Recently, we enjoyed a delightful lunch at Darjeeling Express in Kingly Court, London W1, conveniently located near Carnaby Street. Darjeeling Express has a fascinating origin story, having started as an intimate dinner for 12 guests at Asma Khan’s home. Asma has a culinary heritage deeply rooted in royal Mughlai traditions and the bustling streets of Calcutta, where she spent her formative years. She prepares Indian cuisine using cherished family recipes spanning generations. Notably, the kitchen at Darjeeling Express is staffed entirely by a dedicated team of women. The result is a menu with home-style dishes crafted with genuine love and care. If you’re looking for the best Indian Restaurants in W1 or places to eat lunch near Carnaby Street, you’ll enjoy Darjeeling Express.
“Savour the home-cooked Indian flavours at Darjeeling Express from a team of female chefs,” Homegirl London.
Darjeeling Express Lunch Menu
At Darjeeling Express, the lunch menu offers a variety of tempting choices. We couldn’t resist ordering a Chilli Cheese Toastie, £12, to stave off our hunger as we perused the menu.
Moving on to the starters, we savoured the Darjeeling Special Momos. These are steamed Dumplings filled with either Meat or Vegetables, served with Smoked Chilli Sesame Chutney. Opting for the Veg version, we were delighted by the Dumpling casing and the flavourful filling. Starters are priced between £9 and £12.
For the mains, each dish is accompanied by Rice. We contemplated the Vegan and Vegetarian options, including Kala Channa (Black Chickpeas), Paneer Korma, and Badami Baingan (Aubergine in a Coconut, Almond, and Peanut Base with Tamarind). Ultimately, the latter won, and its rich sauce perfectly complemented the impeccably cooked Aubergines.
Non-vegetarian mains featured enticing choices like Prawn Malaikari (Coconut Milk base), Beef Tamatar Kofta (Meatballs in a rich Tomato Gravy), Kosha Mangsho (Goat Curry), and Methi Chicken (in a rich Tomato Gravy). Main courses are priced between £19 and £25.
We selected the Tamarind Dal, a slow-cooked Lentil dish from the sides menu, to accompany our meal. The Aloo Mattar Sabzi, featuring Potatoes with Garden Peas and Cumin Seeds, was equally tempting. Sides are priced between £6 and £8.
Our dining experience concluded with the indulgent Khoobani Ka Meetha. The bowl of stewed Apricots with Pistachios and Cream offered a lush finale to our feast. Alternatively, diners can choose from traditional desserts like Kheer, a chilled Rice and Milk dessert, or Bhapa Doi, a steamed Bengali Yogurt. Desserts are priced at £6.
Drinks range from a list of Wines to signature Cocktails, many featuring Gin. You’ll also find Mango Lassi, Cumin and Green Chilli Lassi and Thumbs Up, the Indian Cola drink, which I enjoyed.
Watch My Darjeeling Express Video
Helpful Information About Darjeeling Express
For more information, please visit the Darjeeling Express website. You can find them at Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, London W1B 5PW, with the closest stations being Oxford Circus, Bond Street and Piccadilly Circus. If you’re unfamiliar with Kingly Court, it’s a charming three-story dining hub featuring an open-air, traffic-free courtyard. It’s an ideal spot for a meal with a partner or a group of friends. The warm and welcoming interior lets you glimpse the talented women working in the kitchen. I highly recommend making a reservation, as this restaurant is consistently busy.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. I only write about eateries where I had a good experience. I recommend you do further research as standards fluctuate, as do opinions. Please check if the establishment is still in business and the opening times before you go. If you discover this restaurant has closed, contact me to remove it from my blog.
