Swadish by Ajay Kumar in Glasgow has been named AA Restaurant of the Year for Scotland 2026. The award was presented at the AA Hospitality Awards 2026, held on Monday, September 21 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London. The ceremony celebrates the best eateries and hospitality venues across the UK, with regional Restaurant of the Year trophies among the top prizes.
The restaurant, located at 33 Ingram Street in the heart of Glasgow, specialises in fine dining that showcases authentic Indian flavours. It has been described by visitors as "fantastic" and "outstanding".
Chef's journey from India to Glasgow
Posting on Instagram, chef Kumar wrote: "From India to Glasgow. In 2009, I arrived in Scotland with a suitcase, a love for food and a dream of building something of my own. On Monday, Swadish was named AA Restaurant of the Year for Scotland 2026."
He added: "The journey from India to Glasgow has been filled with challenges, lessons, incredible people and a lot of hard work. Today, I want to celebrate not just the award, but the city that gave Swadish a home. Glasgow, this one is for you."
Culinary style and menu highlights
Swadish celebrates both the culinary heritage of India and the high-quality produce of Scotland. Techniques such as charcoal cooking, fermentation, pickling, slow cooking, and spice roasting are used alongside modern methods. The restaurant works with the seasons, selecting the best available produce and allowing it to influence the dishes created. Ingredients range from Loch Fyne scallops and Peterhead seafood to Scottish lamb, Highland game, and seasonal vegetables.
Starters include curried mussels, Loch Fyne scallops, crispy kekda, and Calcutta pork chilli fry. Poultry and game mains include pork vindaloo, Malwani spiced chicken, and roe deer korma. Seafood options include banana leaf sea bream, Goan monkfish, and Konkani halibut.
Signature dishes and guest reviews
Swadish offers a signature slow-cooked Lamb Raan on Sundays for two or four guests, priced at £44 per person. It is marinated in yoghurt, saffron, and aromatic spices and served with chargrilled seasonal vegetables, mint chutney, boondi raita, and basmati rice. A five-course tasting menu is available for £60, with a sommelier wine pairing for an additional £65. Dishes on the tasting menu include basil chicken tikka, Punjabi pani puri, Glenfeshie pigeon, and Dehli butter chicken, with petit fours available for £6.
One recent visitor wrote in a Google review: "We had a fantastic evening at Swadish by Ajay Kumar in Glasgow. We chose the five-course set menu with wine pairings, one vegetarian and one with meat, and both were exceptional. Every course was full of flavour, beautifully presented and clearly made with real care. The wine pairings worked really well and made the meal feel even more special."
The reviewer added: "We also had the pleasure of meeting chef Ajay, which was a lovely touch. The food, atmosphere and overall experience were outstanding. In my opinion, Swadish truly deserves a Michelin star sooner rather than later. A memorable meal and one of the best dining experiences we have had in Glasgow. Highly recommended."
