Darjeeling Express

I had the pleasure of dining at Darjeeling, and it was absolutely outstanding! The dishes were authentic, perfectly spiced, and showcased the rich diversity of Indian cuisine. From the creamy butter chicken to the fluffy naan, every bite was a delight. The service was attentive and warm, making the experience even more enjoyable. I was especially impressed by the freshness of the ingredients and the meticulous preparation that was evident in every dish. Darjeeling is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates high-quality Indian food. I can’t wait to return!

A beautiful Indian place for a special meal! The paneer korma and Aubergine were stellar, although I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the options on the Thali. It felt very much like authentic home cooking in the best way possible! Very friendly service and never felt rushed. Enjoyed trying from their selection of Indian Gins too!

I celebrated my birthday here and it was absolutely fantastic. The staff welcomed me with a note on the table which was a nice touch and on top of that they took very good care of us throughout the whole experience! The food was outstanding, abundant and delicious. I highly recommend this place for a taste of very authentic Indian food!

The food was delicious but a bit on the spicy side (which I love but might be a bit intense for some). The service was great as well. This place doesn’t not provide à la carte options so be prepared - come hungry as it’s a lot of (good) food! Highly recommend the old fashioned.

Had a lovely, relaxed and enjoyable evening thanks to the food and staff service. We were looking forward to this meal and it didn’t disappoint. Only very very small gripe was the Indian song was repeat for about an hour! The cocktails were yummy but by far the best dish was the Hunza apricots and cream. Thank and we look forward to returning again anon.

I've been wanting to come here for years and it didn't disappoint. The food was exceptional, perhaps the best Asian food I've eaten, and the service and staff and ambience was perfect. The open service is also great to see how things are put together. And we got to meet Asma as she came around the tables to greet diners. Perfection!

A must-try! We visited Darjeeling Express for a celebratory lunch on our anniversary and were delighted with the experience. We had requested private seating, and the team kindly accommodated us. The restaurant’s ambience was lovely, with warm lighting and soft music adding a cosy touch. We began with the chicken momos, which were absolutely perfect. Next, we tried the goat curry – slow-cooked goat in a thick, mildly spiced gravy that paired beautifully with rice and plain paratha. The methi chicken was another highlight, with its well-cooked meat and flavourful curry. One unexpected surprise was the mango lassi, which doesn’t seem to get much attention in reviews but was absolutely delightful. For dessert, we tried the Bhapa Doi, which we thoroughly enjoyed, and ended the meal with the best masala chai we’ve had in London. Everything about Darjeeling Express took me back to my childhood, reminding me of the home-cooked food I enjoyed at my Bengali friends’ homes. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant for its cosy atmosphere, authentic Indian hospitality, and exceptional homely cuisine. Thank you, Asma and team for the incredible food and Radha’s hospitality and service.

First I would like to say how amazing and accommodating the host was. The service staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Food was incredible. Great flavors. We will definitely be back.

Like others, I came here because of Chef's Table! Well my friends watched it and told me to come, I don't watch it myself! Came on a weekday lunch right at opening and was able to get seated right away. The restaurant did get filled up quite a bit in the ~2 hours I was there! Service was great, restaurant was beautiful, bathroom was clean and great. We also love a women-run business. All the cooks in the kitchen are females! I ordered the KOSHA MANGSHO which is a Bengali style slow cooked meat curry in a thick clingy gravy, after my server told me it was quite popular. Freaaaak was it good! Huge portion, so soft and tender. The meat was just falling off the bones (I don't know if it actually had bones but it was that soft) and getting stuck in my teeth in all the right ways. I also got the PARATHA which you can totally skip, it just tasted like flour. Skip!! I also ordered the MANGO LASSI and it was amazing. I wanted to order more but gotta keep my wallet in check! A must visit! I wish I could come back with more people so I could have tried more food.

