The Empress in Tower Hamlets

This is a lovely little restaurant with top notch food that belies the humble exterior. Friendly and efficient service in a cosy room. We had papadums, starts, and mains. The onion chutney is AMAZING. All good food, nicely cooked, hot and fresh, and good sized portions.

Best curry in the area, really friendly staff. No options marked vegan, but they can easily accommodate for vegans and make any vegetarian menu item vegan. Would highly recommend for vegans.

First time trying food from here. Absolutely excellent, will be ordering again.

I had spent the first 8 hours travelling from Glasgow to the NFL game at White Hart Lane and after only stadium food I decided that on my return to my hotel I'd find an Indian restaurant to enjoy some proper food in. I found it. Despite it being just me in my NFL shirt I got a table immediately and was well looked after. The food was well cooked - to me it seemed like home cooking - and spiced but not burn your mouth hot. Which is what I love - to be able to taste the food rather than have a Chilli mouth ! I love trying new dishes (for me) and had the Muguch Tawa. Delicious. It felt so good just to sit, eat, listen to the authentic background music - not intrusive - and chill. Next time I'm in that part if London ill be back. The only downside? I left my NFL programme on the seat I think.

This is one of the most amazing indian food I've ever tasted in my entire life! Plates are generous and full of authentic Indian flavor. The staff is quite friendly, kind and ready to suggest you the plate you are looking for depending on your appetite or mood. Guys, you made my visit and culinary experience in London very unique. Greetings from Colombia, South America.

Always good food and my first choice restaurant.

We visited this restaurant for the second time. It is small place, but the food and service is perfect. We recommend it.

September 2024 So upset to have to update this review. I had raved about this place for ages so brought my family back to try it. Had similar menu choices again - including the tarka dhal and soft shell crab. The tarka dhal this time was watery and tasteless, and the crabs tasted watery and off. My partner and I shared the crab and didn't finish it. I was almost immediately ill, and had to go to the loo a couple of times to vomit. I have various food allergies so initially put it down to this, as my partner seemed ok. This is why we didn't say anything at the time; however, within an hour of leaving the restaurant, he also began to feel ill. We were poorly all night so it must have been the crab. Very disappointed. May 2024 Happened upon this place by chance, and so pleased we did. The food and service were excellent. I always judge an Indian restaurant by the standard of its Tarka Dhal, and theirs was truly delicious; in fact everything we had was sublime! Recommend the sizzling prawns and soft shell crab too. The staff were very friendly and helpful with my food allergies (I'm coeliac).

Delicious food and really nice people. Highly recommend!

What a great find. The food was wonderful and the service was excellent. The staff couldnt do enough for us and what a great sense of humour the ?manager had. Thank you for a lovely experience and a wonderful meal. Will definitely come back next time we are in London

What a great find. The food was wonderful and the service was excellent. The staff couldnt do enough for us and what a great sense of humour the ?manager had. Thank you for a lovely experience and a wonderful meal. Will definitely come back next time we are in London

Absolutely amazing food and service! Love this place and recommend very highly!

Absolutely amazing food and service! Love this place and recommend very highly!

Estupendo. Gran experiencia y excelente atención! Recibimos una gran orientación y fuimos atendidos maravillosamente

If this app let me I would rate this restaurant 6 stars. They have a very mom and pop feel to the restaurant and is definitely the best Indian(Bangladeshi) restaurant in Europe.

Excellent food. Looking forward to next order

Service and flavor were both top shelf at The Empress. This was a first visit for us, but we can't wait to return! Two members of our party knew exactly what they wanted and loved every bite of the Lamb Biryani and the Chicken Vindaloo. Upon recommendation, i ordered the Rajshahi and some garlic naan. Delicious!

Service and flavor were both top shelf at The Empress. This was a first visit for us, but we can't wait to return! Two members of our party knew exactly what they wanted and loved every bite of the Lamb Biryani and the Chicken Vindaloo. Upon recommendation, i ordered the Rajshahi and some garlic naan. Delicious!

