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Mirchi Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Indian Indian [Edit]
7964 Granville StreetVancouver, BC V6P 4Z2
Neighbourhood: Marpole
(604) 266-7000
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
22 reviews for Mirchi Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"I am in love with Mirchi's butter chicken." In 7 reviews -
"It is WELL WORTH THE WAIT." In 3 reviews -
"I'd ordered a side of naan but it came with really..." In 9 reviews
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22 reviews in English
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Review from Tori K.
Vancouver, BC
4/14/2012 5 Check-ins Here
I am so glad this small family restaurant is in my neighborhood. It's simply outstanding.
I love Indian food, but sometimes it is too rich and my digestive tract rebels after I eat it. Not so with Mirchi!
The food is fresh, they mix spices by hand, the naan is hot off the pan when it comes to your table. The prices are fantastic for the quality of the food. First few times I went I was a meat eater and I've had the butter chicken, but the tikka masala was my favourite. A few weeks ago I went back to veganism and their numerous vegetable dishes are just as delicious, if not more so. They do not cook with ghee (clarified butter), but rather canola oil, making it vegan-friendly.
When I'm by myself I always save half to take home for leftovers, portions are generous.
Side note: I cannot believe someone was complaining that an Indian restaurant does not have something bland on their menu. Just tell them you need it white-girl mild and they'll do their best. Otherwise, go get your chicken mcnuggets somewhere else. -
Review from Shannon B.
4/20/2012
3 stars for the food, 5 stars for the service; which evens out to 4 stars.
We had a meeting near the Vancouver airport and were craving Indian food for lunch. The closest place we found with good ratings was Mirchi, so off we went. Once inside, we were blown over by amazing scents wafting about, the cheery yellow walls and the sight of several pots simmering away on the big stove. We then noticed that there was only one man handling everything - cooking, patrons, the whole shebang.
We sat and were promptly served fresh water. The lunch menu was short (about seven items) but covered all the important bases. I ordered the butter chicken (medium) and the hubs went for the chicken curry (mild). We had a chance to speak with the owner, and as it turns out, he previously owned a great kabob place right down the street from our home in Seattle! Very cool coincidence.
Lunch was served and the owner kindly included a bit of yogurt for the hubs so he could cool his mouth in case the curry was too spicy. His curry had a great taste and the base roux flavor shone through. My butter chicken was very good as well, loved the flavor of the chicken but the sauce seemed to separate out a bit, it didn't hold together as most butter chicken sauces do.
Overall, good flavor and phenomenal service. -
Review from Nathan S.
1/4/2012
An Indian cabby enthusiastically recommended this place to me.
I live in NYC and this was the best Indian food I've ever had.
The owner and chef prepares everything fresh to order.
I would check this place out sooner, rather than later, as the gentleman is getting older. -
Review from Steve R.
Vancouver, BC
5/13/2012
Indian home cooking at it's best.
The "eggplant curry" is an explosion of flavour and always cooked to perfection (I hate mushy eggplant). The pakoras are tasty and light - not saturated with oil like you get in food courts. They come with a (really) hot cilantro chutney and a yogurt dip to cool your tongue if you over do it on the chutney.
They always have really outstanding naan. Crispy yet fluffy. I have noticed that if you get take-out the naan doesn't travel well - tends to flatten out and get a little spongy. So do try to eat it when it's still hot.
Not the best ambiance - a bit ramshackle - but I'll take great food over ambiance anytime. -
Review from Amanda H.
3/28/2012
I really wanted to like Indian food but I think it just might be too spicy for me. The staff here was very gracious to make the food as mild as possible but it still brought tears to my eyes. It smelled and tasted really good until my mouth caught on fire! My husband felt the same. I can't blame them for that but I think there should be something on the menu that doesn't require a fire extinguisher as a beverage.
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Review from Vishnu B.
9/10/2011
Food came late, but was freshly prepared and yummy.
Portion is a bit small. Recommend karai chicken -
Review from Garth C.
I love curry, curried lamb, curried chicken, curried fish, if they made some sort of curried brownie I'm sure I would love it. I think I'm going name my first born Curry McCurryson.
Thanks to yelp we found Mirchi which was conveniently located close to my parents airport hotel. Right when I entered I knew from the smell i was going to be in for a treat.
This is a tiny little family run joint that is not known for it's ambiance, but from my experiences this seems to be the best formula for some of the greatest curry dishes I've ever had.
Note: do not come here if you are in a hurry. This place has a sign "Please be patient as the food is made fresh", I knew from the reviews that I might be waiting but that's a-ok with me.
We ordered the Butter Chicken, Lamb Korma and Matar Paneer, all three were delicious, but the icing on the top was the hot fresh naan bread.
-drool- -
Review from Elizabeth E.
Vancouver, BC
3/14/2012
This little gem in Marpole has excellent fresh food. The owner and the waiters are charming and friendly. The portion sizes are huge. Go on Friday and Saturday when you can get the best biryani. Lunchtime features a special deal between 11:00 and 3:00 at only $7.50 to $8.50. You can find the owner/chef kneading the nan bread. The chef is from Pakistan so the food is different from south indian cuisine. Everything is made from scratch. I have brought several of my friends and family to this little place. This is a gem
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Review from Derek W.
