Local Indian Restaurant & Takeaway in Whitechapel, London E1 serving near Poplar E14, Bethnal Green E2, Bow E3, Shoreditch EC2A & Tower Hill EC3N. The Empress is offering a premium fine dining, takeaway and outdoor catering services with exotic & delectable dishes of Asia. We started our journey in 1993 at Leman Street.
It's been over 20 years and The Empress is still one of the best Indian Restaurant / Takeaway in city. The Empress is 5 times winner of "Best Indian Restaurant" serves authentic Asian cuisine to satisfy our customer's appetite. We're offering an extensive list of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.
It's been over 20 years and The Empress is still one of the best Indian Restaurant / Takeaway in city. The Empress is 5 times winner of "Best Indian Restaurant" serves authentic Asian cuisine to satisfy our customer's appetite. We're offering an extensive list of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.
Services
The Empress started its journey in 1993 at Leman Street. We are offering our customers the highest standards of fine dining, takeaway & outdoor catering services. It's been over 20 years and its one of the best Indian Restaurant / Takeaway in city. The Empress Restaurant is highly acclaimed by our regular customers.
Reviews (24)
Cole M.
Jan 17, 2022
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A bartender next door at the brown bear told me about this restaurant and it was by far the best restaurant with the most flavor i have gone to in london. i'm from houston texas and I know my Indian food but i gotta leave it here when i say 100% best Indian food i have ever had. If you haven't gone then ur missing out. It's a little hole in the wall for sure but you gotta try it. Staff was super friendly and broke down the menu with us to find out exactly what we wanted. Garlic naan was super good.
Eugenia M.
Jan 16, 2022
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My Deli
Jan 11, 2022
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STAY AWAY from The Empress at Leman street. half of our group had cought COVID there after we had dinner. Very poor hygiene, and on top of that some homeless looking guy with dirty smelling bag pack enter the restaurant and goes into the kitchen. No sanitary or hand wash. It is a terribly bad experience and these placeses should be shut.
Debs Crawshaw
Dec 27, 2021
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Wow… what can I say!!!
Thanks foz and the staff .
Went here with fiancé to celebrate our engagement . The food was incredible. I mean the lamb fell apart and the food was fresh. No additives or colourings!!!
This was first visit on a trip to London.
Food so good I would like to use these guys to cater at my wedding !!! Family run and lovely setting. Small but not cramped. You feel so looked after as if you are special.
Foz ( owner) was lovely and a story teller x
Thanks foz and the staff .
Went here with fiancé to celebrate our engagement . The food was incredible. I mean the lamb fell apart and the food was fresh. No additives or colourings!!!
This was first visit on a trip to London.
Food so good I would like to use these guys to cater at my wedding !!! Family run and lovely setting. Small but not cramped. You feel so looked after as if you are special.
Foz ( owner) was lovely and a story teller x
Oscar Garcia Candelich
Dec 24, 2021
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Amazing food as always. I've been coming at least once a month since I discovered them back in 2016. I am so happy they managed to survive after the lock down.
To me, their king prawn sizzler is a must. Also the lamb shank with chickpeas is a winner (that's what I ordered tonight, as shown in the photo).
I hope the place remains authentic and loyal to their beliefs. Better times will come from now on, just hang in there and keep the good job.
To me, their king prawn sizzler is a must. Also the lamb shank with chickpeas is a winner (that's what I ordered tonight, as shown in the photo).
I hope the place remains authentic and loyal to their beliefs. Better times will come from now on, just hang in there and keep the good job.
Roy Glease
Nov 25, 2021
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This has to be one of the best Indian food restaurants in this area. From the start the staff were friendly but most of all the food was fantastic. Not the amount but the taste of everything from the simple poppadoms and dips, onion barjis and main meal. The Nan bread was not stoggy but light and fluffy. The whole experience from opening the door to leaving gave our 54th Wedding Anniversary something special. Thank you!
