Punjab in Camden

My wife wanted to try this restaurant after seeing it on social media, and since we were heading to the theatre, it seemed like a convenient choice. On arrival, we were shown to our table, but we immediately noticed how warm it was inside—quite uncomfortable. The service was a mixed bag: some staff were friendly and attentive, topping up drinks without being asked, while others simply placed the bottle on the table and walked off. The food was okay, but nothing special. Because of the overall vibe, we decided to just order one dish each rather than exploring the full menu like we’d originally planned. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a letdown. Not terrible, but not somewhere we’d rush back to.

For quite a while this has been my “go-to” pre-theatre restaurant in London. I think it ticks all the boxes. It is located just off Shaftesbury Ave. and Charing Cross Road, easy walking distance from many venues, but on a quiet side street protected from the bustle of the busy thoroughfares. No reservations, but I have never waited more than a few minutes to get in. The service is very attentive and efficient with minimal wait after ordering. Perfect when time is limited. The food is up there with some of the better Indian restaurants I have been to. This not for you if you want to linger over a leisurely meal in a place with state of the art decor (I find the vintage pictures charming). But for a very good meal at reasonable (by London standards) prices when time is an issue, this is one to consider.

I booked this for our 30th wedding anniversary whilst I was staying in London for a few days . I had not been to this restaurant before but it looked nice & thought we would take a risk. What a smart choice it turned out to be . The staff were exceptionally friendly & accommodating & reserved the perfect table for us to enjoy our family celebration. The greeting on arrival & service throughout were exceptional. The food was served in good time & was delicious . I can thank your team enough for helping us have a perfect evening. I will definitely make another visit the next time I’m in London & have no hesitation to recommend you to anybody who appreciates this style of cuisine & enjoys great service . Thank you again

The food here is pretty good but it let itself down with the time it took to serve the food. We were the second table in the restaurant and we ordered before the restaurant started to fill up for lunch. However we were one of the last tables to be served. When we asked why they said that we had ordered the chicken wings as a starter and that took 20 minutes to prepare and they didn't want to serve the main course dishes until after we had had our starter. Even if that was the case, it took nearly 40 minutes for the chicken wings to arrive. The taste and flavour of the dishes were really good and as we had been catching up, the delay didn't spoil the overall meal. Good location with reasonably friendly staff. Just remember not to order the chicken wings if you're in a hurry!

We visited this restaurant after walking past one day and seeing how busy it was which I think is always a good sign. As a family of 4, we weren't disappointed. On checking their website, it was lovely to read about the history of this family run business. It appears they are very much a 'walk in' restaurant, only accepting bookings for larger parties. We turned up and were seated straight away, it's a fairly large restaurant. The service was speedy and excellent with friendly, attentive staff. The food did not disappoint and was very tasty. We all enjoyed our meal and would definitely go again. Thoroughly recommend this restaurant.

Excellent food and fantastic service!

Great place - phenomenal food - kids loved the history of the place - explained by Captain Jag - a long time friends of the owners

Not too bad bit different from what I'm used too. Worth a visit.

Always the place I eat when in London . Delicious food and good service from

We enjoyed everything we ate and the service was very quick and very friendly. The prices were also value of money. It is not a ‘fancy’ restaurant if that’s what you’re looking for but if want to experience real Indian food don’t hesitate to try.

Great spot for a family dinner! The atmosphere was cosy and inviting, and the staff were attentive and friendly. The food was delicious and plentiful, and the prices were very reasonable. Highly recommend for a quality family meal!" 5/5 stars

Great service, very attentive and yummy food. I got the Chicken Tikki Masala and samosas.

Very average. Living off the name and location. Not worth the effort I’m afraid.

We were seated quickly on a Sunday evening. Everything was delicious. The restaurant felt authentic, not touristy. Be mindful that a service charge is not included on the bill, unlike other restaurants, so must add.

Unfortunately I’m going to have to leave a negative review. I finally got a chance to visit the restaurant after 3 years and whilst outside looking at the menu and deciding what to eat I asked one of the waiters if they did a particular punjabi dish in return I was spoken to like crap and he didn’t look overly keen to entice me in. I was extremely disappointed and left.

