Charcoals in Glasgow City

Went on Saturday 07/12/24.hadnt booked Waiters manner was impatient and rude Asked for jug of water he said they didn't do jugs of water .got glasses instead. We wanted to pay separately for food again he seemed irrated told us 1 of us to pay and settle up with the other .left feeling disappointed 😞 it was like waiter had pmt Think he should have stayed in bed 🛌.

There are so many indian restaurants in Glasgow's Merchant City. A hard choice as most of them are very good. I can add another to the list now. This was my first visit to the excellent "charcoals" in Trongate. I am sure the owners must have been pleased to see our party of 9 on a quiet and freezing Tuesday night as their bill was £265. The food was excellent.Many restaurants have started skimping or charging for accompanying dips etc for poppadums and pakora starters.Not the case at charcoals.Everything was presented as you would wish it to be.Waiters were efficient and friendly.Presentation and quality of food was first class There were too many dishes to comment on in detail. (See pics) My Aloo gobi was very tasty with whole baby potatoes A very pleasant dining experience. Thanks to all those involved who made it so.

the waiters were tremendously helpful, generous and polite. food was amazing and huge portions!

Food was good, service was spot on, it was very quite when we visited

the onions the biryani was burnt, leaving a unpleasant taste

Charcoals has been a go-to over several years now from when it was just a little narrow restaurant for a quick and cheap lunch time deal into a bigger, lovely restaurant. The service is top notch. Ali and the team are always on the ball and very attentive. Never a problem had. The food is delicious! Do yourself a favour and get the vegetable pakora - it’s melt in the mouth stuff. Terrific. So is the chicken pakora. Even little things like the sauces, the pickled chutney, spiced onions etc. it’s all very much on point! The Naan breads are more round and thick, different to what you’re maybe used to in other restaurants but they’re excellent whether it be plain, garlic or peshwari (peshwari btw! :-P) Even the little spicy one they sometimes kindly give you on the house is just as good. The curries are always great. The South Indian garlic chilli chicken was a little more tomato-ey in taste and texture than it usually is but still thoroughly enjoyable. Lamb Bhoona, Butter Chicken, Jaipuri, Rogan Josh - whatever it is, you will not be disappointed.

Really friendly service and food 2nd to none 👍

Excellent service good food Highly recommended 👌

Very kind staff, excellent food. They squeezed us in even though we didn’t have a booking, and let us take away the leftovers in boxes. Wheelchair friendly if you’re able to call in advance.

top notch again from one of Glasgow's best!

Food is fantastic and the service was top tier. We came with a group of 6 and the servers went above and beyond. Definitely worth the visit. Would highly recommend

I’ve been to Charcoals a few times now, and every visit has been a great experience. The staff are always friendly and attentive, making you feel welcomed right from the start. What really stands out, though, is the food. It’s consistently exceptional—every dish is full of flavor and beautifully prepared. Whether you’re trying something new or sticking with a favorite, the quality never wavers. I’ll definitely be returning soon and would highly recommend this place to anyone who has the opportunity to visit. You won’t be disappointed!

Went specifically to this restaurant as I had it recommended as it has gluten free options. The majority of the menu is gluten free and the staff were so helpful. We hadn't ordered starters but got gf veg pakora to try and it was delicious, the batter was light and filling was lovely. I had fish tandoori which was filled with flavour. It was a large portion and I was gutted I couldn't finish it all! They also serve gluten free chapatis which I was excited about and they didn't disappoint. They aren't large so order 2! Would love to come back to try more on the menu.

Food is quite spicy for westeners that are not used to spicy food. Or in other words, its perfect authentic food for starting into indian cuisine.

I ate very well, cheap, fast and pleasant and smiling staff 😊

Where do I even begin? It’s one of the best experiences we had. The staff are super attentive, caring, and considerate. They anticipated our needs even before we asked. The portions of food are more than generous, we can eat this meal many times! Highly recommended for a cozy meal with loved ones :)

First time visitor, and it won’t be my last. The staff were super friendly and attentive, and nothing was a problem. Ali was a gentleman. The food was also excellent, so overall a great place to visit.

The best Indian restaurant I’ve ever been to. Incredible atmosphere. Super comfortable and yet stylish booth like seating, bright clean. Absolutely amazing staff, super professional and friendly and waiting on your every need. Bringing dishes at perfect timing. Never had to wait. The food was simply divine. Everything from starter of poppadams with such incredible selection of sauces and chutneys some of which I’ve never tried before, simply an amazing culinary experience. Everything was just absolutely delicious and my personal favorite was the chicken vindaloo with garlic naan. Amazing place and we will keep coming back. Also there’s a very convenient parking building just around the corner.

