City Spice has served diners on Brick Lane since 1984, combining the familiar traditions of a London curry house with a strong Bengali and Sylheti influence. Its long standing position in the heart of Banglatown makes it a useful destination for visitors exploring one of East London’s best known dining streets.
Starters and grilled dishes include onion bhaji, tikka, lamb chops, king prawns and mixed selections cooked in the tandoor. The main menu covers British Indian favourites such as korma, rogan josh, jalfrezi and vindaloo, with several proteins and adjustable spice levels offering flexibility.
Distinctive house dishes bring Bengali ingredients and recipes into sharper focus. Shatkora adds a fragrant sour citrus note to chicken, lamb or vegetables, while lamb shank, rezala and the City Spice thali allow diners to explore several contrasting sauces, meats and accompaniments.
Vegetarian and vegan diners have a substantial dedicated selection alongside vegetable sides, daal, rice and freshly baked breads. Biryani, thalis and mixed grills work particularly well for a generous meal, while chutneys, raita and milder dishes help balance the hotter curries.
Address: 138 Brick Lane, London, England E1 6RU, United Kingdom
City Spice Menu
All Time Favourites
Chicken
Chicken Tikka
Lamb Tikka
Lamb
Prawn
King Prawn
Rohi Fish
Duck
Mixed Vegetables
Paneer
Starters
Sheek Kebab
Lamb skewer, green chillies, curry seasoning. Herbal and hearty. Mild
Chicken or Lamb Tikka
Boneless, tamarind, Indian spice blend. Subtle and tandoori smoked.
Tandoori Chicken
Quarter chicken, gingergarlic, garam-masala, and cayenne. Smoky and crispy. Mild.
Shingara
Bengali pyramid pastries. Chicken tikka and cheese mix. Crumbly and moreish. Mild.
Chicken Chat
Shredded chicken, chat masala. Fiery and sour. Medium.
Prawn Puri
Ginger-garlic, turmeric, sweet paprika with tender puri bread. Velvety and Fluffy. Medium.
Duck Tikka
Boneless, tamarind, Indian spice blend. Subtle and tandoori smoked. Medium.
Mix Kebab Cocktail
Chicken and lamb tikka, sheek kebab. Fried onions, peppers. Hearty. Mild.
King Prawn Butterfly
Breaded king prawns in Indian spiced batter. Rich and crumbly. Medium.
Lamb Chops
Marinated in yoghurt, tamarind, Indian spice blend. Smoky and blackened. Mild.
King Prawn Puri
Tiger prawns, ginger-garlic, turmeric, sweet paprika with tender puri bread. Velvety and fluffy. Medium.
Vegetarian Starters
Onion Bhaji
Bulb onions, red lentils, seasoned and fried. Crispy and golden. Mild.
Spring Rolls
Stuffed pastry, cooked vegetables, Indian spice blend. Fresh and crumbly. Mild.
Aloo Chat
Shredded chicken or cubed potatoes, chat masala. Fiery and sour. Medium.
Saag Paneer Roll
Stuffed pastry, cottage cheese, spinach, stuffed and lightly spiced. Moreish and hearty. Mild.
Biriyani*
India’s favourite one-pan dish. Rice and protein cooked in a harmony of spices, including dry spices such as cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom and cloves. Served alongside Biriyani sauce. An aromatic staple.
Chicken or Lamb Biriyani
Chicken Tikka or Lamb Tikka Biriyani
Prawn Biriyani
King Brawn Biriyani
Mixed Vegetable Biriyani
Duck Tikka Biriyani
City Spice’ Thalis
The Indian way of eating. Thalis are silver platters with small bowls of select curries and dishes, chosen to complement the theme of the Thali. As seen on ITV News and incredibly popular at City Spice.
Meat Thali
Chicken tikka masala, lamb bhuna, tandoori chicken, sheek kebab, pilau rice, plain naan and raita
The City Spice Thali
Chicken Syhlet Jalfrezi, Lamb Uribeeshi Gatta, Prawn Rezala, Tadka Daal, Desi-fried Rohi fish (contains some bones), pilau rice and garlic naan.
Vegetarian Thali
Aloo gobi, daal, saag bhaji, mixed vegetable bhaji, pilau rice, roti and raita.
Tandoor Grilled
City Spice’ Tandoor bakes and grills the below dishes at 900 Fahrenheit. All dishes are without sauce and mild, grilled in our tandoor to perfection. Served with assortments of salad, mint sauce, fried onions and peppers.
Chicken or Lamb Shashlik
Tandoor meat skewers, capsicum, baked onions, tikka marinade. Flavoursome and succulent. Mild
Half Tandoori Chicken
Half chicken, ginger-garlic, garam-masala, and cayenne. Smoky and crispy. Mild.
Chicken or Lamb Tikka
Boneless, tamarind, Indian spice blend. Subtle and tandoori smoked. Mild.
Duck Tikka
Boneless, tamarind, Indian spice blend. Subtle and tandoori smoked. Mild.
Paneer Tikka
Cottage cheese, yoghurt, tandoor spice blend. Crumbly and smoky. Mild.
Tandoori King Prawns
Tiger prawns, yoghurt, tandoor spice blend. Zesty and charred. Mild.
