Best Indian Street Food spots in Brighton and Hove

Authentic is the buzzword of Brighton’s Indian restaurant scene. We want colour. We want fresh-ground spice. We want unfamiliar menu items that need to be translated for us. We don’t want chicken tikka bloody bhuna.

Catering for a public hungry for real Indian food, street food-inspired joints are distinct from typical British curry houses. Specialising in regional cuisine, many of them are vegetarian or at least offer a sizeable selection of vegetarian options, a nod to the fact that across the subcontinent an estimated 20–40% of the population eat a wholly meat-free diet. They tend to be good value, relaxed and, of course, authentic. Here’s our selection of the best Indian street food Brighton has to offer. 

Planet India

The only complaint I’ve heard about Planet India is that everything can be eaten with a spoon!
The restaurant inspires clear devotion, from the wholesome 1980s family photographs on the walls to the helpful tasting notes on the menu. Everything about this restaurant is very charming.

The menu is authentic with plant and dairy curries. Dishes are entirely vegetarian with plenty of vegan-friendly options. A personal favourite is the pea and paneer curry and for lentil lovers, there are two types of dal.

Planet India has great street food snacks, including Ketchoris (little balls of magic stuffed with spiced coconut and peas), Pani Puri (crisp shells filled with chickpea mash and seasonings), and the celebrated Dahi Bhel Puri (a zingy salad prepared with fresh tomato and onion, chickpeas, tamarind sauce, and heaps of fresh coriander).

Transporting you straight to the streets of Mumbai, this is food for the travelling soul.
Planet India’s beer list offers a selection of citrusy craft beers, such as the ‘Seven Giraffes’. With names so twee, the restaurant’s menu promises fun and laughter. I mean what’s better than a drink called ‘Shofferhoffer’!

Address: 4-5 Richmond Parade, Brighton, BN2 9PH

Website: https://www.planetindia.co.uk/brighton

Tun Tuns

To say that Tun Tuns is low key doesn’t adequately explain how modest it is. The restaurant is a hidden gem, making Planet India look like a multinational conglomerate. Situated under a green and white sign on Lewes Road, you might mistake it for a sandwich bar or yet another greasy spoon. Inside, there’s a café counter, seating area and a custom, hand-drawn sign for a spice shop out back. It is far from your average lunch spot. Tun Tuns is an authentic Bangladeshi café, serving hearty home cooked meals at great prices.

Dishes are prepared using traditional recipes and the menu is almost entirely vegetarian, with the exception of its chicken and fish curry. Tun Tuns offers a selection of vegetable curries, mixed dal and fried street food snacks. Feeling thirsty? Indulge in Tun Tuns freshly brewed chai or a sweet mango Lassi.

Address: 150 Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 3LG

Website: Tun Tuns – Brighton and Hove (menu)

Chaula’s

If you’re willing to venture just outside Brighton, Chaula’s in Lewes is well worth a visit. Chaula started off selling her own Gujarati home cooking at curry nights in the newsagent she and her husband ran in Lewes. They then started selling fresh and frozen foods to shops in Brighton. Twenty years later, their food empire continues to thrive, with their popular restaurant in Lewes leading the way.

Chaula’s is beautifully decorated with dark wood and an evocative wall-length mural. Their menu offers signature dishes cooked with exotic ingredients and sure to impress any curry connoisseur. Darbari chicken, for example, is cooked in a rich, spiced sauce made from blended cashew nuts. Another signature favourite is the traditional Gujarati dish of stuffed baby aubergines served with peanuts and sweet jaggery.

Half of Chaula’s menu caters to vegetarian specialities, including vegan, wheat and nut-free options. The vegetarian mix platter offers a taste of fried street food classics – their onion pakoras are surely some of the crispiest!

Address: 6 Eastgate Street, Lewes BN7 2LP 

Website: Home – Chaula’s Indian Restaurant in Lewes

The Chilli Pickle

There was a time when The Chilli Pickle was one of the only establishments in Brighton serving exciting Indian food. Since then, competition has grown but The Chilli Pickle remains one of Brighton’s gastronomic jewels, consistently voted as one of the top 100 restaurants in the UK.

The Chilli Pickle’s interior is a happy mixture of fine dining chic blended with Indian culture – a colourful painted cow welcoming diners. The restaurant’s menu is influenced from different regions of Indian cuisine, showcasing a range of different flavours and styles. The Chilli Pickle serves vibrant dishes, with colourful salads (loaded with freshly chopped pineapple and mango), chicken spread with green pastes of fresh herbs, and rainbow Sambals in silver dishes.

The Chilli Pickle will wow anyone longing for exotic food. When you’re served up a whole Sri Lankan sea bream on a banana leaf, it’s hard not to imagine yourself on a beach surrounded by coconut palms. Its diverse menu will remind you what the quest for authentic food is really all about: finding a gateway to another world, without ever leaving the dining table.

Address: 6-8 Meeting House Lane, Brighton, BN1 1HB

Website: The Chilli Pickle – Regional Indian Cuisine in the Heart of Brighton