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Banjara Indian Cuisine
Category: Restaurants Indian Indian [Edit]
796 Bloor Street WestToronto, ON M6G 1L7
Neighbourhoods: Christie Pits, Bickford Park
(416) 963-9360
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
81 reviews for Banjara Indian Cuisine
Review Highlights
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"The butter chicken is amazing." In 15 reviews -
"Oh, and the naan was lovely - all stretchy and warm." In 25 reviews -
"And the Mango Lassi was thick and delicious." In 6 reviews
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81 reviews in English
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Review from Harrisimo F.
Toronto, ON
3/15/2012
Banjara is located conveniently just a stones throw from Christie pits and is one of the the best Indian restaurant in the city, not only because of it's incredibly authentic and masterfully cooked food, but because of its location and incredible efficiency and track record as a well run restaurant.
Aside from the perfect blend of spices and sauces that only a well trained Chef from Indian possesses, you can always expect your lamb to be tender and your butter chicken to practically melt in your mouth as you close your eyes and try to envision a better example of perfect Indian cuisine. Personally, I have a hard time putting it beneath any Indian cuisine I have had in my life.
As a restaurant, it abides by the old fashion sentiment that the customer is king and you can always count on a fast take out time and amazing service if you decide to dine in it's classically designed dining room.
This place is an absolute institution in Toronto because to find anything comparable you really need to go little India which isn't the most accessible area for people who live downtown but probably a little more accessible than going to India itself...
Be prepared for an explosion of flavors and sensations if you eat here because they will not skimp on the spices unless you request differently. -
Review from M C.
Toronto, ON
5/9/2012
Simply delicious! i love spicy foods, and I always order the food 'medium' because i want to appreciate the delicious flavours. The mango lassis are also quite good. I have gone to this restaurant several times, if you are a fan of spicy Indian cuisine, you must not miss this place located conveniently on Bloor st.
In terms of price, we are 5 and we have 4-5 starters with 4 mains and couple of drinks and the total came under $100. That's reasonable for me.
Will visit soon. :) Bon Appetit! -
Review from Vivek S.
Updated - 2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
The bloom is off the roti, or put another way this place has gotten a little big for its bhindi. Being always busy means being always harried and getting a table here is neither a reliable or enjoyable prospect. They don't take reservations and this could mean a serious wait. Our group of six stood around the restaurant for 45 minutes (and I was there 15 minutes before that) as they accomodated two-tops and four-tops ahead of us.
All that said, I think their menu features some of the best Indian in the city and it's always at the top of my recommendations. But standing around hungry in a crowded restaurant is *not* the best.Listed in: Namaste!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/19/2009
Appearances can be deceiving. Formerly a "Coffee Tip," Banjara's facade leaves much to be desired.… Read more »
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Review from Mika A.
Toronto, ON
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great service and great food. Our order arrived within five minutes of ordering. Must try the lamb Roganjosh. Also large vegetarian selection.
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
2.5 star
I feel really bad about giving Banjara Indian Cuisine such a low rating.
The service here is so good!! The wait staffs are super nice and friendly. 4 star
But.... the food... something is really lacking with the food.
Cheetah Draft ($6.95) was really refreshing and has a hint of sweetness which I enjoyed. The freshly made Naan ($2.49) was warm and fluffy, love that!! 4 star
But the rest of the food we ordered were just MEH..... 2 star
Onion Bhajia ($3.95) - bland... I don't even taste the onion and quite doughy
Chilli Chicken ($11.95) - Sweet and Sour Chicken? The chicken so dry
Rogan Josh Lamb ($11.95) - one of the better dish with chunks of lamb but with no spiciness
Aloo Gobi ($9.50) - tons of vegetables nicely cooked with good flavour
Mater Paneer ($9.99) - my Yelp friend kept spooning these onto my plate... I wondering maybe he didn't like it?
Garlic Naan ($3.95) - definitely on the pricey side!!
Mango Lassi ($3.75) - really thick and served with a thin straw, start sucking
I found most of the food that served were lurk warm... so not hot and spicy and not hot hot... I was disappointed!
Maybe I would come back because of the great service? But definitely not for the food! -
Review from Kunal D.
