Chipstead, Indian Restaurant Guide

This Honor Oak Park institution “celebrated its well-deserved 40th anniversary” over the last year and “continues to provide some of the best Indian cooking in London” – it “looks and to an extent feels like a neighbourhood curry house, but the food is in another league”, with diners travelling from beyond southeast London to sample chef Jiwan Lal’s cuisine. They get a warm welcome, too (“I’ve been a regular customer for over 25 years and am greeted like an old friend”). Top Tips – “the good-value Sunday lunch buffet is well worth a trek”; “Swordfish tikka with a well-balanced radish pickle; Champaran mutton curry with excellent quality meat; Mango creme brulee with a very delicate crust”.

“Deliciously-spiced food with friendly and attentive service” inspires very high and consistent praise for Atul Kochhar’s accomplished venue, which is one of the brighter sparks in this thinly provided area of SE London’s outer ’burbs. Breaking news: according to the restaurant’s website and Insta in October 2025, an upgrade is in progress – ‘We’re thrilled to announce that Indian Essence is about to embark on a bold new chapter, transforming your dining experience. We’re blending style, comfort, and innovation to create a space as unforgettable as the food we serve, so expect a fresh look, a reimagined interior, and a few surprises on the menu’.

This modern, family-run Indian restaurant is a “very useful venue for the area”, delivering food of a “good consistent standard” from a “menu with a bit of thought behind it” – and which includes such unusual dishes as tandoori ostrich fillet and wild boar curry.