Dishoom King's Cross

Deliberately evoking a railway café in old Bombay during the 1920s, this branch of Dishoom attracts young hipsters and die-hard Indian food fans in equal measure. The multi-tiered restaurant gets packed as efficient staff dart between close-set tables – although you may need to wait in the cocktail bar with a Bombay Martini until there’s a space available. Like its siblings in Shoreditch and Covent Garden, the signature black dhal is legendary, along with fiery-crusted lamb chops served with refreshing, yoghurt raita for dipping. Otherwise, bowls of ‘Ruby Murray’ go well with floppy roti bread, and the menu also runs to street snacks, kebabs, biryanis and desserts such as kulfi on a stick. Drink fruity lassi, exotic ‘coolers’, a bottle of London Fields IPA or something from the modest wine list while you bob to the Indian music and revel in the fun of the place.

Designed to look like an old Bombay train station cafe from the late 1920’s and aptly located just a stone’s throw away from Kings Cross station and one of London’s oldest railways, Dishoom generates queues every night. While the wait for this popular Indian restaurant may be long, it’s worth the wait.

Dishes vary from traditional curries and grilled meats to modern and experimental dishes like the bacon naan roll that has become a real favourite for any regulars of the Indian chain. For early morning visits to Dishoom, dishes from the breakfast menu include a parsi omelette with tomatoes, onion, coriander and green chilli and a sweet date and banana porridge. Washed it all down with one of its breakfast tipples or a traditional Indian chai. From the all-day menu dishes include 24 Hour cooked black daal, chole puri – a chickpea curry with sweet halwa, awadhi lamb biryani and murgh malai - chicken thighs with garlic, ginger and coriander. All these dishes can come accompanied with rice, naan or roti.

Head downstairs to the bar area to try cocktails which include The Kohinoor Fizz with gin, aperol, prosecco and egg whites or the Bollybellini with raspberries, lychees, rose and cardamom mixed with sparkling wine.

You’ll find this buzzy restaurant filled with couples, families, students (it’s round the corner from Central St Martins) and group diners alike. With dishes suitable for all tastes and dietary requirements Dishoom is an all-round winner when it comes to Indian cuisine.