In my opinion, a fairly authentic Indian restaurant with delicious food and friendly service. However, we received the bill immediately after we hadn't ordered anything else. Perhaps this is due to the location near Covent Garden? We found the ambiance less appealing and contemporary, especially in the back room.

I have been going to this restaurant since around 2003. The food has always been good and not too expensive. Service always pretty good. Unfortunately, it seems to have changed dramatically. The food is now very bland and quite tasteless. I would not eat here again. The prices are still decent. But, as I say, not really worth eating here. The service is terrible. You are interrupted every few minutes with "everything ok"? As you finish each item, they swoop in and remove the crockery and cutlery item, one by one. You are constantly interrupted. I had to point this out to them as it gets in the way of conversation. One waiter relented and was understanding, another less so - he showed his anger by removing empty plates loudly and in anger with quite a lot of back chat. We paid in full and left. Never again, after 22 years of good food and service.

Great food good price amazing atmosphere and service been many times

awesome place! must try if you are looking for authentic punjabi dishes. staff is wonderful, warm and welcoming.

The food and service here was wonderful. The paneer texture was perfect and the spices were great. We came on a really busy night and were seated quickly. The owner was so kind and I love that this is still family owned business. We will be coming back.

My co worker and I came here for dinner and it didn't disappoint! I loved all the photos and art work around the walls, and the food was delicious.

Very tasty food. We were lucky to get table without reservation. Authentic food and nice, vibrant atmosphere

From a Punjabi, great authentic food, like home.

Sensational food, the waiters were very polite. This restaurant is a must when visiting London

Had an amazing dinner. After seeing the menu of a different local place and leaving, this establishment had exactly what my wife was looking for in a curry house after being out of the UK for over 2 years. Great mains, amazing naan, awesome chutnies. Staff was great, and actually great prices for Covent Garden area. Highly recommend!

Food delicious, but unreasonably expensive! We each had one dish and the side dishes (rice, naan) had to be paid extra. Portions not big. 🫰

Wonderful Punjabi food! We had the chicken tikka masala and chicken madras. There was a continuous queue of 20-30 people waiting to get in. Very quick service. Try the garlic naan.

Excellent food, great atmosphere and really friendly staff. We went on a busy happy night about 7pm and they were more than happy to let us sit and eat and drink until about 10pm. No pressure to keep ordering or vacate the table at any point. We were a party of 5 and had starters, breads, a main each and beers for under £50pp Will definitely be returning!

Excellent food, but portions on the small side and a little pricey.

The food is fantastic, but it’s the incredible staff and service that truly make this place special. A huge thank you to everyone at Punjab Restaurant for your warm hospitality – a must-visit spot!

My wife and I came here for dinner, and wow the food was delicious! We had two lamb curry dishes, and they were incredible. The staff were super friendly and kind, which made the experience even better. Definitely a to go restaurant when in London!

Had a dreadful takeaway meal - chicken biriani rice stodgy and overcooked, veg sauce with it was basically tomato soup with some chilli and a tiny sprinkle of mixed frozen veg. £ 18.95 literally straight in the bin.

Love this place. Favourite for day time curries and a couple of beers

Went there with my wife. Hosts were all cheerful and happy to accommodate and support. We had an excellent dinner on a busy night. I know Indian food, and this is as authentic as can be 🌷🌷 I would happily come here the next time I’m in London.

I had the family special and it was gorgeous. Attentive staff but not in your face.

Very good and good price to do They offer to add the 15% service charge but no pressure Well maintained Own Friendly servers

Absolutely fantastic food, couldn't fault it. The staff were very attentive and caring towards us. They helped and supported us for whatever we needed to accommodate my child and my friend being vegetarian.

Excellent restaurant! Beaucoup de choix (aussi beaucoup de choix non-spicy) et qui permet de découvrir la gastronomie punjabi dans un cadre chaleureux et authentique.

Amazing food and exceptional service. As a bonus, a very varied menu including some very good Indian dishes you’ve probably never heard of, such as the excellent pumpkin curry starter. Satisfied even my hard-to-please father.

