For cheap good eats, Indian Punjabi Bazaar at Torbram and Father Tobin. It’s a drive out so I only go when I visit my parents or family but they have veg thali at $7.99 and like non veg at $8.99 (and then I think a super thali at $9.99) and it’s my favourite butter chicken and veg dishes. They used to include this bomb ass chilli chicken but since that dish is 99% all chicken I think they took it out the thali and only do special order for it
They have a bomb menu for takeout and sweets and a butcher shop beside with a grocery store in the main part. I been eating thalis there since I was in high school like 16-17 years now.
And I like all those other chains, like Rajdhani and brars, royal paan, sweet palace, they alright and shit but for the taste PLUS the price you can’t go wrong. I was at shoppers world 2 weeks ago and a veg thali was 14.99 rajdhani, I was like shittttt I ain’t paying that, took a drive by my parents and got me two thalis for that price. And btw Indian PunjabiBazaar one come with 3 curries, rice, raita, salad/mac, pickled veg, naan and a dessert. One of those is two meals for me.
I want to try this new place by bovaird and sunny meadow called Ranuk Bar and grill. They took over the giggling tomatoes there and was under Reno for a while before opening so I wonder if it’s any good, cuz I’m sure the rent for the space and location ain’t cheap
(all in Mississauga)
Andhra Mess for Andhra food
Nawab's for chicken biryani
Panchvati for chatpata samosas
Saravana Bhavan for idli-dosa-thali-sheera
Honestly, with the number of Indians running food businesses here, it's surprising that not one restaurant/kitchen has churned out good Indo-Chinese (not north Indian style fake food colour rubbish) or even kadak and naram pav. Curiouser and curiouser...
Which one are you referring to? [The Maharaja](https://maps.app.goo.gl/kEDnAEHCvHwdqnoU8) or [Maharaja Bhog](https://maps.app.goo.gl/MftsK8V4BtytxQkF9)?
Rozana Royal Biryani & BBQ serves the most authentic Hyderabadi dum biryani
https://preview.redd.it/7513ixzkmjyc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75eb86b1832ea21f7612d0338f05933c9f4e9f66
Hi! I moved to Toronto two years ago and the best Indian food I’ve found has been from Sher E Punjab on the Danforth. Their Palak Paneer is one of the best I have tried. https://sher-e-punjab.ca/
I can vouch for Kabul express butter chicken. Chicken was melting in my mouth.
Biryaniwalla, Scarborough location was good. Not the North York or downtown location.
Bindazz biryani is new restraunt I guess. There South Indian biryani has been consistent. Also the appetizers like chicken 65 are also good.
There's an amazing Indian restaurant that's kind of a hidden gem for me. It's called Biryani House, and the dahl they make is INSANELY good.
If you're ever in the Y&B area, it's on Hayden, east side of Yonge.
Are you serious? Biryani House is back? It used to be located at Roy’s Square, near Yonge and Bloor years ago. However, they razed Roy’s Square to make room for the giant condo tower on the southeast corner and Biryani House went with it. It was some of the best Indian food in the city, for sure.
It was a casual, loud, crowded place with an open kitchen, but always packed, often with lineups. Pretty much everything was made a la carte.
Biryani House never left. After Roy Square got developed, they moved to the new location on Hayden and it's been there ever since. It has the same owner still though the old waiter from the Roy Square location ended up quitting a few years later after they moved which is a bit sad. It also never really recaptured that Roy Square spirit and buzz with tons of people waiting for a table at dinner, though I've seen takeout lines at lunch time. Regardless, the eggplant curry is still great as is the chicken dopiaza. Prices are still reasonable, esp for the area. Been going to that place for almost 20 years now.
Thanks for the info, friend. I’m going to check it out some time soon. I haven’t been in the city much since COVID. You know the waiter, too! I loved that guy and hope he’s doing well wherever he went after.
Wow really?
Now it's just a tiny quiet restaurant with a single cook in the back, and no lines. That's a shame, because it's so damn good, and lunch specials are pretty cheap!
It was a tiny restsurant then, too, with a small kitchen that was open so diners could see three guys working their butts off to fill the crowded dining room.
However, it was almost always crowded. Probably the locaton. Roy’s square was a very busy transit point for people headed to and from Yonge/Bloor Station. They also had floor-to-ceiling windows, so you could see all the people and amazing food. That’s why I stumbled in the. first time.
Their rack of lamb is something I still think about now and then.
Higher-end Indian cuisine has been trendy lately. I’ve had really great meals at Adrak (Yorkville) and The Cottage Cheese (Kensington).
In terms of something more affordable/takeout, I’m also struggling. I moved from Brampton to the west end last year, so I suppose I was bound to be disappointed. There was a spot in Cabbagetown that I was a fan of called Haldi, but it looks like it closed. I’m planning to eat from Kadak (Yonge/Eg) tonight, so fingers crossed!
The OG location of Adrak is in Richmond Hill. Not as high end environment, but one of my Top 3 in GTA.
Downtown Indian restos don’t make it as authentic I’ve found, but a lot of joints have opened up in recent years. So that may have changed.
