105185 Sun Feb 19 16:46:32 -0800 2006 122 23 Ontario (including Toronto) 0 570138 Any recommendations on the highest quality, best tasting Indian Food in Toronto? Thanks! Sun Feb 19 16:46:32 -0800 2006 0 Todd 1 570142 I'm a big fan of Trimurti on Queen West (at Duncan, I believe, near Chum City Building). Great food...great service... I haven't encountered much better... and I live in little india.... Sun Feb 19 19:52:31 -0800 2006 570138 0 Chris 2 570153 I know I talk about this place all the time BUT it's simply the best Indian in the city, in my opinion! Try "Chef of India" on Eglinton, just east of Yonge on the north side. Great service. Great lunch buffet. Great dinner menu. I can't rave about it enough! Sun Feb 19 23:35:05 -0800 2006 570142 0 kathleen 3 570213 I totally agree!! It is hands down the best in the city. And the lunch buffet is so cheap!! It also happens to have the most attentive service of any restaurant I've visited. Tue Feb 21 08:33:40 -0800 2006 570153 0 libbyfox 3 2133986 Chef of India is a great find. It was a Sidharta previously. The lunch buffet is a steal. Thu Dec 28 16:40:54 -0800 2006 570153 21170 to_frankie 3 3288250 Sorry to say I totally disagree. Lunch was disappointing: nothing special, poor choice. Dinner was also disappointing: the food was lukewarm, a bit dry and the white wine glass I ordered was served in a warm glass. Sat Jan 12 10:07:52 -0800 2008 570153 24703 chouchou 3 5036009 Not sure but others might be able to figure out....does Chef of India actually deep fry the chicken for the chicken tandoori? It has a weird taste. Regardless, I agree with other posters. Not the best restaurant in terms of quality of Indian food. Wed Sep 16 22:13:43 -0700 2009 570153 1082881 eatsmart 1 570143 I enjoy Cuisine of India on Yonge south of Finch and The Host has some pretty good naan at Hwy 7 and East Beaver Creek. Sun Feb 19 21:04:20 -0800 2006 570138 0 Curtis 2 5045374 Cuisine of India has gone from the best Indian food in Toronto to C- in the last 6-7 years. Every meal is worse than the last. I don't know what's happened to that place. Mon Sep 21 05:27:37 -0700 2009 570143 227391 evansl 1 570190 Gandhi, queen st. west Mon Feb 20 13:34:20 -0800 2006 570138 0 dannyboy 2 2182124 Second Gandhi. Fri Jan 12 18:26:31 -0800 2007 570190 27754 AmandaEd 1 2130453 Little India. ive tried just about every Indian resto in TO and nothing compares to Little India on Queen St. Don't be fooled by Dabur a few doors away. The service is terrible and food is so-so. Wed Dec 27 03:15:46 -0800 2006 570138 61937 food face 2 2132399 Do you mean Babur? Yes, I would agree; bad food there. My SO and I got really ill after a visit a couple years back. Have to say I haven't been there since; it could have improved.. though I'm not willing to go back and find out. Wed Dec 27 22:44:53 -0800 2006 2130453 15482 NovoCuisine 3 2139520 Silly me Novo, yes I was referring to Babur. That place is God Aweful. Sat Dec 30 16:46:10 -0800 2006 2132399 61937 food face 1 2130603 See my comments on Dhaba http://www.chowhound.com/topics/105441 Since this meal followed many unexciting ones over the years, I can't claim Dhaba to be "best in Toronto", but the meal described there certainly qualified. Wed Dec 27 04:50:58 -0800 2006 570138 23411 embee 2 2187497 Big thumbs down on Dhaba. Sun Jan 14 14:14:13 -0800 2007 2130603 19350 wordsworth 1 2130627 Has anyone tried Bombay Masala yet? It opened last week on Eglinton, between Bathurst and Allen Rd. Wed Dec 27 05:10:17 -0800 2006 570138 48352 FlavoursGal 1 2131197 Lahore Tikka House on Gerrard, it's blunt and greasy. In my experience, most Indian places have spruced up their offerings to appeal to more sophisticated palettes. Lahore Tikka sure hasn't, which is why I think it outclasses the competition. It also gets points for atmosphere. Wed Dec 27 16:27:30 -0800 2006 570138 42995 xizhimen 2 2131269 LTH is not Indian, it's Pakistani. Almost directly across the street is Mahar, which spruced up their location in the summer and now offeres a decent buffet for around $9 at dinner. Wed Dec 27 16:52:28 -0800 2006 2131197 41175 foodyDudey 2 2131776 Lahore Tikka House (which is Pakistani) WAS wonderful, with exceptional food and, in the summer, an amazing ambiance on their patio. But things changed when success went to their heads. Eating in the trailers surrounded by their apparently aborted mega construction project (purportedly it was to seat 1000, though I doubt that) isn't very nice. The food is still good (some of it very good), and worth experiencing if this cuisine isn't available where you live. But it used to be extraordinary and it isn't extraordinary any more. And they could still produce authentic flavours without 1/4 inch of ghee on top. I wish they would go back to being what they were, but that's wishful thinking. Wed Dec 27 19:37:36 -0800 2006 2131197 23411 embee 2 4629497 It just a truly fun place with delicious simple food. A star in my opinion! Sun Apr 26 07:48:59 -0700 2009 2131197 210997 Sui_Mai 3 4630217 I didn't think it was 'fun' or even 'good' for that matter....sorry but I do like to have a 'real' plate and a real 'glass' not to mention 'real' cutlery as well. As to the food, sorry, I thought it was mediocre at best, greasy and overcooked....that being said the 'husbands' (who used to be Hippies/India trippers) loved it...The wives said, that they could go back to Lahore Tikka sans the wives any time they craved a 'memory jolt'!!! Sun Apr 26 13:37:57 -0700 2009 4629497 78717 pearlD 1 2131889 Lahore Tika, imho, is still very good. While it is a shame that they've been