Wandering through London with a proper craving and thinking, “Where can I find the best kebabs […]
Paneer Lababdar (V)
About This Dish
Paneer Lababdar is a rich and indulgent North Indian curry made with soft cubes of paneer (Indian cottage cheese) simmered in a velvety, tomato-based gravy. The name ‘Lababdar’ itself hints at decadence—it’s all about indulgence in this delicious flavour and texture. This dish is a luxurious take on paneer, combining slow-cooked tomatoes, onions, cream, butter, and a signature blend of aromatic spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves.
What sets it apart is the addition of grated paneer into the sauce itself, which makes the gravy thicker, creamier, and packed with depth. It’s comfort food that still feels special—perfect for vegetarians looking for something hearty, warming, and flavour-packed.
History & Tradition
Paneer Lababdar traces its roots to the royal kitchens of North India, particularly in Punjabi cuisine, where rich, creamy gravies have always held a place of pride. Inspired by Mughlai-style cooking, this dish was crafted to showcase paneer in all its glory—without the need for meat.
Unlike Paneer Butter Masala or Shahi Paneer, Paneer Lababdar has a more robust, slightly tangy profile, often enriched with kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) and finished with cream. It became popular as a vegetarian alternative that still offered the grandeur of royal fare. Today, it’s a staple in Indian restaurant menus, both in India and abroad, often enjoyed during celebrations or as part of a luxurious vegetarian spread.
What Makes it Special
What makes Paneer Lababdar truly stand out is its indulgent texture and beautifully layered spice profile. The use of both paneer cubes and grated paneer makes the gravy thick, almost melt-in-your-mouth, while the balance of sweet tomatoes, aromatic spices, and warming fenugreek creates a well-rounded flavour experience. The addition of cream and butter gives it a luscious, rich finish, yet it avoids being overly heavy or greasy.
It’s a dish that feels both homely and festive—ideal for a weekend indulgence, a special dinner, or simply when you’re craving something soul-satisfying. Whether paired with naan, roti, or fragrant basmati rice, every bite delivers warmth, richness, and comfort.
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Beat the Heat — With Beer, Biryani & Kebab!
When the UK turns up the heat, we turn to what we know best — the perfect pour and the perfect plate. Our chilled Kingfisher beer on tap is golden, crisp, and frothy — the antidote to a blazing summer day. Pair it with smoky kebabs and fragrant biryani, and you’ve got a match made in spice-and-suds heaven.
From melt-in-mouth galouti and fiery Kingfisher Fish Fry to slow-cooked dum biryani, our kitchen delivers bold Awadhi flavours that sing with a cold pint by their side. Every bite cools the soul, every sip builds the mood — it’s the only kind of heatwave we welcome!
Visit Us At:
📍BKC Soho – 8 Moor Street, London W1D 5ND
📍BKC Marble Arch – 7 Edgware Road, London W2 2ER
#bkcflavors #londoneats #food #foodie #indianfood #foodstagramming #ınstafood #foodlovers #yummy #foodgasm #eatdelicious #viral #virałpost #londonrestaurant #londonrestaurantguide #londoneating #timeoutlondon #lotiloves #londonloves #kingfisherbeer #lagertime #beersoftheworld #halal #kebabs #biryanilovers #beattheheat
Counting Down – Just a Few Weekends Left for Kolkata Biryani at BKC!
Back by popular demand and already stealing hearts, our Kolkata Biryani is halfway through its run — and if you haven’t had it yet, now’s the time. The aloo’s still there, the flavours are still soulful, but it won’t be around for long.
Think: fall-off-the-bone chicken, golden potatoes, long-grain rice perfumed with kewra and rose — all slow-cooked in a sealed handi the way Kolkata intended. No colour. No compromise. Just comfort and craft in every bite.
Available Friday to Sunday, for the rest of June:
BKC Soho – 8 Moor Street, London W1D 5ND
BKC Marble Arch – 7 Edgware Road, London W2 2ER
Don’t wait — the final weekends are ticking away!
#bkcflavors #londoneats #biryani #desikhana #eeeeeats #vegetarian #yummy #halal #bkcflavors #food #foodstagram #foodstagramming #instafood #foodloversindia #eatdelicious #foodies #foodiesofindia #tastemade #yummy #love #halalfood #biryanilovers #kolkatabiryani #biryanilovers #dumbiryani #kolkata #bengali #bengalifood
Secrets From The Masala Box – The Potli Masala of BKC, That Whispers Through Every Kebab!
In the royal kitchens of Lucknow, spices weren’t just ingredients — they were poetry, tied with care into soft muslin pouches called potlis. Our signature BKC Potli Masala is a legacy of that era — a blend of over a dozen herbs, roots, and florals, hand-roasted and crushed to perfection. Each potli carries the scent of home, the soul of tradition, the touch of time!
We don’t just season our kebabs — we honour them. From melt-in-mouth Galouti to charcoal-kissed tandoori Kebab, it’s this potli that lends each bite its haunting aroma and depth. Lazzat-e-Taam, they called it — the essence of taste. And at BKC, it’s the quiet secret behind every unforgettable kebab!
