FOOD: Seven super Indian restaurants to try in Sheffield

From super-spicy to fusion cuisine, Sheffield food lovers have almost as many Indian restaurants to choose from as there are options on a curry house menu.
The Living Room
Hillsborough
SheffieldThe Living Room
Hillsborough
Sheffield
The Living Room Hillsborough Sheffield

Here are seven of the best.

1) Bhaji Shop, Thali Cafe - Chesterfield Road/Kelham Island

An onion bhaji dish at The Bhaji Thali Cafe, Chesterfield Road. Picture: Andrew RoeAn onion bhaji dish at The Bhaji Thali Cafe, Chesterfield Road. Picture: Andrew Roe
An onion bhaji dish at The Bhaji Thali Cafe, Chesterfield Road. Picture: Andrew Roe

This quirky cafe turns curry concepts on their head - dishes are Indian inspired but mixed with other cuisines. Unsurprisingly they also do light, crisp and pungent bhajis.

The cafe is moving from Chesterfield Road to Kelham Island, and the new site opens on April 29.

2) The Front Room, Hillsborough

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An all-white dining room with real candelabra and waistcoat-wearing waiters greet diners at The Front Room, which just a few steps but a world away from Hillsborough tram stop.

review Rajdhani Dore.review Rajdhani Dore.
review Rajdhani Dore.

Allam Shah Ullah, from Cutlers Spice in Gleadless, is the executive chef and the food has a fine dining focus.

Slow cooked chicken chaat arrives in a parchment thin, buttery bubble of puri and the Pakistani dish of lamb handi is just the right amount of fiery and oily. Chutneys, including a tangy pineapple, are all home made. A step above your average curry house.

3) Rajdhani, Dore

Passengers alighting at Dore railway station are spoiled for choice - with three restaurants in the forecourt.

Food review at Ashoka on Ecclesall Road in Sheffield. Pictured is the Taxi Driver curry.Food review at Ashoka on Ecclesall Road in Sheffield. Pictured is the Taxi Driver curry.
Food review at Ashoka on Ecclesall Road in Sheffield. Pictured is the Taxi Driver curry.
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Rajdhani has a stunning interior design, with black and white photographs of the station in days gone by hung on the walls.

Younger diners enjoy seeing - and feeling - the trains go past too.

Their super sour lime pickle has a secret ingredient, while Bangladeshi dishes such a nose-tingling ghust shatkora are impressive. Portions are ample and the lamb tikka bhuna also comes highly recommended.

4) Jumeirah Spice, Ecclesfield

An onion bhaji dish at The Bhaji Thali Cafe, Chesterfield Road. Picture: Andrew RoeAn onion bhaji dish at The Bhaji Thali Cafe, Chesterfield Road. Picture: Andrew Roe
An onion bhaji dish at The Bhaji Thali Cafe, Chesterfield Road. Picture: Andrew Roe

Get to Jumeirah Spice early if you can - for the menu is more like a novel with its dozens of options.

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The restaurant has risen like a phoenix from the flames after it was destroyed in a fire in 2013 - a phoenix with a cascading water feature and smart booths, that is. The giant menu also includes entertaining comments.

Poppodums come with no less than eight chutneys, and anyone who can finish the Master’s special challenge gets free dessert.

The golden, contrastingly sweet, peshwari naan breads are also to die for.

5) Ashoka, Ecclesall Road

So says the adverts for Ashoka. They are right.

review Rajdhani Dore.review Rajdhani Dore.
review Rajdhani Dore.

This modern Indian has a cool, quirky decor and, despite serving since 1967, melds the old and the new. 
Different dishes include the Henderson’s house puri and a caramelised onion curry.

6) Seven Spices, Shalesmoor

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Order the Arabian lamb at this subterranean spice den -for succulent meat in a creamy, fresh sauce.

Add the paneer pakora for a takeaway from heaven.

It is a cosy spot somewhat hidden away down a flight of stairs, with a mixture of traditional and more contemporary dishes to choose from.

Staff will also go off menu and cater for what customers ask for.

7) Kashmiri Aroma, Woodseats

Customers rave about the £13.95 buffet at this community favourite.

There is plenty of choice for those who like a lot of spice and, unusually for an Indian restaurant, there is a large range of authentic desserts such as gulab jamun available.

If you can find room...