Toronto, ON
2/9/2012
1.5 stars (because the Paneer Tikka and Paneer Makhani were just delicious).
We went to Banjara for dinner on a Tuesday night to celebrate a birthday. There was ample parking. The place appeared quite full. The ambiance was old and boring.
For appetizers, we ordered the Paneer Tikka (amazing when piping hot), chicken tikka (very poorly spiced), cauliflower tikka (meh) and vegetable pakoras (meh). For the mains we had Dal curry, spinach, veg korma, andhra chicken and paneer makhani. Everything except the paneer was just awful. Although the naan was warm (we ordered garlic and methi), that is to be expected from every Indian restaurant which serves punjabi food. Seeing as to how this place is owned by Andhra people, we ordered the Biryani, which sucked. It seemed as though they had large pre made batches of the stuff and they just spooned some into a serving dish.
The staff was friendly but just terrible at service. When we asked our server for her recommendations, she had none! Also, we had to beckon them repeatedly to place our order, clear our plates, etc. while they huddled around playing on their iphones. We ordered some wine with the dinner and the server put the unopened bottle of wine (luckily it had a twist cap) on our table and walked away! lol
Overall: The food was terrible, and the service was bad. Would never go back. It did however provide an opportunity to make a lot of fun of my buddy who picked this place! -
Review from Mauricio A.
Toronto, ON
1/9/2012
Was there last week to check it out. Some Yelpers of good repute gave it some good reviews and I need an Indian fix STAT! So we dropped by to check this out.
HINT: Locale is not big on reservations on a busy evening --which is to say almost most of them, so call in and say that "you are on your way and will be there in 20min.!" They might take your name and your party's number and hey, when you get there you just saved yourself a 20min. wait. Voila!
The locale is kinda of tacky-looking but in a good way. Also, if you are going to have a serious dinner here at night, do yourself a favour and don't wear natural fabrics, otherwise they will reek to Indian food for a day or so... Just like when you to go Tikka! :-P
Now, to the food... it's alright and somewhat tasty. Definitely worth exploring if you live in the area and don't want to travel far, but far from succulent or orgasmic, like I was led to hope and believe. Service was attentive but for example, the chicken tandoori in my mix meat platter, was as dry as a Scotman's whiskey bottle. Come on Banjara, the place was literally PACKED, so you had to be making tons of this stuff. It's inexcusable to mess up such a simple and highly ordered dish.
Our Pulao rice was a bit on the dry side too(?!). So, our meal was as such that we were forced, mid-meal to order a butter chicken if just to use the sauce to mix in with the dry stuff. That's seriously not cool.
The Daal With Spinach was alright, although again, it feel a bit too dry, as if it had been made a while ago and just reheated, you can tell by how dishes like this begin to crust as they cool. It wasn't bad, but I have had better.
Honestly, I give this place 2 stars for the food and 1 extra star just for the place. It was a bit fun --mind you I was on a fun date. It was cool to see it packed like that, and the servers were attentive, but at $50 for two people, with no alcohol included, I definitely have had better at this level/price point. A pity. I probably won't be back. -
Review from Howard H.
1/27/2012
Don't let the humble former Coffee Time exterior fool you; This is one of the most consistently excellent Northern Indian kitchens in the city. While you won't find an innovative approach to anything - nor much in the way of anything remotely resembling "lighter" options, you will leave extremely satisfied with enough left over to impress even a reformed power-eater such as myself.
Superior ingredients, dependably superb execution of one of the broader selections of Indian comfort food available in the GTA combined with FAST DELIVERY make this spot a winner. -
Review from Swaroop P.
Toronto, ON
11/29/2011
I really love Indian food. I miss home style cook food. this restaurant has a good indian food menu. food is spicy but not like home. i eat the very spicy food so this is not bad for who are not used to. The workers are nice and bring out food fast.
Banjara is a good place for Indian food. -
Review from Allison T.
Toronto, ON
12/1/2011
As I even begin to think of Banjara, my mouth is watering & I'm craving their Naan. The portions are large (hi leftovers!), the spices are legit, & their service is friendly.
Don't let my short review fool you. You shouldn't be reading Yelp. You should be eating the veggie pakoras at Banjara already... -
Review from Blair M.
