This is a nice Indian restaurant with an upscale, fancy feel, tucked away on a beautiful street in Kensington. The place is decorated very nicely and has a good amount of space inside. I arrived soon after they opened, was the only guest there, and had a coupon to use. My server was very quick and attentive, and she helped me choose between two paneer curry dishes. I ordered the palak paneer, with a side of rice and the masala chai tea to drink. The tea came out in a few minutes, in a nice-sized pot, and with sugar cubes. Although the reason for the -1 star is that halfway through my meal, I found a fly buzzing around the sugar cubes and was really disgusted. I told the server and she apologized and gave me a new cup of sugar cubes, although that was really unappetizing... Overall, I can honestly say the palak paneer curry was absolutely amazing, one of my favorites I've had in London! It had lots of bits of paneer, and the sauce was delicious and balanced well. I loved the rice and the chai tea (besides my problem above with the sugar) and really enjoyed the food overall. I feel like this would be a great spot to revisit and bring my boyfriend for a romantic date night! read more

Charming restaurant, generally good food, but slow service. Some hits and some misses. Let's start with ambience. It was very cute, small place. With equal indoor and outdoor seating. Didn't have any issues getting a table. Food was a mix. The appetizers - Paneer and the Sechuan Corn both tasted the same - except for the handful of diff im ingredients. Both were highly sweet and not much complexity in taste. The mains - the prawns - was phenomenal. Incredibly flavorful and rich. Complimented the rice & garlic naan very well. Wish I would have ordered seconds of the naan! Highly recommend. The Buttered Chicken was ok, with the chicken tough, maybe overcooked. The service was very slow. We arrived early at dinner time, around 6:45 Thursday and was one of 2 tables. The server was quick to take our order but we sat w our appetizers for a very long time. I had to ask the server about our mains and still it took a bit of time. My rating was brought down by this. Overall, some wins. read more

Great Indian. Upscale ambiance. Favorite was the chicken gassi. Also had the lamb korma. Want to go back to try the samosas, rogan josh and fish moilee. read more

Just had a dinner here last night and it was fantastic - food is definitely good, above average, and it is not as greasy as many Indian restaurants tend to be. I found the dishes slightly salty but not to the level that bothered me (and I am very sensitive to salty food...) Ambience is quite modern and not decorated like the typical Indian restaurant and it is very pleasant. What differentiates this place all other places is service - people are just so nice and attentive, it has lovely warmth in everything they do. I eat out a lot and it is definitely the very first Indian restaurant in London I felt this warmth - and this is just do wonderful.., I tried £30 course meal and it was a great experience - it was just a lot of food so be ready to be stuffed... And all the food felt very healthy with lots of veggies and some fish and plenty meat - very comprehensive and satisfactory meal altogether. Dishes are not too sophisticated but very well cooked with right level of spice and low level of oil. It is a gem in this tourist packed, snobbish neighbourhood. Go for service and you will not regret it! I would definitely consider as one of the restaurant option in this very competitive neighbourhood just because of people. I left the place feeling so peaceful and warm... What a lovely experience it was! read more

Chakra - Some amuse bouche - Indian Near Me - London, XGL

See all

I enjoyed the food and atmosphere very much. Everything we ordered was delicious and we received it quick. Lovely little place. I highly recommend Chakra. read more

As you would expect in Kensington, the restaurants are more on the fine dining side. With properties in excess of 1 Million, they certainly would not have a dive amongst their mews and town houses. Chakra is not on the High Street, it is not even on a side street. In fact, you need to walk down a side street, then through a mews, to another street. It is firmly in a residential area. With an absence of too much passing trade, it relies locals and recommendation. In this little spot, Chakra could fail because of the reliance on word getting out and locals being kept happy with the offer. They do just that with a light Indian menu focussing on being ingredient led, as opposed to too much tradition. There are modern takes on dishes rooted in history, to bring it to the less experimental palate. For me, I love Indian food, whether its delivered to my door as a takeaway, all bold and heavy or in this restaurant delicate and forward thinking way. For our Indian extravaganza we started with a salad of pomegranate, mango, papaya, coriander, spring onion and amaranth for Prisca. We also had an interesting lotus root with guar green beans, coriander, sprouts and almonds. I had my favourite gorgeous tandoori king prawns. A side of okra and also a creamy chicken and tomato masala. All of this was washed down with a dry Sauvignon Blanc. The service was very informal in a space which was clean and contemporary. In the Summer you can dine in the little outside terrace. For its location, the menu is very affordable. I highly recommend this as your Indian choice if you find yourself shopping down on High Street Kensington. read more