Amazing food with excellent service. Given a few free items of food and drink out of courtesy. Amazing restaurant, definitely recommended.

As regular visitors to this place, we just would like to say that the service, hospitality, vibe and food is outstanding and it’s always our great pleasure to come and dine here. Ali is always at the door ready to welcome us and the warm atmosphere and tasty smells from the kitchen really do inspire us to always try something new! Definitely a place to visit especially if you are hungry as the portions are generous! Thank you again and again!

Great food, but what really stood out was the service. The staff were really friendly and attentive without ever getting in the way, and they gave us a bunch of freebie side dishes. I don't think I've ever felt so full.

Biryani is authentic and tasty, mix grill is okay but drinks and vibe of the place are great!

Best curry in Glasgow, delicious. Staff are very friendly and always go the extra mile.

Karen and I recently dined at Charcoal, and we thoroughly enjoyed our experience. The food, service, and ambiance were exceptional. Muhammad Sultan, also known as Ali, the manager, provided service that exceeded our expectations. We ordered the following dishes: Chicken Pakora Onion Bhaji (On the house from the Charcoal team) Chicken Tikka Tandoori Special Dum Biryani with Medium Curry Sauce Naan Bread Cobra beer The Chicken Tikka Tandoori was perfectly charred, and the meat was incredibly succulent. The Chicken Pakora stood out as it was not overly battered; instead, it featured a light, crisp homemade batter that was delightful. The Dum Biryani was the star of the show, offering a generous portion that provided excellent value for money. Karen was particularly impressed with the Naan Bread, declaring it one of the best she has ever tasted and stating she would return just for that! We were pleasantly surprised with a complimentary Onion Bhaji, which was crispy on the outside and wonderfully soft inside—a thoughtful gesture from Ali and the team. To complement our meal, I enjoyed a large bottle of Cobra beer, which was the perfect choice. Fair warning, the food does pack some heat, so be ready for a spicy treat—haha! Overall, it has been some time since we’ve had such excellent Indian food. We took our time and felt well looked after by the attentive staff. We highly recommend Charcoal to anyone in town craving Indian cuisine. Do stop by and experience this wonderful establishment for yourself!

Another fabulous lunch ..food was excellent, service was wonderful and friendly. Best in town.

This was my first time to eat from Charcoals. The food was good but the meal I ordered didn’t taste anything like what I’m used to have. Rogan Josh is usually spicier and has a strong distinguished flavour. Overall I’ll give the food experience 7/10 I was just not happy with one thing there. As soon as I stepped in and asked for a table, I was told that they’ll need the table back in 50 mins. I’ve never came across such a think before unless if it’s a place where you have to pre-book a table and there’s a long waiting list. There were only 3 occupied tables when I arrived and they all left before finishing my meals. It might be a thing there, maybe to limit your stay, but I think it should only happen in busy hours.

The Sikh guy is rude. Stale chicken served. They almost don't want you to ask questions.

Staff are very friendly and attentive. The food is exquisite and plenty of it even for the pre theatre menu. My favourite curry is a lamb chasni and this is the best I've tasted.

Staff are very friendly and attentive. The food is exquisite and plenty of it even for the pre theatre menu. My favourite curry is a lamb chasni and this is the best I've tasted.

Great fresh food. The chicken was possibly a little pink? Great daal. A bit more expensive than other places. Good overall.

Got a curry to takeaway it was the worst curry I have ever had it was like drinking oil and the samosas was not what she ordered it had undercooked chock pees and no chijen in it again coverd in oil The chips was soggy and undercooked avoid or go if you like oil for a curry

Got a curry to takeaway it was the worst curry I have ever had it was like drinking oil and the samosas was not what she ordered it had undercooked chock pees and no chijen in it again coverd in oil The chips was soggy and undercooked avoid or go if you like oil for a curry

Food was phenomenal and the service was absolutely top class, had a great time and will be back 10000/5 stars

It did not arrive. I waited....

Everything was perfect chicken tikka chasney was 10/10

Food excellent taste and good sized portions. Ali and his team attentive as ever, without being in your face. A great night out with work colleagues and as always, I will definitely be back. I’ve been a regular to Charcoals, although mainly in their previous Renfield Street restaurant, for about fifteen years. If you haven’t been you need to give it a try and you’ll see why they win as many awards.

