Wandering through London with a proper craving and thinking, “Where can I find the best kebabs […]
Dhungar Dal Makhani (V)
About This Dish
Dhungar Dal Makhani is a deeply satisfying and smoky lentil curry that’s a beloved staple in Punjabi (North India) cuisine. Made with whole black urad dal (black gram) and rajma (kidney beans), this slow-cooked dish boasts a luxuriously creamy texture, thanks to butter and cream stirred in towards the end.
What truly sets it apart is the dhungar technique—where hot charcoal is used to infuse the dal with a distinctive smoky aroma, elevating the richness and flavour to another level. This velvety, spiced lentil curry pairs perfectly with naan or steamed rice as a hearty vegetarian option full of comforting depth and warmth.
History & Tradition
Dal Makhani’s roots trace back to the kitchens of Punjab, where lentils and beans were staples, cherished for their nutritional value and robust flavour. The name “Makhani” means ‘buttery,’ highlighting the key role butter and cream play in creating its signature richness.
The dhungar method—smoking the dish over charcoal—adds a layer of complexity treasured in traditional Punjabi households for generations. Originally a rural delicacy, Dal Makhani quickly became a restaurant favourite across India and internationally. Its popularity surged as it became emblematic of Punjabi hospitality and festive meals, served during weddings, celebrations, and special family gatherings.
What Makes It Special
Dhungar Dal Makhani is renowned for its unique smoky flavour combined with its silky, buttery texture. The slow cooking process allows the lentils and beans to soften thoroughly, blending harmoniously with the creamy sauce. The dhungar smoking technique is the magic touch—it adds a subtle yet unforgettable aroma and taste, distinguishing it from other lentil dishes.
Rich but balanced, this dish brings together earthy pulses and decadent creaminess, making every mouthful both comforting and indulgent. It’s a vegetarian classic that satisfies both the palate and the soul with the authentic taste of Punjabi cuisine in every bite.
Google
Ritika Mehra
This House Dal took me straight back to my childhood. The moong dal was perfectly cooked—creamy, comforting, and full of homely flavour. The ghee tempering with garlic and cumin gave it a beautiful depth. It is exactly what I crave on a quiet evening. Simple, soulful, and just the way dal should be.
Facebook
James Carter
I ordered the House Dal as a side but it totally stole the show. It is smooth, gently spiced, and so warming. You can really taste the freshness of the ingredients. It felt healthy and hearty at the same time. I would happily have it again on its own with rice. Really comforting dish.
TripAdvisor
Emily Rhodes
I was surprised by how flavourful this dal was without being heavy or overly spiced. It is light, creamy, and pairs so well with both naan and rice. You can tell it has been slow-cooked with care. Definitely one of the best dals I have had in a restaurant. Simple food done right.
FAQs
A: It has a gentle warmth with well-balanced spices, not overly hot but richly flavoured.
A: Yes, by substituting butter and cream with plant-based alternatives, you can enjoy a vegan version without compromising flavour.
A: It pairs wonderfully with naan, roti, or steamed basmati rice, perfect as a main course or part of a larger meal.
Recent Blogs & Events
If you’ve ever found yourself typing “best curry house near me” into your phone while wandering […]
Ever wondered what makes a biryani unforgettable? It’s not just the blend of rice and meat—it’s […]
Social wall
Follow us wherever you are and treat yourself to a piece of Awadh right here in London.
@bkcrestaurant
Inside the Handi: The Story of Thalassery Biryani!
What makes Thalassery Biryani unforgettable? It’s not just the tender lamb or coastal warmth — it’s Kerala’s soul in every grain. Made with kaima rice, a short-grain variety that clings to spice like memory, it’s layered with golden onions, green chillies, and just a touch of ghee.
At BKC, we honour the traditional method — slow-cooked so that every layer sings in quiet harmony. No saffron. No colour. Just pure Malabar flavour, sealed in a pot and served with love.
📍Available Friday to Sunday – Biryani Bharat Yatra | July Edition
BKC Soho – 8 Moor Street, W1D 5ND
BKC Marble Arch – 7 Edgware Road, W2 2ER
#bkcflavors #londoneats #biryani #desikhana #eeeeeats #vegetarian #yummy #halal #bkcflavors #food #foodstagram #foodstagramming #instafood #foodloversindia #eatdelicious #foodies #foodiesofindia #tastemade #yummy #love #halalfood #biryanilovers #keralagram #biryanilovers #dumbiryani #keralagram #malayali #keralafood #viral #viralfood
Whispered, Not Grilled – The Story of Galouti!
