119 Brockley Rise, London, SE23 1JP
Harden's survey result
Summary
To its many fans, this “small place” off the gastronomic track in Honor Oak Park “remains the best Indian in South London”, and its “engaging staff” delivering “very different food with panache and skill”, “after almost 40 years”. “Unless you’re local, it’s not entirely easy to get to, but it’s well worthy of a journey.”
Summary
“The deft flavours of fine Indian dining” at this “Honor Oak stalwart” have induced discerning diners to “make the awkward trip” to SE23 for almost 40 years now. “The place maintains its standards” and has a credible claim on being “the best Indian in southeast London” thanks to its “exciting” dishes, “excellent” service and “elegant” interior.
Summary
With its “extraordinary modern take on Indian cuisine with a British slant”, this unsung food hero of the south London suburbs is “worth the trek” to Forest Hill – “it’s not easy to find but don’t miss it”. A local hit for 36 years now, it’s “a major cut above your standard Indian”, and boasts “surprising, inventive and unfailingly delicious food, impeccably charming staff, and a Dal Makhni I travel 150 miles twice a year to eat”. “The chefs are artists with a rabbit” – evidence of their “particular talent with game that surprises and delights in equal measure”.
Summary
“In Forest Hill… who knew?”; this “off-the-beaten-track” culinary mecca has, in fact, been “brilliant for years” (it opened in 1985) and “these guys just keep on delivering the goods”. It’s not just the “magnificent cooking”, often featuring game, or “seriously divine cocktails” (some of them “super spicy”) – the ambience too “is strikingly elegant given the mundane locale” of the distant south London ’burbs. Top Tip – “best experienced when they do their special seasonal menus and events”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Babur?
Owner's description
Deep in SE London suburbia lies a multifaceted gem of family-run restaurant that has not only stood the test of time but is constantly evolving its menus and cooking styles to represent the very best in contemporary cooking from India and the subcontinent.
From its unassuming spot in Honor Oak Park, Babur has been quietly and consistently elevating Indian cuisine in the area since 1985, and – recently crowned London’s Best Asian Restaurant at the Asian Restaurant Awards 2022 – is still being recognised as one of the best around.
Original cuisine, innovative cocktails, a price-conscious wine list and thoughtful service from a core team who have spent the last 15 years (at least) working side-by-side, makes Babur a suburban jewel that is worth the journey.
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £23.95 |  |
|
|
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 49.95 | Always available | 4 |
| Menu2 | 54.95 | Always available | 5 |
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £10.20 | £21.20 | £5.75 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £31.50 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.95 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
Restaurant details
The chef
Executive Chef of Babur, Jiwan Lal, is a highly creative, skilful and distinctive senior chef, whose passion for modern Indian cooking has made him one of the most well-respected practitioners of Indian cooking in the UK.
Since taking his position with Babur almost 20 years ago, back in 2005, Jiwan has been integral in helping the South East London restaurant achieve its status as a beloved neighbourhood gem as well as a huge number of accolades, most recently Best Asian Restaurant in London at the 2022 Asian Restaurant Awards.
Jiwan trained with India’s prestigious Oberoi Hotel group and over the years has developed his trademark cooking style of taking tried and tested Indian dishes and giving them a modernist spin. Subtle spicing, quality British ingredients and flavour combinations that are both familiar yet unexpected are all brought together with fine dining-levels of presentation.
Signature dishes such as: clove-smoked lamb chops; pan-fried sea bream and organic green pea kedgeree; spiced apricot and fig crumble with saffron custard; and garlic brulee illustrate Jiwan’s adventurous and experimental streak but he retains a huge respect for traditional techniques and flavours.
“I’m not a chef who wants to forget his roots and turn Indian cooking into something completely different,” says Jiwan, “yet, I’m not afraid to take Indian cuisine into a different arena either. I want my cooking to be bold, match ingredients that one wouldn’t normally associate with Indian food, but at the same time never lose sight of the spicing that makes Indian cuisine truly unique and so invigorating.”
Babur Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Delicious slow-cooked goat and lamb dishes, beautifully spiced. Inspired and surprising mocktails. Not very cumin-y cumin chocolate fondant, but baked to perfection."
119 Brockley Rise, London, SE23 1JP
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑10:30 pm |
