NK Arya Bhavan - South Indian Pure Vegetarian Restaurant Central London

Great South Indian Veg Spot in Central London! If you’re craving authentic South Indian vegetarian food in the heart of London, NK Arya Bhavan is definitely worth a visit. The location right off Charing Cross Road is ideal for a casual lunch or dinner after exploring Leicester Square and the West End. The menu has a good variety of dosas, idlis, vadas, thalis and vegan options, and many dishes are flavorful and satisfying — especially the masala dosa and podi idly.  The staff are friendly and welcoming, and the ambience is simple and relaxed, perfect for a quick bite or a laid-back meal. A few items I tried were well-spiced with good chutneys and sambhar, and I appreciated the vegan-friendly labels on the menu.  Overall the food quality is consistent, portions are generous, and I’d definitely recommend this place if you love South Indian vegetarian cuisine in London! 🙌

The best dosa I could ever ask for. The food was really amazing and authentic , I had paneer butter dosa, and ghee masala dosa. The dosa was very crispy and the freshness of the dosa was upto the expectations. For all South Indian food fans… they also have idiyappum which is my favourite as well… I had the one with cauliflower korma and it was the best combo I’ve ever had. P.S. not to mention, but the service was really great and the staff was very helpful. We were attended by Keshav Kaushik, and his service was remarkable and he was very friendly. Definitely gonna come back for more!

As a longtime regular of Saravana Bhavan who has visited their outlets across multiple countries, I was deeply disappointed by my recent visit to the Leicester Square branch. This was my second time here (the first being before their rebranding), and unfortunately, the magic is gone. While the portions and food quality were fine, the authenticity of the flavors was completely missing. The masala in the Dosa, the kuruma served with the porotta, and the poori were all significantly below average in taste. They lacked the traditional depth I’ve come to expect from the brand. I even requested a side curry specifically to find some flavor, but the meal remained underwhelming.

Saravana Bhavan is always a reliable place for delicious South Indian food. The dishes are fresh, flavourful, and perfectly prepared every time. The dosas, idlis, and filter coffee are absolute highlights. The service is quick, the staff is polite, and the ambiance is simple yet pleasant. A great spot for authentic South Indian meals. Definitely worth visiting again! 🍽️✨

Went with my mom for the Thali — so delicious! Great mix of curries, dal, rice, and sweets, all full of authentic Indian flavour. Generous portions and warm service. We both loved it and will definitely go back!

Amazing and truly authentic Indian food — coming from a foodie from India! Many restaurants try to adapt to Western taste buds, but this place proudly serves genuine Indian flavours. They offer the best of both North and South Indian cuisines, with a strong focus on traditional vegetarian dishes — just as real Indian food should be. My family and I enjoyed it so much that we ended up eating here almost every day.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We were craving some good South Indian food and started looking for Saravana Bhavan — only to realize it’s now renamed as Arya Bhawan. I was a bit skeptical at first, but our cravings for dosa, chutneys, and idlis took over, and I’m so glad we decided to go! From food to service, everything was simply amazing. The special podi idli, sambar vada, and rava dosa are absolute must-tries — perfectly made and full of authentic flavor. I wish I remembered the name of the lovely lady who served us — always with a big smile, very courteous, and attentive even from afar. She noticed whenever we needed something and brought us chutneys without us even asking sometimes. Loved every bit of our experience — easily one of the best South Indian meals we’ve had during our stay in London. We’ll definitely be coming back again! 🌟

I didn’t do much research before coming here, so I asked the staff to recommend me some vegan dishes. I ended up ordering the Arya Bhavan Special Podi Idly, which is their signature. The texture was interesting, almost like a Thai dessert, but coated in flavourful spices that made it really tasty. I also tried the 6 Suvai Uthappam, which is like a rice pancake topped with different kinds of vegetables. It was alright for me, though quite similar in concept to the idly, so I’d recommend trying other dishes for more variety. The staff were helpful, and the location is good. Just keep in mind this is a vegetarian restaurant, so if you’re vegan make sure to double-check your order and let the staff know clearly.

It is now called Arya Bhavan .. good food . I liked this new place better. Saravana Bhavan brand in Paris was terrible. We had a thali - top class All dosas were vv good Bisi bele bhath - excellent . Coffee - decent

A very popular spot outside of Chinatown where you can enjoy good food and even better company. Seating is available outside and inside, but you'll have to be patient because - when busy - it can be harder to get staff's attention. I did get to sit with another female traveler and we enjoyed the best masala chai I've ever had. My dining partner, Deeprek (so?) said the chai reminded her of her childhood which is stellar praise, I think. This vegetarian restaurant makes a pretty good butter naan and my soya mixed vegetable was a hearty meal. The restrooms are located downstairs - very popular in the UK I found. I left the restaurant sated and would recommend it to couples and families alike.