The Empress Visited with: 8 Friends Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Food: 4.5/5 Inclusivity: 5/5 Accessibility: 5/5 Atmosphere The atmosphere is fantastic making it an ideal place to enjoy a meal with friends. The decor is tasteful, and the seating arrangement provides enough space to feel comfortable while still being cozy. My friend Jay likes to sit next to me so that was a plus for him. Service Both the owners and the wait staff were attentive and genuinely friendly. They joined in on the banter but still gave us space to have a good time. When we arrived they were accomodating straight away. The waiters were knowledgeable about the menu and were able to offer great recommendations based on our preferences. Food The food did not disappoint. Each dish was flavorful, and the spice level was just right for my taste as i like it on the spicier side. One of my friend is a bit of a (Sunak) bounty so when he wanted mild, the dish was abit too spicy for him even though it was fine for the rest of us. The portions were generous and delicious. Inclusivity One of the standout aspects of our visit was the restaurant's open and welcoming attitude towards everyone. As an LGBT couple, my friends Lucky and Shirz felt completely comfortable. The staff's inclusive and accepting demeanor added to the overall positive experience. Our mate Jase, who is a former EDL member, being in an asian environment was hard for him but was on his best behaviour as the place was accommodating to him too. Accessibility Accessibility was another highlight. My friend (Three Fingers) who uses a wheelchair had no issues navigating the restaurant. The entryway and seating areas was fine for him to enter and sit down, and the staff were more than willing to assist with any needs we had. Conclusion Overall the restaurant is a wonderful place to dine. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience. Rating: 5/5

Amazing customer service and food !! Went here with my colleagues for a meal. Even though the kitchen was supposed to shut soon, they took our food orders! Ordered Tikka masala- the portion size was very generous and we got free chocolate after the meal.

Lovely feel to the pub, staff friendly. The food was excellent especially the scotch eggs which everyone should try , we had never heard of haggis scotch eggs before and they were amazing as was the date relish.

Fantastic food. Came piping hot and was so tasty

Food was very delicious and fast service.

absolutely amazing 😍😍. will definitely be back for more.

My wife and I had a wonderful dinner during our visit to London. We really enjoy Indian food. After a tiring day of sightseeing, it was so nice to have a great meal at the restaurant. Whether you live in London or are visiting the city, I highly recommend the Empress.

Delicious. Arrived on time and piping hot. Very enjoyable. Courier very friendly.

I got takeout and it was wonderful and the prices were not bad!

Our first time at the Empress. My Wife does not like spicy food and was apprehensive. She came away very happy and enlightened. My selection, chicken filled w lamp and potatoes was superb. The restaurant is welcoming, the staff friendly and the food exceptional.

We went to the Empress for dinner with a bunch of mates. For many it actually was their first time experiencing Indian food, and everyone loved it. We had popadons and chutneys for starters, which we rather expensive. The enjoyed a variety of main courses of the menu with various different sides. The prices of the main courses were very reasonable. Overall very enjoyable little restaurant, would definetly come here again!

Great food and top notch delivery. Always a pleasure ordering food from The Empress.

In business for 31 years, the Bangladeshi background of the restaurateurs made us curious about how the British version of South Asian food compared to back home. Our main course started with poppadums and a chutney tray which contained mango and mint chutneys plus plain and saucy onion salads. The mint sauce was paler and had a stronger parsley flavour compared to back home. I had beef samosas while hubs just had to try the chicken tikka masala, which is a British invention. It was very sweet and heavy on the coconut flavour. The service was excellent and the food delicious, which we really looked forward too after a long day of walking around.

Wonderful food here, the shepherds pie is simply delicious.

Hadn’t been here for a while having had the chilli vodka last time out. Didn’t book and it was fairly busy but managed to get a table for four. Most other tables were occupied. Tried a new Indian beer that was very nice. Poppadums were fresh. Ordered a lamb tikka rezala and it was fantastic! Brinjal Bhaji was also top notch. Rice and naan did not disappoint either. Reasonable prices and generous portions. Well worth avoiding Brick Lane for here.

On est y allé en famille à 9. Excellent service, très bons conseils, attentionnés et adaptés. Habitués de la cuisine indienne en France, nous avons découverts pleins de plats nouveaux, savoureux. Je recommande sans réserves

Wow what an experience, one of the best in East London!!! Food was ordered and delivered bang on time. The Lamb Biryani's, Korai's, Naans and side dishes were delicious! We even got complimentary Popadoms and Chutneys. Definitely will order again, no doubt!

Lovely quality food with nice range of options. Good service. Friendly and well trained staff. Worth the awards. Definitely worth the short walk from Tower of London. Would recommend and hope to visit again thank you.