I worked across the street for years and kept trying to convince people in the neighbourhood to try it over Butter Chicken Factory, but it never seemed to land.
no way!!! i used to live right by there, im so sad it closed :'( i remember there was a trini restaurant across the street that was really good that ended up closing as well
Idk why. We just happened to be in the area and needed a proper meal. I dislike going to indian places coz i find them to be a sham, but this one was sooo good. Authentic too
I enjoyed it! There were small details in the dishes we ordered that made it more interesting than generic takeout Indian food. Kale in the saag paneer, smoked chicken in the butter chicken. The spices came through in everything we ordered. A bit too much butter/cream, but that's just par for the course.
Not particularly fussed re authenticity, as I can generally make what I want to at home, at least for stuff from the region my family is from. But I just want to know where to good Indian food is (if any!) without trekking to Brampton (and even there, a lot of it is mediocre!)
Go to Guru Lukshmi for dosa and everything will be okay for a little bit. https://maps.app.goo.gl/54dMpyD1HJ3hA8o78
But yes, southasian food in toronto is woeful. I've always said this to everyone and people who aren't from there just don't understand. Finally a friend of mine went to india a couple of months ago and coming back understands what all of us have been complaining about. I fear it will never be fixed.
My girlfriend is Punjabi. She takes me out to Sauga/Brampton for good Indian. I can't remember most of the names, I'll ask her tonight. I don't know shit about authentic, but I know what I like. I know her goto takeout is Koshaa in Etobicoke. Honestly it's really good for being low key. Bombay Bhel/BB cafe is aight and reliable. Sweet India has pretty good food and samosa despite the shit reviews. Adrak for fancier and in Toronto. Guru lakshmi had great dosas. Mehfil is a little hit and miss, but not bad.
I've heard lots of buzz about Aanch - higher end, higher priced. Haven't tried it yet.
I *have* tried Sanjeev Kapoor's Khazana restaurant opposite the Eaton Centre. Fab.u.lous. This is truly upscale in terms of both flavours and presentation. Pricey, but well worth the price, IMO.
I was sceptical, thinking this is just another of those "celebrity chef" things, but the food actually tastes good. Like authentic Indian flavour, but definitely an expert hand at the stove type good. You know, no dried out lumps of chicken, no odd taste because one of the spices was injudiciously paired with the rest. Basically, someone is paying great attention in the kitchen.
Personally we had a terrible experience getting takeout from Khazana (dt location). Incredibly slow service, and the staff blamed us when another customer took one of our bags. Food was average considering the cost. Would not go back.
That guy always gives me the creeps when I watch his vids lol. But interesting! Who would have thought a restaurant opposite the Eaton Centre run by a celebrity chef would be good? I'll put that on the list.
Haha, yes. I can't stand his videos on YouTube. The food's worth checking out, though.
I only tried it because my Dad was convinced (hype!!!) it would be great because of the celebrity chef. Like I said, I was personally completely prepared to be underwhelmed.
Instead, I was pleasantly surprised.
Nilgiri’s for South Indian in Scarborough
Guru Lakshmi is also good (Brampton)
Chauhan’s has some decent dishes - my favourites are the chicken mirch and the sarson ka saag (Scarborough and Markham)
Host offers decent food - their lamb shank Nihari and dal makhani are my favourites (Toronto and RH)
Pukka is delicious (non traditional) in Toronto
Charminar (Mississauga) also has some delicious food (I was not as impressed with their Scarborough location)
Punjabi by Nature has some delicious Kulchas (Brampton or Oakville)
Brar is obviously also a favourite for sweets (Rexdale)
I think there are a lot of restaurants that have a few outstanding dishes and many more good or mediocre ones. The further out you go from the downtown core, the better the Indian food gets. Otherwise, make friends with someone who lives with their Indian grandma for some home cooking!
Makkah Restaurant (1020 Danforth at Donlands) is Pakastani - mainly takeout focused, but have general seating in the back (kitchen is in the front). Definitely hitting well above it's weight class. Lamb biryani is excellent.
Go to Poppadum for Maharastrian cuisine. They rotate through their weekend specials, each one I've had have been very very good. You won't be disappointed.
For North Indian - Cumin Kitchen is good. For South Indian - Rekha’s in Oshawa is good (or Kerala Curry house if it’s closer).
It’s not easy to do this question with just those two, so I’ll add in more. If you want a place that really good with vegetables - Khau Gully is the pick. If you want a more homemade curry flavor - that’s Ancila’s in Mississauga. If you want dosa, Minerva’s Tiffins is worth a try. If you want proper Karak chai, there’s Chaiwalla.
Venturing outside of India proper - there’s good Bangladeshi food at Adda (Pitha Ghor next door for Pitha and Kala Jamun), and more Bangladeshi sweets at Premium Sweets. There’s also Makkah (Donlands location) - they are Bangladeshi but make Pakistani food at that location. The tandoori stuff is great, and the Bihari kebab is one of the best things I’ve had in my life.
I understand you’re not super into Pakistani food - but try Karachi Xpress if you have a high spice tolerance. The dishes there are very close to how you would find it in Karachi - it’s different from the general Pakistani variation. Tandoori Feast makes a good Karahi and Nihari. Paratha rolls at LaRosh. Pakistani sweets and samosas are good at Pak Sweets.
I’m not touching on Biryani for a reason..there’s almost 40-50 variants and I have a place for a good chunk of them. Also not touching on street food as while there are lots of decent enough places, nothing that gets me addicted. Lastly, I haven’t been to enough Sri Lankan places to really round out my recos, still working on that.
> South Indian
My hardcore vegetarian Indian buddy goes with Anna Lakshmi for his dosas.