#bkcflavors #biryani #food #foodie #indianfood #foodstagramming #ınstafood #foodlovers #eatdelicious #foodies #tastemade #yummy #love #weekendindulgence #flavoursofindia #heritage #tribute #reverence #viral #viralreels #viralvideos #halalfood #halal #kebab #potli
For the First Spoon, and Every One After!
There’s something unforgettable about the way Dad fed you your first bite — patient, proud, full of love. At BKC, we honour that quiet magic with food that carries memory in every grain and every spice. This Father`s Day, let the taste of home and heritage bring you back to where it all began.
Celebrate the man who never let your plate go empty — with hand-pounded kebabs, slow-cooked biryanis, and chai that lingers like his warmth. Whether it’s a shared meal or a gift of flavour, make it count with BKC’s soul-stirring fare.
📍BKC Soho & BKC Marble Arch | Sunday, 16 June
• BKC Soho : 8 & 9 Moor Street, London - W1D 5ND
• BKC Marble Arch - 7 Edgware Road, Tyburnia, London 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 #father #fatherandson #fathersday
Last Few Weekends – Don’t Miss the Kolkata Biryani at BKC!
It returned with a bang, stirred up emotions (and yes, debates over the aloo), and now it’s already halfway through its run. If you haven’t had your fill of our iconic Kolkata Biryani yet — this is your sign. It won’t be here forever.
Slow-cooked chicken, golden potatoes, fragrant rice, and that unmistakable whiff of kewra and rose — all sealed in a handi and cooked the traditional Kolkata way. No colours, no shortcuts. Just pure nostalgia on a plate.
📍Only available Friday to Sunday, through the rest of June:
BKC Soho – 8 Moor Street, London W1D 5ND
BKC Marble Arch – 7 Edgware Road, London W2 2ER
Limited weekends left — come get yours before it’s gone!
#bkcflavors #londoneats #biryani #desikhana #eeeeeats #vegetarian #yummy #halal #bkcflavors #food #foodstagram #foodstagramming #instafood #foodloversindia #eatdelicious #foodies #foodiesofindia #tastemade #yummy #love #halalfood #biryanilovers #kolkatabiryani #biryanilovers #dumbiryani #kolkata #bengali #bengalifood
This Father’s Day, Share a Meal That Tells a Story!
This Father’s Day, Sunday - 15th June, celebrate with a meal steeped in heritage. Lucknow — the heart of Awadhi cuisine — has just been nominated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. And at Biryani Kebab Chai, we bring that cultural richness to life in London — with dum-cooked biryanis, hand-pounded kebabs, saffron-kissed curries, and chai that soothes the soul.
Treat your father to a meal that honours the past and creates new memories. From velvet-soft Galouti to royal biryanis sealed with dough, every bite at BKC is a tribute to tradition — and to the city that now stands recognised on the world stage. Because some meals aren’t just eaten — they’re remembered.
Book Now:
• BKC Soho : 8 & 9 Moor Street, London - W1D 5ND
• BKC Marble Arch - 7 Edgware Road, Tyburnia, London W2 2ER
#bkcflavors #biryani #food #foodie #indianfood #foodstagramming #ınstafood #foodlovers #eatdelicious #foodies #tastemade #yummy #love #weekendindulgence #flavoursofindia #heritage #tribute #viral #viralreels #viralvideos #halalfood #halal #lucknowfoodies #unescoworldheritage #gastronomy #lucknowfood #musttryfood
Bhuttey Ka Seekh – Corn, Fire & Pure Spice!
On Corn on the Cob Day, we’re celebrating the humble bhutta — but with an Awadhi twist. Meet Bhuttey Ka Seekh: hand-crushed corn, gently spiced and shaped into smoky, golden skewers. It’s earthy, sweet, and full of texture — every bite laced with roasted cumin, coriander, and green chilli.
At BKC, we take this street-side favourite and elevate it with layered masalas and the slow char of the tandoor. It’s vegetarian, vibrant, and bursting with warmth — a true celebration of corn done the Indian way.
Available at:
• BKC Soho : 8 & 9 Moor Street, London - W1D 5ND
• BKC Marble Arch - 7 Edgware Road, Tyburnia, London W2 2ER
Try It Today!
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From service to spice – Mansi’s Galouti Journey!
Today, our Staff Supervisor Mansi swapped the service floor for the kitchen — learning firsthand how our signature Galouti Kebab is crafted. From finely minced lamb to the perfect blend of Awadhi spices, she experienced the care, patience, and precision that defines this melt-in-mouth legend.
At BKC, we believe true service starts with understanding. When our team learns what goes into every dish — the hours, the hands, the heritage — they don’t just serve food, they honour it!
#bkcflavors #londoneats #biryani #desikhana #eeeeeats #vegetarian #yummy #halal #bkcflavors #food #foodstagram #foodstagramming #instafood #foodloversindia #eatdelicious #foodies #foodiesofindia #tastemade #yummy #love #halalfood #lucknow #galoutikebab #tunde #viral #viralreels