Vancouver’s stellar Indian food scene is made up of long-standing curry houses and spots that use subcontinental culinary traditions as springboards for next-wave cuisine. From fine dining gems to bustling hot spots serving street food-inspired dishes, the best Indian restaurants in Vancouver are spread all across the capital.
There’s a vegetarian gem situated in Vancouver’s bustling Main Street area and a chic contemporary Indian joint in the hip and happening Yaletown encapsulating the finest flavors of Southeast Asian cuisine. In these stellar Indian restaurants in Vancouver, diners can sip on Mumbai mules over Indian-style burger sliders in a trendy neighborhood gem, explore elevated fine dining experiences in the scenic Surrey area, and feast on Awadhi raan, a slow-cooked lamb meant to be shared in a group. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or a meat lover, the options are abundant and enticing throughout Vancouver’s diverse food scene. Read on for a culinary journey through the city’s most alluring areas, each exemplifying the richness of flavor, tradition, and culture that India has to offer.
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A culinary journey through the best Indian restaurants in Vancouver – read on for a guide
For a must-try Indian hotspot in Vancouver – visit Tasty Indian Bistro in Yaletown and Delta
Tasty Indian Bistro comes from the mind and roots of legendary hotelier Avtar Saini, a restaurateur celebrated for his excellence in hospitality, much like the trendy and traditional hotspots located in Yaletown and Delta. These dimly lit gems bring a modern and chic dining atmosphere, where diners can start their experience snacking on masala fries topped with cheese and house masala sauce. As a main, make sure to try the tandoori lamb chops with Indian spices, or the vegetarian tasty tacos with chimichurri mayo, coleslaw salad, and your choice of paneer or crispy fish. Your experience at one of the best Indian restaurants in Vancouver won’t be complete without a taste of its enticing Ferrero Rocher jar, a decadent chocolate cake layered with chocolate hazelnut buttercream and roasted hazelnuts over vanilla ice cream. Pair it with the cafe Bombay, a spiked coffee with vodka-infused chai masala, espresso, and coffee liqueur, or a Jaanhattan, Tasty Indian Bistro’s take on a Manhattan with Jaan liqueur, sweet Vermouth, and rye, always served as double.
📍 Yaletown — Check availability
📍 Delta — Check availability
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For Indian-Nepalese fare – be sure to try Gurkha Himalayan Kitchen in West End
Gurkha Himalayan Kitchen is named after one of the districts of Nepal in the Himalayas and brings a dining experience through flavors and spices of the Nepali and Tibetan regions. Diners are encouraged to bask in a tangy and spicy puffed rice salsa chatpate as an appetizer, a popular Nepalese street food meant to be shared. Another standout is the jackfruit curry, featuring potatoes cooked in tomato, and spices, and the stir-fry lamb chili mo mo in soy sauce. For a sip of the region, a Himalayan tea or mango lassi are go-to thirst quenchers. You mustn’t leave without exploring Gurkha’s dessert menu, where you can find a coconut pudding or a frosty coffee pie that is sure to put a bow on your dining experience.
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For a family-style Indian meal – head over to Spice 72 Indian Restaurant & Lounge in Surrey
If you’re looking for the feel of a family-cooked meal and eatery, search no further than Spice 72 Indian Restaurant & Lounge in Surrey, brought to you by brothers and owners Jaspal and Amarjeet Singh Saini. Spice 72 offers a taste of North and South Indian cuisines, featuring popular Mumbai street food, lamb vindaloo from Goa, and butter chicken from Punjab. The menu is prepared fresh and from scratch daily, offering a truly authentic dining experience. Diners can start tasting their way through the appetizer menu, with the soft cottage cheese deep-fried fritters paneer pakora, ideal for vegetarians. Experience the clay oven offerings for your main, namely the seekh kebab, a tender minced lamb grilled straight from the tandoor oven. Pair this with a refreshing Indian beer such as the popular Bira.
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For a romantic date night – try Delhi 6 Indian Bistro in Downtown
Located in Vancouver’s downtown core, Delhi 6 Indian Bistro invites diners in a warm and intimate atmosphere, ideal for a romantic night out, an anniversary, or a special occasion with family and friends. The menu features modern takes on classic Indian staples and has a little something for everyone, from vegetarian curries to grilled meats and seafood. Rip away at a delectable tandoori flatbread with your dining party, before trying one of the alluring mains, like the mango prawn curry or a goat biryani. For dessert, don’t miss the hot gulab jamun, a sweet traditional confectionery, or the rasmalai, an Indian delicacy made from milk, a curdling agent, saffron, cardamom, and sugar.