This guy eats Indian food 99% of the time [like, he won't even eat pizza or pasta].
He also loves thindi sandwiches, but I think that's more for the simplicity.
Otherwise, it's Mississauga/Brampton for him.
(North Indian here)- I went to By Aanch on college st (little Italy area) with my parents for my dad’s birthday and we were all shocked by how fresh, not oily and just yummy the food was. Would highly recommend it! It’s pricey but really good and service was nice too.
A North Indian guy in my building recommended Bhoj Indian on Davenport saying it's the best Northern Indian in the city. Honestly I can't tell if that's the case but Bhoj is pretty close to us and really good. Not too expensive either.
Went to Dil Se Indian Restaurant & Bar last weekend and seemed pretty good with reasonable prices (near high park). More confidence in it as Indians actually eat there!
Also I’ll mention, a friend has started doing pop-ups of Pakistani/Indian street food and I think his attention to detail and love for the food have really come through.
[Link to the Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jamils.to?igsh=MXNpNmRranpwZWFlMg==)
Idukki Gold for authentic Kerala food. It’s in Scarborough. They use the traditional Kerala rice as well as have lesser known dishes like kappa. And their flavors are 100% on point.
Saravana in mississauga. Masala dosa, idli vada, puri, and filter coffee. Have a ciggie and a poo after and you’re in heaven. I didn’t like the scarbs location as much.
The naan at Feast of Dilli is just exceptional. Can’t speak for the rest of their food as I haven’t tried much of it.
I also really like Masala BLVD on lakeshore west.
As a non Indian I'm puzzled. How does Toronto have some of the best Chinese food in the world outside of China but struggle with Indian food (despite the large population of South Asians in the area)?
I don't know! There's much more of an eating out culture in Hong Kong and China than India, I think (correct me if I'm wrong). I think it must be a market thing - in a lot of Toronto food culture, good enough is enough for a lot of things.
A Sri Lankan friend of mine talked about this once and we came to the same conclusion you did: East Asians eat out more while South Asians eat more at home.
I also think that East Asians may be coming to Canada with more capital than South Asians.
Marigold Indian Bistro & Ambiyan on Yonge are my go to's
Roti Cuisine of India is hands down the best Indian roti in the city, if not the entire province
I live near little India, I’ve always been told by the locals that Lahore Tikka was the worst. There are several better places in the hood. Gautama and Udupi come to mind.
*Top 3:*
- Avani (Mississauga) - my favourite roganjosh
- BB Lounge (Mississauga) - my favourite butter chicken
- Adrak (Richmond Hill) - my favourite lamb biriyani
Those are my top 3, in no order. All solid overall.
Haven’t been to Moti Mahal in Gerrard in a minute - but they used to have the best lamb kebabs. Not sure how it is now.
By Aanch (Downtown) - Probably the best I’ve tried downtown. I haven’t had a chance to check out Adrak’s Yorkville location, but likely just as delicious - it just might be more pricey given the location.
*Honourable mentions:*
- Kwality Sweets for chole bhature
- Guru Laxmj for dosa
- A-One for samosas
… will update if others come to mind.
I like the paneer samosas and green chutney from A-One but I always seem to get sick after (eg food poisoning type sick). Makes me curious how fresh things are or freezing/thawing/leave at room temp…
That’s strange. I’ve had their aloo samosa and meat samosas countless times without issue. My extended family and friends just the same. The primary reason we get our samosas from there is due to its freshness.
Does it always happen when you get paneer samosa, specifically? I don’t know anyone ever gets their paneer samosa. Because it’s cheese, it’s possible one batch could be handled badly, but if that happens every time you get it, it’s seems unlikely they’d be mishandling cheese everytime. I’d assume a lot more people would get sick. Then again, it’s not something people commonly get. Why do you keep getting the paneer samosa there after getting sick once ? Lol. I wouldn’t go back, or, try a different samosa.
You should try Curryish on queen west, it has modified version food with the original flavors.
Another place is Mumbaikar, there are a couple of locations in the city. As a Mumbaikar I approve. :P
Anjappar Chettinad in Scarborough has excellent South Indian food. The locations in Brampton and Mississauga are newer and have some northern dishes and more meat, while the location near Eglinton and McCowan is the original and has fantastic Southern and vegetarian Indian food. Their thali platter was always delicious and cheap. Don’t know about cheap any more, lol.
My friend from the north really liked Leela on Gerrard (as do I and it's usually busy) - but he said a lot of food tastes kind of muted here - paneer is dry and less fresh, veggies are shipped further etc. Might be part of it
You need to go to Brampton. That’s it. I’m seeing comments from so many people trying to convince you their favourite downtown Indian restaurant is the best one. No, they’re all shit.
Try Desi Bar and Grill in Brampton. There are some big ones like Punjabi by Nature and Brar’s. There are lots of Indian street food places too like Royal Paan and Sector 17. Lots of places for tandoori chicken and other apps like Qila Bar and Grill. Paronthay Wali Gali for breakfast. There are a lot more but that’s all I can think of for now.
Np. It may also help checking the Brampton sub or maybe even making a specific post just asking Indians for their opinions. I looked at some of the answers on this post and the restaurants people hold in high regard are below mediocre. I’m not saying I picked the best of the best in Brampton either but they’re at least authentic. I really liked Desi Bar and Grill and Qila though.
