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Babu Catering & Takeouts Bakery & Sweets
Categories: Restaurants Indian Event Planning & Services Caterers Indian, Caterers
9590 McCowan RoadMarkham, ON L3T 8N1
(416) 298-2228
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
20 reviews for Babu Catering & Takeouts Bakery & Sweets
20 reviews in English
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Review from Phil W.
Barrie, ON
12/10/2011
Love it! Place is very clean. Staff very friendly and will let you sample anything. Food is amazing with large portions and inexpensive. I'll be back next time I'm in the area..
Great Indian restaurant, don't hesitate..! -
Review from bold c.
Toronto, ON
3/6/2012
30 Sec Summary
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1. Inexpensive Thamil Eelam food
2. Try the butter chicken
3. $10.00 for two people is an option
4. Service was average
5. Vegetables were over cooked
6. Rice was standard fair but not basamati
Recommendation: Good for a quick inexpensive lunch -
Review from Kobe L.
North York, ON
4/15/2011
The large takeout place with multiple stations seemed a little intimidating when u first walk in and don't know what to order, but the staff were friendly, so it wasn't so bad.
Place was sparkly clean, food was good, large portions of rice talif and fairly inexpensive.
Neat place, recommended if u r craving Indian food of a higher takeout place quality.
Tip mutton rolls maybe one star spicy, but they are spicy! -
Review from Ming C.
Markham, ON
3/26/2011
Ode to babu! This is one of the best places I have found in my hood. First off the cleanliness is unbelievable...they have glass everywhere so everything from food to kitchen is visible to all who enter. Secondly, the service...wow! Just the friendliest bunch of ppl you will ever meet. Not like a Chinese restaurant where you may be won over by price but with a serious doses of bad service with matching attitude...lol. Thirdly, the price....just ridiculously inexpensive with the large and in charge portions. But above all...the taste is just fantastic.
Although there are sometimes no signs...the staff will always encourage you to try...and their sample size could get you full. They aren't cheap.
Have yet to try their sweets but will definitely do it next time we are bk and have enough hands to carry it all out :)
Nom nom nom....babu rules! -
Review from Jay W.
Markham, ON
11/15/2010
OK I live right around the corner to this take out joint, so I drop in every now and then. It's really clean inside and everything is fresh, including all of their baked goods. You know it's clean when the kitchen has windows...
I'll be honest with you that I don't really understand how to order anything here and I really don't know what the heck I'm eating, I just know it's tasty.
The only menu item that I can pronounce is the lampri. This thing is only like 7 bucks and can last for 2-3 meals!
Basically, they fill a massive banana leaf with the rice of your choice, then douse it with 5 or 6 of your choice of "curries". I have no idea what they are, so I just point and hope for the best! Then they add some fried fish and a boiled egg in the center, fold it up and then steam it! 7 bucks!!!
My only gripe is that the menu items should be labelled a little better and their pricing system a little clearer. Other than that, no complaints here! -
Review from Bern D.
Markham, ON
3/12/2011
Food is good and cheap, but if you go there after 8 pm, it WILL be cold and need a reheat.
The last two trips i have picked up the Meat Thali, which is supposed to come with salad and soup, but it has had neither.
It is REALLY hectic in there -- always busy, and tonight there wa some kind of mix up and i got someone elses food! It was stll good, but i have no idea what i got, but i feel sorry for the person who got MY order.... -
Review from Devan R.
4/6/2009 1 photo
One could say that my reviews are somewhat one-sided, and in all honesty I probably wouldn't disagree. The reason why is because I have a tendency to only review things that sweep me off my feet, things that blow me out of the park, things that make me want to write about it to so others can share in the surreal moments. Well, it's happened again, and here I am drooling over my keyboard.
The name is Babu Catering & Takeouts Bakery & Sweets. This take-out/delivery only restaurant brings warmth to my ora. I have not felt this compelled to drop a review since I ate at Pizzeria Libretto (221 Ossington, T.O.)