Vancouver, BC
12/9/2010
I work in the area and have tried most of the food around Marpole at one time or another, so finding a unanimous 5 star yelper got me excited to try it once more.
About eight months ago I had lunch there, the $7.50 Chana Masala lunch special, it was not very good. I was not planning on going back but I had to go see if I missed out on something. It turns out I did not miss a thing. In fact, it was probably some of worst Indian food I've had in Vancouver. I can't believe people give it five stars. It is on the same level as crappy shopping mall court food. Actually, the Tinseltown food court Indian food was probably better than this.
I decided to use the Saag as my comeback dish to try out, since it is one of my favorite lunch dishes to order from Indian places. I was asked if medium heat was ok, but I was in the mood for something a little hotter so I got them to bump up the heat. That probably was not the wisest choice, not that I can't take the hot stuff. I think it just threw off the dish completely taste wise. The $11 Saag Paneer was dark green oily slop with slightly burnt cubes of cheese, flavored white rice, bland green salad, and 2 pieces of ok naan. It looked and tasted disgusting, so disappointing. 5 stars my ass!
If you are looking for that great Ma and Pa Indian joint, with cheap but delicious food stay far away from this one. -
Review from steff c.
Vancouver, BC
12/8/2010
This really is a fantastic place and flies under the ethnic radar.
There's lots of street parking on nearby streets off Granville, and after rush hours, Granville's up for grabs too.
This is a small, brightly-coloured little family-run PAKISTANI place. Not Indian. Close, but there's different seasonings going on here, and, lordie, that's a good thing.
If I have one complaint, it's that there can be some confusion when phoning in an order. It's a language/translation thing, so just clarify stuff once or twice.
It's *really* worth the hassle.
The channa masala is really amazing, not too much tomato, a nice mix of spices, fresh cilantro. Just wonderful. The samosas are made in small batches, fresh-fried to order.
You'll find that the curries don't seem to be thickened with starch or flour, the oils separate, and everything seems much less "restauranty" than other places.
For me, it feels like going for dinner at that friend's place who has the AWESOME cook for a mom? Except she's Pakistani and it's even cooler.
When you order, say, butter chicken, for about $13 (lost my menu), it tends to come with the channa, naan, and rice, so it's actually a really good deal compared to some places. (Like friggin' Joey's and their made-by-white-people version for $17.)
This is the kind of business I'd love to see more people support -- good qualities, skillful cooking, off the beaten path, more traditional ethnic food, great service, and a lot of food (not just a big bowl of rice).
Check out Mirchi's if you like Indian food, because Pakistani cuisine's awesome, and these guys have it nailed.
PS: I've only had a sampler of their biryani, but they make it the traditional way in large batches, but only on either Thursday/Friday or Friday/Saturday, and it's a great lunch special for about $8, and often sells out long before it should, the owners tell me. I loved the sample, too. Beautiful chunks of chickens and almonds, etc. -
Review from Stephanie C.
7/25/2010
We were heading up to Vancouver for the day and were starving so we yelped for Indian food and Mirchi came up with rave reviews. I'm so glad we stopped here.
I had the saag and lamb, my daughter had the channa Marsala and her boyfriend just had to try the goat curry.
They were all so delicious! We added samosas and mango lassi's. This was single handedly the best Indian meal I've ever had.
My daughter told the owner that if we lived closer she would eat there everyday!!!!
Seriously....if you live in The area of B.C. You really should stop by and support this husband and wife team. You won't be sorry but you will be full of yummy food!!! -
Review from Kat S.
Yes! This place is awesome!
So cute, so tasty, so nice. This brightly coloured establishment with super friendly and sweet owners is just the place to grab some lunch. Yes, the food takes a while, and the sign tells you to be patient, but it is well worth the wait. And for the price, you just can't beat the quality and love that goes into this food. In case you aren't sure, there are little signs that tell you how much love goes into their cooking. Adorable.
Joe and Parveen have polo shirts that match their lime green and yellow walls and they are just so sweet. I was asked if I would like my chai sweet, I was thanked many times for coming in for lunch and told to come back again, and I was treated so nicely throughout my meal.
I had the eggplant curry for lunch ($7.50, meat dishes $8.50) which came with salad and rice. The salad had a fruity mango dressing. Tasty! I also ordered a naan, because you have to have naan, and it was light and soft and perfect. The chai was nice, too. Not the best chai ever, but good. The curry was awesome. And it wasn't heavy, how some curries can be. I had medium spice, and it was quite spicy. Not too spicy for me, but not for wimps. The portions are big and I really would have been full without the naan but I ate it ALL. Every last scrap, and every grain of rice.
The decor is definitely a little outdated, like the Tiffany lamps, but it's cute, and who cares when the food is this good and cheap. Their walls are covered in photos of regulars and famous people that have come by. They really love their customers, and seem to have a good following of regulars who are happily greeted when they come through the door. You've got to give this place a try! -
Review from Vicky H.
