priced on the slightly expensive side at £24. However, the experience is definitely worth the price tag!
4. Masala Zone Soho
Location: 9 Marshall St, London W1F 7ER, United Kingdom
Website: https://www.masalazone.com/locations/soho/
About the restaurant:
Since its inception in 2001, Masala Zone Soho has been known as one of the best Butter Chicken restaurants in London. It has also been rated as one of London’s best Indian restaurants by Evening Standard and Daily Telegraph.
With sophisticated lighting and plush furniture, the restaurant creates the perfect ambiance for a night out with friends or family as you tuck into some delicious and authentic desi food. The menu at Masala Zone has been carefully designed after 30 years of research in Maharaja’s palaces, gourmet homes, and street stalls of India.
Masala Zone’s Butter Chicken:
Masala Zone’s Butter Chicken is prepared by combining succulent pieces of grilled chicken, dried fenugreek leaves, and a sweetly spicy tomato and butter sauce.
Cost:
Priced at £12.50, Masala Zone’s Butter Chicken in London is worth every penny!
5. Salaam Namaste
Location: 68 Millman St, London WC1N 3EF, United Kingdom
Website: https://www.salaam-namaste.co.uk/
About the restaurant:
Established in 2005 by award-winning Chef Sabbir Karim, Salaam Namaste is an Indian restaurant in London that has been described by many critics and patrons as an eatery that is very “different from the norm”. In fact, the restaurant has been recognised by The Guardian, Hardens, Time Out, Trip Advisor, and Evening Standard as one of the best destinations for authentic Indian food in London.
The menu at Salaam Namaste reflects Chef Sabbir’s passion for traditional Indian cuisine and modern culinary techniques. Using complex marinades, premium spices, and seasonal local produce, Sabbir creates dishes that are simply pure magic. From classic curries to flavourful Biryanis and Sigri-grilled chicken tikkas, Salaam Namaste promises customers an experience of a lifetime.
Salaam Namaste’s Butter Chicken:
Named as the Moti Mahal Butter Chicken, Salaam Namaste’s take on the dish includes a creamy butter and tomato sauce, tender morsels of marinated chicken, slivers of ginger, and crushed fenugreek leaves.
Cost:
Salaam Namaste’s Butter Chicken in London is priced at £12.95, which is pretty standard for the area.
6. Jamavar
Location: 8 Mount St, London W1K 3NF, United Kingdom
Website: https://jamavarrestaurants.com/
About the restaurant:
Jamavar is an Indian restaurant in London that was conceived by Dinesh Nair — a member of the founding family of The Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts in India. Named after the intricate 16th-century Kashmiri shawls, the restaurant was initially established in 2001 at The Leela Palace, Bangalore, India. Since then, Jamavar has become a part of other luxury hotels in Goa, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
Jamavar London is led by Executive Chef Surender Mohan — a chef with over two decades of experience in cooking for the Nair fold. The menu at the restaurant is heavily inspired by the Nair family recipes passed down through the generations — the perfect homage to the royal cuisines of India.
Jamavar’s Butter Chicken:
Jamavar’s classic Old Delhi Butter Chicken is made using Suffolk corn-fed, char-grilled, and pulled chicken, crushed fenugreek leaves, and fresh tomatoes. It is a dish that guarantees to instantly transport you to the streets of Delhi.
Cost:
Priced at £26, Jamavar’s Butter Chicken in London is definitely an indulgence. However, given the quantity, quality, and authenticity of the dish, it is an indulgence that one wouldn’t regret!
7. The Mughal’s Indian Restaurant
Location: 11 London St, Tyburnia, London W2 1HL, United Kingdom
Website: https://www.mughalsrestaurant.uk/
About the restaurant:
The Mughal’s Indian Restaurant, established in 1994, is one of London’s oldest Indian restaurants. Visited by hundreds of locals and travellers, the restaurant can seat up to 60 people at any given point. Friendly customer service, mouthwatering Indian cuisine, and excellent value for money are some of the many reasons why this restaurant makes it to our list of the best Butter Chicken restaurants in London.
The Mughal’s Butter Chicken:
The Mughal’s Indian’s rich and indulgent Butter Chicken is prepared by combining exotic Indian spices, diced chicken cooked in a clay oven, and a special butter gravy. Simply put, it is a dish that is a true treat to the senses.
Cost:
Priced at £8.76, The Mughal’s Indian Restaurant’s Butter Chicken is one of the most affordable and delicious Butter Chicken in London.
8. Delhi Grill
Location: 21 Chapel Market, London N1 9EZ, United Kingdom
Website: https://www.delhigrill.com/
About the restaurant:
Delhi Grill can best be described as a small Punjabi Dhaba or canteen where people from all walks of life can sit together and enjoy authentic and lip-smacking desi food.
Known as one of the best Indian restaurants in London, Delhi Grill offers a wide variety of Indian dishes ranging from spicy curries, grilled tikkas, and decadent desserts. All their dishes are cooked using traditional culinary techniques and recipes and reflect the rich cultural heritage of India.
Delhi Grill’s Butter Chicken:
If there’s one best selling dish at Delhi Grill, then it’s their Butter Chicken Curry. Made by slow-cooking marinated chicken in a butter-chilli-tomato gravy, their version of this classic Indian dish will leave you wanting more.
Cost:
Given that it’s known as some of the best Butter Chicken in London, £10.50 is an absolute steal!
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