Bristol might not be famously known for its curry compared to Bradford or Birmingham, but we still have plenty of Indian restaurants to celebrate. We’re not the only ones who think so either! Because seven (that’s right!) have been restaurants and takeaways have been shortlisted for the Asian Curry Awards 2023.
One familiar face is Urban Tandoor, the award-winning Indian restaurant that might even be more famous for its TikToks than its curries. With a cult following on social media, they also know how to whip up a ruddy good curry. Some firm favourites from the Whiteladies Road restaurants include the Lamb Shank and the King Prawn salmon moilee.
Another big name from the list is Nutmeg, which is owned by the same team behind Nadu and Kal Dosa. Based in Clifton, Nutmeg was founded in 2016 by Raja Munuswamy and Arvind Pawar. This vibrant Indian restaurant is inspired by the diversity of India and its 29 states, from the pulse regions of the Himalayas to the abundance of spices in the tropical south.
Curry houses from all across the city were shortlisted, however, representing the whole breadth of Indian cuisine in Bristol. There was Bayleaf in Stoke Gifford, with its focus on the “most exquisite dishes from India and beyond.” Emersons Green’s Rajastan Royal and The Arjee Bhajee in Soundwell, also made the cut.
Of course, this is the Asian Curry Awards, not the Indian Curry Awards and we all know by now that curry isn’t exclusive to the Indian subcontinent. Two Chinese restaurants also were picked for this year’s awards. Both Mayflower in the City Centre and Emperor Court in Clifton serve a range of classic Chinese curries from chicken to king prawn to beef.
The list of over 200 venues across the country will now be whittled down to the top hundred by online votes from members of the spice-loving public, which will decide the eventual finalists. These will be then assessed by a panel of judges from the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), who will determine category winners.
The victors will be revealed at a glittering gala dinner and presentation ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on November 19. The Asian Curry Awards cover the complete range of Asian and Oriental cuisines: Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Pakistani, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.
To see all the restaurants nominated for the Asian Curry Awards 2023 head here.