ASIAN RESTAURANT AND TAKEAWAY AWARDS (ARTA) 2026 ANNOUNCES THE TOP TEN SHORTLISTS ACROSS THE NATION’S ASIAN RESTAURANTS AND TAKEAWAYS

Annual Award Ceremony, known as the “Oscars of the Curry Industry” to Honour the UK’s Top Asian Restaurants

The top ten shortlisted Asian restaurants and takeaways across UK regions have been announced for the annual Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards (ARTA) 2026, the UK’s most prestigious celebration of Pan-Asian cuisine, with winners set to be revealed on Monday 12 October 2026 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

The annual awards, known as the “Oscars of the Curry Industry”, recognise excellence across the UK’s thriving Asian hospitality sector, celebrating the chefs, restaurateurs and entrepreneurs who continue to raise standards across the industry despite increasingly difficult trading conditions.

ARTA 2026 has attracted over 1250 nominations from diners across the UK, demonstrating the continuing popularity of Asian cuisine and the important role independent restaurants and takeaways play within communities nationwide. All nominations have come through ChefOnline, ARTA’s strategic partner and one of the UK’s leading platforms connecting diners to Asian restaurants and takeaways. Leveraging its national customer base of over a million, ChefOnline helped drive strong nationwide participation in the awards. In addition to public nominations, the selection process drew on social media engagement, Food Hygiene Ratings, and verified customer reviews, providing a broader picture of each business’s reputation, quality, and customer satisfaction.

However, this year’s awards come at a pivotal moment for the hospitality industry, as despite continued customer demand, restaurants across the UK are facing one of the most challenging economic environments in decades. Rising National Living Wage costs; higher employer National Insurance contributions; increasing food prices; elevated utility bills; and reduced business rates relief have significantly increased operating costs for independent hospitality businesses. Industry leaders warn that many restaurants are now operating on increasingly tight margins while continuing to invest in quality, while trying their best not to compromise on staff development and customer experience.

Asian restaurants and takeaways remain one of the UK’s greatest hospitality success stories, contributing billions of pounds annually to the economy while employing tens of thousands of people and enriching the UK’s diverse food culture. Yet many operators say sustained financial pressures continue to threaten the long-term sustainability of independent businesses that have served local communities for generations.

Speaking about the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards 2026, Mohammed Munim, Founder Member and CEO of ARTA, said “Congratulations to every restaurant and takeaway that has earned a place in the ARTA 2026 Regional Top 10. Being shortlisted is a remarkable achievement and reflects the passion, resilience and dedication of the businesses that continue to set the standard for Asian hospitality across the United Kingdom.

Independent hospitality is facing unprecedented challenges, with rising employment costs, inflation and increasing overheads continuing to place enormous pressure on businesses across the country. Yet despite these difficulties, Asian restaurants and takeaways remain at the heart of communities, creating jobs, preserving culinary traditions and making a significant contribution to the UK’s hospitality industry and wider economy.

ARTA was founded to celebrate excellence and recognise the individuals and businesses shaping the future of Asian hospitality. We look forward to welcoming our Regional Top 10 finalists to the Grand Finale on Monday 12 October 2026 at the London Hilton on Park Lane, where we will celebrate their achievements and crown this year’s national winners.”

From the prestigious Pan Asian Restaurant of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Takeaway of the Year, Turkish Restaurant of the Year, Street Food Restaurant of the Year and National Newcomer of the Year, ARTA 2026 will once again honour the outstanding individuals and businesses shaping the future of Asian dining in the UK.

ChefOnline is the ARTA 2026 Strategic Partner; DNA Payments, Super Pollo, Work Permit Cloud and Cobra Beer are Associate Sponsors; Finology Finance Brokers, Square Mile Insurance and NRB Bank are Gold Partners. ARTA 2026 is also proudly supported by Cambridge Regional College as its Skill Partner.

Following are the ARTA 2026 shortlisted Top 10 Restaurants and Takeaways in the regional category awards.

