Govinda's has a vast menu which is completely vegetarian, with a lot of dishes having a vegan alternative. It is a little pricey however for the amount of good food you get, it's a pretty fair trade. The service was very friendly and the restaurant itself ahs a very open and welcoming vibe due to the light decor and big windows. Highly recommended!
This restaurant is very close to my work place! I order a paneer Thali for lunch with Chapathi . The food was very tasty and the surroundings are very clean!
If somebody is craving for a simple vegetarian Indian meal at central London, this is the place 😊
Delicious Govinda's just North of Soho Square off Oxford Street has been one of my favourite veg restaurants for decades. The menu is flexible so that one can pick one's thali components such as the (fuzzy picture - sorry) beans, potato, rice and salad plate I had recently. Great staff and reasonable prices!
This is best viewed as a Indian canteen rather than a restaurant. For a plate of filling Sub-Continental style nosh, you cant beat it although it seems to depend taste-wise on that week's cook's origens. I have some firey stuff one week and then bland as heck the next. For a veggie, its ideal carb loaded stuff to fuel an afternoon's shopping.
My most authentic vegetarian bargain in London.
Right in the heart of the city, amidst the throbbing Oxford street, this vegetarian ONLY restaurant managed by the International Society for krishna Consciousness popularly known as ISKCON , is a heaven for the vegetarians in London.
Servicing a wide variety of dishes from Indian cuisines, burgers and shakes , it is a must visit friendly eatery.
Also worthwhile during a visit is a short trip to the first floor, which is home to a very old but mesmerizingly beautiful form of lord Sri Krishna and his consort Sri Radha, his blackish form - jagannath & his siblings - Sri Subhdra and Sri Balaram.
A definite soul touching experience to see them peaceful gazing upon you.
For those keen on revitalizing their soul, a visit to this restaurant and it’s beautiful temple will be an experience beyond words.
Hare krishna ! :)
Adjacent to Isckon temple this place serves one of the best vegetarian food...everything tasted so good. ..must try their triffle so good. ..must try if you love vegetarian food.
Loved going to this small restaurant. It has clean Indian vegetarian and vegan food available witch is more on the satvik style. Serving thali , Alacart menu and also quick bites make this place a perfect choice for some one looking for good Indian vegetarian food.
Had lunch at Govinda's regularly for about 10 days. Great place to have Indian lunch if you are around soho.
Since it's run by ISKON, don't expect the Indian spicy food, taste is mellowed down.. but good place for regular lunch..
The restaurant is unmissable being next to the Radha Krishna temple run by ISKCON
It serves pure vegetarian food and I'd recommend the Govinda's thali eat as you like if hungry.
The food is sattvic so don't expect spice.
Govinda's is the perfect place for lunch after a darshan of the Lord.
Please don't expect to be served as you would in a normal restaurant and let the spirituality associated with a temple visit linger till you eat lunch.
Vegan restaurant , has an iskcon temple on the first floor. Prabhuji, and mataji are the terms how they wuld greet you. Dont miss the unlimited buffet thali for just 9 pounds.
The menu is a bit confusing at first. However there is a we variety of good vegatarian food to choose from. With a vegan friendly options as well. There is good portions. Good friendly staff. Clean and tidy. Beautiful temple upstairs as well.
This is in the same premises as ISKCON in Soho. Hence, the vegetarianism. The options are quite plenty. Out of the 3 thalis on offer, the glutton in me chose the Govinda thali. Coverage is good indeed. And while the food isn't fantastic, it is competent Indian food.
The most pure food you can buy from an establishment in London. Pure vegetarian however you won't be disappointed. The deserts and drinks are all made onsite and impress !
The reason to go here is not for the decor.
It's a pure fully Indian Vegitarian resturant. Also no canned soft fizzy drinks on offer.
I went for the Govinda Thali in which you get to sample 10 dishes and you get Roti and bread as well.
Food tasted fresh and service was a little confusing but good. Did remind me of school where you get served from a line. Portion is adequate, not too small but not too big either. I did like the variety you get.
Although food is fresh and tasty there is no spice so it can be a little bland and not truly authentic as its too mild. As it seems the ingredients have been somewhat altered to a more European pallet.
Not that I would not go again but maybe more of a simple fresh light take away than a culinary evening delight.
Completely Indian vegetarian restaurant. Visited this place with my uncle who is an ISKCON member. Really nice thali food. Everything is pure and well cooked. The sweets are the best
A place you want to visit once in a while to have good good.
