The English Curry Awards celebrate the rich tapestry of flavours that the curry industry brings’
Miljul Chai, which is described as being Oldham’s best chai house, has been nominated at the English Curry Awards 2025(Image: Miljul Chai)
A number of restaurants, takeaways and cafes from across Greater Manchester have been named amongst the most elite when it comes to curries in the country.
The English Curry Awards, which is now in its 14th year, has unveiled the shortlist for a number of its categories, recognising everything from Afghani Restaurant of the Year to Takeaway of the Year.
The awards ceremony will also give out recognition via a host of regional titles as well as national accolades, in a bid to ‘recognize and applaud the exceptional achievements of the curry sector’.
Organisers behind the event have said this year’s shortlisted venues, where the winners will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on August 11, represent the ‘crème de la crème of the English curry industry’.
The Curry Restaurant of the Year – North West category features a shortlist including Royal Balti House, on Market Street in Farnworth, which has been described as Bolton’s oldest Indian restaurant – dating back to 1969. It also claims to be the borough’s ‘most award-winning restaurant’.
This & That, on Soap Street in the Northern Quarter, is said to be the home of the ‘rice and three’ curries(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Also joining the nominated list for the award are Curry Cottage, on Washway Road in Sale, and Indian restaurant Shamoli, which is not far away on King Street in Knutsford.
The Best of Manchester award features a real who’s-who of the curry industry, including Indian Affair, which has a venue in Chorlton and opened a second site in Ancoats last year. Led by owners Harshit and Natasha Chopra, they describe it more of an Indian kitchen rather than a restaurant for its slant on street food snacks and treats.
The nominations for the category also include NOIR Manchester, in Stretford, Ziya Asian Grill, on Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, Sanskruti Restaurant, on Mauldeth Road in Ladybarn, and Wah Ji Wah, on King Street West.
The Best of Manchester nominations also included Spice n Spirits, on Manchester Road West in Little Hulton, as well as Kerala Curry House, in Higher Ardwick, and Rajdoot Tandoori on Albert Square.
The palak chaat spinach fritters at Indian Affair
Rusholme’s Bardez, which recently also made it into the national Top 100 Asian restaurants list, received a nomination alongside Indique, on Burton Road in West Didsbury.
The shortlist for Streetfood Restaurant of the Year includes two Manchester entries in the form of Indian street food favourite Hungamaa, based on Barlow Moor Road in Chorlton, and This & That, on Soap Street in the city centre, which is hailed as being the home of the ‘rice and three curries’
Afghani Restaurant Of The Year features four Manchester venues, including Kabul Karahi & Grill, on Stockport Road in Levenshulme, and Afghan Cuisine Restaurant, on Wilmslow Road in Rusholme.
Chandni Restaurants, in Kingsway, near Burnage, and Lahori Nazara, also on Stockport Road in Levenshulme, have also both been nominated in the category alongside venues in Birmingham, Leicester and Stoke-on-Trent.
Royal Balti House in Farnworth claims to be the top rated restaurant in Bolton(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The Take Away & Delivery of the Year category features a nomination for Waterhead Tandoori Takeaway, on Huddersfield Road in Oldham, which is known for its Biryani delights, like its Balti Exotica featuring chicken and lamb tikka, alongside sheek kebab and garlic chicken in a ‘special balti sauce’ made up of fresh herbs and spices.
Six of the ten nominated venues for the Cafe Food of the Year award come from across Greater Manchester, including Paratha Stop, on Horsfield Street in Bolton, which is quickly becoming a ‘hotspot for celebrities’ thanks to recent visits from top influencers and popular Pakistani actors, including Feroze Khan.
MilJul Chai House, on Yorkshire Street in Oldham, and Chai and Curry, on Bury New Road in Prestwich, both also made the cut, alongside Paratha Royale, My Karak Chai and Cha Cha Chai.
Popular Pakistan actor Feroze Khan made a visit to the Paratha Stop in Bolton(Image: Paratha Stop)
The coveted Takeaway of the Year prize sadly only featured one venue from Greater Manchester but it’s Samuel’s Indian, on Northenden Road in Sale, that gets the esteemed honour of representing us and Trafford. The venue previously took home the Takeaway of the Year for the North West prize at the English Curry Awards 2024.
Akbar’s, on Liverpool Road in Manchester, also received a nomination for the Curry Kings & Queens of the Year award, alongside the likes of Kebabish Original, Bundobast, and Mowgli Street Food.
A Spokesperson for The 14th English Curry Awards 2025 said: “These Awards promise to be a memorable event that honours the dedication and hard work of the nominees and celebrates the rich tapestry of flavours that the curry industry brings to the English culinary landscape.
“The Awards provide a platform to applaud the exceptional efforts of those who have made significant contributions to the curry sector and continue to elevate the nation’s love for curry. We would like to congratulate all of our finalists and wish them all the best of luck.”
You can find the full list of nominations here. The winners will be announced on August 11.