There’s a quiet revolution brewing in London, and it starts with a cup of chai. Increasingly, […]
Karak Chai served with Veg Samosa (V)
About This Dish
This comforting duo pairs karak chai — a bold, spiced, & iconic Indian tea — with a crisp, golden veg samosa, one of India’s most famous snacks. The karak chai is brewed strong with black tea leaves. It’s infused with traditional warming spices like cardamom and ginger and simmered with whole milk and sugar for a rich, creamy sip. The veg samosa is a deep-fried triangular pastry stuffed with a savoury filling of spiced potatoes, peas, and herbs.
Together, they strike a perfect balance of indulgence and spice: the chai warms you up, while the samosa delivers crunch, flavour, and comfort. It’s a staple roadside stalls and home kitchens across India — simple, satisfying, and full of character.
History & Tradition
Karak chai has long been a staple in Indian, Pakistani, and Gulf cultures. Karak, which means “strong,” reflects the robust nature of the brew. It’s often made fresh at local chaiwalas (tea seller shops), where the smell of masala and boiling tea fills the air.
The samosa, meanwhile, dates back to the Middle East and made its way into the Indian subcontinent via trade routes centuries ago. The vegetarian version has become the most popular, especially as an affordable and delicious street snack. From family kitchens to festival gatherings, this tea-and-samosa pairing is a deeply embedded part of Indian teatime tradition.
What Makes it Special
What sets this combo apart is the way it blends warmth, texture, and spice into one satisfying experience. The karak chai is velvety and spiced, lifting your senses with every sip. The veg samosa adds a crispy, flaky shell that cracks open to reveal a soft, spiced potato filling — earthy, tangy, and deeply comforting.
The contrast between hot tea and a crunchy snack is what makes this pairing timeless. It’s not just a treat — it’s a ritual.
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Ananya Joshi
This chai and samosa combo took me straight back to the streets of Lucknow. The karak chai was strong, creamy, and perfectly spiced — just how I like it. The samosa was golden and crisp with a delicious, lightly spiced filling. It is the perfect afternoon snack. I will definitely be ordering this again for my chai cravings.
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Sophie Clarke
I absolutely loved this combo. The chai had such a lovely balance of spice and richness, and it tasted so authentic. The samosa was crispy on the outside and full of flavour on the inside. Together they made the most comforting little meal. A perfect pick-me-up on a cold London afternoon. Highly recommend it to tea lovers.
TripAdvisor
Tom Harvey
Tried this out of curiosity and now I am hooked. The karak chai was bold and warming, unlike any tea I have had before. And the samosa? Just incredible — crunchy, not greasy, and packed with flavour. The portion was generous too. It is a small combo but really delivers big satisfaction. Will be back for more.
FAQs
A: It has a gentle warmth from Indian spices like cumin, coriander, and chilli. Samosa is flavourful rather than hot.
A: Yes, both the karak chai and the veg samosa are completely vegetarian.
A: Of course — you can request a side of our tangy imli (tamarind) chutney for added zing.
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The Great British Curry Up — A Midweek Feast Like No Other!
Wednesday nights just got their spark back. BKC’s Great British Curry Up is our bold tribute to Britain’s age-old romance with curry — reimagined with fire, flavour, and a pint of Kingfisher Beer. It all begins with our Mutton Rogan Josh — slow-cooked to soulful perfection, rich with spice, and unapologetically indulgent.
This isn’t just dinner — it’s a weekly ritual. Where the masalas are deep, the gravies are generous, and the beer flows freely. The kind of night that turns midweek into magic — with laughter at the table, stories in every bite, and flavour that lingers long after the last sip.
• Every Wednesday from 6PM | In collaboration with Kingfisher Beer.
📍 BKC Soho – 8 Moor Street, W1D 5ND
#bkcflavors #londoneats #eeeeeats #yummy #halal #bkcflavors #food #foodstagram #foodstagramming #foodloversindia #eatdelicious #foodies #foodiesofindia #tastemade #yummy #love #halalfood #lucknow #viral #indianfoodie #indianrecipes #awadhicuisine #londonfoodguide #londonfoodscene #curry #currynight #roganjosh #currylover
The Great British Curry Up – A Wednesday Feast at BKC Soho!
Britain’s obsession with curry deserves more than a takeaway. That’s why we’re turning up the heat every Wednesday with The Great British Curry Up — a fiery new weekly tradition, served in partnership with Kingfisher Beer. Expect bold flavours, deep gravies, and cold pints to match!
We kick off with Mutton Rogan Josh — a Kashmiri classic where lamb is slow-cooked in yogurt and onions, infused with fennel and warming spices until it falls apart at the touch. Served with steamed rice and a chilled Kingfisher, it’s a dish that delivers depth, heat, and heritage in every bite!
📍 Every Wednesday from 6PM
BKC Soho – 8 Moor Street, W1D 5ND
In proud partnership with Kingfisher Beer
#bkcflavors #londoneats #eeeeeats #yummy #halal #bkcflavors #food #foodstagram #foodstagramming #foodloversindia #eatdelicious #foodies #foodiesofindia #tastemade #yummy #love #halalfood #lucknow #viral #indianfoodie #indianrecipes #awadhicuisine #londonfoodguide #londonfoodscene #curry #currynight #roganjosh #currylover
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