Best Indian food I've ever had in London - better than dishoom and brick lane. Get the vegetable samosas!

I visited this restaurant on a Friday evening, it was nearly full and it seemed everyone there had a table booked so be sure to call before you attempt a walk in. The first impact is astonishing; though the place itself is really small, the attention to detail is incredible; all the walls are covered with soft leather from light to dark brown, the atmosphere is enriched by precious chandeliers shining softly from above on the wooden rectangular tables giving the impression of a posh boudoir. Stepping in you'll be greeted with the sweetest smiles and beauty of the hostess, two fascinating girls with matching soirée dresses that you really think are there by mistake and should sit and eat with you instead.The avant garde design of the restaurant merges into an imaginative menu that blends exotic indian spices with classic French cooking techniques and New-england sourced ingredients.Serving time is sadly long, though worth it. Last but not least: I had the chance to have a free tasting menu because they just opened but do not expect to pay less than the fair price for it! read more

I enjoyed my experience at Chakra very much-- ambiance, service and food were all pretty great. Interior is beautiful and inviting, love the dim lighting with the beautiful chandeliers. Elegant tableware and atmosphere. Service was also great-- very friendly, timely and I especially enjoyed the amuse bouche. We thought the butter chicken was exceptional-- perfectly seasoned & wonderful texture but the prawn dish left us a little waning. It started to separate quickly, the flavors were actually quite too similar to the butter chicken except more bland, and the shrimps were of ok quality. Our uncle who lives down the street from Chakra mentioned that this is his go-to takeaway Indian restaurant. I see why! read more

I really want to give one star because of how bad our experience at Chakra was tonight, but that wouldn't be fair since some of the food was decent. Anyway! After reading other reviews, I was really excited to go here with my girlfriend on our five year anniversary for the tasting menu. When we walked in, we got a weird vibe and maybe some dirty looks but forged ahead anyway because of the reviews we'd read. After we said we didn't have a reservation, we were told to sit and wait at the front for a few minutes even though the restaurant was only half full. We were then seated and given menus, but no water or anything. Then a good 10-15 minute wait. The first of many throughout the night. As the restaurant kept clearing out, the service seemed to get slower and slower. Eventually the servers outnumbered the tables, but all they seemed to do was walk back and forth from the kitchen to the front of the restaurant, trying to look busy or something--definitely not filling out water glasses, clearing our plates, asking how things are, anything like that. Everyone was nice but oblivious. No apologies about the wait or anything like that. None of the food was better than your average Indian restaurant, and some of it--like the insanely overspiced, choking-inducingly dry chickpeas--was quite a bit worse. The meal ended up taking over two hours. Finally the bill came and I saw that after all that crap service, they'd taken it upon themselves to add a 12.5% tip at their discretion. Classy. If you can't earn it, just take it, right? We won't be going back. read more

