Tandoori Temptations: Best Indian Grilled Dishes in London

Indian food has been popular in London since the Victorian era, with the queen herself famously enjoying the taste of curry. Today, the menus of Indian restaurants include plenty of options to suit the British palate, with options including the popular tikka masala and vindaloo as well as authentic classics. Here, we explore the city’s best tandoori temptations: dishes that have been cooked in the traditional tandoor oven. 

What is Tandoori?

Before looking at some of the best tandoori dishes in London, here’s a quick overview of what tandoori is and what you should expect when you order this type of dish. Essentially, tandoori dishes are cooked in a traditional clay oven known as a tandoor. The food is cooked at a very high temperature resulting in a unique smoky flavour and a slightly charred exterior. Meat dishes, however, remain succulent, juicy and tender.

Best Tandoori Dishes

For a little taste of India, you might want to order:

Chicken tikka 

Chicken tikka is grilled in the tandoori oven to produce delicious flavours and tender meat. Marinated in mild spices, this dish can be served alone with salad and bread or rice. Unlike tikka masala, chicken tikka has no rich sauce, making it a lighter option. 

Lamb tikka 

Lamb tikka is cooked in just the same way as chicken tikka. The lamb is marinated in a spice blend to make it tender, then cooked in the tandoor for up to 20 minutes, leaving the meat charred yet juicy and ready to eat. It’s often skewered and served with salad and naan or roti. 

Chicken or lamb chop tandoori

Instead of tender diced chicken or lamb, you can enjoy chicken on the bone or lamb chops cooked in the tandoor oven. These undergo the same marinating and cooking process, ensuring the meat is succulent and delicious. What could be better?

Tandoori mixed grill

For those with a big appetite or who want to share, the tandoori mixed grill is an excellent choice. This consists of many different types of meat including tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, lamb tikka, lamb chops, seekh kebab and king prawns, all coated in a vibrant spice blend and cooked in the tandoor oven. 

Chicken shashlic

Pieces of diced chicken are marinated and grilled in the tandoor with onions, green pepper and tomatoes. Eat with a yoghurt dip, naan bread and salad.

King prawn tandoori

Succulent, mildly spiced king prawns cooked in the tandoor oven are perfect for shellfish lovers. If you don’t quite fancy a plate of tandoori meat, then king prawns are a lighter option. They work really well with an Indian side salad and a wedge of lemon. 

If you’re searching for the ‘best curry house near me’, don’t miss Little India. Our restaurant is located just a stone’s throw from iconic attractions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum and The Science Museum, making it a go-to for tourists and locals alike. Enjoy a taste of India in London by reserving your table today.