Dishoom (restaurant)
Dishoom is a UK-based chain of Indian dining establishments, established in 2010 by Shamil and Kavi Thakrar along with Amar and Adarsh Radia, who departed the business in 2017. The concept draws inspiration from the Irani cafés that were a hallmark of 1960s Mumbai.
Menu
Specializing in Bombay-style comfort cuisine, Dishoom’s menu features a dynamic selection including Indian street food and breakfast naan breads. The inaugural venue launched in London’s Covent Garden, and by 2025, the brand operates 13 sites across the UK, including its derivative concept, Permit Room. The first Permit Room opened in Brighton in 2023 and subsequently expanded to Oxford and Cambridge in 2024, with plans for a London location in 2025. The company employs around 1,800 team members throughout its UK outlets.
Cookbook
In 2019, Dishoom published a cookbook that presents recipes for signature dishes and cocktails while also sharing stories about south Bombay’s culture.
Awards
- Glassdoor’s Best Hospitality Company to Work For in the UK – 2022 and 2023
- Times’ Top Places to Work in the UK – #4 in 2021
- Ranked #12 among UK Best Places to Work – 2021
- British Curry Awards’ Best Restaurant Scotland – 2021
- R200 Restaurant Awards’ Employer of the Year – 2021
- Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work For – #19 in 2017
- Restaurant Magazine R200 Best Overall Operator (under 20 sites) – 2017
- CGA Peach Heroes and Icon Awards’ Most Admired Brand – 2018
- The Cateys Restaurateur of the Year (Group) – 2018
- Edinburgh Business Award for Diversity in Business – 2018
- Scottish Food Awards’ Best Breakfast Destination – 2017
- Good Food Guide UK’s Best Small Group – 2017
- Yelp! Reviewers’ Best Restaurant in the UK – 2015 & 2016
- British Curry Awards’ Best Casual Dining – Winner in 2014 & 2016
Charity
For every meal served, Dishoom contributes one meal to children through partnerships with Akshaya Patra in India and Magic Breakfast in the UK, an organization founded by Carmel McConnell. Collectively, these charities aid approximately 21.8 million children across England, Scotland, and India. By January 2025, Dishoom had donated more than 20 million meals.