Lunch Thali London: What You Actually Get in Dilchad’s £12.95 Special

If you’ve been searching for a proper lunch thali London has to offer without breaking the bank, you’re not alone. Anyone who works near Liverpool Street knows the struggle: a rushed sandwich, a soggy salad, or paying £15+ for a curry that leaves you hungry by 3 pm. Dilchad’s Lunch Thali Special was built to solve exactly that problem, and at £12.95, it’s quietly become one of the best-value weekday lunches in Spitalfields. Here’s exactly what lands on your plate, what it costs, and why it’s worth the short walk from your desk.

What Is a Thali, Actually?

Before diving into Dilchad’s version, it helps to know what a thali actually is. A thali is a traditional Indian meal served as several small dishes on one plate or tray, usually a main curry, a side vegetable dish, rice, bread, and something to start with. The idea is variety and balance in a single sitting rather than one big plate of one thing. It’s been a staple of Indian home cooking and street food for generations, and it translates perfectly into a fast, satisfying lunch format for London’s office crowd.

Inside Dilchad’s Lunch Thali London Special

Dilchad’s Lunch Thali Special comes in three tiers, so you choose based on appetite and spice tolerance rather than guessing from a long à la carte menu. You’ll find the full breakdown on our full menu as well, but here’s the quick version.

Hot Tier

• Onion Bhaji
• Choice of Chicken Madras, Lamb Madras, or Vegetable Madras
• Bombay Aloo
• Pilau Rice

Medium Tier

• Samosa (Chicken, Lamb, or Tuna)
• Choice of Chicken Bhuna, Lamb Bhuna, or Vegetable Bhuna
• Bombay Aloo
• Pilau Rice

Vegan Tier

• Vegetable Samosa
• Saag Tofu
• Bombay Aloo
• Pilau Rice

Every tier is priced at £12.95, which means the choice comes down to taste, not budget.

Madras or Bhuna: Which One Should You Actually Order?

This is the question most first-time customers ask, so here’s the honest answer.

• Madras is a tomato-based, tangy, noticeably spicier curry. Order this if you like heat and don’t mind a bit of a kick with your afternoon meetings.
• Bhuna is a drier, richer, slow-cooked curry with a milder, more rounded flavour. Order this if you want depth of flavour without the sweat.

If you’re unsure, Bhuna is the safer bet for a work lunch. You can always build up to Madras once you know your spice tolerance.

Is the Lunch Thali Good Value?

At £12.95, the thali works out cheaper than ordering a starter and a main separately, and it includes rice as standard, which most à la carte curry orders charge for on top. For context, several central London Indian restaurants charge £15 to £25 for a lunch thali, so Dilchad’s pricing sits firmly on the affordable end without cutting corners on portion size.

Vegan and Vegetarian Options Explained

The Vegan Tier isn’t an afterthought. Saag Tofu swaps in tofu for paneer while keeping the same spinach-based curry style, and the Vegetable Samosa keeps the starter experience intact. If you’re newer to plant-based Indian food, our guide on vegan vs vegetarian differences explains the distinction in more detail. Dilchad is also a proudly halal Indian restaurant, so dietary requirements are covered across the board.

Where and When to Get Your Lunch Thali

Dilchad is based at 24 Widegate St, Spitalfields, London E1 7HP, a short walk from Liverpool Street station, Bishopsgate, and Old Spitalfields Market. The Lunch Thali Special is available during weekday lunch hours, and dine-in tables can be booked ahead if you’re coming with colleagues. For genuine authenticity behind the kitchen, our piece on whether Indian food in London is actually Indian is worth a read too. Dilchad also holds a strong food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency, and sits inside a historic building that’s part of the wider Spitalfields Market area, one of East London’s oldest and most visited destinations.

Final Thoughts

A good lunch thali London office workers can rely on shouldn’t require compromise on price, portion, or flavour. Dilchad’s £12.95 special ticks all three boxes, whether you go Hot, Medium, or Vegan. If you’re near Liverpool Street or Spitalfields and tired of the same desk lunch, this is worth the walk. Book a table or drop by during lunch hours, and see for yourself why it’s become a local favourite.

Frequently Asked Questions