Last Updated on October 19, 2025
Bringing Indian Fine Dining South of the River – Kachori
Having moved South of the River about ten years ago from swanky West Brompton, I’ve found plenty to love here in Walworth. It’s an area with lots of green space, a cosmopolitan feel, a unique cultural heritage and a genuine friendliness that I never found before. House prices almost verge on reasonable. I swapped a 2 bed flat for a terraced house with a garden looking out over the park and had change in my pocket! But, what I’ve missed is the sort of neighbourhood restaurants that are two a penny in West Brompton and South Ken – places I’d choose to go to for the food rather than trek into town not just because it meant avoiding the late tube home but because the food was genuinely better and somewhat cheaper. For context, even my local pub was a Michelin-starred pub. Take one executive chef from Michelin-starred Benares and Gymkhana (Brinder Narula) and transport him to Elephant and I’m a happy woman. That’s just happened in the form of Kachori, a modern Indian restaurant which aims to showcase the food of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and The Punjab – including influences drawn from the regional communities of Marwari, Jains, Raiputs and Moghuls. This place is the brainchild of Sorowar Khan, the founder of Mango in Borough and Humayun Hussain, a food and hospitality consultant who I’ve known for several years – a man who knows what he’s talking about!
Kachori is both a neighbourhood restaurant and a destination restaurant. A stone’s throw from Elephant and Castle tube and overground, it’s well connected. And, the interior manages a contemporary feel with nods to Indian heritage. Most importantly, the menu is comprehensive without being overwhelming – and with the sort of dishes that really invite a return visit. I know I need to go back for the Biryani, which comes with a spiced pastry crust. And I’m tempted by so many more of the dishes – especially now I’ve tried a few!
We started our meal with the Bikaneri Raj Kachori – a showstopping dish. The puffed lentil and wheat sphere was filled with cubes of sweet potatoes and spiced yoghurt and topped with yoghurt, tamarind chutney and a fragrant green chutney. Kachori are puffed fried bread made with ground dal flour, a popular Indian street food, elevated here into an elegant and filling starter.
Kurkuri Calamari and Shrimp, our other starter was a fresh, lightly spiced dish of seafood in a crisp batter. A delicate dish that left both of us wanting more
With the mains, we shared sides of perfectly cooked steamed rice and a creamy rich dal makhani which was good enough to have me coming back for more, along with a rather beautiful side dish of marwari gobhi – cauliflower florets with onion tomato, cumin and crushed mung beans. A great testament to the skill of the kitchen, cauliflower is a vegetable that can so easily be overcooked and end up watery and mushy. Here, there was just the right amount of bite in a delicately spiced dish. I’d happily feast on just the side dishes.
The mixed meat platter comprised an incredibly tender Tandoori lamb chop, beautifully spiced and with the perfect pink centre, a mouthful of moist and well-flavoured chicken tikka, a small piece of tandoori sea bream and a jumbo shell prawn with garlic stone flower and avocado raita. Each of the elements can be ordered separately, but this is a good way to try every option if you are finding it hard to pick (as we were!).
Next time, I’ll be ordering the jumbo shell prawns…or maybe the Rajputana lamb chops….both stunningly good!
Our other main dish was a lush fish dish. Malay Meen is made with cod loin, lemon grass, galangal, yellow mustard, coconut and tamarind. A dish which I believe originates from Kerala, Southern India, a region famous for its fresh fish dishes. Mild and creamy for the most part, there was a real kick from the red chilli in the sauce. It was full of flavour and I was quite happy lacing the rice with spoonfuls of the delicious gravy.
Kachori has already gained some fame for their stunning Masala Chai creme brulee on the menu and my companion loved this delicately perfumed and beautifully creamy creme brulee topped with fresh mango and micro coriander leaves
I was no less impressed with my own dessert, a salted caramel, jaggery and peanut butter parfait with a tiny jaggery crisp and sweet/salty glazed banana. Not only delicious but stunning too.
Throughout the meal, we drank a delicious and well-priced Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Noir. It can be tricky to find a wine that works well with Indian food, particularly if you have a mixture of fish and meat dishes. This light, fruity and nicely structured wine was a great choice from the restaurant manager.
This part of London will really benefit from such an excellent neighbourhood restaurant. I suspect it will quickly become a destination too – just 15 minutes walk from Borough Market and 10 minutes on the tube from central London. Prices are impressive – I’d suggest at least 30% less than a Mayfair equivalent – but there’s absolutely no compromise on quality. And, I can walk home! I’ve raved about it so much that several of my neighbours have already been since I visited and all received the same fabulous food and excellent service that we got. So, I’ll be back!
Kachori Restaurant
12 Ash Avenue
Elephant Park
London
SE17 1GQ
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