Visited this restaurant today, all the way from birmingham, the food was absolutely amazing, reminded me of punjab!!!

We use to go to this restaurant each time we're in London since far more 10 years. We've never been disappointed either by food nor service or welcoming. Many thanks for all!

Great starters and wonderful customer service. Thank you Gurbani in specific. Should go and try the Amritsari kulcha and the chilli paneer.

Visited for lunch with Dad and Sista, Sista is vegan and it was recommended to her. Everything was delicious, cannot fault it at all. Wait staff were really patient describing dishes to people. Definitely would recommend and will be returning for sure.

Como siempre buena comida buen servicio. Han cenado aquí muchas veces en los últimos 35 años y nunca han sido decepcionados. Me encanta este lugar.

Great food and very accommodating staff

Lovely and cosy place with friendly staff and delicious food! Can highly recommend- the butter chicken was amazing 😍 We would come back any time :)

We didn't have a booking on a Saturday evening but decided to give it a try. We were seated immediately and served quickly, despite it being busy. The food was delicious—slightly pricier, but that's expected in Covent Garden. Definitely recommend and would return!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Had a lovely birthday dinner recently at Punjab Restaurant (Non Halal location! Which is a hard find). Food was on point, very authentic! Atmosphere was brilliant. Would definitely recommend and will surely be returning in the near future!

Butter Chicken, awesome, but the chicken portion is ridiculous. Only two pieces with bones. Must improve. No need to be so mediocre with the chicken portion. Everything else great. I am doing an edit after the owners or representative’s reply. I’m sorry, but the plate should be called butter bone chicken. Sorry, just not acceptable serving barely any chicken with just sauce. Lost one star. Lamb portion was fine. No reason for the chicken to be this way .

The food was good, but not a 5 star deserving one. The service and ambience were also good.

A lovely restaurant in the West End. We went as a family on a Sunday afternoon. The food was authentic punjabi and delicious. The service was also excellent. Would definitely go back, and highly recommend to others.

I visit London yearly and always go to this restaurant. Highly recommend the Special Chicken Tikka. Service is quick, efficient and friendly. Great staff always make you feel welcome. Perfect option before a West End Show.

Probably one of the worst Indian meals I've had in years. Bland starter and a chicken jalfrezi that was nothing like what it's supposed to be. It has become very expensive as well i.e a bottle of water for £6.50. The service was poor... couldn't wait to take your order and then took away my plate while I was still chewing. Wont be going back

Food is always good. Worth it to visit again. Staff were nice.

Very tasty Very good atmosphere All dishes had small positive surprises?

This is not an authentic Indian restaurant We went there and ask for chilli sauce and he said we don’t have chilli sauces what kind if Indian restaurant is this they don’t have a chilli sauce Going to food Lamb chops for burnt Chicken tandoori was colour in red And they have chicken cutlet which was disgusting Don’t waste ur money there southall pub food is better They need to see what other are selling like madhus tamarind in soho they selling food taste for those who eating Indian food first time

My favorite Indian restaurant in London so far. Everything was delicious. Service was quick and polite. There are heating lamps outside as you wait. We waited 5-10 mins to be seated on a Friday night. The chicken masala is more savory, which I loved! Try to save room for dessert, the honey ice cream is delightful. I highly recommend it.

It has become a ritual every year, everything is good!!!

Food good . I wasn't keen on poppadoms . Quite noisy.

The oldest and the best Indian restaurant in London!

Taking away 2 stars because they want you to spend a minimum amount. Pretty stingy behaviour. Reply: We were asked to order more than 1 main curry and 1 side per person apart from breads which is easily much over the £20 amount they claim.

I wouldn't call this place an Indian restaurant. The butter chicken is flavourless and too sweet. The lamb breyani is bland. We had way better food from other Indian restaurants / takeaway places. What a waste of money.

A piece of history! Really recommended

My family and I had a wonderful experience at Punjab Indian Restaurant. The food was delicious and the staff were all very friendly. I look forward to our next visit.

Food here is as good as it gets w top Indian restaurants I’ve had around the world. Supposedly the oldest Punjab Indian restaurant in London. Bottom line, good food, good service, good price, and warm atmosphere.

