Darjeeling Express

4.5 ( 1525 reviews )
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Top Floor, Kingly Ct, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW, United Kingdom
+44 20 3375 3772

Darjeeling Express, nestled in the vibrant Carnaby area of London, is an enchanting destination for lovers of authentic Indian cuisine. Guests consistently rave about the rich flavors and meticulous preparation that characterize each dish. One reviewer, علي ارْخانْ, described the butter chicken as creamy and perfectly spiced, emphasizing the freshness of the ingredients. The warm and attentive service enhances the overall experience, making patrons feel welcomed and valued.

Another standout aspect of Darjeeling Express is its diverse menu, which avoids the clichés of uniform curry sauces found in many establishments. Samina Shah highlighted the variety in their set menu, noting that each dish offers a unique, delightful taste. Reviewers like Claire Hall and Rahul Sunuwar have both praised specific dishes such as Chicken Momos and Methi Chicken, showcasing the restaurant's ability to craft both flavorful starters and mains without overwhelming spice. The cozy ambiance coupled with lovely presentation adds to the charm of dining here. While some diners mentioned room for improvement in cocktails, the unique culinary offerings and exemplary service certainly make Darjeeling Express a must-visit for anyone seeking high-quality Indian dining in London.

Amenities and More

  • Accessibility
    • Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Has wheelchair-accessible seating
    • Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • No wheelchair-accessible car park
  • From the business
    • Identifies as women-owned
  • Service options
    • Offers delivery
    • Serves dine-in
    • No takeaway
  • Highlights
    • Serves great dessert
    • Has great tea selection
    • Has great wine list
  • Popular for
    • Popular for lunch
    • Popular for dinner
    • Good for solo dining
  • Offerings
    • Serves alcohol
    • Serves beer
    • Serves cocktails
    • Serves coffee
    • Has free water refills
    • Serves halal food
    • Serves small plates
    • Serves spirits
    • Serves vegan dishes
    • Serves vegetarian dishes
    • Serves wine
  • Dining options
    • Serves lunch
    • Serves dinner
    • Has catering
    • Serves dessert
    • Has seating
  • Amenities
    • Has toilet
    • Has Wi-Fi
    • Free Wi-Fi
  • Atmosphere
    • Casual
    • Cosy
    • Romantic
    • Trendy
  • Crowd
    • Good for groups
    • LGBTQ+ friendly
    • Popular with tourists
    • Transgender safe space
  • Planning
    • Lunch reservations recommended
    • Reservations required
    • Dinner reservations recommended
    • Accepts reservations
    • Usually has a wait
  • Payments
    • Accepts credit cards
    • Accepts debit cards
    • Accepts NFC mobile payments
  • Children
    • High chairs available
  • Parking
    • Difficult to find a space

Reviews For Darjeeling Express

علي ارْخانْ
May 28,2025
I had the pleasure of dining at Darjeeling, and it was absolutely outstanding! The dishes were authentic, perfectly spiced, and showcased the rich diversity of Indian cuisine. From the creamy butter chicken to the fluffy naan, every bite was a delight. The service was attentive and warm, making the experience even more enjoyable. I was especially impressed by the freshness of the ingredients and the meticulous preparation that was evident in every dish. Darjeeling is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates high-quality Indian food. I can’t wait to return!
Claire Hall
May 22,2025
The food was absolutely delicious. I had the Chicken Momo’s (if I had to pick these would be my least favourite out if all my choices as I found the filling quite chunky /watery and they were fiddly to eat - taste still good though). For main I had Katchumba salad- nicely chopped in tiny cubes, rice and paneer curry that is possibly one of the most moorish dishes I’ve ever tried. Softest paneer, slightly tangy sauce but smooth totally divine. The rose and cardamom was another hit for me - would love to know what syrup they use as it’s not too sweet amd perfectly rose-y. Lovely presentation too - I also loved the rose on the table. All quite expensive compared to what I’d spend on lunch out by myself usually but portions were good and as I’ve said - utterly delicious. Will hope to eat here again next time I fancy a treat.
Rahul Sunuwar
May 19,2025
Absolutely amazing place! I came in with high expectations after reading the reviews—and it still managed to exceed them. The service was excellent and the food even better. The starters, especially the momos and prawns, were the real stars—so good I had to order the momos twice! For the mains, I had the Methi Chicken with parathas, which was just as impressive. I loved that the food wasn’t overly spicy or heavy like typical Indian dishes, which made it even more enjoyable for me. The only area that could use a little improvement was the cocktails, but everything else more than made up for it. The cozy atmosphere and lovely ambience added to the experience. Definitely going on my list of favorite spots!
Samina Shah
Apr 3,2025
Best place I've ever been. The variety in their set menu is the best. Everything tastes delicious and so different from each other. They don't use the same base curry sauce for everything like normal restaurants.
Deema Albaadi
Mar 31,2025
We recently had the set menu at Darjeeling Express and were really impressed. At 163 for two people, the portions were generous and more than enough. The flavors throughout the meal were absolutely amazing and rich. While we did find the meat could have been a bit more tender, it didn’t take away from the overall experience. The service stood out as exceptional! Overall, a lovely experience and one we’d recommend for anyone looking to enjoy thoughtful, well executed Indian cuisine in a welcoming setting.
Levi Houston
Mar 30,2025
One of the culinary highlights of our trip to the UK. We had this restaurant on our list to visit after watching Netflix. Dinner is a set menu banquet affair, 65 pounds per person at the time we went. There are three courses in total (including dessert). Multiple curries are availble to choose from for the mains (including vegetarian and vegan options) - we enjoyed the Kosha Mangsho and Saag Keema in particular. These were accompanied by rice and deliciously light tamarind dal. The traditional desserts were a nice little touch to finish with. We definitely did not go hungry with the amount of food provided. Would also highly recommend their Masala Chai as an extra. Overall, staff service was fantastic. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was relaxed, allowing easy conversation. When we make it back halfway around the world to London again, we will definitely be back!
Mark Ellis
Mar 13,2025
Had visited both the Covent Garden incarnation and the pop up in West Brompton, this was my first visit to Kingly Court. The food is the absolute star of this restaurant. Each dish was cooked to perfection and the portion sizes are generous. The atmosphere is vibrant with the kitchen being on show to all diners. Our only minor quibble was with the service. Our starters did not arrive together. The tangra prawns arrived almost immediately but we had to wait about 10 minutes for the delicious channa chaat. Such was the delay that a member of the waiting staff asked if we were ready for our main courses before the chaat arrived. We also had to wait for our cocktails (highly recommend the Darjeeling Old Fashioned) which arrived after the chaat. These did not spoil our experience. More that my memory of both previous visits is that the service was perfect. The chai is also the best I've ever tasted. Love Asma and all she stands for. If you haven't been. Please do go - you wont be disappointed!
MSA
Mar 5,2025
One of the best Indian meals I’ve had in London. Not much else to say really. Would go again, and heavily recommend to friends and family also. Small critique is that the tables are small and just about big enough to fit 4 thalis but whilst the restaurant wasn’t cramped, the table certainly felt like it was.

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