Wandering through London with a proper craving and thinking, “Where can I find the best kebabs […]
Steamed Rice (V)
About This Dish
Steamed Basmati Rice is a cornerstone of Indian cuisine—celebrated for its long, slender grains and delicate, naturally fragrant aroma. Carefully steamed so that each grain remains separate, fluffy, and light, Basmati Rice is the perfect canvas for a wide array of flavourful dishes. Its subtle taste and elegant texture soaks up the richness of creamy curries, spicy gravies, and grilled meats without overpowering them. Whether it’s a comforting bowl of dal chawal (lentils & rice) or a royal biryani, steamed basmati rice offers a sense of balance.
History & Tradition
Basmati rice has deep roots in the Indian subcontinent, with cultivation dating back hundreds of years in the fertile foothills of the Himalayas. The word “basmati” comes from the Sanskrit term vasmati, meaning “fragrant”—a fitting name for its distinctive scent. Traditionally, basmati rice is aged for several months, sometimes over a year, to intensify its aroma and improve its cooking characteristics.
In countless Indian households, steamed basmati rice is an everyday essential, typically served with lentils, vegetables, or other curries. Basmati Rice adapts easly to different regional flavours—be it Punjabi Kadhi, Bengali Fish Curry, or South Indian Rasam. This factor has made it a timeless staple across the country and beyond, being especially prevalent in South India
What Makes It Special
What sets basmati rice apart is its fragrance, fine texture, and naturally elongated grains that elongate even further when cooked. Unlike other rice varieties, properly steamed basmati remains non-sticky and fluffy. Its light yet filling nature carries and elevates bold flavours, while still offering a comforting presence on the plate.
Beyond its taste, basmati rice is also low in fat, naturally gluten-free, and a source of essential nutrients like carbohydrates and B vitamins.
OpenTable
Ananya Sharma
The steamed basmati rice here is just how it should be—light, fluffy, and fragrant. Each grain is perfectly cooked, and it pairs so well with everything from dal to kebabs. You can taste the quality. It’s simple, but honestly, that’s what makes it shine. A staple done right.
TripAdvisor
Emily Watson
I didn’t expect to be this impressed by plain rice, but this basmati was excellent. It had a lovely aroma and wasn't sticky at all—each grain stood apart beautifully. It complemented my curry without overpowering it. You can tell they take even the basics seriously here.
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David Clarke
The steamed basmati rice was the perfect base for my meal. It’s light, fragrant, and cooked to perfection. You don’t often think of rice as the highlight, but this one really stood out. It balanced the spiced dishes wonderfully and added that comforting, familiar touch to the plate.
FAQs
A: Yes, basmati rice is naturally gluten-free, so it’s a safe and healthy option for people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
A: To maintain its quality, store basmati rice in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from moisture and strong odours. Aged basmati can stay fresh for several months if stored properly.
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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
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