Chokhi Dhani Nine Elms

Stunning restaurant in the heart of Battersea. Gorgeous architecture design on the outside. We went a while ago for an anniversary dinner. Whilst food was good and presented beautifully, we were bitterly disappointed when staff refused to allow us to take our leftovers with us when we left. Clearly food waste is not an issue for them even though as customers we paid a high price. The reason why it was surprising was because we have been to more higher end, Michelin star restaurants that have allowed us to take food back with us. Willing to give it another shot in the future but not any time soon.

I recently visited Chokhi Dhani London, and the experience was a mix of highs and lows — some aspects were enjoyable, but several were disappointing enough to temper the overall experience. Starting with the food, about half of the dishes were genuinely good, with the sev tanatar standing out as crisp, flavorful, and well-executed. The chicken, unfortunately, was merely decent — not the best I’ve had in London, and certainly not up to the authentic Rajasthani flavors I expected. Coming from Rajasthan, it felt surprisingly underwhelming compared to other restaurants in the city that have captured the region’s signature taste far better. Service was another mixed bag, but unfortunately leaned more toward the negative. Staff were not particularly welcoming; a simple smile would have helped, yet basic attentiveness — like ensuring water and plates were brought on time — was inconsistent. On top of that, the team felt pushy about ordering extra dishes rather than providing a genuinely customer-friendly experience from the start. I haven’t encountered this anywhere else, let alone at a Rajasthani restaurant, which should ideally set the gold standard for hospitality. The thali policy was another major frustration. At £40, the thali is non-refillable, very large (over 1,000 calories), and simply too much for one person to finish comfortably. Sharing is not allowed — a detail nowhere mentioned on the online menu — which feels misleading and inconvenient. To make matters worse, staff actively encouraged us to order additional dishes even though we had already ordered a thali plus three extra dishes for five people. The insistence on “one thali per person” struck me as unnecessarily rigid, especially when the portion is fixed and the risk of food waste is high. Overall, the visit was a very mixed experience: a few standout dishes like the sev tanatar, some average ones like the chicken, and service that felt inconsistent, impersonal, and at times pushy. Combined with rigid policies and a lack of transparency, it made the experience more frustrating than enjoyable. With better hospitality, clearer communication, and a more flexible approach, Chokhi Dhani London has the potential to offer a truly memorable Rajasthani dining experience — something the cuisine and culture richly deserve.

Had dinner here and the food was pretty decent—flavours were enjoyable, and the staff were friendly and helpful. However, I was quite disappointed with the takeaway experience. I ordered dal baati to go and didn’t check the quantity before leaving the restaurant. For £20, the portion size was disproportionately small and left me really disappointed. Definitely not value for money on that front.