Lasan
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Jabbar Khan |
| Headquarters | Birmingham , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Indian cuisine |
Lasan () is an Indian restaurant located in St Paul's Square, within Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, England. Established in 2002 by British Bangladeshi entrepreneur Jabbar Khan, the restaurant's culinary team was enhanced in 2009 with the addition of chef Aktar Islam. Lasan became notable for being the first Indian eatery in the UK to receive the title "Best Local Restaurant" from Gordon Ramsay on Channel 4's The F Word.
History
Lasan was launched in April 2002 by Jabbar Khan in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, aiming to offer a contemporary take on Indian dining. The restaurant’s culinary direction was shaped significantly after chef Aktar Islam joined in 2009, remaining until 2017. Featuring seating for 64 guests, Lasan presents modern Indian dishes within a sleek, minimalist setting and distinguished itself by being Birmingham’s first Indian restaurant to exclude Balti cuisine from its menu.
In 2010, Lasan earned the accolade "Best Local Indian Restaurant" on Channel 4's The F Word, surpassing rivals such as Curry Corner and The Pheasant. This achievement followed a tasting panel of 50 food critics who awarded Lasan a score of 70 out of 100, outperforming The Pheasant’s 61 and securing Lasan’s position among the UK's leading Indian restaurants.
Awards and recognition
Between 2007 and 2010, Lasan dominated the Midlands category at The British Curry Awards, achieving first place four years consecutively. In 2008, it was honored with Best Hospitality Business of the Year at the Asian Business Awards, along with Best Service and Rising Star awards at Taste of Birmingham. The subsequent year brought further distinction through the Healthiest Restaurant Award and the Institute of Asian Business Award, plus a Taste Award for Best Service in the West Midlands presented by Men's Health, recognizing its emphasis on healthy cooking methods that prioritize fresh spices over fats. Lasan was again acknowledged as Best Restaurant at the Asian Business Awards in 2013.
The restaurant has been featured among the Top 10 Indian Restaurants in the UK by both The Independent and The Times. It also ranked number 49 on The Sunday Times list of 100 Restaurants in Britain—marking it as the first Indian establishment outside London to be included—and appeared in the Michelin Guide. In 2010, The New York Times highlighted Lasan as a primary reason to visit Birmingham, while The Guardian listed it among the Midlands’ top ten dining venues. By January 2012, it held the leading position in Birmingham Mail’s Top Ten best curry houses within Birmingham and remained among Birmingham’s top ten Indian restaurants according to Birmingham Mail in 2014.
See also
External links
Further reading
- Williams, Zoe. Lasan, Birmingham, restaurant review. The Daily Telegraph. 16 August 2010
- Norman, Matthew. Lasan, Birmingham. The Guardian. 29 October 2005
- Burns, Amy. Lasan, Birmingham. Express & Star. 20 September 2011
- Restaurant Review: Lasan in Birmingham. Birmingham Post. 14 October 2011
- Bridgewater, Emily. Lasan, Birmingham: Curry but not as you know it. Express & Star. 18 July 2013