ARTA 2026 Shortlisted Top Ten Restaurants and Takeaways:
Regional Restaurant of the Year – Northern Ireland
Bangla, Bangor
India Gate, Belfast
Indian Ocean Restaurant, Holywood
Mama Masala, Glengormley, Newtownabbey
Nu Delhi Restaurant Lounge, Belfast
Panjab Indian Restaurant, Carryduff, Belfast
Spice, Lisburn
Spice Lounge, Armagh
The Taaj, Magherafelt
Yaks, Bangor

Regional Restaurant of the Year – Scotland
Cafe Oregano, Aberdeen
Eastern Pavilion, Corstorphine, Edinburgh
Gurkha Kitchen, Ellon
Mekong, East Kilbride, Glasgow
Monsoona Healthy Indian Cuisine, Aberdeen
Mythri Fine Indian Cuisine, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen
Shahbaaz Tandoori, Aberdeen
Taste Of India, Rosyth, Dunfermline
The Lansdowne, Glasgow
Yakitori House, East Kilbride, Glasgow

Regional Restaurant of the Year – South Wales
1988 Indian Restaurant, Sully, Penarth
Brewery Field Street Food Restaurant, Bridgend
Elaichi, St Clears, Carmarthen
Indian Empire, Caldicot
Manjeera Indian Street Food, Pontypridd
My Indian, Ammanford
Raj Kitchen, Swansea
Rose Indienne, Swansea
Sheesh Mahal, Llanelli
The Grand Sultan, Margam, Port Talbot

Regional Restaurant of the Year – North Wales
Anise Restaurant, Wrexham
Benllech Tandoori Restaurant, Benllech, Brynteg
Blue Elephant Indian Restaurant, Llandudno
Ijazz Indian Cuisine, Wrexham
Jai Ho Restaurant, Deganwy, Conwy
Pwllheli Tandoori Restaurant, Pwllheli
Sima Tandoori, Porthmadog
Spice of Llanberis, Llanberis, Caernarfon
Thisha Curry House, Rhyl
Valley Spice, Corwen

Regional Restaurant of the Year – North West
Akshaya – The Picture Drome, Liverpool
Anatolia Bar & Kitchen, Chorley
East4West Indian Restaurant and Takeaway, Blackpool
Junoon, Helsby, Frodsham
Kiyans Restaurant, Cross Roads, Keighley
Mowgli Street Food, Liverpool
Rokka Cocktail Bar & Grill, Urmston, Manchester
Shimla Spice, Worsley, Manchester
Vaspian Lounge and Dining, Platt Bridge, Wigan
White Tiger Restaurant, Keel Wharf, Kings Docks, Liverpool

Regional Restaurant of the Year – North East
Babaji, Sunderland
Babul’s, Darlington
Black Cardamom, Thirsk
Jolsha, Marton-in-Cleveland, Middlesbrough
Lal Qila, Cramlington
My Delhi Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne
Soho Tavern, Kibblesworth, Gateshead
The Vine Indian Cuisine, Mosborough, Sheffield
Yuvraaj Restaurant, Sunderland
Zeera Indian Cuisine, South Shields

Regional Restaurant of the Year – West Midlands
Alessi Indian Restaurant & Bar, Audley, Stoke-on-Trent
Bengal 30Five, Castle Vale, Birmingham
Blue Elephant Indian Restaurant, Telford
Jalali Indian Restaurant, Tamworth
Kolshi Premier Indian Restaurant, Wellesbourne, Warwick
Mavi Mediterranean Turkish Grill Restaurant, Kenilworth
Namaste Dine, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
Spice Heaven Indian Restaurant Takeaway, Whitchurch
The Royale Dosa, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham
Tikka Town, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham

Regional Restaurant of the Year – East Midlands
Aramintas, Northampton
Crispy Dosa, Bedford
Grand Sultan, Milton Keynes
House Boat Restaurant, Derby
Jomidar Lounge, Creaton, Northampton
Koinonia South Indian Restaurant, Newark
Spices of Paradise, Harrold, Bedford
The Derby Spice, Derby
The Realm, Northampton
Zaap Thai Street Food, Nottingham

