Prashad in Drighlington marks more than a decade of Michelin recognition

Some restaurant stories read like a film script, and Prashad's is one of them. The Gujarati vegetarian restaurant on Whitehall Road in Drighlington has grown from humble beginnings into one of the most respected Indian kitchens in the north of England, and it remains very much a family affair.

The story begins with Kaushy Patel, who arrived in England in October 1966 and later settled in Bradford with her husband Mohan. In 1992 the couple started the business as a small community deli, selling Gujarati snacks and specialist Indian sweets. The name Prashad means blessed food, a fitting title for a place built on home cooking and generosity.

The next generation soon became part of the story. The Patels' son Bobby joined the business, and his wife Minal joined too, taking over the kitchen in 2004. Minal is now head chef, while Kaushy has stepped back from the stoves to share her recipes through cookery books.

In 2012 Prashad moved to its current home in Drighlington, on the Leeds side of the border with Bradford. The restaurant had already found a wider audience after appearing on the television series Gordon Ramsay's Best Restaurant, and the move gave it room to grow.

The Michelin Guide has been a loyal admirer ever since. Prashad has held a Bib Gourmand every year since 2014, recognising good quality, good value cooking, and in the 2025 guide it was one of only two Leeds-area restaurants to receive the award. It also holds two AA Rosettes.

Minal's profile has risen alongside the restaurant's. She represented the region on the BBC's Great British Menu, and the restaurant has been celebrated at the Oliver Awards, the Yorkshire food and drink honours. Prashad has even taken its cooking on the road, popping up at The Tetley in Leeds city centre.

What keeps diners coming back is the food itself: bright, carefully spiced Gujarati vegetarian cooking rooted in family recipes that have been passed down and refined over decades. It is the kind of place where meat eaters rarely notice anything is missing.

Prashad is at 137 Whitehall Road, Drighlington, BD11 1AT. Booking ahead is recommended, particularly at weekends, and it is well worth the short journey from the city centre.