10/1/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I LOVE Indian food, and when I say that this place is as good as it gets I really mean it. I have been to India and this place brings back those flavor memories every time I taste any of their food.
I have not found a single item on this menu that I was not impressed with and I get the feeling I'm not alone. Banjara is always very busy and they have a huge kitchen staff on duty at all times which probably indicates that they also do a lot of take out and delivery but it also means that everything is fresh fast and delicious.
I could eat here once a week, and some weeks I do. -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
11/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
WOW! What took me so long to try Banjara's Indian cuisine? Well, they often do have long lines, so I guess that played a role.
I did manage to make it in and try a few different dishes and am happy I did. I will absolutely for sure no doubt about it be back.
We went to Banjara after 10PM on a Saturday night, so we missed most of the crowd. Just because it wasn't busy didn't mean the staff took it easy, however. We had multiple people come over and serve us, answer questions, and take empty plates away, and every one of them had a smile on their face and was extremely polite and confident. Several times staff, including one who may have been the owner and/or manager, checked on us and made sure we were enjoying ourselves and our food.
It's nice to see a place run by such nice and hardworking people, with such delicious food, be a success. I'll be back! -
Review from Munis T.
Toronto, ON
12/20/2011
I went here for lunch yesterday with high expectations since not many restaurants on yelp get 4.5 stars. I must say I was terribly disappointed!
The food I had (lamb rogan josh, shrimp masala, bhendi masala, daal with spinache) was all astoundingly bland and under-spiced. And I'm not talking about capsaicin content, I'm talking about various spices that give indian food it's diverse and exciting flavor--they were barely detectable.
The rasmalai, ironically, had the chlorine-like flavor you get when you put too much saffron in something.
To add injury to insult, the food gave me indigestion later in the day.
I shall never return, and I would recommend Utsav (also 4.5 stars) over this place any day. -
Review from Reynold P.
Toronto, ON
10/4/2011
I love bento boxes. I love the assortment of choices I have in one meal (don't worry, Banjara doesn't serve bento boxes).
I like Banjara because they give you choice and offer dinner platters which are, what I consider them as, "Indian bento boxes".
The times I've been there, it has always been full and busy. Waiting is never too long however, so don't fret. Besides, the smells will arouse your appetite even more so, so enough to allow your stomach to.. well.. stomach a whole dinner platter.
I've talked about this platter enough, I think it's time to tell you why I liked it so much. It comes with rice AND Naan bread, a choice of Butter Chicken, Tikka Masala, goat curry, and a few other curry options. On the side there are Pakoras and rice pudding for dessert. All of this is served on a large metal plate. The portion and price are right on. Can't ask for too much more...
I like how I was able to pair the entree with either rice or naan, which are both delicious. Extra sauce goes a long way when you like mopping it with the last piece of naan.
I've tried a few other dishes here too, but I don't remember what exactly and how they tasted.
Overall, Banjara has a lively atmosphere that is cozy but loud. It has good value for the portions but the food is pretty average. Nevertheless, I liked the platters, they give you a taste of everything you wanted to order on the menu anyways. It's a convenient package. Rice pudding I can do without, but it's nice to have a bite to satisfy my sweet tooth. -
Review from Monica F.
7/21/2011 ROTD 12/16/2011
TOFoodReviews sums up this place quite nicely, but of course I will give my 2 cents as well.
I'm no Indian Food expert, but I know what I like. This place puts Little India on Queen to SHAME.
Things we like to order (and so should you!):
-Butter Chicken (of course...)
-Aloo Gobi
-Beef Rogan Josh
-Pakoras and/or Samosas
-Tandoori Chicken
-Saffron Rice
You also have the option of going with a "Quick Combo Platter" that comes with your choice of a veggie, beef, chicken, beef, goat, lamb, or seafood entree, salad, rice, nann, and dessert. So you get a little bit of everything for around $10 for lunch, $15 for dinner. I also see on their web-site that they're doing an AYCE lunch buffet now? Wish I worked in the area....
What else have they got? Oh yeah... Nann. Mmmmmm... Nann. Love Nann. And they've got about 5 different types to suit your fancy. Cheese Nann, anyone? Why yes. Yes, please.
