The public have been voting in their thousands (11,782 to be exact up from 10,000 in 2010) and today the organisers of the Welsh Curry House of the Year 2011 reveal the names of the top 30 restaurants, through to the next round of the competition. 

Each of the 30 restaurants will be celebrating their success by making a new Welsh Curry, using Welsh Lamb and Really Welsh Leeks available to the public until the end of March.

“This is such an amazing way for all the loyal supporters of these wonderful restaurants to share in their success. It feels as if Wales will be going curry mad over the next 5 weeks, we think it could almost be the World’s biggest curry festival as 30 restaurants from all over Wales  take part,” said Berwyn Rowlands from The Festivals Company.

“Using locally sourced ingredients like Welsh Lamb and Really Welsh Leeks is fantastic. I’m confident that most people in Wales will be able to try this new Welsh Curry and who knows if the new Welsh Curry proves popular it might become a permanent addition on the menu,” he added.

The names of the Top 30 restaurants are:

North Wales

• Sopna, Felin Wen, Pontrug, Caernarfon. Tel: 01286 675222
• Bengal Dynasty Restaurant, 104a - 106 Chester Rd East, Shotton, Deeside. Tel: 01244 830455
• Madhia Tandoori Restaurant, Caernarfon Rd, Garndolbenmaen. Tel: 01766 530530
• Asia Indian Restaurant, 96 Gloddaeth St, Llandudno. Tel: 01492 870178
• Bengal Dynasty, 1 North Parade, Llandudno. Tel: 01492 875928
• Sopna Tandoori, Pentraeth Road, Menai Bridge. Tel: 01248 717778
• Rozi's Tandoori Indian Restaurant, 16 / 18 Meliden Road, Prestatyn. Tel: 01745 856310
• Polash Balti Restaurant, 28 Penlan Street, Pwllheli. Tel: 01758 613884
• Chilli Pink, 64 - 66 Queen Street, Rhyl. Tel: 01745 354786
• Kareem's The Restaurant, 72 Queen Street, Rhyl.  Tel: 01745 336222

Mid and West Wales

• Zeera, Emporium Building, 2 Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells. Tel: 01597 823844
• Sheesh Mahal, 53 Stepney Street, Llanelli. Tel: 01554 773773
• Sher Khans, 20 Market Street, Llanelli. Tel: 01554 756316
• Limes Cottage, Pool Road, Montgomery. Tel: 01686 668348
• Preem, Pool Rd, Newtown. Tel: 01686 625534

South Wales

• Ashoka Tandoori, 68 Nolton Street, Bridgend. Tel: 01656 650678
• Bokhara Brasserie, Pen-y-fai, Bridgend. Tel: 01656 720212
• Raj of India, 8a Market Street, Caerphilly. Tel: 02920 868230
• Bay Leaf, 28-30 High Street , Llandaff, Cardiff. Tel: 02920 567888
• Mirchi, 89 City Road, Roath, Cardiff. Tel: 02920 492344
• Spice Quarter, Unit 8b, The Old Brewery Quarter, Cardiff. Tel: 02920 220075
• Spice Route, Unit 6 Red Dragon Centre, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff. Tel: 02920 488820
• Viceroy of India, 12-14 Penrallt Rd, Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed. Tel: 01443 862500
• Misbah Tandoori, 9 Priory Street, Monmouth. Tel: 01600 714940
• Kohinoor, 164 Chepstow Road, Newport. Tel: 01633 258615
• The New Lahore, 145 Lower Dock Street      , Newport. Tel: 01633 265665
• Chilli's Tandoori Restaurant, 18 St Teilo St, Pontarddulais, Swansea. Tel: 01792 884709
• Nawab Tandoori Restaurant, 12 Christina St, Swansea. Tel: 01792 470770
• Rice & Spice, 10 Commerical Rd, Ystradgynlais, Swansea. Tel: 01639 845791
• Zafran, 215 New Road, Skewen, Swansea. Tel: 01792 813705

What Next?

Over the following five weeks the independent regional judges will visit each of the 30 short-listed restaurants. The top three restaurants in Wales, one from each region, will be announced on the following dates:

• Tuesday 29 March 2011: North Wales
• Wednesday 30 March 2011: Mid Wales
• Thursday 31 March 2011: South Wales 

The national judges will spend a full day visiting all three restaurants competing in the final. During the visit each restaurant will be invited to impress the judges with one of their signature dishes, available from the public menu.

The national winner will be announced on Thursday 14 April 2011.

Kingfisher, the World’s number 1 premium Indian lager, is proud to be the key sponsor of the Welsh Curry House of the Year competition for the fifth year. The competition is also sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government, Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales, Really Welsh and Buzz Magazine.