Reviews Darjeeling Express

Darjelling Express is a force to be reckoned with. Started up by former lawyer Asma Khan kitchen home as a supper club to a fully fledge restaurant. Located on the second floor of Kingly court in Carnaby street. Food is cooked up by all a ladies from different regions of India, learnt from their own mothers. It has a perfect blend of Indian and Bengali blend.  I received plenty of invites to attend the supper clubs but never had the time to go.

Loved every bit of the experience. The warmth and the hospitality of the staff was top class. The food was absolutely delicious. It took me to the time I visited Kolkata and had all those amazing dishes. There's so much attention to detail when it comes to flavors, selection of the dishes and even the portion size. God bless you guys for bringing joy to people through food.

Came here for a celebration. Ordered two thalis that filled us up and was delicious! Team was very friendly and knowledgeable, service was quick and adapted to allergies. Definitely coming here again 😁

The Darjeeling Express in London is a culinary gem that takes you on a delightful journey through the vibrant flavors of Indian cuisine. From the moment you step into this charming restaurant, you are greeted with warm hospitality and an inviting ambiance. The menu boasts a wide array of authentic Indian dishes, each prepared with great care and attention to detail. The aromatic spices and fresh ingredients come together beautifully, creating a symphony of flavors that leave your taste buds wanting more. Whether you indulge in their mouthwatering biryanis, flavorful curries, or delectable street food, every bite is a true delight. The Darjeeling Express is a must-visit for anyone seeking an extraordinary Indian dining experience in London.

It's a great restaurant for anyone who loves Indian food. Friendly staff, buzzy surroundings, food has plenty of flavour. We went as a group of five people. My partner and I shared vegetarian and vegan dishes. It's difficult to book a table as very popular. We tried: Chilli Cheese Toastie, Veggie Darjeeling Special Momos, Badami Baingan (Aubergine in a Coconut, Almond, and Peanut Base with Tamarind), Tamarind Dal (slow-cooked Lentil dish) and Khoobani Ka Meetha (stewed Apricots with Pistachios and Cream). See my pictures below.

On the second floor of kingly court. Amazing food. We had a royal thali menu where you select first and second courses. All of the sides and appetizers are predetermined as is the dessert. Every last item was delicious. We tried the cocktail sampler as well and the lychee one ended up being our favorite— beautiful rose scent and lychee flavor. I had the prawns and chana. My partner had the chicken and goat. The halwa was a small portion (because it comes with two other desserts) and it was so rich and flavorful. Oh and the puri was amazing!

So, do the dramatized life stories of chefs on Netflix shows, really guarantee good food on the table when a non critic walks in? In this case, I can confirm - it does. Before you make the trip, to try out “curry” at this place - please know this restaurant serves predominantly food from eastern part of India - this means the usual curry favorites of Butter Chicken, Palak Paneer or Dal Makhni are not on the menu - instead you have Bengali favorites of kosha mangsho (braised and slow cooked goat in browned onion sauce), prawn malai curry (prawn in coconut sauce cooked in an onion and ginger paste), momo (dumplings commonly eaten in north Bengal and in all mountaineous regions in north India) etc. The food is good. Perhaps the most authentic Indian meal we have had in London. More importantly, you can tell the dishes are not the result of formulaic, codified culinary school education, instead it is the result of recipes passed from one generation to another, the result of years of cooking with your mother or your grand ma or cooking for your family and friends, It is a place where each cook has her own origin story of what brought them there and what Asma ji’s kitchen means to them. The food on the table has great flavour but even more importantly it has heart. And may be that is why you should head to this restaurant. Chicken momos will take you back to your summer vacations in Shimla or Darjeeling or Nainital. The chapli kebab will make you think of the traffic in Park Circus’ infamous traffic junction. The Parathas looked and tasted exactly the way maa made parathas for my school meals. And the bhapa doi (or mishti doi), will take you to the tram routes of old Kolkata. The food here will make you nostalgic if you are a bengali, a new fan of the cuisine if you are not. The service was great too - our server was always smiling and attentive. And the food was being dished out very quickly too. And then there was Asma ji. Her fame from Netflix notwithstanding, there she was talking to us the way my aunt or an elder sister would in a family gathering. We told her our groups’s Whatsapp group name is “London’s Best Kosha Mangsho” as everyone in the group cooks this dish well. She hurried away and came back to say, I have let the team know that we are competing against London’s best, and then confidently told her she will come back after we ate as she knows we will love it. She could not return but I can confirm this kosha mangsho was right up there. There are places with great food. There are places that give you an experience. Darjeeling Express gives you both. This is a must do in London. And one my wife and I would return to often. Asma ji - thank you for representing my (our) region and presenting it to the world with such honesty and flair. This is what great looks like. My only request is to add luchi to the menu when you are serving kosha mangsho :)

🌟 Found a real treasure tucked inside Kingly Court! 🌟 While the glitz of Carnaby Street might catch your eye, it's essential to make your way to this mesmerising Indian restaurant. 🍛 Let your tastebuds embark on a flavorful journey with each dish. 🌶️ A huge shoutout to Shubhi and the entire team for their impeccable service. 🙌 If you're looking for an authentic Indian experience, I wholeheartedly recommend this place! 👌

Outstanding (Royal) Thali dinner here. Brought my brother and nephews, the latter of whom were having their very first Indian food. Everyone loved the food and the experience, which was a huge relief. I was particularly joyful to try the heartfelt food of a deservedly famous set of female chefs and to meet the very deservedly famous head chef, Asma Khan. This food goes well beyond delicious - it extends into social impact and individual caring in ways that transcend most other restaurants. And you do feel as if you're sitting in someone's home when dining there. I can't wait to go back!