We began our global biryani trail with a dish that feels both distant and deeply familiar - the legendary Kacchi Biryani of Bangladesh. Cooked with raw marinated lamb, nestled beneath fragrant rice, it’s sealed and slow-cooked on dum - a process that draws flavour from within, not added later.
Much like our Awadhi biryanis, it celebrates patience, layering, and that unmistakable aroma of ghee, saffron and spice. The difference? Where Awadh lays cooked meat, Dhaka begins from the raw - yet both traditions stir the same emotion. A biryani born across the border, bonded in technique and soul.
Available at BKC Soho & BKC Marble Arch November Edition - Biryani Diaries | Limited portions, pre-booking recommended
Behind every plate that leaves our kitchen lies not just skill - but soul. At BKC London, flavours are guided by Head Chef Arsh Thakur, whose precision honours Lucknow’s royal kitchens, and Executive Sous Chef Deepankar Paul, whose journey from Kolkata to London bridges heritage with innovation. Together with our kitchen team, they bring India’s culinary soul to every handi, kebab, and cup of chai.
Each meal at BKC is slow-cooked, hand-finished, and plated with pride - a quiet dialogue between fire, spice, and time. From the first hiss of ghee to the last sprinkle of saffron, theirs are the hands that make BKC what it is: a home of heritage, plated with heart!
When Lucknow was crowned a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, it wasn’t just an honour - it was a tribute to centuries of culinary poetry. From the royal kitchens of Awadh to the smoky handis of Idris, Wahid, Lalla, and Mubeen, every corner of the city hums with the scent of saffron, slow-cooked rice, and soul. Lucknow’s biryani isn’t just food; it’s an inheritance - refined, aromatic, and steeped in time-honoured grace.
At BKC London, that legacy finds a new home - one handi at a time. Our Awadhi Dum Biryani captures the craft that made Lucknow legendary: hand-pounded masalas, long-grain basmati, and a seal of dough that locks in royalty with every breath of steam. From Tunday Galouti Kebabs to Sharmaji Ki Karak Chai, this is where heritage meets heart. Because when it comes to biryani in the city - biryani matlab BKC in London.
A Royal Feast for the Season The BKC Christmas Menu — Spiced, Slow-Cooked, and Sparkling
This Christmas, we’re swapping dry roasts for rich gravies and festive masalas. Our special 3-course menu brings together classic Indian comfort with winter indulgence — from Turkey Malai Tikka and Gilafi Seekh to our Pumpkin Butter Chicken Makhni and Paneer Kofta in a regal korma.
Paired with our Jackfruit Biryani and a warm Mince Pie with Rose Custard, every dish is layered with celebration. Served with a glass of house wine, this is your new festive tradition — slow-cooked, spice-kissed, and full of joy.
BKC Soho & BKC Marble Arch £29 per person | Limited Time Only | Dine-In Only
Kacchi Biryani - A Cross-Border Dum, A Shared Legacy!
After travelling across India with Biryani Bharat Yatra, we now begin a new chapter - Biryani Diaries. A global journey tracing how cultures beyond our borders celebrate rice, spice, and soul. And fittingly, we start in Dhaka - a city close to Chef Deepankar’s own culinary roots, where tradition and aroma linger in every kitchen lane.
Cooked entirely on dum, with raw marinated mutton nestled beneath fragrant rice, Bangladesh’s iconic Kacchi Biryani mirrors the Awadhi spirit - slow, smoky, ceremonial. But where Awadhi layers cooked meat, Kacchi begins from the raw, letting every grain soak in ghee and saffron in unison. Two cities, one soul - bound by the poetry of patience!
Bringing Lucknow to London in Every Bite Since 2022
Now crowned a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Lucknow’s flavours speak through every bite at BKC. From the melt-in-your-mouth Tunday Galouti Kebab to our saffron-rich Awadhi Biryani - this is heritage on a plate.
End your journey with Sharmaji Ki Chai - kadak, spiced, and soul-soothing. Just like back home, BKC’s Karak Chai is our daily ritual - brewed slow, poured strong, and always full of fire. Steeped in cardamom, cinnamon, and warmth, this cup means business. Perfect with Bun Maska, a samosa, or just your mid-day thoughts.
Lucknow: India’s Gastronomy Capital, Brought to Life in London Since 2022
UNESCO has nominated Lucknow as India’s official City of Gastronomy - a well-deserved honour for the city that redefined slow cooking, royal kitchens, and street-side soul. This isn’t just about food - it’s about tehzeeb, tradition, and a culinary language that speaks in dum, ittar, and spice.
At BKC London, we honour Lucknow every day - a taste of the old city - in every grain, every sip, every plate. Come hungry, leave nostalgic!
From the Bazaars of Lucknow to the Kitchens of London - The Masalas That Make All the Difference
In the bustling spice lanes of old Lucknow, every pinch tells a story - ittar-scented garam masalas, sun-dried chillies, saffron soaked in legacy. These are the treasures we carry, not just as ingredients, but as emotion.
At BKC, every biryani is layered with nostalgia. Every kebab holds the echo of a hand-pounded blend. From curries slow-simmered in heirloom masalas to chai kissed with cardamom - our entire spread is built on Lucknow’s culinary soul.
BKC London | The Flavours of Awadh, Served Bold and Slow