The best thing to order here are the appetizers and breads. We had the onion and tomato uttapam, which was crisp and delicious with the onions caramelized perfectly. The samosas were delicious too, In triangular packets, which is my preference. The spinach curry and vegetable curry were both under seasoned. . All around us people were ordering the giant megaphone-shaped dosas and that is what we will order next time. To finish, the unsweetened chai and the honeyed gulab jamun were delicious.

Great place to eat vegetarian South Indian cuisine. This is a small place as are so many other restaurants in Central London. The food was as good as you can expect from this chain worldwide. The place was packed on Tuesday evening. Cut one star for service and I think it was pricey. I paid around GBP 12 for Thali at Sangeeta's at Hounslow but here it was around GBP 19.

Good food... you will enjoy it... i believe they got well trained chef from Chennai hence able match the taste.

A lovely place of delicious vegan and vegetarian food. The dosas are huge and make sure you tell them that spice isn't your thing, ketchup to cool down the tastebuds. I would come back to this place. The service was really helpful

Food was decent nothing too great Gobi manchurian and gobi 65 were terrible Dosas were okay nothing to great

This is definitely going to be one of my favorite South Indian restaurants. in every way. The staff were very courteous and the owner was personally going around and making recommendations to guests. The Gobi manchurian was without food coloring and plating was unique. The falooda ice cream was superb. My dosa came out crisp and hot and the chutneys were full of flavors and this is first time I ate every bit. Don't get fooled by exterior of this restaurant, the interior is every bit modern and I fell in love with the silver looking thali (plate) that my dosa came on. Came here during visit to London and if you are reading this review don't miss this chance to try it out . You will not regret it.

Been to several Saravana bavans in malaysia singapore india and now London . The food was regular but the shop was badly maintained, not clean, dingy and old. Restroom was also not well kept. This restaurant based in a global city like London is not up to the standard as denoted by its brand name .

Hotel saravana Bhavan a well known name when to South Indian vegetarian fare ! Well on a Monday night for dinner thought to explore and try some vegetarian fare ! Got to know that it's close by Was kinda skeptical about the taste Ambiance - simple decor and a casual dine in place , suitable for family dine in . Food -4/5 Pretty descent Tried the bisibele bath or the sambhar rice The rice is cooked well in mild spices and loaded with veggies like onions , carrots and French beans It is complimented by papad Loved the food Value for money - 4/5 Will come back for sure to try other delicacies like their dosas which are their USP The place is neat and staff are polite ! Will come back soon

When Saravanaa Bhavan opened up in Leicester Square, we knew it had to be different from what it is in East ham. When I say different, I mean in the way the service is provided. The food tasted pretty much the same, by same I mean just as good as every Saravanaa Bhavan. With premium location comes premium expense. Thus the menu has been tweaked accordingly. There are less choices compared to other branches and prices are slightly more expensive. While we visited, the place wasn't very crowded, so the service was very good. Have only tried a couple of things there yet. So can't really judge how good everything is. But from what I had I noticed that the chutney portions are pretty tiny when compared with what we are generally used to at other branches. But quality is just as great. The restaurant managers actually contacted me after seeing my google review and responded that the chutney portions served on the plate are just for pleasing the eye, however it is indeed unlimited, they would serve us more if we asked for more. I am hoping to try our other things on the menu and give an update later. Hoping to return some other time soon.

Coming from US and finding Saravana Bhavan so close to Trafalgar Square was like a lifesaver moment for me and my wife. Being regulars at their Fremont, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Plano and Irving locations we were very keen on exploring the menu and everything was excellent to say the least. Best Sambhar ever and best chutneys compared to all of their US locations. We ordered Ghee Rava Masala Dosa, Mysore Masala Dosa and filter coffee. Loved all of it. Will definitely make it a point to visit them next time we are in London.

Awful service! We waited 45 minutes and people who came in after us got served. So we started to leave the place and then suddenly all of the food order appeared within a minute miraculously.

Excellent dosa. Panipuri was also fabulous. Paneer 65 was too mild for my liking.

The waiters need to be trained big time!!!!! So slow that you lose patience. Even after mentioning for the starters to arrive first, it came at last. The manager apologised and blamed the kitchen to be at fault. Also, by adding cushion chairs, nice metal plates and a hard-bound menu book, a restaurant does not become good. It becomes good due to the food. The ghee dosa wasn't crisp enough and idlis were cold and dry. They couldn't the handle the crowd outside as well. If you want to eat south-indian food, please go to saravana Bhawan in Wembly. It is much better than the rest. Very disappointed!

The ghee masala dosa was amazing. I've only eaten dosas in America and they have been really tasty but this place makes the best I have had so far. Good value and friendly service.

Really good! It seems like this is underrated on yelp, but the food was good, the service was good, and there were lots of vegetarian options.