Also, if you like papadum, you get it free as an appetizer before your meal.
We usually get take-out or delivery, as this place becomes extremely busy during Dinner time. I recommend making a reservation just to be on the safe side. One perk about getting take-out is the containers they use. They're great for re-using and the perfect size to store lunches in to bring to work. -
Review from Jennifer B.
10/30/2011
This is just one of those Indian restaurants you step into & you just KNOW it's going to be outstanding.
Shared the lamb Rogan Josh, Chicken Karahi & the Garlic Naan, which indeed is all "stretchy & warm" as a reviewer previously wrote. Everything was incredibly delicious & loaded with spices & flavour. Some of the best Indian cuisine I've ever had. Service friendly & efficient. Ambiance casual, nothing fancy, perfect. -
Review from Adam B.
8/25/2011
After traveling from Utah to come to Toronto for a week, we decided to start things off with a nicer meal at Banjara. We sat out on the patio on an August evening and had a lovely meal to off-set our jet lag.
This review needs to be prefaced by something that most will dismiss me for - but my wife and I's favorite Indian Food that we have tried ANYWHERE is in the unlikely town of SLC, Utah. If you're ever in town, go to Bombay House and prepare to die. It is the best. The. Best.
So, when we go anywhere else, we're used to being dissapointed. And I must say, Banjara has taken it's seat as my 2nd favorite Indian Food anywhere. The Saag Paneer was wonderful. The Garlic Naan LOADED with garlic. And the Mango Lassi was thick and delicious.
All in all, a very worthy meal if you're visiting town. -
Review from Marc L.
Etobicoke, ON
2/11/2012
Wow.. this place is so good for the cost! We always get the quick combo platters... there's so much food for 15$ (you could probably split it with someone) and quite good.
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Review from Ayesha A.
7/6/2011
There are, in fact, some decent desi joints in central downtown Toronto. Who knew?
This place is so yummy, and the absolute only Indian restaurant I am willing to eat at in my hood, that will satisfy my cravings for some yummy khana (urdu for food, just had to throw in a bit of brown people talk).
My two fav. veggie options (which many Indian restaurants SKIP) are both available, (btw, they are Baingan Bharta and Malai Kofta) and the pricing is decent, there is a nice little patio, and it's just delicious. Go there. It's good.Listed in: Indian Food
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Review from Ellie A.
4/26/2011
Banjara is a freakin' Christie Pitts miracle. I am a regular there and I can vouch for its consistency and total deliciousness.
Here's my top ten list for what makes Banjara great:
10. It's cleaned up the neighbourhood. That store used to be a seedy Coffee Time. Then, it was a seedier, "Coffee Top" - yup, the new owners didn't bother changing the sign. Then, if you can believe it, it was a "Coffee Tip"! (That was the last straw). Banjara rescued that little restaurant space next to the park from being forever only a place that only truck drivers or very, very stoned high school students would want to go.
9. Friendly staff. I've met the owner of Banjara twice and he is lovely. He is humble and friendly and clearly aims to please. The waitstaff there are quite warm (if not particularly boisterous) and they do a bang-up job playing tetris each night with the hordes that crowd into the restaurant at dinner time. Sometimes they actually don't do a great job, but we forgive them. The food is really worth it.
8. Hot means hot. They've toned down their spice quite a bit from when they first opened (no doubt to sooth our wimpy Canadian tongues), but they can really crank up the heat on demand. And they always ask how you like it. With a Kingfisher and some Naan? Perfect.
7. Whole tandoori cauliflower. Tender, flavourful, sizzling. Did I mention sizzling?
6. Variety. Daal Makhani is creamy and rich, a typical northern Indian sauce. But Daal with spinach is light with south Indian curry leaves. Aloo Baingan sees big chunks of eggplant left in tact, along with creamy pieces of potato, while their Baingan Bharta is super smokey, rich and buttery with tons of ginger. The spinach fry is spicy and full of spinach flavour not masked by other spices.
5. Convenience. This area is dying for more good restaurants and (as the dozens of reviews attest) Banjara is in walking distance to those of us living in the area, it has free parking and is right next to the park to boot. So you can walk off your ghee filled stomach watching kids making out by the swings.
