Award-Winning Restaurant Becomes Ambassador for Odia Culture in the United Kingdom

Bhuvneshwar ( The Indian View team) : In a landmark moment for the Odia diaspora and the larger Indian community in the United Kingdom, CHILLIKA an Indian Street Food Restaurant, located in Bexleyheath, London has been recognised as the most Recommended Restaurant for 2026 by Restaurant Guru ranking it among the Top 10 Restaurants in Bexleyheath.

While these recognitions reflect the restaurant’s growing popularity and culinary excellence, the story of Chillika is far more than food. It is a story of migration, perseverance, identity, and an enduring connection to Odisha and its rich culture.

Named after the historic Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, restaurant Chillika was established with a vision of bringing the authentic flavours of Odisha to the United Kingdom while creating a space where people especially from Odisha and other corners of India based in the UK could reconnect with their roots.

In 2024, Chillika was officially inaugurated by Smt. Pravati Parida, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha, marking a significant milestone for the Odia community in Britain. Her presence reflected the growing contribution of the global Odia diaspora and reinforced the importance of preserving Odisha’s rich cultural heritage on the global stage.

A Dream Born Thousands of Miles from Home Restaurant Chillika was established by two Odias based at the UK, Subhakanta Das and Partha Sarathi Panda. Subhakanta Das moved to the United Kingdom more than two decades ago as an IT professional and had a successful technology career but he remained deeply connected to his homeland Odisha and its culinary tradition.