Spice Village Tooting, located at 121 Upper Tooting Road, London SW17 7TJ, is a renowned establishment specializing in traditional Pakistani cuisine. Founded in 2004 by brothers Nasir and Suleman, the restaurant began as a modest 15-seater takeaway and has since expanded into a celebrated dining destination. The menu features a fusion of regional Pakistani dishes, prepared using traditional methods such as cooking over hot stones, coal grills, and tandoori ovens. Signature offerings include spicy fish, curries, tikkas, kebabs, and traditional desserts. The restaurant has garnered multiple awards and is recognized as one of London's top Pakistani eateries.
What each source says
- Google Places 4.6 7,611
- Tripadvisor 4.0 707
Bar length is review volume, so you can see how much weight sits behind each score. Captured 2026-08-21.
What visitors single out
Liked
- Beautiful Ambience and Decor The restaurant is consistently described as having a stunning and modern interior with warm lighting and tasteful decor. The restaurant is very clean and well maintained.
- Delicious and Authentic Pakistani Cuisine Many reviewers praise the food's authentic flavors, noting specific dishes like the chicken charsi, Haleem, Nihari and lamb chops as standouts. The food is also customizable to your spice preferences.
- Excellent Customer Service Numerous reviews highlight the warm, attentive, and professional service provided by the staff. Many reviewers call out specific staff members by name, indicating a personalized and memorable dining experience.
- Family-Friendly Atmosphere Spice Village is noted as being a very family-oriented restaurant with a welcoming and comfortable environment for families. Staff go above and beyond to accommodate children.
- Good Value for Money Reviewers often mention that the prices are reasonable for the portion sizes and quality of food. Some also highlight the good value of the lunch specials.
Criticised
- Inconsistent Dessert Quality There are mixed opinions about the desserts, with some reviewers finding the kheer (rice pudding) to be inconsistent in quality. Even mango and sweet lassi was not up to mark for some reviewers.
- Inconsistent Food Quality A few reviewers noted a decline in food quality compared to previous visits, with some dishes being bland or having too much salt. Some have mentioned mixed grill was not cooked properly.
- Limited Alcohol Options As a dry restaurant, Spice Village does not serve alcohol, which may be a drawback for some diners. Although mocktails are offered, they may not appeal to everyone.
- Potential for Overcrowding and Noise The restaurant can get very busy, especially on weekends and evenings, leading to overcrowding and a noisy atmosphere. The music can sometimes be too loud.
- Service Can Be Slow at Times While many praise the service, a few reviewers experienced slow service, especially during busy periods. Wait times can be excessive.
The longer read
Spice Village Tooting is a popular Pakistani restaurant known for its vibrant atmosphere, described as having beautiful decor with warm lighting, artificial waterfalls, and a touch of glamour. Many reviewers highlight the visually appealing presentation of dishes and drinks, with some mocktails served in unique ways, like in top hats with dry ice for a dramatic effect. The restaurant is family-friendly and often busy, especially on weekends and for special occasions. Reviewers consistently praise the attentive and friendly service, with several staff members mentioned by name for their exceptional customer service skills, including Aksa, Shahid, Zunaira, Zin, Umer, Shahed, Fatima, Jalal, Hassan, Azhar, Najeeb, Ashraf, and Aslam Khan. Many reviewers felt welcomed and well-cared for by the staff. The menu offers a wide variety of Pakistani dishes, with the chicken charsi, masala fish, aloo tikki chaat, grilled lamb chops, samosa chaat, shahi haleem, nihari, dynamite chicken, and seekh kabab frequently mentioned as favorites. The restaurant is known for its authentic Pakistani cuisine, with reviewers from Los Angeles and California noting the authentic flavors. While most reviewers praise the food's taste and quality, some mentioned inconsistencies, such as the onion bhaji being dry or certain dishes being too salty or bland. The portions are generally considered generous, offering good value for the price. The spice levels can be customized to individual preferences. A few reviewers noted longer wait times during peak hours and occasional issues with the consistency of certain dishes like kheer. It is a dry restaurant. Overall, Spice Village Tooting is highly recommended for its delicious food, great service, and attractive ambiance, making it a popular choice for both casual dinners and special celebrations.
A synthesis of third-party reviews supplied by Mindtrip travel index. Not written by Breaks.
Getting there
- Phone
- +44 20 8672 0710
- Website
- spicevillagerestaurants.co.uk/tooting
| Mon | 12:00 - 23:30 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 12:00 - 23:30 |
| Wed | 12:00 - 23:30 |
| Thu | 12:00 - 23:30 |
| Fri | 14:00 - 23:30 |
| Sat | 12:00 - 23:30 |
| Sun | 10:00 - 23:30 |
Against the neighbourhood
Rated 4.5 against a median of 4.5 across the 1,957 places to eat we hold for London, where the most-reviewed is The O2.
Still deciding?
- What are the must‑try signature dishes at Spice Village Tooting and what makes them special?
- Does Spice Village Tooting offer a comfortable dine‑in experience compared to its original takeaway format, and what are the seating options?
- Are there vegan‑friendly options on the menu at Spice Village Tooting, and how are they prepared using traditional cooking methods?
- What times of day or days of the week are less busy at Spice Village Tooting for a relaxed meal?
- What parking or public transport options are available near Spice Village Tooting for visitors coming from central London?
Where this comes from
Venue records are drawn from the Mindtrip travel index, which aggregates place data and review signals from Google Places, Tripadvisor and booking providers. Ratings are reproduced per source rather than merged into a single number. Distances to nearby venues are computed here as great-circle distances between the published coordinates, not walking or driving routes. Comparison figures are medians computed across the venues we hold for the same neighbourhood or city.
Source: Mindtrip travel index, captured 2026-08-21.
What this page cannot tell you
- Descriptions and review summaries are supplied by the source index and are reproduced as published; they are not independently verified by Breaks.
- Ratings and review counts are point-in-time snapshots and drift constantly. Check the venue's own site or the rating provider for the current figure.
- Opening hours change seasonally and at short notice. Confirm with the venue before travelling.
- Category labels come from the source index and are occasionally wrong — a venue may be filed under a type that does not match how it trades.
- Straight-line distances understate real walking distance, especially where a river or railway sits between two points.