Group Dining in Central London: How Our Set Menu Works
Classic, Maharaja or Royal? A dish-by-dish guide to our group set menu, so you can choose the right option for your party before you book.
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Stories From The Kitchen
New menus, seasonal dishes, awards, and the occasional dispatch from our chefs.
Business Lunch in the West End: Team Lunches Made Simple
Planning a team lunch or lunch meeting in central London? Our Express Lunch keeps decisions quick, with one main, pilau rice and a mini naan for everyone.
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Railway Lamb Curry: The Dish and the Story Behind It
Railway Lamb Curry comes with one of the best stories in Indian cooking. Here is the tale as it is usually told, and how we make ours in the West End.
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Where to Eat Before a Show on Shaftesbury Avenue
Seeing a show on Shaftesbury Avenue? Our restaurant on Charing Cross Road, near Leicester Square, is a short walk away, with a Pre-Theatre menu served from 12pm to 5.30pm daily.
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Chicken Tikka Masala in the West End: What Makes a Good One
Charred tikka, a smooth sauce and the right bread: what separates a great Chicken Tikka Masala from a forgettable one, and how ours comes to the table.
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Office Party at an Indian Restaurant Near Charing Cross
Planning an office party or team dinner? Our group set menu gives everyone a full Indian meal with no ordering debate. Here is how to plan it well.
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Express Lunch in the West End: A Fast, Proper Indian Lunch
Our Express Lunch gives you one main with pilau rice and a mini naan, served from 12pm to 4pm. Here is every dish on it and how to choose.
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Christmas Party Venues in the West End for Indian Food Lovers
Swap the turkey for tandoori this year. Our group set menu makes an easy Christmas party for teams and friends who love Indian food, and December books up early.
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Pre-Theatre Dinner Near Leicester Square: Eat Well, Make Curtain-Up
Our Pre-Theatre menu runs from 12pm to 5.30pm every day, a minute from Leicester Square tube. Here is how to eat well before a show and still make curtain-up.
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New Indian Starters and Small Plates on Our West End Menu
Our new menu brings a run of new starters, from Chicken 65 and Hara Bhara Kebab to Salmon Tikka. Here is what each one is and how to order them for the table.
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Our New Menu Is Here: What's New at Maharaja of India
Our new menu has arrived, with new starters, new house curries, tiger prawn dishes, new breads and a full drinks list. Here is what has changed and what to try first.
Read more →Indian Vegetable Side Dishes to Order With a Curry in the West End
The side dishes are where an Indian meal gets its balance. From Bombay Aloo to Brinjal Bhaji, here are the vegetable dishes worth adding to your order.
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Saag Aloo, Saag Paneer and Our Spinach Dishes in the West End
Spinach is one of the quiet heroes of an Indian table. Here is how Saag Aloo, Saag Paneer and our Sagwala curries work, and how to order them in the West End.
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Dhansak: The Sweet, Sour and Hot Lentil Curry Explained
Dhansak, also spelled danshak or dansak, is a fairly hot curry built on lentils, with a sweet and sour edge. Here is what it is and how to order it.
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Indian Rice Dishes: Pilau, Lemon, Zeera, Coconut and More
Rice is never just a side. Here is how our pilau, lemon, zeera, coconut, keema and other rice dishes differ, and which ones to pair with which curry.
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Tarka Dall and the Lentil Dishes on Our Menu
Lentils are the quiet backbone of Indian cooking. Here is what Tarka Dall, Dall Makhani and our other lentil and pulse dishes taste like, and how to order them.
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Indian Food for Hot Weather: What to Order on a London Summer Night
Spice and summer go together better than you might think. Here is how to order a lighter, cooler Indian meal in the West End when the city is warm.
Read more →How to Order at an Indian Restaurant: A First-Timer's Guide
New to Indian food? A simple, no-pressure guide to building a balanced order: what to get, how much, and how to pace it.
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Regional Indian Cuisine: A Tour from Punjab to the Coast
There is no single Indian cuisine. A tour of the regions behind the menu, from the tandoors of Punjab to the coconut curries of the south, and what to order from each.
Read more →Inside the Tandoor: How the Clay Oven Shapes Indian Cooking
The clay oven is the heart of an Indian kitchen. Here is how it works, why it matters, and what to order to taste it at its best.
