Tooting has become known as one of the best places in London for South Asian cuisine. Dubbed as London’s “curry corridor,” the stretch between Tooting Broadway and Tooting Bec tube stations is filled with Indian, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan restaurants. This post lists the best places in Tooting to go for a curry.
Best Curry Houses in Tooting
1. Vijaya Krishna
114 Mitcham Rd, London SW17 9NG. Tel: 020 8767 7688
Vijaya Krishna is a South Indian Restaurant on Mitcham Road. This is one of the best restaurants if you are looking for somewhere with affordable prices, as you can get a curry for around £7-£9. Despite the low prices the food is still delicious!
When we went we sat on a table by the window which felt bright and spacious. The restaurant has a really nice relaxing vibe inside, and is beautifully decorated. The staff were also very friendly.
We tried the chicken sag, chicken calicut, prawn biriyani, prawn karahi, and coconut paratha (the photos are below). I found the food a bit spicier than other curry houses but it was tasty.
Must-try: I had the chicken sag which was delicious.
2. Mirch Masala
213 Upper Tooting Rd, London, SW17 7TG. Tel: 020 4538 2539
Mirch Masala is one of the best Indian restaurants in Tooting. If you are looking for somewhere reasonably priced, with a laid back atmosphere, this is a great choice. The food is always delicious and the service is fast.
This restaurant doesn’t serve alcohol, but they let you bring your own bottle. When we went we tried the Lamb Deigi Gosht, Mixed Grill, and Karela Massala (bitter gourd curry) with Tandoori Roti. We went on a weekday when the restaurant is quieter, but it gets very busy at the weekends.
This restaurant also has a take away service, and I have found that, unlike some of the other curry houses in Tooting, they are always very generous with sending you extras. I frequently order their Karahi Chicken Saag, and it always comes with extra side salad, onions and sauces.
Overall, this is one of our top recommended curry houses in Tooting. It’s unpretentious, really affordable, and serves delicious food.
Must-try: The Lamb Deigi Gosht is one of their most popular dishes.
3. Apollo Banana Leaf
190 Tooting High St, London, SW17 0SF. Tel: 020 8696 1423
Apollo Banana Leaf is a Sri Lankan restaurant on Tooting High Street which has great food, and a lively atmosphere. It’s extremely informal, like many of the other curry houses in Tooting, and serves good food. Some of the most popular dishes on the menu are the aubergine curry, mutton ceylon, and chicken masala dosa.
If you want to go for a traditional Sri Lankan dish, the Kottu Roti is worth trying. It’s made up of chopped roti, a curry dish and scrambled egg, onions and chillies. Their Chicken Tikka is a popular starter, and the Mutton Ceylon is one of the best dishes you will find in Tooting.
Must-try: Mutton Ceylon
4. Lahore Karahi
1 Tooting High St, London, SW17 0SN. Tel: 020 8767 2477
Lahore Karahi is a Pakistani restaurant, and one of my favourite curry houses in Tooting. This is one of the first places we ever went to in Tooting for a curry, and we were hooked from day one.
My favourite dish is the Chicken Saag, but other great dishes include Lamb Charsi Karahi, Aloo Gosht, and the Lahori Keema Naan. They also make delicious naan bread, and lamb chops.
Last time we went we sat on one of the tables near the window. It was a Saturday night so it was super crowded and there wasn’t a lot of room at the table. Despite how busy it was however, we didn’t have to wait long for our food.
Overall, this restaurant offers a good service, and has an excellent reputation for their delicious curries. It is also buzzing at the weekend, and has a great atmosphere.
Must-try: The Mixed Grill is excellent.
5. Radha Krishna Bhavan
86 Tooting High St, London, SW17 0RN. Tel: 020 8682 0969
Radha Krishna Bhavan is a South Indian restaurant on Tooting High Street. There is a wide range of choice on their menu including many options for vegans and vegetarians. This includes the Vendakka (okra and potato) and Kathrika Koottan (aubergine), which are both popular dishes.
Inside, the restaurant feels cozy and welcoming, and is beautifully decorated with fairy lights. There was also a bit more space inside compared to some of the other curry houses in Tooting. If you are going in a group however, it is advisable to book as this restaurant, being in the heart of Tooting, gets very busy.
Radha Krishna Bhavan is a great option if you like South Indian food. All of their dishes have rich Indian flavours, and you get a good portion size. I think they also make some of the best dosas in Tooting (Indian pancakes).
Must-try: Masala Dosa
6. Dosa n Chutney
68 Tooting High St, London, SW17 0RN. Tel: 020 8767 9200
Dosa n Chutney is another great South Indian restaurant in Tooting, that serves excellent curries. This restaurant is beautifully decorated inside, and a good place to celebrate a special occasion. The last two times we went someone was having a birthday party there
Some of the dishes we have tried include the vegetable biriyani, potato and spinach curry, lamb kothu, chilli chicken, and the mango lassi. This restaurant also make excellent dosas.
Must-try: Any of the dosas!
7. Spice Village
121 Upper Tooting Road, London, SW17 7TJ. Tel: 020 8672 0710
Spice Village is a Pakistani restaurant that is located between Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway tube stations. I think it is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Tooting. The inside is absolutely stunning, and the food is always immaculately presented.
We found that this restaurant was a bit more expensive compared to the other curry houses we visited, but it was still very affordable and good value. Inside, the ambience is magical, and the food is flavoursome. We tried the butter chicken and saag gosht with the pilau rice. Everything was delicious.
Spice Village is also a favourite of the Mayor of London who recommends the masala fish (marinated and fried cod).
Must-try: Saag gosht
Map of the Best Curry Houses in Tooting
All of the curry houses mentioned in this post are plotted on the map below.
Other Places to Eat Near Tooting
If you’re in search of more dining options near Tooting, check out the following posts.
- Best Italian Restaurants in Earlsfield
- 13 Best Brunch Spots in Tooting
- Best Restaurants for Brunch in Balham
This Post Was About the Best Curry Houses in Tooting
Thank you for reading my post about the best curry houses in Tooting. If you know of a restaurant that you think should be mentioned in this post, please leave me a comment below. Tooting is definitely the best place in south London for curry enthusiasts.
Top tip: Many curry houses in Tooting do not serve alcohol but have a “bring your own bottle” policy. It’s also advisable to use public transport to travel to any of these restaurants, as it’s hard to find a parking spot in Tooting!
Teresa
Wednesday 28th of June 2023
Wonderful and informative post giving so many helpful hints in choosing the best curry houses in Tooting. We look forward to trying them out and thanks for details about size , specialities and prices . Brilliant !
Justin Nowell
Wednesday 7th of June 2023
I can also recommend the outside catering service provided by Mirch Masala. They will even provide staff to serve the food if you want!