Its the best place to have an authentic Indian meal. And yes if you want to take any of your non indian friends for Indian meal, this is the right choice. Friendly atmosphere plus you can experience Indian culture as well.
Went there to Govindas couple of times in 2011 and on each occasion the food was just perfect - sattvic and delicious. Will recommend it to any person who is visiting London as one of the highlights from Indian cuisine wise.
This is my all time favourite ,nice clean,sattvic(pure) Indian food. Lots to choose from,I usually go for the unlimited thali,a must visit place.
Food - 4/5 - Govinda's food is quite good and tasty. Although it's not very authentic indian food, but it's pretty decent. The desserts, including differently flavoured lassis are recommended strongly.
Ambience - 3/5 - Quite simple and small. A bit cramped though, sometimes.
Service - 3.5/5 - It's a buffet where they will serve you once. Helpful and courteous.
Value for money - 4.5/5 - This place wins hands down when it comes to value for money! 5-7 quids is more than enough for a healthy, tasty meal.
Nice interior decor, clean & tidy. Small place, so u always have to keep ur eyes around to find an empty seat.
Food is overpriced respect to the quantity they give.
But the food quality is good n tasty too.
Visited again on 18/05.
The gulabjamun is just awsome.
Went again on 26.05.15.
Ordered pakora, yellow rice.. Potato sabji . mixed veg. Dint really liked the mixed veg.
Well the only place in lo don't , where you will set vegan food as pure as in any place in India.... Being almost 2 months in UK I wanted to try Indian food and happened to find this place .. Has panner and Rice with gulab jamun ... It was really good .. Nothing beats the taste... Also if you are interested in worshipping there is temple right near to the restaurant.... Will recommend do all lovers of authentic north indian veg food...
I visited this place with my wife. We booked a table for two ahead for Friday evening. The starters were very good and arrived very quickly. All main courses and starters were interestingly and delicately spiced, served piping hot. The service was very attentive and all the little extras- ice cream coffee and sweeties gave a nice touch.
It was crowded and a little bit noisy too but would definitely recommend other couples to come in and enjoy the extra ordinary taste plus ambiance
I went there with my family and we love Indian food. I can say that it is a pure Indian cuisine. The ingredients are so real and tasty making the food delicious for us. Menu had so much choice, and what i had was lovely. The restaurant was lovely and stylish, massive range of drinks and some very expensive champagne! As i said yummy! Go, it's a must! We will definitely be going again and again
If you're a vegetarian , this place is like a heaven to you . Located centrally near Oxford street . Food is simply amazing . Do try their matar paneer . So far the best paneer I had in London . Ambience is decent .
Super Tasty. This is one of my favorite vegetarian restaurants anywhere. Creatively- and freshly- put together dishes.
I have a belief that what goes around comes around. So basically this means I'm screwed. Big time. I did begin by getting some good karma by eating at Govinda's. A vegetarian Hari Krishna restaurant just off Soho Square all run by volunteers of the Hari Krishna faith. We all love this God, as he's the cheeky chappy who kept fumbling with the milkmaids instead of doing his Godly duties. Well that is how I read it anyhows. This was all however washed down the drain, as I entered there with a bag full of tasty porky treats just purchased from Camisa and Sons Italian Deli in Old Compton Street. Bad karma. I'm sure the Gods were watching and making note for when I need them the most, and they will just shun me, remembering all the bad shit I've done all my life. I can just see them all turning their backs on me in disgust. I now need to get some of that good karma back and fast. I've been meaning to eat at Govinda's for what seems like an age. I can always remember seeing those orange robes
Good value for money tasty vegetarian food in the heart of central London! Located in Soho, just off Oxford street. They do Thali's (Indian selection) eat in or take away Choice of brown, white or yellow pilau rice. Dhal's, vegetable/bean Subjis, curries. Favourite has to be the matter paneer! (Cheese & peas) large choice of vegetarian & vegan desserts. Including Indian ones such as gulab jamun, Burfi, kheer or western desserts cheese cakes, cup cakes, sponge cake slices & lots more. They also have lots of western foods such as pizza, lasagne etc. Indian snacks of samosa's, pakoras and other fried delights. Food is full of flavour even though they don't use garlic & onion in their dishes. Staff are very welcoming & friendly :-)
Great food --BUT- when pizza or lasagna is heated - it is still cold and losing that extra crunch to the bite- PLEASE SERVE YOUR FOOD HOT!