Went to a random place from the street to drink a coffe. We didnt have any service. Only serves guests who order food. They didnt have full house so i cant understand that policy. After this i dont think its worth a try.

the food was very delicious and the service very kind :) Would come back everytime

Grabbing a takeaway for our apartment round the corner - supremely friendly service and a complimentary pakora to go with the order while I wait (along with complimentary soft drinks - Ali is a lovely man!). I wrote the start of this while waiting for the takeaway with the plan to write the rest once I'd (hopefully!) enjoyed the food. Absolutely amazing food. I associate Glasgow with great meals and this was the best of the weekend plus. The chicken jaipuri was well balanced, with the chicken soft and fresh, and a wonderful mix of peppers and mushrooms. Excellent naan also. Competing for my favourite Glasgow curry.

Chacoals the best chicken puri I have tasted. Food in here is superb and they will make it to suit your taste just talk to them they are very knowledgeable. Lunch menu is superb value and all the staff are great. P.S they do great charity work

Amazing value for money. The food exceeded any expectations and the service was impeccable. We went there twice on holiday and each time it was more than delicious. The service was great even giving us freebies to our orders and beeing very polite and understanding for people who might not know what some words mean. Would definitely go more often if I am ever in Glasgow again.

The food is fabulous, portions are huge, and the service is great. Our second time here, there will be a third time, thank you.

Best Indian food I have ever eaten. Stuff is awesomely nice and polite. If you are visiting Glasgow you have to visit this restaurant.

Great food and warm friendly service from Ali. Two courses for £10.95 , was a bargain, and food was very nice, be back for sure !!

I must say, it was an outstanding experience from start to finish! The service was amazing; the staff was attentive, friendly, and made us feel right at home. Now, let’s talk about the food—it was even better! Each dish was bursting with flavor, and you could tell that fresh ingredients were used. I particularly enjoyed chasni, which was a highlight of the meal. The prices were incredibly reasonable for the generous portions we received, making it a fantastic value for the quality of food and service. We even received a free drink at the end! Overall, I left feeling really happy and satisfied. I highly recommend Charcoals for anyone looking for a delicious Indian meal. I can't wait to return

Amazing food with marvelous taste and good service.

I regularly visit charcoals - I always receieve a great service and served delicious food! Lunch menu is great value for money and reasonably sized portions. Always recommend charcoals to friends and family- will definitely be back!

Controversial given how many places there are for food in town- but this is the best restaurant in Glasgow, and by a hundred miles the best Indian. The service is second to none. The food is fresh, tastes amazing and is plentiful. The lunchtime deal is unbeatable, but even going in the evenings you'll still get amazing value. The owner is incredibly generous- not just with his portions, but in the community too. Location wise a 5 minute walk from the busiest (and more expensive) part of town, but you'll find so many great bars roundabout- merchant city is full of sporting and gaming, chilled or musical.

Great place to enjoy tasty indian food with great service. Ambience is awesome. You will every bit of it.

Good food with smiling service what else u need. Had a great time

Excellent food aswell as customer service, would highly recommend.

The employee is very bad in his dealings with customers. The restaurant serves good food, but because of the mistreatment that occurred, we decided to leave the place and try another restaurant near it.

The staff treatment is very bad

High class service, food was absolutely delicious and good place to spend time moreover staffs were more friendly.

Absolutely amazing yet again! Thank you!

We had a fabulous after being served by Ali and the team. The food was absolutely delicious with a few wee extras. Great day out made special by the food and service 🍽🍷🍽🤩

Fantastic restaurant in Glasgow, I went for lunch with my team and it did not disappoint. £10.95 for a two course meal. I would definitely go back.

You can put million awards on the wall but if the food isn’t up to the mark, I’d doubt your awards! I ordered for a Chicken Biryani! The biryani was amazing but the chicken in it was hard chewy ! I was expecting a lot from this Pakistani restaurant (which markets itself as Indian) The worst policy is this force you to order a main course and don’t even allow us to take doggy bags. I’d give it a pass!

Great indian/pakistani food...most importantly halal.. Visited back in June, 2024. Ordered butter chicken (a must have)..vegetable pakora (also a must have) .. asked for not spicy.. and the request was fulfilled... very tasty .. came back the next day to try out more ..tried also the mixed grill.. the portion was really huge.. well done but yet juicy and flavourful. The owner (i guess) was very kind and offered us free pakoras as well. Highly recommended.