Love this place! Went there after seeing Usma on Chefs Table on Netflix and it didn't disappoint. Was like a trip back to my childhood. So much fun to see Bengali cuisine celebrated and elevated

Great food and service! The restaurant is located on the top floor of Kingly Court (there is a lift and stairs in the center of the court). Reservations are usually required, as we saw customers get turned away without reservations, and the restaurant gets booked up fast! The dinner was serviced as a prix fixe Royal Thali that costs £65, which is a decent price. You just have to choose your first and second Katori dishes, and everything else comes included. The Methi Chicken from the First Katori section was my fave. Got to try the Saag Keema and Kosha Mangsho from the Second Katori which were great as well. The desserts were tasty, and complimentary chai tea was served as well, which was the perfect end to the meal. Their mango lassi and cocktails (got the cocktail flight) pair with the meal perfectly. Glad to have found this gem for a delicious Indian cuisine option.

A little hard to find at the top of Kingly Court but SO worth the climb. Some of the best food we had in London. The atmosphere was warm and buzzy and service is supreme. Portion size is a plenty and the owner came by to greet us. She said they make paneer to order ! Thus the fluffy, fresh melt in your mouth parcels of cheese. The puffy bread was also to die for. We recommended this place to friends and they had the most amazing experience as well. Dine here and you won't be disappointed. Reservations are recommended.

Super flavorful meal - definitely on the pricier end as it is prefix but everything that came out was delicious. Fantastic service and super attentive. I love how you get to try and mix a little bit of everything on the plate that comes out. The sour flight was also very good. My standouts were the bread that comes with your meal, so fluffy and light! I wish we got extra. The paneer is coconut-y and creamy, I'd definitely go back for it again.

- excellent Indian cuisine - really enjoyed the chicken dish - the flatbread is good; wish they had garlic - clean venue with a beautiful bar - excellent prawn starter - bread with meat was crisp - pass on the burger Excellent chicken and prawn dishes. I enjoyed the chicken more, but the prawn dishes were very silky. The prawn appetizer was well worth it and larger than anticipated.

Gawd!!! London is known for great Indian cuisine. So it's no surprise to find a solid restaurant but holy shot this food is kick ass. The staff know what you need and guide you through each flavor. The paneer alone is kiss yo momma good, but the goat and chicken curries holy hell good.

I found out about this place on Chef's Table. I was excited to try it out when we visited London recently and I am so happy I did. We went for dinner to try the Royal Thali. Certainly more pricey than I typically dine but it's special so why not. Wow I loved it!! I picked the chicken and prawns for my first and second course and the prawns are the star dish for me. It reminded me of something I've had at home but different enough that it's not the same. It was so comforting. I enjoyed the little desserts that came with it too. We ordered Mango Lassi and that was also well done, I can tell they use really good ingredients. Service was great and I would love to visit again.

This place is tucked away in Kingly Court; I smelled it before I saw it. It was a bit of a trick to find but well worth it. Absolutely everything I had was phenomenal. I had the prawn and chicken main dishes. Everything, the tea, the mains, the sides, and the desserts were aromatic, deliciously spiced and well balanced. There were a wide array of flavors and new dishes I'd never tried before. From the desserts, I especially loved the apricots with pistachios and cream. The server was charming and friendly. This place is fantastic and well worth the price.

Fantastic. One of the best meals I've ever experienced We are here on vacation and had seen this restaurant profiled on chef's table on Netflix. A heartwarming episode. You always worry the meal can't live up to the incredible personal story here. But it did and more. The black chickpea first course was so flavorful. Both the paneer and prawn main course were rich but not over the top heavy. Dessert was three flights, each different but excellent. Everywhere the flavors really ran deep and subtle. Service also was top notch. Everything was done without asking. The staff explained every thing that hit the table. And they truly looked to enjoy their work. 65 pounds for three courses is a bargain here. Congrats to the whole team at Darjeeling.