4. Rustic spices. I love dishes that are both complex but you can also taste the individual flavours. Eating through a dish at Banjara, you bite down on a cardamom pod, a bit of star anise, a crunch of ginger, a dainty curry leaf. Each flavour is pungent and just right.
3. You can tell that each chef has their own unique flair. We order a lot of the same dishes frequently and each time, while clearly the same recipe, they have a little something different. One chef loves more ginger, another makes the eggplant a little smokier, you get the idea. We really enjoy those little differences, since the quality stays high.
2. Mango Lassi. Sour, sweet, cold, creamy.
1. Leftovers the next day!
Vegetarian score = 9/10. Large variety of flavours and dishes and no doubts about hidden meat buried in sauces...Listed in: Best of the Best: Must try…
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Review from Susan C.
Toronto, ON
6/26/2011
This is the first time ever going to an Indiana cuisine. My best friend loves multicultural food and decided to try Indian this time when she was visiting.
To be honest, I didn't know what to expect. But, in the end, THIS PLACE IS SOO GOOD! I've always been a huge fan of samosas and this place makes amazing veggie ones! Totally worth trying. My friend and I both ordered a platter (a veggie one and a chicken one to be exact). THEY WERE HUGE!! We couldn't finish...we both only finished half of the platter and took the rest of it home.
The service was amazing. The waiters/waitresses were very helpful when we couldn't decide what we wanted. They were always smiling, which makes the atmosphere of the restaurant even more friendly.
Note: THERE'S ALSO OUTSIDE SEATING, which would have been amazing if it was so rainy on the day I went.
Overall, my first experience with Indian cuisine was memorable. For sure, I'll be back...especially for those tasty samosas! :D
Oh and, as always, I check out the washrooms of a restaurant. They only had two washrooms - one for ladies and one for males. I experienced waiting in a long line for the washroom, which wasn't pleasant. -
Review from Lee M.
Oakville, ON
1/4/2012
We came here on a cold Dec night as our visit in the summer was memorable with a delish mango lassi and some good Indian food enjoyed on the patio. This time around the spicy eggplant was good but the lentil and spinach dish was bland. Lamb rog josh was ok although lamb was almost cooked too long. It tasted like it was cooked separately and then added to the sauce at the time you ordered it. Generous portions and took leftovers home. Got quite busy after 7pm and the service was attentive.
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Review from Zoe R.
3/26/2011
Banjara's a nice name. Starts with the letter B, coincidentally as does the word... Boombastic.
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I liked the Yelp reviews that I read, before going.
I truly did not like the aftermath of ordering their veggie combo.
Was it the lentil curry? Or the eggplant dish, or the cauliflower? Or the pakoras?? It's a whodunit. One of the above, or more than just one, are responsible for the tootiness for the following two days that ensued.
check. I was full after eating the, check, tasty food. I was pleased with the assortment of foods in the combo tray. check.
but *sigh* both myself and even my female friend reported unusually offensive tooting, that soon enough became a part of our lives. Which, I can promise you, was upsetting not only to those within our immediate circumference, but also to our own selves. To fart is one thing, but to fart after having their combo... is something I want to avoid... at least for the next little while.
Would I eat there again? I guess. I'm honestly
a sucker for Indian food. But I just don't know what to blame, or avoid. What would have signalled my body to be so, literally, awfully gassy?Listed in: Colour me Multi-Ethnic…
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Review from Erel E.
Toronto, ON
1/21/2012
Butter chicken and coconut rice are amazing.
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Review from Goose K.
Toronto, ON
5/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm no expert at Indian food but I know a few people who claim they are, so I found my way to Banjara on a recommendation and have since revisited several times. When you first walk in and cut your way through the wall of spice and aroma, you'll notice the awkward setup reminiscent of a past burger joint. Every occasion usually results in us waiting for about 5 or 10 minutes (not referencing Seinfeld here, going literal now) but we're always quickly served a pint by attentive staff which subdues any mood from having to stand and wait.