One of the key selling points of Babu's is the exceptional spread. For a restaurant like this to offer so many fresh dishes along with tons of sweets and fresh baked goods is overwhelming. Overall the food is spicier than the average Indian food because of the Tamil style of cooking. I would recommend asking for moderately spicy dishes if you're sensitive to spicy style food, and do not be afraid to ask the staff, they are kind and helpful often letting you taste dishes before selecting.
Babu's offers all kinds of dishes both Tamil and Indian. Dosais & sambars, various kothu roti's, malaysian noodles, roughly a dozen meat curries, a dozen veggie curries, and tons of other greats such as biryani, chili chicken and both tamil and Indian, just to name a few. They boast the largest menu of fresh food that I have veer seen, the list literally goes on and on. All the curries and dishes I've tried thus far are all outstanding, exploding with flavour and spice.
In one section of the storefront you will find many classic vegetarian Tamil and Indian dishes such as: Dal makhni, kadhi, shahi paneer, mattar paneer, payasam, chutney, sambal just to name a few. The mushroom curry and channa is delish here as well. At any given time they have 6 different types of rice going and many variations of delicious and moist biryani.
After conversing with staff members, I began to learn that the individuals in charge of the various types and styles of cuisine at Babu's have all been hand selected and some have even come from abroad to do what they do best. The tandoori chicken, seekh kababs, and chicken tikka are all cooked in a tandoor operated by an individual who has mastered the art of cooking in this clay contraption of magic. The gentlemen in charge of kothu roti's as well I'm told is the best of the best, when he gets to chopping up the meal there are pieces of egg, meat and roti flying everywhere. By eating the food here you will come to realize these chaps are bang on.
So long story drastically short, this whole experience becomes even better when you go to pay. On average each dish costs roughly $3-4. Today I had a lunch take out container with 2 meats, 2 veggies and basmati rice + bottle water, $6.69. On other days I'll order a beef Kothu Roti w/ 2 pieces of chicken tikka + bottle water, $9.40. Did I mention the Kothu Roti feeds 3 people??
I could sit here and write about Babu's until my fingers go numb, this place is a must. Not only is the taste and quality of food outstanding, not only is it cheap as chips, but the Markham storefront is cleaner than clean. I feel a great sense of pride ordering food there because of how immaculate they keep the place. The restaurants I frequently go to for my Indian/Asian food fixes could not hold a candle to Babu's. The counter tops are all stainless steel and the venue has a sleek organized look to it. By far the cleanest venue I have ever ordered Indian or Tamil food from.
A must for the food lover.
Below is the hardest "Ideal Order" I have ever tried to draw up. Simply because there is too much to eat. Nonetheless, ordering the below will have you hooked.
Ideal Order
-Veggie/Chicken/Beef/Mutton Kothu Roti (feeds 3 ppl, very spicy)
-Roast Mutton Curry (spicy)
-Butter Chicken
-Pakistani Biryani
-Chicken Tikka or Tandoori Chicken
-NaanListed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
6/17/2010 5 photos
I walked in and saw directions for TWO doors, blue pill red pill scenario so I choose the left door which lead me inside closer towards the Drinks/Bakery/Snacks/Desserts which meant that I had took the LONG ROUTE having to walk back towards the right end where the Mains are.
I have to say I love the setup of this place even though there are no seating at all but everything here is DISPLAYED in under heat lamps or warming trays almost like a buffet/cafeteria. There was clear glass separating the serving counters and the back KITCHEN so you can see everything that goes on in the open kitchen.
It's somewhat disorganized though as if you are actually at a T&T trying to order meat at the Meat Department and they IGNORE the numeric system as I walked behind others wondering where the line begins and which patron I'm suppose to be behind. Actually it is exactly like ordering Meat/Fish at an Asian Grocery Store.
Many of the items no longer have name descriptions on them so a GROUP of Cantonese people were asking the staff EVERYTHING and ANYTHING, and I had to do it too but the staff didn't look enthusiastic at all and completely lacked expression which I didn't mind but to other patrons it might hit them the WRONG way.
Amazing value as I ordered a Tandoori Chicken Leg($2.95), 3pc Chicken Wing($1.25), 3pc Veg Samosa($0.99), Fish Patice($0.99), Ginger Beer($1.00). The receipt even says WE PAY YOUR APPLICABLE TAX! So what you see on the menu is what you pay.
