Cult Acton restaurant chapati club has expanded into south London, with the opening of a delivery service based in Bermondsey. Much-loved by its obsessive 'clubbers', chapati club's Indian and Kenyan-influenced dishes – many of them made to family recipes – are now available outside of the restaurant's west London catchment area.

Opened in 2017 by gay couple Resh Sonchhatla and Heena Varambhia, chapati club is a pared-back, non-traditional Indian restaurant. The menu relies on recipes inspired and handed down by their parents and massive family, such as Chicken 61, a classic chicken curry named after Resh's aunt's door number and made using her homemade garam masala.

The menu's numerous vegetarian and vegan dishes, which reflect Heena's Gujarati background, include irresistible Pau Bhaji, buttery buns served with a spicy veggie mash, a creamy Paneer Curry with-a-kick for protein-lovers, and a some-say-addictive Black Dhal.

All of these are available on the new delivery menu – a 'greatest hits' collection, which will grow over time, of some of the restaurant's most in-demand dishes – alongside north Indian favourite Butter Chicken; a house Prawn Curry so popular that the sauce will soon be available to buy on its own; and 'deep, dark and dangerously good' Acton Railway Lamb, Resh and Heena's take on the eponymous Indian train station classic. Sides include – of course – their freshly-made signature chapatis, as well as pilau rice and beetroot and vegan raitas.

Meanwhile, ahead of its reopening for full restaurant service in May, chapati club's complete menu is available for takeaway from and delivery within 5km of the restaurant, at 117 The Vale in W3. Among the star dishes here are Bhel Puri, a favourite Mumbai roadside snack combining puffed rice with tamarind and coriander chutneys; chunky, triple-cooked aubergine Bang Bang; and saucy, earthy Goat Curry.  

Clubbers new and old ordering from Acton can also choose from a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks including assorted lassis, Kenya's favourite Tusker lager, and a selection of wines chosen for the restaurant by Vindinista, Acton's boutique wine shop.

Renowned almost as much for its music as its food, a chapati club Spotify playlist – compiled by the owners – can be streamed to recreate the restaurant's buzzing atmosphere at home.

A female- and family-owned business, Resh and Heena's chapati club is an inclusive, neighbourhood restaurant which they think of as “Our third child, although in fact it 'arrived' first!” Couples, families, friends, and people dining alone alike come knowing they will be looked after by Resh, who can usually be found personally overseeing the restaurant.

Say the couple of expanding into south London, “chapati club is and always has been very personal to us; we wanted to create a place that not only reflected our love of family, but would also make our customers feel like they were part of one. So it's great now to have the opportunity to welcome more 'clubbers' to the family by way of delivery, and we hope that if they like the experience, they'll perhaps come and visit us at the restaurant itself when that reopens too!”

chapati club, 117 The Vale, Acton, London W3 7RQ chapaticlub.co.uk
instagram: @chapaticlub

Delivery from Bermondsey is available via Deliveroo and UberEats