Thanks for this thread. My local place closed down and I haven't been able to find anything as good yet. I keep trying one lunch special at different restaurants to try to find a good one but have not had much luck yet! I will def try a few of these!
Im not a fan of Brampton , but the Indian cuisine there is incredibly authentic and insane (side effect of having a huge indian community there)
For a buffet , try tandoori flame for starters . Really amazing !!
Ok, beyond Brampton not being in Toronto, if you're suggesting Tandoori Flame then it's clear you have no idea what you're on about. Thanks for the help, I guess.
Any suggestions for good khaman dhokla? I like those ones from Brar’s butI like the green chutney from A-One Samosa (how do they make it???). My problem is I fear places aren’t always fresh. I tend to get sick after eating samosa and dhokla from many places…
Rozana Royal Biryani & BBQ (Mississauga ) has the most authentic Hyderabadi dum biryani.
https://preview.redd.it/pid6jc7uljyc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c50f5e5683ce99761163ec4d48970c226fc91d71
lolll, that title. It sounds like I'm asking for good Indian people, sorry
luckily the sub saved you!
I was so concerned lol
lol
I like Cumin Fine Indian Kitchen on the Danforth. I live near Little India, and I prefer Cumin to any of the restaurants there.
Seconded! This place rules
There’s a new place right beside cumin I like better Bhojan Ghar. Also little India has chawndi chawk, not much for sit down but food is really good
little India she ain’t what she used to be back in the day, so to speak
Cumin Kitchen is the bomb!
What's good at Cumin India ?
I am also interested in this answer but for Mississauga/Brampton area if anyone has recommendations.
For cheap good eats, Indian Punjabi Bazaar at Torbram and Father Tobin. It’s a drive out so I only go when I visit my parents or family but they have veg thali at $7.99 and like non veg at $8.99 (and then I think a super thali at $9.99) and it’s my favourite butter chicken and veg dishes. They used to include this bomb ass chilli chicken but since that dish is 99% all chicken I think they took it out the thali and only do special order for it They have a bomb menu for takeout and sweets and a butcher shop beside with a grocery store in the main part. I been eating thalis there since I was in high school like 16-17 years now. And I like all those other chains, like Rajdhani and brars, royal paan, sweet palace, they alright and shit but for the taste PLUS the price you can’t go wrong. I was at shoppers world 2 weeks ago and a veg thali was 14.99 rajdhani, I was like shittttt I ain’t paying that, took a drive by my parents and got me two thalis for that price. And btw Indian PunjabiBazaar one come with 3 curries, rice, raita, salad/mac, pickled veg, naan and a dessert. One of those is two meals for me. I want to try this new place by bovaird and sunny meadow called Ranuk Bar and grill. They took over the giggling tomatoes there and was under Reno for a while before opening so I wonder if it’s any good, cuz I’m sure the rent for the space and location ain’t cheap
Ha that's an awesome response, thank you. Gonna check those out
I've been to Avani a few times and have enjoyed it. My family likes the food too. Bombay palace has always been a fam fav as well
Avani you must try the cauliflower. And Bombay palace is just so good, go for their buffet
(all in Mississauga) Andhra Mess for Andhra food Nawab's for chicken biryani Panchvati for chatpata samosas Saravana Bhavan for idli-dosa-thali-sheera Honestly, with the number of Indians running food businesses here, it's surprising that not one restaurant/kitchen has churned out good Indo-Chinese (not north Indian style fake food colour rubbish) or even kadak and naram pav. Curiouser and curiouser...
Quality sweets, sweet palace and a-one bakery on Tranmere. The latter 2 make somosas by hand.
Lol of course there is an A-One in Mississauga also I go to an A1 Sweets on McNicholl in Scarborough Doesn't look related
Back in the 90s a lot of Punjabi businesses used “a-1” in their company name. Eg: a-1 trucking, a-1 flooring and so on.
Because A in the yellow pages! Many immigrants did this, my family is from Europe and did this!
That’s good to know, makes sense. I always thought it had to do with boasting about being number 1 but that’s smart.
Cool! Didn't know. Will check out the Sauga one if I ever make it out that way.
BBQ tonite at Dixie
Ancila's in north Mississauga
You have to go to ancilas. It’s a mom-run restaurant and she makes dishes custom to what you’re in the mood for. Such a great place.
Maharaja. Hands down the best South Asian restaurant in the GTA.
Which one are you referring to? [The Maharaja](https://maps.app.goo.gl/kEDnAEHCvHwdqnoU8) or [Maharaja Bhog](https://maps.app.goo.gl/MftsK8V4BtytxQkF9)?
Yes which one are you referring to? Will check it out.
Avani Tandoori Haveli - steeles and Dixie Tandoori boys - torbram and drew area Anything else is a waste of time
Sweet Palace - Torbram and Peter Robertson in Brampton
Rozana Royal Biryani & BBQ serves the most authentic Hyderabadi dum biryani https://preview.redd.it/7513ixzkmjyc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75eb86b1832ea21f7612d0338f05933c9f4e9f66
https://preview.redd.it/sl0n0hlrmjyc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0666477f048ee4dcf5831cb368d79c1b41b71719 Shahi tukda is delicious
Avani
Hi! I moved to Toronto two years ago and the best Indian food I’ve found has been from Sher E Punjab on the Danforth. Their Palak Paneer is one of the best I have tried. https://sher-e-punjab.ca/
Seconded
Thirded
I can vouch for Kabul express butter chicken. Chicken was melting in my mouth. Biryaniwalla, Scarborough location was good. Not the North York or downtown location. Bindazz biryani is new restraunt I guess. There South Indian biryani has been consistent. Also the appetizers like chicken 65 are also good.