I will admit that I will base my entire experience and any recommendation solely on the holy grail of Indian food, the butter chicken. There are very few foods that I have the urge to smother over my body but this would be one of them. From the moment the spices burn through my nostrils to my tongue wrapping around a piece of chicken, the experience can be described as flawless. A perfect combination of creamy sweet tandoori and savoury bliss that makes my eyes roll back into my head. The old adjective saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies here as we always order the same thing. The chana masala and palak paneer are excellent choices and a perfect compliment to the the most excellent naan.
In addition to the superb food, you can expect hardy size portions, decent prices and a friendly staff. Accompanied by a lively atmosphere where everyone always appears to be enjoying themselves helps complete the experience.
On a concluding note, if you happen to think there is better butter chicken in TO, please locate the 'send message' link and enlighten me. However, if I find myself in disagreement, I won't be the one smothered in creamy butter chicken ;) -
Review from Jenny T.
Toronto, ON
6/17/2011
We were at Christie Pits Park and decided we would check this place out. We were seated right away when we got in. The staff was patient in giving us time to go through the menu and in answering questions, which was much appreciated.
I don't have much experience with Indian food other than two staple dishes, Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala, so my friend and I decided to order two dishes and share. We ordered Chicken Pakora, Chicken Biryani and Mater Paneer with Garlic Naan and Keema Naan.
After our orders were taken and the food was served, it seemed like the staff forgot about our side of the restaurant. Based on reading other reviews, maybe it was a bad night? Water glasses weren't refilled, people had to flag staff to get them to come to our side of the restaurant.
However, the food was delicious and very filling! The portions were big enough that we had leftovers to bring home. The stars are missing because of the service, but I will probably be back again so there's room for improvement. -
Review from Vikas S.
Toronto, ON
2/21/2011
When it comes to Indian food, one would figure that I know my stuff.
Well, I got a bit of a shocker today - I went to Banjara for dinner tonight and I thought that it was going to be bad - as I had bad experiences at its previous incarnations as Mr. Maharaja (on Balmuto) and Banjara when it was at Yonge and Charles - but, I was proven incorrect!
The food was quite tasty!
I was with five others and we had a good array of dishes. I tried the Panner Tikka (a little crispy, tangy and done just right!), Aloo Ghobi (which had some curry leaves in it - so be careful), Chana Masala (not bad) Baingan Bharta (a great Panjabi dish) and Palak Paneer (not the best I had, but very good).
I would have to say that the Eggplant and the Paneer Tikka were my faves!
The naan was decent, and the rice was cooked to perfection!
I will return! -
Review from Michelle T.
6/24/2011
This is the default Indian restaurant I go to when I'm in Toronto. And not just because it's close to where I stay.
Walking to this establishment, you can smell the delicious cooking from blocks away. The neighbors must go out of their mind.
Everything I've tried on the menu was delicious and reasonably priced. Everything from the Chicken Vindaloo to the Matter Paneer. One notable thing on the menu is their quick combo platters, especially if you're stopping in for lunch. You get this HUGE plate full of rice, meal, salad, and dessert from 8 - 10 bucks. For a little lunch item, I wind up bagging the leftovers for dinner. -
Review from Roma M.
11/8/2010
Wow, this place was such a disappointment.
I was all prepared to love Banjara considering the rave reviews on Yelp, but it didn't meet my high expectations, and Yelpers tend to spot the strengths.
The restaurant has a kitschy Bombay Palace- circa 1990 style. Not a great look considering this place was purchased from a coffee shop not that long ago.
I don't claim to be a food connoisseur, but Indian food I know really well actually, having grown up with it, and having been to the best of the best of Indian restaurants in India and Toronto. Banjara, first of all, is not run by Indian chefs. Now I don't really care who makes my food, but Indian food is a highly creative cuisine, and the variety, freshness, and assembly of ingredients is almost wholly based on the origin of the chefs. He or she can make or break the best managed restaurants through their cultural lean;
-Northern Punjabi/Mughlai food tends to be creamy, nutty, with saffron, turmeric, cumin, etc. made with ghee and meats are marinated with yoghurt.
-Western is sweeter, and tends to use less onions, garlic.
-Southern is typically spicy, peppery and is generally oil and water-based, and never creamy nor sweetened.
