Harden's survey result
Summary
This Honor Oak Park institution “celebrated its well-deserved 40th anniversary” over the last year and “continues to provide some of the best Indian cooking in London” – it “looks and to an extent feels like a neighbourhood curry house, but the food is in another league”, with diners travelling from beyond southeast London to sample chef Jiwan Lal’s cuisine. They get a warm welcome, too (“I’ve been a regular customer for over 25 years and am greeted like an old friend”). Top Tips – “the good-value Sunday lunch buffet is well worth a trek”; “Swordfish tikka with a well-balanced radish pickle; Champaran mutton curry with excellent quality meat; Mango creme brulee with a very delicate crust”.
Summary
“Love having such a unique Indian locally” – this “culinary stalwart of South East London is still going strong after nearly 40 years”. “Staff welcome you like an old friend” and chef Jiwan Lal’s cuisine is “at least as good as that of the West End’s fine dining establishments”, in the view of many locals; and “magnificent value for this level of cooking”. Top Tip – “good value buffet on the weekends”.
Summary
To its many fans, this “small place” off the gastronomic track in Honor Oak Park “remains the best Indian in South London”, and its “engaging staff” delivering “very different food with panache and skill”, “after almost 40 years”. “Unless you’re local, it’s not entirely easy to get to, but it’s well worthy of a journey.”
Summary
“The deft flavours of fine Indian dining” at this “Honor Oak stalwart” have induced discerning diners to “make the awkward trip” to SE23 for almost 40 years now. “The place maintains its standards” and has a credible claim on being “the best Indian in southeast London” thanks to its “exciting” dishes, “excellent” service and “elegant” interior.
For 35 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Babur?
119 Brockley Rise, London, SE23 1JP
Restaurant details
Babur Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Offers the most interesting Indian cooking in the area, though a tilt toward fine dining trades a bit of soul for elusive tyreman Star dust. It felt safe rather than exciting. Cooking technique on their 41st Anniversary tasting menu was very good, making good use of the fresh ingredients. Whilst flavours were distinct, hit-you-in-the-chest flavours that can make Indian food deeply memorable felt muted. Partly due to a prevalent use of dairy without real counterpoint. What the kitchen held back on depth, it made up for in breadth of texture and wel concieved plating. A stunning coral cake was one of the prettiest dishes placed in front of me in some time. The concise wine pairing was good but again felt safe and text book. Smart wood panelling gives the narrow space a genuinely upmarket feel. Service for a solo diner felt curiously cool, lacking the warmth given to surrounding tables."
"Delicious"
"Incredible layers of spice and flavour"
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £23.95 |  |
|
 |
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 63.95 | Always available | 5 |
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £8.10 | £21.20 | £6.95 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £31.50 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.95 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £3.25 |
| Service | 12.50% |
119 Brockley Rise, London, SE23 1JP
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm |
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