Michelin-starred chef Alfred Prasad, who will be hosting our next After Hours Club event, tells us his favourite places to indulge in Indian food in London

** This event is now sold out. Please see the June 2016 issue for details of the next After Hours Club taking place in July 2016 **

1. Dishoom, Covent Garden
The design-led concept is truly special and elevates the dining experience. Inspired by the legendary Irani cafes in Bombay (now Mumbai), Dishoom evokes a lovely sense of nostalgia. Its all-day menu showcases interesting pan-Indian fare and a fun breakfast menu. Try the akuri (Parsi scrambled eggs) and the bacon and egg naan roll. This central London branch is one of four in the capital.

2. Ganapati, Peckham
Tucked away on a side street in Peckham, this small restaurant serves south Indian fare that is delicious, soulful and comforting. Owner Claire Fisher is an unabashed Indophile and the restaurant expresses her love of India. I quizzed her about places off the beaten track in south India (where she has spent a lot of time), and incredibly she had visited them all. At Ganpati, you find London’s finest Malabar parathas. Enjoy them with any of the vibrant curries, but leave some space for the lentil payasam which often comes as part of the vegetarian thali dish. I loved the entire menu, the bohemian vibe of the place but most of all, Claire’s story and her passion for India.

3. Gunpowder, Aldgate
Bordering Brick Lane and new to the London dining scene, Gunpowder features a short, fun menu, a room with a buzz and it’s great value for money, too. I enjoyed their Kashmiri lamb chops and Karwari soft-shell crab.

4. Gymkhana, Mayfair
A dining room with lots of character. Check. Bold Indian flavours that pack a punch. Check. Best wine list of any Indian restaurant in London. Check. Gymkhana really does tick a lot of boxes. Choose from an incredible range of game dishes – and definitely try their duck dosa.

5. Hoppers, Soho
A great homage to Sri Lankan and south Indian cuisines. I feasted on robust bone marrow varuval, hot butter devilled shrimps and black pork curry, which all go down well with the tapper’s tipple made with Ceylon arrack. Tip: there is a no-reservation policy at Hoppers so visit off-peak if you don’t fancy a long wait. Should you be happy to wait, it would be well worth it.

6. Indian Zing, Hammersmith
This is a restaurant that punches above its weight, much to the delight of its neighbourhood clientele. Indian Zing do a wonderful job with the classics and also showcase a repertoire of dishes from the west coast of India. Go for their nalli lamb rogan josh, Zing’s chicken jalfrezi and kadhai artichoke and paneer.

7. Tamarind, Mayfair
I headed this restaurant for more than 13 years and earned my first Michelin star there. I enjoyed preserving the purity of the dishes, giving them the subtlest of modern twists, while ensuring each plate had a strong and distinct flavour profile. My favourites there – hyderabadi lamb shank, tali macchi (pan-grilled seabass) with Malabar sauce, date, coconut poppy and seed naan; and dal makhni (black lentils).

The next After Hours Club event: A Taste of India, will be held on Thursday 28 April 2016, at The Orangery Restaurant in Kew Gardens, London.

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This article has been tagged Food + Drink, Travel Tips