Vijay’s Chawalla

Reviews

• Sarah O.

  star star star star star 13 June 2026

  I really thought I had reviewed this amazing restaurant already. It's our favourite local restaurant and possibly my favourite Indian restaurant of all time.
  
  This is a vegetarian restaurant but if, like me, you're a meat eater don't let this put you off. The dishes are so tasty and filling you won't notice the lack of meat.
  
  The restaurant is always busy and is especially popular within the Asian community so that's always a good sign. It's not the smartest restaurant and is more like a cafe in terms of the setting but it really is a gem.
  
  I always have to have the aloo papdi chaat. It's definitely my favourite dish there. Then I usually go for a thali to get a mix of everything or a dosa as they're so good. It's all really good though, well cooked, nicely spiced and really good value. The only thing I haven't liked is the mogo.
  
  We usually get a few dishes and share them between us which works well but we do come out completely stuffed and have to waddle home. Oh, and always have a mango lassi each. I just wish they did jugs of it!

• SA I.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 10 June 2026

  London offers increasingly more locations that have a concentration of Indian and Pakistani food establishments and stores. In the past we used to head to Southall and more recently have been taking the tube to the Upton Park station and upon exiting, sauntering along Green Street, oohing and aahing at the myriad of desi stores.
  
  The first time we went to this area, we discovered  Vijay's Chawalla (VC) and fell in love with the chaat and, snacks as well as beverages like lassis a faludas. My favorite was (and continued to be so after repeated visits) the methi puris/bhaturas and chana. The Sahi puri was also great and the faluda out of the world.
  
  Lately, including on our visit a couple of months ago, the food was very disappointing. I have no idea why this happened? Either my taste buds changed or spoiled after being treated to the outstanding version of chole bhature at Aggarwal Sweets in Surrey, BC. Possibly, as in the case of some South Asian restaurants, their chef left, defecting to another establishment or to open his/her own place. (For instance, I first met Hemant Mathur while he was the chef at Diwan Grill in Manhattan, then left to go to Amna and today he is the partner/owner in a handful of some of Manhattan's most acclaimed Indian restaurants and I ran into him running from one place to another to oversee the food preparation).
  
  Good luck, foodies with your desi food hunting in London. Please be sure to share your finds because I cannot wait to try them.
  
  Whatever the reason, I cannot call this a place I would like to frequent again. Besides there are so many other choices now on Green Street.
  
  By the way, the faluda at VC still looked fantastic (at the table next to ours) and I cant wait to earn enough extra calorie indulging capacity to try some if my caloric capacity gain coincides with a visit to London.

• Louise S.

  star star star star star 30 May 2026

  Chawalla is always packed with Asian diners and if they rate this Indian restaurant it shows how good it is. Dined there with husband having just bought some Salwar Kameezs'. We had a medium hot curry with rice and  delectable icy lime sorbets. The staff are friendly, the service is excellent and the place is continually being cleaned - no dirty tables here. Prices are reasonable.
  Highly recommended after a shopping trip sampling Green Street clothes and jewellery and the amazing Queens Road Market with something for everyone.

• Alma B.

  star star star star star_border 24 May 2026

  One of my all time favourite places to go for spicy food. Every single dish that I have tasted in chaiwalas has been delicious. A few recommendations: pani puri, spicy chips, chana masala, Doha. The food comes out fast and it is a great place to go for a quick bite. The only reason I gave it a 4 and not 5, I wished the service was better and once I wasn't impressed with the food. I felt the roti had been re-heated and therefore the taste was not pleasant. However, I have been there since, and was pleased as the food was back to being fresh and delicious. Highly recommend this place, yum.

• Buford T.

  star star star star star 22 May 2026

  I did go back! And this time, the food was perfect. Either I've developed a tolerance for chilli or it has got a little milder. Food was brilliant, ate so much for lunch that I went without dinner. I went with my mother. She didn't complain about anything and trust me, that earns it the extra star. Go for it, the couple of minutes that you'll queue will definitely be well worth it.