Regional Restaurant of the Year – Hertfordshire
Abbots Tandoori, Abbots Langley
Aroma Lounge, Hatfield
Cumin Bar & Restaurant, Turnford, Broxbourne
Ginger Bar & Restaurant, Hertford
Mint Leaf, Bishop’s Stortford
MITR Restaurant, Royston
Nouvellè Lounge, St Albans
Raj of India, Welwyn Garden City
The Banc, Enfield
The Cochin Indian Restaurant, Hemel Hempstead

Regional Restaurant of the Year – East Anglia
Cafe Masala, Bishop’s Stortford
Curry Palace, Cottenham, Cambridge
Golpo Bengal Cafe & Restaurant, Cambridge
Jomidar Mahal, Littleport, Cambridge
Lalbagh Bangladeshi & Indian Diner, Bourn, Cambridge
Lowestoft Tandoori, Lowestoft
Namaste Village, Cambridge
Pipasha, Cambridge
Taste Of India, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich
Zara Indian Cuisine, Great Shelford, Cambridge

Regional Restaurant of the Year – Essex
Arugam Bay, Chelmsford
Banana Tree, Chelmsford
Coggeshall Spice, Coggeshall, Colchester
Enigma Pan Asian, Ilford
Kelvedon Spice, Kelvedon, Colchester
Kusturi Indian Restaurant, Colchester
Malaya, South Benfleet
Moonlight Tandoori, Harlow
Pakwaan Indian Punjabi Cuisine, Writtle, Chelmsford
Tanishq Restaurant & Bar, Toot Hill, Ongar

Regional Restaurant of the Year – Kent
Cinnamon Spice, Ashford
Durbar Spice, Downe, Orpington
Indian Valley Restaurant and Takeaway, St Paul’s Cray, Orpington
Izmir Restaurant, Kingston, Milton Keynes
Mughal Dynasty, Maidstone
Rai Woburn, Woburn, Milton Keynes
Spice Lounge, Faversham
Spice Village Indian Restaurant and Takeaway, New Ash Green, Longfield
The Bombay Restaurant, Green Street Green, Orpington
Turmeric Twist, Ashford

Regional Restaurant of the Year – Surrey
Bay Leaves Restaurant, Ewell, Epsom
Kanteen, Wallington
Madol Doova, Wallington
New Anarkali Indian Restaurant & Takeaway, Molesey,  East Molesey
New Khyber Restaurant, Kingswood, Tadworth
Panahar – Bangladeshi & Indian Cuisine, South Croydon
Rishi’s in Slate & Grain Brasserie and Bar, Hackbridge, Wallington
Spice Lounge, Mytchett, Camberley
The Rajdoot, Guildford
Trishala – Authentic Indian Restaurant, Redhill

Regional Restaurant of the Year – Sussex
Calcutta 16, Shoreham-by-Sea
Darchini, Horsham
Eastern Eye, Sandown
Indian Summer, Brighton and Hove, Brighton
Namaste Punjab, Chichester
Roochi Indian Restaurant, Forest Row
Tamarind Indian Restaurant, Newport, Isle of Wight
Tamasha, Handcross, Haywards Heath
The Golden Peacock, Brighton and Hove, Brighton
Thyme & Chillies, Chichester

Regional Restaurant of the Year – South Central
Curry Cave, Newbury
Haweli, Twyford, Reading
Jalpari of Woodley, Woodley, Reading
Maneke Sri Lankan Restaurant, Wooburn Green, High Wycombe
Radhuni Lounge Restaurant, Princes Risborough
Royal Nawaab, London
Spice 87 Indian Restaurant & Takeaway, Totton, Southampton
Spice Merchants, Southsea, Portsmouth
Sundarban Tandoori, Greenford
The Royal Sun, Begbroke, Kidlington

Regional Restaurant of the Year – South West
Bombil, Bedminster Parade, Bristol
Drgnfly Pan Asian Restaurant, Poole
Ikanji Japanese Restaurant, Weston-super-Mare
Kottu Hut, Cotham, Bristol
Maha-Bharat Indian Restaurant & Takeaway, Torquay
Mattancherry, Taunton, Somerset 

Paprika, Bristol
Royal Daawat, Ringwood
Sarthi, Upper Weston, Bath
Two Chefs Indian Restaurant, Weston-super-Mare