Vancouver, BC
1/5/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I absolutely love this little restaurant! I used to live right around the neighborhood (about 10 min walk to the restaurant) and now that I've moved about 1 hour commute away I still find myself making the trip at least once a month. That's how much I love this place.
Their food is just simply amazing. I've been trying different things on the menu and there wasn't one that I didnt like. My all time favorite would definitely have to be the Butter Chicken. It's just the best I've ever had!
One small complain I have about this restaurant though is that it is very small. Definitely not a good place for large groups. I made the mistake of eating there once while the place was jam packed with people. Food just took forever. I can understand the reason for the wait since there is only one chief and one waiter. I just wouldn't want to be in that situation again.
All in all, great restaurant, great food, great people. Just don't go there when they're packed. Definitely give it a try! -
Review from Liz M.
Vancouver, BC
7/27/2011
Lovingly prepared Indian food in the Marpole area. I'm a big fan of the butter chicken, and Lee's Vegetarian dish. Then naan is great, as are the samosas. You'll be lucky if you eat there on a samosa day, because they aren't always available. Be prepared to wait, because your dish will be cooked to order. It is WELL WORTH THE WAIT. I recommend them.
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Review from Jenny B.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2012
This food is knock your socks off amazing. Really kind family style service, good portion size, just the right amount of everything! I love Mirchi! Living in Marpole for the last year I have been there roughly 1 x per month and have never had something that I did not like. Each dish had been better than the last. Best Indian food in Vancouver!!!
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Review from Madeline P.
3/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh my gawd! I am in love with Mirchi's butter chicken! So tender, so spicy, so delicious! I haven't had Indian food this good since my last visit to San Francisco. Staff very friendly and helpful. I can't wait to go back.
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Review from Jared S.
Vancouver, BC
1/3/2011
I'm not sure of all the 5 star reviews here. The service is really good here. The owner is a really nice guy and treats his customers very well. Everything was good here except for the butter chicken. I was pretty bummed by that fact, so much potential here! I give this place a high rating based only on the service. Wasn't overly impressed with the food.
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Review from May W.
Vancouver, BC
5/13/2011
Absolutely my all time favorite when I crave Indian food. Parveen and Joe are both really friendly (tho I haven't seen Parveen for months, hope she's alright.) I have practically ordered everthing from the entre section of the menu, and not one I didn't love. Also the naan.....so good!
A fair warning tho, Joe starts cooking after food's ordered, so a 15-20+ (maybe even 30) min of wait is to be expected, but still totally worth it. Now especially with Parveen not being around, things can get a little hectic with Joe trying to take care of things both inside and outside of the kitchen. Sometimes their son comes and help out, but Parveen is still the best.
Anyway, bottom line, maybe try not to come when you are starving, especially on first visit. :p After that, you'll be hooked and will be willing to wait on empty stomach! -
Review from Susanne J.
Hope, BC
This was my first visit and I ordered up my staple Saag Paneer as sort of a test. The sign beside my table said something about good fresh food taking time so please be patient. I enjoyed the sunny spot I'd found, relished in the spicy smells emanating from the kitchen and lost myself in the day's news from one of the papers they had at the door. I'd ordered a side of naan but it came with really delicious basmati rice as well. The Saag Paneer was perfect, probably top of my list in Vancouver now. Service was warm and welcoming. Glad to have ventured beyond my usual places and found something even better.
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Review from Paul W.
Vancouver, BC
12/8/2010
I discovered this little gem on Granville about a year and a half ago.It is a little bit hard to see but worth the trouble. This is a true mom and pop shop, the husband is the chef and the wife is the server. When they get busy, service can be slow, this is the only reason for the 3 instead of the 4 rating on the service side.The food is always prepared fresh and I have tried most of the dishes on the menu. Some of the ones that are worth trying are the Pakoras - veggies and chicken are both good, the samosas. For the main courses, try any of the Chicken dishes. My personal favorite is the Lamb Masala Tikki. The Naan is very, very good here and is close to the best that I have had.
Compared to most other South Asian restaurants, they offer really good value, as the rice, naan an other things most other Indian restaurants charge for are included in the price of the meal. Most of the courses are from $13-$16.
To sum up, if you want good home cooked Indian/Pakistani cuisine, you cannot go wrong with Mirchi. -
Review from Amber C.
North Vancouver, BC
10/25/2009 1 Check-in Here
Small family restaurant. Food is really good. It can sometimes take a long time to get your order but it is well worth the wait.
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Review from Westygrrl G.
Vancouver, BC
5/10/2010
Wonderful Indian restaurant in Marpole, south Vancouver. The owners are fantastic and friendly, and all the food is freshly prepared on premise. My favorite is the Butter Chicken, with the best Naan bread anywhere in the city. Lee's Special is also a close second, named after a local business owner who loved this dish so much the owner's named it after him! One of my favorite local restaurants, with superior service and delicious, delicious food.