Bad service and attempted fraud There were three of us here. Two of us only received our food after an hour and a half. We patiently asked where the missing food was when two of us had almost finished eating. Funnily enough, this happened pretty quickly. So it was finished a long time ago and none of the conditions were of interest. To top it off, there were two dishes on our bill that we hadn't ordered. A guest at the next table had apparently also had his bill returned. In my opinion, this is an attempt at fraud and seems to have a system in this location. In general, in my opinion, the price-performance ratio is not the best.

Not bad tasting food. My one concern was the Phall, a Phall is a very spicy curry but the one I got didn't even match a Madras! I no the British palate may not be up for what is considered Spicy in India but some of really do relish the heat. I've noticed a few restaurants have really toned down the heat in their Phalls, don't forget it is a choice if we want our food spicy.

still the best restaurant ever, Thanks

Although no longer a Whitechapel local, I still come here for my fix of the best Indian cuisine I know of in London. Owner Foz, greets you warmly and has created a fabulous menu with traditional dishes and some from his region. Here we are eating his amazing Lamb Rajshahi - succulent melt-in-the mouth lamb with spices and a hint of mango. The madras here is also one of my favourites. Ingredients are fresh, herbs and spices vibrant and the flavours complex and layered. He also has some excellent off-menu wines (just ask) and the restaurant is right next to Wilton's Music Hall. You can easily fit in a meal before your 730pm show or grab one after.

Spamming me via SMS with “deals” with my details that I didn’t consent to you using and then having no way to remove myself is not okay, nor legal. Your number to remove myself doesn’t work either.

Fantastic as always. Food was delicious, good portion sizes and arrived on time and perfect temperature delivered with a smile. Couldn’t ask for more. Great value too!

Get the free shot, its a once in a lifetime. Love the service❤️

Food great, good service and nice atmosphere. Initially thought we were over charged but then realised takeaway menu on the website is cheaper than the restaurant. They were courteous and responsive to the query - excellent customer service and would highly recommend. Great Indian away from the overcrowded and over hyped brick lane.

Came for a valentines meal. Food was amazing. Catered for my dietary preferences. Had the chicken sag, mushroom rice and peshwari naan. All are recommended. Service was warm, friendly, welcoming, all the ladies received a single rose. Small restaurant so maybe call to book first. Imagine it to be quite a squeeze if tables are full. Toilets are down a steep staircase so maybe not accessible. Parking was ok after 6:30pm on road close to restaurant. Will def visit again soon.

Had dinner here last night for the first time with my husband. The food was fabulous, just as the service. We went for a couple of tandoori classics and they definitely didn't disappoint. Highly recommended ❤️😊.

Reliably the best curry house in east London. The food is superb.

Taste ok. Quantity not enough. Think twice before coming

A massive Thank You to all the staff at The Empress…had a great evening with 15 friends and work colleagues. As always….amazing food and drink…service absolutely superb..everyone said how amazing the evening was, will see you very soon.

Visited London from Houston and had dinner here as it was closer to our hotel. Good food and very nice, cozy atmosphere. Usman was very friendly and guided us through the menu very well as my partner could not eat too spicy. Dhaka chicken was very good, as well as the BBQ plateer.

Highly recommended! Good service, really tasty food. I got my "indian curry fix"

A great place to have a lovely curry!

Delivery was 20 minutes late. Food was cold. Mango Chutney was missing from order.

Very late delivery and no apology offered.

Delivery met with critism re the area I live in . Sadly that ruined enjoyment of meal and no worries we will not order again . Good luck with other customers .

Waited a long time and nobody seemed to know where our food was or how long it would be. Food was nice but arrived semi cold :(

Still the best Indian restaurant around.

Great food at Empress Restaurant King Prawn Puri LAMB chops Bhuna Chicken Rezela Rice Keema nan brilliantly tasty food Great service from Usman He looked after us well.

Great service, very funny and engaging host. Food was good and fresh. Good for parties of people.

I wasn't particularly impressed with both the quality and quantity of the food (highly-priced) . The chicken tikka appeared to be pre-frozen and heated, then added to a sweet curry. The naan was decent, and the paneer biryani was slightly better, but I had to ask a couple of times for a drink. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place; I'm confident there are better dining options available. :(

The food at the empress is very good, and it would be a great restaurant if the service was better. Our server accidentally spilt a drink on us and such I believe he was embarrassed as we didn't see him again after he helped us clean up. After that we got a carousel of different waiters, but always taking a long time to serve us drinks, etc.