Tandoori Chicken Leg was good with Tandoori flavour noticeable but maybe I'm used to Chicken Leg being juicy, its a take-out place so I'm just being picky I guess. Wings tasted like a bit of Jamaican Jerk but it is definitely done in the Tandoor because it had a HOLE through each one.
The Veg Samosa was OK too but its a bit mushy and soft on the inside as everything was mashed with less spices than I usually notice at other places, and also I like it when some places leave a piece or two of CHUNKY Potato as texture contrast. That's just a personally preference until I get more Indian food in me.
The Fish Patice almost tasted the same as the Samosa, maybe they gave me Veg Patice instead and they might even have got it CONFUSED as there are no specific labels on that end of the counters.
Ginger Beer was good and SPICY as it almost burned off my mouth and taste buds. It definitely took all the other spices away from the food and it's as if I had Raw Garlic which I'm a fan of.Listed in: 4+ ****Stars****, This is why I'm Hot!
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Review from Sameer D.
Markham, ON
1/26/2010
I remember when Devan stumbled upon this gem. If you read his review you'll see he's all about Babu, and rightfully so.
What started out as a convenient lunch turned into a weekend addiction. Babu's had me coming back over and over and over.
I don't even want to try writing a review that incorporates something Devan's doesn't so I will refer you to his, and rate this place a 5/5 stars.
The below ideal order is copied from Devan's review and I strongly vouch for it:
-Veggie/Chicken/Beef/Mutton Kothu Roti (feeds 3 ppl, very spicy)
-Roast Mutton Curry (spicy)
-Butter Chicken
-Pakistani Biryani
-Chicken Tikka or Tandoori Chicken
-Naan
I also love the curried mushrooms, it is one of the hottest dishes I've ever had in my life!! This review is making me hungry. Guess where I'm going after work :)
Babu's is a must try. Don't pass up this amazing food. -
Review from Helen L.
Toronto, ON
12/31/2009
Of the 2 Babu locations, this is the better one...its at least twice as big, cleaner and friendlier. if the Scarborough location is a corner store, this one is like one of those new shoppers drug mart.
We ventured here with the task of buying takeout for a party. Almost immediately, we were greeted by a friendly man who helped us navigate through their menu, make suggestions and ordered fresh samosas for us. The personalized service was much appreciated!
As far as takeout places concern, you can't get any better.
We went home with 6 veg dishes, 5 naan, 5 rotis, and a box of briyani that should feed 5 but is really enough for a small army, $14 worth (they're 3 for $1) of samosas and this other dumpling looking thing, a box of 25 string hopper...all for under $60. Not to mention how much everyone loved the food! If you are near by or can get here without too much hassle, do yourself a favor and check this place out. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Went back to Babu for cheap dinner options.. Sometimes you just want to veg out at home and eat in your PJ.
Got the Half Meal ($4.50) taxes in!! Yes the receipt said they pay the tax for us :).
Buttery Chicken with rice and veggie.
The Buttery Chicken so nice and spicy! Hmmmm Yummmm When I said spicy, trust me is spicy! :)
The rice is the long grain rice, a little harder than the usual Chinese rice I have.. but I have to say it is perfect with the sauce!
BTW, why not 5 Star... My server was not too friendly, not too interested in my order..and just want to try to get rid of me! Not even a thank you or a smile...
But I will still be back just for the food!Listed in: India and Sri Lankan eateries…, What to do when you in…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/27/2010
Babu, I drove by you all the time.. I never even give you a second look because there are… Read more »
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Review from Mardi C.
Markham, ON
3/1/2010
I went Babu after a year it was open and now I'm at work craving the sweets, samosas and the naan and all the yumminess that it offers.
The one thing I got burned on was the Curry Beef dish (Can't remember the correct name) but I found out afterwards it is rated with 4 chills... my mouth was on FIRE! But in a good way.
Will I order that dish again? HELL YEA but I now know to order the milk dessert with it. Thanks to a guy that was just leaving the store. Thanks who ever you are! -
Review from Teresa H.