Great concept, good value and clean.
HARE KRSNA!
Govinda is a real treat for all the vegetarians, indians and Eskon lovers. It is situated in Soho and is on a walkable distance if you are on Oxford circus. The food quality is great. They have starters like pakoras, kachoris, spring rolls and samsosa. Main course has thali options or ala-carte options.
We ordered one samosa, spring roll and a kachori in starters. Kachori was the best among all of them. In main course we went for ala-carte as we were two people. We took chilli paneer, beans (rajma), chapatis and papodam. Everything was good except the chapati became a lil hard as it was microwaved. The best part was the dessert. They have lot of options but we chose to go with kheer and gulab jamun. They both tasted awesome. In drinks, we took buttermilk which is a must have in drinks.
The overall experience of eating here was great. There is a temple as well so all those who would like to pay a visit can go. The staff was very polite and helpful.
This is a perfect place for a good quality and reasonable meal vegetarian meal. The food is excellent and I splurged on my spinach roll, burger and small salad which were priced just perfectly. For drinks, there was Lassi which was awesome as well. The ambience and surrounding is pretty decent as well. All in all, this one is a wonderful choice for a simple vegetarian meal.
This place serves some great vegetarian food!
I must make a special mention for everything being freshly cooked. The food is all so delicious and fills you up. The price is apt for the quality and quantity they serve. The decor is rather simple, done up in orange with mirrors all around. The ambiance is very pleasant.
I was looking for some authentic Indian food and my sister told me about this place. i went here with my friends and ordered small thali which was so delicious and the portions were pretty much filling too.
The food was full of flavors and according to an Indian friend it was authentic too , I will be visiting here again and will recommend this place to all my friends.
A surprisingly amazing and cheap Indian restaurant in London.
This place is vegetarian with a limited menu but everything is as delicious as it gets.The mango dessert is to die for.The service is prompt.The staff is decent.The place is extraordinarily great.
I cannot stop raving about the lovely gourmet experience we had here.
The place has rather dull external appearance and that didn't really impress me. I wasn't expecting much from the food either, but to my surprise the food was amazing, perfectly cooked ans so flavourful. Good place if you're a vegetarian too. The place has some mouth watering juices and smoothies to offer as well, very impressed with the food here.
This restaurant serves some really good vegetarian food and I must say that it was reasonably priced when the last time I went there. I visited this place on a weekday and there was a steady stream of people flowing in and out of the restaurant though I was able to find my table with ease. I ordered a Thali which contained a variety of Indian dishes. All the dishes were quite nice and overall, the food was delicious. The menu also has a lot of variety and I recommend you all to visit this restaurant sometime.
What a place !
This place is a must try , because of the dishes they serve you , and authentication of those dishes.
You won't have to wait for hours to have your dish , your dish will be ready within few minutes.
If you are planning on going there do try The paneer , it was delicious.
For a meat lover like me ,i was pleasantly surprised.I really enjoyed my time there eating a vegetarian meal. The price for the food was totally reasonable and the items tasted pretty delicious! I have to be honest i know that i will be back for sure. Do try this place.
This is a regular place for me. Whenever I am nearby I go in there whether I am hungry or not.
The dishes are very tasty and the portions are also very big and filling. The staff is also very helpful and polite.
This place gives you true value for your money.
Highly recommended,
This restaurant captures the Indian environment so perfectly that it does not seem out of place when you encounter the queue which goes outside the door. However, if you are not familiar with India, then it may come as a culture shock. The place clearly ranks high on the popularity charts. The large thali, all you can eat, comes at only 8 pounds and is very filling! The bread, chutneys etc are all delicious. All in all, a good place to find authentic and appetizing Indian food.
This place serves some really authentic Indian vegetarian food. From complete set meals to even some of the Italian dishes such as pizzas, pastas there is everything for everyone on the menu. Brown rice, beans, and an extensive selection of salads are there to chose for a healthier meal. I summed up my meal with a mango cheesecake which was delectable.
To begin with the ambience, a comfortable and inviting place with no pretentious decor but rather informal setting! Coming to food, we ordered a small paneer thali, which was good portion and for the price it came for was totally worth it! This place opens 12 in noon. Would definitely visit again!
We went to this place after having tried another outlet of the same restaurant at another place. The food was better at the other outlet without doubt, but the food here, the paneer thali wasn't too bad bad either. The samosa was delectable, however and we had a very satisfying meal here and reasonably priced too.
