Kaani Kaana on St Mary's Lane won National Takeaway of the Year at the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards, held at the London Hilton on 12 October.

Kaani Kaana, the Bangladeshi and Indian restaurant at 189 St Mary’s Lane in Upminster, has been named National Takeaway of the Year at the 2026 Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA).

The award was presented on Monday 12 October at the London Hilton on Park Lane. More than 1,250 businesses across the UK were nominated for this year’s awards, according to the organisers.

Five members of the Kaani Kaana team in evening dress holding the ARTA trophy and a framed certificate in front of a sponsors' board
The Kaani Kaana team with the trophy and certificate in front of the ARTA 2026 sponsors' board. Photo: supplied by the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards

How the winner was chosen

ARTA says its winners come through a multi-stage process. Members of the public nominate the restaurants and takeaways they rate for food quality, service and value for money. Nominees are then assessed on their Google and Tripadvisor reviews and their food hygiene ratings, before a panel of judges makes the final decision.

Nominations also came through ChefOnline, the online ordering and table booking platform that is the awards’ strategic partner, which the organisers say invited its customers to put forward their favourite businesses.

On hygiene, the public record backs the restaurant up. Kaani Kaana at 189 St Mary’s Lane, RM14 3BU, holds the top rating of 5 (very good) on the Food Standards Agency register, from an inspection by Havering Council on 30 July 2025.

A group of ten people in evening dress on a stage under an ARTA 2026 screen, one holding the trophy and another a framed certificate
On stage at the ARTA 2026 ceremony at the London Hilton, with the National Takeaway of the Year trophy. Photo: supplied by the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards

The night at the Hilton

The ceremony was hosted by TV news anchor Samantha Simmonds and comedian Paul Sinha. Guests included the actor and dancer Lauren Gottlieb, the singer and former Lok Sabha member Hans Raj Hans, and Paul Waugh, the MP for Rochdale.

The awards film announcing Kaani Kaana, Upminster as National Takeaway of the Year. Video: supplied by the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards

Mohammed Munim, the founder and chief executive of ARTA, told the room:

“Heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and finalists of ARTA 2026. Their dedication, creativity and commitment to excellence continue to raise standards across the UK’s Asian restaurant and takeaway sector.

“This industry represents far more than food. It is an integral part of multicultural Britain, supporting communities, creating employment and bringing extraordinary culinary experiences to diners across the country.”

He was frank about the state of the trade:

“We gather at an important time for hospitality. Despite continued customer demand, restaurants across the UK face significant pressures from rising employment costs, food prices, energy bills and other operating costs. Yet independent businesses continue to invest in quality, their teams and the customer experience. That resilience, creativity and determination deserve to be recognised and celebrated.”

He closed by thanking guests, partners and supporters: “Tonight, we celebrate the restaurateurs, chefs and teams whose passion and hard work continue to shape the future of Asian hospitality in Britain.”

The restaurant on St Mary’s Lane

Twelve staff, most in green Kaani Kaana aprons, standing under the restaurant's awning reading Bangladeshi and Indian Cuisine, with the number 189 on the fascia
Kaani Kaana staff outside the restaurant at 189 St Mary's Lane, Upminster. Photo: supplied by the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards

The sign above the door carries the name in English and Bengali, over an awning that reads “Bangladeshi & Indian Cuisine”. Inside, the photographs supplied with the award show dark green walls, brass lamps, a leather Chesterfield and large murals.

The dark green shopfront of Kaani Kaana at 189 St Mary's Lane at dusk, with a brass light bar over the sign
The Kaani Kaana shopfront at 189 St Mary's Lane. Photo: supplied by the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards
Overhead view of a curry in a brown lidded pot on a dark wooden table beside a lantern and a dried palm leaf
A curry served in a lidded pot at Kaani Kaana. Photo: supplied by the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards
A short film of the food at Kaani Kaana, Upminster. Video: supplied by the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards
The Kaani Kaana sign in English and Bengali on a dark wall inside the restaurant, above a globe lamp and two framed photographs
The Kaani Kaana sign inside the restaurant. Photo: supplied by the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards
A brown leather Chesterfield sofa beside a globe lamp and plants, under a mural of a woman in a tea field
A corner of the dining room at Kaani Kaana. Photo: supplied by the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards

Who is behind the awards

ARTA describes itself as a national awards platform for the UK’s Asian restaurant and takeaway industry, and says it also works with colleges to support trainee chefs. This year’s partners were ChefOnline as strategic partner; DNA Payments, Super Pollo, Work Permit Cloud and Cobra Beer as associate sponsors; Square Mile Insurance, Paytap, Ruposhi and NRB Bank as gold partners; Cambridge Regional College as skills partner; and Madhu’s as catering partner. The full list of 2026 winners is on the ARTA website.

What it means for you

Kaani Kaana is at 189 St Mary’s Lane, Upminster, RM14 3BU. Its latest food hygiene inspection, from July 2025, is on the FSA register. Check the restaurant directly for opening times and ordering before you go.

For more good news from around the borough, see the Havering Small Business Awards 2026 winners and the 13 London in Bloom golds for Havering parks. Got a story from Upminster, Hornchurch or Romford? Send us your news.