Ordered a takeaway. The chicken tikka masala was all sauce and hardly any chicken . Described as mild it was too hot and spicy to eat. Even the onion bhaji was really spicy. Threw most of it away as it was too spicy and hot to eat. Not cheap really disappointed. Appreciate a bit of spice that was so spicy you couldn’t taste the food. I’d have ordered a vindaloo if I wanted by taste buds blown off

Went with a party of 6 and everybody agreed the food was both excellent and great value. Ali & his team provide first class service and also give you free food from “ their side,” so go when you’re hungry. Would definitely reccomend!!!!

Truly recommended! The food was amazing, the service quick and everything for a great price. Would definitely come back.

Enjoyed an afternoon at this fabulous restaurant. Food first class and customer service exceeded my expectations . Would highly recommend as the price for a 2course pre theatre with drinks followed by coffee was fantastic . Special mention to the lovely waiter Ali . Going to recommend to all my friends.

We were on a visit to Glasgow last month... and by chance we passed by this halal restaurant... so my sister and I entered and ordered food without knowing that it was an award-winning restaurant in recent years... the food was delicious and wonderful... so on the second day we ordered once again, the restaurant owners are nice and generous

Came here on our first night travelling through Glasgow as we were craving some Indian food to warm us up. First let me say that the service was astounding! Our waiter and the manager were so attentive and went above and beyond for us. The food was also fantastic. All in all we shared the Salmon Tandoori, Vegetable Pakora, Garlic Naan Bread, Lamb Korma with Coconut Rice, and another Lamb Curry that was on the recommended section of the menu. Couldn’t fault any of the food - it was just far more than what we were expecting so we ended up taking half of it home (which just means more for lunch!) Definitely give this place a visit if you’re in Glasgow.

Amazing place, highly recommend. Very tasty food.

Mohamed sultan is one of the best server ask for him.

Great taste and service will definitely recommend 👌🏻

excellent service with perfect quality

Absolutely fantastic meal, great service, friendly staff and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Food and service superb. I travel a lot to India and until recently Pakistan for work. The food here is better than on the subcontinent and is easily the best Indian food in Glasgow

The food was top drawer scran, the staff were friendly and went the extra mile. Cant wait to return!

The place was tricky advertised as a part of Eat out to help out campaign. Actually there was no discount, no receipt for the order as well. A lot of nice restaurants and pubs at the area actually supported the campaign and the customer dont need to ask. Cheating a customer is not nice. Avoid that place!

Came in on a whim and it did not disappoint. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. Excellent customer service. My wife got the butter chicken and I got a lamb dish. The meat in both of our dishes were so tender that the meal would fall apart as you would try to skewer it with your fork. Overall excellent experience.

From the states and wanted to have Indian food so my husband and I popped in. The staff was friendly and attentive. The food was great! We had the meat samosa, the butter chicken and a lamb dish that was so tender and delicious that we will be sad not to be able to have again(can’t remember the name .. sorry.) Great food.. you won’t be disappointed

Had a delicious lunch on Saturday. Table set for 10 and gave our family a nice bit of privacy. As ever the food was great and wee extras provided were tasty too. Service was great and we always appreciate the personal touch of staff. Look forward to the next time.

I visited recently to get a late lunch to take away. A simple Tarka Daal - a staple in Indian cuisine. As you can see from the photos, the amount of oil was ridiculous. Absolutely drowning in oil. You’ll also see each individual lentil which shows just how undercooked they were. This dish should be much smoother (look online for a better idea) with the lentils going mushy. It should resemble more like a lentil soup. Unfortunately, the worst daal I’ve ever had. Asked for it extra spicy and there was barely any spice from it at all. In fact, it barely tasted like anything at all. Really disappointing. I came here many years ago and the food was good, but it seems standards have fallen significantly. Many other Indian restaurants very nearby (Koolba, Obsession of India, Dhakin) - I would now choose those over Charcoals.

Had a six o’clock dinner with 4 adults and an infant in our party. Everything ordered was delicious with generous portion sizes. We were given a complimentary starter also. Would definitely return here again.

Delicious food and great service. Highly recommended.

Not long away from the restaurant and this place never fails to impress, food is excellent, staff are very friendly and so accommodating, will definitely be back soon.

Would highly recommend. Food was excellent, and a high level of service was provided. Will be back for another visit soon.