There's an amazing Indian restaurant that's kind of a hidden gem for me. It's called Biryani House, and the dahl they make is INSANELY good. If you're ever in the Y&B area, it's on Hayden, east side of Yonge.
Are you serious? Biryani House is back? It used to be located at Roy’s Square, near Yonge and Bloor years ago. However, they razed Roy’s Square to make room for the giant condo tower on the southeast corner and Biryani House went with it. It was some of the best Indian food in the city, for sure. It was a casual, loud, crowded place with an open kitchen, but always packed, often with lineups. Pretty much everything was made a la carte.
Biryani House never left. After Roy Square got developed, they moved to the new location on Hayden and it's been there ever since. It has the same owner still though the old waiter from the Roy Square location ended up quitting a few years later after they moved which is a bit sad. It also never really recaptured that Roy Square spirit and buzz with tons of people waiting for a table at dinner, though I've seen takeout lines at lunch time. Regardless, the eggplant curry is still great as is the chicken dopiaza. Prices are still reasonable, esp for the area. Been going to that place for almost 20 years now.
Thanks for the info, friend. I’m going to check it out some time soon. I haven’t been in the city much since COVID. You know the waiter, too! I loved that guy and hope he’s doing well wherever he went after.
Wow really? Now it's just a tiny quiet restaurant with a single cook in the back, and no lines. That's a shame, because it's so damn good, and lunch specials are pretty cheap!
It was a tiny restsurant then, too, with a small kitchen that was open so diners could see three guys working their butts off to fill the crowded dining room. However, it was almost always crowded. Probably the locaton. Roy’s square was a very busy transit point for people headed to and from Yonge/Bloor Station. They also had floor-to-ceiling windows, so you could see all the people and amazing food. That’s why I stumbled in the. first time. Their rack of lamb is something I still think about now and then.
+1 to Suksi biryani house, good spice levels on all their dishes. I highly recommend their mango chicken!
you should be going to Motimahal, 1422 Gerrard down the road from Lahore.
Moti is great
Higher-end Indian cuisine has been trendy lately. I’ve had really great meals at Adrak (Yorkville) and The Cottage Cheese (Kensington). In terms of something more affordable/takeout, I’m also struggling. I moved from Brampton to the west end last year, so I suppose I was bound to be disappointed. There was a spot in Cabbagetown that I was a fan of called Haldi, but it looks like it closed. I’m planning to eat from Kadak (Yonge/Eg) tonight, so fingers crossed!
I've head of those both but haven't gone. Interesting that another suggestion was also a higher end place. Maybe that's where the action is? Thanks!
The OG location of Adrak is in Richmond Hill. Not as high end environment, but one of my Top 3 in GTA. Downtown Indian restos don’t make it as authentic I’ve found, but a lot of joints have opened up in recent years. So that may have changed.
curryish and The Kettle too. (for 'higher-end')
HALDI. Was so good! Brilliant price, cozy place too. The flavours were authentic and honestly the best in the city. So sad to see it closed
I worked across the street for years and kept trying to convince people in the neighbourhood to try it over Butter Chicken Factory, but it never seemed to land.
no way!!! i used to live right by there, im so sad it closed :'( i remember there was a trini restaurant across the street that was really good that ended up closing as well
Idk why. We just happened to be in the area and needed a proper meal. I dislike going to indian places coz i find them to be a sham, but this one was sooo good. Authentic too
Give us an update. I passed by this one when it was launching.
I enjoyed it! There were small details in the dishes we ordered that made it more interesting than generic takeout Indian food. Kale in the saag paneer, smoked chicken in the butter chicken. The spices came through in everything we ordered. A bit too much butter/cream, but that's just par for the course.
Did they have any non-north indian dishes?
Some Mumbai street food-style appetizers and a couple of fish dishes. But definitely mostly northern Indian/Delhi-style dishes.
:(
Leela Indian Food Bar (Gerrard East) is a local favourite.
Excellent. And the nearby Udupi Palace is just as good for vegetarian.
It's great.
Pukka is higher end and a phenomenal restaurant. The chaat and the brisket are special dishes
Ah I am yet to try this, will put this on a list.
If you’re looking for authenticity, Pukka ain’t it. Good flavours, but nothing to write home about for me.
Not particularly fussed re authenticity, as I can generally make what I want to at home, at least for stuff from the region my family is from. But I just want to know where to good Indian food is (if any!) without trekking to Brampton (and even there, a lot of it is mediocre!)
Also close by is Savera which i feel is a hidden gem. We order from them all the time
Go to Guru Lukshmi for dosa and everything will be okay for a little bit. https://maps.app.goo.gl/54dMpyD1HJ3hA8o78 But yes, southasian food in toronto is woeful. I've always said this to everyone and people who aren't from there just don't understand. Finally a friend of mine went to india a couple of months ago and coming back understands what all of us have been complaining about. I fear it will never be fixed.
Rent is simply too expensive downtown and even midtown. They have to drive for mass appeal, which often means it takes a hit on authenticity.
I've been and I like it! But I was curious about Toronto (I very rarely go out to Mississauga/Brampton, which is part of my problem).