plagued by construction delays I'm glad that they've been able to stay open to serve their loyal customers! Personally, we always take-away, so I don't know what their dining room situation is, but the food has remained top-notch! Wed Dec 27 20:14:30 -0800 2006 570138 10964 gigi 1 2134054 Just found (last night) a great little place on Kingston Road west of Midland: Nama's (2446 Kingston Road). The channa, butter chicken and beef vindaloo were all very good, and the pakoras were sensational, but the naan really knocked our socks off. The place is so small we could actually hear it being slapped into shape in the kitchen - whap! whap! whap! - before being baked into the best naan ever. We told the server, who told the chef - who made us some more! Everyone who works there seems delightful. They deliver in the area and usually have a buffet, tho' not this week as they say business is slower over the hols. Thu Dec 28 17:03:28 -0800 2006 570138 39730 voracious 1 2134097 If you are looking for a more elegant Indian dining experience, I would like to recommend my favorite: Kama Sutra, which is on Bayview. This is a tastfully decorated room with hardwood floors and white linens. Nice bar, too. They have an superb beer selection, I especially enjoy the Chimay which goes great with their food. A respectable wine list is also available. I find their food to be uniformly excellent. Especially good items include the brie pakoras, lamb bhoona and chicken vindaloo. Also offered is a $49.95 prix fixe menu for 2 with an appetizer platter, 2 meat curries, veg curry, rice and naans. Thu Dec 28 17:20:20 -0800 2006 570138 16797 bogie 1 2134160 I like Chauhan's north of the city. It is on Denison near Woodbine in Markham. The staff is friendly and the food is fresh. I like watching the tandori person make the bread. Thu Dec 28 17:40:43 -0800 2006 570138 34604 sweetie 1 2134744 I enjoy Babur on Queen. Thu Dec 28 20:23:59 -0800 2006 570138 62519 Love it Spicy 1 2135326 In case you haven't caught my 10+ other replies to other threads on the subject.. Moti Mahal at Coxwell/Gerrard is the best Indian in the city IMO. Thu Dec 28 23:29:49 -0800 2006 570138 15482 NovoCuisine 1 2135870 Bar-Be-Que Hut on Gerrard has my heart. Bad decor and bizarre entertainment that included a sitar player sitting on a table who ulimately got splashed by a fish in their tank. But the food was great and the people were wonderful. Fri Dec 29 03:34:23 -0800 2006 570138 62622 tootie 2 2138105 Funny thing about Bar-Be-Que Hut. It's smack in the middle of Little India, but all the customers are white. Once you taste the food, you quickly understand why. Fri Dec 29 22:59:21 -0800 2006 2135870 48857 estragon 3 3291152 Absolutely! I think ketchup is the base for any red-coloured sauce. It's good to bring elderly relatives to - they won't have to contend with any flavour here. Sun Jan 13 13:18:40 -0800 2008 2138105 157126 figaro 3 4629502 Word. I think it's like Lee's in Chinatown. Joanna Kates or someone raved about it and now it's all whitey-ed up. They do deliver though, which is a bonus. Sun Apr 26 07:51:05 -0700 2009 2138105 210997 Sui_Mai 1 2138720 We have eaten at a new Indian restaurant on Eglinton Ave W. (at Bathurst) twice called Bombay Masala. The food was absolutely terrific and we will keep going back. The area lacks an Indian restaurant and this one can compete with the best of them. We wish them luck as this location cannot seem to keep a restaurant. Sat Dec 30 03:21:31 -0800 2006 570138 62865 dkdk 2 2138940 We went to Bombay Masala for the first time tonight, and loved it. I was thrilled to see the sign go up, having hoped for years that some better offerings would grace this stretch of Eglinton. I've started a new thread about my experience tonight at Bombay Masala. I hope you've tried Sado Sushi as well. It's also in a location on Eglinton that's seen one restaurant after another come and go. The food is innovative and flavourful, very different from any other sushi restaurant in the city. Sat Dec 30 05:54:43 -0800 2006 2138720 48352 FlavoursGal 1 2138739 People! No Toronto Indian talk should exclude King Palace. Simplicity personified... go in, pick 2-3 curries plus rice, heat up at home, and enjoy with your favourite brew in front of the tv. Sat Dec 30 03:35:09 -0800 2006 570138 60322 spades 2 2139228 King Palace is Pakistani. Sat Dec 30 12:53:02 -0800 2006 2138739 62905 Dimbulb 3 2139359 It says "Indian and Pakistani" on the sign. Sat Dec 30 15:04:47 -0800 2006 2139228 60322 spades 3 2139374 Not only that, but India and Pakistan were one country until just under 60 years ago. Sat Dec 30 15:16:45 -0800 2006 2139228 48857 estragon 4 3289127 ^..yea.... you know most pakistani restaurants in toronto essentially serve indian food as well. There really is no difference between the two when it comes to eating at a restaurant in toronto. In reality there is, at the restaurant there isn't much because of the blend of both cultures in this beautiful city. I have never had a great meal at; indian flavour babur kama sutra gandhi (getting worse and worse) biryani house (wellesley) I very much enjoy; king's palace lth trimurti tabla (what a surprise) host (even the uppidy indian families go here for their special dinners) rashnaa masala dosa hut (wow) saravana bhavan (west over the east location) anjappar chettinad (the indians still, non indians seem to think its going downhill, meh, the dosas still rock) all i can think of for now... I'm realizing that there seems to be a very very big difference between what indian people think are good indian restaurants, and what non indian people think are really good indian restaurants. No, I mean there is a huge difference, more so than other cuisines (imo) Sat Jan 12 15:40:17 -0800 2008 2139374 12617 Suresh 5 3289155 Huge differences? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. But I do agree with your hits and misses with the exception of King Palace. That's based on their DineSafe track record though. Sat Jan 12 15:52:09 -0800 2008 3289127 12072 Googs 5 3290666 Maybe not that great a difference! Your 'miss' list includes many places I tried once (occasionally twice, based on reccos on this Board) and where I never went back (alphabetically: Babur, Biryani House, Gandhi, Kama Sutra). Your 'hit' list includes all my favourites (alphabetically: Masala Dosa Hut, Tabla, Trimurti, Rashnaa) - and a bunch of others I now intend to try. Good food is good food! Sun Jan 13 09:51:31 -0800 2008 3289127 11134 estufarian 1 2179210 Hi there, I'm looking for a nice fine dining Indian restaurant but most of the menus that I've come across offer their foods spicey. My girlfriend loves butter chicken and she cannot handle any spicey food at all. I'm hoping someone can help me out and suggest a place for a nice couple dinner? Thanks so much in advance. Tom Thu Jan 11 22:45:08 -0800 2007 570138 65864 tomn77 2 2182491 Utsav in Yorkville, see my post below. They have butter chicken. Since it is not a buffet and you order plates, you could probably talk to the owner and find out if any other dishes are non-spicy and/or could be modified. Very nice setting too, lovely for a casual but romantic couple dinner (plus you can go walking in Yorkville afterwards or catch a flick at the Manulife Centre). Fri Jan 12 19:26:23 -0800 2007 2179210 63948 balthazar 2 2184304 best butter chicken at moti mahal restaurant on gerrard st, but its not fine dining, its more of a fast food set up.. but food is so good Sat Jan 13 04:55:00 -0800 2007 2179210 35207 indianchik 1 2179282 I've heard Saravana Bhavan in the west end is pretty good. Pakwanchi is Pakistani, located at Kennedy and Sheppard...great Nihari, great biryani Not a very big fan of eating at Gerrard...but hey, to each his own Thu Jan 11 23:04:45 -0800 2007 570138 66164 noorie 2 2182372 Second Pakwanchi. Not fine dining by any stretch - not even as clean as the local McDonald's - and long waits while they cook your food, but what food! Fri Jan 12 19:08:33 -0800 2007 2179282 52311 ax174 2 2188804 Saravana Bhavan at Hurontario and Eglinton is fantastic (there are 4 or 5 others around e.g. LA, south east asia), it is very authentic vegitarian eg. dosas, thalis etc. service is good, restaurant is very clean, parking is easy, and the value is excellent (you can eat well for $10 per person). There is a place that is somewhat similar on Gerrard (U Dee P Palace - ? spelling), but not quite as good. Sun Jan 14 23:20:57 -0800 2007 2179282 23717 DDD 1 2182462 I love Utsav on Yorkville: http://www.utsav.ca It is an order individual dishes/share (if you wish) menu, not buffet. Amazing food & reasonably priced. Lots of great vegetarian selections. Owner is very nice. It opened in 2006 so is new - if you haven't been there I recommend trying it. Fri Jan 12 19:21:37 -0800 2007 570138 63948 balthazar 2 4735661 I am looking forward to Utsav! Reservations made for this Saturday early evening. I have heard that no, it is not buffet and that the meals are prepared as ordered. I am really looking forward to something special as this restaurant has been recommended to me by a few different people now. Tue Jun 02 09:20:08 -0700 2009 2182462 72183 Poorboy 1 2187922 I had dinner at Indian Hut (Church, just south of Bloor) last night and it was stunning! The buffet was wonderful. High quality, with limitless baskets of fresh, warm naan brought to the table. I recommend it. Lovely decor, nice staff. Sun Jan 14 17:32:26 -0800 2007 570138 66882 Saffron8 1 2188465 I had the buffet at Indian Hut on Friday and found it strictly medicore and overpriced (though perhaps not for the location). You're more or less obligated to go for the buffet, since it's the same price as a single dish plus naan or rice, and none of the dishes were particularly noteworthy. Try 786 Halal for spectacular made-to-order food, or King Palace for the best steam-table fare in the city. Sun Jan 14 20:51:21 -0800 2007 570138 36116 pouletsecret 1 3242354 I have celiac disease, and so eat alot of indian food (being careful about the curry of course). The best indian joint I have ever been too is Spices India Cafe on Temperance Street just off of Yonge St. It is not the most beautifully decorated and is only open for lunch, but the food is extremely flavourful, light, and the owner/chef is a delight--personally serves you with genuine foodie excitement about his dishes. As far as being celiac friendly, I have to really check on the curry he uses to be sure, but I never have any adverse affects. Besides, the owner is always happy to tell you what is in his dishes. Fri Dec 28 08:07:54 -0800 2007 570138 152934 Natasha H 2 3242499 I absolutely love Spices Cafe. His hours are late enough that you can have dinner there as well. I've done so at least 2-3 times. I find that if you call in advance and let him know when you can make it he can be extremely accommodating. One of the nicest guys I've met I'd say. He does plan on opening on weekends eventually and perhaps going a little later than he currently does on weekdays. Healthy & tasty food for oh so cheap. Fri Dec 28 08:54:51 -0800 2007 3242354 12072 Googs 3 3284236 Hi Googs and Natasha H - is there anything in particular