Monsoon

So we got back into London after a week in Zurich and we were really hungry and craving some Indian curries. We wander around brick lane and picked the restaurant with the most people in it, hoping that it would be a good enough indicator of the place.
Big Mistake. Let’s start with all the smoking out front and the doorman holding open BOTH doors so all I can think is, don’t be nauseated… I finally asked him to close at least one door so I can stomach any food that may be presented to me in the next few minutes. They make you smoke outside for a reason you know?
As we are waiting for was seemed like an eternity… the loud group of drunk men in suits were sort of interesting to watch, but quickly got annoying. Not to mention that they had ONE song on repeat for the entire dinner. I REPEAT, THE ENTIRE TIME WE WERE IN THE RESTAURANT!
All of this could have been forgivable had the food proven to be delicious and what dreams are made of. Unfortunately, it was super bland. I don’t even know how that happens to Indian curries. I mean the spices were there? but they were weak? I don’t know how to explain other than it felt like the spices might have been years old and so it lost some of its potency. *sigh* It’s cheap which knocks it up from 2* to 3*, but I was so sorely disappointed and I probably wouldn’t go back here again.

Absolutely the best restaurant on Brick Lane. When walking there, try to push past the solicitations from other restaurants and go here. You will not be disappointed.

I’ve been going to Monsoon since 2008. Originally lured in by a £10 deal, a friend and I became regulars because of the friendly service, decent-​sized portions and quality of the food, especially the house/​bangladeshi dishes.
Ask your waiter for advice if you’re not sure or can’t see what you want on the menu. I’ve been to a lot of curryhouses in brick lane and the monsoon just doesn’t cut corners where a lot of others do.
Tips:
If you’re in a group, this place is miles better than Tayyabs. Book in one of the upstairs areas.
Don’t overlook the veggie dishes: chot poti is really good as a starter.
Double check the deal you’ve been offered before you sit down and when you get the bill.

We wanted to have Indian food for dinner and was told to go to any of the Indian restaurants on Brick Lane. We were hungry and it was early, around 4:30pm so we started walking on Brick Lane to find a restaurant. There were so many restaurants, it was hard to pick one. We ended up picking Monsoon restaurant because I saw both Unilocal and TripAdvisor stickers.
We ordered the Chicken Curry, the Monsoon Special Biriang — lamb tikka, chicken tikka, and king prawn, cooked in a sealed container trapping all the aromas and favors, topped with an egg omelette. And we ordered some garlic naan, pilau rice, and King Prawn Sag — a very aromatic spinach with garlic, fresh coriander, herbs and spices. Everything tasted delicious. Our favorite was the Monsoon Special Biriang. Total for the 3 of us was £42.

If I’m in the mood for a curry, this is definitely where I’ll be heading.
Negotiate on the door and you’ll usually be able to get starter/​main/​rice/​naan/​poppadoms/​drink for less than a tenner, especially if there’s a group of you.
Once you’re inside, make sure you get the royal lamb. If you don’t, and one of your dining companions does, you’ll get food envy. Instantly.
I did it once, never again.
Aside from that it’s fairly standard, but it’s worth taking a trip just for that one dish.

Totally forgot to write a review for this place. Was there on August 28^th and we were strolling around Brick Lane trying to find food at like 11pm because our flight had gotten in late. At any rate, this place came through and they were very pleasant and welcoming. My favorite was the Saag Paneer (Spinach with fresh Indian cheese) it was delicious and well priced! Next time I’m in London, I wouldn’t mind going back.

Popped in for a delightful lunch. I had the Monsoon Special Lamb, wife had tandoori chicken masala, both with pilau rice. Both were excellent. Bangladeshi restaurant. Oddly, only western tea and dessert.
Still worth the trip to Brick Lane.

Right on Brick Lane. Small Indian shop offering a large sized menu. There are enough menu items of various sizes and spice/​heat levels where everyone should be able to find something here — vegetarians as well. I stopped in one Sunday afternoon just as the Brick Lane Market was ending. The place had only 4 other people inside, and while I was dining only 1 other walked in, but the number of patrons should not prevent you from stopping in. The server was very accommodating, the kitchen cooked quickly, and the food was good. The prices were also reasonable even if you don’t snag one of the common haggling discounts.

Currently my go-​to curry house on Brick Lane. We usually get poppadoms, starter, main, rice, naan and two pints of beer for £11−12 per head.
The food’s really good; perhaps not the best on Brick Lane but well prepared and tasty. Vegetarian options are excellent (I tend to go for an asparagus curry I’ve never seen elsewhere).
Service is good and there’s nowhere near as much haggling over the bill as you experience in some places.
Highly recommended.

Really delicious Indian food on Brick Lane.
The channa saag, which I ordered as a side portion, was among the best I’ve ever had, with a perfect medium heat level. I initially ordered the chicken curry for my main, but the waiter pushed me toward an alternate choice that he said was similar but better. Unfortunately I forget the name of the alternate dish, but the waiter did not steer me wrong; it was delicious, and appealing to someone interested in a curry. The waiter also made a recommendation to my husband for the lamb knuckle which turned out to be excellent. One person did receive the incorrect dish, but other than that, everyone was quite pleased with their food.
One oddity: Monsoon does not have its own beer or wine, so when we ordered beers, the waiter went somewhere else and purchased them. He brought them back in a plastic shopping bag with the shop receipt, and had us pay for them right away. Obviously the beer was just as delicious as beer stored in-​restaurant, but it was a bit strange. I’m glad they at least have a system to get drinks to thirsty diners.
There are so many choices for Indian food on Brick Lane; Monsoon is certainly a solid option worth consideration. I would go back.

