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    Govinda's Restaurant

    4.1 (104 reviews)
    InexpensiveVegetarian, Indian
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Govinda's Restaurant Photos

    GOVINDA'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Govinda's Restaurant

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    Simple but delicious! The liquid in the cup is juice of some sort (Apple based, I think). Note this isn't their normal fare.
    Iris T.

    I love Indian food because (1) I usually have more food options as I follow a pure vegetarian [no onion/garlic] diet and (2) I'm in England where Indian food is said to be awesomely delicious. I had heard about this place and was in the area just in time for dinner. It was a Sunday. I had made a note that it closed at 4 pm (we arrived sometime around 5 or a little past) but forgot and despite the sign displayed that clearly stated it was closed, it was packed. I kid you not. So I was a little iffy on opening the door due to the controversial messages I was receiving (I assume the temple is on the right which was also busy), a young man heading into the temple asked me if I was there for food. I responded positively and he told me to go ahead and open the door on the left... so I did. Almost every table was full and everyone appeared to be of Indian descent other than a handful of Caucasians who appeared to be Indian-influenced by the way they dressed. The line to get food was halfway across the room and Hubby was also iffy. I was reading the menu but the food that was coming out didn't seem to be the same - it was automatic and cafeteria style on sturdy paper trays and wooden spoons. Nearly everyone got the same fare. We finally got to the front and - perhaps due to the touristic camera hung around my neck and my likely disheveled appearance - he asked if we ever had Indian food before. We found out that the food was after a service and was technically free but they asked for a donation, which we gladly gave. There were no free seats so we found a spot in a corner and ate standing up. It was really good and simple and I was glad I didn't have to worry about onion or garlic and the possibility of contamination, which is a constant worry when traveling. I hesitate to give a full 5 stars this time since the food we received wasn't the usual but if I ever find myself in London again, I would definitely visit during normal opening hours to give it a "proper" taste. Thank you for the food and serving it to us!

    Vincent H.

    To be fair, maybe I shouldn't have eaten here lol I'm not a fan of vegetarian food, so maybe I should've gone elsewhere. People live like this? LOL I got the Veggie Thali - 5 items for £7. So not expensive. The portions were small. I like Indian food and had to try it in London, but this isn't what I was expecting. The rice and fried bread were fine, salad was a bit sad looking. I didn't like the flavour/taste/spice of the 2 other veggie items. Sauces are on the side. I did like the mango lassie. It was £2 but small. I was still hungry after ........

    Paneer thali

    Great gluten free, vegan & veg thali. Chiptole concept for thali lovers. I like the creamy paneer; Dahl and mango lassi. Highly recommend for a quick & yummy bite.

    Rice, beans, dry potato, salad and their chutneys on the side.
    Michelle E.

    This restaurant was pretty good, it gives you 5 sides of food. No complaints about anything but I wouldn't consider it spectacular. I got the rice, beans and dry potato (vegan options available). The food is already made when you get there so it's quick to get your food and start eating. Everyone else in the restaurant seemed to be enjoying their food as well.

    Large Thali
    Amanda M.

    Very good food- the first two options on the menu- Small Thali and Large Thali are all you can eat! Yes please. When you go back and ask for a second portion of everything they might say "you are hungry". To which I said "yes". Hahahahha. To be honest I have no idea what the dishes were called- but I loved the variety. A spicy red bean stew, a spinach potato curry option, another cauliflower curry something or other. All very good. Not a fan of the small soup they offered but you get a large variety of food for a very good price. It's in a great location as well.

    Isabella M.

    There's nothing special in still place but I love going there! I got to admit that, at first, the look of the food didn't attracted me at all, also I got a little scared but soon as I had my first bite it all changed, so many flavors and spices! The banana sauce that they have is really good, a combination of chili and sweet. It's great for vegetarians too since this little place is Hare Kristna. Don't forget to try the juices/smoothies that they have and the mango yogurt with pistachio is definitely a to go desert !

    Martina O.

