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Vij's Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Indian Indian [Edit]
1480 W 11th AveVancouver, BC V6H 1L1
Neighbourhoods: Fairview Slopes, South Granville
(604) 736-6664
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Trendy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
334 reviews for Vij's Restaurant
Review Highlights
-
"Shortribs were great, lamb popsicles were amazing." In 101 reviews -
"Loved the lamb popsicles in Fenugreek cream curry." In 14 reviews -
"...is always a waiting list and they don't take reservations." In 21 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
334 reviews in English
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Review from Adi N.
4/14/2012
We had heard rave reviews about this place from people who had been to Vancouver and even those who hadn't so this place was a must-visit on our itinerary. Having heard stories about the wait, we were extremely happy to get in without a wait.. in face, we actually managed a sweet spot in the corner at a cozy table for two. While we took our seats, there were free tasters going around and those were nice too
Lets start with the drinks - Indianized and how ! I grew up on the cheapest good booze available back then - Old Monk military rum and grew nostalgic seeing a variant here. I'm referring to the 'Dark Army' - amber rum, Ginger-lemon, mango n Garam masala ! It was quite nice and the garam masala added an ever so slight zing that I'm sure I'll try to replicate at home as well.. The missus had the bombay mojito and had to send back her drink once. Thats where I want to talk about the staff - they were always there but never bothersome, friendly and not nosy and quite cheerful. I thought at a time that there were three or four people looking after us. My wife's drink was replaced immediately with an apology.
I had the Rajasthani style lamb and my wife had the Saag paneer with daal and grilled chapatti. Although it wasn't a very strong aroma, the moment I stuck a fork into the lamb, I knew this was some really well cooked meat. It reminded me of choki dhaani (one of the have-to-go places to eat if ever visiting Rajasthan)... It wasn't quite as spicy but it was nonetheless, marvelously authentic ...The saag and daal were brilliant and needless to say so was the rice..
When desert arrived it, I was too full but I couldn't resist. We had the mango kulfi which was nice but a tip to anyone else ordering the same - to enjoy it, let it thaw out - maybe even melt a bit - before grabbing a spoonful of the delicious sweetness.
I'm a fan of the place and if it didnt cost as much as an entire meal elsewhere just for an entree, this would be where i'd like to eat everyday while in Vancouver ... -
Review from Diane T.
5/21/2012
We finally made it to Vij's(after 3 attempts and a few dines at Rangoli), and I have to say I was pretty impressed. It opens at 5:30 pm, and we arrived at 4:55pm to find ourselves to be about the 7th group in line. By 5:10, the line stretched around the block. Moral of the story: get there extremely early on the weekend..If you can't get in, just go to rangoli. It's cheaper and more casual.
After standing in the rain for 30 minutes, we were seated at a cozy table by the window and given some nice warm masala tea. Vij's is by no means traditional indian food. It's more of a modern indian twist on seasonal and regional ingredients in the pacific northwest. We started with the yam, paneer, cabbage kofta in lentil curry followed by the lamb popsicles in fenegreek cream curry and the short ribs in cumin curry. The lamb and short ribs were to die for! Perfectly seasoned and cooked, the meat was just falling off the bone. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
My only knock is on the price. I thought the meat entrees were fairly priced (mid to upper 20s for a rack of lamb), but I thought that the starters and vegetarian entrees were extremely overprice. The veg entrees were also in the upper 20s. Most expensive saag paneer, I've ever seen..and $14 for two samosas? CRAZY. I'd like to say you are paying for the ambiance, but the interior/decor are pretty plain and simple. -
Review from Jeff F.
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
No reservations... let's start with that straight out.... we went at about 7:15PM (there were 4 of us).... they told us straight out that it would be about 1 and 1/2 hour wait... so we put our name on the list, and went to The Marquis for a drink while waiting. We came back at about 1 1/2 hours, and it was still going to be a bit more... no problem.
Got seated... we had already scoped the menus so it didn't take us too long to order up. We started with 2 orders of samosas... and that was VERY tasty... and then the food started to come out. One person ordered the beef short ribs, and one person ordered a NY strip, and then there were 2 orders of spicy goat.
The short ribs in my opinion were the star of the show.... it was nice and tender (which is to be expected), but the sauce had a nice spicy yet sweet taste to it... really went well together with the flavours all around on the plate. The spicy goat stew (I was one of the ones ordering that... can't resist to try goat every so often..and it usually comes up more in African restaurants) was nice... but the portioning was ... odd. I had a TON of goat in mine.. but only one little piece of potato... whereas the other person had a TON of potato and very little goat (we only found that out at the end while conferring about it... otherwise I would have shared out the goat to get some more potato). It was spicy, but not overly so... it was nice. The goat was nicely cooked, and was not overly 'strong'. This brings us to the NY steak... marinated, and then served with a sauce... This was the loser at the table. Compared to all the other sauces it was the most bland... and the steak was not super chewy... but the knife that was brought out with it was a butter knife. We asked a passing server about that... and we were met with quite a bit of indifference... "We don't have any other knives"... and then walked away. Not a question of whether the steak was too chewy... over done... nothing like that... basically... suck it up, and keep sawing away with that dull knife. So... note to Vij's... pull the item, sharpen up some of those knives, or maybe just get a few steak knives for people ordering the dish. It just didn't cut the mustard compared to the other dishes.
