Best Indian food in Toronto

Where can I find the best Indian food in the west end of Toronto?

F

[Blakfish]

I had heard really good things about Gandhi, just east of Bathurst on Queen. I had a chicken roti from there a few months back and it was pretty good, so earlier today I thought I'd try their lamb curry with rice. I always get a bit dubious when something is labeled just 'curry' (I kinda like to know what kind of curry it is - korma, biryani, pasanda etc - more reminiscent of a British curry house). The lamb was really fatty, and more than half of the meat ended up being thrown away. The rice was kinda watery and plain as well. Very disappointed to be honest, although I guess they are more known for their Roti's, which in my experience have been pretty good.

I need to find a good, authentic curry house which serves a wide range of different curries, and some good Indian/Bengali spiced meats. I remember going to one (can't remember the name) on the south side of Queen St. West where there are a whole load of different Indian restaurants, where I tried an Indian style mixed grill was delicious. Anyone have any other suggestions? I have yet to venture to Little India, what are the best places to try in that area?

[hal2010]

Trimurti is possibly the one on Queen. It's good.
I wouldn't bother with Little India.
The current favourite in town seems to be Copper Chimney - north on Avenue Road almost at the 401.

-----
Little India
255 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V1Z4, CA

Copper Chimney
619 Kingston Rd W, Ajax, ON L1S6L8, CA

[Onlythetruth]

I was wondering how come Banjara hadn't been mentioned here and I suppose it is because of the date of the original posting. I recommend it without reservation. (Not the restaurant booking "reservation" you will need one of those if you are going on a busy night)

The food is spot on.

-----
Banjara
796 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G1L7, CA

[Poorboy]

Wow, I am always surprised at how some of these old threads get resurrected sometimes. To be on topic, my favourite Indian restaurant has been Utsav for the last 3 years now. A small place in Yorkville that is run by some really down to earth people. There are many more out there but this is my fave. Authentic dishes and all of the sauces are fresh.

-----
Utsav
69 Yorkville Ave ( Near Bloor and Yonge ), Toronto, ON M5R1B8, CA

[KitchenVoodoo]

I don't want to fan the flames of this eternal debate about where the best Indian restaurant in the GTA may be - but I would caution people to stay away from the joints along the "Little India" stretch of Gerrard East. Some local pricing cartel seems to prevent any one place from rising above the eleven dollar buffet of mediocracy. When I first moved into this neighbourhood 16 years ago we had real chefs turning out food that would have knocked socks off in Manhatten! (Madras Durbar for one - their delicate spicing haunts me still).
Sadly, now we have empty restaurants offering appallingly stale food. I posted a review of Nitya a few weeks ago but it was not posted. My main complaints about Nitya were that the rice was overcooked to the pint of mush, and every single item on the buffet was SO stale - I should have called a mortician.
I had given up on Little India, but a new place is opening up there, so stay tuned!

[gimel]

I don't know how far west you were considering, but I'm partial to Recipe Mantra's (sic) on Goreway (7125 Goreway Dr, Mississauga) - it' s just in a little stripmall next to Pizza Pizza and Subway, but it's actually decorated very nicely, with tablecloths and whatnot. I haven't tried the lunch buffet (which looks to be small and a concession to the unadventurous noontime butterchicken folks), but ordering from the menu has yielded mostly good stuff, including a decent chicken biryani and assorted lamb items. What I like about the place is that everything seems cooked from scratch with maternal love, and the spicing has always seemed more complex and engaging that the cheaper Indian joints in that part of town.

[Charles Yu]

What's being discussed are all 'OLD' favourites. For some 'New Blood', one should give 'Tabla' on Yonge, close to Herbs, a try. The food is excellent!!! If not the best, at least in the upper tiers!

[Macwandir]

Top Cheap Spots:
1-Biryani House- In Roys Square- South of Bloor and Yonge (Not Debu Saha's restaurant on Wellesley)
They do buffet from 11:30 til 3:30, but the real deal starts at night. While the cooking involves alot of ghee, the flavour is unreal. Try the eggplant, chicken makhani, saag, mattar paneer plus more. You will not be disappointed.

2-King Palace-Sherbourne and Queen-
This restaurant is actually Pakistani. It is next to a gas station so its packed with Cab Drivers and is open from 11:00 AM til 5:00 AM!!!! The food is sitting out on display, you pick your dishes and they heat it in the microwave before you!! Sounds funny, but the food is amazing and real spicey...Try the Chicken Tikka (chicken in a bright red sauce)Mango Chicken, Butter Chicken, and the Kebabs...It will be sure to leave your mouth heated and happy...

Top Higher end Spot

1-Kamasutra-Bayview/Eglinton
Every dish is brilliantly prepared and less oil/ghee factor involved in the cooking than the two above. This is a place you can take a significant other and have them impressed. Food is very flavourful cooked over long periods/low heat which gives the sauces a thick, bold punch with the spices. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu...And at least with this place, you'll probably get laid after dinner!

I recently tried the food from the curryer - it is not a restaurant but it offers delivery and pick up. Really good food - anyone else have any experience with them?

[KAREN]

that place is horrible! water downed, under spiced, just disgusting. if i remember correctly, their naan is actually pita bread.

Shalamar on Roncesvalles is a great place. The lamb korma was fantastic, and they've got upper canada beer on tap... There's also a fantastic avocado chutney.

In the west end I higly reccomend "Malhotras Exotic Flavours" its located behind the silver city on dundas and 403. Its not exactly traditional Indian cusine but with dishes like "mushroom and asparagus curry" I think its definately a place to try out. its run by just the husband and wife and they create a great atmosphere.