Food was so good. Very subtle spicing and there was a great choice for vegetarians as well. Onion nan was very special. The only down side was that the gents toilets were tired and not the cleanest. If they were better then it would be 5 stars

Was excited to visit a genuine Punjabi restaurant on a recent trip to London. Oddly, the queue outside on a cold dark Saturday night looked promising. We took our place in the queue and were told it’d be a 10 minute wait….as there were about 10 people ahead of us, we were sceptical but true to their word, we were seated in under 10 minutes. Unfortunately that is where the positives end. The tables are so tightly packed in, you may as well be at the same table as those around you. There was barely room for me to comfortably take my coat off. Next up, the menu - there was hardly anything on it to distinguish it from a standard ‘Indian’ (if you know, you know). We felt rushed to order (everything felt rushed - we were in and out in 40 minutes so not the leisurely dinner we were hoping for) and I didn’t really like being forced to order a main, rather than a side and having to waste the food I’m unable to eat (have a small appetite). Popadoms were fine. Naan was ok but my main dish tasted sweet and I had to have it with the pickle in order for it to taste edible. Service was functional, decor dated, disposable napkins are pretty rubbish - nothing here was worth the excessive menu prices and certainly not worth the automatically added service charge. Would love to support a Punjabi business but unfortunately I can’t recommend this restaurant.

Short que. Great food and quick service.

I found that the prices were generally quite high and the dishes were not particularly tasty. The room is very large and extremely noisy. There are better Indian restaurants in London.

Best Indian restaurant of my life!!!

Having walked passed this place many times, it was about time to try the famed oldest Punjabi Restaurant in the UK. Nicely situated at the north end of Neal Street, this is a restaurant that can be easily missed or overlooked, especially if coming from Covent Garden. The place was busy, (back in early November) but there was spare for two us. There was a good constant flow of customers, but service wasn’t exactly the fastest having to stop a waiter to order some drinks. There’s a good traditional menu offering all the classics among some specials and the food is good, just not exceptional which one might expect coming to the oldest Punjabi restaurant. It did feel like they were resting on their reputation and could probably do more, but that’s not to say the place was bad or isn’t a good choice. It’s good and the price is what you expect to pay in London. I would certainly come again.

Ordered dall, peener curry, and prawn curry, also nann and aloo parata. Was delicious, highly recommended. Also got Karak chai which not on the menu.

Amazing ! Stunning ! A must do in Covent Garden !

One of the better Indian restaurants I've been to. Really liked the chicken in the chicken Tikka masala; it still has decent juice to it. Also, the masala has a really strong tomato taste to it, which I liked. The only drawback was that this place seemed super expensive. The chicken Tikka masala, naan, and Kadu Puri all combined to be closer to 30 gbp. I initially thought the price was typical of the other Indian restaurants I've been to, until I realized I was working with gbp, and not USD. But still, I liked this place.

A rare combination of quality authentic food and fast service. However there is a bit of tight space inside.

Our host Mandeep was outstanding. We recommend having the Acharia ghosht, dal tadka, butter chicken and bullet naan. Don’t miss this fabulous Indian restaurant if you’re in London.

Usually crowded. Shami & butter chicken were amazing.

Best mango lassi I’ve ever had.

To begin with, the place is really cramped up, with no space to move around - get to the table and sit with kids and shopping bags. Secondly, the service was terrible, we had to wait long for our order nobody bothered to cater to us, once the matter was raised, it was very casually put across as a delay! With kids waiting for more than 20 mins it could have been addressed with much more seriousness. Definitely a big no for me next around London.

When you visit London, you don't have to stop at the "Indian" for food. But you should, and here at the Punjab Indian Restaurant. And even though we haven't been to India yet, I would venture to say that the dishes in this restaurant are extremely authentic. It wasn't that easy to get a spot in the evening, but I promise: it's worth a short wait. And in addition to the obligatory lassi, you should enjoy one of the delicious original Indian beers. Oh, and if you know Mary Poppins, you definitely have to order the “Spicy supercalifragilisticexpialidoucious bottle ground dumplings”. Really delicious and vegan too!