Lynne Joannou
Oct 29, 2021
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Just had a meal here with my husband. Absolutely loved it! Food was freshly cooked and tasty. Good portions and lovely staff. We were relatively early - around 7pm on a Thursday evening so got a table but it started filling up so you might want to book it to make sure you get a table. Definitely recommend to friends, family and anyone I don't know!!
Edward Cullen
Oct 20, 2021
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Very rude staff member.
He's mostly if not fully bald (to help you identify him) and is likely an Indian immigrant. He also made mistakes/forgot things when talking my order.
He told me rudely and abruptly to order my food all in one go, as I like to order what I want, when I want.
He said the manager told him this, the last time I came.
I don't know exactly how much food I'll eat, so I order as and when I want.
Why should I order all in one go? I'll eat elsewhere from now on.
Food is OK. Chicken dishes are far too rich and very oil heavy.
Chapatis are slightly undercooked causing stomach
He's mostly if not fully bald (to help you identify him) and is likely an Indian immigrant. He also made mistakes/forgot things when talking my order.
He told me rudely and abruptly to order my food all in one go, as I like to order what I want, when I want.
He said the manager told him this, the last time I came.
I don't know exactly how much food I'll eat, so I order as and when I want.
Why should I order all in one go? I'll eat elsewhere from now on.
Food is OK. Chicken dishes are far too rich and very oil heavy.
Chapatis are slightly undercooked causing stomach
Stephen Cox
Aug 10, 2021
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First time in this restaurant. We definitely recommend it. Food was excellent. Different types of curries, from different regions. Value for money. Big portions. We all had, mixed starter (1 chop, 1 king prawn, 1 chicken strip) between three of us. (we dont like a big starter each). King prawn curry, chicken curry, chicken Dhaka Murgh it was divine. Very friendly staff, very good service.
Scott H.
Jan 01, 2020
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Sunny E.
Aug 19, 2019
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Ruhul Amin
Sep 21, 2018
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Thomas W.
Dec 29, 2017
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Peter F.
Jun 30, 2017
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This restaurant is a bit out-of-the-way which is good for customers as it's not over-crowded. Not so much for the owners though. I ordered samosas for an entree. These were a bit of a disappointment as they were pretty bland and similar to what you could buy from the deep freeze of a supermarket. That is the reason for only giving the restaurant four stars. The main course was an entirely different matter. I ordered the green curry. This was delicious. The chicken was tender and the whole meal was flavoursome with subtle herbs and spices and was not overburdened with chilli. I shall certainly
Ashton M.
Jun 26, 2017
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Left the place crying with joy, and also from the heat! I love spicy food and it is rare that a meal is spicy enough to curl my toes, but the Biyani Chicken Murgha did the trick. Thankfully the mango lassi came in pints.
Important to know before going that this is BENGALI food, so some dishes may be a little different from what you may have had (especially for Americans accustomed to consistently ordering "chicken tikka masala," which can be a bit of a catchall term outside of the US). Ask questions, and read the description.
Staff were all very friendly and welcoming, although the
Important to know before going that this is BENGALI food, so some dishes may be a little different from what you may have had (especially for Americans accustomed to consistently ordering "chicken tikka masala," which can be a bit of a catchall term outside of the US). Ask questions, and read the description.
Staff were all very friendly and welcoming, although the
Susan D.
May 13, 2017
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Pretty much the only restaurant open when we landed in London around 11pm.
Service and ambiance was nice. Something about their British accent .... They're is free wifi. Not sure about parking bc we walked there.
I ordered sag ponder, garlic naan (just okay), rice, and BF ordered some lamb dish called khala lamb Bhuna. The sag poneer was the best I've ever had, and I go to Indian buffet almost every week! The lamb dish was good too!
I got a Diet Coke, but there was no ice and no straw, which was weird. BF really liked the Cobra beer, which looked like urine to me.
Service fee
Service and ambiance was nice. Something about their British accent .... They're is free wifi. Not sure about parking bc we walked there.
