Discover Darjeeling Express in London, founded by Asma Khan. Enjoy homestyle Mughlai and Calcutta dishes, served by an all-women kitchen. A unique dining experience blending heritage, community, and authentic Indian food.
A Restaurant Born at Home
- Darjeeling Express started with a simple dinner for twelve guests.
- The food came from family recipes passed down for generations.
- Every dish reflects Asma Khan’s Mughlai heritage and her childhood in Calcutta.
What You Taste
- Street food classics like dahi papri chaat.
- Slow-cooked dishes such as Kosha Mangsho.
- Plates designed for sharing in the style of a traditional Indian daawat.
Food here feels personal. You eat the way families eat at home—together, passing plates, and enjoying contrasting flavors in one meal.
The All-Women Kitchen
- From day one, the kitchen has been run by housewives.
- They bring the warmth of home cooking into every dish.
- Meals nourish both body and soul.
About Asma Khan
- Indian-born British restaurateur.
- Founder of Darjeeling Express in London.
- First British chef featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table.
- Known for creating safe spaces for women in the restaurant industry.
Recognition and Work
- Named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2024.
- Chef advocate for the UN World Food Programme.
- Honorary fellow of Queen’s College, Oxford, and King’s College London.
- Holds a PhD in British Constitutional Law.
- Appeared on Celebrity MasterChef and Top Chef.
Recent Projects
- Third cookbook Monsoon celebrates seasonal Indian home cooking.
- Hosts the 2025 Food Network series Secrets of the Curry Kitchen (10 episodes).
- First patron of the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, championing food justice.
Why Visit Darjeeling Express?
- You get more than food—you experience stories from Calcutta to Hyderabad.
- You share a table shaped by tradition, memory, and community.
- You support a restaurant that empowers women.
Darjeeling Express in London, founded by Asma Khan, serves homestyle Indian food rooted in Mughlai and Calcutta traditions. Known for its all-women kitchen, the restaurant has become a cultural landmark. Asma Khan is a TIME 100 honoree, UN food advocate, author, and host of Secrets of the Curry Kitchen.