Ruby Murray Jubilee as Babur turns 40

This summer, Babur turns 40. The much-loved, critically acclaimed Indian restaurant has brought bold flavours to South East London since 1985, taking inspiration from every corner of the Indian subcontinent to serve its guests food with heart, food that tells a story, and food that feels like home. 

To mark the milestone, Babur has a few special things in store. From an 85p onion bhaji throwback to a limited-edition Ruby Jubilee Tasting Menu, and an exclusive merchandise drop including a new house chutney trio and collector’s cap, the celebration is designed to thank loyal guests, welcome new ones, and honour the journey so far.

As the owner, Emdad Rahman will tell you, much of the restaurant’s success over the past forty years is attributed to his quiet ambition to never stop working, evolving, and striving for excellence. Add to this the hard work of Babur’s dedicated team and its loyal guests – some of whom have been working or dining at the restaurants for five, ten, twenty years or more – and therein lies the recipe for longevity. In its 40th year, this institution of modern Indian cuisine shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to push the boundaries of flavour and creativity. 

Onion Bhaji for 85p — A Taste of 1985

To celebrate 40 years of flavour, Babur is bringing back a classic — at its original price.

From now until 14th September, guests can enjoy Babur’s original onion bhaji for just 85p, just as it was in 1985.

Prepared to the original recipe – thinly sliced onions and kale, gently spiced and fried until crisp in a golden gram flour batter – it’s a small gift from Babur’s past to your plate.

One portion per table. Available until 14th September.

A Forty-Year Legacy of Bold Flavour

Babur has launched a limited-edition Ruby Jubilee Tasting and à la Carte menus, available for both lunch and dinner, until 14th September. Both menus include a selection of the restaurant’s top dishes from the last four decades. 

Executive Chef Jiwan Lal, who himself marks twenty years at the helm this summer, has curated a 5-course tasting menu that’s both a tribute and a reimagining, honouring the dishes, regions and flavours that have shaped Babur’s story over the past 40 years. 

Guests will taste their way across the subcontinent, from the coast to the heartland, with dishes like Lal Maas, a clove-smoked lamb curry from the royal kitchens of Rajputana; Daab Chingri, a Bengali delicacy of tiger prawns slow-cooked inside a whole green coconut, rich with mustard and ginger; and Aloo Bukhara Kofta, melt-in-your-mouth prune and potato koftas in a silky smooth spiced tomato sauce. 

Dessert is drenched in equal parts nostalgia and fragrant sugar syrup as Malpua, the centuries-old Indian sweet, receives the Babur treatment with a contemporary spin,  flavoured with chocolate and served with stem ginger kulfi and beetroot rabdi. 

And there will be celebratory libations to toast to forty remarkable years. Rupam Talukdar, creator of Babur’s signature cocktail, the Currytini, will be serving a 40th birthday cocktail to welcome guests; ‘A Toast to Time’ combines beetroot-infused vodka, cucumber, Agave nectar, elderflower and fresh lime. Its alcohol-free partner-in-crime, ‘Ruby Cooler’ features a refreshing mix of pomegranate, lychee, fresh basil, lime juice and bubbles.

In true Babur style, the Ruby Jubilee menu is a collaborative effort. Every single dish has been selected with the help of Babur’s dedicated Tasting Group, made up of loyal patrons. Babur’s Tasting Group is invited in ahead of each new menu launch to taste and give honest feedback to Chef Jiwan and his passionate team, helping to shape the final selection. It’s a tradition that speaks to the heart of Babur’s philosophy: food made not just with the community in mind but in collaboration with them.

Beyond the table, a special 40th Anniversary gift range will also be available in the restaurant and online for those who want to take a slice of Babur magic home with them:

• The Ruby Jubilee Chutney Trio features three exclusive chutneys that utilise much-loved flavour profiles inspired by the Babur menu: Green Apple, Forest Berry, and Carrot Pickle.

• A collectable Babur Cap, embroidered with the restaurant’s logo. The perfect nod to an icon of the London food scene.

The limited-edition merchandise will be available for purchase throughout the summer at the restaurant and online, while supplies last.

The Ruby Jubilee menu (both à la carte and five-course tasting) is available from now until 14th September.

To book, visit: http://babur.info/reservations