I should be trying at Spices? I just discovered it yesterday. I am a fan of Saag Paneer - how is Pervez's (the chef/owner) version? Thanks in advance! Fri Jan 11 06:08:16 -0800 2008 3242499 93263 Yum2MyTum 4 3284322 I have had and reeeeally enjoyed his Saag Paneer. You know, though, my best meals there have been when I let him pick the dishes. I just give him some basic parameters like how many courses, meat or no meat, and let him go. The place is so inexpensive I never worry about the bottom line. You may want to give him a budget on your first go until you build up trust. http://spicescafe.ca/ Fri Jan 11 06:40:16 -0800 2008 3284236 12072 Googs 5 3284347 Thanks Googs! That's really helpful. He seems quite the enthusiast so I'm looking forward to my meal. Fri Jan 11 06:49:53 -0800 2008 3284322 93263 Yum2MyTum 6 3285184 Chutneys is great Indian restaurant in royal york / bloor area. Fri Jan 11 10:04:25 -0800 2008 3284347 62519 Love it Spicy 7 3290868 Chutney's is truly unmemorable. My favourites are still Banjara and Cuisine of India (though I haven't been up to Cuisine of India on Yonge/Finch for over a year). Tabla was pretty good but I was disappointed in their beef vindaloo. Really good breads at Tabla, however! Definitely get the naan stuffed with ground lamb. Sun Jan 13 11:17:41 -0800 2008 3285184 14906 Food Tourist 8 3513286 Ugh. Had dinner at Banjara this evening and it has gone severely downhill. Really disappointing chicken tikka and garlic naan. The mutter paneer has changed and is no longer addictive. Eggplant (bengan bharta) is smothered in sauce that is remarkably similar to the mutter paneer. Mango lassi is too sweet. What is this world coming to? Thu Mar 20 20:48:08 -0700 2008 3290868 14906 Food Tourist 5 3291134 I dropped by Spices very quickly during lunch a couple weeks back. I just wanted to grab a samosa to go, but the owner talked me out of it and sent me on my way with a small bowl containing a few of his offerings at a "special price" for my first time. He was a lovely guy and the food was great.. I plan on giving Spices Cafe a lot of my lunch business. Sun Jan 13 13:07:52 -0800 2008 3284322 15482 NovoCuisine 1 3288269 I love Khana Khajana 7117 Bathurst – 905-771-6661. We have only been there for dinner. and have been there many times The food is very flavorful. We drive far to get to it, but feel it is really worth it. Has anyone else tried it? Sat Jan 12 10:14:08 -0800 2008 570138 42560 snoobie 1 3288931 So having spent 4 months riding the rails in India, jumping off when the whim took us, what is Indian food??? Huge country, consisting of so many regional cuisine's. In the end I come back to Lahore Tikka in little India (I know you're screaming it's Pakistani!!, but it matches so well the food that I really enjoyed in India). For those who wish to travel outside their comfort zone -- Mount Everest in Ajax -- yes Ajax. Great food, great family run place, food from Punjab. ( Yes, Yes I know there is a Punjab on each side of the India / Pakistan border. Partition continues to scar.) Sat Jan 12 14:18:55 -0800 2008 570138 120112 legourmettv 2 3517764 I have to second, third, fourth and fifth Lahore Tikka House. I am an avid Indian food eater and my one time eating at Lahore is up there with the best ever! Sat Mar 22 14:20:59 -0700 2008 3288931 59900 GilTO 3 5007967 Lahore Tikka House may have tasty food, but it is the MOST GREASY food I have ever eaten. The oil sits in large pools all over the food..... quite disgusting. We ate there once and will never return. Sat Sep 05 16:42:26 -0700 2009 3517764 42560 snoobie 4 5161974 I came in search of some new recommendations for places to eat, cause LTH is the one I usually frequent. It does lose a few points in terms of setting (constant renovations), and the picnic plastic/Styrofoam cutlery...and it is greasey... but I keep going back...lol Beyond the grease, I felt that it really satisfied my palette, and I did enjoy the fact that the individuals working there were quite nice and pleasant in answering questions. (I do have to mention to people to be careful when going to the bathroom, cause depending on where you are sitting, you do have to cross the kitchen entrance to get there...and there is a slight possibility of collision...something I almost experienced this past summer.) Fri Nov 06 14:28:39 -0800 2009 5007967 1119506 ebyul012 2 5008985 Is mount evereset still open? Sun Sep 06 09:00:45 -0700 2009 3288931 224081 BamiaWruz 3 5027895 Last time I drove by a couple of weeks ago Mount Everest was still open. G. Mon Sep 14 05:20:52 -0700 2009 5008985 120112 legourmettv 1 3289080 My favourite Indian resto is Utsav in Yorkville. Also, I haven't yet eaten at the main resto, but I did have the takeout from Amaya Express the other night and very much enjoyed it. Looking forward to trying the Amaya the resto. Sat Jan 12 15:17:41 -0800 2008 570138 63948 balthazar 1 3293438 I really love the Host on Prince Arthur near Bloor/University but haven't been in a while. A few months ago I tried a new one on Bloor, just west of Christie Pit but I can't recall the name. It used to be a cheap burger joint. Its small and basic but I found the food really good. Anyone remember the name? Mon Jan 14 09:29:01 -0800 2008 570138 155501 coqauvin 2 3295782 Banjara. Mon Jan 14 19:12:36 -0800 2008 3293438 14906 Food Tourist 1 3295468 Ok I found my favorite butter chicken a couple of months ago - desperately trying to locate the resto's name but no luck yet. So - for those CH's who enjoy a trip north in the city - try the Indian restaurant NE corner of Bayview and Major McKenzie - it's the last restaurant in the strip, closest to Bayview. Mon Jan 14 17:33:59 -0800 2008 570138 153041 xssnrg 1 3297697 I've tried nearly all the places on this list, and I have to say: I think The Host is probably the best, most consistent indian food in the city, believe it or not! Tue Jan 15 10:57:56 -0800 2008 570138 29185 bobbob911 1 3514771 In the Gerrard S. area I'd say Siddhartha. I was there again just a couple of weeks ago with a few colleagues who were in town for a conference I had organized. The food was fantastic (off the menu) and the service was great. It was a horribly snowy blustery night and there were no cabs to be seen when the time came to leave. The owner overheard us talking about walking up to the Coxwell subway station and told us to wait for a few minutes. She got her husband to bring his car around and he ferried people up to the subway station. People from out of town - especially New York and London - couldn't believe it. That's what I call service above and beyond. Despite the weather, we had a great night and I'll gladly take another crowd of guests in the future. Fri Mar 21 11:05:52 -0700 2008 570138 117706 kmacd 2 4046122 I enjoyed eating at Siddhartha, great value. Lahore Tika.. good but expensive... and the weird trailer vibe with their never ending construction and lots of construction dust every really kills the atmosphere.. better off getting take out. Thu Sep 18 20:44:55 -0700 2008 3514771 227053 mikeinTO 1 3517225 Try Chakra on Yonge north of Eg. Soooooooooooooo good. New joint. Pretty inside. Beautiful presentation. Attention to detail. Exceptionally good food. Not cheap, about double the prices of Gerrard St. Indian, but well worth it. Sat Mar 22 10:17:39 -0700 2008 570138 154144 singe 2 3519035 Thought about going last week, but their website doesn't list any styles (only says 'Tandoori' and 'Curry'). About as useful as a restaurant only advertizing "European Food". And their website switches the annoying music back on every time you change page. Good example of 'How Not To Design A Website". (I guess that will send a lot of people there who are now intrigued!). What did you have there? Sun Mar 23 05:52:17 -0700 2008 3517225 11134 estufarian 3 3519132 I really thought the web site did mention Northern Indian and Bengali...look again. I had perfect pakora, buttery palak paneer, delish shrimp with mango and pomegranate, delicate rice, brilliant, smoky chicken tikka masala, nicely bubbled naan, strong chai, creamy kulfi and sweet and warm gulab jamun. It was all delish. Sun Mar 23 06:48:42 -0700 2008 3519035 154144 singe 1 4600442 Is there any Indian food in Toronto or Richmondhillor thornhill that offer Indian food without the Ghee, you can cook with health non trans fats instead of ghee, anyone know of any indian joints cooking more health let me know thanks. Thu Apr 16 05:16:59 -0700 2009 570138 283147 Tamilla 1 4732846 Does anyone know of any Indian restaurants that don't use GEE but rather use vegtable oil? Anywere in York Region or Richmondhill if anyone has information please let me know, I can't eat gee but love indian food, I haven't been able to eat it for 1 year know if anyone knows of indian restaurants not using GEE in these areas I would appreciate information. thanks Mon Jun 01 11:32:29 -0700 2009 570138 283147 Tamilla 2 4732938 Annapurna I believe does not use ghee. It is one of my most favorite veg restos. They usually will accomidate allergies and dietary requests too. Mon Jun 01 11:56:52 -0700 2009 4732846 61937 food face 1 4734020 LITTLE INDIA. Hands down. Best aloo gohbi. Mon Jun 01 17:49:27 -0700 2009 570138 322787 DLR14 1 4816118 I really like Nataraj. It's a liiiittle hit and miss -- the Baingan Bartha, Saag Paneer, and most of the lamb dishes are delicious, the dal and "mixed vegetable" dishes are not so hot. But if you want Indian food without the trek out to Gerrard, it's my favourite! For the money, I much prefer it to Trimurti, which -- when I've been or ordered -- used a lot more potatoes to stretch dishes and a lot more ghee. Mon Jun 29 15:22:33 -0700 2009 570138 1089581 blerg 2 4816143 So, is indian food in toronto any better than it is in new york??? i am of indian decent and lived for 10 years in london, which has GREAT indian restaurants - specializing in all different regional cusines (bombay parsi cooking, anyone?) as well as new-wave stuff. New York has been a MAJOR disappointment - particularly given the size of the indian community here! I'm vivisting Toronto soon and want to visit what indians in toronto would class as the best restaurant - any suggestions??? thanks! Mon Jun 29 15:33:21 -0700 2009 4816118 60650 monab 3 4817653 monab, Did you try Kabab King in Jackson Heights? Anyway, has anyone tried Tandoori Flame in Brampton? I hear a lot about it but haven't been able to go yet. Tue Jun 30 07:35:43 -0700 2009 4816143 134489 garfield 3 4818785 I think the worst indian food you can get is on gerrard street. For really good indian food, indian kitchen in north york is worth the trek. The other place is Anjappar chettinad, for great dosas and the best naan and butter chicken. Yes its a south indian restaurant but their north indian food is awesome. Only thing, its in brampton. Tue Jun 30 12:54:40 -0700 2009 4816143 266127 chillihigh 4 4821035 Anjappar Chettinad has two locations, the second in Scarborough, on Eglinton East. I haven't been to the one in Brampton, but the one in Scarborough has some of the best Indian food I've ever eaten. Wed Jul 01 08:30:02 -0700 2009 4818785 80671 Snarf 5 5011000 Snarf, what do you recommend