I ordered sag ponder, garlic naan (just okay), rice, and BF ordered some lamb dish called khala lamb Bhuna. The sag poneer was the best I've ever had, and I go to Indian buffet almost every week! The lamb dish was good too!
I got a Diet Coke, but there was no ice and no straw, which was weird. BF really liked the Cobra beer, which looked like urine to me.
Service fee
Sarah R.
Mar 04, 2017
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A friend and I were visiting London for a few days and decided to have dinner here on our first night. The decor is fancy and the waiters are nice. There is a free portion of yummy dipping sauces and bread served while you wait for your food to come out. We ordered coconut rice and chicken tika masala, and it was SO GOOD. So good in fact, that we went back two days later for the exact same meal. It was so good. This place is a hidden gem with good prices. They even gave us a bunch of extra chocolate after the meal when we were chatting to them about our travels. Make a trip over to this restaurant
Jenelle C.
Jan 30, 2017
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We had to get an Uber to come here because it was a Sunday night and everywhere else was closed. When we got there we realized they were closing up yet on their website they were supposed to be open for another hour. I notice this is common in London where they close up earlier than what they advertise which is really stupid. But anyways, they did offer seat us but they obviously wanted to go home so we decided to get takeout. After sitting down they were very friendly and had good conversation with us so I'll give them that.
To eat I got the Rajshahi but a vegetarian version with a side
To eat I got the Rajshahi but a vegetarian version with a side
Kaitlin H.
Jan 04, 2017
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Kriss S.
Jan 31, 2016
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David P.
Sep 24, 2015
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The Empress is a very friendly Indian restaurant, if you are looking for a good food, friendly staff and reasonably priced, it would be worth going here.
I went for a birthday meal, the food and drink were superb and chatting to the owner was also very funny and insightful talking about their specials which some of us ordered. They even gave the birthday boy a delicacy he was trying out. Chilli vodka. If you like your spices and he still has some, it might be worth asking for.
They also take Tastecard, but you have book over the phone and at least 2 hours before you booking.
I went for a birthday meal, the food and drink were superb and chatting to the owner was also very funny and insightful talking about their specials which some of us ordered. They even gave the birthday boy a delicacy he was trying out. Chilli vodka. If you like your spices and he still has some, it might be worth asking for.
They also take Tastecard, but you have book over the phone and at least 2 hours before you booking.
Ameya B.
Sep 21, 2015
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The food is just passable, nothing amazing or outstanding about their food. For appetizers, I got the Chicken Chaat, which didn't really have the chaat masala I was hoping for. It's masala is basically tomatoes and onions; a combination that is just tasty by itself! Chicken was well cooked though and adding lemon definitely did the magic for this dish to be a bit tasty.
For main course, I ordered the Murgh Rajshahi. If you are not a fan of mango pickle, do not order this. In my opinion, mango pickle is an acquired taste and you either like it or just don't! The description claims
For main course, I ordered the Murgh Rajshahi. If you are not a fan of mango pickle, do not order this. In my opinion, mango pickle is an acquired taste and you either like it or just don't! The description claims
Ingrina C.
May 20, 2015
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After moving to our current area in east London and trying several the local takeaways (that offered delivery service, of course), The Empress is easily our household's official curry takeaway. And you know how important this is to establish once you move somewhere new.
It's not as great as our former favourite in north London, unfortunately, but we've been very happy with The Empress. Still, I think this is more between 3.5-4 stars rather than a solid 4 stars.
Our go-tos are the madras dishes, but when we're feeling brave the vindaloo has an amazing kick. The portions are
It's not as great as our former favourite in north London, unfortunately, but we've been very happy with The Empress. Still, I think this is more between 3.5-4 stars rather than a solid 4 stars.
Our go-tos are the madras dishes, but when we're feeling brave the vindaloo has an amazing kick. The portions are
Paul B.
Apr 27, 2015
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