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.

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.

We could roll around in this roti craze forever! Butter Chicken Roti is the latest and greatest chain of takeout rotis, the Indian curry wrap where they craft all their curry with a special attention to flavour. The goal is to bring Indian spices to the masses of Toronto. The menu is as vast for

College Falafel has been keeping west enders happy for some time now with its irresistible sandwiches and wraps, all complete with that trademark saccharine sauce. Hailing from Halifax the East Coast original donair wrap is something to marvel at here. The donair ($6.99) begins with a pile of well-spiced, shaved beef that’s cooked on a

It’s so hard to leave the Junction when everything you need is right there. Curry Twist is an easy night out, with its homey environs paired with a people-pleaser of a menu. Snack on crunchy onion bhajji and spiced paneer before tucking in to mains. Baigan bharta (smoked eggplant with tomato and caramelized onions) and

At fine dining restaurant Cynthia’s Chinese you’ll get more than you bargained for, with a full entertainment experience bringing you back to ancient China with mouth-watering cuisine, staff dressed in imperial robes and décor that will bring you back to the most celebrated age of the country. Find Cynthia’s in Oakville, Newmarket and Thornhill, each

Renowned Toronto chef Mark McEwan has teamed up with chef Shen Ousmand to create Diwan, a Persian restaurant at the Aga Khan Museum. Step into a gorgeous and ornate dining room adorned with wood panels that were hand-carved and hand-painted in Damascus at the end of the 18th century. The advantages of being in an

There are so many good (and filling) things to eat at Hopper Hut that it’s disrespectful to come here without a crew. Start with hoppers, a crepe-like batter cooked into a bowl shape, eaten with chili/coconut chutneys and curries. From there, get a bowl of mild mutton curry and blast furnace-spicy crab curry, with roti

Kamasutra Fine Indian Restaurant and Wine Bar focuses on the rich food culture of northern India and is cooking up some amazing aromatic and spicy food. Northern Indian food is very much influenced by its surroundings. Featuring flavours and spices native to Persian and Middle Eastern countries, northern Indian food presents us with a cross-cultural

This fluorescent-lit room located at a chaotic intersection is not a great place to sit down for a romantic meal, but the Pakistani cuisine is outstanding and ideally suited for takeout or delivery from at King Place. Owner Mehood Meer (known as Mr. Butt) has a deft hand with ginger, coriander, butter, cumin and fenugreek.

Hemant Bhagwani, one of Toronto’s leading restaurateurs and the man who has taken Indian cuisine in several directions, has opened his newest project, Leela Indian Food Bar, in the Junction. It took over the former Avec Panache spot.

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

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

If you’ve heard all the hype around Spicebros, that’s because it’s entirely worth it. Spicebros offers a taste of Indian cuisine with a modern twist. Specialties on the menu include tandoori chicken, butter chicken, Bombay fish, samosas, and butter paneer. With a cozy ambiance and friendly, fun staff, this takeout spot has plenty of seating

If the tandoori at your local “authentic” Indian lunch spot doesn’t taste smokey then you’ve been tricked. In India, all tandoori is made in an authentic coal tandoor, creating that signature smokey flavour. But, in Toronto, the majority of Indian restaurants use a gas tandoor, which doesn’t give the meat that burned-on-coals taste. At the

The Host Indian kitchen is a Richmond Hill hot spot famous for its all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. Available every day for $17.99, you can enjoy all your favourite Indian and east Asian classics at this buffet and not have to worry about paying for seconds or even thirds. It features an extensive list of items from