Sixteen Scottish restaurants have been shortlisted for the Asian Curry Awards 2026, also known as the 'Curry Oscars', which crown the 'Curry King' of the UK. The awards ceremony will take place on November 15, 2026, at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair, London, where top restaurants and takeaways from across the UK will be recognised for their work.
Of the 213 entrants, 16 popular restaurants in Scotland have made the shortlist. This includes nine restaurants located in Glasgow alone, with entries also coming from Edinburgh, Glenrothes, Aberdeen, Moray and Dunfermline. The awards feature a lavish gala dinner where the best of the best from across the UK are honoured.
Judging process and past winners
After months of spice lovers nominating their favourite establishments, the finalists will be assessed by judges from the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), including some of the world's leading chefs and restaurateurs. The judges will meet to discuss each individual entry from the shortlist to determine the overall winners for this year's event.
Last year, 46 awards were presented, though it is believed there could be even more this year, giving the Scottish restaurants a higher chance of taking home one of the federation's most sought-after gongs. Many of this year's finalists secured awards at last year's ceremony. Charcoals in Glasgow was awarded Best Casual Dining in Scotland at the 2025 event, while Light of Bengal in Aberdeen was highlighted as Scotland's Asian Restaurant of the Year.
Awards categories and new prizes
This year's awards will present a variety of annual accolades, including Best Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and Best Buffet of the Year. Along with the national awards, the 16 Scottish businesses will compete against each other for the title of Best Restaurant and Best Takeaway in Scotland for the regional awards.
Some brand new prizes are also set to make an appearance at the 16th anniversary of the Curry Oscars. These new titles include Asian Chef of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Legacy Awards and the esteemed Curry King award.
ACF chairman's comments and full list
Chairman of the Asian Catering Federation Yawar Khan said: "The Asian Curry Awards set the standard for excellence across all aspects of our industry. We celebrate with the' best of the best' and are delighted to see the public voting increase year-on-year. Alongside the excellent cuisine we champion with these awards, we also take time to celebrate the achievements of individuals and recognise the generous contributions they make to their communities through their charitable giving and their time. I look forward to meeting all the finalists in Mayfair on Sunday November 15 to present these awards."
The Scottish restaurants shortlisted for the Asian Curry Awards 2026 are: Celestia - Edinburgh, Charcoals - Glasgow, Chennai's Marina - Edinburgh, G41 Asian House - Glasgow, Handi Restaurant - Glenrothes, Katsu Japanese Curry Shop - Glasgow, Katsu Outlet - Glasgow, Light of Bengal - Aberdeen, Macau Kitchen - Edinburgh, Raja Rani - Glasgow, Rickshaw and Co - Glasgow, Spice Tandoori - Moray, Sweet & Sour - Glasgow, Temaki - Glasgow, The Royal Bengal - Dunfermline, and Zaika Taal - Glasgow.
