The owner of a Bolton restaurant is celebrating after being named among the best Indian restaurants in the UK. Lucknow Junction recently received the accolade at the Indian Restaurant Congress & Awards 2026.
Prestigious Award for Authentic Cuisine
Taking home the prize for Best Regional Indian Cuisine Restaurant - North Indian, the Farnworth venue was praised for its 'authentic Indian flavours' and efforts to 'showcase regional Indian cuisine'. Judges also recognised the venue's focus on customer experience and the team's passion for 'bringing genuine Indian hospitality to the local community'.
The Indian Restaurant Awards 2026 – Global Edition celebrates 'exceptional achievements' across the culinary and restaurant landscape. From breakthrough concepts and well-known brands to outstanding chefs, innovators, and hospitality leaders, the awards honour those shaping the future of the sector.
Owner's Reaction
Lucknow Junction is an Indian restaurant located on Higher Market Street in Farnworth. Its cuisine is inspired by the rich culinary traditions of Lucknow and North India. Since opening in January 2024, owner Monica Verma says the aim has been to offer diners an authentic experience that goes beyond the standard curry house menu.
"Winning this award is a tremendous honour for us. As an independent restaurant, we put our heart and soul into every aspect of the business, from creating authentic dishes to providing warm hospitality," she told the Manchester Evening News. "Receiving international recognition validates the hard work of our entire team and is especially meaningful because it puts Bolton and our local food scene on a wider stage."
Menu Highlights
Monica says customer favourites include their chicken wing chilli, basket Chat, stuffed chilli pakora, and Galawati Kebab - the latter a legendary melt-in-the-mouth dish originating from Lucknow in India, and traditionally made with finely minced meat and a rich blend of over 150 spices. Mains including their traditional chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, chicken and lamb karahi and freshly baked naan breads and biryani are also very popular. "Our customers also enjoy trying regional specialities that are not commonly found in many Indian restaurants."
Lucknow, the historic "City of Nawabs", is celebrated for its rich, centuries-old Awadhi cuisine. The northern Indian city's excellent culinary heritage led to its official designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2025.
"Customers will say of our food, 'please put it straight into my veins' or 'please come to the curry mile'. We're different from other Indian restaurants, but in a good way. I give people the option to have the dishes made in the British style they know or the Indian style and nine times out of ten they'll go for the authentic way."
Community Support
Since opening a couple of years ago, Monica says the support from the community has been amazing and it brings 'tears to her eyes'. "We are fortunate to be part of a diverse and welcoming community. Most of our regular customers are local residents from the surrounding area, with a large proportion being English families, couples, and professionals who enjoy exploring authentic Indian cuisine."
"We are also located within reach of a significant South Asian community living a couple of miles away, many of whom appreciate the traditional flavours and regional dishes we offer. This blend of customers creates a wonderful atmosphere where people from different backgrounds come together through a shared love of good food."
"We are particularly proud to serve many staff from Bolton NHS services, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Their support means a great deal to us, and we are honoured that so many choose Lucknow Junction as a place to relax and enjoy a meal after their shifts. The support from the local community has been instrumental in our growth, and we are grateful to have built lasting relationships with customers who continue to recommend us to friends and family."