The ladies then ordered some desserts... there were three options verbally given... they boiled down to a somewhat doughnut dish, a somewhat rice pudding dish, and a somewhat ice cream dish. With the nice food done... they were expecting quite a good dessert... but really... they should have passed on it. The other guy with us commented that instead of calling it the somewhat stuff, it could have been called "Tim bits in a bowl, and mango ice cream with nuts on top". The ice cream had an odd texture, and flavour... and the doughnuts were small... and unimpressive (they were almost like a cornbread tim-bit... almost more savoury).
Still... left with a good food glow experience... but it didn't live up to the previous times I'd been there... hence the 3 stars, and not 4 or 5 (if I could have given 3 1/2... I would have... I'm rounding down in fairness to the servers knife comment, and the fact that the knife wasn't available). -
Review from Liv F.
West Vancouver, BC
5/14/2012
Went to Vij's at ~9pm for my birthday on Mother's Day. Got a table for 2 right away. Sadly, couldn't play footsie under the table with my girlfriend because there was a funny big pipe sticking of the wall and taking up a lot of space under the table. Bit weird.
The food and drinks (lamb, mushrooms, rice, naan, chai) were all delicious, but there were a few details that made me prefer the (much cheaper) lunch I had at Vij's Rangoli next door. The pipe, for one thing.
Our dishes were served on big platters rather than deeper metal bowls, so the sauce got cold quite quickly. There wasn't room on our small table for two main dishes, plus drinks, rice, naan, and an oil lamp. Towards the end of the night the employees were busy cleaning up and we were a bit neglected -- until we got our bank cards out on the table, of course. The mood was spoiled a bit because I wanted to pay with debit but Vij's has no portable debit machine, so at the end of our meal we had to go and stand awkwardly at the back of the restaurant to split our bill and pay.
Vij's food is great, both here and at Rangoli's, but I'd rather go back to Rangoli's, considering that we paid more at Vij's for less comfortable seating and slightly awkward service. If those few details had been different, it would have been a really special night. -
Review from Joshua N.
3/30/2012
I think Vij's is overrated.
Maybe I ordered the wrong thing (Rajasthani goat curry), but my dish tasted about the same as a meat curry at any other decent Indian restaurant. Except that I had to wait 2 hours for it despite arriving at 5:30 when Vij's opens, and also except that it cost nearly three times what it would have cost anywhere else.
My dad had the lamb popsicles (does that sound wrong to anyone else, or is it just me?) and he thought they were great, so again maybe it was the dish I ordered or maybe I have prematurely become an ornery old man.
The servers were fantastic, I imagine they have to put up with a lot of cranky and impatient customers, so good on them for having a great attitude the whole evening. But unfortunately you can't eat attitude. I would rather go somewhere else and get to eat right away and still have some cash in my pocket at the end of the meal. -
Review from Peter N.
Burnaby, BC
4/3/2012
Completely lucked out one night, when there were no line. The menu here is great.
I tired the spoonful of punjabi heartattack, and it was just a blast of flavour in my mouth. To be honest, i thought i was ordering a drink, but did not regret it at all.
The food was very good with flavour and texture. The atmophere, very romantic. The servers at Vij's are so nice and attentive. Plus, they kept serving us samplers.
Perfect place for a nice date! -
Review from Michael U.
3/3/2012
Arriving just after 10:15pm and dropping the family off at the door due to the rain I managed to find free parking after circling the block and entering the restaurant myself at 10:30 I found, unsurprisingly, that the place was packed and the ladies were seated in the lounge with a quoted 45 minute wait for a table of four.
With the room and the kitchen clearly fitting the Indian theme while the servers were all young Caucasian females dressed in traditional Indian clothing we sat for a while chatting amongst ourselves at the bar before the first in a trio of complimentary "bar snacks" would arrive in the form of spicy curried fries and free to enjoy as many or as few as we liked I largely passed on these in favor of the other two options - smoky and savory Fennel crisps and crunchy-gives-way-to-creamy chickpea toasts - which continued to be passed around until we were led to our seats approximately 30 minutes after walking in the door.
Sitting and taking in the scene of the slowly dwindling crowd as we waited approximately twenty minutes after our appetizer to receive a plate of warm, pillowy Naan would arrive from the kitchen signifying that our main courses were soon to arrive. Served as four medium sized triangles each brimming with savory tones and plenty of heat I mentioned to our server that she'd might as well place an order for a second round just moments after my first bite and with a smile and "of course" it would not be long before the second plate, and then a third would arrive to compliment our dinner.
Moving on to our main plates, having frequently joked with my sister that she borders on being a vegetarian it was no surprise when she selected the "Shitake Mushrooms and Vegetables in lightly creamed curry with Mung bean, Rice Pilaf, Almonds" and it was also no surprise that this would be by far the most mild plate of the night with each of the multitude of nicely prepared vegetables forming a sort of earthy stew with the mushrooms as light notes of spice rose to the palate.
Moving next to my mother's selection, a bit of a shocker to all of us since the waitress had denoted the dish as "pretty spicy," BC Spot Prawns in coconut and fenugreek masala with wheat berry pilaf would prove to be the least texturally interesting plate of the evening, but at the same time perhaps the most interestingly flavored as the incredibly fresh and perfectly prepared shrimp were highlighted by notes of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, and bitter fenugreek all kept in check by the smooth coconut milk. Certainly hot but mitigated partially by both the toothsome pilaf and intermittent bites of Naan I really enjoyed the dish and so did my mother, a welcome surprise given out overall lack of familiarity with the ingredients utilized in such a potent combination.