    If it's healthy, nutritious vegetarian food your after then look no further. Govindas serves up some superb 100% healthy, Vegetarian food. Here you will find everything is freshly prepared and feels like a new food experience as the food is so wholesome and delicious. There is even a Hare Krishna shop upstairs where you can buy all sorts of things. Situated just off Oxford Street in Soho, the closest tube station is Tottenham Court Road. The decor is simple, orange walls with mirrors and the atmosphere is pretty relaxed. I mainly come here if I'm in that side of the City for a hearty lunch and for a breather. it's open Monday to Saturday 12- 8pm. Price wise I feel it is reasonable for the quality of the food. I usually get the plate which comprises of the soup of the day, a salad, rice and some bread.

    Gouthaman K.

    This is my third time at a Govinda's and like always, it has always been delicious food that's great for your body and soul. I thought the food here was a bit pricey for the portion size -- maybe I was just too hungry or maybe it's because I live across the pond in Dublin where I'm used to paying a bit lesser? You'll never know. Bottomline: if you're looking for a vegetarian option or simply some food that's good for you in the neighbourhood, look no further and step in here.

    Fiona G.

    Brilliant place : I return over & over AND I love the fact that they travel all over London at night to feed the homeless. Just the best food to keep body & soul together & such good prices! Go Go Go!

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    What a wonderful gem in bustling London! The food was superb, bursting with flavor. Go!

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    2 years ago

    We r traveling from the USA. We ordered Dosa, Food is very good. Service is best. Do not mind coming again.

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    Food is great. Staff is friendly except the lady behind the till. Not sure what her problem is but quite an unjustifiable attitude

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    Page 1 of 3

    Govinda's Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Govinda's Restaurant

    (who would have thought Hare Krishna are good cooks?) I am going to guess that Hare Krishna owns the building (i.

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    Dishoom - Paneer Tikka

    Dishoom

    4.5(867 reviews)
    0.4 miSoho
    ££

    We were so full after touring Burrough market, that we almost cancelled our reservation here, and…read morethat would have been tragic. Dishoom was one of our favorite spots in London. Since we were full, we ordered small and it was the perfect amount for us: Vegetable Samosa - get it Garlic naan - get it, goes great with this entree Roti - not ideal for this entree, but maybe with something else, delicious, but too thin, not enough structure, thin tortilla like Basmati rice - get it for this entree Ruby chicken - get it bc it's so good! Our server also surprised us with chocolate lava cake and lightly spicy ice cream to wish us good luck on the marathon and it was so good!!! The perfect ending to an amazing meal. Do not miss out on Dishoom!

    Worth the hype! I've…read moreheard a lot about Dishoom and was curious if the food would live up to the hype...and the answer is YES, YES IT DOES. The food is so good and so flavorful! I wish I had more people with me so that we could've ordered more dishes. My party of 3 ordered: 1 chicken ruby, 1 house daal, 1 garlic naan, 2 bowls of rice, samosas, fried okra, and some tea. Everything was DELICIOUS! The daal was fantastic. But man oh man was the Chicken Ruby addicting! The Chicken Ruby is their take on butter chicken and it was the perfect balance of acidity and spice and sweetness. We wanted to order another Chicken Ruby but we couldn't eat anymore. Would recommend this place to anyone! So good

    Photos
    Dishoom - Interior

    Interior

    Dishoom - Wrestler's Naan Roll

    Wrestler's Naan Roll

    Dishoom - Early Bird @Dishoom Carnaby

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    Early Bird @Dishoom Carnaby

    Gymkhana - chicken butter masala + bread basket

    Gymkhana

    4.3(285 reviews)
    0.6 miMayfair
    ££££

    I managed to get a weekday lunch reservation for one at 2:30pm, and snagged a table by the window…read morewith a great view of the main dining room. For me, Gymkhana absolutely lived up to the hype. Although they offer a set lunch menu, I went à la carte to try exactly what I wanted: Chicken Butter Masala, an Indian Onion & Green Chilli Salad, and Garlic Naan (which I appreciated they offer in single pieces). For drinks, I started with their signature Masala Margarita, paired the meal with a Salty Masala Lassi, and finished with a Masala Chai. It was more food than I usually eat, but it was too good not to finish. Every dish was outstanding--bold, layered flavors with distinct character. It really highlighted how exceptional Indian cuisine can be. The drinks had creative twists and complemented the food beautifully. Service was warm, attentive, and efficient without ever feeling formal or rushed. I could tell the staff would gladly accommodate special requests if needed. It was all very deserving of its two Michelin stars. Total bill: GBP 94 including drinks, service, etc. One tip for first-time visitors: go easy on the rice and bread. The other dishes are far too good to fill up on carbs.

