Hot Stuff, Vauxhall, London

First impressions are not great. Tucked away down a tatty side street, just off (the decidedly less salubrious end of) the Wandsworth road, is Hot Stuff: a cramped, sweaty, unlicensed café, which just happens to knock out the best Indian food you'll taste this side of the Arabian sea. It's a pretty chaotic experience, but that just adds to the feeling of authenticity. The choice of dishes isn't huge, but most are pretty memorable and there are African influences as well as Indian. If you can, go for the sublime tilapia masala, or the spicy Kerala prawns. It's a BYO (bring your own booze), with no corkage. Never has cheap been so cheerful. But make sure you book.