Inaugral winners of The Scottish Asian Food Awards

Scotland celebrated the impact Asian food has had on its culture ever since its first Indian restaurant opened in 1947 with The Scottish Asian Food Awards.

The inaugral ceremony attracted some of the country’s most well-known and accomplished members of the industry to Glasgow yesterday evening.

And the Halal sector was well represented among the winners of the 18 award categories finally announced at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Around 9,000 restaurants and takeaways across the UK are being run by members of the South-Asian community, employing over 70,000 people and raking in an annual turnover of over £2 billion.

While Glasgow is said to be the “curry capital of Britain”, with orders for Indian food proving more popular than any other, Asian cuisines from across the globe are now available right across Scotland.

For this reason, The Scottish Asian Food Awards shortlisted restaurants that specialise in Indian, Pakistani, Bengali, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Cantonese, Malaysian, Thai, and Nepalese, as well Middle Eastern and Turkish.

Irfan Younis, CEO of Oceanic Consulting said: “We would like to congratulate all of the winners and finalists of the first ever Scottish Asian Food Awards 2018. The evening was a huge success, particularly given the fact that this was the first award of its kind in Scotland. We are keen to carry the momentum on from tonight, to future awards ceremonies celebrating Asian food in Scotland.”

Some Halal-oriented restaurants who triumphed included Bangladeshi Restaurant of the Year went to Vinyasa in Edinburgh, while Malaysian Restaurant of the Year was awarded to Selera Malaysia Bistro in Aberdeen.

Selera posted on its Facebook page: “This award goes for all Aberdonians, our valued customers, our family, our great chefs and wonderful staff.”

The following are a list of the 21 awards presented on the night with the winners as follows:

5 Star Indian Restaurant of the Year

• North Scotland: Carron to Mumbai (Stonehaven)
• Central Scotland: Basil Indian Restaurant (Dunfermline)
• South West: Annaya’s Indian (Helensburgh)
• South East: Bay leaf (Pumpherston)
• Overall Winner: Annaya’s Indian (Helensburgh)

Outstanding Indian Restaurant of the Year

• North Scotland: Shahi Darbar (Inverurie)
• Central Scotland: Rishis Indian Aroma (Dundee)
• South West: Multan Tandoori (Paisley)
• South East: Bombay Lounge (Dalkeith)
• Overall Winner: Multan Tandoori (Paisley)

Japanese Restaurant of the Year

• North Scotland: Yorokobi by CJ (Aberdeen)
• Central Scotland: Koku Shi (Kirkcaldy)
• South West: Wudon (Glasgow)
• South East: Maki Ramen (Edinburgh)
• Overall Winner: Yorokobi by CJ (Aberdeen)

Chinese Restaurant of the Year

• North Scotland: Asian Kitchen (Inverurie)
• Central Scotland: The Regent (Stirling)
• South West: Lychee Oriental (Glasgow)
• South East: Karens Unicorn (Edinburgh)
• Overall Winner: Asian Kitchen (Inverurie)

Bangladeshi Restaurant of the Year

• North Scotland: Darjeeling Bangladeshi Restaurant (Dunkled)
• Central Scotland: Maisha Indian & Seafood Restaurant (Fife)
• South Scotland: Vinyasa (Edinburgh)
• Overall Winner: Vinyasa (Edinburgh)

5 Star Indian Takeaway of the Year

• North Scotland: 5 in 1 (Montrose)
• Central Scotland: The Aladdins Indian Takeaway (Perth)
• South West: Zain’s Curry House (North Ayrshire)
• South East: Slumdog Delivered (Edinburgh)
• Overall Winner: Zain’s Curry House (North Ayrshire)

Takeaway & Home Delivery of the Year

• North Scotland: Real Tandoori (Elgin)
• Central Scotland: CombiniCo(St Andrews)
• South West: Viking Café (North Ayrshire)
• South East: Maki Ramen (Edinburgh)
• Overall Winner: CombiniCo (St Andrews)

The Rest

• Nepalese Restaurant of the Year: The Khukuri (Edbinurgh)
• Thai Restaurant of the Year: Chaophraya & Palm Sugar Lounge (Glasgow)
• Malaysian Restaurant of the Year: Selera Malaysia Bistro (Aberdeen)
• Korean Restaurant of the Year: Sodaeng (Edinburgh)
• Asian Fusion Restaurant of the Year: Café Presko (Edinburgh)
• South Indian Restaurant of the Year: Kama Sutra (Glasgow)
• Pakistani Restaurant of the Year: Village Curry House (Glasgow)
• Unique Asian Restaurant of the Year: Namak Mandi (Glasgow)
• Middle Eastern Restaurant of the Year: Al Sultan (Glasgow)
• Turkish Restaurant of the Year: Ada Restaurant (Edinburgh)
• Cantonese Restaurant of the Year: The Regent (Stirling)
• Oceanic Consulting Recognition Award: Turban Tandoori (Glasgow)