Ritika Sharma 
Annual Award Ceremony to Honour the UK’s Top Asian Restaurants
Finalists have been unveiled for the annual Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA), the most prestigious celebration of Pan Asian cuisine in the UK, which this year will be taking place on Monday 6th October 2025 at the London Hilton Park Lane.
ARTA 2025 will welcome a guest list of the nation’s most popular Asian restaurateurs alongside MPs, dignitaries and celebrities. The ceremony will be hosted by BBC journalist and broadcaster, Samantha Simmonds, and magician, Paul Martin.The finest Asian restaurants and takeaways from across the UK will come together in London in the hope of being recognised as the best restaurant in their region or nationally and honoured with a jewel in the crown of the UK Asian restaurant industry award sector.
This year, more than 1,300 restaurants and takeaways across the UK were put forward by diners and food enthusiasts, with a large share of entries submitted via ChefOnline; ARTA’s strategic partner and one of the country’s leading platforms linking customers to Asian dining establishments. With access to a nationwide customer base of over a million, ChefOnline played a key role in encouraging broad participation in the awards. The nomination process was further strengthened by robust social media engagement and supporting data, including Food Hygiene Ratings.
Speaking about the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards 2025, Mohammed Munim, Founder Member and CEO of ARTA, said “Asian restaurants and takeaways have long played a vital role in the UK’s economy and culture. Their contribution through job creation, community impact, and culinary excellence, deserves to be recognised. Especially in today’s challenging climate, ARTA is proud to champion their achievements and support their continued success. Every nominee is a testament to the industry’s resilience and we look forward to celebrating them on 6th October.”
ARTA 2025 Finalists:
Newcomer of the Year:
Solas-Kitchen, Dalgety Bay, Dunfermline
The Bombay, Swanley
Durbar Spice, Downe, Orpington
MITR Restaurant, Royston
Streetfood Restaurant of the Year:
Punjabi Heaven Restaurant, Roundhay, Leeds
My Delhi Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne
Mr Chaat, Bolton
Zaap Thai Street Food, Nottingham
Japanese Restaurant of the Year:
Wakaze, Leicester
Takayama Restaurant, Ipswich
Maneki Ramen, Worcester
Oishii Japanese Restaurant, Hertford
Asian Fusion Restaurant of the Year:
SIBU, Batley
Mina Steakhouse, Cambridge
Yakitori House, East Kilbride, Glasgow
Wadud’s Fusion of Thai & Indian Restaurant, Cressing, Braintree
Turkish Restaurant of the Year:
ETCI Kitchen, Brighton and Hove, Brighton
Nova Park Royal, London
Troia Southbank, London
SAVCI Turkish Mediterranean, Stopsley, Luton
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Northern Ireland:
Himalayan, Belfast
Indian Ocean Restaurant, Holywood
Nu Delhi Restaurant Lounge, Belfast
Yaks, Bangor
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Scotland:
Firangi, Cambuslang, Glasgow
Masala Twist, Glasgow
Sidhu’s, Perth
Yorokobi by CJ, Aberdeen
Regional Restaurant of the Year – South Wales:
1988 Indian Restaurant, Sully, Penarth
Mango Tree, Cardiff
Rasoi Waterfront, Swansea
Spice Delight, Penarth
Regional Restaurant of the Year – North Wales:
Ijazz Indian Cuisine, Wrexham
Junction Tandoori Restaurant, Llandudno Junction
Spice of Llanberis, Llanberis, Caernarfon
Valley Spice, Corwen
Regional Restaurant of the Year – North West:
Freya’s Grill, Darwen
Thamin, Littleborough
Venus Lounge Restaurant, Heywood
Wild Ginger Restaurant, Littleborough
Regional Restaurant of the Year – North East:
Sachi’s Burley, Burley in Wharfedale, Ilkley
Sherkhan Of Alnwick, Alnwick
Soami’s Trio By Parvin Kumar, Consett
Soho Tavern, Gateshead
Regional Restaurant of the Year – West Midlands:
Bao To The Broth, Hereford
Millennium, Birmingham
Monsoon Majestic Indian Dining, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Newcastle
Tamarind, Balsall Common, Coventry
Regional Restaurant of the Year – East Midlands:
House Boat Restaurant, Derby
Shapla Spice, Ripley
Silchar Indian Dining, Hinckley
Spice Lounge, Brackley
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Hertfordshire:
Dalchini Spice, Shefford
Raj Of India, Welwyn Garden City
Tamarind, Potters Bar
The Cochin Indian Restaurant, Hemel Hempstead
Regional Restaurant of the Year – East Anglia:
Sushi And Salad, Ely
Rose and Mango, Saint Neots
Lowestoft Tandoori, Lowestoft
Shilpa Indian Restaurant, Papworth Everard, Cambridge
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Essex:
Rim Jhim Spice Indian Restaurant, Colchester
Moonlight Tandoori, Harlow
Maharani Indian Restaurant, Colchester
Kelvedon Spice, Kelvedon, Colchester
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Kent:
The Bombay Restaurant, Orpington
Prince of India, Faversham