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For Indian flavours in Vancouver’s Commercial Drive area – book at Hariyali Express Indian Cuisine & Bar in North Vancouver
Hariyali Express Indian Cuisine & Bar is a bustling contemporary Indian restaurant with a laid-back ambience. Fresh ingredients are brought to life in an enticing menu with options for both vegetarians and meat lovers. The chicken korma creamy cashew and the vegetarian cauliflower and potato aloo gobi, served in a rich tomato and onion sauce, are the highlights of the menu. The classic rice pudding is the cherry on top of every dining experience at Hariyali Express Indian Cuisine & Bar. The Commercial Drive standout makes for a lovely lunch or dinner outing, a real favorite amongst locals.
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For spicy vegetarian plates at the best Indian restaurants in Vancouver – head over to Sula Indian Restaurant on Main Street and Commercial Drive
Awarded by The Food Network as one of Vancouver’s 10 most popular Indian restaurants, Sula Indian Restaurant at Main Street and Commercial Drive is a vegetarian haven. The dimly lit, greenery-dressed dining rooms set the mood, as diners are encompassed in cultural wall art to gaze at. Diners can taste their way through street food items like the Mumbai vada, battered potato dumplings with green chilli, tempered cumin, mustard, and chutneys. The paneer butter masala features soft-ripened cheese in tomato, cream, and butter sauce, but a fun shareable option is the railway vada pav sliders, a trio of fried potato and cumin dumplings, with tamarind and mint chutney, and a buttered pav bun. Pair it with one of the extensive cocktail menu options, like the Tamarind margarita, made with mezcal, ginger bitters, and lime juice, or the Sub-Continental featuring Indian whisky, benedictine, house chai spice, and aromatic bitters.
📍 Main Street — Check availability
📍 Commercial Drive — Check availability
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For a chic meal at one of the best Indian restaurants in Vancouver – visit Clove – The Art Of Dining in Surrey
Step into a chic and lavish dining ambience at Clove – The Art of Dining, a bright and modern interior decor that is as elevated as its stunning menu. Begin your dining experience with a mouthwatering assortment of house chutneys for the table to share, including mango chilli, chatpatta hummus, smoked tomato garlic, and date and tamarind sauce. Don’t miss the signature duck Rajasthani, while and the vegetarian malai paneer kofta featuring Awadhi gravy and dried nuts. Make sure to leave room for dessert and order the sago pudding made with yoghurt, berries, and mixed nuts.
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For award-winning Indian fare in one of Vancouver’s most scenic areas – book a table at Handi Grill in Kitsilano
Over at Handi Grill, experience award-winning traditional East Indian dishes, from tandoor specialties to creamy curries, a feast for all the senses. Start your way through the menu with an appetizer like the aloo chat, these lovely potato patties topped with tamarind mint yogurt, onions, and chickpeas. For meat eaters, the tandoori mixed grill main is a hit, featuring Tandoori chicken, chicken and lamb tikka, prawns, and fish, with the paneer tikka being a wonderful main option for vegetarians. Try a traditional Rasi malai for dessert, cheese patties served in cardamom cream and saffron. Lassi and cocktails seasoned with Indian spices, like the Bombay Sunset, make the perfect pairing for a memorable evening.
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For an all gluten-free Indian menu – make your way to, Kinara Indian Cuisine in West End
Kinara Indian Cuisine prides itself on its fully gluten-free menu, owned and created by innovative chef Bharat Sharma. Having cooked and managed at five-star hotels, hospitality and quality are honored. Chilli gobi and paneer pakora are mouthwatering starters that must hit the table. For a main, the coconut curry is a Bengali classic, with the choice of adding meat or vegetarian protein options. The go-to dessert choice is the kulfi, a traditional Indian ice cream bar that will leave you and your guests wowed. Sip on a nice, cold mango lassi, and you’re in for a real treat.
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For transportative Indian-African dishes – try Ember Indian Kitchen in Richmond
Situated in beautiful Richmond, Ember Indian Kitchen is a fusion of East African and East Indian culinary history. Its open-air interior and outdoor patio make for a beautiful dining experience, with menu options being no less alluring. The ember samosa, a traditional East African recipe, is a transportative starter option, along with the daal wada, a Zanzibar-style lentil fritter with onions and herbs. For a real taste of the fusion of cultures and flavors, don’t miss the mouth-watering kuku paka main, an African-style chicken cooked in coconut cream sauce. For vegetarians, the rich masala halibut exemplifies the fusion and unity of cultures.
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From wholesome family-based gems to traditional fusion kitchens, the 10 best Indian restaurants in Vancouver encapsulate the true diversity within the city and its culinary scene. The richness of flavors and spices are embodied within each of these cultural hot spots. Whether you are a vegetarian, gluten-free, or a meat lover, there is something for everyone to enjoy. These are not just restaurants, but an opportunity to take a journey into the true history and sensory experience that is Indian cuisine.