    The most incredible meal €75 pp prixe fix lunch includes:…read morePappad and chutney tasting Aloo chaat Choice of appetizers: we went for chicken kebab an salmon cafreal - both of which were incredible Mains we did butter chicken which was truly once of the best I've ever had and keema pav - which could be skipped. Next time I would go for the prawn curry instead. Mains came with a side of daal and saag which were absolutely delicious! The taste of the tandoor comes through in every single bite. Overall, a 10/10 experience, and a must hit when in London. Incredible attentive service and absolutely gorgeous interiors

    Photos
    Gymkhana - Interior

    Interior

    Gymkhana - Achari Paneer Tikka, Fig, Cashew Nut, Corn Chaat (Appetizer in Lunch Menu (~£60))

    Achari Paneer Tikka, Fig, Cashew Nut, Corn Chaat (Appetizer in Lunch Menu (~£60))

    Gymkhana - Kasoori Chicken Tikka, Moong Sprouts, Kasundi Kachumber (Appetizer in Lunch Menu (~£60))

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    Kasoori Chicken Tikka, Moong Sprouts, Kasundi Kachumber (Appetizer in Lunch Menu (~£60))

    Dishoom - Pathia Prawns

    Dishoom

    4.5(816 reviews)
    2.5 miShoreditch
    ££

    Not just "hyped", dishoom deserves the recognition!…read more SERVICE Amazing service, easy to make reservations online, and easy to check in and get seated once your entire party has arrived. INSIDE Spacious, clean, and plenty of seating both upstairs and down. MENU For larger parties, they recommend their prefix menu which includes a various sampling of lots of delicious items. FOOD 10/10 I haven't eaten Indian food much, but was thoroughly impressed. From my mango lassi which was perfectly sweetened and tart to buttered buns, fried okra, black Dahl, garlic naan, and lamb skewers, everything was delicious. I esp loved the lamb skewers! We ordered a side of garlic naan with cheese which is basically a quesadilla and it was super cheesy and delicious as well. OVERALL Would def recommend Dishoom when visiting London. It'll definitely be a hit in your books!

    There isn't much I can add about Dishoom that hasn't already been said. As a huge fan of Indian…read morefood, I can honestly say I haven't had better. The food was exceptional -- aroma, flavors, spice levels, portions; everything was perfect. While visiting London, a local friend invited me to Dishoom, knowing how much I love Indian cuisine. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon around 5PM, and the place was already packed. They don't take reservations for dinner unless you're a large group, but trust me, the wait is worth it. They have a fantastic bar where you can grab drinks while you wait for a table (they give you buzzers). I tried the Negroni and another tequila-based cocktail (sadly I can't remember the name), and both were phenomenal. Shared plates are definitely the way to go at Dishoom. We ordered the gunpowder potatoes (incredible), an appetizer with potatoes and pineapple (not my favorite; the pineapple threw me off), monkfish curry (amazing), and chicken curry. It was a lot of food for just two of us, but I couldn't stop eating. I seriously wanted to bottle up that sauce! The service was surprisingly impeccable, especially considering how busy they were. We ended up spending about £110 for an incredible dinner, and we nearly couldn't finish everything. Lastly, the ambiance! Inspired by Iranian cafes in India, the atmosphere at Dishoom is eclectic. I loved the dim lighting, unique decor, and the lively pace of the restaurant. Just go!