Regional Restaurant of the Year – North London
Bonzai London Restaurant & Lounge, London
Enfes Ocakbasi, Enfield, London
JM Oriental, London
No5 Dining & Lounge, London
Pinos Warung, Chalk Farm, London
Ruhit’s Indian Cuisine, London
Sanjugo Angel, London
Taste of Goa, Finsbury Park, London
Taste of Nawab, London
The Rajdoot, London

Regional Restaurant of the Year – East London
Amber Leaf London Restaurant, London
Café Adda, London
City Spice, Brick Lane, London
Grand Rasoi Restaurant, London
Masala Restaurant, Brick Lane, London
Mumbai Square, London
Nécco, Exmouth Market, London
The Empress Indian, London
The Indian Brasserie, London
Udaya Kerala Restaurant, London

Regional Restaurant of the Year – South London
Baluchi, London
Coco Grill & Lounge, Shad Thames, London
Gandhi’s, London
Gulmi Bar & Restaurant, London
Himalayan Kitchen, London
Kachori, Elephant Park, London
Pure Indian Cooking, London
Saka Maka, London
Shad Indian Restaurant, London
Turkuaz Restaurant, London

Regional Restaurant of the Year – Central & West London
Biryani Kebab Chai, London
Bombay Palace, London
Colonel Saab, London
Haweli of Ealing, London
Madhu’s of Mayfair, London
Maharaja of India, London
Mayha, London
Monkey Temple, London
Tajmahal Indian Cuisine, London
Tokri Restaurant, London

Regional Takeaway of the Year – Scotland
Alford Tandoori Takeaway, Alford
Azaad Takeaway, Invergowrie, Dundee
Bonnie Bhaji, Invergordon
Curry Hoose, Culloden, Inverness
Golden City, Ayr
Gurkha Kitchen, Fraserburgh
Padi, East Kilbride, Glasgow
Shanaz, Edinburgh
Sky Dragon, Drumchapel, Glasgow
The Balti Cottage, Alness

Regional Takeaway of the Year – West Midlands
Baabzi Indian, Warwick
Calcutta Kitchen, Nuneaton
Cheadle Spice, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent
Lime Pickle, Birmingham
Mahim Indian Takeaway, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury
Penn Balti, Wolverhampton
Red Chillies, Bedworth
Spice Fusion, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent
Spice Nation, Hollywood, Birmingham
Village Spice, Telford

Regional Takeaway of the Year – East Anglia
Cam Spice, Bar Hill, Cambridge
Eastern Spice, Ipswich
Indian Flavours, Norwich
Indian Village, Ipswich
Lime Takeaway, Bury St Edmunds
Mr Korai Indian Takeaway, Ipswich
Raj Bengal, Biggleswade
Renu’s Indian & Bangladeshi Takeaway, Cambridge
Star Tandoori, Stanground, Peterborough
Urbanchai, Cambridge

Regional Takeaway of the Year – Essex
Balti Night, Braintree
CROWN OF INDIA, Loughton
Curry Tree, Stanford-le-Hope
IMI’S Spice Kitchen, Southend-on-Sea
Kaani Kaana, Upminster
Panghat, Hornchurch
Pink Chilliz, Canvey Island
Pink Garlic, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford
The Raj Tandoori, Southend-on-Sea
The Royal Rasoi, Southend-on-Sea

Regional Takeaway of the Year – Sussex
Curry Master, Eastbourne
Eshna’s Nutrition, Worthing
Hastings Spice, Hastings, Saint Leonards-on-Sea
Horsham Tandoori, Horsham
Kismet Tandoori, Brighton and Hove, Hove
Mon’s Massala, Hastings
New India Garden, Bognor Regis
Tasty Bites, Hampden Park, Eastbourne
Tulsi Tandoori, Brighton and Hove, Hove
Wild Mango, Burgess Hill