Their menu is here;- THE MONSOON (
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THey have a takeaway service, click on the link to their menu then order by phone.

I took my young nephew in for a birthday curry on Sunday to the Monsoon. As per usual the food was great, the service was great & the price was very reasonable. I always try to get to the Monsoon whenever im in London, it never disappoints…

what do you today the day after your birthday?! you go for another curry on bricklane of course! this place does a good chicken saag! Really good value and great cooked food!

I took a large group of American students here, many of them having never tasted Indian food. The menu was enormous, the atmosphere good, and the food very satisfactory. The students really loved it, and I must say that my lamb curry was delicious. The naan was flowing, and the sides and sauces were excellent. But the best thing about this place was the service, in my opinion. You’ve got lots of choices when you’re eating on Brick Lane, and I’m sure you can’t really go wrong; but I would happily go back here soon.

I went to Monsoon with a large group — we booked ahead of time and showed up with more people than they were expecting, but they were happy to accommodate us.
The food was pretty cheap, the portions were plentiful, and the wait staff was extremely helpful.

Friendly Service, Low Prices, Bad Food
Our January 2011 lunch at Monsoon provided warm friendly service, low prices, and below average Indian food. A friendly Monsoon waiter in front of the restaurant insisted we try the Monsoon special: a drink, appetizer, and main course for 11 UK pounds. The plainly decorated restaurant had no other patrons. Monsoon’s mango lassi had good flavor but Monsoon overcooked the tandori lamb and chicken within the chicken tikka masala. The bland Karahi lamb and rather sweet almond flavored chicken tikka masala had too little meat, which likely enabled Monsoon to charge such low prices. Of the three Indian/​Pak restaurants we tried in London, Monsoon was the cheapest; however, Punjab on Neal Street and Zayna on New Quebec Street had by far better food and atmosphere.

This place was recommended to us by a shop owner along the south bank of the Thames. we used the Whitechapel station to get there. The walk over to Brick Lane was an adventure itself, lots of vendors and the smell of curry, loved it! We arrived before dinner time and were the only ones at the restaurant. At first this worried me, but after we sat more folks began arriving. After the first taste all my worries were gone. Everything we ate was perfect. This place is definitely on my list for my next visit to London.

Brick Lane is historically known as «Bengal Village» packed with middle eastern shops and eats. On our venture down to East London, we most definitely had to try the cuisine known for its curry.
Walking down the strip, there is so much competition between the restaurants that everyone is fighting to get your business. It’s what we call in the States, «hustled». My advice is simply this: don’t get «hustled». A worker was standing outside of his restaurant and insisted, no… he refused to let us walk away and basically commanded us to dine in at his restaurant. He tried to sell us his deal but we were not impressed nor convinced because there were no other patrons inside the restaurant. That is a huge sign indicating that the food most likely isn’t that great.
As we walk down further, we are drawn in by the Monsoon menu because the man offered us the deal: two bottles of wine, choice of appetizer per each person, entrée, and nan for just £10. Good deal so we went in.
I ordered the Chicken Jafflong which was a spicy dish, flavorful but not blown away. Although, I did enjoy the Garlic Nan with my dish. For my appetizer, I had the Chicken Tikka Pakora which was battered in flour, didn’t enjoy it much.
We dined in for a good and fair deal but I wouldn’t prefer to come back again.

Indian cuisine —
I am a big fan of the Monsoon in Brick Lane. Whenever I’m in London, I go there at least ones. The prices aren’t cheap but not expensive, some 8 pounds for a chicken curry. if you ask, you might get a bottle of house wine with your order or 25% off the bill.
the interior is nice. white tablecloths, two or even three different floors, bathrooms a bit old and funny I think. The service is excellent. the waiters have always been very obliging and friendly although it gets very busy at night time. It happened to us several times that we got one of the tables were you don’t have much room. Oh well… its this busy, loud multicultural feeling in there that I like so much.
I always get «chicken butter murghi». It is a beautiful delicious dish! i love it.
minus a star because of the bathrooms — remodel them!

After visiting the many restaurants up and down brick lane. Monsoon was voted the best in the humble opinion of 10+ uni students. We the like the variety and overall consistency of the food. The papadums and the sauces are much tastier and non-​watered down versions of what everyone is serving up and down the block.
The service at Monsoon isn’t the fastest but the owner seems like the nicest man. He stayed open even after 1am when we visited after an early night in Shoreditch and was super friendly and toured us because he thought it was our first visit. He sent naan on the house and recommended this chicken dish that I wish I knew the name for. It was smoky and spicy without being overpowering the curry sector. Really like the area, and if you think it is cramped asked to be moved upstairs. The discount varies from 25−30% but honestly the food here is good enough to only get a 10% discount ;)

We came here with a group of 7 and negotiated a sweet deal of 1-​free-​drink-​per person plus 30% the entire tab. They probably give that deal to everyone walking by, but nonetheless we still felt special.
We ordered a variety of lamb, chicken and veggie dishes with rice and naan… my favorite was probably the Chicken Sag main – chicken was tender and fresh spinach for about 6 GBP. I also liked the Indian crackers (I’m blanking on their authentic name) served with chutney and other sauces at the start of the meal… I probably filled up too much on those before the entrees arrived. The tandoori chicken was also tasty, however the milder dishes and the lamb curry were so-​so, a bit overcooked. The cucumber raita was a bit watery for my taste as well.
Overall though, great deal for the food and excellent service… a good place to come with a group if you can grab a table and the nice discount.