Asma Khan's acclaimed Netflix-famous Indian eatery

Food that even your mother will appreciate and like... I took my mum, she loved it .

Head over to halalfoodguy.co.uk for the full review of @darjeelingldn where you can get some really nice homecooked style food from a all woman kitchen.

@halalfoodguy's review of Darjeeling Express Covent Garden on Instagram

Darjeeling Express

I had high expectations, as London’s hospitality scene is generally excellent. Given that this restaurant is on the more expensive side and has been featured on Chef’s Table, I expected a higher overall standard.

Some of the dishes were truly spectacular and delicious, and you could clearly feel the effort and creativity coming from the kitchen. Unfortunately, not everything worked for me. The main course was far too salty to eat. I mentioned this to the waiter, but no alternative or compensation was offered.

We were seated at a table right next to the entrance door, which was open most of the time. It was very cold and uncomfortable throughout the evening. Additionally, we were sitting on a bench without cushions, which made the experience even less pleasant. When we asked for a pillow or a blanket, we were told that none were available.

The service was friendly, but rather basic and not at the level I would expect from a restaurant of this reputation and price range.

Despite some excellent food, the overall experience did not meet expectations, and unfortunately I would not return

A must try!!
Incredible food, lots of spices and absolutely scrumptious. The staff was gracious and really recommended good food.
Keema toastie, ma chingri (prawns), chaiiiii, chicken momos  and the rose and cardamom soda are some of the best dishes I tried, and probably something I would recommend. What I really loved bout the food was it had not toned down the heat and spice that Indian food is rich in, something I've noticed in most Indian restaurants in London.

P.s keema toastie for the win :)

Beautiful food, homely flavours. My favourite was the Keema toasties, just melted in the mouth. The Dhal was also delicious and served in a cute mini teapot. I gave 4stars as the Masala chai was too peppery. Otherwise I will definitely be back 😁

Disappointing experience — not worth the hype

Went here on Pujo weekend after having already tried Chourangi, and honestly, I was underwhelmed after looking forward to it for so long. The menu isn’t entirely Bengali — why are there so many toastie options? The kosha mangsho was under-seasoned and had an odd stench. The prawn malaikari was decent but nothing special. The parathas felt amateur — Bengalis make far better ones at home.

The most disappointing dish was the papri chaat: only five papris with minimal toppings and what tasted like store-bought tamarind chutney. It looked sad and tasted worse — the least wholesome version of papri chaat I’ve ever had. The bhapa doi portion was also tiny, lacking the richness and generosity the dish deserves.

Overall, the menu missed key Bengali classics, and the whole experience lacked authenticity — especially after all the storytelling and media coverage. The back of the menu claims to serve food that “touches your soul,” but unfortunately, they broke that promise. I’d pick Chourangi over this any day.

As a proud Bengali, it’s disheartening to see our food misrepresented in taste, texture, and abundance. Our mothers work too hard in their kitchens for there to be a world where people pay this much for such mediocre Bengali food.

Decent Indian food but I cannot justify the price for the quality/quantity. We got the prix fixe menu and still paid twice as much compared to getting a la carte at Dishoom. The chaat was way too saucy and the courgette paratha was mediocre. We only had 2 small pieces to work with. Simple garlic naan would’ve been better to pair with the curries. The desserts were quite sweet and small in portion size. Drinks were subpar as well. Overall, would not recommend coming here with so many other great Indian restaurants available in London.

Halal Status for Darjeeling Express Covent Garden