Regional Takeaway of the Year – East Midlands
Ayaans Indian Takeaway, Earl Shilton, Leicester
Burton Spice, Lincoln
Chillies Indian Takeaway, Scunthorpe
Curry Royal, Loughborough
Home Curries, Branston, Lincoln
Jeera Indian Takeaway, Chesterfield
Old Delhi, Littleover, Derby
Rikshaw, Sherwood, Nottingham
Shipon Tandoori, Chesterfield
SunSushi, Far Cotton, Northampton

Regional Takeaway of the Year – North West
Billinge Spice, Billinge, Wigan
Bombay Cuisine, Prestwich, Manchester
Bradshaw Tandoori, Bolton
Chutney Massala, Wilmslow
Marhaba Take Away, Manchester
Naseeb Indian Take Away, Euxton, Chorley
Redfood Takeaway, Newton, Hyde
River Beal Takeaway, Milnrow, Rochdale
Tandoori Flames Indian Takeaway, Littleborough
The Maharajaa, Stretford, Manchester

Regional Takeaway of the Year – South Wales
Badsha’s Indian and Grill, Pembroke Dock
Chilli Express Indian Takeaway, Newport
Chilli Lounge, Pontarddulais, Swansea
Garlic Authentic Indian and Bangladeshi Takeaway, Griffithstown, Pontypool
Kalimirch, Barry
Mirchi Indian Takeaway, Newport
Raj Balti, Bridgend
Saffron Kitchen, Cwmbran
Spice Fusion, Cardiff
Townhill Tandoori, Cockett, Swansea

Regional Takeaway of the Year – North Wales
Bengal Village, Saint Asaph
Chaat, Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Spice Hut, Old Colwyn, Colwyn Bay
Fullaflavourz, Rhyl
Happy Valley, Penygroes, Caernarfon
Jalsa, Conwy
Red Chilli, Abergele
Rhos Tandoori Indian Takeaway, Rhos on Sea, Colwyn Bay
Taste Of India, Wrexham
The Masala Indian Takeaway, Colwyn Bay

Regional Takeaway of the Year – Hertfordshire
71 St Albans, St Albans
Aroma, Radlett
Bengal Spices, Hatfield
Chef Express, St Albans
ChilliGo, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross
City Spice, St Albans
Methi, Hitchin
Saffron, Borehamwood
The Village Spice, Park Street, St Albans
Tikka Masala, Welwyn Garden City

Regional Takeaway of the Year – Kent
Biriyana, East Malling, West Malling
Bombay 2 Bromley, Bromley
Jhal Chilli, Maidstone
Mahan Indian Takeaway, Joydens Wood, Bexley
Masum’s, Gravesend
MoKitchen, Broughton, Milton Keynes
Sher E Bangla, Longfield
Spice Fusion, Tunbridge Wells
Taste of India, Minster on Sea, Sheerness
Zeran Indian Takeaway, Maidstone

Regional Takeaway of the Year – North East
Balti Hut Indian Takeaway, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough
Indian Fusion, Beeston, Leeds
Little India, Darlington
Little India Takeaway, Barugh Green, Barnsley
Miah’s Spice, Gildersome, Leeds
Swaad, Sunderland
The Balti, Hartlepool
The Indian Cottage, Crook
Wilsden Balti & Tandoori, Wilsden, Bradford
Wok India Newcastle, High Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne

Regional Takeaway of the Year – South West
Chutneys, Salisbury
Curry Express, Cheltenham
Curry Hut, Cheltenham
Indian Kitchen, Taunton
Kasundi, Redfield, Bristol
Kottu Hut Grab And Go, St Paul’s, Bristol
Masala Master, Horfield, Bristol
Mela Indian Takeaway, Montpelier, Bristol
Rogan Josh, Cheltenham
Spice Express Indian Takeaway, Bristol

Regional Takeaway of the Year – South Central
Alamin Tandoori Takeaway, Reading
Azeem Indian Takeaway, Abingdon
Bengal Spice Indian Takeaway, Thatcham
Cosham Balti House, Drayton, Portsmouth
Indian Summer, Park Gate, Southampton
Jaipur Express, Hythe, Southampton
Mahee Tandoori, Abingdon
Nawabi Takeaway, Headington, Oxford
Paanchi, Fratton, Portsmouth
Paprika Indian Takeaway, Reading