Wandering through London with a proper craving and thinking, “Where can I find the best kebabs […]
Pepper Chicken
About This Dish
Pepper Chicken is a bold, aromatic South Indian dish that’s celebrated for its deep black pepper flavour and comforting warmth. Unlike chilli-heavy curries, this semi-dry preparation delivers a slow-building heat from freshly ground black pepper. The resulting spice profile is earthy, stimulating, and incredibly moreish. Juicy chicken pieces are sautéed with curry leaves, ginger, garlic, and caramelised onions for a thick, clinging masala that coats every bite.
What sets it apart is the way it delivers complexity using simple, natural ingredients—no overpowering sauces or excessive heat. Instead, it balances warmth, fragrance, and savoury depth in a way both rustic and refined. For those in the UK who enjoy spice but want something more layered than just “hot,” Pepper Chicken offers a deeply satisfying experience. It’s a versatile dish too—served as a main with parotta or rice, or as a starter at Indian restaurant.
History & Tradition
Pepper Chicken traces its origins to the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, regions famed for their spice cultivation and bold, rustic cooking. Long before red chillies came to India, black pepper was the primary source of heat in cooking. Referred to as “black gold” by traders and conquerors alike, pepper was once a globally coveted spice, central to India’s culinary and commercial history.
In traditional South Indian kitchens, Pepper Chicken began as a homestyle recipe, created to showcase the prized local peppercorns. Over time, it became a comfort food in its own right—served during family gatherings, Sunday lunches, or festive meals. Its semi-dry style made it ideal for mopping up with flaky parottas or crispy dosas, and that tradition continues in modern Indian restaurants across India and the UK.
What Makes It Special
What makes Pepper Chicken at BKC London truly unique is its singular focus on freshly ground black pepper. In a cuisine often known for its use of dozens of spices, this dish stands out for its restraint—showcasing how one spice, when used with skill, can carry an entire dish. The pepper brings a warm, woody heat that deepens as you eat, perfectly complemented by curry leaves, slow-cooked onions, and a touch of tang from the marinade.
The result is an irresistible balance of aroma, texture, and spice. The semi-dry masala clings to each piece of chicken, intensifying the flavour with every bite. Whether paired with jeera rice, layered parottas, or served dry as a starter, Pepper Chicken appeals to both traditionalists and newcomers. It’s rich, fragrant, and unapologetically bold—a perfect example of how minimal ingredients can deliver maximum flavour.
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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