Having eaten the kidney bean soup, I can definitely say that this place was enjoyable in every aspect. Everything tasted beautiful and we even ordered dessert. It would have been a more memorable experience had the waitress understood our language as then it would've been easier to communicate. We might go back here for more elegant food.
This is one of the best places in London to have an inexpensive and delicious vegetarian meal. I have been frequenting this place regularly for the last fifteen years. The food is delicious, brilliantly prepared, and the ingredients are all very fresh and flavourful. I adore this little restaurant, and always look forward to visiting here.
This is a vegetarian Hare Krishna restaurant run by the Hare Krishna Devotees. The restaurant cooks all vegetarian dishes sans onion and garlic, that is how they follow it in their faith. I believe besides the food being delicious and calming, i started to have good karma since i started eating at this place! Try this very pure kitchen!
This is one restaurant directed at those who are purely vegetarians. You can also find food sans onions, garlic or even mushrooms! It is maintained and taken care of by the devotees of Krishna. The place seems to exude a very religious and pious atmosphere and, surprisingly, cheerful. The food is excellent and the service good enough.
Govinda's is a blessing for all vegetarians located at soho street right inder the hindu temple offering Prasad(God's blessing) in lunch and dinner. I went to this place as it is also there in Mumbai and i love the food there, so wanted to try it out here as well.
I chose the unlimited thali which is available at a very reasonable price and also offers student discounts. It is purely vegetarian there with no onions and garlic but the thali is still delicious. They do serve sliced pizzas but i would recommend the thali supporting the old saying, "When In Rome do as the Romans do". A blissful experience with good food. I would never look up for ambience at such religious places, hence no comments for the ambience, just go for the Food.
Gavindas serves really good vegetarian but there is very limited options. The food however is really fresh and so I would recommend a visit. The location is also not bad either and there is a lovely atmosphere. It feels a little as if you are going through a cleanse; no meat, garlic or onion, so I would not go here frequently but once in a while it can be a good change.
Excellent place and a heaven for people who are looking for 100% vegetarian food without onion, garlic, egg or any form of meat or fish.
The food tastes alright and is not bad if not exceptionally good.
We ate there quite a few times and my personal recommendation is their vegetable rice with chilly paneer. You can avoid their roti and puri.
If heavenly food exists in London, this is the place. Great spiritual simple and most delicious vegetarian food
Calling this place pure vegetarian would be akin to glossing over the details. This place is actually the next step of being vegan, no onions, no garlic, no ginger in this food.
Some people believe the above spices are 'tamsik', which means that induces heat in your body. Now do I believe that? Yes and no.
Do I think I like bland (or maybe pure is the polite way to say this) food? NO. I would not eat here to pleasure my taste buds. But only if there is some sort of religious compulsion, then this place has to be in top tier.
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Govindas is a popular hangout for the majority of London's Indian residents. The main USP of this restaurant is the fact that it serves pure vegetarian food. Given that more than 6% of London's population is Indian, the concept has received an overwhelming response. It is predominantly a chain restaurant that is present at each ISKON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple round the world. Being located on Soho Street, this pure vegetarian restaurant caters to a majority of the Indian working population. When you enter the restaurant you are greeted by an oasis of tranquillity, health and balance. All the food is cooked without onions, garlic and mushroom to cater to the jain crowd as well. The menu is vast to say the least; with options of the traditional thali, salads and endless number of main courses and traditional Indian desserts. Most of the employees are Indian and even the service is pretty quick with my food taking only 10 minutes to arrive. Prices are very reasonable for London standards, offering mouth-watering value for money food. Whether you're an Indian touring London or residing there, you definitely cannot miss a visit to Govindas.
Such a great oasis just off Oxford Street. The entire menu is vegan and vegetarian made up of really tasty and healthy dishes. If you’re not in the mood for Indian cuisine, there are other items available such as veggie lasagne and veggie burger. Great food for everyone at great prices with friendly service.
Whenever I am in London I come here for lunch. A peaceful atmosphere (conducive to good digestion!) and delicious food modestly priced. It is often busy but the staff move quietly and efficiently providing excellent service.
I've been coming to this restaurant for over 20 years now, I like the atmosphere, and the catering for vegans and veggies alike, it's good value for money, and won't hesitate to recommend it to an audience looking for no-frill truly Indian experience. Be it street food, full meals, desserts, drinks, etc., it's all made with passion and home flavours. I also tend to go to the top floor to get some non-food items too (incense, etc.). All guest I've taken have been satisfied and say would repeat too.