Very excited to visit this restaurant. The experience was casual, yet very comfortable. The waitstaff was excellent and the service was top marks. The lunch began with a few of their indian toasties--for you Americans, that's a grilled cheese. We then moved to some little puchkas, pockets of cold flavor with a nice little bitesize crunch. We had the dumplings as well as they delivered a wonderful heat and spice, but not too much. We also had prawns in a golden/orange curry sauce that was tremendous. We sort of ordered everything on the menu and enjoyed every little bit. Make not that some of the dishes have the same sauces, so you may want to avoid the duplicity. You will love this place...namaste.

Do not make the same mistake I made by using the Yelp address, it's wrong. Look up Kingly Court instead. A bit pricey £65, but the food is excellent. Dinner is not served a la carte. You get a choice of an appetizer and main dish. It comes with a bunch of sides, rice, and 3 kinds of dessert.

Absolutely fantastic! Best Indian food I have ever had. Food waa very flavorful, drinks were excellent and service was wonderful. 10/10 recommend!

Atmosphere is light with a warm feeling of India. The food is of home and any Mother would be proud you found a good substitute. The staff makes you feel relaxed and welcomed and I can't wait to go back and try more treasure of India.

We made reservations for their lunch hour well in advance for a party of four. I really wanted to do the dinner... but they were all booked. The food is a solid 5/5. I wish I was hungrier to eat more! The prawn malai curry was about the most perfect dish I could eat. The chai was a solid favorite, with a spicy kick at the end. The iced Indian coffee had me craving more than just one. The service was meh... he seemed genuinely uninterested in serving us maybe because we looked a tad lackluster, but honestly, the food was so amazing that it made up for the mediocre service. When I'm back in London, I'm definitely making a reservation well in advance for their dinner menu!

Really outstanding food and drinks. Surprising as I've found most high end Indian food tends to be average. Not here. And outstanding service!

We came here for dinner a couple nights ago. FYI the address attached to the Yelp account is incorrect: the location on Garrick street is closed and the only operating restaurant is in Kingly Court in Soho. We're bummed to report that we didn't have the best experience with Darjeeling Express even though we really wanted to love it. First thing that happened was that they cancelled our reservation a couple weeks before our trip with no warning or explanation, so we had to reshuffle our itinerary to be able to go and then they booked us again for the wrong date so it was a bunch of hoopla that was frustrating. We got sat in the main dining room by the bar and we loved the breezy ambience. We've both been to India, and it definitely felt like you were in one of the upscale cafes there. The rose spritz deflated the situation, however, because it was 75% ice, which is such a faux pas in our eyes. They start you off with their version of potato chips that are served with a couple chutneys and those were really nice. For dinner, you have to do the prix fixe thalis, so we got one of each: chicken and channa, one with beef tamatar and the other with paneer. We don't want to go through every single dish that came out on the thali, but we will say that there were some highs and lows. We both loved the chicken and the dal, and the rice was wonderful ofc. The chickpeas ate a bit dry and the paneer was soggy, disintegrating the second that you tried to eat it. The beef was falling apart and the sauce was delicious but again, we felt like the dish needed a bit more moisture. Almost everything needed more salt and of course there was none on the table. What we can say for certain is that we liked the food at Dishoom much better and found it to be more fairly priced. Sadly none of us enjoyed the desserts--we took one bite of each and that was pretty much it. The carrot one was interesting though. Our server was very nice but he spoke so fast with such a thick accent that we had a lot of trouble understanding him and he didn't seem to make the time for us. We do want to say that Asma Khan was there that night and she made the rounds stopping to talk to each table, and chatted with us two times. She is lovely--beyond lovely! And the fact that she does that speaks volumes. We wish that we loved our meal, but we only just liked it, and we certainly felt that the thalis that you're forced to order are not worth the value. Having said that, we're glad that we tried it, and hope that others might have a more positive experience.

Map Heads Up....it is inside the Kingly Courtyard...a bit hidden from the street address....once we found it we encounter a superior wait staff from around the world. The food was spectacular and well worth the price. The staff inside and outside the kitchen took the time to wish my wife a happy birthday. I highly recommend dining here if you are in the area!

