The Indian hotspot everyone is talking about

More than a decade ago, successful barrister Nisha Katona used her savings to launch Mowgli Street Food on (then) quiet Bold Street in Liverpool. She transformed a modest Chinese eatery and, doubting her Indian home kitchen would triumph, only leased the building for two years. But an insane queue at the restaurant’s opening flipped the cards. Fast forward to today, and Mowgli Street Food has taken off from London to Manchester and Edinburgh. Here are three reasons why we can’t get enough.

It’s fuelled by passion

Born in Lancashire to immigrant parents, Katona learned to prep fish before she could talk. Her parents often hosted neighbours for meals, and brought her along on trips to food markets each week. Even as a barrister, Katona ran Indian cooking classes from home. So it’s not really a surprise the curry evangelist traded the court for the kitchen – or that the results were incredible.  

Such was the success of Mowgli Street Food that the founder and chef was awarded an MBE for services to the food industry, has since served as a judge on BBC’s Great British Menu and is a resident chef on ITV’s This Morning, not to mention her many other television appearances, including MasterChef, Cooking with the Stars and, most recently, Nisha Katona’s Home Kitchen, co-starring her farm’s adorable alpacas. 

On top of her TV triumphs, she has published six cookbooks (if that’s not proof of passion, we don’t know what is). Her most recent publication, BOLD: Big Flavour Twists to Classic Dishes, features – wait for it – miso Parmesan doughnuts. Which brings us to our next crucial point: the equally delectable dishes at Mowgli Street Food restaurants. 

The menu is inspired by her Indian family recipes 

Its signature Chat Bombs (crisp breads puffs filled with yogurt, spices, chutney and chickpeas), divinely sticky, sweet-and-sour treacle tamarind fries, rich and aromatic Mother butter chicken: each recipe at Mowgli Street Food recalls the home cooking of Nisha’s ancestors in Varanasi, India. Dishes are authentic, fresh and full of flavoursome, nourishing ingredients, from zingy small plates to tangy street food chat, marinated and grilled meats to vibrant, velvety curries.

Vegan and gluten-free menus are a thoughtful affair, too, not an afterthought, and must-order favourites involve Darjeeling-steeped chickpeas and zingy Temple dahl with red lentils simmered in cumin, coriander and lemon – the ultimate Indian comfort food. Joyously, everything is styled as shareable Indian tapas, served in traditional tiffin tins and brought out as soon as it’s ready, imitating the smash and grab of Indian street food. Make sure to save room for dangerously dreamy desserts – we love the gulab jamun (syrupy, nutty milk dough balls) – and toast the tasty thrills with a masala espresso martini or smoked cardamom Old Fashioned.

The serene setting

Adding to the snugness of family-style sharing plates is the Indian fairytale-like interior, thought up by Katona herself. Rope-hung benches at communal tables represent the vines that monkeys would swing from at the temple behind her grandmother's house, while fairy lights nod to the fireflies at the night markets. Then there’s the natural, earthy palettes: haveli-style carved doors handpicked by Katona, bar areas crafted from rustic railway sleepers and walls painted in soft olive and cream shades that are complemented by hanging moss, faux trees and bird cages.

But it’s more than the enchanting design that gives a sense of creative calmness, it’s also the vibe of those who work here. Food critics don’t only comment on the deep flavours of the award-winning curries that are cooked fresh each day, but on the harmoniousness of the kitchen, while employee benefits include ‘pupternity’ leave (paid time off to welcome new four-legged friends) and charity trips abroad. So is there a connection between Mowgli being recognised as one of The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work and being one of the best places to eat? We think so.  

Discover more about Mowgli

Win one of ten £100 gift cards from Mowgli Street Food

If there’s one gastronomic gem to experience this season, it’s the bold and authentic Indian dishes of barrister-turned-restaurateur Nisha Katona. The Mowgli Street Food founder and chef is so successful that she’s earned an MBE for services to the food industry (among her many other foodie accolades).

At any of Mowgli Street Food’s 27 restaurants in the UK, expect a family-style, shareable menu inspired by the home cooking of Katona’s ancestors in Varanasi, from rich and aromatic Mother butter chicken to thoughtful vegan and gluten-friendly options such as Darjeeling tea-steeped chickpeas. The epicurean enchantment is complemented by Indian fairytale-like interiors (imagine plenty of fairy lights, rope-hung benches at communal tables and beautiful swing seats).

You could soon gather around, dig in and toast the magic with a Masala espresso martini, as ten £100 gift cards for meals are up for grabs, courtesy of Mowgli Street Food. Make sure to save room for the gulab jamun (syrupy, nutty milk dough balls). Entrants must be 18+ and UK residents. Enter by 23:59 GMT on 17 September 2025. Promoter: Mowgli Street Food

Enter now

General terms and conditions
Open to UK residents who are British Airways Club members, aged 18 or over.
Only one entry per person. Winner selected at random.
No cash alternative.
Subject to availability.
Travel expenses not included unless otherwise stated.
The closing date for receipt of all prize draw entries and discount redemptions is 23:59 BST on 17 September 2025, unless stated otherwise.