Great place to share quality Asian food with family and friends, Fresh food is prepared to your taste and served hot, clean and comfortable seating arrangements👍👍

The food was amazing its rare to find this testy food around here. We were welcome by Mohammad he was very kind and the service was great. Highly recommend

So pleased we found this absolute gem. The food was absolutely delicious, very generous portion sizes and so flavoursome. The service was incredible and the music/ambience felt very authentic. Would definately recommend a visit! :)

Very late review since life got mixed up and the review got backlogged in my mind to write but here it is. This place is an absolutely fantastic restaurant, genuinely one of the best I’ve ever ate at in my life. I was there with my family early May, and we were in a rush to get something in our stomachs because we had an important event in twenty minutes and didn’t want to get nauseous during our time there (Planning got messed up and we were supposed to eat earlier). The staff were absolutely lovely when we informed them of this and allowed for our orders to be put on priority to make sure we got there on time (Which was so kind of them even when it should’ve been extremely irritating). They even gave us some free rice and fried tortillas out of the kindness of their hearts and our servers were so lovely and engaging and funny that my entire family still talk about them when it gets brought up, genuinely wonderful people. 10/10 absolutely recommend going there if you’re in Glasgow the experience is like no other restaurant I’ve ever been to! The food is amazing on it’s own, and the lovely service is an amazing bonus. Thank you to the staff for everything they did for us, it was so kind.

Great food. The Butter Chicken was well spiced and super creamy. Garlic naan was fluffly and delicious. Our server was very attentive. All of our food was exactly what we were wanting and craving.

Truly delicious. An executive menu with first and second courses at an incredible price. I recommend it 100%

Food was excellent and the service was top class! Will definitely be back before too long!

The food was great and delicious, but unfortunately, the service was very poor. Initially, the drinks were not cold, so I asked for more ice but didn't receive it. Additionally, we found a piece of aluminum in the food while eating. In the end, when paying the bill, we asked them to waive the service charge due to our experience, but they refused, citing restaurant policies. I wouldn't recommend dealing with them at all!!!!

Lovely food and host couldn’t accommodate any more than he did. Recommended to the highest degree

Celebrated my 30th birthday and staff went out of their way to mark the occasion. Food was excellent with generous portions. Our waiter Ali was very attentive and friendly, excellent service. Will definitely be back 👌🏻

The food was delicious and the service was outstanding! Ali was taking care of us and we had the best time. We were celebrating a birthday and he got us a piece of cake with a candle and he got everyone in the restaurant to sing for us. He also got us complimentary food and drinks. Overall an amazing experience! We will be back 🤩

That's was the worst meal I have ever eaten in my life. I binned the lot.

Judging by the reasonable prices and central location, I was not expecting food of the quality I got tonight. I love lamb chops, but so many places normally cook them until they're dry. Not Charcoals - it was rich with rendered fat, soft and tender. The spicing was superb and the salt was generous too. I don't normally eat with my hands, but I couldn't help it. Best lamb chops I've ever had. Mains was the Pawak, which is a version of a saag. Again, saag is one of my favourites but it's so often lacklustre. Charcoal's Pawak is sensational. Tender lamb in a rich fatty sauce. The spinach was so thoroughly cooked it was almost burnt - in a good way! Tasted caramelised and smokey. Topped with home-caramelised onions. The best saag I've ever had. I honestly feel like I've just stolen a meal. It was an incredible price, especially for a city centre, but the food truly exceeded any expectations I had. Please go, and keep them in business.

Good & delicious food and vibes

A proper Glaswegian friend recommended me this place, so you know it’s good! And wow it is. Food is superb. Great service. Atmosphere great when it’s busy, can be quiet (but in a nice quiet way) at other times. The menu has lots of great options and info to help you understand and choose the dishes.

Charcoals is by far our favourite place to eat in the city centre. The menu is just amazing, so reasonable and varied with lots to eat as a vegetarian. The decor is so cool and the awards on the wall speak for themselves really - the food is hard to beat. Lots of options to suit everyone (Paneer Makhani a personal favourite). We’ve always happened to be served by Muhammad when we’ve visited and he is so friendly, always makes great recommendations and does so much for the community here and abroad. His dedication to feeding others is so admirable and we’re proud as a family to support these efforts when we can. Couldn’t recommend this place more and can’t wait to get back there soon!

Absolutely brilliant food and service. The hospitality we received was a stunning experience of Glasgow

MashAllah the best place to eat in Glasgow. The food was so tasty , everything was fresh and delicious. Presentation was great. The service was incredible. I will come again. 100% recommended

Fantastic - delicious food in generous amounts, super friendly and helpful staff, excellent selection of dishes and a fair number of freebies provided to the table. Excellent value for money!