Winners of the annual Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA) 2026 have been announced, with Babaji, Sunderland, crowned "Street Food Restaurant of the Year". The award ceremony took place on 12th October at the London Hilton, Park Lane.
Celebrating excellence across the UK’s Asian restaurant and takeaway sector, ARTA 2026 brought together leading restaurateurs, chefs and hospitality professionals from across the country, including celebrities, actor and dancer; Lauren Gottlieb, singer and former Member of the Lok Sabha; Hans Raj Hans and Member of Parliament for Rochdale; Paul Waugh MP. More than 1,250 businesses across the UK were nominated for ARTA 2026, reflecting the strength, diversity and contribution of Asian restaurants and takeaways to Britain’s hospitality industry. The ceremony was hosted by TV news anchor Samantha Simmonds and comedian Paul Sinha.
Following a rigorous process that considered customer nominations, aggregated review scores, food hygiene ratings, and evaluation by a panel of judges, Babaji Sunderland was honoured with the prestigious "Street Food Restaurant of the Year" award.
Mohammed Munim, Founder and CEO of ARTA, said at the awards this year, “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.
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.
I would also like to sincerely thank our distinguished guests, partners and supporters for joining us in recognising this remarkable community. Tonight, we celebrate the restaurateurs, chefs and teams whose passion and hard work continue to shape the future of Asian hospitality in Britain.”
ARTA is the only official award that recognises, promotes, and celebrates the immense importance and popularity of the Asian catering industry in the UK, as determined by its consumers.