Chai Thali - Indian Restaurant — Restaurant in London

If you're curious to experience food poisoning, eat here!

I visited Chai Thali on 19th February with four work friends. The staff were friendly, and the food was beautiful—I had butter chicken with steamed rice, lamb samosa chaat, and garlic naan, and it was delicious.

Unfortunately, the next day, three of us who had the butter chicken became very ill. One of my friends vomited several times throughout the day, another felt unwell but luckily wasn’t physically sick, and I had several terrible times ‘the other end’.

Concerned about this, I filled out the restaurant’s online enquiry form two days later, informing them of what had happened and requesting a refund for my starter and main. Their form promises a response within 60 minutes, yet four days passed, and I heard nothing. Meanwhile, my friend—the one who had been vomiting—called the restaurant the same day I filled out the form. He spoke directly with the manager, who eventually offered him a partial refund (starter and main).

Since I still had no response, I decided to visit the restaurant with my friend when he went to collect his refund. The employee who served us the week before was again very polite and even asked how we were feeling, which was nice. However, when I enquired about my own refund, the manager was called over and the situation turned hostile instantly.

From the moment he approached, he was rude and confrontational. He accused us of not calling the day after our visit. When my friend explained that he had been too unwell to call, the manager sarcastically responded, ‘Mate, it’s a phone call,’ making a dismissive phone gesture with his hand. He repeatedly insisted he was not refunding anyone else and said he had only agreed to refund my friend - Which he was correct of course but even though I told him I ate the exact same food as my friend, he decided to completely dismiss my experience!

I explained—again—that I had filled out their enquiry form. The manager snapped back, ‘We don’t have an enquiry form.’ I told him I had filled it out (as had the third friend who was also ill), and neither of us had received a response. He continued to deny its existence.

He then doubled down on the ‘you didn’t call the next day’ argument, again requiring the both of us to explain that we were too sick to do so, which is why I myself used the enquiry form—a form he apparently doesn’t even know exists.

Rather than showing any concern or professionalism, the manager tried to usher us out. That’s when my friend pointed out that their website lists a 5/5 food hygiene rating, yet the official government website shows 3/5. The manager shouted back, ‘We’re getting that changed,’ and once again, pushed us towards the exit.

Later that day, when we checked their website again, they had already removed their food hygiene rating.

PLEASE DO NOT EAT AT THIS RESTAURANT.

The food made us ill, it will make you ill too and the owner does not deserve your custom or your hard-earned money. He could have spoken to us like human beings, but instead, he chose aggression and confrontation, which left me shaken for the rest of the day. The moment he was called over, the situation escalated from 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye—completely uncalled for.

On a side note, we noticed that on both visits, the restaurant was completely empty—which now seems like a red flag in hindsight and I’ll certainly think twice before eating somewhere so devoid of customers in the future.

UPDATE - MY RESPONSE TO OWNERS COMMENT:

I appreciate your response but not the dishonesty. You never offered me anything and dismissed me when I mentioned your online enquiry form, claiming it doesn’t exist. If your website is being updated, remove the form if messages don’t reach you.

You refunded my friend for contacting you directly—I also did via the form, which you ignored. That’s on you.

Offering (or pretending to offer) a discount after making me ill is insulting and absurd. The lack of accountability...

I recently had the unfortunate experience of dining at Chai Thali restaurant in London, and I must say, it was quite disappointing. The food, touted as authentic Indian cuisine, was nothing more than ordinary. There was a severe lack of authenticity throughout the entire meal, starting with their so-called "thali," which turned out to be nothing short of a joke.

The thali, which is supposed to be a grand feast showcasing a variety of dishes, was an utter disappointment. It consisted of just one curry and one daal, meagerly served in small bowls, accompanied by plain rice and a naan. It hardly resembled a thali at all. To make matters worse, the absence of a dessert was truly disheartening. Instead, they offered a meager portion of raita and a few tiny poppadums.

It was the waiter's responsibility to have some presence of mind and guide us properly when we ordered a cup of raita for our biryani. She should have informed us that the thali already comes with raita that could be shared. Moreover, the waiter should have explicitly mentioned that the thali comes with a poppadum basket, as I had mistakenly ordered one separately as a starter. Who in their right mind would want to devour two baskets of poppadums? This lack of communication and clarity from the staff is truly disappointing.

Moving on to the beverages, their signature Sin cocktails were even worse than the food. The selection was limited, and the drinks themselves were far from satisfying. The lack of creativity and quality in their cocktail offerings was truly disheartening.

Although the atmosphere of the restaurant was calm and pleasant, it couldn't compensate for the poor quality of the food. As I sat there, I could distinctly smell the overpowering scent of burnt oil emanating from the poppadums and the fried okra. This clearly indicates a lack of attention to detail and a disregard for quality control in the kitchen. The overall food quality was simply subpar and left a bitter taste in my mouth, both figuratively and literally.

In conclusion, my experience at Chai Thali restaurant was far from enjoyable. The lack of authenticity, the disappointing thali, the miscommunication from the staff, the uninspiring cocktails, and the poor food quality all contributed to an underwhelming dining experience. I left the restaurant feeling thoroughly disappointed and with no intention of returning...

If you’re looking for hearty vegetarian Indian food in central London, Chai Thali Camden is definitely worth a visit. I went with family, and here’s how our meal unfolded:

🥗 Starters • 🥟 Chilli Momo – decent, tasty but nothing mind-blowing. A solid 6.5/10. • 🌶️ Chilli Mogo – crispy, addictive, and full of flavor! 10/10, an absolute must-try. • 🍛 Chilli Paneer – on the sweeter side, not the fiery spice I expected. 7/10. • 🥬 Okra Fries – light, crunchy, and utterly addictive. A personal favourite and 10/10.

🍛 Mains • 🍞 Tandoori Roti – standard, decent. 7/10. • 🧀 Cheese Naan & Chilli Garlic Naan – soft, fresh, and bursting with flavour! 9/10. • 🍛 Paneer Curry – similar in taste to the Chilli Paneer gravy, so not very exciting. 6.5/10. • 🍚 Steamed Rice + Dal Tadka – comforting, homely, and full of flavour. Easily a 10/10.

🕘 Timing & Experience

We reached around 9:40 PM, and since their kitchen usually closes within half an hour or so, we didn’t get much time for photos. Even so, the portion sizes were generous and the quality of food was excellent, so arriving late didn’t affect the experience at all.

💁 Service

The staff truly went above and beyond, earning a 10/10. My uncle loves extra-spicy food, and one of the staff members (possibly the owner’s daughter) personally arranged for the chef to prepare fried chillies just for him – a thoughtful and rare touch of hospitality.

🌟 Ambience & Vibe

The restaurant has a vibrant yet cosy atmosphere – perfect for families, friends, or a casual date night. Toilets were clean (always a good sign of hygiene). They also seem to host Bollywood Nights occasionally, possibly on Fridays/Saturdays or once a month, which adds to the fun vibe. 9.5/10.

🍵 Drinks

We finished the meal with their Karak Chai – rich, smooth, perfectly spiced. Easily a 10/10.

⸻

⭐ Final Verdict & Ratings • Starters: 8/10 • Mains: 7.5/10 • Service: 10/10 • Ambience & Vibe: 9.5/10 • Hygiene: 9.5/10 • Drinks (Karak Chai): 10/10

Overall Experience: 8.5/10

Chai Thali Camden is a must-visit for anyone craving vegetarian Indian food in central London. With standout dishes like Chilli Mogo, Okra Fries, and Dal Tadka, plus impeccable service and a lively, welcoming atmosphere, it delivers a full...