Bobby's restaurant, in Leicester, is among Britain's best, says Hardeep Singh Kohli

If anyone should know a thing or two about curry, it's a man who cooks and eats one almost every night.

Journalist and TV presenter Hardeep Singh Kohli did just that last year as part of his Indian Takeaway comedy tour – so when he says Bobby's, in Belgrave, Leicester, is among the best in the country, you know it must be pretty good.

Writing for The Telegraph, Hardeep picked out his top five Indian restaurants in the country – putting Bobby's up there with places in London, Glasgow and Bradford.

Speaking yesterday, he said: "I think Leicester is really important, not just to the East Midlands but to the UK.

"Bobby's represents so much more than just the food, with all the history of the area – but the food is always really good.

"Leicester is a special place anyway and Bobby's is the perfect testament of what makes it special.

"I must have been about a dozen times, but it's not often enough.

"They do the Gujarati staples really well and the food is always really fresh."

Bobby's owner and director Enna Lakhani said she was delighted to be featured.

"We didn't know it was going in beforehand," she said. "A customer came in and told me about it.

"It's brilliant. This kind of thing really does mean a lot to us.

"A couple of people have mentioned it and I have seen a few new customers this week.

"They didn't say anything but it might be because of the article.

"January is a quiet month so you definitely notice when you get new customers. Hopefully, this will get us a lot more."

Hardeep, a finalist in TV's Celebrity Masterchef, last visited Bobby's while in Leicester following the Diwali celebrations last year.

"He was really friendly and very jolly," said Enna.

"I can't remember what he had to eat, but I know my husband picked him out some sweets to take home.

"He said we had a good variety here and that the prices were reasonable.

"I would hope he picked us for the quality of our food and the service. We pride ourselves on always doing our best."

Hardeep's Indian Takeaway show came to Curve in December. He put his curry-cooking skills to the test against chefs from nearby Chutney Ivy.

He whipped up a meal of lamb pepper curry with cabbage, leek and broccoli, as well as takha dhal with butternut squash.

Chutney Ivy served up a chef's special dish of harri massala ka gost, with lamb, spinach, mustard seeds, garlic, coriander and onions and "special" spices.

The audience had to pick their favourite. The vote ended in a draw.

Here's what Hardeep Singh Kohli had to say about Bobby's in The Telegraph:

"Run by the same family since the early 70s, this upmarket café is always full of Indian people eating. It serves very fresh vegetarian Gujarati food, which comes from north India.

"Try the bhel puri, which is a street-food dish with crispy puffed rice, fragrant coriander, sour tamarind and soft potatoes. There's also a massive Indian sweet counter."

Hardeep is not the only celebrity to notice the city's skills in the curry department.

Britain's best-known Indian chef, Madhur Jaffrey, declared the city the best in the UK for curry during an appearance on BBC's Saturday Kitchen, in October.

Speaking about curry rival Birmingham, she said: "They have a certain kind of British curry.

"But if you want an Indian one, you go straight to Leicester. Do not pass Go, do not collect £200 – go straight to Leicester.

"You will find Gujarati curries of a kind you've never seen. There are noodles and soups you don't expect from curries."