Lamb Chops
Marinated in yoghurt, tamarind, Indian spice blend. Smoky and blackened. Mild.
Tandoori Mixed Grill
Tandoori chicken, lamb tikka and sheek kebab. Platter delight. Mild.
Everyday Favourites
City Spice’ take on the below classics have led to the restaurant being featured on BBC TV and Channel 5. No reinvention, just perfection. Dishes go from mild to spicy.
Butter Chicken
Chicken tandoor, butter, cream, mild Indian spice blend. Golden and rich.
Chicken Tikka Masala
As seen on Channel 5. Coconut, paprika, cream, sugar. Sweet and velvety.
Chicken/Lamb Passanda
Mild spice mix, yoghurt, plum tomatoes, cream and ginger-garlic. Creamy and luscious.
Chicken Tikka or Lamb Tikka Makhani
Indian spice blend, butter, plum tomatoes, fenugreek seeds. Smooth and flavoursome.
Chicken or Lamb Chilli Masala
Garlic, chillies, chilli spice blend, fenugreek. Smooth and slightly spicy.
Garlic Chilli Chicken
Garlic, spiced tomato base, chillies, ginger-garlic. Silky and slightly spicy.
Chicken/Lamb Sylhet Jalfrezi
Naga chillies, chilli spice blend, naga pickle, fried peppers and onions. Fiery and sharp.
City Spice Award-Winning Dishes
City Spice’ select award-winning dishes, unique in recipe and taste to City Spice. Dishes are ordered from most spicy to mild. Dishes are also available in king prawn.
Chicken or Lamb or Vegetables Rezala
Garam masala, chillies, yoghurt, plum tomatoes, cayenne, chilli powder. Hot and flavoursome. Spicy.
Lamb Shank
Slow roasted lambleg shank, saffron, City’s ‘Spice’ blend, coriander. Spicy and tender. Medium.
Gunpowder Chicken
‘Gunpowder’ lamb mince, marinated chicken encasing, bhuna sauce. Spicy and grand.
Chicken or Lamb Shatkora
Shatkora Bengali fruit (sour), Indian spice blend, coriander. Acidic and unique. Medium.
Murgh Masala
Lamb mince, tandoor-smoked chicken cutlets, City’s ‘Spice’ blend, turmeric, cloves and cinnamon. Medium.
Chicken or Lamb Uribeesi Gatta
Bengali edamame beans (texture), chillies, coriander, spring onion. Unique and moreish. Medium
Thetul Tanga Bhujon (Chicken | Lamb | Vegetable)
Sweet-sour sauce, shallots, tamarind, cumin. Acidic and moreish. Medium.
Curryleaf Chicken
Curry leaves, ginger, garlic, tamarind, City’s ‘Spice’ blend. Refreshing and light. Medium.
Shobji Kufta Bhujon
Mixed vegetable kufta balls, mushroom and tomato sauce. Popular and award-winning. Medium.
Black Pepper Lamb and Mushroom
Black pepper, long pepper, chestnut mushrooms, onions, coriander. Unique and moreish. Medium
Shobji Garlic
Potatoes, cumin, poppy seeds, cinnamon and garlic. Fresh and light.
Daal Masalder
Lentils, light Indian spice blend, coriander. Airy and light. Medium.
Daal Begun Gatta
Lentils, aubergine, Indian spice blend, coriander. Acidic and refreshing. Medium.
Uribeesi Saag Gatta
Bengali edamame beans, spinach, tomatoes, onions, Indian spice blend. Rich and moreish. Medium.
Chingri Marasi (King Prawns)
Tiger prawn, plum tomatoes, peppers, garlic-ginger marinade. Silky and tangy. Medium.
Lamb or Prawn Chana Makani
Chickpeas, butter, garlic, ginger, almonds. Light and sweet. Mild.
Chicken or Lamb Goa
Mango pulp, coconut, almonds, mild spice blend. Honeyed and velvety. Mild.
Vegetable Side Dishes
mains available on request
Bombay Aloo
Saag Aloo
Gobi Bhaji
Saag Paneer
Mattar Paneer
Chana Masala
Brinjal Bhaji
Aloo Bhorta
Tadka Daal
Mushroom Bhaji
Mixed Vegetable Bhaji
Bindi Bhaji
Shatkora Daal
Rice
Plain Rice
Pilau Rice
Lemon Rice
Vegetable Rice
Keema Rice
spiced mincemeat
Special Fried Rice
egg and peas
Coconut Fried Rice
Mushroom Rice
Breads
Geeza Naan
Chilli, cheese, garlic, and keema all in one naan. A tribute to all the diners who help us be the King of Brick Lane. Spicy.
Plain Naan
Tandoori Roti
Garlic Naan
Peswari Naan
Cheese Naan
Keema Naan
spiced mincemeat stuffing
Mushroom Naan
Chilli Naan
Vegetable Naan
Cheese and Garlic Naan
Cheese and Chilli Naan
Cheese and Keema Naan
Chappati
Plain Paratha
Aloo Paratha
potatoes
Sundry Items
Poppadum
plain or spicy
Pickles and Chutney
per person