Finding a genuinely good halal Indian restaurant near Liverpool Street shouldn’t feel like a research project. Whether you’re a City worker grabbing a weekday lunch, a tourist exploring Spitalfields, or heading to the area after Friday prayers, you want something authentic, reliable, and respectful of your dietary requirements. That’s exactly what Dilchad has been delivering since 1962.
Tucked away on Widegate Street, just a five-minute walk from Liverpool Street station, Dilchad is a family-run Bengali restaurant with deep roots in East London’s South Asian community. It is consistently listed among the top halal restaurants in both Spitalfields and the Bishopsgate/Liverpool Street area, rated 9.2 by verified diners on TheFork and 4.7 stars on OpenTable. With hundreds of positive reviews on TripAdvisor, Dilchad has built a reputation that speaks for itself.
This guide covers everything you need to know: halal status, what to order, how to book, and how to get here.
Why Halal Matters in the City of London Dining Scene
The City of London is home to one of the most diverse working populations in Europe. Thousands of Muslim professionals commute through Liverpool Street every day, and the area around Whitechapel and Spitalfields has historic ties to East London’s Bangladeshi and South Asian communities going back over a century.
Despite that, genuine halal options inside the Square Mile are surprisingly sparse. Many restaurants near the City serve halal meat on request but lack the kitchen rigour or sourcing transparency that observant diners need. That gap is precisely where Dilchad stands apart.
Dilchad’s Halal Commitment: Standards and Sourcing
In the UK, halal compliance is guided by bodies like the Halal Food Authority — and for Muslim diners, knowing a restaurant meets those standards is non-negotiable.
Dilchad is a halal-friendly Indian restaurant. All meat served is halal. The restaurant’s founding family, the Choudhurys, are pillars of the Bengali Muslim community in East London, and that identity has been woven into how the kitchen operates since day one.
How Our Meat Is Sourced and Certified
Every meat dish at Dilchad is prepared using halal-certified ingredients. The sourcing aligns with the values of a restaurant that has served the local Muslim community for over six decades. If you have specific certification questions ahead of your visit, for example, regarding the slaughter method used by a particular supplier, the team is happy to advise. Call 020 7247 9614 or email info@dilchad.com before booking.
Kitchen Practices That Ensure Integrity
Beyond sourcing, kitchen integrity matters. Dilchad operates as a single-concept Indian restaurant; there is no pork on the menu, and cross-contamination risks from non-halal proteins are not a concern in the way they would be at a mixed-cuisine venue. The restaurant holds a 5-star food hygiene rating, independently verified by the Food Standards Agency.
Top Halal Dishes to Order at Dilchad
The menu at Dilchad spans traditional Bengali and North Indian classics. Here are the standouts.
Grills and Tandoor Specialities
The tandoor oven is the heart of the kitchen. Tandoor cooking is inherently clean, high heat, no marinades that mask the quality of the meat, and a smokiness that only comes from a properly fired clay oven.
- Chicken tikka — tender marinated thighs, charred at the edges, served with fresh coriander chutney
- Seekh kebab — spiced minced lamb on skewers, a Friday favourite with groups
- Tandoori mixed grill — a generous sharing plate ideal for business lunches
- Tandoori king prawns — particularly popular with diners who want something lighter
Curry and Biryani Highlights
If you’re here for a proper sit-down meal, the curries are where Dilchad’s Bengali heritage truly shines.
- Lamb rogan josh — slow-cooked with Kashmiri chillies; deeply aromatic without being aggressively spicy
- Chicken jalfrezi — a drier, stir-fried style curry that pairs well with garlic naan
- Vegetable biryani — fragrant basmati rice layered with spiced vegetables; an excellent option for vegetarian guests dining alongside the group
- Chingri malai curry — creamy prawn curry cooked in coconut milk, a classic Bengali dish that you won’t find on most restaurant menus in this part of the city
The menu also includes a strong selection of lentil-based dishes (dal), which means the restaurant accommodates mixed-dietary groups with genuine ease.
Booking for Business Lunches and Group Dinners
Dilchad is well set up for group dining. The restaurant seats a comfortable number, and the team is experienced in handling corporate bookings, birthday meals, and anniversary dinners.
For business lunches, the midweek set menu options offer good value for time-pressed City diners. For larger groups, particularly for Friday dining after Jumu’ah prayers at the East London Mosque, a 10-minute walk from Dilchad, booking ahead is strongly recommended.
Opening hours:
- Monday–Wednesday: 12 pm–11:30 pm
- Thursday–Friday: 12 pm–midnight
- Saturday–Sunday: 12 pm–3 pm / 6 pm–10 pm
Reserve a table directly at dilchad.com/reservation or call 020 7247 9614.
For private hire, corporate events, or larger group enquiries, see Dilchad’s events and corporate dining page.
How to Get to Dilchad from Liverpool Street Station
Address: 24 Widegate Street, Spitalfields, London E1 7HP
From Liverpool Street mainline and Underground station, the walk takes approximately 5 minutes:
- Exit from the Bishopsgate exit
- Walk south along Bishopsgate
- Turn left onto Widegate Street — Dilchad is on the right
The restaurant is also convenient from Aldgate East (Elizabeth line, 7 minutes), Shoreditch High Street (Overground, 9 minutes), and Whitechapel (Elizabeth line, 8 minutes).
There is no on-site parking, but Widegate Street is well served by public transport across multiple lines and is within walking distance of Liverpool Street’s bike hire docking station.
Dilchad: The Only Choice for Halal Indian Dining Near Liverpool Street
If you’re looking for the best halal Indian restaurant near Liverpool Street, Dilchad is the answer. Not by default — because there genuinely aren’t many options in this corridor — but because over 60 years of consistent cooking, a deep community heritage, and a menu that honours authentic Bengali flavours make it the clear first choice.
Whether it’s a solo lunch, a client dinner, or a group gathering after Friday prayers, the combination of halal commitment, honest food, and a location that’s genuinely minutes from Liverpool Street station is hard to beat.
Book your table at Dilchad → or call 020 7247 9614.
FAQ
Q: Is the Dilchad restaurant halal?
Yes. Dilchad serves halal meat and has done so since it was founded in 1962 by the Choudhury family, who are part of East London’s Bengali Muslim community. There is no pork on the menu. For specific certification queries, contact the restaurant directly on 020 7247 9614.
Q: What halal Indian Restaurant Near Liverpool Street Station?
Dilchad on Widegate Street is the closest halal Indian restaurant to Liverpool Street station — approximately a 5-minute walk. It has been consistently rated as one of the top halal dining options in the Spitalfields and Bishopsgate area.
Q: Are there halal options at Indian restaurants in Spitalfields?
Yes. Spitalfields has several restaurants with halal options, reflecting the area’s Bengali and South Asian heritage. Dilchad is the most established, having operated as a halal Indian restaurant in Spitalfields since 1962.
Q: Which Indian restaurants near the City of London are halal certified?
Dilchad in Spitalfields (E1 7HP) is the best-known and most highly rated halal Indian restaurant on the edge of the City of London. It is listed as halal on TheFork, rated 9.2 by verified diners, and is conveniently located for anyone working in or visiting the Square Mile.
