Welsh establishments named among Top 5 UK takeaways at Asian Curry Awards 2022 

Barry and Newport establishments named as top UK takeaways

at 2022 Asian Curry Awards

Tiffin Rasoi in Barry and The Bayleaf Bangladeshi Express Kitchen in Newport shared national honours being named among the five best UK takeaways in the Takeaway of the Year category at the 2022 Asian Curry Awards. Meanwhile Sheesh Mahal in Llanelli and Ijazz in Wrexham were named as the top Asian restaurants in Wales in the regional categories. Cardiff’s Anna Loka was also named as the UK’s best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant of the Year.

London’s Benares Mayfair was named as the FINE DINING RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR, taking one of the top honours at this year’s awards.  Staged in partnership with Just Eat, the awards were announced at a glittering ceremony hosted by broadcaster Samantha Simmonds for more than 800 guests held at London’s Grosvenor House.

Other big winners included Newcastle establishment My Delhi Indian Streetery, which won the STREET FOOD RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR category; and Cardiff’s Anna Loka which took the honours in the BEST VEGETARIAN & VEGAN RESTAURANT category.

Spice I Am in Worthing was named as the UK’s THAI RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR; Pinwei in Manchester was awarded CHINESE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR; London’s Kasa & Kin won FILIPINO RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR; while the NEPALESE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR category was jointly won by Pahuna in Portsmouth and Everest Lounge in Market Harborough.

The ceremony also featured a number of Special Recognition categories including a memorial award for former Asian Curry Awards judging chairman Pat Chapman, who passed away in July, and another in honour of the late Lord Sheik, a longstanding patron of the Asian Catering Federation.

Other Special Recognition Awards went to chefs Sameer Taneja and Jeff Tan for CULINARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE INDUSTRY. Sabbur Karim was also awarded for OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE INDUSTRY AND CHARITY while Chad Rahman was recognised for OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE CULINARY ARTS, and Muhammad Sultan for SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR CHARITY. Meanwhile Scotland’s Foysol Choudhury MSP was also honoured for his work in supporting the UK Asian restaurant industry.

There were additional awards for the leading Asian establishments in the English regions and across the three other home nations.  The full list of this year’s winners can be found below.

A record number of nominees were whittled down by online public vote prior to the award judges visiting shortlisted premises and determining the eventual winners. 

The awards are supported by Cobra Beer and Work Permit Cloud.

This year winners will also be included in the ACF’s new ‘One Hundred Top Curry Restaurants’ guide, which is being published currently, region–by–region across the UK, at www.Top100curryRestaurants.co.uk, with a printed version being available next year.

The event, organised by the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), which represents the nation’s 30,000 restaurant and takeaways, are the only accolades acknowledging the full panoply of Asian cuisines, is widely regarded as the sector’s most prestigious.

Yawar Khan, Chairman of the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), said: “I warmly congratulate all of this year’s winners. These awards come at a difficult time for many in the Asian restaurant industry but through their participation, many establishments will see a significant boost to their bottom line.

“I would also to particularly thank to UK public for their overwhelming support. Tens of thousands of people voted for their favourite restaurants this year. We are all grateful for this high level of interest and engagement which underlines the importance of the Asian restaurant industry and its social, economic and cultural impact across the UK.”

ASIAN CURRY AWARDS 2022 WINNERS
Fine Dining Restaurant Of the Year
Name of the restaurant	Town
Benares	London (Mayfair)
TAKEAWAY OF THE YEAR in association with JUST EAT (Five winners)
Tiffin Rasoi	Barry
Bayleaf Bangladeshi Express Kitchen	Newport
Chennai’s Marina	Edinburgh
Miyoshi	Reigate
Dalchini	Tonbridge
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR (five awards)
The Arjee Bhajee	Bristol
My Delhi	Sunderland
Colonel Saab	London (Holborn)
Balchao	Altrincham
Brick Lane Tandoori	London (Brick Lane)
CHEF OF THE YEAR (five awards)
Juail Ahmed	Mahan, Bexley
Fardous Ahmed Bablu	Curry Leaf, Coulsdon
Neil Patel	Vegetarian Food Studio, Cardiff
Islam Mahabharat	Maha Bharat, Kingsbridge
Sahil Ahmad	Spice I Am, Worthing
NEPALESE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Everest Lounge	Market Harborough
Pahuna	Plymouth
THAI RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Spice I Am	Worthing
CHINESE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Pinwei	Manchester
FILIPINO RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Kasa & Kin	London
VEGETARIAN/VEGAN RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Anna Loka	Cardiff
STREET FOOD RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
My Delhi Indian Streetery	Newcastle

Regional Winners- Asian Restaurant Of The Year
LONDON SUBURBS
I-naga	Bromley
SOUTH COAST OF ENGLAND
Rivaaz	Lymington
SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND (three winners)
India Gate	Chichester
Tarana	Lingfield
Cinnamon Square	Hildenborough
HOME COUNTIES (two winners)
Saffron	Clacton-on-Sea
Mango Lounge	Windsor
MIDLANDS & CENTRAL ENGLAND
Pabna	Leek
EAST OF ENGLAND
The Raj	Kettering
SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND (two winners)
Maha Bharat	Kingsbridge
Bay Leaf	Bristol
NORTH OF ENGLAND
Name of the restaurant	Town
Spice Lounge	Durham
NORTHERN IRELAND
Bangla	Bangor
WALES
Sheesh Mahal	Llanelli
Ijazz	Wrexham
SCOTLAND
Charcoals Restaurant	Glasgow