NK Arya Bhavan Central London — Restaurant in London

Dining at NK Arya Bhavan is not just about the food — it's about the vibe, and it truly feels like a home away from home. From the moment you step in, you're greeted with warmth, a calm and welcoming atmosphere, and the comforting aroma of freshly prepared South Indian delicacies. The vibe is relaxed and inviting, perfect whether you're catching up with friends, enjoying a solo meal, or bringing family along. There's something nostalgic about the place — like walking into a familiar kitchen that knows exactly what your soul needs. This time I was there with my family and we had a meal there almost everyday for a week. Now let’s talk about the food, (tried a lot of different options amongst the 4 of us over a week) — absolutely fantastic! From piping hot fried podi idlis and crispy dosas to rich sambar and tangy chutneys, every dish is made with authenticity and heart. The naan breads and stuffed paratha with paneer or korma were equally good. One of my personal favorite was honey chilly pineapple. You can tell this is a kitchen that respects tradition. And don’t leave without trying the filter coffee — it's the perfect finishing touch. One of the best parts? The prices are incredibly reasonable. You get generous portions, consistently delicious quality, and attentive service — all without breaking the bank. It’s the kind of place where you feel you’re getting far more than what you pay for. A special shoutout to Sreekanth, who is an absolute gem. His hospitality, attention to detail, and genuine care for every guest set the standard. He doesn’t just serve food — he creates a welcoming, heartful experience that keeps people coming back. The ever smiling face even at the peak of mad rush ensures that every one is taken care off. At times, you do have to wait 15-20 minutes and that it because the place is so popular. Why not have a tea coffee or lemonade when you are waiting. We did the same. Kept sipping our filter coffee while we were waiting. To conclude no matter why you are in London but if in London, NK Arya Bhavan is...

I am a regular visitor to various Saravanan Bhavan and other south Indian restaurants in and around London. But this has to be the worst Saravanan Bhavan restaurant of all that I have ever been to. It is congested and food+service quality not worth the money you spend. Have been to the Liecestor square Saravanan Bhavan on multiple occasions and previously my opinions were largely mixed about this particular one, while the one in East ham and few others were consistently much superior in quality. Our last visit yesterday to this place was a pathetic experience due to the quality of service that was offered and due to the attitude of the staff. We two families including small kids waited on the street for more than an hour to get in(definitely not worth the wait, when you have multiple options to choose in London) and once we were inside we were told by the waiter that we can only place one order per table and was not aware of this weird "rule(which they say because it is already 9PM)" and would not have waited so long to get in if we knew about this in the first place. Then we asked for few items in the menu and the waiter told they are not available for order, but to our dismay we saw same items were offered for other guests sitting in another table who came in later than us and realised their waiter was different and was able to arrange required items for them! When we enquired about this, our waiter said, those items were pre-ordered by them while they were waiting to be seated! Wow, what an answer and what a great service is this!? Then one of the kid in our group wanted a juice, and was rudely reminded by the waiter that we can't order now since it will be second order per table! We were treated like beggars and the waiter was behaving as if he was doing a charity drive by getting us food and letting us eat! Will never return and wont recommend if you are looking for a good family dining experience. There are definitely much better restaurant options in London...

We tried Arya Bhavan this weekend, the options available in the menu are good however some of the dishes were not available. The waiting staff did not manage or provide a good service. They kept a senior citizen waiting out in the cold without even offering a chair or a space to sit. There was chaos in looking for a table and when the table was assigned the waiting staff did not turn up for almost 10 mins, they needed constant reminders for even the smallest of things like water, cutlery etc.. when we ordered the food the staff then came and informed that an item we ordered was not available without even suggesting or asking if we wanted to look for alternatives. During the meal we had asked for an additional item which was part of the South Indian thali, the staff did not bring the rice till about after 20 mins of waiting and 3 reminders, my question is that if you don’t have time to serve why do accept bookings ?

Now for the food - The dosas were great! The chutneys were good but a tad spicy and this may not appeal to the western palette.

The south India thali needs more improvement, do not just fill all the cups for the sake of filling it, the sambar, Rasam and Koori all tasted very flat with little or no flavour. The only reason I did not send it back is that I was hungry and given the wait times we were facing it was wise to eat what you got. £19.90 is over pricy for the food we got in the thali. The chapati was also not hot enough but was manageable !

May not go back unless forced to visit or due to group choosing to try this place again. You need to fix your service and your attitude as the food...