The chefs are Sri Lankan and you can taste it in the food. The spices are southern and lacking in that creamy, nutty, yoghurt based texture seasoned palates come to expect from Mughlai cuisine. Further, the food here isn't fresh. The watery residue from reheating a meal was more than obvious from my Chicken Tikka Masala. Again, if it were fresh, it wouldn't be watery. I noticed mango lassi being prepared right at the bar area from a mango puree can. If you aren't going to make a lassi from scratch, which sadly is extremely easy and inexpensive to do, at least be discrete about it. I also spotted a huge can of Ketchup and MDH grocery store masala on a shelf in the kitchen from my seat.
Any semi-decent Indian chef will tell you that you should *always* be making your dishes from freshly ground spices.
+1 star for attentive staff.
There are some far better options for quality, authentic North Indian food downtown.Listed in: Indian Food, Blacklisted!
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Review from Vincent D.
Toronto, ON
3/16/2011
First things first: the hours on this page are wrong. They are indeed open for lunch.
Butter chicken was a tremendous hit, as was the tikka masala. The Masala is different from other places I've eaten it at, especially because this dish felt more like a mix of a tandoori sizzler and tikka than it did the madras sauce style dishes I've had.
the Chicken Tikka itself had huge pieces of chicken. You won't be hungry.
Rice and naans were flavourful and the staff was excellent. Very helpful and kind and overall, a great experience. Great value for the money too. -
Review from Mainak M.
Toronto, ON
5/16/2011
I have grown up eating Indian food and suitably capable for identifying the best Indian eateries in GTA. For me, Banjara is right up there among the best Indian food places which deliver as well.
I prodded five of my now brown friends from Montreal to go to this restaurant. For folks who haven't been to this place before, the layout of the restaurant is kinda clumsy. When you enter, you don't see a receptionist to ask for tables. Instead you see a bar counter with hordes of servers scurrying around. You go and ask them to be seated.
I was asked to order the food (wondering if it had anything to do with my ethnicity ;). We ordered two butter chicken, chicken korma, daal makhani, tandoori platter and naan. To my pleasant surprise the server asked me about the level of spiciness that I wanted. Mild was the flavor of the table, hence that's what I asked for.
15 minutes later the food arrived. Food didn't look that presentable, only because of the low lighting which the restaurant has. But the food was A-awesome for everyone. Here is the individual review:
1. Butter Chicken: One of the best, if not the best I have had in Toronto. Creamy & buttery with big juicy pieces of chicken. The quantity was sufficient for three people (yes, we are light eaters).
2. Chicken Korma: Very rich and heavy with equally big chunks of chicken. I wonder how they can afford to keep the prices at $10.99 for that much chicken! Nonetheless, the dish was just perfect for my white friends, who couldn't be bothered to eat spicy food at all!
3 Tandoori Platter: Mix of Tandoori Chicken, Seekh Kebab, Chicken Tikka, Tandoori Prawn & Fish. All of the individual items were savory and seasoned with tasty spices. They all tasted very good and we all were practically fighting for the last few pieces of the Chicken Tikka.
4. Daal Makhani: Rich and creamy is just how they like to cook their food! A similar story as the top two dishes and equally tasty.
5. Naan: The only place I have eaten in Toronto where the Naan in round in shape similar to a Roti. It arrived fresh and tasted as if they just came out of the tandoor. They were very soft and was a perfect accompaniment to our dishes.
Yes, we had a chicken overload and would probably need to spend extra hours at the gym the next day, but it was all worth it! Definitely recommended!! -
Review from Chad M.
8/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
Banjara, the jewel of crusty pits.
I'm not sure if it's just me, but one of the drawbacks to Indian food is that unless it's a buffet you don't really get to try a lot of dishes. This problem is solved at Banjara, which offers combinations plates! I had the Chicken Tikka Masala combo ($12.95) and everything was amazing!
Service was cheerful and quick and the restaurant has an upscale feel to it without being expensive. This place is a great value!
The only slight drawback - the washroom wasn't really as clean as it should have been. Hopefully the next few hours will go well and this review won't need any updating... :P -
Review from Jen D.
Toronto, ON
2/24/2012
Love this place! While I have only ever had their takeout and cannot comment on the service or atmosphere of the restaurant, the food is a definite home-run. Favorite spot for Indian food in the city!
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Review from bleach r.