I went with my husband for dinner after great day visiting Buckingham Place and Westminister Abbey.Expecting to eat authentic south Indian food. Was disappointed cause my main course was served to me first it was cold followed by drinks and fifteen minuts later we got our appetizers samosa the stuffing was raw and crispy baby corn which I didn't even eat as I had lost appetite. Then my husband got in dinner Chole Bhatura. A big disappointment that basic food like the one we ordered somebody can mess it up till this extend. Manager didn't care even after I complained. Most important thing is their Vegan food is not 100% Vegan restaurant Manager told us.

Visiting London from US and tried Saravana Bhavan on a Saturday evening. No doubt, nothing can beat Saravana Bhavan taste, however, very surprised how the crowd management was handled, given that how great this is done by Saravana Bhavan in other places. There was a long wait and many of were given the option of eating outside of the restaurant to reduce the waiting time. The table was not cleaned, when asked they never cleaned and directly served food. However, my second order did not come through. Waited for long time and went inside and talked to the manager. Manager very politely suggested me to cancel the order because of the crowd!! Never expected this. Went and paid directly and asked them why it is crazy like this and the reply was it has been like this for last two weeks!! Wouldn't you have learnt in the last two weeks. Food is really great, however, recommended to avoid weekends for not getting disappointed.

The restaurant was overcrowded, with a 45 minute lunch wait on Saturday. Once inside, the restaurant was packed, sweltering without air conditioning, and service was poor. Simple South Indian foods (dosas) were good, but North Indian foods were quite disappointing. The paneer tasted like it came from the crockpot of someone making Indian food for the first time.

Worst service I've ever encountered. They didn't give us menus for five minutes and then completely forgot about us. Even though we were seated right in the middle of the dining room, we were completely ignored--passed again and again by three waiters and what seemed to be the frazzled and rude manager. After fifteen minutes of never being spoken to, we got up and left. Who knows, maybe the food would have been great, but I guess we'll never know. Don't waste your time.

Tried to get lunch here as I am a fan of Southern Indian food. There were plenty of empty tables for four available but I was told that I would have to wait 10-15 minutes for for a smaller table as I was on my own. Cross and hungry I went elsewhere. I returned to speak to the manager half an hour later and he confirmed that this was their policy. So, no apology or food. Was it just a co-incidence that the entire clientele was Asian and I was a lone, older, white female? I wonder? I know a lovely vegetarian Indian restaurant in Covent Garden and I will be continuing to go there in future.

SB has many branches, and SB at Charing Cross is the best of the lot. Totally legitimate South Indian !! Ambience, service and experience are great.

This is the best indian food I have had outside of NYC and I hunt down indian food everywhere I go! (I admit though that I have never been to inida) As I write this I am eating thw last piece of naan that I stuck in my pocket while leaving cause it was so good and I ate everything else even thoufh I was so full and almost always take home some. I sort of randomly picked mushroom rogan josh just cause I have never heard of it and it was so tasty I want the recipe!

We ordered Onion Rava Dosa, Vegetable Noodles, Gol Gappa, Filter Coffee and Rose Milk. All except the Gol Gappa tasted excellent - the Gol Gappa was merely good. The Staff were courteous and very accommodating with some special requests.

Avoid going there. They really need to figure out customer service. Waiters needs training so as the manager. I sat at a table for 25 mins waiting for my food. When I saw tables ordered food after me served, I asked and my food was there in 2-mins. Unfortunately food was not up to the standard. I ordered North Indian thali and all items were cooked while back and just warmed up. I am big Saravana Bhavan fan but NEVER again in London.

Ketchup served with samosas, raita tasted like mayonaise, very loud, sticky tables, slow service

I was there with my friends for lunch around 1.30 pm. The restaurant was crowded. We had s buggg do the manager was kind enough to have that behind the counter. We were shown our table which was nice and comfortable towards the end of the restaurant. We got our menus ordered. Dosas were ok , sambar was not upto the mark and chutneys were so so. Lime juice felt like water and no actual taste of lime. It was crowded and busy, 3 waitress were on break leaving only 2 to hsndle the crowd- that includes taking orders, cleaning up etc etc. We had waited more than 30 min for our plates to be cleared up and that too on our request. We had ordered take always - gobi masala was hopeless, Veg fried rice had no taste with some vegetables cut and sautéed with rice n lot of oil , paneer Manchurian - I could not see paneer, Manchurian gravy and it was pathetic, butter naam definitely looked like Tesco bought naans buttered up and served. This is the worst Indian food I've ever eaten. My friends take away we're the same no taste and just horrid. I think instead of fooling folks that they serve authentic, it would be good to take some serious cooking classes and learn on how to cook tasty Indian food with salt and spices. I would seriously never ever advice anyone to have Indian food here. There are good Indian restaurants in East Ham which serve good quality tasty food. Overall an utter sheer waste of hard earned money.