The Yellow Chilli has various branches across India and having visited one of the restaurants in Bangalore, it was time to test out the London sister of this chain. Although the chef lives in India, his trained staff show consistency is his forte as the food is vibrant, yet delicate with a homely style to it.

Having decades of research behind him, which rubs off on the authentic food, the menu boasts a selection of Indian all-stars from grills, tandoors and curries to an occasional western twist on the street food. The paneer tikka marinated with coriander and chillies and chargrilled to perfection proves that vegetarian grills can be just as flavoursome as their meaty counterparts.

Sanjeev Kapoor, one of India’s most recognised chefs, recently opened his first restaurant in the UK.
The Yellow Chilli has various branches across India and having visited one of the restaurants in Bangalore, it was time to test out the London sister of this chain. Although the chef lives in India, his trained staff show consistency is his forte as the food is vibrant, yet delicate with a homely style to it.
Having decades of research behind him, which rubs off on the authentic food, the menu boasts a selection of Indian all-stars from grills, tandoors and curries to an occasional western twist on the street food. The paneer tikka marinated with coriander and chillies and chargrilled to perfection proves that vegetarian grills can be just as flavoursome as their meaty counterparts.

The depth and intensity of regional cuisine shine through with Punjabi delicacies such as sarson ka saag (earthy mustard greens in a hearty gravy) and a delectable Gujarati style undhiyu made with a combination of ube yam and tigernut. Bold flavours are the name of the game here and classics such as the biryani cooked in a ‘dum’ style with a slight Hyderabadi touch does not disappoint. There’s also an impressive variety of breads to mop up any excess, including butter naans, all grain rotis, kulchas and parathas.
Save room for dessert, though you won’t be spoilt for choice between the two on the menu, the kheer, a mild creamy rose-infused pudding, is a triumph. For personal taste, the raw papaya salad could have been more zesty than creamy, yet, the rest of the dishes were well-executed and will leave you feeling wholly satisfied. In addition, there’s a wide selection of drinks including cocktails, beer, lassi and other soft drinks.

Bookings for smaller groups may not be necessary as the restaurant was sparsely populated for a weekend lunch. The dining space is large and airy with pastel shades and large murals. The restaurant stands out from its Wembley contemporaries, thanks to its décor and service is prompt and friendly.

The Yellow Chilli is located inside the Wembley Central shopping centre, north-west London and is currently open for delivery only.

Ah Dishoom. It's one of those special restaurants with long, snaking queues at nearly every branch, even in the biting cold. But then, the staff bring those eager diners some beautiful house chai, keeping them warm whilst they wait and that's what's always made Dishoom shine from most Indian restaurants in the UK. Dishoom is not your 'curry house' from Brick Lane. To me, it defines Bombay in every aspect, so if you really want to get a slice of that Irani cafe life in Bombay but can't quite travel yet  (well, none of us can really go in this pandemic) you must give Dishoom a visit.

Dishoom is famous for its lunch and dinner with one of my all time favourite dishes - their house black daal which is a hug in a bowl. However, their breakfast dishes have evolved over the years and what's better, they now boast some vegan friendly additions too.  I was very thrilled to be invited for breakfast and give their full vegan Bombay breakfast a try. Indian food is vegetarian friendly, but with the amount of ghee and butter we cook with and slather over food, it's not very vegan friendly. But, we're in London and can veganise any dish and make it truly scrumptious. And this is exactly what Dishoom does.

For somebody who makes scrambled tofu a lot, I can gladly confirm that the spiced scrambled tofu is an absolute winner and will be loved by vegans and non vegans alike. The same goes for the masala baked beans and the pav (bread) that one can mop this all with. You'll be taken into a fusion of nations as the elements of the English breakfast are also on the plate, such as the fried mushrooms and grilled tomato. There are also some excellent vegan sausages and vegan black pudding included that tasted better and healthier than their meaty counterparts.

All this washed down with some comforting chai along with notes of ginger and cardamom or a South Indian coffee from the famous Suntikoppa region and you're bound to start your day with a smile. If you prefer a non vegan option, do try the Bombay staples such as the akuri, parsi omelette or the legendary Kejriwal- a delight for all egg lovers.

As always, what makes me return to Dishoom apart from the top notch food is the service. The staff take such good care of you and the hospitality here simply makes me feel like I'm home.

Your can view their menu here before your next visit. Breakfast is served from 8am to 11:45am on weekdays and from 9am to 11:45am on weekends.