Top 10 Indian Stores and Restaurants in London Every Student Should Know

Moving to a new country has the pangs — and the shopping list. From that home-made rajma of your mother to that samosa waala of your hometown, Indian food is comfort, memory, and identity in a dish. 

To thousands of Indian students who are migrating to London student accommodation each year, having the best Indian restaurants and food shops within reach is home. At Acolyte Living, we don't merely find you a room – we find you your groove. And that includes food. 

These are 10 Indian restaurants and food shops in London that students love, that you'll adore, especially on homesick days (and hangry nights). 

Top 5 Indian Grocery Stores in London 

Whether you are living in a London flat, university halls, or private halls, these stores are stocked with whatever you might need to make a storm – from haldi and hing to frozen samosas and fresh curry leaves. 

1. Ambala Foods – Southall & Online 

Ambala is a legend. It's famous for classic Indian sweets like barfi and soan papdi, yet it retails an vast range of ready-to-eat food, snacks, and dry groceries as well. With branches in Southall (mini India of West London) and online ordering facilities, it's one such favorite of the students living in student rental neighborhoods of London, which keeps an eye out for comfort foods to order in celebratory times. 

2. Spices of India – Online 

No time to go shopping? This UK-wide online supermarket delivers all this — papad and pickles to instant masala mixes — to your doorstep. Ideal for London student halls of residence residents too busy and too busy-in-a-hurry with deadlines and dinner. 

3. Patel Brothers – Wembley 

You’ve heard of it in the US — now it’s here. Patel Brothers in Wembley is a dream come true for Indian students. Their fresh produce section is unbeatable, and they also sell traditional cookware and festival decorations. If your student apartment in London is nearby, you’re in luck. 

4. Southall Broadway Market 

Not one store, but a full experience. Southall Broadway is a cultural hub filled with Indian clothing stores, sweet shops, grocery markets, and spice stalls. Ideal for weekend visits, especially if you’re staying in student accommodation near universities in London in West or Central London. 

5. Veenas.com – Hounslow + Online 

Veenas marries web convenience with the added advantage of popping into their Hounslow branch. They have an enormous student clientele, routinely having student deals and even selling cheap staples like dals, atta, and cooking oil in cheap bulk packs. 

London's Top 5 Indian Restaurants 

Need a good Indian meal but not the time and energy to make one up? These are the saviors. They are fairly priced, student-budgeted, and in UK student accommodation tourist area neighborhoods. 

6. Dishoom – Covent Garden, Shoreditch, King's Cross 

Hip, retro, and cool. Dishoom's menu is borrowed from Bombay's Irani cafes. Breakfast chai and bun maska or evening thalis. Student favorite in their restaurant black daal and house chai after staying in central London student housing. 

7. Roti King – Euston 

If you’re staying in cheap student accommodation London near UCL or King’s Cross, Roti King is your next obsession. Their flaky rotis, paired with spicy lamb curry or saag, are both affordable and deeply satisfying. 

8. Saravana Bhavan – East Ham & Leicester Square 

This global vegetarian chain offers the South Indian food your soul needs. Unlimited sambar and crispy dosas — what more can a homesick student want? It’s also a great place to celebrate festivals like Pongal and Diwali if you’re living in student rooms in London with fellow Desis. 

9. Tandoori Nights – Brick Lane 

Tandoori Nights blends affordability with authenticity. Regardless of the situation in London student living around or close to East London, it's perfect for day-to-day meals, nights out with mates, or midnight single biryani cravings. 

10. Chaiiwala – Multiple Locations 

Chaiiwala is where desi heaven and street food heaven meet. Their karak chai, butter chicken roll, and desi breakfast plate are what receive an Indian student's thumbs up from London student accommodation for a quick bite. 

Student Life Tip: Be part of a Food Circle 

Because you are residing in student accommodation London, having a food buddy system seems to make sense. Alternate in doing their supermarket shopping, cooking meals together, or splitting the prep work on meals. You don't just save money, but you are also connected — an absolute win for adapting to a new country. 

Last Words: It's Not Just About the Food 

Finding Indian restaurants and stores is all about presence. It's about your expression when the waiter asks "aur kuch chahiye?" or when that particular namkeen turns up on a UK shelf. 

Acolyte Living knows that being an international student is not all Wi-Fi and lease. It's about convenience, culture, and care. 

Need assistance finding good student accommodation in London? 

We’ve helped hundreds of Indian students find the best UK student accommodation — and now we’re helping them find their way, one chapati and chai at a time. 

 Find your dream student apartment in London with Acolyte Living. 

Because a good home should feel like home.