Empire Empire

Our favorite dish was the lamb shank biryani! We also really enjoyed their butter chicken, dosa masala, and kale chaat. Every dish was packed with flavour and offered great value for the price. The restaurant also had a relaxing atmosphere and the service was impeccable.

What an absolute gem. I went with 2 friends and had the best experience. Our server Anna was the manager and she made our time even better than expected. We heard good things, and it lived up to the hype. We shared Butter Chicken, Rice & Naan and our dessert was the cheesecake. We joked we would eat the rest of the tray and she let us (most iconic restaurant moment ever). I can't wait to come back when I return to London one day. Also - for a cocktail I had a butter old fashioned. Excuse me? What! Is that real? So fun.

A stunning restaurant with a beautifully designed interior. The staff were incredibly friendly and efficient. The food was well cooked and delicious with just the right amount of spice. I personally preferred the garlic naan over the cheese naan, as the latter was a bit too thick for my taste. The kale patta chaat is a must-try, so refreshing!

I had wanted to visit Empire Empire for some time after hearing good things about their food from various sources. I finally had the opportunity the other day and had a great dining experience. The restaurant has a Bollywood disco theme which is more understated than it sounds and any music played is there as background and not at all overpowering. The room where I had my meal was decorated with LP covers of Indian and Western artists, which was a nice touch. The food at Empire Empire is influenced by Punjabi cuisine. I started my meal with the Kale Patta Chaat and Tandoori Haryali Fish Tikka and highly recommend both. The Kale Patt Chaat was a delightful combination of cream and crunch. The fish in the Tandoori Haryali was cooked perfectly and I really liked the contrast between the mild chilli of the fish with the slightly citric taste of the desi coleslaw. For my main course, I was initially going to have Empire Empire’s famous Butter Chicken, but my server Sudeep recommended the Laal Maas when I said that I liked heat and spice. I am glad that I went with his suggestion. The lamb in the laal maas was succulent and tender and the sauce had enough spice without being overpowering. It was a delicious curry with a good amount of meat. Even the accompanying rice and garlic naan were cooked very well. Although my starters and main course were very filling, I had to have dessert and was torn between the Gulab Jamun & Meringue Cheesecake and the Saffron Milk Cake. In the end, I again went with Sudeep’s recommendation and had the Gulab Jamun. It was one of the best desserts I have had for a while. Despite being made from cream, it was not heavy and I really liked the slightly savoury aftertaste. I really savoured each mouthful and it went well with the dessert wine I ordered. The customer service at Empire Empire was also excellent. When I arrived, I received a warm welcome and after I asked if I could move to a different table, they accommodated me with no fuss. Sudeep and his colleague were also attentive and very helpful during my meal, without being intrusive and I could enjoy eating at my own pace. I would happily return to Empire Empire for a meal in the future and I am planning to finally try the Butter Chicken and the Saffron Milk Cake next time. I recommend a visit if you would like well-cooked Indian food with a menu made up of familiar and more unusual dishes.

We really enjoyed the amazing food here. The restaurant has a wonderful family owned feel to it. People who really do care about their food and their customers. There is not a photo booth here, but an instant camera to take a snap of you to put on the wall of fame 😍

One of my go-to spots in the neighborhood. The food is consistently amazing and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Standout dishes for me are the lobster biryani, butter chicken, okra, roti, and chicken tikka — all absolutely mouthwatering. It’s the kind of place I always recommend to friends and family looking for a great meal in Notting Hill. Unpretentious, authentic, and run by a genuinely friendly team. A true gem that offers a thoughtful and satisfying dining experience every time.

Empire Empire is a Michelin starred Indian restaurant with a retro decor that seems very popular. We were looking for something spicy to eat. We went on a weekend with no reservation, so we were given an hour. It did get busy the time we were there, so a reservation is recommended. The service was efficient and pleasant. I was a bit underwhelmed by the food. I chose the lobster biriyani and a goat dish, which I was expecting to be a curry with goat meat. Instead, it was very ground meatballs in a type of sauce or soup, which tasted like Campbell's mushroom soup. Overall, I was not wowed by the experience. I found it just ok as I feel the dishes required more seasoning and spices. For Indian dishes, I was expecting more fragrance and spices, but it did not deliver.

