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India Abroad
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Middle Eastern, Indian, Pakistani [Edit]
530 Hornby StVancouver, BC V6C 2E7
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 684-6047
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for India Abroad
15 reviews in English
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Review from Lindsay E.
Vancouver, BC
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place was a staple when I worked downtown. Hidden away in the International Food Court off Hornby, it is truly a gem.
Few things you should know:
- There is GREAT veg food here
- DO get the naan
- Try the Chai if you pass by around 9, it's home made
- Watch for the giant line between 11:40 & 1pm
- Bring cash or you'll pay another $0.15 (they add up!)
- Be awesome, these people make fantastic food all week long and I'm sure they'd love it if you said hello and gave them a smile. -
Review from Kim C.
Vancouver, BC
4/30/2012
Take away Indian in the International Food Court on Hornby and some of the best butter chicken I have had in Vancouver...mmmm...and the naan is amazing too - freshly cooked in the back. If you bring your own reusable container you can use it instead of the styrofoam ones they have. I usually go after 1 to avoid the line (they are pretty quick though, so even with the line you won't be waiting too long).
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Review from geoff a.
11/23/2011
This place is obviously popular, and fairly inexpensive.
There is a pretty consistent line up before noon until around 1:30, I usually take lunch late and miss the line, but also risk the chance of limited options, or even once they ran out of rice.
Everything is tasty and of good quality.
They make the naan to order. Sometime I'll pick up a fresh samosa for breakfast.
It's all pretty great, and they're friendly too -
Review from Shoppa H.
Vancouver, BC
4/18/2012
The butter chicken is good, but I was not pleased to see the woman give a man a larger portion. I can eat too! Everyone should have the same portion and not discrimate based on Indian, non-Indian.
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Review from Shannon M.
North Vancouver, BC
12/7/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Mm mm mm!
India Abroad is one of my top three lunch places in the downtown core cause, when it comes to Indian fast food, it doesn't get much better (as the GIANT line that happens if you show up after 11:45 can attest to).
I'm a huge butter chicken fanatic and these guys know what they're doing when it comes to butter chicken. I always forgo the salad and instead get my usual butter chicken with a little bit of whatever veggie dish strikes my fancy (favourites are the palak paneer, mixed veggies or veggie balls). Every dish comes with a piece of roti so I don't normally bother getting naan (though it is very good... nice and garlicy... mmm) and they're not stingy when dishing up your curries.
I also really love that this is a family-run business - the same people are there every single time I go and they're always super friendly while moving the hordes of people through down the line (they've got their system down pat and once you've been more than once you'll understand exactly how it works).
And make sure you get there early. -
Review from Doris L.
Vancouver, BC
3/21/2011
I gave them two stars because I've experienced better from them.
Today I revisted and I was disappointed (which could be why there wasn't the huge scary line that there normally was).
I didn't really expect good value for money (because that's not what this place is about). This place was suppose to represent really good butter chicken. This used to be my stand-by downtown work hour lunch.
But today, the butter chicken (the only thing I've ever tried and ever enjoyed) was not flavourful. The chicken wasn't soft like normally is. It had very little chicken in fact and the flavour. I can't get over it. Maybe today was one off but I don't see why it should be a one off. It's butter chicken. The recipe worked before, why change it?
I am not against change, if it's for the better. I remember they had changed it once before to something more spicy. But now it's not. I feel like they've let me down. But I might go again. That is if I don't end up going to another place for lunch. -
Review from Christina P.
2/18/2011
Vancouver has one of the most diverse resource in terms of food from different regions around the globe - and a lot of them are available for relatively reasonable price.
I don't know why but Indian food seems to be an exception despite huge number of Indian people (esp. in the Surrey region) in Vancouver
I've looked around and there are few nice Indian food places but they are mostly in fancy dining settings - and sometimes I just want them cheap and ready to go instead of having to spend time waiting and dining
So this is one of the few places (apart from the one on Granville island) that actually has Indian 'fast food'
Curry was good but not spectacular. Main reason that I love Indian food is for their richness of flavor and spice and their curry was a little too bland for my taste
Portions are not that big either ...
I would go back there, but it's not some place that I would go out of my way to visit. It does stand out as one of the rare cheap Indian food vendor from the sea of Japanese food restaurants in downtown and would recommend this place if you are out to try something different for a change during lunch -
Review from Chloë E.