ordering at the Scarborough location? Mon Sep 07 10:04:05 -0700 2009 4821035 19782 Full tummy 6 5015441 I tried to find the menu again on line, to be more specific, but it appears to have vanished. Here is a link to an earlier review. Definitely bring friends, and consider the menu over the buffet. We didn't try the dossas, but many others seem to consider them to be worth the visit alone. Enjoy! http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/613131 Tue Sep 08 23:01:29 -0700 2009 5011000 80671 Snarf 7 5016574 Thanks so much!! Will give it a try asap. Wed Sep 09 11:02:24 -0700 2009 5015441 19782 Full tummy 7 5042981 So, hubby and I ate at Anjappar Chettinad (Scarborough location) the other day, for dinner. We had onion pakora (delicious) the masala dosa (a huge and delicious filled dosa that came with three dips), butter chicken (a wonderfully spicy version that beats any I've had from Little India), Karahi vegetables, and mutton masala. It is great to have a place in reasonable distance from me that's clean, where the service is efficient and friendly, where there's ample parking, and with such great food. The flavours are different from what I've had in many restaurants, and I appreciated that the dishes weren't excessively oily. I also thought it was excellent value: We ended up with leftovers for two meals. So, thanks Snarf, and everyone else who recommended Anjappar Chettinad. I will definitely be back soon. Sat Sep 19 19:16:58 -0700 2009 5015441 19782 Full tummy 7 5043387 Here's the website with the menu: http://www.anjapparcanada.com/ Sun Sep 20 05:48:56 -0700 2009 5015441 12124 TorontoJo 8 5048904 I noticed their website mentioned a breakfast AYCE... does anyone know what they serve at breakfast? Tue Sep 22 08:56:19 -0700 2009 5043387 13581 kwong 9 5048911 I asked when I was there, and they said dosas, idlies and such. Tue Sep 22 08:58:58 -0700 2009 5048904 19782 Full tummy 1 4820763 Best a tough term as service can be quite variable. I suggest, closed Mondays, Exotic Indian Cuisine on Albion Road west of Hwy 27. Lunch Buffet certainly consistent and excellent, occasional surprises with changing entrees. Fact that Kishor spent many years in Toronto's Little India extends into wonderful creative dishes for Dinner and he will work with you, offer special items not on the menu, etc. And Tandoori Flame offers a very large amount of items on the buffet, very child friendlywith a Pizza Station to boot! Best, well that always an opinion, I suggest these places as excellent and always reliable!!! Wed Jul 01 07:21:57 -0700 2009 570138 13563 Jar 1 5013726 My favourite is Mt. Everest in Pickering Village (Ajax). Also a new restaurant recently opened on Liverpool in Pickering called Zeera's By the Bay. Was also excellent. Tue Sep 08 11:14:56 -0700 2009 570138 1106626 buster67 2 5024012 Both sound great!! Thanks for sharing. Sat Sep 12 02:31:03 -0700 2009 5013726 224081 BamiaWruz 1 5022398 We really enjoy Bajara on Bloor. I would recommend take-out as their delivery service can take ages. Fri Sep 11 10:51:11 -0700 2009 570138 1096399 J Buck 1 5023230 Rice Factory. Bar none. Aroma is also pretty awesome. Fri Sep 11 15:36:49 -0700 2009 570138 243599 justpete 2 5026290 Rice factory is one of the worst and most overpriced Indian places in TO. Their Butter Chicken was 3 small pieces in orange goop with a pat of butter thrown on top. The service was also abysmal. The waiter reached across our my wife to scrape something off the window, sticking his armpit right in her face. It's about the last place I'd go. Sun Sep 13 09:31:24 -0700 2009 5023230 227391 evansl 3 5031104 Agree the service is abysmal. Agree the prices are high. But the food is exceptional - one of the few places in Toronto that cooks Indian food with spices rather than using ubiquitous 'mother' sauces. Tue Sep 15 07:56:15 -0700 2009 5026290 11134 estufarian 3 5033415 I agree the rice factory is totally over rated. The food is forgettable and overpriced. Wed Sep 16 04:12:03 -0700 2009 5026290 61937 food face 4 5035935 It had its day about 10+ years ago, when it stood head and shoulders above many others. The landscape has changed, though, and so has The Rice Factory. Wed Sep 16 21:27:16 -0700 2009 5033415 19782 Full tummy 5 5036331 10 years ago? I think you mean 25 or 30 years ago. Thu Sep 17 06:00:51 -0700 2009 5035935 41175 foodyDudey 6 5036433 It was possibly a lot better even then; however, I would have been too young to know. I do remember, though, when it was receiving all manner of accolades and favourable reviews back in the mid to late 90s. Thu Sep 17 06:43:19 -0700 2009 5036331 19782 Full tummy 7 5101435 I spent my first week-end in TO early October and searched this board for some Indian place suggestions. The Rice Factory was close enough to our B&B and we gave it a try; we loved it. True it's not cheap, especially for a Montrealer, but it felt more refined than more traditional Indian food, and we appreciated the novelty, as well as the decor. The paneer was really, really good (even if served alone- a little sauce would have been nice), as was the black cod - perfectly cooked. And the buttery parantha - god, how good is that bread!! Felt like eating a flaky croissant... Our experience in Little India wasn't as good; we trid Sidartha (saw later there's a Siddartha a bit further which seems to be better), the lunch buffet for 12$ is OK but it's nothing special. Tue Oct 13 20:41:15 -0700 2009 5036433 275139 Chocolatine 8 5102099 Most Indian buffets are not recommended, alas. Somehow everything seems to taste the same... Wed Oct 14 07:21:38 -0700 