Stouffville, ON
12/18/2010
Very clean. Staff is friendly. Prices are great. Food is decent. You simply must try it.
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Review from Pauline T.
Stouffville, ON
9/30/2010
Great place! We first went to the Sheppard location and then Babu opened up closer to us on McCowan. The food is inexpensive and tasty. We especially love the meat Lumpri - you get a choice of one meat and 6 curries on a bed of rice. It's all wrapped up in a banana leaf and heated up. Delicious and spicy and definitely enough for 2 people!
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Review from Teresa H.
Greektown, Toronto, ON
8/19/2010
When all you want is a butter chicken and naan to solve a craving, this is the place! For $5 you can have both. My only issue with this place is the lack of signage in front of the steam tables. As someone who isn't that familiar with Tamil (Indian?) food it would be much more helpful to know what is being offered in front of me. But I'm loving the idea of $5 butter chicken with one piece of their giant naan anytime.
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Review from Ana P.
North York, ON
3/18/2011
I enjoy South Indian food. I particularly enjoy it for its flavour, particularly the vegetarian dishes. Babu's does a great job showcasing South Indian food. However, their use of SALT is excessive. Preparing the food with the flavour and attention to detail i.e. as it would be prepared "at home", would eliminate the need for excessive salt.
The food is freshly made, the service is great, very affordable per serving, well-labelled dishes, the premises clean, BUT the saltiness (and sometimes the oiliness) of the food has very definitely put me off. One person in the reviews has mentioned feeling ill after eating Babu's food and I wondered if Babu's uses MSG!?! -
Review from Marc N.
Markham, ON
11/13/2010
We were driving home from downtown last night after a long day, and my wife had a fancy for Indian food. Even though there are quite a few Indian eateries in Markham, I hadn't found anything particularly authentic or enjoyable until I came across Babu on Yelp (the iPhone saved the day!).
I'd never had Sri Lankan food before but for those who enjoy Indian food, Babu has many classics such as butter chicken. The Pakistani biriyani (thanks Devan!) was much richer, spicier and more flavourful than the biriyani's we've had from closer to Steeles.
However, it was the naan and the kothu roti that really blew my mind. While most of the food is severed from warming stations, both these dishes are made fresh when you walk in. If you've never had naan directly from the tandoor, you're in for a treat. Almost blackened on one side, moist and fluffy without being doughy -- I could have eaten three.
Kothu roti is apparently a traditional sri lankan dish that then gets chopped into small pieces -- the guy doing the chopping had probably the leanest forearms I've ever seen, likely from doing this all day! It's delicious, that's all I can say.
If you're afraid of spice (which you shouldn't be), do bear in mind a lot of the food is quite spicy. Talk to the friendly staff for less spicy options.
We spent $32 incl. tax on a feast that's fed myself and my wife for two dinners now, and we still have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Fantastic value for food so yummy!
Don't be put off by four star rating -- I'm harsh ;) Go check out Babu and make your own mind up. -
Review from RAJA S.
Scarborough, ON
10/1/2011
I bought mutton kotthu at Babu It was on saturday Night oct.1.2011.The mutton kotthu was really dry.not that much meat in their for the price I paid.no flavour at all.I didn't eat at all.The kotthu price way higher than other Srilankan restaurent.I bought Singerpore noodle on Sep 20.that was really bad too lots of egg less noodles.its looks like egg with noodles.Lots of egg mean I have no words how to explain.I through all noodles out. I never go back again.
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Review from S. S.
Toronto, ON
10/14/2009
Took my date here, and we really enjoyed the meal.
He had curry chicken, and I ordered the chicken masala. Both dishes were delicious and full of flavor and spices.
There was enough gravy to dip our Naan into it, and in the end, we both were happy for taking the chance of eating at this place. No wonder there's always a line-up. 5 stars for sure.
Will venture back again soon! -
Review from Viv C.
Markham, ON
6/10/2010
Great food and nice service.
I had the lamb and also fish as snacks, they tasted really good but the only thing I had to complain is about the sauce. Maybe not my cup of tea, but well, overall, a great experience.
