Back in the day, going for a ruby meant something pretty different to the kind of cuzza my dear old mum would whip up at home. However, with the likes of Moti Mahal, Zumbara, Bhangra burgers and Trishna all serving fantastic regional Indian dishes it’s now possible to cherry pick the very best of sub-continental cuisine without having to fork out for that plane ticket. Here’s my round-up of some of the best:

1. Bhangra Burgers

I will and have travelled across town for these burgers. Succulent, spicy and with an excellent array of accompaniments a Bhangra burger is a bit like having a Sikh wedding in your mouth. Yum yum.

2. Zumbura

Taking Clapham by storm, Zumbura serves the most incredible spice-battered tilapia, excellent cocktails and some of the finest chaat in the capital. Small but perfectly formed, it’s owned by the same folk behind furniture store Dwell.

3. Gujerati Rasoi

As a long-standing devotee to the amazing dhals cooked up by mother and son team Lalita and Urvesh at their Exmouth Market stall, I was absolutely delighted when they told me they were opening a restaurant. The ohndwo (savoury lentil cake) is spot on, as is the ringan bhurta (smoky, spiced aubergine with paratha) - it’s a truly cracking place to impress vegetarian friends.

Gujerati Rasoi

4. Trishna

Specialising in coastal fare, this Michelin starred South Indian place does a mean seafood biryani, also check out the koliwada shrimp and queen scallops.

Trishna

5. Dosa N Chutny

Some say the dosas in this Tooting establishment are the best in town. They certainly are incredible value at just £2.95 for a masala dosa. The curd vada (a lentil doughnut in spiced yoghurt sauce) and coconut lamb fry are also excellent.

Dosa N Chutny

6. Moti Mahal

The most reliable place to get good, high end Indian food in central London, Moti Mahal are at the forefront of the new wave of innovative yet refined Indian fare (anyone for fig, venison and stilton samosas?) They also offer a fantastic lunchtime tiffin and if you do go a la carte the pickling spiced lamb is a must.

7. Seth's Spice Hut

The lengthy queues of hungry Asians outside Seth’s van in Walthamstow market are testament to some of the finest kebab rolls in the history of ever. Seth has been flogging masterful Pakistani classics from his van for over a decade now and the food is still better than that sold in many higher end Indian restaurants. At £2.50 for a double kebab roll you’d be bonkers not to.

Our Indian food options are a world away from the technicoloured gloop and flock wallpapered haunts of yesteryear belching out endless sugary chicken tikka masalas. Here in the smoke we now have authentic localised dishes to suit every pocket and palate. Yet another reason to be proud of our multicultural heritage and a raging triumph for Londonstanis everywhere.

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