Usually, I don't find myself radically disagreeing with other reviewers like this, but this place is spectacular. I went here a few days ago on the advice of a acquaintance and it was INCREDIBLE. Chakra is a Zagat reviewed, *Michelin rated* restaurant that specializes in Indian cuisine. Let me make one thing really clear -- if you are visiting Chakra looking for a curry and a beer, this is not your place. You will view it as wildly expensive and not something that delivers the curry fix that we all crave from time to time. I have traveled to India frequently, visiting on probably 10 trips spanning 4-5 cities in north and south India over my travel career, so I do feel very comfortable with what true Indian food is -- what Chakra delivered to me was comparable to what I've experienced in the finest restaurants in India. If you are looking for an inventive expansion on Indian cuisine, bold flavors, and excellent service, this is probably the place for you. I was there with a colleague from work and we ordered the set 6 course tasting menu, which at 30 GBP each was definitely beyond the standard Chicken Tikka range that you see at most restaurants. However, what ensued was the most delicious sampling of cuisine that I've had in quite some time. I won't chronicle the whole menu as I'd probably sound like a wannabe food critic for the Telegraph (except without the literary skills)... however suffice it to say, that each item had something a little extra or special associated with it. The fish curries were smooth and balanced, but with a hint of some extra heat that came from uncommon spices. The starters were all well executed, with the chaat being a big highlight -- the seasoning was just delightful. Overall, a great experience and a great restaurant. If you're ever wanting to eat truly special Indian food, take the time to go here. You won't be disappointed. read more

This was our first visit to Chakra. What a superb experience. Intimate, elegant white-table cloth setting. Attentive service . Extensive beer, wine and cocktail selections. Delectable food. Excellent value. We will definitely return on our next trip to London from the states. Don't miss the lamb korma. Yum! read more

It was one of those instances where your stomach thinks your throat's been cut and you're trolling the streets looking for somewhere that'll hit the spot. In an area like Notting Hill, you'd think that you'd strike gold with ease but, unless you know the hidden gems, you might just end up settling for somewhere just plain wrong. In this case, that wrong was Chakra. Being literally the end of the line (it's last in the parade of shops before the descent to Holland Park) we'd had enough of looking and even the iffy name wasn't enough to halt the eager march that our empty bellys took us through it's doors. With one foot across it's threshold, my companion turned to me and said, "oh my god, it looks like a rap video" And she wasn't wrong. Do a quick search on youtube for "Sweat" by Snoop Dogg . That chair at around about 1:55 in the video. Or 1:20 in "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent but in cream leather. And maaan, that's a lotta cream leather. The cheap looking chandeliers didn't help ease the hip hop vibe either. Too late to turn back, we were led to our table. A friend of mine who owns an award winning restaurant tells me of the lengths he and his team went to to get the perfect chair to table ratio. Clearly the proprietors of Chakra (Godawful name. Did I say that already?) hadn't gone to the same trouble. Sitting on the wall length banquette, (cream, naturally. Although by this time I expected it to be water-bed style) I was disappointed to feel that elbows-up-to-your-ears sensation. Luckily, I'd hung onto my coat and promptly rolled it up like some kind of child booster seat. Smooth indeed. Luckily, we remembered we weren't here for the decor or a lesson in ergonomics and were excited to receive the menus. Even more exciting was that "Chakra's inspiration comes from ancient Vedic scriptures." Really? Oh lordy! Yes, "the Chakras, or our energy points are thought to vitalise the physical body, associated with positive flow of energy and the interaction of a physical, emotional and mental nature. Balancing and aligning body". REALLY?! How's that for a tenuous link to curry?! Now, I'm actually into chakras and rather fond of hippy dippy stuff but using it to charge over the odds for a korma? Whatever next?! There was more hilarious guff in the menu, about how "Chef Andy" (seriously) "has added another dimension in his interpretation by invigorating the positive energy...blah blah blah" but when the waitress asked if we wanted her to "explain the concept" I almost blurted, Basil Fawlty style, "Oh, what's that? You have a CONCEPT? Of COURSE you have a concept! A CONCEPT! HEAR THAT EVERYONE? WE HAVE A CONCEPT!" I didn't. I just politely said no and we ordered some overpriced food. Which, frankly, was average. read more

Chakra is just far too fancy for the area, with small portions (especially for Indian) in England. I'm all about refined food, but I wasn't such a big fan of the pompous nature of the 'delicate' food and the overly plush and terribly uncomfortable white leather sofas, chandeliers and animal hides suffocating the place. Maybe a better location for this place would be Mayfair or Dubai, but not a nook in Holland Park. I trust the former Goldman guys to come up with a great concept, and maybe this is paying off for them, but it just isn't for me. read more