I have been coming here for last 6 years. This is hands down the best vegetarian meal which is made with love & devotion for Lord Krishna! The food is impeccable here served with variety of Indian dishes & pocket-friendly Thali styles. Everyone is so welcoming & friendly here.. positive spiritual vibes! The doors are open for all…& don’t forget to seek blessings of Lord Krishna. Hare Krishna!✨😊
I had the pleasure of having Vanshika as my waiter at a local restaurant last night. He was very attentive and friendly, and made sure all our needs were taken care of. She was knowledgeable about the menu and gave us great suggestions. She was also quick to respond to our requests and made sure our food was served hot and fresh. I would highly recommend Vanshika as a waiter!
Delicious food. Customer friendly staff and the restaurant is easy to find. The food is satisfying and good variety of options. We had the Govinda Thali and enjoyed every bit of it. You don’t get a refill but you don’t need one. (9-10 items and a sweet dish) mango lassi was delicious. Busy at lunch time. You have to walk through collect your food and then pay.
Loved the food and ambience. I was craving for indian food in Central London. The best place to have a proper indian meal. Very reasonable and staff are so friendly. Definitely i will come next time.
The place paradise for vegetarian. It is like full of challenges. The pace is heavily crowded. It will be a long que to get your order. After this challenge of getting place sit and have food. The food is awesome no question about that. The thali section is good but not liked because only the the biggest thali you will get roti else only pav / bun you will get. The roti is also not smooth. The thali is full of veggies but no roti and very little of rice. Taste wise no problem but the items in dish are not in proper way at least for me. We finished our meal by eating currys only. If your are planning to visit, get ready for long que, but the food will be great.
My favourite place in London for Indian food! We have visited the temple upstairs many times over the years, and tried all the Thalis, snacks and drinks in the restaurant. Felt great each time. Good portion sizes and so economical, feels like an oasis in the middle of Oxford Street. Highly recommend.
I like the feel of this place, feels like I'm in India. Staff reassuringly speak and look asian. It's a budget type place, good value. I had lasagne which was not too spicy, also the snack plate. the rest is quite spicy which my partner liked. He got the big thali.
Really good vegan and vegetarian food. The thali was super filling. The Cheesecake was a beautiful ending to the meal and best of all no egg no onion and no garlic.
Delicious food...
Nice ambience..
Great portion size..
Vegan food available too..
Happy staff...
No onion and no garlic food..
3-4 minutes walk from Tottenham court station..
Temple just next door..
If you are vegetarian and are at Soho street or shopping in oxford street..do visit..highly recommended
One of the best vegetarian restaurants in central London. I would suggest it as the best option for indian vegetarians, just go for the large thali, really.. really worth it. Superb food. Very clean, organized space and fast service. Highly recommended.
Pretty good restaurant and prices are very affordable for Soho area. For approximately £11, we get enough (more than enough?) food. I ordered "The Thali". It comes with 5 different curries, rice, pappadom, and a bread. The taste was good and smooth. It wasn't particularly loaded on spice and it is reasonable given that the hotel is associated with a temple. It will be a very good introduction to Indian vegetarian food to those who've never tried it.
Reservation is required if more than 8 people are coming else it's a walk-in. Visited on a Saturday afternoon and had to wait approximately 30 minutes.
Taste: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Choice of menu: 4/5
Pro tip: Students get 10% discount on all non-thali items.
Friendly and attentive service with a family-feel environment. Great for a quick stop or a longer meal, the food here is excellent. The creamy paneer is particularly good. Good portions at great prices. The masala chai here is probably the best I've had in London.
The food was amazing.
The quantity of 1 plate was good enough to feed 2 people.
Really enjoyed the experience
Food is too good especially for vegetarians also budget friendly in heart of London.
I like the service, ambience and food here.Overall must try when you’re in Oxford street London.
I loved this place for ambience and delicious Indian meals. We ordered the large thali and the famous govinda's thali for a very affordable price. The staff here are very humble and friendly! 😍🙌 Definitely coming next time!🔥 totally worth it!
Hey everyone, me and a friend was searching for a vegetarian place around soho and we came across to this Govinda restaurant. What a lovely and calm place. They have a wide variety of Indian vegetarian food which is so fresh really difficult to get in other restaurants. We really enjoyed our time there in a spiritual vibe. They are offering great service . Would love to visit again
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