Malhotra's Exotic Flavours
3100 Ridgeway Drive (Mississauga)
[phone]

the west end lacks the quality of more central locations. Swaad (sp?) on Queensway and Royal York is a decent choice, and even though it's only roti, Gandhi on Queen west is about the best indian in the city for the money, thought it's not really in the west end.

Amazing isn't it. Almost no one has actually bothered reading your question and answered what you asked: about the WEST end.

Anyway, the best I've found by far is Nirvana.

I live in Oakville and love Indian Food Restaurant (very good food, very bad name) on Kerr, just a block north of Speers. Great buffet for 11 bucks.

these days the best Indian food is west to the point of Mississauga. gerrard street hasn't been good in years. that said, Biryani House is pretty decent, not mindblowing though.

My favorite Indian food in Toronto is Cuisine of India in North York, on Yonge not too far north of Sheppard. It's excellent. In downtown west, Dhaba on King St. is pretty good and a very nice looking restaurant.

I've probably eaten at Cuisine of India at least 60 times over the years. It was once a great place, but now has now slipped down to very good. Their sauce dishes are good, but it is their tandoori that made them special. Unfortunately they took their best dish, the tandoori lamb off the menu. Their second best dish, the tandoori fish, which they used to cook absolutetely perfectly every time, now occasionally comes out overcooked. (I believe that their tandoori cook defected to Indian Kitchen with a bunch of their other staff). The final straw came about 2 years ago when they revamped their menu, adding a some so-so dishes and significantly upping their prices.

It's still one of the best. But it is no longer THE best. Nirvana is probably #1.

Can't say I've been eating at Cuisine of India for 20 years, but it has been about 10. True, I cannot say that it is "the best" because, like most people, I haven't been to every single establishment serving Indian food in the GTA. However, for my money it is the best I've had and better than Nirvana. Just the fish you mentioned alone is worth a trip from anywhere in the area. I agree with Anon. that recommending something just because of geography is not helpful.

Last time I was at Biryani house we didn't have an amazing meal but I have in the past. And I had a downright awful one at the Indian Rice Factory. I've had great meals at Curry Twist on dundas near Keele. On King I've had good meals at Kama. I find Nataraj too greasy but their tandoori is good (especially the cauliflower). It's on bloor.

But to tell you the truth I haven't found indian food in toronto that is as good as Curry Village and Curry Original in Kingston. If you know what I mean, please offer suggestions.

[cynan]

I second that. The indian restaurants in Kingston are surprisingly good. Who would have thought? I think my favorite is Darbar.. I'm still looking for a standby in Toronto

[miketoronto]

Yess ! Some Kingston Indian supporters! I grew up there, and Curry Original is truly one of the best Indian experiences I have on a continual basis.

As for Toronto, I only can speak to midtown - Chef of India at Yonge/St. Clair offers solid value - mediocre naan but great korma and saag paneer. If you like mild spicing and fancied/overpriced dishes, I think Amaya/Bread Bar is quite solid.

-----
Chef of India
30 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4P1A6, CA

Curry Original
278A Princess St, Kingston, ON K7L1B5, CA

West, way North West! Best?, certainly, absolutey excellent. Hwy 27 & Albion Rd. area finds Exotic Indian Cuisine, on Albion Road, west of 27, make a right into industrial plaza just past first light, it's there. Decades of experience in Coxwell/Gerrard area, give a phone call, closed Mondays I believe. Quiet location, immaculate and best of cooking can emerge from husband/wife team, let them guide you. Weekday buffet small but superb, often surprising talented dish on offer!!

You can't beat Biryani House, on Wellesley, just off Yonge (opposite the subway station).

It's not very west, but Indian Rice Factory on Dupont is my favourite.

there is one take out place by a husband wife team at yonge and davisville.

Maroli

Try it is a nice little takeout place..........
I like their spicing , it is too good to be left out as they include both Indian & Malabari Cuisine .
As someone mentioned about Shares . I dont have any shares in it .
Enjoy

I recently ate at Indian Rice Factory, and though it was certainly adequate and enjoyable, I think you should give Jaipur Grille a try. It's a few blocks south of Eglinton, on Yonge, and I think it offers some of the best Indian food that I have had in Toronto. I highly recomend it.

Simon

The best ones I ever had tend to be in those tiny places in the strip malls... there is one around Finch and Islington (a bit further west) that a friend took me to for lunch. They are actually two restaurants, a buffet and Tali place right next to each other and unfortunately, I do not have the address, but I'll try to get that from my friend.

This place is the pits. Overpriced, miniscule portions of mediocre food. Check this board. A lot of people agree

[wordsworth]

Indian Rice Factory is a dreadul place. High prices, tiny portions, mediocre food and rude service.

[cynan]

Indian Rice Factory may very well have been my worst Indian dining experience ever. And I've had a lot of Indian food over the years.

Terrible value
smallish portions
Insipid tastes.

Of the biggest letdown was the Vindaloo. I really enjoy a good Vindaloo. Yes it has to be hot, but it's about so much more than that; the perfect balance of intense heat, acidic bite, and smooth butteriness of the corriander... Anyway, the Vindaloo at the Rice Factory was AWFUL! It was like they just plopped two or three pieces of meet in a tomoto-based soup. And for some reason it was sweet... Yuch.

Never again for me.

And yet, some people really seem to like this place. I can't for the life of me fathom why.