Born in the royal kitchens of Lucknow for a toothless nawab, the Galouti Kebab was never meant to shout. It was made to melt. A symphony of finely minced lamb, hand-pounded spices, and BKC’s signature Potli Masala — grilled with finesse until it collapses at first touch.
This World Kebab Day, we honour the kebab that defined Awadhi culinary elegance — a legacy now part of India’s bid for UNESCO Gastronomy status. From the gullies of Aminabad to the heart of London, BKC serves the most authentic taste of Lucknow — no shortcuts, no frills, just royal memory on a plate.
Only at:
• BKC Soho – 8 Moor Street, W1D 5ND
• BKC Marble Arch – 7 Edgware Road, W2 2ER
Celebrate World Kebab Day with a bite of heritage!
#bkcflavors #londoneats #eeeeeats #yummy #halal #bkcflavors #food #foodstagram #foodstagramming #foodloversindia #eatdelicious #foodies #foodiesofindia #tastemade #yummy #love #halalfood #lucknow #viral #viralreels #recipereel #indianfoodie #indianrecipes #awadhicuisine #londonfoodguide #londonfoodscene
Monsoon. Maach. Madness. – The Feast That Divides a State, But Unites the Soul!
When the skies burst open, Bengal doesn’t hide — it cooks. It fries, it simmers, it debates. From the crunch of Kolkata Fish Fry to the fiery depth of Tel Jhal, from the mustard-laced Sorshe Ilish to the silken seduction of Chingri Malai Curry — this is nostalgia plated hot. Every bite takes you back — to muddy school shoes, boat races, Ma shouting aar ekta bhaat dao, and the smoky kitchen where stories were stirred into every dish!
This 27th July, BKC Soho becomes your monsoon adda — with hands in rice, fish on fingers, and hearts full of memories. And yes — the poll that defines all Bengali pride will be live: Illish vs Chingri — which one are you?
📍 BKC Soho | 8 Moor Street, London W1D 5ND
One-day-only feast | 27th July, 1PM onwards
Tables filling fast. Book now on OpenTable. Come hungry — come home!
#bkcflavors #londoneats #food #foodie #indianfood #foodstagramming #ınstafood #foodlovers #yummy #foodgasm #eatdelicious #foodies #foodiesofinstagram🍴 #tastemade #love #bengali #bengalifood #bengaliculture #bangla #viral #ᴠɪʀᴀʟᴘᴏsᴛ #bangla #bangladesh #westbengal #fish #london #londonfood #londonfoodie #fishinglife
Secrets from the Masala Box – The Kebabs London Loves!
Yes, London’s fallen in love with our kebabs — but what makes them truly unforgettable? It’s the spice science passed down from the kitchens of Lucknow. Our masala box holds centuries of craft — from stone-ground garam masalas to the iconic Potli Masala, a delicate bouquet of rose petals, vetiver, cubeb pepper, stone flower, and mace, used in Awadhi cooking to layer depth without overpowering.
At BKC, every marinade tells a story. Our Burrah Lamb Chops are soaked in yoghurt and Kashmiri chilli overnight. Our Seekh Kebabs carry smoky heat and soft succulence. And the Dahi ke Kebabs — gentle, creamy, with a whisper of clove and cumin — are an ode to restraint. No bottled shortcuts. Just spice, memory, and mastery.
BKC Soho – 8 Moor Street, W1D 5ND
BKC Marble Arch – 7 Edgware Road, W2 2ER
#bkcflavors #biryani #food #foodie #indianfood #foodstagramming #ınstafood #foodlovers #eatdelicious #foodies #tastemade #yummy #love #weekendindulgence #flavoursofindia #heritage #tribute #reverence #viral #viralreels #viralvideos #halalfood #halal #kebab #masala
Lucknow in a Handi – Celebrating World Biryani Day!
In Awadh, biryani wasn’t just cooked — it was composed. Each grain of rice perfumed with saffron, each strand of meat marinated, slow-cooked, and folded in with care. Born in royal kitchens and perfected by rakabdars, Lucknowi Biryani is a quiet, fragrant art — not fiery, but deeply flavourful.