I live on brick lane and still get my Indian food from here. That's how good it is

One of the best places for curry. It's a real hidden gem with great food and friendly service. Highly recommended

Excellent food, very friendly and helpful staff. Good price. Staff gave good advice on different meals. Great place to eat with good prices.

Amazing food and amazing service couldn’t ask for a better local restaurant. I was so pleased with the food I had the crab cox which is a soft shell crab it was amazing. My friends had items consisting of Biryani, tandoori and some vegetarian dishes everyone loved what they had. The naan bread is the best I have ever had. Couldn’t recommend this place more. Celebrating every birthday here from now on!

Loved it! Magnificent service and great food at a reasonable price.

This place was right down the street from my hostel and it is by far the BEST Indian food I've ever had. If I am ever in London again I will make a stop especially for this place. Wonderful friendly service as well. This might just be my death row meal. Go here! PS I have attached a photo but I unfortunately forget the name of the dish. It was spicy and incredible

After a lot of trial and error this is the only curry house I ever need in London. Lovely food always tastes freshly made, friendly staff, fast delivery.

Was near to our hotel. Average food but nice if you looking for some simple Indian food after over dose of British menu..

All trips to London must include good Indian food. The Empress was extremely good. Awesome food, atmosphere, service. Must come back

Off the beaten track a bit from all the Brick Lane restaurants but easy to get to. Staff were really polite, friendly and attentive. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Food was delicious. I was a bit disappointed no pakora was on the menu but the onion bhajis were great as was the tikka masala. My husband enjoyed his food too.

Had a super tasty meal. Wonderfully friendly waiters, who all had a great sense of humour, would 100% visit again!!!!

Small, nice restaurant, with friendly service! Good advices about the level of spiciness for the Indian food! We loved ist!

I had ordered a delivery. I am not sure why this is coming as take away. I cannot go to collect and don't have the food. Kindly refund my money

Travelling from the south coast for the day, I found this restaurant online purely by chance when I was looking for restaurants close to Wilton's Music Hall, and I'm very glad I did. The restaurant was very quiet when we arrived - 6.00pm - and we got very attentive service, although I imagine it got busy later in the evening. The food was absolutely delicious and the staff were lovely. While we were there a small group came in who were revisting the area after many years away, and were coming back to the restaurant they used to use regularly - a commendation in itself. The prices were reasonable for London - we were very happy with everything and will definitely eat there again if we're in the area.

This was a restaurant that was used by colleagues regularly over 25 years ago when we all worked together in Royal Mint Court. The management are still same, warm and friendly good humour. The food was delicious and service excellent. Very clean , hospitable environment. So glad we had our reunion here, will come again 🙂

This restaurant is a hidden gem. We had looked around the area an read the reviews . The excellent reviews we’re spot on. For an entree we had King Prawn Butterfly (s). So nice not dried out but very moist. We tried the soft shell crab which was so tasty and the Salmon Korma which is Salmon cooked in the clay oven and re cooked in mild creamy sauce. The creamy sauce makes this dish. so nice. best meal we have had while here by a long shot. If you get the chance to visit The Empress do not miss it, you will not be disappointed.

We were staying at the Royal Leonardo & The Empress is just around the corner. Excellent menu & service. The food was very good, great flavours, non-greasy & the lamb madras was very tender. Chicken Shaslick superb. Funny & charming head waiter.

Best dining experience in London, and that’s after trying the places the guidebooks say to go! Amazing service (a rarity in London)! And the food was great. I’m used to the more Americanized dishes, like Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken (both on the menu), but tried some new things. The mixed appetizer was so good! The shrimp, chicken, and lamb were so nicely spiced and tender, and just the right amount for me to try but not fill up. The Cox Bazaar Crab was tender and crispy and the vegetables were so tasty and just the right consistency so they weren’t raw but also not mushy. The Cauliflower Bhaji was light and yummy and a great side for the heavier fried crab. The cheese naan was also light and yummy, and I’m looking forward to having the leftovers as a snack. And when I was leaving and said how great everything was, the owner(?) offered me a piece of Jalebi that he was snacking on. Such nice people, such great food, and such a treat! The only con is that I went on my last night in London, so won’t have the chance to go back and try some of the dishes I saw other people get that looked and smelled amazing!

