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0 Comments This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. AN Indian restaurant has been recognised for its unique approach to fine dining. Amni Chester received the Editor’s Choice award at the 2026 Curry Life Awards, just two and a half years after opening. The restaurant has quickly made its mark with a fresh take on Indian cuisine, combining technique with diverse flavours from across the subcontinent. Amni is a family-run business led by Kabir Ahmed and his wife Farida, who manages front-of-house, along with his sister Meena Rahim and her husband Abdul. Kabir’s daughter Sadia Khanom, a scientist, and his nephew Kalim Rahim also serve as directors. Mr Ahmed said: "I don’t want it to sound like I’m blowing my own trumpet. "
He emphasised that the award is a collective achievement for the whole family. The menu at Amni is designed to stand apart from traditional curry houses, instead offering a curated selection of dishes that are not customisable by meat or extra ingredients. A customer described the food as "beautifully presented, full of flavour and unlike anything we’ve tried before. "
Mr Ahmed said: "This is a high-end Indian restaurant, so we don’t serve any classic dishes, and we don’t offer takeaways. "
Chicken Tikka Masala is the only traditional dish on the menu. The Curry Life Awards 2026 were held on Sunday, October 4 at the InterContinental London Park Lane. The event was hosted by BBC presenters Jon Kay and Luxmy Gopal and attended by more than 500 guests, including British Asian entrepreneurs and hospitality professionals. A total of 41 awards were presented, including Best Restaurant, Best Chef, Editor’s Choice and Best Takeaway. Chester travel firm exclusive partner for Ibiza beach club's Thailand events tour Much loved museum in Chester gearing up to mark 140th anniversary Historic century-old Goostrey School clock finds new home in archive collection
Winners were selected through a combination of public votes and a rigorous judging process. The awards are organised annually by Curry Life magazine, part of Curry Life Media Group. Syed Belal Ahmed, editor of Curry Life, said: "The UK’s curry industry features some of the country’s most inspiring businesspeople and restaurateurs. "We are delighted to give them a national platform from which to shout about their hard-won achievements so that they can continue to thrive. "The British Curry Industry has, once again, done itself proud.