Asian Curry Awards: 10 North East restaurants shortlisted

The Asian Curry Awards cover a full range of Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines, including Bangladeshi, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Middle Eastern, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese cuisines.

Now that the restaurants have been shortlisted, the ten local restaurants listed have made it into the top 200 in the UK – but will be fighting for the title of best curry house.

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Within the list, Aruvi Restaurant and Bar in Spennymoor, Balti Hut in Middlesbrough and Vadah in Stockton make the top 200, while Spice Lounge in Durham and My Delhi in Sunderland and Newcastle also feature.

The nominees will now face a public vote before the list is whittled down to 100. These are then evaluated by a jury from the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), which determines the category winners.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on November 19, hosted by BBC newsreader Samantha Simmonds.

Ten curry houses in the North East are aiming to be the best in the UK (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“We are seeing some remarkable innovations from pioneering restaurateurs adapting to challenging trading conditions and more demanding customer preferences,” said ACF Chairman Yawar Khan.

“Afternoon chai, weekend brunch and greater use of high-quality local produce – particularly seafood and game – are now being served on a large scale.”

The full list of Northeast restaurants included in the top 200 shortlist are:

• Akbar’s Group (Middlesbrough and Newcastle)
• Aruvi Restaurant and Bar (Spennymoor)
• Balti Hut (Middlesbrough)
• Dabbawal (Newcastle)
• Delhi 6 (South Shields)
• Hot Wok (Middlesbrough)
• My Delhi Indian Streetery (Newcastle)
• My Delhi (Sunderland)
• Spice Lounge (Durham)
• Vadah (Stockton-on-Tees)