    Photos
    Dishoom - Dining Room

    Dining Room

    Dishoom - Fried okra, butter buns

    Fried okra, butter buns

    Dishoom - Bar waiting area

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    Bar waiting area

    Brigadiers - Tandoori Masala Jheenga (£24)

    Brigadiers

    4.6(70 reviews)
    1.8 miThe City

    After going down a Reddit hole determined to find a less touristy Indian restaurant, I was so glad…read moreto have come across this place. The service was amazing. As soon as you walk in, they offer to hang your coat. The young lady who was our server for the evening gave us the best recommendations--I wish I knew her name. She was so patient with our many questions and didn't steer us wrong. My friends and I started with the wings as an appetizer. They had the perfect amount of grill flavor and were very saucy and well seasoned. There was no classy way to eat them--they were that good. For our entrées, we ordered the goat shoulder and the half rack of lamb chops. The half rack is more than enough for one person, especially with naan and rice. The reviewers were not lying when they said you must try the lamb chops. They came out sizzling, and we laughed because it took us back to dining at Chili's (iykyk). Perfectly seasoned and incredibly tender. The same goes for the goat shoulder. This was my first time trying it, and I was very impressed with how good it tasted. While I'm not usually a dessert person, you must try the carrot pastry. Think of it like a McDonald's apple pie (the old-school one), but with warm carrot filling on the inside and a sprinkle of pistachio on the outside--just 10x better. Everything here tasted spectacular, including the chili naan. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes.

    This was the Indian place we chose in London and I'm so happy we did. Gorgeous decor, warm and…read morewelcoming service and exceptional food. The best part of our meal was making new friends with the two young gentlemen at the table next to us. My husband and I were twice their age but we all enjoyed lively conversation and watched the football game together on the television as we sat in the outside garden area. This restaurant was right near Watling street where we pub hopped in the shadow of St. Paul's cathedral. London is magical and Brigadier's is part of that magic.

    Photos
    Brigadiers - The bar area

    The bar area

    Brigadiers - Afghani Lamb Ribeye Kebab Skewers (£13)

    Afghani Lamb Ribeye Kebab Skewers (£13)

    Brigadiers - Tandoori Masala Jheenga (£24)

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    Tandoori Masala Jheenga (£24)

    Punjab Restaurant - Chicken korma

    Punjab Restaurant

    4.2(661 reviews)
    0.3 miCovent Garden
    ££

    Absolutely love the historic vibes this restaurant gives. The pictures on the wall and story in the…read moremenu of when the restaurant opened and how it has continued serving Londoners was so nice to see. I ordered the butter chicken with naan, a platter of tandoori chicken and poppadoms. The food was really good! The butter chicken was so creamy and the tandoori chicken was cooked so well. Ended the night with a mango lassi which was perfect. The service was quick and the waiters were helpful.

    After a day at the British Museum, we went to Punjab Restaurant for dinner. Founded in 1946, it is…read morethe oldest North Indian Punjabi restaurant in the UK. I love Indian food, and Metro Vancouver has a huge Indian population, so Indian food is comfort food. The restaurant's wall was decorated with various historical photographs, and right above our table was a photo of Vancouver, titled "Well-dressed Sikhs walking along the street in Vancouver, Canada c. 1908." Although over 100 years ago, I immediately recognized the location -- the corner of Granville and Hastings. How coincidental is that, to be thousands of miles away from home in a different continent, and to come across a photograph of the very street corner I cross multiple times a week! I don't recall what my husband had (a chicken dish), but I had Acharri Murgha ("chicken curry cooked in a traditional pickling spice mix") and it was delicious! Both my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal -- it was a taste of home! I also had a couple of glasses of wine, but each glass was 250ml, so I was pretty tipsy. In the washroom, a woman, another tourist, started conversing with me, but she only spoke French, and despite being drunk and rarely speaking French, I was able to have a semi-coherent conversation (she was also a bit tipsy). I had a drunken conversation in French inside an Indian restaurant in England! Anyway, Punjab Restaurant is one of the best Indian restaurants I have been to, and it is no surprise that it has been around since 1946. [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; London, England]

    Photos
    Punjab Restaurant - Historical photos

    Historical photos

    Punjab Restaurant
    Punjab Restaurant - One of two rooms

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    One of two rooms

    Govinda's Restaurant - vegetarian - Updated May 2026

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