The best Indian restaurant in UK … that’s all I can say. Lobster biryani is a must east… each and every starter was mouth-wateringly delicious… I still can’t get over that malai broccoli.. if veggies taste like that.. I will eat my veggies every day. it’s a genuine authentic Indian taste..

Food was fabulous . We had the lobster biryani dinner it was excellent. The butter chicken & lamb equally as good. Hands down, I wouldn't skip this establishment. I will be going back. Again & again.

Listen, on the basis that a restaurant is only as strong as its weakest dish, Empire Empire is properly manky. But who made up that saying anyway? And why do we all trot it out as accepted wisdom. It's tosh. And Empire Empire proves it. The fish chop rogan josh piqued my interest but it was awful. A fish steak of some description. Sole it could have been. Not that sole. The one under your foot. Said steak was as fresh as a teenager's bedroom after a 15 hour stint on Discord. Fibrous like a Shredded Wheat, I challenge Mitchell Hooper to get his jaw bone engaged enough to finish one. Fishy it was. As in, suspect. Just because one can freeze, doesn't mean one should. It tasted like it had travelled thousands of miles. No, actually it tasted like it came from the Grand Union Canal which stagnates not a ten minute walk from here. Delicious irony, but without the deliciousness. The sauce it rehydrated in was great. Which begs the question. Why not just use a local, fresh fish? Cod steak would have worked nicely. Halibut if they were pushing the boat out. But this abomination (kingfish was it? I can't remember) was rough. Thankfully we had started with the most deliciously light, fluffy prawns from the tandoor. Heavenly spiced, complimenting the sweetness of the generous sized prawns. Chicken pieces were similarly excellent. And the ox cheek raj kapori was a triumph. A deep fried casing with tender beef in the middle, getting its feet wet in a pool of spicyness. Tarka dal was robust, wholesome. Is dal the Indian version of a Jewish mother's chicken noodle soup? I'd be ill on purpose if this was the remedy. Lamb kebabs were tasty, not dried out and, as with everything else, served on dainty victorian plates. None from a set, just a mishmash of prettiness which added to the flavour and the charm that Empire Empire has in spades. So this 'only as good as your worst meal' malarky. Clearly nonsense. Just banish fish rogan josh from whence it came, to the moon, and you've got yourself an excellent menu of delicious Indian food served by a dapper waiter in his fitted black suit who is only to eager to impart knowledge to satisfy an old fart's inquisitive nature. Popadums come with three good dips made on the premises. And some of the popadums come in the shape of those twirly crisps we used to get. Bit of fun. Nice. Other fun elements include a juke box by the front door which plays real vinyl. The music is all Indian, some old, some contemporary, all enjoyable. At the back of the room is a Photo Booth. I'm not sure why. Again, it could be to add to the fun but on a Sunday evening mid August there just aren't the people to pull it off. It was quiet and it did feel a little downbeat. Maybe when it's packed, diners get up and dance around and then bundle into the booth for photos. But it got no play from the handful of diners in tonight. We note that on a Sunday afternoon they offer unlimited Biryani for £25. I'd give that a go. I think you'd have to roll me out though. Empire Empire is a sister of the Gunpowder chain and if you discount the fish aberration, the food is on a par. It's not as shuzzhy as they make out in the PR but there are some nice touches. The playlist that accompanies the meal is available on the website. It was the Mrs's birthday and the pudding that came gratis is never expected but always appreciated. And I must say, this simple sponge made from semolina drizzled with what I'd describe as an Indian custard, was a delight. Sugary like it needs an insulin syringe on the side so you can plunge it straight into the aorta once the sugar rush riders you comatose. Why is it only the Indians can get away with such balls out seasoning madness? Go with friends on a Saturday. The vibe will be vibier. We'd give this another go. Fun and foody. Just hold the fish.

Very enjoyable. We arrived a bit early, around 1830. We had the place to ourselves for about an hour. Service was top notch. We had the mushroom biryani, lamb shank biryani and butter chicken. The chutneys were all very flavorful. The lamb shank biryani was beautiful! It was a yummy as it was pretty. The level of slide was just right for me. They will also adjust slice to your desire. The beer they serve, a lager, was perfect. We will return.

The food is absolutely mouthwatering and the ambiance is great! I can't say enough good things about this spot! I heard Indian food in London is amazing, but this place takes the cake. And the service is top notch. I will definitely be back! Nikhil was incredibly hospitable! We loved our food and service!