Indian Valley Restaurant and Takeaway, Orpington
Shozna, Rochester
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Surrey:
Bay Leaves, Epsom
Trishala, Redhill
Rishi’s in Slate & Grain Brasserie and Bar, Hackbridge, Wallington
Coulsdon Spice, Coulsdon
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Sussex:
Akash Indian Restaurant & Takeaway, Horsham
Calcutta 16, Shoreham-by-Sea
Moonstone Sri Lankan Restaurant, Brighton and Hove, Hove
Tamasha, Lindfield, Haywards Heath
Regional Restaurant of the Year – South Central:
Chennai Express, Fleet
Mint Lounge, Southampton
Spice Lounge, Burford
The Paradise Balti House, Petersfield
Regional Restaurant of the Year – South West:
Chilli’s, Weymouth
Indian Queen, Saint Columb
Royal Jaipur, Landford, Salisbury
Salkaara, Henleaze, Bristol
Regional Restaurant of the Year – North London:
Pinos Warung, Chalk Farm, London
Taste of Goa, Finsbury Park, London
Ruhit’s Indian Cuisine, London
Taste of Nawab, London
Regional Restaurant of the Year – City & East London:
Mumbai Square Restaurant, London
The India, London
Bengal Village, London
The Famous Curry Bazaar, London
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Central & West London:
BKC – Biryani Kebab Chai, Tyburnia, London
Durbar Tandoori, London
Maharaja of India, London
Tajmahal Indian Cuisine, London
Regional Restaurant of the Year – South London:
Colombo Kitchen Putney, London
Mumbai Delight, London
Saka Maka Hither Green Indian Restaurant, London
Toba, London
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Scotland:
Slumdog Delivered, Edinburgh
Azaad Takeaway, Invergowrie, Dundee
Gurkha Kitchen, Fraserburgh
A Touch of Spice Takeaway, Coatbridge
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Wales:
The Masala Indian Takeaway, Colwyn Bay
AMK Indian Takeaway, Colwyn Bay
Saffron Kitchen, Pontnewydd, Cwmbran
Paprika Indian Takeaway, Pen-clawdd, Swansea
Regional Takeaway of the Year – North West:
The Maharaja, Stretford, Manchester
Masala Bay, Oldham
Indialicious, Rochdale
River Beal Indian Takeaway, Rochdale
Regional Takeaway of the Year – West Midlands:
Lime Pickle, Birmingham
Little Bengal, Catshill, Bromsgrove
Spice Nation, Hollywood, Birmingham
Village Spice, Telford
Regional Takeaway of the Year – East Midlands:
Miah’s Takeaway, Heanor
SunSushi, Far Cotton, Northampton
Masala Takeaway, Sherwood, Nottingham
Shipon Tandoori, Chesterfield
Regional Takeaway of the Year – East Anglia:
Eastern Spice, Ipswich
Urbanchai, Cambridge
Lime Takeaway, Bury Saint Edmunds
Bhujon Indian & Bangladeshi Takeaway, Tring
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Essex:
The Raj Tandoori, Southend-on-Sea
Kaani Kaana, Chelmsford
Tina’s Kitchen, Gants Hill, Ilford
Balti Night, Braintree
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Hertfordshire:
Aroma, Radlett
Balti Village, Harpenden
Saffron, Borehamwood
ChilliGo, Waltham Cross
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Kent:
A Taste of India, Chatham
Jhal Chilli, Maidstone
Sher E Bangla, Longfield
Mum’s Thai, Chatham
Regional Takeaway of the Year – Surrey:
Rice and Spice, Ewell, Epsom
Purbani, Guildford
Curry Master, Epsom
Jalsha Indian Takeaway, Ashford
Regional Takeaway of the Year – South West:
Mela Indian Takeaway, Montpelier, Bristol
Blue Mango, Taunton
Black Peppers, Bristol
Myra’s Korean and Japanese Restaurant, Dorchester
Regional Takeaway of the Year – South London:
Malabar Feast, London
Nazran’s Indian & Punjabi Cuisine, London
Passage to India Takeaway, Norwood, LondonSamrat, London
Although the UK’s curry industry has been thriving post the pandemic and the BREXIT impact of increasing costs of ingredients, currently contributing £4.5 billion to the economy in 2025, up from £4.2 billion in 2024, recent changes to immigration rules introduced on 22nd July 2025 pose a significant threat to the industry’s future. Under the Home Office’s latest immigration reforms (Statement of Changes HC 997, 22 July 2025), chefs have been entirely removed from all three official hiring lists: the Shortage Occupation List, Temporary Shortage List and General Work Visa List. This move effectively restricts the recruitment of skilled chefs from the Indian Subcontinent, regardless of the salary offered, a big challenge to an industry where approximately 90% of kitchen staff are skilled workers from the Indian Subcontinent. The curry sector was already facing acute labour shortages, with just 9,300 Skilled Worker Visas granted to the entire hospitality sector in 2023 and a staff turnover rate of 52% across hospitality. A 2024 survey by an industry trade publication, Spice Business, found that 88% of Asian restaurant owners were struggling to hire skilled chefs due to rising costs and visa hurdles. With the new immigration rules now in place, the situation has dramatically worsened with an estimated 30–35% of curry restaurants forced to reduce opening hours or close temporarily in the coming months due to staff shortages.