York, ON
4/17/2011
My neighbour told me about Banjara when they opened up, so we went and reallly liked it. I even told people about it and they liked it too.
BUT..it changed..things went blend ( we figured the cook left )
Now it's just another OK indian restaurant -
Review from Lauren M.
Holy thermal underwear, Batman! This place is AWESOME!
I have been a couple times before, but I revisited today and it was just a zillion times better than I remembered from a few years ago.
The patio is great, I don't know many Indian places that have a patio!
We walked over through Christie Pitts, you can start to smell all the aromatic spice goodness from about 50 meters away.
One thing I noticed was that the service here has really been stepped up a notch. They had many servers on hand and everyone was extremely prompt and polite. Water was refilled numerous times.
The portions are pretty huge for indian food. We were starving (3 of us) and we ended up taking half our food home because we ordered too much.
I tried the Tandoori Chicken Tikka - excellent, huge portion (about 12oz chicken! all white meat). We also ordered a chicken korma, a chicken tikka masala (chicken overload!) and a mushroom curry dish which were all super tasty.
They asked how spicy we wanted each dish prepared (mild, medium or spicy) which is useful as my mom has extremely low tolerance to spicy foods.
The naan breads here are GIANT. Only $1.95 each so we ordered 1 each and couldn't finish them.
4 entrees, naan, rice and 2 beer came to $65, not bad at all considering I have enough food in the fridge to feed me for 3 days. -
Review from shyni y.
2/21/2011
I am a firm believer that this place has ruined every other Indian food spots for me.
I've been here a few times now...and have found that the service and the food were both excellent. The moment you enter you're greeted and water is brought to you. People check with you ever so often to fill water and to ensure you have all you need.
I always end up having a great time here.
Word of caution is that the food tends to be a bit "spicy" -although I think that is how it should be. The portions are just enough so that you can share with a friend - which is a handy thing when you're all new to Indian food and are scared to order a whole dis to yourself.
I particularly enjoy the fact that whether you sit outside or inside, you have a sense of privacy - it's dim inside and the tables are well spaced - and from the outside, the restaurant is far enough from the street that you feel removed from the bustle of Bloor street. -
Review from Spiro P.
Toronto, ON
12/11/2010
I usually order the Tandoori Fish (Salmon) when I go to Banjara. I really like the dish, but the portion is smaller than it use to be.
The food tastes good and is cooked with a lot of oil.
The dining is quiet enough to enjoy company and your meal. -
Review from D B.
Toronto, ON
1/12/2011
I've been to this place a couple times now. Their menu has a lot to choose from so it's difficult to write a complete review without having tried 90% of the menu. However, I can say that the veg potato (aloo) and spinach (banji) curries were excellent. Some of the other dishes ordered at our table included the chicken tikka masala and lamb biryani. Our party did enjoy these dishes as well but it should be noted that some thought there were better restaurants in town that did a better job preparing those same dishes.
Overall tho a very positive experience and I am looking forward to trying other dishes on their menu. -
Review from Kat F.
Updated - 9/8/2009
I could eat untold amounts of Paneer Makhani. Like, we're talking ruinous quantities.
Luckily, said Paneer Makhani can be yours in as little as 20 minutes. Yep, that's how long it took from the minute I called Banjara for delivery to the moment my doorbell rang and the bag o' delights was handed over to me. 20 minutes!? Logic defying.Listed in: Best Toronto Restaurants For…
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4/6/2009
My friend and I were famished after a day of dragging furniture across the length of my apartment,… Read more »
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Review from Neil T.
Toronto, ON
7/4/2009
I know little to nothing about Indian food. I once mistook 'rogan josh' for Josh Rogan, someone how I assumed was related to Joe Rogan. True story. This being said, whatever type of Indian food Banjara has, authentic or not, I am buying.
The naan is fresh and yum. It is a nice mixture of chewy, toasty, and deliciousy. The veggie pakora is well textured and perfectly deep fried. Butter chicken is a must. Many others have been consumed, but if you read my first line, you'd realize that I can't remember all these food names.
Tip: save $1.50 by opting for regular naan over garlic naan. The taste difference is minimal, especially after submerging it in the butter chicken. The overly packed (but free) parking lot is a nice touch too.