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The Best Indian Dishes for Sharing
Indian food is made for the middle of the table. These are the dishes that shine when a group digs in together, and how to build a spread everyone enjoys.
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Butter Chicken vs Tikka Masala: What Is the Difference?
They look alike and often sit side by side on the menu, but butter chicken and tikka masala are not the same dish. Here is how to tell them apart.
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The Art of Biryani: A Short History of India's Most-Loved Rice Dish
Part rice dish, part celebration, biryani carries centuries of history in a single pot. A short tour of where it comes from and how it is made.
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Classic Indian Food Pairings and Why They Work
Almost every Indian dish has a partner, from biryani and raita to chai and samosa. Here are the classic Indian food pairings, why they work, and how to order them.
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How Sound Shapes a Meal: The Dining Acoustic Experience
Music, volume and the shape of a room all change how a meal feels and even how food tastes. A look at the dining acoustic experience and why it matters.
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Modern Indian Cuisine: How Chefs Are Redefining It
Lighter sauces, regional depth and a fresh look on the plate: how a new generation of chefs is redefining modern Indian cuisine without losing its soul.
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The Rise of the Indian Tasting Menu
Small courses, regional stories and careful pacing: why the Indian tasting menu has become a fixture of modern fine dining, and what makes a good one.
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Modern Indian Restaurants: How Indian Food Conquered the World
From London to New York, Indian restaurants are now fixtures of every great food city. Why the cuisine travels so well, and how modern Indian restaurants are changing.
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A Solo Day Around Charing Cross: Where to Wander and Eat
Galleries, riverside gardens, old bookshops and a proper dinner for one. A relaxed solo day around Charing Cross, all within walking distance.
Read more →Cream in Indian Cooking: From Butter Chicken to Korma
Used well, cream rounds off heat and carries spice. Used badly, it flattens everything. Here is how good Indian kitchens handle it.
Read more →Garlic and Ginger: The Foundation of Indian Flavour
Ask an Indian cook what they could not work without, and many say the same two things. Here is why garlic and ginger come first.
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Why Indian Food Is So Addictive: The Science of Spice
Contrasting ingredients, layered spice and a little brain chemistry. The science behind why Indian food is so satisfying, and why you keep coming back for more.
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Vegan Indian Food: A Guide to Plant-Based Dishes
Indian cuisine is one of the most naturally plant-friendly in the world. Here is what to look for, and how to ask for dishes without dairy.
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What Makes an Indian Signature Dish Iconic?
Some Indian dishes are eaten once and forgotten; others become classics. Here is what turns a plate into an iconic Indian signature dish.
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Indian Fusion Cuisine: Trend or Travesty?
Miso with tamarind, chaat plated like a French canapé: Indian fusion cuisine is everywhere. When does it work, when does it fail, and is it really anything new?
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Indian Fine Dining in London vs Mumbai
Mumbai cooks from tradition, London from curiosity. How location, diners, presentation and ingredients shape Indian fine dining in two great food cities.
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A Short Guide to Indian Desserts
Warm, fragrant and built around milk, nuts and slow-cooked sugar. A short guide to the best-known Indian desserts and the spices that set them apart.
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Indian Egg Curry: A Home-Style Recipe
A rich, comforting North Indian-style egg curry made with a slow-browned onion and tomato masala. Easy to cook at home with everyday ingredients.
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The Breads of India: Naan, Roti and Paratha
No Indian meal is complete without bread. A guide to naan, roti, paratha and the regional breads beyond them, and which to order with what.
Read more →Indian Starters and Snacks Worth Sharing
The start of an Indian meal is half the fun: crisp, spiced, shareable things to pass around the table with a cold drink.
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Indian Slow Cooking: Dum, Dal and Patience
Dum cooking, overnight dal, fermentation and smoke: why patience sits at the heart of Indian cooking, and why chefs are rediscovering these old techniques.
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Easy Indian Sweets to Try at Home
You don't need special equipment or rare ingredients. These easy Indian sweets, from sooji halwa to besan ladoo, come together at home with storecupboard basics.
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What Makes Indian Food Fine Dining? A Diner's Guide
Fine Indian dining is not about tiny portions. It is serious cooking, generous flavour, warm hospitality and a room you want to stay in. Here is what to look for.
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