Shahin is Best South East Curry House

It won’t surprise many of you regulars out there that The Shahin has once more been victorious at the National Curry Awards 2022. This year it got Restaurant of the Year South East title and was chosen from thousands of eateries in the annual awards which recognise the Asian catering industry and highlights the creative and talented chefs in the business. The winners were announced at the end of October but the awards themselves are not until December 12th, when Shubin Haque will return from a glittering event at the House of Lords with his trophy to be put on display.

The Shahin in Thames Street first opened its doors in 1965. It offers customers a fine dining experience serving dishes influenced from the kitchens of renowned chefs from the Indian and Bengal regions.

The winners of this year's awards represent the best that can be achieved through dedication to catering delectable cuisine and to providing first-class customer service.

Ahchanul Haque, owner of The Shahin, said: "It feels great to have won and it was a surprise. My team are doing the best job and we have been here since 1965. "I have been here since we started and we have four chefs in the kitchen and two helpers. Since the pandemic, our customers are supporting us very well. We have the best onion bhajis in the area. The Shahin is not like every curry house, it is different. We make our own spices in the restaurant and we are proud of our naga chilli."

Shubin with just a sample of the range of award winning food on offer at The Shahin

But times are hard in the catering industry. Over recent years, with the shadow of Covid and the current cost of living crisis, the industry has witnessed a sharp decline. There has been a shortage of skilled workers and a lack of investment in training. Consequently, the National Curry Awards aim to help further encourage new generations to become excited and involved within the industry. We must do our bit and continue to support our local restaurants. We can’t take them for granted.