10 Leicester Curry Houses

Leicester is said to have the largest Diwali celebrations outside India, so you’d expect to find some of Britain’s best curry houses here. But what people might not realise, unless they visit, is the sheer diversity of South Asian food on offer.  

Yes, there are superb examples of the ‘British Indian Restaurant’. These specialise in that distinct, much-loved cuisine, developed over the last 60 years by first-generation migrants – often from the Sylhet region of Bangladesh – who adapted their food for the taste of locals. 
 
But ‘going for a curry’ in Leicester might also mean a vibrant papdi chaat from Tamatanga, loaded with tangy tamarind. Or a trip to Pamsons Grill on Highfield Street for Karachi-style Haleem, thick with crushed lentils. Or Keralan seafood from Kayal on Granby Street, or a Tamil Nadu speciality from Chettinad on London Road. You might also opt for a huge masala dosa on the city’s Golden Mile, Sri Lankan stringhoppers, or spicy momo dumplings from Nepal.  
 
You will find a wide range of vegetarian restaurants and cafes, such as the famous Bobby’s on Belgrave Road (founded in 1976), plus ‘sweet marts’ selling both spicy street-food snacks and a colourful array of sweets. These were often established by members of Leicester’s large Gujarati community, with their ancient tradition of vegetarian food. Many came to Leicester from East Africa, which throws yet another vibrant food tradition into the city’s unique mix (try a chicken machusi at The Broadway Bar & Grill on Abbey Lane). 
 
Leicester also boasts a vast diversity of venues – from glamorous city-centre restaurants like Chutney Ivy through suburban pubs given a new lease of life as bustling curry houses like Paddy’s Marten Inn. Then there are the backstreet street-food cafes like Mumbai Sandwich Station, offering home-cooked food inspired by India’s roadside dhabas.  
 
So you’ll undoubtedly find some of Britain’s best curry houses in Leicester. But that’s just the start…