At BKC, we stay true to the dum-pukht tradition — sealing our handi with dough, letting time and steam weave magic. It’s not just a dish. It’s a story of patience, balance, and legacy — the kind that deserves to be celebrated every single day.
Only at BKC Soho - 8 Moor Street, London W1D 5ND
& BKC Marble Arch - 7 Edgware Road, London W2 2ER
On World Biryani Day and beyond – experience biryani the Awadhi way!
#bkcflavors #londoneats #biryani #food #foodie #foodiegram #foodiesofinstagram #biryanilovers #foodstagramming #foodiesofindia #instafood #foodlovers #biryanilove #yummy #foodgasm #eatdelicious #foodies #tastemade #biryanilovers #lucknowibiryani #dumbiryani #viralreel #viralpost #halal #lucknow #unesco #viralfood
Introducing: Thalassery Biryani – Kerala’s Coastal Classic!
From the spice-laden shores of Malabar comes a biryani unlike any other. The Thalassery Biryani is Kerala’s fragrant ode to trade, travel, and tradition — made with small-grain kaima rice, whole spices, and slow-cooked lamb that melts like memory. It’s the kind of dish that carries the scent of monsoons, coconut groves, and Sunday lunches at home.
At BKC, we honour that legacy with care — layering kaima rice with tender lamb, golden onions, and coastal warmth. No colour. No shortcuts. Just pure flavour, sealed and served in true dum style.
Available Friday to Sunday – Biryani Bharat Yatra | July Edition
BKC Soho – 8 Moor Street, W1D 5ND
BKC Marble Arch – 7 Edgware Road, W2 2ER
#bkcflavors #londoneats #biryani #desikhana #eeeeeats #vegetarian #yummy #halal #bkcflavors #food #foodstagram #foodstagramming #instafood #foodloversindia #eatdelicious #foodies #foodiesofindia #tastemade #yummy #love #halalfood #biryanilovers #keralagram #biryanilovers #dumbiryani #keralagram #malayali #keralafood #viral #viralfood
Monsoon, Maach and More – A Feast of Memories!
When it rained, school shut down and joy poured in. We’d fold paper boats, chase them through puddles, and return home to the smell of begun bhaja and aloo chop crackling in mustard oil. Monsoon meant Ma in the kitchen, the comfort of fried snacks, and the promise of something warm on the plate. Come Rath Yatra, the streets turned into a carnival — with mochar chop, pakoras, and laughter shared under umbrellas!
And then came the fish — silver-flecked hilsa, golden prawns, whole river pabda — caught fresh and cooked slow. That mustardy whiff in the air? Pure nostalgia. On 27th July at BKC Soho, relive it all with a soulful feast: from Kolkata Fish Fry and Mochar Chop to Sorshe Ilish, Chingri Malai Curry, Murgir Jhol, and oven-warmed Baked Rasgulla with its molten sweetness. It’s not just a meal — it’s your childhood plated with love!
📍 BKC Soho – 8 & 9 Moor Street, London W1D 5ND
Only On – 27th July | Book now on OpenTable
#bkcflavors #londoneats #food #foodie #indianfood #foodstagramming #ınstafood #foodlovers #yummy #foodgasm #eatdelicious #foodies #foodiesofinstagram🍴 #tastemade #love #bengali #bengalifood #bengaliculture #bangla #viral #ᴠɪʀᴀʟᴘᴏsᴛ #bangla #bangladesh #westbengal #fish #london #londonfood
The BKC Lunch Box – Tradition, Packed to Go!
Inspired by the dabba culture of India, our BKC Lunch Box is a midday escape into nostalgia. From office desks to leisurely afternoons, it brings the warmth of home-style food with the finesse of Awadhi technique — thoughtfully packed, generously portioned, and full of flavour.
Choose from hand-pounded kebabs, slow-cooked biryanis, rich curries, and comforting dal — all crafted fresh and served with our signature bread or rice. Quick lunch? Yes. Compromise? Never.
Available Monday to Friday, 12PM–4PM
BKC Soho – 8 Moor Street, W1D 5ND
BKC Marble Arch – 7 Edgware Road, W2 2ER
#bkcflavours #londoneats #awadhifood #awadhicuisine #food #foodie #indianfood #biryani #foodgasm #foodporn #kebab #foodstagram #lucknow #instafood #goodfood #authenticfood #lunchtime #lunchbreak #lunchbox #lunchtime🍴#viral #viralpost #halalfood #halal