Over the last year south east London’s food scene has celebrated some major successes, with a number of its restaurants and takeaway businesses receiving awards for their food.

From a Petts Wood fish and chip shop to a Sri Lankan curry restaurant – here’s a roundup of the six award-winning restaurants in south east London over the last year.

Polash, Dartford

Polash, a Dartford-based Indian restaurant, was awarded Regional Takeaway of the Year in the South East at the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards 2022.

Polash offers diners a mix of traditional Indian and Bangladeshi dishes, serving all the classics from chicken bhuna to their house specials like garlic chilli chicken masala.

Indian Diner, West Wickham

Chef Babul Miah at the West Wickham-based Indian Diner restaurant was awarded the “nation's best“ chef at the Curry Life Awards 2022.

Chef Babul has over 20 years of culinary experience, with his signature dish being chicken morisa, containing a combination of crushed spices, green peppers and green chillies.

The restaurant based on West Wickham High Street offers a healthy approach to Indian cuisine, with its minimal use of additives in cooking.

Copper Ceylon, Bromley

Copper Ceylon, located in Bromley, won the Best Restaurant award in the London Suburb category at the 2022 British Curry Awards.

Its success also marked the first Sri Lankan restaurant to win an award in the ceremony’s history.

The restaurant brings both fun and authentic Sri Lankan cuisine to its diners, alongside a menu of cocktails offering a happy hour from 5pm-7pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and between 5pm-6pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

However, between the hours of 10am and 2pm on Friday and Saturday it offers a vibrant, party atmosphere with a DJ and a line-up of entertainers.

The Village Fish and Chip Shop, Petts Wood

The Village Fish and Chip Shop, a family-owned business based in Petts Wood, was one of only two London fish and chip shops to be named in the Fry Awards top 50 best fish and chip takeaways in the UK for 2023.

The business, employing a team of four staff members, received full marks for its battered fish and chips cooked by the two chefs who work there.

The owners, Serena and Andy Pybus, have also been praised as active members of the community, on account of their support for school children during lockdown and their recent success when they completed a 70-mile walk for the CASPA charity in Bromley.

Copper and Ink, Blackheath

The most recent award-winning restaurant in south east London was Copper and Ink in Blackheath.

Copper and Ink, a MasterChef finalist-run business, was named on the Good Food Guide’s top 100 restaurants list for 2023.

The restaurant is partly run by former MasterChef 2015 finalist Tony Rodd and features a seasonally changing menu created by MasterChef 2015 semi-finalist and head chef Rob Parks.

The restaurant serves a mix of French and Scandinavian dishes, and has been praised for its menu catering for different dietary requirements.

Turnips with Tomas Lidakevicius, Borough Market

Borough Market-based restaurant Turnips with Tomatos Lidakevicius, an evening al fresco restaurant, received three rosettes at the latest AA Rosette Awards.

By day the restaurant sells fruit and veg from independent producers in and out of the UK. However, in the evening the restaurant offers an al fresco dining experience headed by chef Tomas Lidakevicius.

Tomas makes dishes using the best of the stall’s produce, inspired from countries around the world.

Guests can choase between an a la carte menu or a tasting menu starting at £65 up to £95, featuring a selection of dishes.