The chef is behind the two MICHELIN-starred Opheem restaurant.
London is filled with restaurants from around the world. Now, it is set to welcome an addition from a renowned Birmingham chef. Chef Aktar Islam’s Oudh 1722 is opening in the capital on 1 May 2026, and here’s what you need to know.
Chef Aktar Islam was born in Birmingham, and his parents are from Bangladesh. When he was 13 years old, he started working at his father’s restaurant. In 2019, he was crowned champion on Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word. In 2011, he appeared on Great British Menu, and he has also featured on Great British Menu Kitchen as a judge.
In 2024, his Opheem restaurant was awarded two MICHELIN Stars, making it Birmingham’s only restaurant to hold the accolade. Now, the chef behind the concept is bringing Oudh 1722 to Borough, London. The concept will be located in a three-storey Victorian building listed for its architectural significance. The restaurant draws inspiration from the Awadhi region in Uttar Pradesh, India. And, the date references the roots of the local cuisine, which originated in Lucknow – a city recognised by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy.
The menu for Oudh 1722 has now been unveiled. The focus will be on Awadhi cuisine, with dishes such as biryanis, curries, and kebabs. The restaurant will also showcase traditional recipes and slow-cooking techniques. Dishes include Nargisi Kofta, featuring a soft golden egg yolk encased in spiced venison, and Kakori Kebab, made from finely minced lamb shoulder with chilli and rose.
Raan-e-Dum Pukht is a smoked Wiltshire lamb shoulder baked in a rich lamb-fat crust, and Zameen Doz Machli is whole turbot slow-cooked in spiced ghee with brown shrimp and saalan. Dishes also include Tandoori Poussin served with smoked tomato and cream, and Gobhi Mussalam with a roasted cauliflower in a toasted poppy seed korma and truffle. Plus, for dessert, options include Awadhi Nimish, an aerated saffron soft serve with almonds, and Shahi Tukda, a fresh take on traditional bread pudding.
Chef Aktar said: “Awadhi cuisine represents a rich culinary tradition I have always deeply respected, yet one rarely seen in its authentic form here in the UK. With Oudh 1722, the intention is to bring the flavours of Awadh to London, drawing on the techniques, generosity and sense of hospitality that defined the Nawabi courts of Lucknow.”
Where: Oudh 1722, 66 Union Street, London, SE1 1TD
When: Opening on 1 May 2026
Contact: @oudh1722