We came for lunch and ordered the chicken and shrimp masai curry which both came with rice and we're very good. The vadu pau bun however is not as good as the one from dishoom. Towards the middle of our meal, we found a fly in our curry, which really dampened the experience. We told the staff, who were shocked and claimed it never happened before. Questionable kitchen hygiene.

I flew to London just to try this place! Like many others I saw the Chef's Table episode and knew from there that the food would be amazing! The menu changes day to day so be sure to book a reservation in advance.

They moved to kings court address, we that the pre fix menu and I picked blackened chickpeas and beef. It was amazing-arrive was impeccable and they were able to make changes to accommodate my lactose intolerance. Highly recommend. Not too spicy and the dessert of sweetened Palestinian apricots and pistachios were divinely delicate. Go. Just Go.

Yes and oh yes. Asma Khan was there! She said goodbye to us! She exudes warmth and care :) With a friend, last night (I'm still basking in the glow) I ate dinner at Darjeeling Express. We shared a completely vegan meal and a glass of the Chenin Blanc (£5). It was all. So. Good. Best Indian meal I've eaten in the UK. For starters, we ordered the Bihari Phulki, a plate of bite-sized (or in my case, trying to make them last longer, two-bite-sized) lentil fritters, served with chili and tamarind sauces, £8. We also chose the Channa Chat, made of slow-cooked, toothsome chickpeas topped with red onion, chopped green chili, fresh coriander, and sev, a garam masala (chickpea flour) fried noodle, crushed into palate-tickling bits, £7.5. For our main we shared the Khatte Baingan Aubergine, which comes cooked in a rich, thick sauce of tamarind, coconut, almond, and peanut, £14. We shared an order of the Brown Basmati, seasoned with with onion and cardamom, £3.5, to go with. Were we ever wowed. Yes we were. We're both into talking. But there were moments of speechlessness as we tasted our way through the abovementioned banquet. Service was fantastic. And what made it all even cooler was to see some of the same staff from Netflix's Chef's Table working in the kitchen and dining room. Yassss I say to a woman-owned-and-operated cooperative restaurant. Happy to pay the 12.5% gratuity.

The food is quite an extraordinary experience, the tastes were authentic, and the service we received was extremely friendly, and welcoming. The decor indoors is very pleasing to look at, which goes hand in hand with the lighting indoors. Will come here again, quickest 5 star rating I have ever given!

Lots of folks will tell you "come to London to enjoy great Indian food". This restaurant makes it a true statement. We booked weeks in advance to get a 7pm table for two. The place was packed. Literally, the tables are tightly squished together, barely elbow room to eat. Walk-in hopeful diners were turned away at the door. We ate 4 items, plus dessert. All delicious. Spicy enough to put my mild palate wife into chili overload, easy enough on my iron stomach and tongue. The smooth French rose wine was the perfect accomplishment. Service folks all wonderful. 80 pounds includes mandatory 12% service charge. Highly recommended.

What a lovely little place. Cozy seating, with a great view of the activity in the Kitchen. We met Asma Khan briefly at a reception while she was on her way to another event. Later that week we had the opportunity to visit with a group. Asma and her (mostly female) staff pulled out all the stops and treated us to a wonderful meal. Asma is deservedly well known in the London culinary community and I would encourage anyone interested in Indian food to stop by for a meal. For first timers like me it may be a bit hard to find. Darjeeling is located on the top floor of Kingly Court. So, from the street you must first find the entrance for Kingly Court, which has three levels of restaurants and shops. Don't bother looking for a sign on the first level - we never found one. Just take the lift or stairs to the top level and walk around until you find it. Enjoy!

Like other reviews have stated, I was intrigued by the Chef's Table documentary on the owner/chef here and the food is excellent; unique dishes I haven't seen in other Indian restaurants in the UK and US. Michelin-recommended and woman-owned business. Despite it's recent fame, the restaurant vibe is intimate and cozy, while not feeling overly crowded or stifling. Decor is modest, and tables are small and placed close to each other. The only way they could made the space more welcoming was adding a a few small cuddly dogs or something. Service is attentive and generally good. The location is excellent, close to the tube and off Carnaby street. Bathrooms: Clean and functional.