Vancouver, BC
10/30/2008
Go here between 11:50 and 1:00 and the corporate elbowing gets a little scary. But it's worth joining that snaking long line up for the great lunch food and freshly baked naan.
Here's the routine:
1. They ask "to stay or to go?" Your pick.
The basic lunch staple is curry with rice and salad. Don't buck the system.
2. You decide what curries you'd like. I'm a fan of the half-and-half. Chili Chicken Wednesdays tops my list, and perfectly complements Butter Chicken or Chickpea Curry. Ask for naan.
3. You pay, and maybe wait a few minutes as the naan is shaped and baked in the glowing stove in the back kitchen.
4. Inhale the food.Listed in: Vancouver randomness, Eating
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Review from Nicole F.
8/6/2010 6 Check-ins Here
This place always has the scariest lineup in the world. But it goes really fast and the food is worth it.
They have daily specials Monday through Friday. AND they seperate the vegetarian dishes. Handy! They do have two dishes that are on special every single day. The butter chicken (I think that's where the giant line comes from...) and the Chana Masala. Although on the menu they "dumb it down" for everyone and it is just called "Chick peas curry".
I go on Thursdays. Thursday is the day they make my beloved Palak Paneer (or "spinach and cheese" on their big menu)
The first time I tried it, I knew it was love. It is spiced to perfection and not so overly hot that you can't taste it, but enough that you'll need a drink to wash it down with.
It is definitely a family owned business and I'm pretty sure it isn't a chain. They make a better Palak Paneer than most sit down Indian restaurants I have been to.
One time I waited too long to head over there and they were SOLD OUT of Palak Paneer. This was really tragic. Go early.Listed in: Favourites, Veggie Spots
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Review from Justin L.
8/11/2011
I've only ever tried the butter chicken at India Abroad in the International Food Court and it's some nummy nosh indeed. You can get a satisfying hot lunch with a drink for under $10. Either go early for lunch or a bit later to avoid the crunch. But if you go later, you risk finding empty dish pans after the locusts have passed through.
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Review from Pete S.
5/20/2010
India abroad makes tasty curry. i just don't see what all the fuss and the giant lines are about. the staff are nice but very rushed as they are always dealing with the enormous line. i've noticed over the years that the portion sizes keep getting smaller and smaller, and for $7-8 i'd like to leave feeling full.
tasty curry but not good value for money. -
Review from Nathan B.
Vancouver, BC
10/17/2009
Like previous poster mentioned, lunch time is very busy for this little establishment, and I will be one of them in line. Easily the best butter chicken and naan bread I have had in this city.
When you step in the International Food Court you notice only one line up, and that is at India Abroad. I am sure the other restaurants are good but I am one who suffers food envy, and it is tough to pass up a good meal.
I love the fact that this place seems to be owned and run by a family, it is always the same three people working and they are always happy and friendly. Good customer service is hard to find these days, and its nice to feel wanted as a patron.
I do not have one complaint about India Abroad other than I wish there were more locations around this city. They could easily branch out and be a very successful establishment, how about opening a location on Denman? -
Review from Katrina S.
Vancouver, BC
9/8/2010
My sister just introduced me to this place today. She asked, "Do you feel like butter chicked for lunch?", and as soon as my affirmative reply came we were speed walking towards this place in order to get there before the 12 O'clock rush. And when I say rush, I do mean rush! The lineup got very long, but it went quickly.
We ended up getting our butter chicken, with rice, salad and warm fresh naan bread to go and eat by the water at Canada Place. I must say, when my sister told me it was the best butter chicken, she was right. The portion was also just enough, leaving me happily satisfied.
If you are looking for a quick, hearty lunch, I highly recommend India Abroad! -
Review from Gretchen C.
Vancouver, BC
11/8/2011 5 Check-ins Here
their butter-chicken is addicting, and the line-up during lunch-time proves that i'm not the only one that thinks so.
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Review from Ed P.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 8/13/2010
As an update to my previous review, I've found that the excess water doesn't actually come from the salad - it's from the damned rice!
This curry rice water is the bane of my existence and must be drained at all costs. I suggest using a plate or maybe try closing the container prior to drainage - I lost about 5 forkfuls of awesomeness to the garbage maw by being over-zealous :(1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/8/2010
I love Indian food. I am also very picky when it comes to said Indian food.
Imagine my surprise when… Read more »
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