Dishoom: The Cult Café Where Every Queue Comes With a Chance to Eat Free

From legendary Bombay style daal to the thrill of rolling a six on a lucky dice, Dishoom turns dining into an experience - and now their new pub brings the same buzz to cocktails and late night bites.

Since it opened its first café in London’s Covent Garden in 2010, Dishoom has grown from a single “Bombay style Irani café” into a restaurant phenomenon. Now spanning dozens of locations across the UK from London to Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and beyond, it’s not just another Indian restaurant. It’s a celebration of nostalgia, comfort and the mystique of old school Bombay cafés. 

The Queue Culture: It’s Part of the Experience
Ask any Dishoom fan and they’ll tell you the queue is almost a badge of honour. At many of the busier branches, particularly in London and Glasgow, waits of 30–60 minutes (sometimes even longer at peak times) are common. It’s part of what gives Dishoom its cult status. Waiting in line gives you time to anticipate the food and maybe even sip a warm cup of the legendary house chai while you wait.

In fact, for many regulars, “joining the queue” is more than just patience: it’s part of the ritual. For them, Dishoom is more than a meal, it’s an experience.

Rolls of the Dice: Eat Free If You’re Lucky
One of the most playful aspects of Dishoom is the old Bombay inspired tradition known as the Dishoom Matka. Select diners receive a little Matka keyring - a nod to the old Bombay underground lottery style culture. If you show that keyring when you settle your bill and roll a single die, there’s a chance your meal is on the house. Roll a six and your whole table eats for free (including drinks). "We just had our bill of over £200 wiped out thanks to David Brockway!"

It’s a whimsical twist on loyalty and chance and a quirky reason why loyal fans keep coming back. For many, the dice roll is part fantasy, part hope and part "what history are you tasting tonight?"

The Twist: The Next Long Queue Isn’t for Food — It’s for Drinks

Dishoom isn’t just about daal and naan anymore. Their brand has expanded to include pub style venues under the name Permit Room marrying the café’s Bombay inspired roots with a cocktail bar vibe and late night energy.

These pubs capture the same theatrical charm vintage decor, Indian inspired cocktails, street food snacks and quickly become hotspots in their own right. As Dishoom grows, the “next crazily long queue you’ll join” just might be for drinks instead of dinner.