The Best Indian Restaurants in Vancouver

Agra Tandoori Kitchen

Like many of the top Indian restaurants in Vancouver, Agra primarily focuses on northern Indian cuisine, but includes a sprinkling of menu items from other regions as well. And while popular dishes like butter chicken, lamb biryani, and classic samosas are all fantastic choices, there is so much more to love. Mogo (cassava) fries and chicken pakora can make for an awesome kids’ meal, but I prefer not to share. The selection of onion-based dopiaza dishes is solid, whether you order the chicken, lamb, or prawn version. (I tend to go for the lamb.) And don’t miss the pista kulfi for a cool, lightly sweet finish. This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash, which means it is one of the top-rated and most reliable merchants on DoorDash.

Apna Bhaia Sweet Shop

The name might suggest this is a place you only come to for jalebi, but Apna is famous for their lunch thali, available both in vegetarian and chicken versions. Both come with the standard rice, salad, naan, raita, daal, and a dessert. I prefer the mixed veg, but, really, butter chicken is never a bad choice. Among their bread selection, the muli paratha, stuffed with radish, is something you won’t find elsewhere. It’s surprisingly refreshing and acts as a palate cleanser for stronger dishes. And it goes great with the raita for delivery near you.

Delhi 6

I am slightly obsessed with paneer, whether it’s served in pakora or the classic kadai, so the paneer samosas you can get here are definitely on my frequent flyer list. Paired with chickpea curry and the classic mint and tamarind chutneys, the contrast of the crisp pakora coating with the soft and still chewy cheese inside is aces. And while the butter chicken is excellent, it’s the mango chicken curry with coconut milk and ginger that is a must-try. This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash.

Dhaliwal Sweets & Chaat House

While there is a full menu of classic curries and tandoori dishes, it’s the Indian street food snacks that really shine here. Pav Bhaji is a messy and delicious meeting of the classic toasted buns and spicy mixed vegetables. Fried chicken or veg momos are crisp on the outside and stuffed to the brim. Even the raitas have a bit of the street food influence, like the Boondi version with its crisp gram balls in the lightly herbed yoghurt. And yes, it’s the desserts you should linger over, like the dense Balushahi Doughnuts or the Coconut Jamun.

Dhamaka

Dhamaka focuses on Hyderabadi cuisine. The vegetarian curries here are the standouts, especially the Bhagara Baigan, an aromatic eggplant curry, and the paneer butter masala. There are also nods to historial Chinese influences, like the Veg Manchuria, featuring mixed veg and gobi tossed in Manchurian sauce, a soy- and tomato-based sauce with ginger, garlic, and green chilies.

Dosa Factory

Considered one of the best places for dosa in the city since it opened in 2016, there are around 100 versions on the menu at this modern South Indian restaurant, which also gives the nod to Indo-Chinese, tandoori, and north Indian dishes. The dosa are always perfectly cooked and come with housemade chutneys and sambar. And, if you’ve never tried uthappam, now might be the time. This is the thicker pancake cousin of the dosa, made from rice and lentils, and here comes with a variety of onions, veg, and sometimes cheese. Softer and heartier than the dosa, they’re seriously tasty and can carry quite a kick.

Grace of India

It’s all about karahi and northern Indian cuisine at this Kingsway restaurant. The Karahi Paneer, cooked in tomatoes, peppers, onions, ginger, and garlic, is a repeat order for me, as are the various pakora and mogo fries. The Bhuna Lamb is a dish that doesn’t often appear on menus and is top-notch, as is the Keema Naan, stuffed with spiced minced lamb. Basically, the lamb here, whichever iteration you choose, is pretty damn fine. And this is also home to one of the better versions of kheer I’ve tried in the city,  properly chilled and cooked with pistachios and almonds.

Hyderabad Biryani House

This popular south Indian spot has been attracting hungry international students, local families, and lovers of biryani since it opened a couple of years ago. Unlike some restaurants that cater to more sensitive Western palates, Hyderabad delivers some heft even when dishes are set to mild. Look for lots of cilantro and chilli on this menu, as with the street food-inspired dishes like the baby corn masala, battered and deep-fried, then garnished with fresh greenery. And there aren’t many places where you can get a whole fish cooked in tandoor, but the pomfret, marinated overnight, is a beauty, as is the paneer tikka. Indo-Chinese dishes also make an appearance here, and the chicken hakka noodles are one of my faves for delivery near you.

Indian Delicacy

One of Vancouver’s few Indian restaurants that offers a gluten-free roti (made from chickpeas), Indian Delicacy also has a decent selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes. The mixed vegetable curry in a tomato and onion gravy is popular, but I’m rather fond of the cubed eggplant and fried potato cooked with onion, as well as the saag paneer. For carnivores, Lamb Pepper Fry is a must-try, especially paired with the Kerala Coconut Rice cooked with black mustard. 

