Shezan Shah — Review by Eating With Tod
London, United Kingdom — Punjabi vegetarian
An authentic Punjabi vegetarian restaurant in Southall that serves iconic samosas for just 75p alongside fresh parathas and traditional Indian classics. The reviewer praises the exceptional quality, freshness of ingredients, and consistent execution, calling it the most well-known and iconic samosa spot in the UK with an old-school, no-frills atmosphere.
What was great: Iconic samosas at 75p that are crispy, packed to the brim with fresh potato and spices, fresh tamarind chutney, consistent quality, fresh paratha with butter, homemade dough and tandoor-cooked chicken wrap, light gram flour coating on Amritsari fried fish
What could improve: Nothing mentioned
The Dishes
Shezan Shah is legendary for its samosas, and for good reason. At just 75p each, these are described as some of the best value food in London. The samosas feature a crispy, thoroughly fried pastry exterior that shatters on first bite, revealing a filling packed generously to the brim with spiced potato and Indian spices. The clarity of the frying oil is remarkable, maintained by constant daily changes rather than leaving oil overnight. They arrive with two tamarind chutneys, one glossier and one slightly sweeter, that complement the samosa beautifully with their tanginess balancing the rich spices.
The paratha is another standout, a traditional Indian flatbread made fresh in the kitchen and filled with potato and mooli (Indian root vegetable). It arrives toasted on a flat griddle and topped with a generous brush of butter. Unlike many overly bready versions, this paratha maintains a proper balance between the flatbread and filling, delivering what the reviewer calls aunty-style paratha, the kind served at family homes or grandmothers' houses with morning tea. It represents heritage cooking at its finest.
The restaurant also serves classic vegetarian curries like dal makhani and tarka dal, maintaining traditional Punjabi Sikh vegetarian cooking throughout the entire menu.
The Experience
This is an OG spot with absolutely no frills. The restaurant doesn't prioritize customer service in the traditional sense, instead embodying a straightforward, no-nonsense approach: tell them what you want, they prepare it fresh, you pay and eat. The interior features old paintings and recently upgraded digital menu boards, but otherwise the place has remained virtually unchanged for years. The atmosphere is authentic and genuine, with locals treating it as their neighborhood institution rather than a tourist destination.
Value and Pricing
At 75p per samosa, the value is extraordinary. The reviewer emphasizes that you cannot get anything of comparable quality in London for this price anymore, noting that even a Freddo chocolate bar costs more now. It's described as a full meal in one item, not just a snack.
Notable Moments
For 75p, I don't think I've had anything in London that tasted that good. In actual fact, it's a fact I haven't.
You can't even get a Freddo for 75p anymore.
The reviewer and his local guide Dan test the samosas in a steel platter, celebrating the moment as some of life's best memories.
The Verdict
Shezan Shah is essential eating in Southall for anyone seeking authentic Punjabi vegetarian cuisine at unbeatable prices. This is the most well-known, iconic, and consistent samosa establishment in the UK, perfect for locals and visitors alike seeking genuine, no-tourist-trap Indian food.