Koyal

I have written previously about the background to Koyal and its talented chef, Nand Kishoor. There was a tasting menu available at £55 per person but we went a la carte tonight. 

Tandoori king prawns were superb, large and beautifully cooked, their natural sweetness balanced by carefully judged spices. I have had many tandoori prawns over the years, but it is hard to recall ones better than this (17/20). The dish “hara pyaaz, aloo and palak ke bhajiye”, is essentially an elevated take on the onion bhajia. The version here is made with spinach, spring onion and potato, fried until crisp and served with hari chutney, a condiment made with coriander, chillies, ginger, mint and lime juice. It is a delight, entirely grease-free and yet by no means dry in texture, bursting with flavour (16/20).

Wild boar vindaloo is a tastier version of the classic South Indian dish pork vindaloo. Wild boar has a deeper flavour than regular pork, and the dish here is as dark and brooding as a matinee idol. The vinegar is in excellent balance, and the spices were carefully judged (17/20). Methi chicken was lovely as ever, the chicken tender and the sauce packed with fresh fenugreek flavour (16/20). Garlic potatoes were lovely, retaining their texture well and having absorbed plenty of garlic in the cooking process (16/20). Both garlic naan and lacha paratha were excellent, both having excellent texture (15/20).

The cost per person was £99 all in, and the service was friendly and welcoming. Koyal is now serving some of the absolute best Indian food in London, even if you ignore the value for money factor here compared to the posh places in Mayfair. Do yourself a favour and make the journey here.

Further reviews: 04th Dec 2025 | 10th Nov 2025 | 18th Sep 2025 | 12th Aug 2025 | 02nd Mar 2025 | 27th Dec 2024 | 06th Dec 2024 | 06th Oct 2024