Going with the most 'familiar' item of the night, my aunt's Lemon ghee marinated and grilled organic chicken in tangy tomato curry with roasted garlic and cashews would prove to be rather well balanced despite the hefty dose of acid from the lemon and tomatoes yet although plenty flavorful and textural thanks to the crispy garlic and crunchy cashews I have to say the price seemed just a touch outlandish at $28.50given the lack of exotic ingredients and relatively small portion (in my estimate less than 6oz of chicken.)
For the final savory of the evening I simply could not pass up the restaurant's "signature" dish and although I would generally opt for bird over beast the Wine marinated Lamb Popsicles with fenugreek cream curry and turmeric spinach potatoes would indeed turn out to be well worth signature status. Featuring five whole popsicles and easily 10oz of tender lamb teaming with notes of red wine, cinnamon, and tomatoes at its center and beautifully balanced by not only the mildly astringent curry but also by the earthy chunky potatoes this was definitely not the sort of dish you get at the small Indian place down the street but more so a well composed lamb dish that would not be out of place on any fine dining menu.
For dessert, the first was described as Pistachio mango kulfi with edible silver leaf; a decent attempt with ample notes of cardamom and pistachio but certainly nothing that registered as mango on my palate and by far the least exciting of the group.
Moving next to the other desserts, "Galub jamuns" was essentially two balls of fried dough dusted with crumbled pistachios in warm honey tinged with floral essences while the Warm Almond Milk Rice Pudding (again with edible silver) was my personal favorite of the evening with a great toothsome texture to the rice lightly accented with crumbled almonds and a creamy base that was slightly savory and plenty sweet. Like the savories (save for the lamb) dessert portions ran on the small side with a price tag ranging from $6-8 while the chai was compliments of the house and refilled without the need to ask. -
Review from Paul F.
4/23/2012
Vij's is still my favorite restaurant in North America. Mmmmmm. The food is always perfectly spiced and intricately flavored. If you are searching for real Indian food, the type cooked with time and care, Vij's is for you. If you want "spice stars" go to another place where they throw in some cayenne at the last minute to a bland base.
Vij has been at the restaurant every time I have been and always checked in on every guest several times. His attention and continued dedication keep Vij's on top.
We waited 90 minutes on a Thursday evening having arrived at 6pm. As usual Vij kept us from hunger with continuously updated free snacks. I admire the business model that pumps up profitable drink sales. We enjoyed the wait which we consider part of the Vij experience. If you are in a hurry go to his cafe next door where the food is equally good. -
Review from Stephan M.
Vancouver, BC
3/16/2012
I am not going to review the food in depth, as there are plenty of great reviews of the food. However, I'll will write note about Vij's atmosphere and friendly service.
Food: The food is great, perfectly cooked meat combined with curries that are amazingly flavorful.
We arrived at Vij's as they opened the doors and missed out on the first round of seats, which we actually appreciated, as it allowed us to enjoy the restaurant and the their tasters for an hour or so as we talked. The atmosphere in the back by the bar is great and we truly enjoyed waiting - as we built an appetite.
The service was great and the highlight was when Vij made sure we got extra naan to finish off our curry. It is nice to see someone who truly cares if you eat the food in the restaurant.
It is truly a Vancouver classic and Vij is a great host. -
Review from D O.
3/26/2012
Finally got to try this much-lauded Reason to Visit Vancouver.
Showed up on a rainy Monday night before 8pm and saw no sign of the dreaded line. Was shown to a nice waiting area where we got drinks and free noshes in the 15 minutes or so we had to wait for a table for two. Location is tightly packed and a little dark, but our server was so friendly I kept wanting to invite her to sit down and stay a while.
Food was everything it was cracked up to be. True, honest Indian flavours applied in creative and sensible ways to great ingredients with loving care. Had a lovely glass of wine and a house-made ginger soda that was fantastic. Paneer was like savoury clouds, saag was fresh and light, lamb was tender and so savoury you could easilybe forgiven for drooling, chicken was citrusy and spicy as hell without being overpowering.
The price was a little staggering at first glance, but it was absolutely worth every penny. -
Review from Tanya J.
1/31/2012
It was 2003 when I came up to Vancouver with a bunch of friends to go to Vij's only to find a line stretching far beyond what we were expecting, so we sadly decided to skip it. We tried again in 2009 but for some odd reason it was closed so we were out of luck again. 2011 was supposed to be the year where I would finally get to taste what I heard was the "best Indian food in North America" and what do you know - it was a holiday weekend and closed that day too!
Mother... $#&@er!
Then finally, my birthday weekend 2012 arrived. In telling my best friend we would be hanging out in Canada that weekend, she so smartly mentioned us going to Vij's for dinner with them before we headed across the border. OH YEAH, baby... So FINALLY after 9 years of anticipation, I got to go to Vij's and try the extremely hyped up food to finally see how it measured up.
We got there around 4:45 and stood in line and to our delight; we were party #2 waiting to break through the doors at 5:30PM. I've never seen anything like this. I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact there was this line to get in to a restaurant and yet this was very normal.
We got seated in the dimly lit and beautiful ambiance surrounding us and were quickly served appetizers such as pakoras and chili fries as we perused the menu and ordered our drinks. I love places that keep you happy and serve you extra tasty nibbles like this, sharing with us their specialties!
