Where It
All Began
A love letter to Indian cuisine, written in fire and flavour, from the heart of Dalston.
The Beginning
“Every great meal starts with a story worth telling.”
Rao's was born from a simple belief: that food is the most powerful way to connect people. What began as a dream to bring bold, authentic Indian flavours to Dalston has grown into a dining destination where tradition and innovation sit side by side. We opened our doors with one mission — to serve food that makes people feel something.
The Kitchen
“The tandoor is our heartbeat — every flame tells a story of patience and craft.”
At the centre of our kitchen stands a clay tandoor, heated to over 480°C. It's where our signature dishes are born — lamb chops kissed by Kashmiri chilli, paneer charred to perfection, naan blistered and pillowy. Our chefs draw from generations of culinary wisdom, applying classical Indian techniques to the finest seasonal British produce.
The Fusion
“We don't follow recipes — we follow curiosity.”
Indian fusion isn't about adding a twist for the sake of it. It's about honouring the depth of Indian spices while embracing the creativity of modern cooking. Our menu moves between the familiar and the unexpected — a butter chicken that tastes like home, a cocktail that tastes like nowhere you've been before. This is food that respects where it came from and isn't afraid of where it's going.
The Commitment
“Sustainability isn't a trend for us — it's how we were raised.”
We source our ingredients from trusted local suppliers and farms across the British Isles. Seasonal produce shapes our specials. We minimise waste, recycle rigorously, and choose suppliers who share our values. Dining at Rao's means enjoying food that's good for you and good for the world around us.
Come Experience It Yourself
The best stories are told over a meal. We'd love to share ours with you.
Book a TableRao's opened on Dalston Lane because this part of Hackney felt like the right home for a restaurant built around honest Indian cooking and a real curiosity about where it could go. The kitchen draws on deep Indian culinary tradition, regional recipes, classical technique, proper spice knowledge and works with seasonal British produce and independent UK suppliers to keep the food grounded and the quality consistent. We hold a 5-star Food Hygiene Rating from the Food Standards Agency, and we take sustainability seriously as a day-to-day practice rather than a talking point. If you want to understand what we're about, the menu is the best place to start. Everything we believe about food is in there somewhere.