Stylish leather clad rooms,tentative service,felt as if those on table service were on their first night. Food Southern Indian style,delicate,good use of spices. Decent wine list and they knew the wines that they sold,the wine guy was impressive. Expensive,but so was the leather furnishings I fancy,got to pay for it somehow. Overall OK experience,staff bright and breezy, I enjoyed it all. read more

One of the highlights of our trip to London! Chakra is a beautifully designed space in a quiet area of Knotting Hill. As newcomers to Indian cuisine, we leaned on the friendly staff to help guide us through the diverse menu of flavors and preparations available here. Every dish we shared was delicious. Will definitely be back the next time I'm in London! read more

Finally discovered the authentic flavours of North India, without having to go on a nine hour flight to India. The decor is cean ad uncluttered and the staff are friendly. The depth and variety of flavours makes this restaurant one of my favourite in London. read more

My husband and I stopped in to this intimate Indian restaurant on a Sunday evening, and we were delighted by the inventive and beautifully presented dishes. We had a delicious asparagus and sweet potato appetiser, followed by black cod for me and chicken korma for my husband. Every dish was very fresh and of high quality with lovely spices. We will definitely be back for more at Chakra. read more

Crappy online experience. Order placed. Confirmation received. Called 30 min after delivery time. Said they didn't get the order.

Chakra London is the best new Indian in London! Try the lamb chops & the yam chaat... the décor is superb and the service is always with a smile.... I'm going back for my Indian fix in a week! Arvind V read more

There is such a thing as too much service, I thought, as the fourth waiter arrived at our table seconds after the last to explain the baffling menu at Chakra recently. My mum and I went to sample this new curry restaurant soon after it opened. It takes the place of Cultural Revolution, which in my view offered excellent value tasty food but precious little atmosphere. With Chakra, the reverse is true; it's all style over samosasand expensive to boot. But when you've forked out a fortune on plush interior décor as the owners clearly have here, you're not going to charge £1 for a Frisbee-sized poppadum and a generous carousel of sauces. No. You're going to charge closer to £5 for quarter a broken up poppadum and serve it in a tiny little dish with a few scraps of chopped up tomato and onion and a thimbleful of sauce. As most London curry houses in London are much of a muchness, in my experience, with tired décor and predictable menus, it's easy to impress and even fool diners into thinking they are getting a superlative experience with a fine dining approach. When this is done well it can be a sublime experience, such as that to be had at my favourite curry place: Amaya. But in Chakra's case, upholstered white walls, clever uplighting and an army of waiting staff can't compensate for very mediocre food, which is what we had. It was certainly highly-coloured when it all arrived in barge-style dishes. However, the contents had also been liquidized to oblivion in a thick sauce, so it was hard to identify what was what, save the odd bit of chicken or prawn which sometimes broke the surface. As for flavour, well, it just tasted generally curryish, but with no delicate distinction of flavours. Chakra also favours that annoying policy of keeping your wine as far away from your table as possible. Then someone will sprint over to refill your glass if you so much as look at it, meaning you end up guzzling far more than you would normally. Here the cheapest bottle of plonk is £28, so be warned. Despite what I've said Chakra will flourish due largely to its location and the fact the only good curry house nearby Malabar is tucked away out of sight. Ironically, despite the over-zealous army of waiting staff during our meal, no one was on hand to fetch our coats after our meal so we waited around like lemons for 5 minutesno way to curry favour with new customers. read more

I went with my friends at Chakra last week and we had an amazing experience. The interior is decorated with nice cream and brown colours, the service was really efficient and it was the best Indian food we have ever tried. Everybody must try!! read more

Excellent food. The Yam Chaat and the Black Daal are to die for! The paratha's are sublime and light. service was attentive

dont do it bad food bad service rude staff very overpriced bog standard indian with measly portions read more

stumbled across this fab indian restaurant in notting hill and must say its a GEM!!!! food was yummy!!! ordered a chicken masala, naan bread, samosas and my tummy was very happy indeed!!!! a great place to go for a curry! read more