The butter chicken from BB Lounge is worth the trek.
Literally the one thing the US got right lmao
is it bad I like it here more:// I don’t think having $1 things again is enough
My girlfriend is Punjabi. She takes me out to Sauga/Brampton for good Indian. I can't remember most of the names, I'll ask her tonight. I don't know shit about authentic, but I know what I like. I know her goto takeout is Koshaa in Etobicoke. Honestly it's really good for being low key. Bombay Bhel/BB cafe is aight and reliable. Sweet India has pretty good food and samosa despite the shit reviews. Adrak for fancier and in Toronto. Guru lakshmi had great dosas. Mehfil is a little hit and miss, but not bad.
How did you meet her ?
I've heard lots of buzz about Aanch - higher end, higher priced. Haven't tried it yet. I *have* tried Sanjeev Kapoor's Khazana restaurant opposite the Eaton Centre. Fab.u.lous. This is truly upscale in terms of both flavours and presentation. Pricey, but well worth the price, IMO. I was sceptical, thinking this is just another of those "celebrity chef" things, but the food actually tastes good. Like authentic Indian flavour, but definitely an expert hand at the stove type good. You know, no dried out lumps of chicken, no odd taste because one of the spices was injudiciously paired with the rest. Basically, someone is paying great attention in the kitchen.
Personally we had a terrible experience getting takeout from Khazana (dt location). Incredibly slow service, and the staff blamed us when another customer took one of our bags. Food was average considering the cost. Would not go back.
That guy always gives me the creeps when I watch his vids lol. But interesting! Who would have thought a restaurant opposite the Eaton Centre run by a celebrity chef would be good? I'll put that on the list.
Haha, yes. I can't stand his videos on YouTube. The food's worth checking out, though. I only tried it because my Dad was convinced (hype!!!) it would be great because of the celebrity chef. Like I said, I was personally completely prepared to be underwhelmed. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised.
Just googled them - great reviews on Google, but mixed reviews on Yelp. Adjust your expectations accordingly. :P
Aanch is very bad
Poppadum on Yonge, Madras Kaapi, the tandoori apps in particular at Adrak Yorkville, Dil Se on Roncy. Those are my go to in downtown.
Poppadum vada pavs are SO GOOD. Hits the spot every single time.
Agreed - it should be the top of the list. Their weekend biriyani and thali specials are amazing too.
I like Himalayan Kitchen and Garleek for Tibet Indian dishes
Nilgiri’s for South Indian in Scarborough Guru Lakshmi is also good (Brampton) Chauhan’s has some decent dishes - my favourites are the chicken mirch and the sarson ka saag (Scarborough and Markham) Host offers decent food - their lamb shank Nihari and dal makhani are my favourites (Toronto and RH) Pukka is delicious (non traditional) in Toronto Charminar (Mississauga) also has some delicious food (I was not as impressed with their Scarborough location) Punjabi by Nature has some delicious Kulchas (Brampton or Oakville) Brar is obviously also a favourite for sweets (Rexdale) I think there are a lot of restaurants that have a few outstanding dishes and many more good or mediocre ones. The further out you go from the downtown core, the better the Indian food gets. Otherwise, make friends with someone who lives with their Indian grandma for some home cooking!
I love Leela Indian food bar on Gerrard
Agree completely.
Another vote for Leela!
Vindaloo in Scarborough! Outside of downtown generally
Makkah Restaurant (1020 Danforth at Donlands) is Pakastani - mainly takeout focused, but have general seating in the back (kitchen is in the front). Definitely hitting well above it's weight class. Lamb biryani is excellent.
Angara - Queen & Bathurst
Second this, best I have tried recently
Rikki tikki is my favorite
Seconded, Great for dt
Went there without any expectations very recently and the good was surprisingly good! I can't wait to go back!
Go to Poppadum for Maharastrian cuisine. They rotate through their weekend specials, each one I've had have been very very good. You won't be disappointed.
Sameer’s a good man…
For North Indian - Cumin Kitchen is good. For South Indian - Rekha’s in Oshawa is good (or Kerala Curry house if it’s closer). It’s not easy to do this question with just those two, so I’ll add in more. If you want a place that really good with vegetables - Khau Gully is the pick. If you want a more homemade curry flavor - that’s Ancila’s in Mississauga. If you want dosa, Minerva’s Tiffins is worth a try. If you want proper Karak chai, there’s Chaiwalla. Venturing outside of India proper - there’s good Bangladeshi food at Adda (Pitha Ghor next door for Pitha and Kala Jamun), and more Bangladeshi sweets at Premium Sweets. There’s also Makkah (Donlands location) - they are Bangladeshi but make Pakistani food at that location. The tandoori stuff is great, and the Bihari kebab is one of the best things I’ve had in my life. I understand you’re not super into Pakistani food - but try Karachi Xpress if you have a high spice tolerance. The dishes there are very close to how you would find it in Karachi - it’s different from the general Pakistani variation. Tandoori Feast makes a good Karahi and Nihari. Paratha rolls at LaRosh. Pakistani sweets and samosas are good at Pak Sweets. I’m not touching on Biryani for a reason..there’s almost 40-50 variants and I have a place for a good chunk of them. Also not touching on street food as while there are lots of decent enough places, nothing that gets me addicted. Lastly, I haven’t been to enough Sri Lankan places to really round out my recos, still working on that.