For appy's we went with the portabella mushrooms in a creamy curry sauce (delish) and the chickpeas with potato cookies (super yummy). For dinner we had the eggplant and black chickpeas and the spinach and paneer. Both were exquisite. Our friends shared the lamb lollipops and also the paneer and spinach and were quite happy with theirs too.
All things, cooked to perfection with lots of great flavors.
Vij's is not just a restaurant; it's an experience start to finish. Not only is the food everything it was hyped up to be and more but the treatment you get is unrivaled. The ambiance, the service, of course the food - Vij's makes me happy. I can't wait to go back and relish more in its grandeur.Listed in: Vegelicious, All Time Favorites
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Review from Natalee F.
3/6/2012
I feel like the whole time I was in Vancouver I was hearing things about this restaurant - from people I met randomly, friends of friends, cab drivers, etc. Apparently this is known to be the best Indian food in the city.
We were instructed to get there EARLY since the place doesn't take reservations and you have to wait a long time in order to get a table. We got there about 5 minutes after opening and were lucky enough to snag a table right away, but the place filled up about 10 minutes later and had a wait.
They pass around all kinds of free appetizers while you read your menus along with hot delicious chai. Yum.
The food was nicely prepared with great vegetarian choices. It was certainly delicious with decent portion sizes. The open kitchen is impressive with a totally female staff in badass black outfits. They just look fierce.
I can't lie though - this place is really pricey, especially for Indian food. We ordered a bottle of wine, 2 appetizers, 3 entrees and dessert, and it was well over $200 for 3 people, not including tip.. It's an experience for sure and the service is great, but not the type of place you'd eat at every week or every month.
The kulfi for dessert was the best I've ever had - with edible silver leaf - a nice touch. By the time we left there was a serious looking mob of people waiting for a table. -
Review from Dianne C.
Richmond, BC
2/12/2012
I've heard a lot of different views about Viji's about never got around to going as I'm not a fan of waiting in line for anything unless Enrique Iglesias should happen to open a kissing booth and then you better believe me I'll camp out overnight! But by chance, I was doing errands on Broadway and at 4:30 pm. happened to walk by and with only 7 people in line, thought it was the perfect opportunity to try Viji's.
What surprised me is that staff came out with menus from Ragoli and told people they could order drinks and drink them outside or eat at Ragoli but told them it was similar but more casual. Ten minutes after I got there, about 15 more people showed up and people even took pictures of themselves in the lineup to commenorate the occasion - apparently, a lot of people don't have lives?
Finally exactly at 5:30 and 6,000 tweets later - thank God for iPhones which kept the majority of us amused, the doors opened. When alll the tables were full, the rest were herded into a back room with a bar. There were no tables or chairs so as to be able to put more people in the room. When I walked through this room to the washroom, it seemed more like a party room and I even caught a couple smooching. Get a hotel room huh!
Servers were ready with chai for everyone and 3 little snacks of a mini spinach naan, pekora and a spicy potato wedge were given to the tables in 5 minutes intervals. Service was incredibly fast but exceptionally well as not only did the waitress come back after each course to ask if everything was okay, but also the maitre'd who ran to get me chillis to spice up my dish which turned out to be a mistake as I was literally sweating like a pig which is so not a great look for me.
Viji's himself went from table to table, chatting with each "honoured guest" as he was quite personable. This is a restaurant owner who obviously has a successful restaurant, but who is on hand to help and knows that if you make customers feel special, they return.
Okay, enough raving about the service which I found extraordinary, onto the food. I'm beginming to think I'm a bit of a party girl because i seem to find the appetizer menu much more appealing than the entrees. So I ordered spicy pork belly with apple/mint chutney which interestingly enough was sold by the spoonful as the waitress explained as it was quite a rich dish. A spoonful was not just a teaspoon but a small ladle of delicious tender pork belly which was perfectly spiced. Oink oink I could have had 5 of these spoons.
Next organic cornish hen in millet and sauteed in star anise. Although this was an appetizer, I found it enough for me as chapati was served with it. It was a mild dish with sliced cornish hen but I found the chillis I added really enhanced it as I tend to like Indian dishes hotter. Note to self, two chillis oh Chihuahua!
For dessert my only choice was gulab jamun as the other desserts had dairy. This is basically honey balls, but Viji's versioin is different than any gulab jamun I've ever had. It comes in a silver bowl which is hot because the dessert is served hot submerged in a honey mixture. When you bite into the ball, it tastes light and fresh and the honey mixture isn't thick and is actually quite nice. I was surprised I liked this dessert as much as I did as I usually found the sweetness of the honey overwhelming and the balls quite doughy.
For drinks I had an Indian mjoito with vodka, lychee, mango liquer, mint and star anise which was quite refreshing.
Even with just ordering appetizers, my bill came to $38.00 but given the level of service and food, totally worth it. Now I know what the fuss is all about! -
Review from Meana k.
1/24/2012
It's not the most authentic Indian food out there, but it's damn good. Service is great. Ambiance is nice. And just having a chance to dine in a place where people wait 2 hours for a table makes you feel like you're part of some exclusive club. Packed shoulder to shoulder, the waiting room is filled with people sampling on the free passed hors d'eourves and sipping on cocktails. The spices and sauces wafting a hunger-inducing scent through the air to tease your appetite. By the time you're seated, you're already full from all the snacks you've enjoyed but since you've waited so long, no way in hell will you give up your opportunity to order everything you've been salivating over on the menu by now.
