About Shish Mahal - Glasgow
One of Glasgow’s most legendary Indian restaurants, Shish Mahal has every reason to take pride in its cuisine. Becoming a huge hit in the 1970s while led by curry hero and ‘godfather’ of the Shish Mahal Mr Ali, this restaurant is a local fixture, especially among students looking for affordable, comforting and tremendously delicious Indian cuisine. Utilising the very best ingredients to create their authentic dishes, Shish Mahal’s chefs are purveyors of the boldest flavours – it’s easy to understand why most of the diners are regular guests at this popular establishment. Favourites on the menu include spicy starters like the hara lamb chops, tandoori dishes like the rashemi kabab, and house specials such as the chicken karishma and the chili basar with vegetables. This Glasgow icon on Kelvinbridge’s Park Road is always on the busy side – make sure to book ahead to avoid queuing.
Opening Hours
- Monday 12:00 - 14:00, 17:00 - 23:00
- Tuesday 12:00 - 14:00, 17:00 - 23:00
- Wednesday 12:00 - 14:00, 17:00 - 23:00
- Thursday 12:00 - 14:00, 17:00 - 23:00
- Friday 12:00 - 23:00
- Saturday 12:00 - 23:00
- Sunday 17:00 - 22:30
74 Reviews
I first went to 'The Shish' in 1966 shortly after it opened, and have visited it every time I have returned to Glasgow. The quality of the menu, cooking and welcome have remained of a constant high standard throughout all that time. This year's nostalgia visit was no exception.
Great food every time we go. We usually order a lamb dish and it's always very tender, the quality of meat is really good. Garlic naan bread is amazing. Good value for money.
Easily the best curry in Glasgow. Silver service style from the waiters. I've never had a bad meal here, even the special fried rice and garlic naans are huge.
Fabulous service very fresh food couldn't fault tastes. Won't try any other restaurants after this.my favourite! Pls sort the air con it's too cold !
I use the Shish Mahal for many years ,before it moved to Park Road . As always the food was superb as was the table service . However what has let it down in my opinion is the withdrawal of the complimentary starters. It was customary that when settled in your at your table the waiter brought some popadoms and an assortment of dips ie Mango ,Indian pickle ,etc in a dish which had 4 samplers in it . On this visit we received nothing I feel that this is detrimental to the restaurant as it was a lovely welcoming gesture which has gone .A reason I feel that we returned again and again was for that lovely welcome we used to receive .Sorry but I have to mark the Shish Mahal down because of this . Don't know if we will hurry to return .There are plenty more superb Indian restaurants around the West End maybe time we tried another .
We've been going to the Shish Mahal on and off for 40 years and have witnessed a few changes . The food is usually of a high standard. However on this occasion , I noticed that when my usual order of mixed Indian vegetable curry that there were not as many mixed Indian vegetables as usual . The other change was in the consistency of the Gulab Jamin which is normally spongy and delicious . Whilst they still had the same delicious taste texture it was rather slimy. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy my meal I'm just saying that it was a different eating experience but I have experience there before
The Shish Mahal is our favourite curry restaurant. The waiters are so helpful and part of the experience, ensuring you all have a fabulous meal. Always very light popadums with spicy onions. The pakoras are great. My favourite main dishes are Lamb Khas Desi and Chicken Gingerial, both originally staff recommendations. Lovely tiles on the wall, beautiful linen tablecloths and napkins and a very relaxed atmosphere. Perfect place to take friends.
second time at this restaurant and what a meal good quality plenty of it and very tasty,4 of us all had different choices and we all agreed it was the best food in years' would recommend the lamb tikka main course with a special tandoori roti, and try the mushroom pakora to start.the pakora starters are quite a large portion so be careful and don't bag yourself up before the main course, bill for 4 was £85.00 with two starters 4 mains two breads, bottle of pinot 1 beer and a cola, not bad for a top quality restaurant in the new west end of glasgow ,will be back on my next visit to glasgow
I first ate at the Shish Mahal in 1964 when it was round the corner in Gibson Street. I know of no other restaurant that has maintained such an extraordinarily high standard of cuisine for 50 years!! Well done to Ali and all the staff and the superb chefs.
I first visited Shish Mahal with student friends way back in 1967 when it was based in Gibson Street. I've lived in London for 40 years but never miss a visit to Shish every time I come back to Glasgow - it's always a highlight😁
With a group of eight old friends on a Friday night we booked a table for a wonderful meal with excellent service and delicious food. Be prepared to consider a huge menu choice with traditional dishes. We chose a range of starters to share as guided by the waiter. We then selected various chicken and lamb main courses with beer and wine. This is a popular traditional curry house of high standards where advance booking is advised at peak times. Over thirty years I have never been disappointed.
The Shish Mahal is always great. Good location and atmosphere. However on this visit our main wasn't as good as usual. We had the lamb bhuna and the lamb wasnt as tender as you'd expect, and it had more fat than usual which I cut off. Aside from lamb, everything was great.
Had a very enjoyable meal with my friends last night. Excellent food, quantity, quality and value. Lovely surroundings and friendly attentive staff. One of Glasgow's oldest and best Indian restaurants which I will visit again. Well done Shish Mahal
Great place, as good as I remembered. Had a lovely mild lamb dish with coconut. Do leave room for their naans. We had a garlic and peshwari naan. They are huge and won't leave you starving. They also have a corkage fee of £6 for BYOB which I wasn't aware of so you may want to bring your own drinks if you don't want to order from their drinks list.
The food at the Shish was delicious and the service was excellent. However the quando on-line booking system did not work and I had to make my booking by telephone with a table some 45 mins after our preferred time. Fortunately this did not detract from the overall experience. I recommend booking directly with the restuarant.
The first staff member that met me looked me up and down rudely. The second staff member dismissed me with hand gestures and the way he cut me off when I was talking and informing him of the slight delay of my fellow diner. There was bits of left over lemon in the water from the last time the water jug was used. When the 3rd staff member approached, I and my fellow diner informed him of the floaters in the water, he then tried to infer once again extremely dismissively, that I had somehow floatered the water with the lemon that came with my starter. My guest and I left as I'm not there to do the Shish Mahal any favours and to continue with my meal would condone the appalling service and people skills of the staff involved. We took our business to the Wee curry Shop and had a lovely meal.
Excellent food, service and ambience in this very well established restaurant in Glasgow. If you are not familiar with the choice of curries on offer, the friendly staff will advise on a curry to suit the individual palate. Book in advance as extremely popular especially on a Sunday evening.
Had a great meal at Shish Mahal, friendly staff made our visit all the more enjoyable. My partner and I will be back soon for more fantastic Indian cuisine
The best Indian restaurant I know , truly brilliant. Service was excellent food to die for and the menu spot on. Location gives you great choice to either head into town after or before or stay in the west end
The restaurant didn't appear to have our reservation so we had to wait for our table. Once we were shown our table it looked as though we had been squeezed into a space not entirely suitable for the table. Food was good though as was the wine. Service was also good but brisk, the place was very busy.