Raj Kitchen has secured a landmark double award win, being crowned Fine Dining of the Year at the 10th Asian Food & Restaurant Awards (AFRA) 2025 and Asian Restaurant of the Year at the Welsh Restaurant Awards 2026.
The back-to-back accolades place the Swansea restaurant firmly among the very best in Wales and the wider UK, recognising both its refined dining experience and its commitment to authentic Indian cuisine.
“To win both Fine Dining of the Year and Asian Restaurant of the Year is something I’m incredibly proud of,” said Raj Chowdhury. “We’re just focused on doing what we love every day, cooking from the heart and trying to give people an authentic dining experience, and I’m humbled by the recognition we’re getting,” he continued.
Since opening in December 2023, Raj Kitchen has quickly established itself as one of Swansea’s most talked-about restaurants.
Located on the site of the former Pizza Express and overlooking Swansea Castle, the venue offers 60 covers downstairs and 70 upstairs, blending a modern dining space with a strong sense of tradition.
That tradition sits at the heart of everything Raj Kitchen does. The menu is built around original recipes, many of them passed down through Raj’s family. Every meal is prepared from scratch using fresh ingredients and carefully balanced spices, with no pre-made pastes or shortcuts.
Signature dishes such as the Chicken Paneer Butter Masala and the Lamb Kala Bhuna, based on Raj’s mother’s recipe and enhanced with soaked tea-leaf water, remain at the core of the menu and have become favourites among regular guests.
The latest double win adds to an already impressive run of success for Raj Kitchen. Over the past year, Raj has been crowned Wales Chef of the Year at the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards and has retained his Regional Chef of the Year title at the Welsh ARTAs for a second consecutive year.
“It means so much to see people enjoy the food and the atmosphere we’ve created. When guests come back and tell us how much they’ve loved it, that’s what really matters. The awards are amazing, but it’s the people who support us that make it all worthwhile,” reflected Raj.
With a team of nine staff and a growing reputation, Raj Kitchen is not standing still. Plans are already underway to open an additional site, while the long-term ambition remains clear, with sights set on achieving an AA Rosette and continuing to raise the standard of Indian dining in Wales.
“This is a team effort. Everyone works incredibly hard, and we all share the same standards and passion. These awards belong to all of us,” added Raj.