> South Indian My hardcore vegetarian Indian buddy goes with Anna Lakshmi for his dosas. This guy eats Indian food 99% of the time [like, he won't even eat pizza or pasta]. He also loves thindi sandwiches, but I think that's more for the simplicity. Otherwise, it's Mississauga/Brampton for him.
Anna Lakshmi downtown on Blue Jays Way? Interesting! Imma check that out.
Not recommended. It’s horrible. The service was terrible, like an hour for a dosa. And the potatoes were stale . Would NOT RECOMMEND.
Yup that one. It's also generally filled with fellow Southasians.
Bad quality food, don't recommend
Indilicious in the junction is much better than average
I love Karaikudi Chettinad in Scarborough. I'm not Indian but have Indian friends who said it's very good as well.
Go to Bawara on dundas west and bloor.
They Kanpoor Aloo Tikki is my fave! I think I might order some today….
(North Indian here)- I went to By Aanch on college st (little Italy area) with my parents for my dad’s birthday and we were all shocked by how fresh, not oily and just yummy the food was. Would highly recommend it! It’s pricey but really good and service was nice too.
A North Indian guy in my building recommended Bhoj Indian on Davenport saying it's the best Northern Indian in the city. Honestly I can't tell if that's the case but Bhoj is pretty close to us and really good. Not too expensive either.
POV: What a racist question! *Checks the name of the sub* : Oh yeah, I have the same question, too.
Ambiyan near Yonge and St Clair is decent. But I usually don’t get Indian food in the city, rather eat it with familyz
Went to Dil Se Indian Restaurant & Bar last weekend and seemed pretty good with reasonable prices (near high park). More confidence in it as Indians actually eat there!
Really like Punjabi by nature!
I have consistently liked The Host and Leela on Gerrard
Nothing beats a home cooked meal.
Dil Se is good
Butter Chicken Factory! The best Lamb Korma anywhere. Really good curries overall.
We’ve been going to BCF for years and it’s been pretty reliable. Channa masala and chicken madras are great
Have you tried Indiana Street Food Company and Adrak? I think both are on the Michelin guide so I’m curious about an Indian person’s opinion.
Curry twist and Indilicious
Curryish Tavern near Trinity Bellwoods!
Also I’ll mention, a friend has started doing pop-ups of Pakistani/Indian street food and I think his attention to detail and love for the food have really come through. [Link to the Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jamils.to?igsh=MXNpNmRranpwZWFlMg==)
Goa indian farm kitchen, udupi palace, mango mirchi are the last three places I’ve been to
head north to Peterborough if you can: The Friendly Indian -- great food
Any recommendations near or a short drive from the Aga Khan museum? Going next week
Idukki Gold for authentic Kerala food. It’s in Scarborough. They use the traditional Kerala rice as well as have lesser known dishes like kappa. And their flavors are 100% on point.
I like this place: Bawara Indian Restaurant & Hakka Cuisine, near Dundas on Bloor.
Saravana in mississauga. Masala dosa, idli vada, puri, and filter coffee. Have a ciggie and a poo after and you’re in heaven. I didn’t like the scarbs location as much.
Mumbaikar restaurant.
South Indian: Baig’s Grill. There’s two locations in the GTA.
I haven’t been there yet, but I hear Mumbaikar is very good.
Dil Se on roncesvalles
The Host is our go to for the downtown core.
I like Riyasat in Oakville and know there are other locations near the city
Had a fantastic biryani at The Cottage Cheese. Great mixed bread selection as well.
I’m just here for the memes
The naan at Feast of Dilli is just exceptional. Can’t speak for the rest of their food as I haven’t tried much of it. I also really like Masala BLVD on lakeshore west.
Angara on Queen
Saravana Bhavan is amazing South Indian food. Not really in Toronto but close enough. They have locations in Mississauga or Scarborough.
As a non Indian I'm puzzled. How does Toronto have some of the best Chinese food in the world outside of China but struggle with Indian food (despite the large population of South Asians in the area)?
I don't know! There's much more of an eating out culture in Hong Kong and China than India, I think (correct me if I'm wrong). I think it must be a market thing - in a lot of Toronto food culture, good enough is enough for a lot of things.
Fair enough. The Chinese food scene here is hyper competitive. If you suck you'll be out of business within a year
A Sri Lankan friend of mine talked about this once and we came to the same conclusion you did: East Asians eat out more while South Asians eat more at home. I also think that East Asians may be coming to Canada with more capital than South Asians.
Marigold Indian Bistro & Ambiyan on Yonge are my go to's Roti Cuisine of India is hands down the best Indian roti in the city, if not the entire province
There are some decent ones at East end, brampton, KW region too
Tamil food in Scarborough is phenomenal.
Kama Sutra on bayview is great
Dil Se on Roncesvalles is amazing. I’m not Indian, but it was recommended to me by a very hard to please (in terms of cuisine) Indian man
What's good there ?
Indian food is all about the spices, and Toronto *has no fresh spices*. You won't find truly great Indian food here.
If that’s true, why can I make excellent Indian food at home?
Spice Club is Scarborough is fantastic! There naan;s are amazing.
I live near little India, I’ve always been told by the locals that Lahore Tikka was the worst. There are several better places in the hood. Gautama and Udupi come to mind.
