The awards, organised by ChefOnline, recognise Asian restaurants and chefs across Wales. This year’s ceremony attracted hundreds of entries, with Chowdhury once again impressing judges enough to retain his crown.
Chowdhury opened Raj Kitchen in December 2023 on the site of the former Pizza Express opposite Swansea Castle. The two‑floor restaurant seats around 130 diners and has quickly established itself on the city’s dining scene.
Speaking after the award, Chowdhury said:
“To win this award once was incredible – to do it again is beyond anything I expected. It still feels surreal. I’m just a chef who loves what he does, and to be recognised like this is genuinely humbling.”
He credited his team, led front‑of‑house by his wife Enakshi, for the restaurant’s success.
“This isn’t just my award, it’s our award,” he said.
Chowdhury has previously spoken about his approach to cooking, drawing on family recipes and traditional methods. Among the restaurant’s most popular dishes are a paneer butter masala and a lamb kala bhuna based on his mother’s recipe.
Looking ahead, he said his next ambition is to secure an AA Rosette, which would be a first for an Indian restaurant in Wales.