Delicious; great ambiance; and recommend the lassis! Complex profiles. The service was also exceptional

A must have when going to London! Food was incredible. Packed with delicious flavors and not expansive.

I rarely give out 5 stars, this is well deserved. Superb food and excellent service leave you wanting for nothing more! We came in on Friday at 12:30 for lunch without a reservation. They took our number and said they'd call us within an hour if a table became available. 30 minutes later we got a call and there was a table waiting. Like in the Netflix series, Asma Khan is walking around and talking to people while she delivers food as well. She takes time to listen to questions and answers without rushing off. You feel very welcome. The rest of the staff were exactly the same, attentive and wanting to please but not overbearing. We had the Channa Chaat and Shikampuri Kabab to start. The starters came out fast and were both were delicious, lovely spice and subtle heat. There was a little wait for the main but as we heard when talking with the waitress later, everything is made fresh daily and each item is finished on order so mains take a little longer to get out. We had the Goat Kosha Mangsho and Prawn Malaikari, both were outstanding. Because we said we liked hot food, they added extra chilli to the Prawn and brought out some fresh chilli. The food does not taste like typical Indian restautants, it is more like homemade food with lots of flavour and none of the added fats and fillers. We left well fed and happy. If I lived here, I would be back weekly!

Incredibly delicious Indian food - this is owned by Asma Khan, featured in Netflix's Chef's Table. Very pretty little restaurant on the 3rd floor of a food court - a bit hard to find the first time but so well worth the trip. We had Murgh ka Saalan (Boneless chicken thighs cooked with dill and tomatoes), Goat Kosha Mangsho (Slow cooked Bengali goat curry with potato), Prawn Malaikari (Bengali Speciality of delicately spiced tiger prawns cooked in coconut milk), Kali Mirch Saag Keema ((HOT! Spinach with minced beef spiced with black pepper and dry chillies). Everything tasted incredibly delicious, flavors very subtle but deep and complex. We had sides of basmati rice and friend bread - and ended the meal with Bengali steamed yogurt dessert and Carrot halwa, garnished with pistachios and served with cream.

So I'm watching Netflix one day and I see that a few new episodes of "A Chef's Table" have been added. I notice one about an Indian cook and because I am of Indian heritage, I naturally click to look on. It turn's out Episode 2 from Season 6 is about Asma Khan, a West Bengali cook and restaurateur who runs "Darjeeling Express" in Kingly Court in the middle of Soho, off of swinging 60's headquarters of Carnaby Street, who employs a kitchen staff of only women and presents recipes not normally found in other Indian restos but ones which are largely based on her West Bengali aristocratic background. While watching the episode, all the memories of foods I grew up with came flooding back to me since I too come from a similar West Bengali background given that my dad's side of the family were landed gentry in Murshidabaad, West Bengal, India. Detour to History lesson: People may forget this but once upon a time, royalty and aristocracy existed in places like India, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka. And while those empires like the Mughal Empire have disappeared, their jewels, their titles, their riches, their thrones, plundered and taken away, the culture was never fully eradicated and one area it continued was the unbelievably rich and decadent food which the Mughals celebrated and which were passed on into ancient, Muslim families all over the Indian subcontinent, from grandmother, to mother, to daughter, generation after generation with very little changes. Just to give you an example of how truly decadent the Mughals were about food, specific cows were fed nothing but saffron, which is a tiny and very expensive spice/herb. Imagine how much saffron you would need to have on hand to feed a cow daily. Now imagine that they breed these specific saffron cows, for 10 generations, and all that time, they are fed nothing but saffron daily, the cow from the 10th generation will have the flavor of saffron so embedded in it's meat genetically that that is precisely the one which is served up to the Emperor's table. There's in a scene in the Netflix episode where Asma is walking through their mango orchards with her father back in West Bengal and discussing the merits of Langra mango vs. Fosli mango (different varieties which you will never find in your local supermarket). Again this brought me back because we also had mango orchards of very rare varieties of mangoes which barely exist now. Like Prince's mango, Queen's mango etc. Again these were varieties developed over time for the Emperor, specific mangoes you would eat in a particular order to cleanse your palate and get your palate ready for the richer varieties which you would eat later on. Asma makes her mango lassis with some of these mangoes. Asma really is doing service to history because if these recipes aren't recorded properly, they will disappear forever. Watching the episode and seeing things like Suji Halwa (semolina-based sweet) covered with silver-leaf and real gold leaf or Payesh (rice pudding made with jaggery) or Shamai Halwa (vermicelli sweet made with milk and mixed with spices and nuts), basically stuff I grew up eating in places like West Bengal and Old Dhaka, in areas like Laalbaag, convinced me that I had to come here. I was surprised that I was able to get a reservation so easily but maybe the Netflix -generated interest hasn't hit yet. Nonetheless, I had the Tangra-style Chilli Garlic Shrimp, the Prawns Malaikai, the mango lasso and the lemon-scented basmati rice - all of it was amazing. I even saw some of the cooks which were in the Netflix episode. Service is very friendly and it was an overall, great dining experience. My only regret was not seeing Asma or watching the giant pot of sealed biryani being opened up on the premises. Go now before the crowds come in.

