Kerala Canteen wins Best South Indian Restaurant of the Year at the Indian Restaurant Summit & Honours 2026 in Manchester
LEEDS, 22 SEPTEMBER 2026 — A Leeds restaurant specialising in the food of Kerala has been recognised on the regional hospitality stage, winning Best South Indian Restaurant of the Year at the Indian Restaurant Summit & Honours 2026 – North UK Edition.
Kerala Canteen, the independent chef-led restaurant in Leeds, received the award at a gala ceremony at The Edwardian Manchester on Monday 21 September, with Chef and culinary consultant Bobby Geetha and Chef Abdulla Khader accepting the award on behalf of the Kerala Canteen team.
The award represents a significant moment not only for Kerala Canteen but also for Leeds’ increasingly diverse Indian restaurant scene, highlighting the growing recognition of regional Indian cuisines beyond the traditional British interpretation of Indian food.
The event brought together leading chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality professionals and industry figures from across the UK. Restaurant India’s 2026 Manchester edition describes the platform as a forum for recognising pioneering restaurant concepts, chefs, innovators and hospitality leaders shaping the future of foodservice.
Among the speakers at the event was Chef Bobby Geetha, who was invited to take part in a panel discussion exploring the changing Indian restaurant industry.
Bobby appeared at the event not simply as an award-winning restaurateur, but as an industry voice discussing the future of Indian food and hospitality in Britain.
From Kerala to Leeds
Kerala Canteen was created by Chef Bobby Geetha with a simple ambition: to bring the distinctive food culture of Kerala to Leeds while creating a modern restaurant experience rooted in Yorkshire.
Bobby, originally from Kerala, has lived and cooked in the UK for almost two decades. His culinary career includes appearances on MasterChef UK and representing Yorkshire & Humber on BBC’s Great British Menu.
At Kerala Canteen, that journey comes together through a menu that combines traditional Kerala flavours with contemporary presentation and Yorkshire influences.
The restaurant’s menu includes Kerala-inspired small plates, curry bowls, biryanis and contemporary dishes, with signatures including Trivandrum Fried Chicken, Beef & Bone Marrow Curry, Salmon & Green Mango Curry and Malabar-style biryanis.
The restaurant also explores the connection between Kerala and Yorkshire through dishes such as its T-bone steak with Kerala beef curry served inside a giant Yorkshire pudding.
A Different Side of Indian Food in Leeds
For Bobby, the award is particularly meaningful because Kerala cuisine remains less familiar to many British diners than the broader category of “Indian food”.
“India doesn’t have one cuisine,” says Bobby Geetha.
“Every region has its own ingredients, traditions, techniques and food culture. Kerala has an incredible culinary heritage, particularly around seafood, coconut, spices, black pepper, curry leaves and slow-cooked meats.
“When we created Kerala Canteen, we wanted to give people in Leeds an opportunity to discover that food properly, while also making it feel relevant to the city we call home.”
A Win for Leeds
The award comes at a time when Leeds continues to develop its reputation as one of the UK’s major food cities, with an increasingly diverse restaurant scene spanning independent operators, international cuisine and regional Indian cooking.
For Kerala Canteen, the recognition demonstrates that a restaurant built around a specific regional Indian cuisine can find a strong audience outside London and major Indian diaspora centres.
“It’s a huge moment for us and for everyone who works at Kerala Canteen,” says Bobby.
“Chef Abdulla and the whole kitchen team work incredibly hard every day, and this award belongs to them as much as it does to me.
“But I also think it’s a proud moment for Leeds.
“We’ve built Kerala Canteen here because we believe Leeds diners are curious and open-minded. They don’t just want the same version of Indian food they’ve had before. They want to discover something different.
“To be recognised for South Indian cuisine in a room filled with some of the leading people in Indian hospitality is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
Chef Bobby Geetha Joins Leading Indian Hospitality Voices
Bobby’s participation as a panel speaker also placed the Leeds chef alongside prominent figures from India’s and Britain’s restaurant industry.
The Manchester event featured speakers including two-Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, Sanjay Anand MBE of Madhu’s, Nouman Farooqui of Asha’s and other senior hospitality and foodservice figures.
Restaurant India describes the summit as a platform focused on emerging restaurant trends, operational excellence, brand growth, innovation and the future development of the Indian restaurant industry.
For Bobby, being invited to contribute to that conversation while simultaneously accepting an award for Kerala Canteen represents an important step in the restaurant’s journey.
Kerala’s Growing Place in Britain’s Indian Food Story
The win also feeds into a wider shift taking place across Britain’s restaurant industry.
Indian food in Britain is increasingly moving beyond the generic “Indian restaurant” category, with chefs and restaurants putting individual regional cuisines in the spotlight.
Kerala’s food culture offers a particularly rich story, from Malabar biryani and seafood to coconut-based curries, black pepper, curry leaves and the distinctive culinary traditions of the state’s diverse communities.
Kerala Canteen’s success in Leeds demonstrates that there is an audience for that more regional approach.
For the restaurant, the ambition is now to continue putting Kerala and Leeds into the same conversation.
“We came to Leeds from Kerala, and we’ve always wanted those two places to meet on the plate,” says Bobby. “This award feels like recognition of that journey.”
About Kerala Canteen
Kerala Canteen is an independent, chef-led Kerala restaurant in Leeds, West Yorkshire, created by Chef Bobby Geetha.
The restaurant showcases the food of Kerala through contemporary small plates, curry bowls, biryanis and regional specialities, while incorporating Yorkshire influences and produce.
Chef Bobby Geetha has appeared on MasterChef UK and represented Yorkshire & Humber on BBC’s Great British Menu.
Award Details
Award: Best South Indian Restaurant of the Year
Event: Indian Restaurant Summit & Honours 2026 – North UK Edition
Venue: The Edwardian Manchester
Date: 21 September 2026
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
