The best Indian restaurant in Fulham is the one that gets four things right: fresh ingredients, proper technique, a menu with real regional range, and service that helps you order well. This guide explains how to judge each of those, what to order on a first visit, and which menu works for which occasion, using our own kitchen at 67 Fulham High Street as the worked example.
At a glance
- 67 Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JJ, a 4-minute walk from Putney Bridge station (District line)
- Open Monday–Friday 5.30pm–11pm, Saturday 1pm–11pm, Sunday 1pm–10pm
- Early dinner every day 5.30–6.30pm: 2 courses £27, 3 courses £33
- Weekend set lunch: 2 courses £21, 3 courses £25 · Tasting menu £68 per person
- Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, with allergens marked on every menu
What makes a great Indian restaurant?
Most of us have eaten at an Indian restaurant where every curry arrived in the same shade of orange and tasted faintly of the same base sauce. That is the clearest sign of a kitchen working from shortcuts. A great one does the opposite: each dish has its own spice logic, its own texture and its own reason for being on the menu.
Ingredients you can taste
Freshness shows in the details. Herbs should taste green, seafood should be clean and sweet, and meat should hold its shape after slow cooking. Chef Shilpa puts it simply:
"Great ingredients also inspire great dishes — it's as simple as that."Chef Shilpa Dandekar
Technique, not just heat
Spice is about balance far more than fire. Look for dishes that are tempered, slow cooked or charred in a tandoor with care, and a kitchen confident enough to serve something mild. Our Dal Makhani, for example, is slow cooked overnight and mildly spiced, and it is one of the dishes guests mention most.
Regional range
India is a continent of cuisines. A menu that only covers the familiar North Indian classics is missing coastal curries, Maharashtrian dry spice preparations and the street-food snacks known as chaat. Ours runs from Punjab-style dal and the clay oven to Mangalorean coconut curry and Maharashtrian lamb.
Service that guides you
Good front of house tells you which dishes are spicy, which share well and how much to order. Faheem Vanoo runs our dining room, and both he and Shilpa began their careers with the Taj Group in India, where hospitality is treated as a craft. You can read more in our founders' story.
Why do critics call this the best Indian restaurant in Fulham?
We would rather let others say it. The Infatuation described us as "serving the best Indian food in Fulham", picking out the Patra Chaat, Methi Malai Chicken Tikka, Mangalorean chicken curry and Dal Makhani. Harden's 2026 guide sums the place up as "West End flavours at suburban prices". Guests also leave their own reviews on OpenTable when they book.
What sits behind that is Shilpa's background. She cooked at Quilon, one of the first Indian restaurants in the UK to earn a Michelin star, then spent years in classical French kitchens at Raymond Blanc's Brasserie Blanc, rising to head chef of its branch at Bank. That mix of Indian roots and French discipline is why our stocks, sauces and plating look and taste the way they do.
What should you order on a first visit?
The easiest approach is to order a little from each section of the à la carte menu and share. For two people, this works well:
- Start crisp: Papad (Plain, Sago & Khakhra), £4, with garlic tomato and mango chutneys.
- One chaat: Patra Chaat, £11, colocasia leaves with yoghurt, date and tamarind chutney and pomegranate. Our guide to what patra chaat is explains why it is so popular.
- One from the tandoor: Methi Malai Chicken Tikka, £12, or Malabari Paneer Tikka, £11, for vegetarians.
- Two contrasting mains: Mangalorean Chicken, £16, with coconut and byadgi chillies, plus Lamb Sukke, £18, a spicier Maharashtrian dry preparation. Read more about the Mangalorean chicken curry.
- Dal and bread: Dal Makhani, £11, with a Butter Naan, £3, and Saffron Pulao, £4.
If you prefer a familiar anchor, Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala are both £16. For something more unusual, the Tandoori Duck (£22) and Venison Lal Maas (£23) show the kitchen at its most inventive. Our full à la carte dish guide covers every section.
Which menu suits which occasion?
| Occasion | Best menu | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Quick, good-value evening | Early dinner, 5.30–6.30pm daily | £27 / £33 |
| Weekend family meal | Set lunch, Saturday & Sunday | £21 / £25 |
| Date night or celebration | Tasting menu | £68 per person |
| Group sharing dinner | À la carte, ordered for the table | Priced by the dish |
| Night in | Collection or delivery | À la carte prices |
The early dinner holds your table for one hour and is not available on match days or special events, so check before you plan around it. There is no weekday lunch; on weekdays we open at 5.30pm. For an evening for two, our ideas for a romantic dinner in Fulham go into more detail, and the tasting menu guide explains how the ten courses are paced.
Is it a good Indian restaurant in Fulham for families and dietary needs?
Yes. Families and children are welcome, as are small, well-behaved dogs. The menu has a full vegetarian section, from Baingan Bharta to Lasooni Palak, and vegan and gluten-free options are available. Allergens are marked on every menu, but always tell our team about any allergy when you order so the kitchen can advise.
For larger gatherings such as birthdays, anniversaries and business dinners, see private dining and celebrations.
Plan your first visit
Weekend evenings fill up first, so book a table ahead if you have a time in mind. Our visit page has directions, the map and parking notes; there is street parking nearby, with evening options close to the restaurant. Prefer to stay in? You can order online for collection or delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Pure Indian Cooking in Fulham?
We are at 67 Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JJ, a four-minute walk from Putney Bridge Underground station on the District line.
What is the most popular dish to try first?
Patra Chaat (£11) and Dal Makhani (£11) are two of the dishes critics and guests mention most. The Infatuation also highlighted the Methi Malai Chicken Tikka and Mangalorean chicken curry.
Is there a cheaper way to try the menu?
Yes. The early dinner runs every day from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at £27 for two courses or £33 for three, and the weekend set lunch is £21 or £25.
Do you serve lunch on weekdays?
No. We open at 5.30pm Monday to Friday, and from 1pm on Saturday and Sunday, when the set lunch is available.
Is service included in the bill?
Prices include VAT, and a discretionary 12.5% service charge is added to the bill.
Book a table at Pure Indian Cooking
67 Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JJ · 020 7736 2521