Authentic food, wonderful welcome always and great service. Our meal was truly delicious. The most flavoursome and succulent lamb. Good portions too, you never leave hungry. We will be back.

This is an astonishingly good curry house, in an unassuming location. If you’re thinking of heading to Brick Lane, don’t; come here instead.

Excellent restaurant. A fantastic choice if you are near Tower of London.

It was an exquisite experience. The food was very delicious, place and atmosphere are cozy, staff was very kind. If you consider to try Indian cuisine, I absolutely recommend this place 👍🏻

Our family had a delicious dinner at The Empress! Indian food is known for its diverse flavors and spices, so it's wonderful that we enjoyed the taste. It was fantastic that the staff provided great service, as excellent service can enhance the overall dining experience. Indian cuisine is renowned for its rich flavors, vibrant spices, and diverse range of dishes. It offers a wide variety of options, from flavorful curries to delicious biryanis, delectable street food, and mouthwatering desserts. Whether you tried classic dishes like butter chicken, samosas, or masala dosa, or explored regional specialties, Indian food has something to offer for every palate. Great place to try.

Stopped in while visiting London from America. We wanted to get some curry while we were here because we had heard it's done really well in the UK. We were not disappointed. The Empress is a small but excellent place. The staff was friendly and helpful. The food was excellent. We enjoyed everything we had. We would certainly return!

Delicious food 10/10 highly recommended

First time at the india restaurant and heard lots of good reviews. Went there for my birthday meal. The staff were fantastic, friendly and very welcoming. The food was beautiful the best I have had it was tasty well presented and plenty for one person. We will definitely go back. Thank you for a lovely evening the india!

The food is the only thing holding down the fort. The sever was aggressively a sales person. Tap water is supposed to be served freely, but the waiter/restaurant insist that we must purchase still water for the table - which is illegal in London, and a major red flag. The waiter tried to milk money out of us Furthermore, the server took the menus from our hand without asking, and even took the child's hand to demonstrate something on the food without asking for consent. Very pushy and no respect for personal space at all, no manners whatsoever Other things include constantly hovering over us, reaching over us, trying to clear dishes when we weren't done despite mentioning that we were still eating The food tastes great but very poor quantity, and not worth the price at all. The restaurant is a wanna be fancy restaurant and has potential to be great if waiters are trained better. This is not Indian hospitality. It's a shame we will never come back again as the food is really good

In response to my previous review: A) The staff is not trained well B) This restaurant charges for water - illegal in London and we were coerced to buy water C) The waiter who served us took the hand of the kid to break pappadums without asking for consent D) The owner instead of trying to compensate and do better, challenges the authenticity - does not take criticism at all Do not come here as the service is trash and not worth the hefty bill they charge.

Honestly this place has great food terrible service one of the waters there kept hovering around us and made us really uncomfortable when, we tried eating in peace the water kept asking us about the food none stop I must admit I don't recommend going there terrible service. Would give the service a 0 star if I could, but the 1 star is the lowest I can go

This was the best food we had in London including a dinner that we spent over $200 on. I have no idea how this place has a lower rating than the Indian restaurant next door to it as we tried both. There is no comparison. Too bad this is our last day in London or else we would be back.

Excellent Indian food served piping hot and fresh. Really enjoyed the Prawn Masala here. Service very good and efficient.

Stunning flavours, great service! Genuinely impressed by the quality of food here, I will absolutely be back when I can.

Prima eten. De chicken tika Masala smaakte prima. Nette portie genoeg saus. Met wat Pilau rijst en een naan prima eten Ook de lamb Madras heeft een goede balans tussen pittigheid en de smaak van de kruiden. Ook wat simpele pilau rijst en een naan om de pittigheid wat te dempen maakt voor een prima maaltijd, en om de hoek van Tower Bridge.

I’ve been coming here for over ten years, and they still haven’t missed a beat. Superb food.

Very small portions. No side salad or popadoms with starter.

We had amazing service, excellent food, and an elegant yet relaxing atmosphere. A great location and value as well. Thanks, Moe!

Forgot how good the food is at the empress, I will be back

Superb cuisine and overall experience. I had poppadoms, starter and main with sides and sundries. Each aspect of the meal was delicious. The service was excellent too. Dare I say it, best I've ever had.

Outstanding food. The paratha was the best I’ve had outside of India. The potato and giant prawns were delicious. Service was impeccable!