This place is busy, so you'll likely need to book 2-3 months early. There are quite a few tables which leads to a very high noise level but you'll feel surprisingly less cramped than I would have expected and the noise does help to minimize the issue of overhearing conversations from the tables around you. Service was generally efficient despite one of the servers seemingly having a bit of a scowl much of the night and being unable to understand our second round wine order: My wife: "Can I get a glass of the Indian white wine" (FYI, there's only one) Server: "The Malbec?" Me: "The Chenin Blanc" Server: "I'll bring you the wine list again" Huh? As expected, the food was fantastic. Cardamom scented brown rice, excellent Paratha, large perfectly cooked chili garlic prawns with perfect seasoning, tender goat coated with an amazing Bengali curry, and an eggplant special in a very good peanut-based sauce. For dessert, a Bhapa Doi steamed yogurt dish was delicious as well. Too bad the wine list is uninspired, we tried all three of the still whites by the glass and only the Indian Chenin Blanc was remotely interesting. Still, I would return any time for the food at Darjeeling Express as everything tasted wonderful and was executed to perfection.

I went there looking for an all female staff like I'd seen on Netflix. No biggie but all the servers were men. I had a semifixed vegetarian meal at £55. I dined alone and had my full attention on the food and flavors. It was so good I literally teared up a few times. Everything was just perfect. I didn't even mind the "sausage fest" of servers it was soo good. It's in the middle of a mad London neighborhood sort of by Buckingham Palace. Going from the crowded crazy nightlife of those streets to the beautifully lit and designed interior was quite a contrast. I would eat here everyday if I lived in London.

Amazing! I waited 6 weeks from the time I made my reservation to the time I had dinner and it was well worth the wait. Darjeeling Express produces the most flavorful and delicate Indian food that I have ever had. As a party of 2, I was able to try 2 appetizers (Lentil Fritters & Prawns), 2 Entrees (curried chicken special & minced beed with spinach) & 2 sides (basmati rice & fried bread). Everything was delicious. The kitchen in the restaurant is small, but the beauty is that the women who are cooking are both experts in the cuisine and experts in the nightly menu. The food comes out in order, but as it is ready, which allows you to eat your filling portions of appetizers and then have a break before being served your entree and selected sides. The entire dining experience that I had was phenomenal. Make your reservation, no matter how long the wait. Darjeeling is worth it!

