Mumtaz Bradford

Mumtaz Bradford, family-run Indian cuisine on Great Horton Road since 1979

Mumtaz Bradford is an Indian and Kashmiri restaurant located at 386–410 Great Horton Road in Bradford (West Yorkshire). It opened its doors in the autumn of 1979 under Mumtaz Khan and presents itself as a family business that, nearly five decades later, is still run by the next generation. The establishment describes itself as a family institution in the heart of Bradford and continues to operate on the original foundations of its opening.

The restaurant identifies as halal and states that its ingredients come from ethical sources. Its cuisine is based on recipes brought from Kashmir and Punjab, with spices ground every morning and dishes prepared using slow processes, such as the six-hour karahi.

Origin and history

The story of the venue begins in 1979, when Mumtaz Khan opened a small restaurant on Great Horton Road without a grand launch or critical acclaim. The source describes the beginnings as a single dining room built on hard work, hospitality and consistency, with pakoras frying and samosas hand-folded at the prep table. Over time, the business became part of the city's life and today operates under the direction of the next generation, which maintains the standards set by its predecessors. Many of the chefs have been at the establishment for decades and have cooked for several generations of the same families.

Cooking method and spices

The kitchen works with whole spices acquired from specific estates or selected regions and ground only on the morning they are to be used. The website details eight spices from its pantry: Kashmiri chilli from Pampore (India), smoked black cardamom from Sikkim, first-grade saffron from Pampore, wild bay leaf from Kerala, fennel seed from a Lucknow estate, cold-pressed fenugreek from Rajasthan, hand-rolled cinnamon bark from Sri Lanka and sun-dried turmeric root from Erode. The restaurant states that grinding takes place at 04:30 and that the karahi is cooked for six hours, with twelve chefs working on a single pass.

Food offering

The menu combines grilled and karahi dishes with a selection of street chaats. Starters include bhel puri (potato, white chickpeas and sevmamra with sweet-and-sour tamarind, chilli and garlic sauce, topped with fresh yoghurt), samosa chaat (pastry filled with potato and peas, deep-fried and topped with chickpeas, yoghurt and tamarind sauce) and a mixed grill with seekh kebabs, lamb chops, chicken boti and chargrilled chicken wings. Main dishes include karahi lamb with fresh onion, tomato, garlic and Mumtaz spice blend; murgh makhani, described as their version of tikka masala; and lamb charsi karahi, with bone-in lamb, ginger, tomato and green Kashmiri chilli, served in a 1 kg format to share. All the dishes mentioned are available for dine-in and takeaway.

The space and the dining experience

The venue occupies two floors with a capacity for 450 diners and has two private rooms. The decor includes bookshelves, brass lanterns, cream leather banquettes and black marble. The restaurant accepts walk-ins and offers dinner service every day. Table reservations are managed through the SevenRooms platform, which opens thirty days in advance, and for large groups or enquiries you can call the reservations team.

Services and notices

In addition to dinner, the restaurant offers takeaway, private events by arrangement, gift cards and a newsletter. The website states that breakfast service is temporarily suspended, while dinner continues as normal seven days a week. The venue's car park has automatic number plate recognition cameras and is managed by the external company HOZAH; customers must register their number plate on the tablet located inside within twenty minutes of arrival to avoid a penalty, and registered vehicles may stay for up to five hours from registration. Any Parking Charge Notices are issued by HOZAH directly and appeals must be directed to that company, not to the restaurant.

Location and contact

386–410 Great Horton Road, Bradford BD7 3HS, West Yorkshire · Phone: 01274 571 861 · Email: info@mumtaz.org.uk · Hours: Dinner: Monday to Friday 15:00 to 23:30; Saturday and Sunday 14:00 to 23:30