Birmingham chef Aktar Islam's Atkar at Home range of Indian ready meals has earned nine Great Taste awards, including seven two-star prizes, and a food critic has described the experience as "mouthwateringly good." The range, launched during the pandemic, offers gourmet dishes starting at £9.95 and has drawn praise for its traditional cooking methods and value for money.
Nine Great Taste Awards for Pandemic-Era Range
Aktar Islam, head chef at Opheem, a two-Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, launched Atkar at Home when restaurants were shuttered during the Covid-19 pandemic. The ready-meal range has since gained recognition, with last week's announcement of nine Great Taste awards, including seven two-star prizes. Opheem itself is one of only four two-Michelin-starred Indian restaurants globally, offering a £195-per-head, 10-course fine-dining experience.
Islam emphasised that the ready meals follow the same principles as his restaurant kitchen. "Everything is cooked in a totally traditional way from start to finish, exactly how you would in someone's home in India. It's the same principles as in our two-Michelin-star kitchen," he told The Times.
Food Critic Praises Quality and Value
Food critic Hannah Evans tested one of Atkar at Home's mixed box deals, which contains eight dishes and is rated to feed four to eight people. Evans said it "could easily have fed 10" and was impressed by the quality. "The dhaba gosht mutton curry was soft and tender, the murgh makhani was mouthwateringly good and the Keralan beef curry is still the subject of my group chat with friends days later. And all for £85. That's cheaper than a Deliveroo takeaway and much cheaper than eating out," she said.
The £85 price point for eight dishes positions the range as a cost-effective alternative to takeaways and restaurant meals, according to Evans.
Chef Refuses Supermarket Deals
Aktar Islam has declined approaches from major supermarkets, preferring to sell exclusively through his own website. "We've been approached. But I am a very principled chef, and because of what they'd like us to do to meet their metrics, it's something I've chosen not to do," he said. "Ultimately I see my job as educating people on what Indian food is supposed to be."
Customer feedback has been broadly positive. One satisfied diner wrote: "We ordered our own varied selection of meat curries and rice. We particularly liked the lamb curries but all were lovely. Good portions, easy to prepare. Highly recommend. We have some fantastic curry restaurants and takeaways in our area and these compare well. Also very reasonably priced for the quality."
Another customer commented: "I always enjoy watching Aktar on TV, so why not try his dishes. As Asian food enthusiasts, I can honestly say, this is the best take-away we have ever eaten. I'm so pleased we tried the mini curry box as it is perfect for two people having a lazy weekend. So simple to prepare, only additions were a squeeze of lemon and some fresh coriander. Perfect in every way."
Delivery Notes and Ordering Advice
Some customers have noted that delivery can occasionally be unreliable, suggesting it is wise to place orders a day or two ahead of planned meal times. Despite this, the range continues to attract positive reviews for its taste, portion sizes, and ease of preparation. The Great Taste awards add to the range's credibility, reinforcing the chef's reputation for delivering restaurant-quality Indian food at home.