Or you can show up by 5pm and hope to be among the first diners at 5:30 when they open up. I'm telling you, show up at even 9pm and you'll wait 90 minutes minimum. Is it worth it? I suppose it depends on whether you're just there for the food. If you're there for the experience, then sure. It's worth it from time to time. It's just... more than just the food.
However, the food is quite inventive and flavorful. My favorite is the lamb in fenugreek cream curry with rice. So good. I've also enjoyed their goat curry, spinach, samosas, and jackfruit. Last, a lovely finishing touch is the mango pistachio kulfi. Perfect with some chai after what by now has been at least 3 hours in the restaurant. You leave there feeling so stuffed and yet so satisfied, knowing it might be some time before you're willing to go through the wait again but somehow confident that you will.
In reality, this is a fun place for a special dinner but really, incredibly expensive. At about $28 per entree, for two people plus drinks and appetizers and desserts, you're looking at a pretty hefty bill. But then again, who waits in line for two hours for cheap food, right? It's all about the experience. -
Review from Terri W.
2/21/2012
HELL'S YEAH!
When I had finished putting together our itinerary I realized that I didn't have any confirmation or reservation information. I called them to see what was up and I was told that they didn't take reservations. Basically, they open at 5:30pm for dinner and people start lining up at 5pm. Anytime after that basically you have an hour - hour and half wait. The plan: get there early. lol. That didn't happen.
We arrived around 6pm and were told we were going to have about an hour wait. We settled down with a glass of wine and noshed on the free piping hot appetizers, yes FREE, that they pass around for your waiting late arrival enjoyment. All delicious!
We only waited (only, haha) for about 45 minutes.
We started out with the spicy pork belly with apple mint chutney. spicy indeed! But, yummy.
Everyone on yelp raved about the lamp popsicles but when we asked the waitress she said to go for the braised ribs. DO IT! We were NOT let down. The ribs were served with kale. Each dish comes with complimentary rice and naan. GURLLLLLLLLLLL it was the BEST indian food we have ever had. THE BEST. We debated if we should return on our second night but opted for another restaurant and lived to deeply regret that decision.
Here we are a month out and when I'm typing this review my mouth is watering for this meal. The naan tasted like it had cheese in it. My lady doesn't even generally like naan but we tore it up!
yum!
So, worth the wait. I would go back and wait 2 hours. trust. -
Review from Drew P.
4/22/2012
After hearing from a client that she and friends have traveled up from Seattle purely to have dinner at Vij's, crashing for the night then driving back, I had to try Vij's. Totally lived up to the name. The servers were amazing, even triple checking an order for me (milk allergy ;(... ). I loved that Vij himself traveled from table to table checking in with his guests and chatting. He's the kind of guy it would be fun to sit down and have a beer with.
Now all I have to do is figure out how to convince him to open a location in Seattle!!!
As good as it gets. -
Review from Scott F.
4/14/2012
For me, Vij's totally lived up to the hype. We were lucky enough to have a short wait and dined with friends who recommended some great dishes. Wonderful service and superb food, and I look forward to my next visit.
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Review from Niko D.
12/31/2011
I have heard heaps and heaps about this restaurant.. I have always wanted to go but not sure about shelling out the $$$ to go.. Now that I have experienced Vij's...I have to say..WOW!....WOW!!!!!!!!
The wait and constant busy restaurant are quite an indication of how incredibly good the food is...right?..RIGHT! Just be ware..this isn't authentic Indian food. It is fusion indian/french cuisine... Richness with more richness lol why not!!!
We got there around 8, ordered a bottle of house wine and enjoyed the ambiance and free appetizers.
Once seated..an hour later..ugh thank goodness there were appetizers....and wine!
For an appetizer we ordered the Garam Masala Portabelo Mushroom with Porcini Cream Curry.. Wow this dish was amazing, the texture of the mushroom was like a steak..so yummy. The curry sauce...wow...So tasty..You have to try it yourself to really appreciate it!
The wine marinated lamb popscicles..Were sooooooooooooo GOOD! The meat was tender, cooked to perfection! The sauce was just...gosh darnit..Amazingness in the mouth area! ha ha...Yeah that good.
I ended up buying a book as well....Its worth it, some of the recipes actually taste similar to what the chefs make in the kitchen.
Don't abstain from the pleasure known as Vijs..trust me on that! -
Review from Carol L.
1/5/2012 3 photos
Delicious Indian-American fusion in Vancouver with a pretty acclaimed chef. I recommend this place if you are in Vanouver. They do not take reservations, and expect a long wait. Luckily, they have a waiting room where they serve you appetizers!
Must get items are their braised short ribs and the lamb popsicles. Pro tip: if you get both, dip the braised short rib meat into the yogurt sauce of the lamb popsicles. This was AMAZING, and I wish they served that as a dish too!
The service was good, but sometimes rubbed us the wrong way. The waitresses were nice but not always attentive, and they sometimes gave us tight smiles for our requests that didn't seem overly genuine. Overall, though, the atmosphere is great, the staff polite at least, and the food tasty. This was in my top 3 for Vancouver dinner spots!Listed in: Vancouver Eats
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Review from Lynne P.
