The Glasgow food scene is as abundant as it gets, with options for every taste. However, pan-Asian cuisine is a particular favourite for many, and the prestigious Spice Awards crowned the best of the best in Scotland for 2026 at their awards ceremony at the DoubleTree Hilton in Glasgow.
The Malletsheugh in Newton Mearns is officially the best Indian restaurant in Scotland for 2026, having plenty to celebrate. What is more, Polski Kebab in Motherwell took the ‘Best Kebab House’ award, while Yakitori House in East Kilbride won ‘Best Japanese Restaurant’ in Scotland. Foodasia Food 2 Go in Glasgow is also the ‘Best Pakora’ in the country, and New Fun Heng in Kilmarnock is the ‘ Best Chinese Takeaway‘.
The Malletsheugh is home to The Taj, boasting a contemporary setting, with dishes like “Crispy Calamari and Tandoori Chicken to Lamb Chops and Butter Chicken”, all made with Halal meat. What is more, the spot just launched a new afternoon tea for guests to enjoy, with a hot food option including pakora, popadoms, burgers and macaroni.
Reacting to their win, The Malletsheugh posted on their social media, saying: “WE WON 🙌🏻
🏆 BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT IN SCOTLAND! 🏆 🎉🥂
“We are absolutely over the moon to announce that Malletsheugh has been crowned BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT IN SCOTLAND at the Spice Awards 2026! 🌶️🏆
“What an incredible achievement for our whole team. We put so much passion, hard work and love into what we do, and to receive this recognition means the world to us. ❤️
“But the biggest THANK YOU has to go to all of YOU …our amazing customers, friends and local community who nominated us, voted for us and continue to support us week after week. We genuinely couldn’t have done this without you.
“Scotland’s Best Indian Restaurant… right here at Malletsheugh! 🥹🏆
“We’ll be celebrating this one for a while! 🥂 THANK YOU 🙏”
Awards director Warren Paul said: “The standards required are higher every year to get anywhere close to a win, a highly recommended or finalist spot at the Spice Awards. That’s a great thing because it shows the standard of food available in Scotland is getting better and better.
“I think there’s a real appreciation for authentic, premium cuisine and a desire for a true taste of another culture’s key dishes. That’s a very good thing, with all these different flavours and seasonings, ideas and styles blending with Scottish food culture to give options for all.
“The winners and those who just missed out are the best of the best, so whether it’s a Chinese takeaway, kebabs, sushi, pakora or the richest curry you’ve ever dreamed of, these are the places to find them.”
