Every LSE Student Needs to Try

Moving to London as an international student is exciting, but one thing nobody prepares you for is how much you’ll miss food from home.

At first, you’re busy exploring cafés, trying overpriced matcha, and pretending meal deals are enough to survive on. But eventually, the cravings hit. Proper biryani. Fresh naan. Chai that actually tastes like chai. Spicy food that feels comforting after a long day.

And somehow, desi food becomes more than just food in London. It becomes comfort, plans with friends, late-night therapy sessions, and the solution to almost every stressful week at LSE.

So after spending way too much money eating around the city, here are some South Asian food spots in London that I genuinely think every LSE student should try.

Dishoom 

I genuinely don’t think you can live in London without someone recommending Dishoom to you at least ten times.

And honestly? The hype makes sense.

Everything about the place feels comforting the old Bombay café vibe, the music, the food, even the long queues outside. It somehow feels fancy and homely at the same time.

Their black daal and garlic naan are probably my favourites, and their chai on a cold London evening just feels different.

It’s definitely more of a “treat yourself” place because London student budgets are already struggling enough, but it’s perfect for birthdays, family visits, or those random moments when you just need good food.

Roti King 

Roti King is one of those places that almost feels like a London student tradition.

The restaurant is tiny, usually packed, and there’s almost always a queue outside, but somehow nobody minds waiting because the food is THAT good.

Their fresh flaky roti with curry is unreal, especially during winter when London is freezing and depressing. It’s affordable, filling, and honestly one of the best comfort meals you can get near central London.

This is the kind of place you end up craving randomly during lectures.

Masala Zone 

Masala Zone is one of my favourite places to go with friends because everyone always finds something they like there.

Whether you want butter chicken, biryani, dal makhni , chaat, or proper thalis, the menu genuinely has everything. The food feels comforting without trying too hard, and the portions are actually satisfying for once.

Their thalis especially remind me of proper home-style meals, which somehow feels extra emotional during stressful assignment weeks.

Also, the central London locations make it really convenient after classes or spontaneous dinner plans.

1947 London

Going to soho honestly feels like leaving London for a few hours.

The music, the mithai shops, the Punjabi aunties shopping, the smell of food everywhere the whole area feels familiar in the best way possible. And 1947 fits perfectly into that atmosphere.

The food here feels proper desi. Rich curries, grilled meat, fresh naan nothing feels toned down or overly made for tourists.

It’s the kind of place that reminds you of family dinners or wedding food back home.

Biryani Guys

Every South Asian student eventually reaches a point where they desperately need real biryani.

Not fancy Instagram biryani.Not fusion biryani.Just proper comforting desi biryani.

Biryani Guys is genuinely delivers that feeling. The portions are huge, the flavours actually taste authentic, and it’s perfect for takeaway nights after long days at university.

Wembley itself also has such a strong South Asian community that even being there feels comforting somehow.

Mughals 

Mughals is one of those places that feels chaotic in the best possible way.

Busy tables, families eating together, people ordering giant karahis, fresh naan constantly coming out it feels exactly like the kind of desi restaurant you want after a long week.

Their BBQ platters and curries are perfect for group dinners, especially when everyone’s tired, broke, and too lazy to cook.

Honestly, meals like this make London feel a little less far from home.

One thing I’ve realised while living in London is that food becomes emotional when you move abroad.

Sometimes it’s not even about the food itself. It’s the familiarity. The comfort. Sitting with friends for three hours over chai and talking about life, assignments, homesickness, and everything in between.

And somehow, no matter how stressful LSE gets, desi food always makes things slightly better.

Because every good plan in London usually starts with:

“Let’s go eat.”