Vancouver, BC
12/22/2011
Vij's is a bit of a logistical headache, but well worth standing in line if you want to sample some of the best cuisine Vancouver--and frankly North America--has to offer. Our party showed up at 5pm to hold a place in line and was seated immediately at the 5:30pm opening. If you miss this seating you can expect to wait 60-90 minutes, and generally if you just show up there is at least an hour's wait for a table. Vij's doesn't take reservations--not even for Robert Redford, apparently--so getting there early is a necessity if you want to avoid a wait. That said, there is a lovely lounge where you can wait for your table and enjoy the free appies that are passed around, so all in all it's not a bad experience. Just think of dinner at Vij's as an 'evening' and not a 'dinner' and you'll be OK :)
The Food: You can sum up Vij's food in one word: Incredible. If you love Indian food you're in for a real treat. The menu consists of a selection of appetizers and mains, and we ordered three appetizers and five mains to share between five of us and had no room left for dessert. Any of the appies are great, but the roast squash on pickled kale stood out as particularly amazing.
For our mains we did two orders of the lamb popsicles in fenugreek creamy curry sauce (you must order this dish--not only is it one of Vij's signature dishes it is one of the best things I have ever eaten, period), lemon-ghee marinated chicken in tangy tomato curry, BC spot prawns in a creamy curry and saag paneer in a spinach curry sauce. All of these were divine, with the saag paneer as a particularly brilliant dish. It is the right mix of acid and creamy cheese and was wonderful dipped up on the ample naan that is served with your mains. Bowls of rice and plates of naan were kept in steady supply, and we probably would have licked our bowls clean if they hadn't kept us in bread.
We had a couple of bottles of wine with dinner, and what's nice is that Vij's offers a decent list of bottles at $39 each, making it easy to choose and not breaking the bank at $55-75/bottle like some Vancouver restaurants do.
The Service: Lovely, as always. Vikram Vij himself greeted and seated us, stopped by to check in and joke around some with our party a couple of times. He really is a lovely man and it's clear he loves what he does. We asked about his new location on Cambie and he let us know it would have about 20 more seats than the current location's 65, and that it should be open in the spring of 2012--which is great.
As there are no 'dedicated' servers by table or section you essentially have the entire staff looking after you. Water and wine glasses were kept topped up, bread arrived at an almost alarming rate (the naan is so good I could have kept noshing it forever), dishes were quickly cleared away and food was extremely quick. You just feel well cared for and welcome, something I always love about Vij's. There may be a wait sometimes, but the staff seems appreciative that you've made the effort and it shows.
All in all: The best. If you're a foodie of any stripe I highly recommend a pilgrimage to Vij's. Again, if you approach it as an experience you will enjoy it that much more. -
Review from Joey D.
4/10/2012
Giada went here so I thought it'd be worth a try. And man I can tell you it was. It's worth the drive from Seattle....its worh the line you have to stand in and it is worth my left arm. It is that good. Those ladies know how to cook.....the lamb popsicles are out of this world. Its just friggin great. You will NOT be bummed out. Vij's is seriously a destination. It's worth saying, "I'm headin north to Vij's and maybe a little Vancouver too". GO NOW
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Review from Cyrus G.
1/19/2012
Most definitely the best indian food in the city. I've never had a bad dish at the restaurant, so try anything on the menu and enjoy. It helps too that the decor and atmosphere stand up with the best of the city.
Of course, the waits are long but you're best to put your name down and take a nice walk on Granville street and have a coffee while you're waiting. Honestly, I'll take that over places like Kitsilano Daily Kitchen which are booked up weeks in advance. -
Review from N D.
Edmonton, AB
3/15/2012
Having eaten Indian food all over North America, Europe, and India, I have to say that this is one of the most memorable Indian restaurant experiences that I have ever had. While the food was pricey, especially the vegetarian food, all of it was delicious, the service was absolutely excellent (with special care and attention attention given to the nut allergy concerns that we had), and the owner was actively involved with the restaurant as a gracious host. The servers were excellent hosts - warm and welcoming, as well as playful; they made the dining experience feel like a dinner party with good friends.
All of the cocktails were excellently matched to the foods, and the passed snacks were a wonderful introduction to our dining experience. With spiced fries, pakoras, chaat, and puri coming by the table regularly, we enjoyed munching on our snacks as we deliberated over what to order. We ordered the curried chickpeas and sweet potato-ricotta "cookies" and the yam, paneer, and cabbage kofta. The kofta were absolutely exquisite in texture and taste.
Our main dishes included the shitake mushrooms and vegetables and the eggplant, squash, and chickpeas dish. Both were excellent, though I think that the mushroom and vegetables curry was rather unique. The rice served alongside was also excellently made and accompanied both dishes were very well. Our dining companions ordered the lamb popsicles and explained that it was some of the best lamb that they had ever eaten.
The meal was truly enjoyable and delicious. I dined with my sister, who is one of the most frugal people that I know, and she declared that the cost of the meal was definitely worth it for the service and quallity of food that we experienced. When I am back in Vancouver, I will most certainly dine here again. Vij, please don't ever change! -
Review from Vamsi K.
4/1/2012
Trendy and hip place. Excellent Service.
Food is all fusion cuisine - blending Indian preparations with American meat. I felt the food is over-rated. Good only an occasional experiment.
Vegans better stay away, very little choice for them. -
Review from billy s.
3/27/2012
Finally had a chance to go to this resto last Sunday eve. Arrived at 9pm and was seated in less than 5mins.
Had the dishes that were raved about here on Yelp - Short ribs, Lamp popsicles and the short rib appetizer. Even with exceedingly high expectations, all proved to be EXCELLENT.