Everything was very delicious, the service was excellent, the waiter made a mistake and we received extra rice, when we clarified that we had not ordered it but something else, they brought us the correct thing and gave us the extra rice as a courtesy

Not the best example of an Indian restaurant, but reasonably priced for a central London place to eat.

Really limited service which crowds you into a room at the back of the restaurant / chicken butter with the chicken bones / when paying they try to give you 20% tips…

Excellent food as always and service

Really good indian food ! Friendly staff. A lit bit of wait to get inside but less than 5 minutes. Worth it ! Paneer massala was amazing.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Punjab Restaurant in Covent Garden is an absolute gem! The food was nothing short of amazing—bursting with authentic flavors and cooked to perfection. But what truly sets this place apart is the incredible service. The staff was so friendly and attentive, making us feel completely at home. We had an unforgettable experience when we accidentally left a pouch containing money and passports behind. The staff not only kept it safe but returned it to us with everything intact. Their honesty and kindness are unmatched!! If you’re looking for delicious food and exceptional service, this is the place to go. Highly recommend Punjab Restaurant to everyone!

Great food Will definitely return

Went with a group to this place a couple of weeks ago .Supposed to be an authentic Punjabi restaurant .I spoke to the son and grand daughter and they seemed pleasant enough .I explained that we weren’t tourists so we wanted ‘desi’ spicy food but sadly it came out bland .Very disappointing as I made a point of telling them we wanted spicy food .Unfortunately this place is geared for tourists and folk who don’t know the difference between authentic traditional Indian food and anything else.My advice to anybody wanting genuine Indian fare would be to look someplace else rather than this restaurant .

Absolutely the best Indian food I've had. Great service too! A local gem!!!!

Way too expensive and slow service. Food average.

Rude staff, over priced and portions are so small. They will not let you decide on main meal after you have eaten your starter. You are forced to decide on the main meal when you order starter. Otherwise they tell you to get out. I hope the restaurant owner reads this and contacts me, I am happy to explain in full.

Rude staff member. Firstly is you fancy ordering just starts and them main meal once you know how hungry you are, you can't. They tell you, you can't order just starters, and then later decide on your main meal. We don't accept just order on out starters first. You are forced to decide on all your food in one go at the beginning. The waiter tells you to leave, if you want, as the refuse to listen when you ask, can you please let me decide main meal later. Then if you ask the can you delay the main meal, watier says no, kitchen staff make it and it will arrive soon as your starters finishes. Very small portions and expensive with rude watier. Limited veg starters. Very over priced. Food taste was good.

Very impressed. Great food and very good service. Would love to return when am next in the area.

I have been going to this place for years. Food is amazing and people are amazing too but I want to share my experience today. I took my friend who was in need of some emotional support to meet me there, the manager ANDREW didn’t let her in and asked her to wait till everyone arrive. I arrived and then I was asked to wait out till my other friend arrive. I even asked him I’m going to order food and drinks now but he didnt bother to listen or understand. ANDREW was so rude, unhelpful and an embarrassment to be servicing in that establishment that I adore going to. I will go to the restaurant again for food just as long that human is not around on the shift.

Our first experience with Indian food. Couldn’t be better! A bit pricey

Delicious authentic punjabi food in the Covent Garden area. Great menu and amazing hospitality by Niraj and his team. Highly recommend this restaurant!

My 6th time here, we always use this restaurant when staying over in the city. Great Food and service

One of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. The server was great and told us his recommendations and they did not disappoint! We had the Punjabi curry and it was fantastic!

I had a lovely dinner with tasty Indian food after a long time here. The butter chicken, methi lamb was amazing. Also the roti and naan were perfect. Onion pakoras and amrisari fish was good as well. the place is very cosy and was very full on the night we went but service is quite quick.

This was a nice place to have north Indian food. It was a very traditional vibe and the food was tasty. We came during a not very busy time, so we had a quiet time here. I think it is an over-hyped place for what you get , definitely prices are on the high side and didn't feel like the best value for money. Portions are small and they make you order a main dish per person , which is not good if the group wants to share different plates .