Absolutely fantastic and authentic home style Bengali & Hyderabadi cooking with a few dishes from the rest of India. I rarely rave about Indian restaurants in London, but Darjeeling Express is absolutely brilliant. Run by the lovely Asma Khan, none of the cooks in the kitchen are professional chefs, they are all talented home cooks who take pride in their cooking. And its an all woman kitchen where the the food tastes like "Maa ke haath ka khaana" - mum's cooking. The menu keeps changing, so I'm not sure you will find the same food when you visit. We had absolutely outstanding shikampuri kebabs with luchchis/puris. The puchkas/paani puri/golgappas were better than any that we have had at a London restaurant. The mains all come with a very light pulao. The beef stew was brilliant and the cauliflower with carrot tastes like my best friends mum makes it. They serve India's favourite sodas - Limca and ThumsUp, but they also have a full bar with cocktails. Sundays are for biriyani and I look forward to making a booking there very soon.

This is another restaurant I ate at on my trip to the UK in August. Like many people, I found about about Asma Khan and her Darjeeling Express from her appearance on the Netflix series Chef's Table. I had a reservation for lunch and the food was amazing. I started with the puchkas, which are little tasty packets of tasty goodness. A must have. I then had the beetroot chop, which are beet fritters with a tamarind chutney. Chef Khan needs to bottle that stuff, seriously. And last but not least I had the special main which was Bhopali Chicken. It was tender chicken in a yogurt curry sauce that was just indescribably good. This meal in itself was worth my trip to the UK. Best of all I got to meet the lady herself and she autographed a copy of her cookbook for me.

After watching the Netflix special, I knew I had to come here on my visit to London. While there were no reservations when I called, I was lucky they found one opening to squeeze my boyfriend and I in. This has to be the best Indian I have ever had and Asma and her team truly live up to there name. You can tell the passion these women have when you taste their flavorful food. I don't have a favorite dish because they were all my favorite! I was only sad about Asma not being there...which means I will just have to return on my next trip! Be sure to book this location in advance!

Make a point to take the tube to SOHO and visit the best Indian restaurant in England. Very tasty, and in a great hip location.

Fantastic meal and well-portioned. Only downside was the long waiting time for food but worth it! The margaritas are also very tasty. We had the goat curry, prawns in coconut milk, paratha and saffron rice. Everything was incredibly tasty and while I can handle spice, my mom can't and she was able to finish her meal. We left not feeling terribly overstuffed. Would love to come back next time I'm in London!

Best Indian food I ever had outside India. Mouth watering Bengali taste. Misti Dohi, as dessert, was the cherry on top.

Let me begin by saying that as a huge fan of Chefs Table, I like so many others, was inspired by Asma Khans story. Knowing that I would be visiting London in November I booked a table in advance for lunch. I didn't research the menu - I simply looked forward to being in the moment and ordering whatever caught my eye on the menu. As someone of Bengali descent who has sampled a wide range of South Asian restaurants that have spanned the culinary spectrum, I felt that I would be in for a real treat. Upon arriving at the restaurant with a party of four on a Tuesday afternoon in mid-November, the environment was very energetic - tables were packed, conversations filled the room and the kitchen staff (many of whom were instantly recognizable from the documentary) were hard at work. We began by ordering three starters: a) Channa chaat b) Tangra chili garlic prawns c) Mutton Shikampuri kabab As a non chaat loving person I found the chaat to be delightful. The prawns though were underwhelming: one could sadly find this sort of dish at a mediocre Italian restaurant. Nothing about the flavors or seasonings screamed Indian or Bengali. The mutton Kababs I would recommend - they were authentic and had a real nice kick to them. The middle of the kabab contains a thin layer of yogurt - it's an interesting touch but it didn't do much to enhance the dish. For our mains we ordered the following: a) Calcutta chicken chaap b) Prawn Malaikari c) Aubergine Curry d) Kali Mirch Saag Keema e) Puris f) Peela pulao The chicken chaap hit the mark - it was rich and aromatic. Consider ordering two of these if you have a party of 4 or more. The prawn malaikari was executed well and should be enjoyed with the puri which was a definite highlight of the meal. The two disappointments were the aubergine curry (which was a special at the time) and the kali mirch saag keema. The aubergine dish almost tasted like it could have been a Thai curry given the heavy amount of peanut based flavoring the sauce contained. The saag keema missed the mark by a mile - the keema practically tasted like a bolognese meat paste and the spinach felt more like an afterthought. I would recommend that you steer clear from this dish. Finally, I would be remiss not to mention the beet raita - it's a truly unique take on a classic condiment. It should be dipped in and drizzled across all your dishes. While you won't find naan or biryanis on this menu, Darjeeling Express has done an adequate job of bringing to life some classic Bengali dishes. Despite some dishes which fell flat, it should be on your list of one of the many spectacular South Asian restaurants to sample in London.