The appy and Short Rib entree though could easily pass for a Chinese dish since they were more on the sweet side(w/ a hint of cardamon (?) to give it that IN essence) versus the usual curry-ish flavors associated w/ IN food. Regardless, we enjoyed them both.
The one thing i did find unusual was there version of naan. It wasn't the usual fluffy light kine... no fluff at all actually, it was pretty solid, as in the two sides didn't separate. More like a roti stuck together.
Highly recommended if you can get in without the wait. Prices are definitely steep for IN food. $28 per entree. But for a one time experience, well worth it. -
Review from Paul S.
11/19/2011
Vij's is a surreal experience...
One of the main reasons we vacationed in Vancouver was to experience the raved about cuisine alive in and around the city. One restaurant alone was a requirement if we were to travel anywhere near Vancouver.
Owner and Chef of both Rangoli next door and self titled Vij's greets you warmly outside both restaurants to assist in the beginning of your venture.
Sit outside and wait for as long as is quoted and maybe longer. Average wait time runs about 90 minutes. It's the best wait you'll ever have at a restaurant. Every 10-15 minutes complimentary appetizers are passed around like short coming attractions before the Feature Presentation. We grabbed an Indian Mojito and nibbled for an hour and a half.
For an appetizer we had the Garam Masala sauteed portobello mushrooms in porcini cream curry. Heavenly, and nothing short of amazing.
We shared the Saag-paneer with Punjabi daal and chapati along with the infamous lamb popsicles.
Everything about the Saag-paneer was perfect. I wasn't 100% sold on ordering it but fell in love after my first bite. The lamb wins the prize though. Biting into meat has never been such an enjoyable experience. I've never been so impressed with how tender someone could get lamb to be. The sauce, potatoes, turmeric, curry, and every little spice and grain of salt came together to accompany and complete a perfect dish.
The construction of the perfect staff along with a gorgeous restaurant as a backdrop to an outstanding menu of what's labeled as Curry Art created an evening for us that couldn't have been more perfect.
I look forward to another trip across the continent that lands my pallet in the hands of Vikram Vij.Listed in: Have ticket, will consume...., Pacific Northwest....
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Review from Novalina N.
11/17/2011
Arrive at the latest at 5p. You'll wait 1.5 hours otherwise (minimum!).
We arrived at 515p and got seated at 730p. The wait wasn't super horrible since we managed to get a seat in the back. They served us some drinks and plenty of appetizers.
Now, the problem of waiting that long for a dinner and ate a few bites is when our seat is ready, we were FULL! I was still enjoy the food tho, altho my bf almost couldn't eat at all.
Appetizer:
- Portobello mushroom: Great sauce with meaty flavor, the mushroom complements it perfectly. Definitely get this!
- Jackfruit: Way too sour and 1 dimensional. Yeah, not my favorite.
Entree:
- Lamp popsicle: Very very good. Perfectly cook lamb rack, the sauce is a bit spicy and very vibrant.
Naan, rice, and chai are included.
Note to Vij: please just accept reservation. Making people wait outside in the winter is cruel... -
Review from Cody S.
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you can get here early and get a seat, or you are willing to wait in line for a hour or two, get here now! I didn't even know I would ever get to eat here...you have to be a very dedicated person to eat here if you are a busy person! It is worth every minute you spend waiting. The service makes sure you are nibbling on something almost all of the time. You can sit outside, have a drink and socialize. Before you know it, your time has come! Its a little like going to Disneyland for the first time when you are a kid. Except, this time you are sitting down for one of the best meals you will ever have. And then someone drops off some chai to sip on before your first rollercoaster ride.
The Lamb Popsicles are the greatest culinary treat in the entire world! I might have consumed more naan (which is good enough to eat all of the time by itself) than the average person just dipping it in the sauce. I fully believe that this would bring me out of any bad mood I could ever be in. I only wish I could take a little of this with me when I have stressful tasks to accomplish. The pork tenderloin is a very close honourable mention. The complexity of flavours you experience with this dish is unbelievable. Between that and my cocktail, my tastebuds were in heaven.The goat curry was amazing. Enough Said. On the dessert side, which you must partake in, the ice cream is incredible. I can't believe I can't remember the name of it!
The service here is fantastic. Every single person who works here cares about their customers. It is beautiful if you think about it.
Get here early and enjoy a 'Dark Army' cocktail while you wait....totally worth it.Listed in: Really nice spots in Vancouver
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Review from Rebecca S.
10/6/2011
I may be in the minority here, but I would choose Rangoli over the original Vij's anyday.
Things I like about Vij's:
-indian mojitos!
-the free appetizers you receive when sitting in the bar waiting
-delicious, amazing, flavorful food
-dungeness crab spoons = amazing, omg.
Things I dislike about Vij's:
-the long, long wait
-getting full before getting seated off of the constant, free appetizers
-high prices for small portions
-I never remember what I eat because after waiting so long, it's a blur
Why I choose Rangoli:
-absolutely no wait!
-$15/person instead of min. $30/person!
-memories of what I ate!Listed in: Vancouver, BC
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Review from Cassie N.
Calgary, AB
12/5/2011
First thing I have to say is Vij's doesn't take reservations, so if you want in, line up at 5 and wait half an hour before the doors open. Thankfully for us the weather wasn't too cold and it wasn't raining. I see how this is good for the restaurant, but It certainly isn't beneficial to its paying customers. Secondly, if you're looking for Indian, this isn't the place to go, at all. We arrived early, so we had no problem getting seated and were escorted to a table. The restaurant is dark, like... nightclub dark. Ambient lighting was a bit too dim which made reading the menu a bit difficult. Throw in a super bad font into the mix and with limited spacing between menu items and you're wondering where one plate stops and the other starts. I'm not sure if this is their way of trying to be different, but If I can't read what I'm eating, it leads to confusion.
