When modern Tandoori cuisine originated 500 years ago, it was only prepared for kings. Now, this aristocratic experience comes to Toronto at Aafrien. The exclusive restaurant specializes in using the traditional clay oven tandoor to provide an authentic Indian dining experience. Aafrien’s extensive menu offers tandoor-cooked kebabs, curries, vegetables and hot naan. The long list

Located between Bathurst and Christie station sits the delightful Banjara Indian Cuisine. The dishes are superb and always consistent, making many guests frequent regulars. The menu is very large and made up of a ton of Indian classics all prepared in traditional methods.

At Bhoj Indian Cuisine, there’s no BS when it comes to good Indian food. The restaurant is small with a cosy and relaxed atmosphere, making it a great place to bring the whole family. The menu is pretty straightforward and allows you to choose your level of spice. If you can handle it, try some

Across the street from the Toronto landmark the St. Lawrence Market sits Bindia Indian Bistro. With a modern approach to classic Indian cuisine, Bindia is reclaiming what it means to cook real Indian food, while still cultivating the essence of India. Remaining in touch with the deep historical and cultural values of Indian food, Bindia

Located amid Little India’s swarm of sari shops, Bombay Chowpatty is one part video-rental shop, one part eatery. Named after Mumbai’s most beloved beach, the restaurant dishes out street-style eats from India’s cultural capital. Bollywood flicks play in the background as patrons tuck into favourites like chana bhatura, bhel puri and paneer kathi rolls.

Some measure food by how hard it is to stop thinking about it. And Faley’s gan-ben beef, fried nubs of meat encased in a sugary coating (let’s not pretend it’s anything else that makes it sweet) is embedded in my brain’s craving centre. Every time we come here, we say we’re going to order vegetables

A few times a month, my mother takes on the role of tour guide and shows me a new lunch spot in Scarborough. Although her taste in food is quite cosmopolitan, she tends to gravitate towards Indian and Sri Lankan restaurants. One of her favourites is Karaikudi.

Lotus Fine Indian Cuisine brings a taste of India to Avenue Road. The menu features the usual Indian staples like samosas, curries, paneer, breads and seafood. There are numerous vegetarian options.

Mantra, located in the Shops at Don Mills “restaurant row,” is redefining what modern Indian food looks and tastes likes. Under the guidance of chef Ashish Sethi — who was under the guidance of his father, Sanjiv Sethi, the man responsible for the Host chain — Mantra does everything from Indian-style high tea to a

All aboard the Nawab Fusion Express! This joint is an Indian takeout, delivery, catering and dine-in that features both the classics of Indian cuisine and inventive takes on that, and Hakka, culinary style. For instance, get the butter chicken fries as an appetizer before moving on to the traditionally clay pot–cooked saffron chicken tikka. There

This TTC-style bar wants every wandering stranger to feel at home in the city. The tile walls finished with “Nōmads Station” decals and a TTC-painted doorway are so perfectly executed that your trip to the bathroom might be a bit discombobulating. Nōmads Restobar is a gathering place for people of all walks of life and

In opening a new Indian restaurant on St. Clair Ave. West, business partners Harsh Chawla and Derek Valleau didn’t want to settle for the status quo. So they enlisted the talents of three former Amaya chefs to take care of the food, and they took on renowned sommelier Peter Boyd to handle the wine. The result is Pukka, which opened in mid-October.

For when the late night becomes early morning, Sizzler Kabab is there to crush that Pakistani food craving. And it’s halal! Right at the border of Kensington Market and Baldwin village, this spot is also a great option for a lunch to take back to the office or dinner after a day of exploring the

On the southwest coast of India sits the beautiful town of Udupi. Rich in culture, the Temple City has produced millions of food connoisseurs, like the people who brought Udupi Palace to Toronto. This southern Indian vegetarian restaurant is pulling out all the stops to show us that Indian food isn’t limited to just curries