Jolly’s Indian Bistro

Opened by chef Jolly Kumar in 2003, Jolly’s has been a byword for Indian dining in Kitsilano for the two decades since. The food is a testament to his fine dining background in Europe, the northern Indian cuisine of his hometown of New Delhi, and his mom’s recipes. Butter chicken, that most ubiquitous of dishes beloved by children and spice-averse adults alike, is marinated overnight in yoghurt and heavy cream, to create a luxurious rendition that puts many others to shame. I’m addicted to the vegetable korma that comes with cheese kofta.

Karma Indian Bistro

If south Indian cuisine of the Chettinad region is what you crave, Karma should be in your future. This popular Kitsilano bistro also serves dishes from across the subcontinent, but the southern specialties rule the menu here, and for good reason. Chettinad dishes like Chicken Madras and Lamb Kadai truly sing, and the Prawn Goa Curry is always a great choice. I always finish with the saffron rice pudding. The slow-cooked version of kheer with coconut and cardamom is a special treat. This is a Most Loved Restaurant on DoorDash and is Michelin Guide-recommended

Modern Handi Indian Cuisine

A focus on fresh and sustainable ingredients runs through the menu at this West End establishment, with some interesting ventures into Chinese dishes like egg fried rice and chilli shrimp. Do not miss out on the Chicken Lollipops, the Spinach Cheese Roll, or the sweet Peshwari Naan stuffed with dried fruits. They sell their house pickles by the jar, filled with lemon, mangoes and green chillies — the perfect pairing to most of the curries.

Sula Indian Restaurant

When the original Commercial Drive location of Sula opened back in 2010, the menu was all about northern Indian cuisine. But after a few years, owner Sharath Vittal decided to take his mom’s advice and switch back to the southern Indian cuisine he grew up with. Now, both the original location and the Main Street spot, opened in 2020, mainly serve the likes of hara bhara (veggie patties on a kebab) and Hyderabadi biryanis, alongside some northern Indian classics. The six south Indian “mother” sauces are the basis for every dish on the menu, sometimes combined, sometimes used on their own, but never repeated from one dish to another. The kofta dil bahar (paneer and veg dumplings in tomato and butter) is one of our favourites, as is the Mangalorean (NOT Mandalorian, for you Star Wars diehards) — chicken in desiccated coconut curry with black mustard. The fish Malabari at the Commercial Drive location is another standout, made with roasted coconut and tamarind. At the newest location on Davie Street, look for more modern takes and a focus on share plates. Try the lamb Kashmiri chops and the rarely seen tandoori pork ribs with mint chutney. Instead of the usual pakora, try the onion bhajia, battered, crispy and sweet, or the Kerala Jackfruit Fry. Lamb Kolhapuri in a classic Marahashtrian blend of spices is an absolute stunner, and the mango ras malai is a new take on the traditional dessert.

Tandoori Oven

Little India in the Sunset neighbourhood is home to more than a few family-run places, and Tandoori Oven is one of the standouts. Focusing on northern Indian and Pakistani cuisine, it’s a menu that runs the gamut from the classic butter chicken and lamb kebab to goat biryani and roghni naan, the fluffier, slightly thicker Pakistani cousin to traditional Indian naan. The fish pakora is a family favourite, as is the malai (veggie) kofta in a creamy butter sauce. And if you’re a fan of goat, the Goat Dal Gosht or vindaloo are ones to try for delivery near you.

Tasty Indian Bistro

Still looking for the best Indian food in Vancouver? Founded by the late Avtar Saini and today run by his children, Tasty is an homage to Bollywood glam in both taste and presentation. The food here looks like a collection of classics on the surface, but dig a little deeper and it’s easy to find the oomph. Butter chicken is enriched with cashew sauce; naan can be served flatbread-style topped with cheese and veggies; noodles cooked with a mix of vegetables seem out of place at first glance, but the flavours deeply resonate with the northern Indian palate. The battered chilli mushrooms are absolutely addictive, and the Devil’s Drumstick, a frenched chicken drumstick cooked in Madras spices, is a brilliant snack, especially when paired with the crispy noodle salad. It’s a menu that plays with flavours, textures, and traditions in a fun and approachable way. If you have room, get the Cardamom Dream Bar, a white chocolate mousse infused with cardamom in a spiced sponge cake with vanilla ice cream. I tend to “pre-ssert,” aka start with the sweet course, to make sure running out of room isn’t an option.

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