Darjeeling Express is located on 2nd floor of Kingly Court. The place and Kingly Court seem like a place to be for locals and tourists alike. We went to Darjeeling highly recommended and had very high expectations. While we like what we had, we were not blown out of the park. But, they are still good especially their puris. We had Tangra Prawn and Puris to start and finish off with goat curry and pulou rice with peas (pulou maybe misspelled). Portions are quite small for the price.

I was literally turned away because I was by myself and they felt they could make more money on a busy evening by not seating me. I was well dressed and there was and is nothing about me to suggest I would be a problematic customer in any way.

Amazing food and the experience was excellent. We saw her story on Netflix and had to try it out. Make a reservation far in advance as it can be very hard to get into.

Set high up on Kingly Court this was the best Indian food I have eaten so far. Although a bit pricy I think that it is a must for anyone serious about Indian food. Darjeeling Express did not impress me when A friend recommended it. Actually I was a but put off that they had not accepted my other Indian suggestion. However when I read about the work on the funding second daughters charity in India. There the second daughter is mourned so doesn't get the gifts that a son would get.the charity sends a gift box to second daughters which I thought was commendable. I also heard that the chef's were all women and they were. We ordered some food to share. The Tangara chilli prawn - amazing! Prawns were fresh and bursting with flavour. Lentil Fritters - just lovely. Great way to fill up. Chanda chat - keep forgetting that this is a shell you fill with some soup. Wierdly different. For the main I ordered the Goat gosha Mangsho. That's the goat curry. We also ordered some Puri's (fried bread) and rice. The bread was amazing and the goat just blew me away. The goat was well marinated and the sauce worked so well with the friend bread. Dessert of the carrot halwa was a bit small but a nice finish. Would I go again? Yes. I can't wait.

Netflix steered us in the perfect direction for our first Michelin started restaurant. As soon as I knew the dates we would be in London I made a reservation. Everything we had was just so good. I wish I could remember exactly which dishes so I could list them specifically, but I'm convinced that you could never go wrong with any choice. We ended our lunch with a chai tea. Wow! Do this! Service was great. The restaurant was tucked in the top floor of this little market-style set-up. It was so cute! Prices were also very affordable. I would return!

As I ate, I saw owner Asma Khan walking through the floor, talking to waitstaff, chefs, and making sure everything was ok. This is how the food and place presents itself: it's like eating a home cooked meal, in a small, humble, and thoughtfully decorated home. The food was really good, especially the bread, which I could've devoured all day long! This is definitely a sharing place because there are a lot of good choices on the menu, and you want to try a bit of a few things. Would definitely come back, and hopefully grab a chat with Asma then!

Highly highly recommend, I came for lunch but because I didn't have a reservation they didn't have room (they were booked for Reservations about two months out) However, the server told me to come back at dinner right when they opened up at Six and she'd be able to have a table for me. This was awesome and she was so kind to do so because of how busy this place is, the food is one of the best experiences I've had, the spices are perfect and the bread is an amazing flakey soft texture! The cocktails were good too, what really makes the place is the service, the servers are so kind and Asma is extremely friendly and checks on how everyone is doing, If you come to London this is a must do!!!

We were excited to try Darjeeling express. We wanted to try the biryani but unfortunately that's only done on special days. However we had a lot of fun. The chef herself was around and very friendly, even posing with us for a picture. Everyone was friendly. Moderately priced. Yummy food. I think the special chicken we had was the best.