Dishoom Edinburgh - A Six‑Week Love Letter to the Alphonso Mango
Every year, for just six fleeting weeks, Dishoom turns its cafés into a celebration of India’s most treasured summer jewel: the Alphonso mango. In Bombay, these mangoes are a seasonal event; soft, bright, ripe with delight, overflowing from pushcarts under the blistering afternoon sun. Families exchange crates wrapped in hay and newspaper; kitchens hum with chutneys and pickles destined to last the year. It’s a moment, a ritual, a joy.
Dishoom captures that exact feeling - the anticipation, the reverence - and brings it to Edinburgh.
Their mangoes begin their journey in the orchards of Ratnagiri, carefully picked and packed before travelling westward. When they arrive in the café, the chef‑wallas greet them like old friends, coaxing them to perfect ripeness before they ever reach a plate. And when they do? A bowl of glistening gold: soft orange cubes, the season’s splendour in its purest form. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and it becomes something almost transcendent.
I grew up in South Africa, where mangoes are abundant and glorious and I can say, hand on heart, I have never tasted a mango as delicious as this.
The Mango Specials
Dishoom leans fully into the season, offering a handful of limited‑edition treats that feel both nostalgic and new:
Ashwagandha Mango Shot: bright, earthy, energising
Mango & Fennel Lassi: cooling, creamy, lightly spiced
Balaram Street Iced CB‑Tea: a mango‑kissed iced chai
Mango Kulfi: rich, silky, sunshine on a stick
We even started our meal with a Harbour Pale Ale Beach Party, a beer with mango running right through it a playful nod to the season before the food even arrived.
The Meal
To begin: Chilli Chicken, crispy, garlic‑ginger‑soy‑chilli magic. A plate that disappears far too quickly, every bite a little firecracker. There’s a generous amount of chunky, succulent chicken, though it does come with a fair bit of residual crispy batter; not unwelcome, but definitely noticeable.
For mains, we tucked into:
Lamb Biryani : fragrant, tender, deeply comforting. I love that they crack the dough‑sealed lid tableside; the moment that steam escapes and the aroma hits you is pure theatre. The lamb is unbelievably tender, falling apart at the slightest nudge, and there’s plenty of rice to go around. It’s gently spiced rather than fiery, which lets the richness of the meat shine.
Goan Monkfish Curry : bright, coconut‑rich, perfectly balanced. An absolute favourite, time and time again. The monkfish holds its bite beautifully, the sauce is sunshine in a bowl, and it’s one of those dishes you finish wishing you had just a little more of, even though you’re full.
And then, of course, dessert: the Mango Kulfi and the Alphonso mango with vanilla ice cream. A double finale of pure sunshine.
The mango kulfi arrives like a frozen shard of sunshine. Dense, silky and intensely fruity, with that unmistakable Alphonso perfume running right through it. Each bite melts slowly, coating your tongue in pure mango richness. And then comes the showstopper: a bowl of glistening Alphonso mango, soft orange cubes glowing like treasure, crowned with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that melts into a creamy, fragrant pool. It’s simple, perfect, and honestly one of the most extraordinary mango moments I’ve ever tasted.
Why This Matters
Dishoom doesn’t just serve mangoes, they honour them. They treat the season with the same affection Bombay does: as a moment worth pausing for, celebrating, and sharing. It’s rare to find a restaurant that can bottle nostalgia, culture, and sheer joy in a single bowl of fruit, but Dishoom manages it effortlessly.
If you go for one thing this month, make it the mango. Limited portions are available daily from 12pm, Monday 4th May to Sunday 7th June, and trust me, you don’t want to miss them. Plus they have some of the best merch - a limited edition Market Bag, Limited Edition Aunty Alphonso’s Mango T-shirt and Mango Chutney.
THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT DISHOOM
The Alphonso Mango season runs from 4th May to the 7th June
The serve vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options on their food
They are disabled and wheelchair accessible with an elevator to take you between floors
They are not dog friendly
Dishoom, 3A St Andrews Square, Edinburgh, EH2 2BD https://www.dishoom.com/edinburgh/
My Spoon Award : Tartan Spoon 10/10 for Alphonso Mango season
TartanSpoon is an award‑winning blog dedicated to uncovering the very best places to eat, drink and stay in Edinburgh, across Scotland, and beyond.
With a strong focus on food tourism, food destinations, and discovering the most exciting culinary experiences countries have to offer, TartanSpoon brings readers honest reviews, curated recommendations, and stories that celebrate the vibrant food and drink scene.
Adele is a writer and reviewer based in Edinburgh, passionate about showcasing the people, places and plates that make Scotland and other countries such standout destinations for food lovers.
If you’d like to work with, invite, or collaborate with TartanSpoon, please email tartanspoon@yahoo.co.uk.