Raja Rani in Bearsden named Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year

There was double celebration for a Glasgow restaurant team at the 10th Asian Restaurant Awards Scotland, held in the city on Monday 21 September 2026. Raja Rani in Bearsden was named Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year, while its sister restaurant Rickshaw and Co in Partick won Street Food Restaurant of the Year.

More than 250 restaurants and takeaways across Scotland made the shortlist after a public vote, with 24 winners named on the night. Glasgow accounted for 13 of them.

For Raja Rani, the award arrived just weeks after its ninth anniversary in August. The restaurant had been highly commended in the same category the year before, and earlier in 2026 it also won Organiser's Choice of the Year at the 18th Scottish Curry Awards. In 2025 it was named regional winner for Curry Restaurant of the Year, Scotland, at the Nation's Curry Awards.

Raja Rani began with three friends from South Asia who shared a vision of bringing authentic Indian cooking to Glasgow. Its menu covers vegetarian, vegan and meat dishes, with customer favourites including butter chicken, lamb karahi and charcoal-cooked chicken tikka. In 2021 the restaurant represented South Asian cuisine at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow as a food and beverage partner for the Bangladesh government.

The restaurant's connection with its neighbours goes beyond the dining room. It supports local charity initiatives and school projects in Bearsden and Milngavie, and has worked with Homeless Project Scotland for six years to provide hot meals to people who need them.

Co-founder Gulshan said seeing both restaurants recognised on the same night means so much to the team. Raja Rani has been part of Bearsden for nine years, and winning after being highly commended last year is a lovely moment for everyone who has worked hard to make it a welcoming place.

Over in Partick, Rickshaw and Co has spent four years serving Indian and Bangladeshi street food, small plates and inventive cocktails, and also sponsors Glasgow City FC.

Raja Rani is at 5 Kirk Lane, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 3RU. Tables can be booked and takeaways ordered at rajaranirestaurant.com.