2009 5101435 19782 Full tummy 1 5024052 My favourite is a hole in the wall in Highland Creek Village, Cheetal Indian Cuisine. Great food and an excellent value. Certain dishes can occasionally be a bit oily but the flavours more than make up for it. Sat Sep 12 04:03:04 -0700 2009 570138 45153 Dr Butcher 1 5043147 Pak Centre! http://www.pakcentre.ca/ Fantastic all the way around! And nice clean digs. Sat Sep 19 21:43:36 -0700 2009 570138 48505 deelicious 1 5046703 Where NOT to go: Bombay Bhel, 164 Eglinton East, yesterday, Sunday, 7 pm - We were the only people there. That should have been a sign. The naan was undercooked, we had to return it. It came back rather fast, golden as it should have been in the first place. The Tandoori Chicken was supposed to be as advertised : ''Quarter leg of chicken marinated in yogurt and an array of spices, cooked to perfection in our tandoor'' - We wondered how long it had been marinated, and in what kind of mixture. The spices were allright but the meat was as dry as the sole of our shoes. The accompanying veggies were mainly chopped onions. We rushed out. The bill came to $12 with tax, not incuding tip or drinks. Mon Sep 21 12:50:45 -0700 2009 570138 121815 lamaranthe 1 5053656 I've been addicted to food from the subcontinent for some time now. My faves include Kama on King west, honorable mention to Dhaba, which is nearby. NOW mag purportedly will not do a review of Kama after a 'business disagreement'. Dhaba's ownwers freaked me out with their incredible memory: they asked after our Rajasthani trip a year later, after having only briefly meeting us once! Little India neighbourhood has the 2 original Sidharthas, both are fine. I prefer the veg one simply coz its less crowded. But take note that the Skylark's on-again, off-again hiring of truly talented chefs is definitely *on* just now. Lets all make a cash collection for the Lahore Tikka House family so they can FINALLY finish their ongoing renos. Sheesh!! Wed Sep 23 17:34:27 -0700 2009 570138 276127 zebec 2 5105427 Now reviewed Kama when they opened. IIRC they didn't like it. Can't find it online. Thu Oct 15 10:17:29 -0700 2009 5053656 25232 Herb 1 5102189 I used to be a fan of Dhaba, both the downtown and short-lived Brampton location. My parents used to frequent the Brampton location until they suddenly shut down a few days before my Dad's birthday celebration - which we had booked the entire restaurant for. We only found out when my brother drove by the day prior. As for the downtown location, I've had very very good meals and very mediocre meals there. Quality seems to randomly go up and down, but the thing that always turns me off the place despite a good meal is the super-pushy service constantly trying to up-sell everything. I took a friend there for the first time and while she enjoyed the meal (vindaloo), the service simply took most of that enjoyment away. If I'm in that area I'd rather go to Kama down the street for consistently average food and be left alone save for topping up of my water glass and the box of tea coming around at the end. Was there with a group during the film fest and we had 5 buffets and ordered an appetizer platter. We told them we were in a rush to make another screening and when the platter did not arrive fast enough they wrapped it up in a take-away container and gave it to us for free. Wed Oct 14 07:57:36 -0700 2009 570138 1112620 kayehm 2 5102688 Fascinating that in this whole long thread on the subject "Amaya" does not appear once! (A worthy ommission!) Described in food guides as the best Indian restaurant in Toronto, but no place among Chowhounds . . . however, little sister Amaya Express (takeaway/delivery) produces the best Indian food I have eaten in Toronto (http://www.amayaexpress.com/) from two locations: 1574 Bayview Avenue 416 322 0020 3305 Yonge Street 416 487 5553 Wed Oct 14 10:54:54 -0700 2009 5102189 76515 Nelson 3 5102855 Since the closure of Taabla, we generally go to Amaya, There is always the discussion of what is really Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc here. There is a difference in each country between average and high end The food at Amaya is closer to what we eat in India. We have never eaten Street food there. Tried Dhaba only once, and did not care for it, but it is not fair to rap a restaurant after only one visit. Wed Oct 14 11:51:35 -0700 2009 5102688 10837 erly 4 5105078 Not sure how/why, but I think I disagree at opposite ends here. Amaya is the LEAST like the food I have eaten in India. It's all about presentation (which is indeed excellent). But, to me it seems like they're using Indian spices on (mostly) western cuisine. At 'off-hours' I've had good food at both Amayas, but during busy times the whole thing seems to fall apart. And I SORELY miss Tablaa - which was by far my favourite in the city. I'm now back to Trimurti for my fix, although my most recent trip to Cuisine Of India (St Clair location) was much better than previous experiences. And Nelson - that's why you go to Chowhound! Too many of the 'Guides' are sponsored reviews. Thu Oct 15 08:22:35 -0700 2009 5102855 11134 estufarian 5 5105347 Hi estufarian, We still like Trimurti, which we found long ago as per your suggestion. and do miss the early days of Taabla. Sorry you do not find Amaya as satisfying as we do, but we are not adventurous in India, and eat at the great Hotel restaurants, unless we are taken out by friends to restaurants they know are up to health standards. I can assure you that we have eaten many dinners in India that are similar to Amaya. Possibly we are not