Three Asian restaurants in south Essex have been named as finalists for prestigious national awards.

The Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA) celebrates Pan Asian cuisine and brings together some of the UK’s most popular restaurants.

This year the finals will take place at London’s Royal Lancaster on October 6, hosted by BBC journalist Samantha Simmonds and magician Paul Martin, with the winners across 28 categories named.

The popular restaurants in south Essex which have been nominated for 2024 Regional Restaurant of the Year - Essex are:

Namaste Village, Southend

Namaste - the restaurant teamNamaste - the restaurant team (Image: Namaste Village)

After opening less than a year ago, this Indian restaurant next to the Kursaal has already made its way to the top of the Tripadvisor list for best Indian restaurants in Southend, as well as third best restaurant overall in the city. 

The restaurant, which replaced steak joint 300 Degrees in the old Minerva pub site, serves authentic Indian vegetarian and vegan cuisine. It also donates 30 free meals every Tuesday, to residents living at Southend supported housing project Stephens Place.

Village Indiya, Hadleigh

A long-standing Indian Restaurant in Benfleet Road, Village Indiya is a staple in the town where customers praise its dedication to the art of "delicate, delicious" Indian food. With dozens of "excellent" reviews on Tripadvisor, its popularity shows in its 4.5-star rating on the website.

Basil Spice, Basildon

As the highest-rated Indian restaurant in Basildon, family-run restaurant Basil Spice is well-loved among residents for its authentic dishes, using various cooking techniques from across the Indian sub- continent.

Its owners describe the restaurant ambience as "very gastro with space", and always cook fresh with vegetables from local sources. Most importantly diners praise the restaurant for its friendly and welcoming environment that keeps them coming back.