Great Indian restaurants in Montréal
Indian cuisine is one of the most complex in the world. Filled with heady spices and wonderful aromas, it varies from region to region and is equally delicious everywhere. Indian food never leaves anyone indifferent. If you’re in the “love it” camp, below are some of our favourite Indian restaurants in Montréal.
India Rosa
India Rosa’s decor sets the tone for these restaurants that combine traditional flavours with a modern twist. Whether you’re there for brunch, cocktail hour or dinner, the menu is made up of delectably colourful sharing plates and specialties from their tandoor. Don’t skip the unique signature cocktails.
1241 Mont-Royal Avenue East & 1050 Wellington Street
Le Super Qualité
Le Super Qualité is a colourful eatery serving Indian street food and regional specialties. The Rosemont location serves snacks, dishes and thalis featuring a different region every week, as well as special. The downtown Le Central location has a smaller but just as tasty menu.
1211 Bélanger Street East & 20 Sainte-Catherine Street West (Le Central food court)
Star of India
Star of India has been a favourite go-to for Indian specialties for more than 3 decades. It serves what is possibly the best butter chicken and naan bread in town in a friendly atmosphere with great service.
5864 Sherbrooke Street West & 1806 Saint-Catherine Street West
Restaurant Bombay Mahal
A favourite among locals, Restaurant Bombay Mahal offers a great span of Indian cuisine from north to south. Located in multicultural Park Extension, its menu is extensive and the prices reasonable. It is vegetarian-friendly and BYOW.
1001 Jean-Talon Street West
Maison de Cari Golden
Blink and you might miss this tiny nook on busy Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Maison de Cari Golden is a well-hidden gem that has been offering fantastic food in an unpretentious setting since 1987. Try the tandoori specialties or the biryanis.
5210 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Restaurant Malhi Sweets
Hidden on a quiet part of Jarry Street, a little out of the way, is one of the best Indian restaurants in Montréal. Restaurant Malhi Sweet’'s Punjabi cuisine is authentic, delicious, affordable and served in an unpretentious yet welcoming dining room.
880 Jarry Street West
Gandhi
Gandhi is an elegant restaurant located on cobblestoned Saint-Paul Street in charming Old Montréal. The scent of warm spices and the lure of Indian music is enough to send you on a virtual voyage to India via some of the delicious dishes and the great variety of homemade breads.
230 Saint-Paul Street West
Restaurant Sandhu
Whether you’re craving a big bowl of pasta or a plate of lamb tikka masala, Restaurant Sandhu offers both Italian and Indian cuisines in its Papineau Avenue location. Its specialties include butter chicken, lamb Madras and an extensive wine list in a bright décor with friendly service.
4548 Papineau Avenue
Le Taj
Le Taj has been serving Montréal’s Indian food lovers since 1985. Head to the Time Out Market to grab lunch or to their elegant, white tablecloth-clad original downtown location for dinner. Critically acclaimed Le Taj serves a wide variety of dishes including tandoor specialties as well as an à la carte dinner menu.
2077 Stanley Street, Time Out Market Montréal, & Royalmount’s Le Fou Fou food hall
Dosa Pointe
Family-run Dosa Pointe specializes in South Indian cuisine and, more specifically, the dosa, a thin and large crepe usually rolled around a curried potato or paneer (fresh cheese) filling and dipped in chutney.
895 Jean-Talon Street West
Le 409
For something a little different and more contemporary, Old Montréal's Indian gastropub Le 409 feels like a cross between a colourful Bollywood movie, a Havana street corner and a sleek London lounge. The menu lists beautifully presented classics as well as fusion dishes (including butter chicken poutine!) and great signature cocktails.
409 McGill Avenue
Maison Indian Curry
Northern and southern Indian specialties are on the menu at Maison Indian Curry, which means you can indulge in a variety of dosas, tandoori dishes, biryanis, and rich curries.
996 Jean-Talon Street West
Thanjai
The cuisine of southern India is featured at Thanjai. Rice is the main staple as it is grown throughout the region, as are some of the cuisine’s warm spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg. Popular South Indian dishes on Thanjai’s menu include dosas, idli (savoury rice cakes) and vada (fritters), as well as some spicy curries.
4759 Van Horne Avenue
Tula
Tula is a plant-based Indian restaurant located in the Mile End. This colourful spot offers vegan versions of popular Indian staples such as butter “chicken,” tikka masala and biryanis as well as some Pan-Asian dishes. Tula also offers what is probably the only vegan Indian brunch in Montréal every Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are recommended.
5258 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Chand Palace
Chand Palace is a small, unpretentious restaurant on Jean-Talon Street offering wallet-friendly specialties as well as great thalis in vegetarian, chicken or lamb versions.
989 Jean-Talon Street West
Maison ChaïShaï
Located in the Concordia University neighbourhood, Maison ChaïShaï is a family-run restaurant specializing in Indian-Pakistani fusion street food. Try their butter chicken poutine or the aloo tiki sliders and don’t miss the outstanding desserts.
2005 Bishop Street
Crèmerie Meetha
Located in Park-Ex, Crèmerie Meetha specializes in Indian-flavoured ice creams as well as chai. The flavours are inspired by Indian desserts such as gulab jamun or jalebi and are available by the scoop or by the pint. Please note that Meetha is a seasonal spot open from May to November.
787A De Liège Street West
Café Rutba
Café Rutba is a go-to destination for food lovers looking for Indian fusion cuisine that defies tradition. Try one of the many surprising butter chicken dishes, such as the one flavoured with maple or topped with burrata.
3633 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 36 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.