Raj Chowdhury, the culinary force behind Raj Kitchen in Swansea, has once again been recognised as one of Wales’ leading chefs, taking home the Regional Chef of the Year title at the 2025 Welsh Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards (ARTAs).
Hosted by ChefOnline, the Welsh ARTAs celebrate the best in Asian cuisine across Wales, recognising exceptional talent, creativity, and commitment to excellence. This year’s event saw hundreds of entries from across the nation – but it was Raj Chowdhury who impressed the judges enough to retain his title for a second year running.
Speaking after the win, Raj said, “To win this award once was incredible – to do it again is beyond anything I expected. It still feels surreal. I’m just a chef who loves what he does, and to be recognised like this is genuinely humbling.”
Since launching Raj Kitchen in December 2023, Raj has brought something truly special to Swansea’s food scene. Located on the site of the former Pizza Express, the two-floor restaurant offers 60 covers downstairs and 70 upstairs, all set against a backdrop of the city’s iconic Swansea Castle.
At the heart of Raj Kitchen is Raj’s deep connection to traditional Indian cooking, guided by his family’s recipes and a philosophy rooted in simplicity, freshness and flavour.
There are no pre-made pastes in the Raj Kitchen. Instead, each dish is lovingly created from scratch, using whole spices and time-honoured techniques passed down through generations.
Stand-out dishes include the now-famous Paneer Butter Masala, a comforting, creamy curry that’s become a customer favourite, and the bold, smoky Lamb Kala Bhuna – a rich and deeply spiced dish based on Raj’s mother’s recipe, uniquely flavoured with soaked tea-leaf water.
“For me, food is about family, memory and honesty,” Raj explains. “Every dish on the menu is something I’d be proud to serve at my own table. It’s incredible to see people connect with that, and I think that’s what the judges saw, too.”
Raj Kitchen employs a close-knit team of staff, all of whom Raj credits as part of his success. “
This isn’t just my award, it’s our award,” he said. “From the chefs in the kitchen to the front-of-house team led by my wife Enakshi, who create such a warm atmosphere, everyone plays a part. We’re building something special here.”
With two major industry awards under his belt, Raj has no intention of slowing down. His sights are now firmly set on achieving an AA Rosette, a recognition no Indian restaurant in Wales currently holds.
“That’s the next big goal,” Raj shares. “We’re constantly refining our menu, pushing ourselves creatively and I want Raj Kitchen to stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best restaurants in the UK, not just Indian ones, but across the board.”