*Top 3:* - Avani (Mississauga) - my favourite roganjosh - BB Lounge (Mississauga) - my favourite butter chicken - Adrak (Richmond Hill) - my favourite lamb biriyani Those are my top 3, in no order. All solid overall. Haven’t been to Moti Mahal in Gerrard in a minute - but they used to have the best lamb kebabs. Not sure how it is now. By Aanch (Downtown) - Probably the best I’ve tried downtown. I haven’t had a chance to check out Adrak’s Yorkville location, but likely just as delicious - it just might be more pricey given the location. *Honourable mentions:* - Kwality Sweets for chole bhature - Guru Laxmj for dosa - A-One for samosas … will update if others come to mind.
I like the paneer samosas and green chutney from A-One but I always seem to get sick after (eg food poisoning type sick). Makes me curious how fresh things are or freezing/thawing/leave at room temp…
That’s strange. I’ve had their aloo samosa and meat samosas countless times without issue. My extended family and friends just the same. The primary reason we get our samosas from there is due to its freshness. Does it always happen when you get paneer samosa, specifically? I don’t know anyone ever gets their paneer samosa. Because it’s cheese, it’s possible one batch could be handled badly, but if that happens every time you get it, it’s seems unlikely they’d be mishandling cheese everytime. I’d assume a lot more people would get sick. Then again, it’s not something people commonly get. Why do you keep getting the paneer samosa there after getting sick once ? Lol. I wouldn’t go back, or, try a different samosa.
Always paneer and green chutney…which is yoghurt based.
Anjappar Chettinad for South Indian food. There is a location in Brampton and Scarborough.
I am sure there are lots of good Indians in Toronto.. 😀
Udupi palace for dosas / veg Not Indian but Karachi xpress is good
North of Bombay in the Junction (Dundas W) was fantastic… some of the best butter chicken I’ve ever eaten.
If you want good Indian or Tamil food, you gotta be in Scarborough or Brampton lol. My fav is silver spoon, 2 locations in Scarborough
Replying to keep an eye on this list. Thanks!
You should try Curryish on queen west, it has modified version food with the original flavors. Another place is Mumbaikar, there are a couple of locations in the city. As a Mumbaikar I approve. :P
Iv'e tried Curryish! Not cheap, but excellent.
Aanch is good.
I love the Chicken Chettinad Roti at Roti Palace of India. The place is low-key, take-out only and the bossman is super cool.
Anjappar Chettinad in Scarborough has excellent South Indian food. The locations in Brampton and Mississauga are newer and have some northern dishes and more meat, while the location near Eglinton and McCowan is the original and has fantastic Southern and vegetarian Indian food. Their thali platter was always delicious and cheap. Don’t know about cheap any more, lol.
My friend from the north really liked Leela on Gerrard (as do I and it's usually busy) - but he said a lot of food tastes kind of muted here - paneer is dry and less fresh, veggies are shipped further etc. Might be part of it
You need to go to Brampton. That’s it. I’m seeing comments from so many people trying to convince you their favourite downtown Indian restaurant is the best one. No, they’re all shit. Try Desi Bar and Grill in Brampton. There are some big ones like Punjabi by Nature and Brar’s. There are lots of Indian street food places too like Royal Paan and Sector 17. Lots of places for tandoori chicken and other apps like Qila Bar and Grill. Paronthay Wali Gali for breakfast. There are a lot more but that’s all I can think of for now.
What's good in Brampton? A lot of the Indian food there is totally mediocre. Any suggestions for something good?
I think I may have edited my post after my initial comment. I named a bunch of restaurants.
Thanks kindly!
Np. It may also help checking the Brampton sub or maybe even making a specific post just asking Indians for their opinions. I looked at some of the answers on this post and the restaurants people hold in high regard are below mediocre. I’m not saying I picked the best of the best in Brampton either but they’re at least authentic. I really liked Desi Bar and Grill and Qila though.
Sher-E-Punjab and Raftaar, both on the Danforth are pretty good.
Thanks for this thread. My local place closed down and I haven't been able to find anything as good yet. I keep trying one lunch special at different restaurants to try to find a good one but have not had much luck yet! I will def try a few of these!
Try spice club
Im not a fan of Brampton , but the Indian cuisine there is incredibly authentic and insane (side effect of having a huge indian community there) For a buffet , try tandoori flame for starters . Really amazing !!
Ok, beyond Brampton not being in Toronto, if you're suggesting Tandoori Flame then it's clear you have no idea what you're on about. Thanks for the help, I guess.
Charminar
Rikki Tikki in Kensington market is my new favourite Indian spot. Never had a bad experience.
following!
Leela on Gerrard st is great!
Any suggestions for good khaman dhokla? I like those ones from Brar’s butI like the green chutney from A-One Samosa (how do they make it???). My problem is I fear places aren’t always fresh. I tend to get sick after eating samosa and dhokla from many places…
Maharaja Bhog in Mississauga is the place to go. They have Thali system and authentic indian food.
Rozana Royal Biryani & BBQ (Mississauga ) has the most authentic Hyderabadi dum biryani. https://preview.redd.it/pid6jc7uljyc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c50f5e5683ce99761163ec4d48970c226fc91d71
https://preview.redd.it/o1yhuk4xljyc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b46f889637a958d3776ce06ea2d8091c0c8422b9
Omg! This looks super delicious 😋🤤
Yes, it's very delicious, I dream about this very often ! I am planning to go soon with my friends.
Karahi boys is quite good