purists, but the flavor is what is most important to us. As an example I tried the Butter Chicken at Joeys and to my surprise, really liked it. I could taste the individual spices, and the Chicken was perfectly cooked. Will give Cuisine of India another try, although I think that their starters are all sub-par. Thu Oct 15 09:53:22 -0700 2009 5105078 10837 erly 6 5105696 That makes sense - in India I rarely (if ever) frequent hotel dining rooms! I'm still salivating over my meal of 'brain curry' last time I was in Calcutta. At Cuisine of India, on my last visit, the Onion Bhaji was much improved. Pieces were a bit larger, so lower ratio of batter to contents. So much better texture. And choice of several chutneys too. Still not a 'must' place, but definitely worth a repeat visit. I find the Amaya Bread Bar to be more consistent than the parent, but I only go off-peak now, so that may be the reason. Thu Oct 15 11:37:33 -0700 2009 5105347 11134 estufarian 1 5103869 I have ate at Amaya when it first opened and for more interesting Indian food it is some of the best certainly in Toronto: though it is not as good as Vij/Rangooli in Vancouver, whose fare I believe to be superior. ( ialso ate at Amaya of the same name in London a couple of years back and was blown away. it picked up a Michelin star a short while after i had been there). Wed Oct 14 18:07:21 -0700 2009 570138 17787 Grazor 1 5163267 I recently ate at the Indian Kitchen, specifically based on the recommendations of this board. And I want my money back!! I live north of Steeles and usually go to Chauhan's, Host or sometimes Cuisine of India. Reading rave review of Indian Kitchen, I decided to give it a try. The best way to describe it is bland and under spiced. I will definitely NOT be going back. I will be sticking with my regulars, hoping for something better to come along. Btw, I am Indian, and I think I know Indian food. Even so, I am not sure how someone could rave about Indian Kitchen, even without being knowledgeable about Indian food. The best thing on the menu was the Tandoori fish. That is about it. We also ordered their Chicken Tikka Masala, which is touted as a chef's speciality. The gravy of the dish reminds me a lot of the CTM at Cuisine of India. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to copy it. Except, the gravy was lacking in any flavour. And the chicken pieces while cooked in the tandoor, were dry and tasteless. It was probably a below average CTM from all the ones I have tried in Toronto. If I were to rate CTMs in Toronto it would be as follows Amaya > Cuisine of India>Lahore Tikka>Host>Indian Kitchen>Chauhans. The other dish we had was a Chicken Madras. Very, very mediocre onion gravy. Again lacking in taste, and the chicken pieces were dry and had not incorporated any flavour from the sauce. Definitely the worst dish we tried. We also had the Goan Fish Curry and the gravy tasted very much like the Chicken Madras, with coconut and mustard seeds. But, at least the fish was not dry and overcooked. I will NOT be going back to this place. There are better Indian options in the area. What a colossal waste of time and money. Sat Nov 07 09:07:56 -0800 2009 570138 1122494 ManAbout 2 5163416 While I wouldn't exactly rave about Indian Kitchen, I've found it a decent option for mid-priced Indian. You're right about the whole Tandoori salmon being good - so long as the kitchen doesn't overcook it. After a couple of overcooked ones, I now always warn them, as politely as possible, that I'll send an overcooked fish right back, and that seems to alert them that there's a fusspot in the dining room. I haven't had any of the dishes you didn't care for, so can't comment. But I recognize, regrettably, that, at the mid-priced level, a kitchen won't get everything right on a large menu. So I guess I've been lucky in my other menu choices, and tend to stick to them. I also advise the server that I'm not shy about spicing, so most items seem to arrive at the table with appropriate zing, saving me from the dreaded standard-issue gravies and spicing that pop up at many mid-level Indian eateries. I think that some staff at Indian Kitchen migrated from Cuisine of India, which may explain - as you noted - why the gravy on the Chicken Tikka Masala is similar at both places. I gave up on Cuisine of India years ago. It seems long past its prime early years. When I want to move up in class from Indian Kitchen, I now go to Bread Bar, on Yonge St. north of Lawrence Ave., which has improved markedly since its opening - though I still miss Tabla for first-class Indian when it was at its peak. Sat Nov 07 10:50:22 -0800 2009 5163267 25418 juno 1 5164971 My favourite was always Gateways of India on Baldwin. Really solid food at reasonable prices. I can't understand what anyone sees in Lahore Tikka House. Living in the vicinity, I went there a few times. Not that cheap, and not very good at all: I found the flavours to be extremely one dimensional and sub par, and the ingredients to be low quality. The only thing that stood out for me was the mango shake, which is pretty hard to screw up. Delightfully refreshing in the summer. Sun Nov 08 09:01:41 -0800 2009 570138 75881 vorpal 2 5164993 Lahore Tikka was good maybe 4 or 5 years ago. It has gone downhill. There are a couple of dishes I still like. But, I haven't been back in over a year. The prices have gone up and the quality of the food has gone down. Sun Nov 08 09:13:59 -0800 2009 5164971 1122494 ManAbout 1 5165155 Wonder why Jaipur Grille hasn't been mentioned. Sun Nov 08 10:53:56 -0800 2009 570138 134489 garfield