Shortly after we were seated we were handed some Chai Tea to warm us up, along with some samples of various dishes they serve (or don't serve since none of them were on the menu). The confusing part was we were never really 'greeted' at our table, waters were given to us and as we read through the menu no one came to take our drink order. When the lady who welcomed us into the restaurant passed by our table we informed her that we didn't know who our server was and wanted to order drinks. She said "everyone serves you, what can I get you" For first time visitors it makes us feed like we're being neglected as tables around us are being asked what to drink or what to order, so as we were being seated they could've asked if it was our first time there (which is was) and explain the operation of how to place an order if it isn't the typical "Waitress by section" scheme.
For starters we ordered:
Pork Belly (natural) with apple/mint chutney at $3.50 a spoon, It was quite good and fairly priced. The Pork was very rich so the chutney was great to cut it down a bit, I don't think I would want more than one spoonful.
The people I went with had never had Indian before, so to play it safe I ordered Samosas as a second starter at $13 for two. They were filled with lamb and beef sautéed in fennel, cloves leaves and sumac. I don't really know why I decided to get one for myself as its filled with lamb and beef, I can't say that the two complement one another well at all, and all I could taste was the gaminess of the lamb throughout it. I'm not sure why the mix of lamb was needed, but I guess that's the "Fusion" part of it. Fusion being the process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity that's great, but I think they missed the boat on keeping it tasty and not overpowering.
For mains we ordered Lemon-ghee marinated and grilled organic chicken breast and thigh in tangy tomato curry with roasted garlic and cashews at $28. I would say probably out of all the dishes that we ordered this was the best one. Again, had they not thrown in the curry mix and an overly generous amount of Cilantro I don't see it being an indian dish at all. The chicken was moist and the sauce was decent, not spicy and just a very mediocre dish.
Another Dish that we ordered was Rajasthani style goat meat with mildly spice vegetables at $27. This dish I couldn't eat at all. The entire top of the dish when we received it was covered in Cilantro. I'm not a fan of cilantro, but I can stomach it and not let its very strong taste ruin my dish. After one bite of the goat I was fighting the urge to spit it back out, due to it being completely overpowering. If I thought the Samosas were gamey, this dish took the cake. I'm glad that my friends were able to stomach it (although barely) because I wasn't touching it after that.
The last and final dish that we ordered was Sooke Mountain trout with Pakora in coconut, curry leaf and kokum curry at $28. I don't have much to say about this dish, it was rather boring, loaded up with Cilantro, and the trout was dry. The curry was barely noticeable and the pakora was fine; hard to screw that up really.
For 2 Alcoholic beverages, 2 starters and three mains our final bill came out to $140 (est, before gratuity) I guess for 3 people that isn't too bad, but with a less than impressive meal like we had, It was super disappointing to part with that kind of money. I'm not out to bash companies either, I truly was looking forward to the experience and went in with a very open mind - hello? I love food! When they say "Indian fusion" though I often think that it should learn towards the side of Indian than to whatever side it was leaning on. Good experience overall, nice staff, clean establishment, just not what I had ever anticipated, but if you're looking for somewhere different Vij's is certainly the place to go. -
Review from Namit M.
12/6/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Love Vij's. Pretty much everything on the menu is executed with perfection. The dishes are not classic Indian, but more innovative. Its a great mix of Indian styles, and spices with fresh ingredients available and sourced locally.
Te only negative is the incredibly long wait to be seated. To ease the pain, grab a seat in the bar area, order a bottle of wine from the excellent wine list, and enjoy the delicious appys that come to you. If nothing else you will have a full on appetite when you are seated.
All in all one of the best dining experiences in Vancouver, and IMO the best Indian food in North America. -
Review from Yvonne P.
Calgary, AB
3/14/2012
Landed later in the evening, around 9pm and had a five minute wait (Tuesday night) - had no idea the place was so small, but great, welcoming atmosphere, excellent service, excellent food. Had the paneer kormas, wouldn't order this again as I prefer my paneer in larger pieces but still tasty, the jackfruit as recommended by the server, unique and delicious and the lamb popsicles - high recommended. Great all round evening.
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Review from K A.
8/29/2011
This place is totally overrated. Hearing all the hype about this place, we had to give it a try. Went on a weeknight as a party of three, were lucky to get in and get a table. First impressions - cramped seating, dark lighting, and very, very loud. I could hardly see the person I was talking to the lighting was so dim, and we had to yell to be heard.
We ordered dishes to share since we wanted to taste different things. We had the mutton kabobs and portobello mushrooms to start. Both were tasty. For mains we had lamb popsicles, beef shortribs, trout & lobster, saag paneer. It was all very tasty, although the paneer was a little disappointingly bland. The problem was between the six of us, we each literally only got one bite of each dish. I realize that these entrees may not necessarily be made for family style dining, but it would be nice if they had been just a little more substantial. The service was decent, our water was filled regularly and we did not feel rushed by the staff despite the line up of patrons waiting to get in.
I would say that this place is definitely "pretentious." The food is tasty, but the long waits and uncomfortable atmosphere really did nothing to make me want to return. -
Review from Linzi M.
8/19/2011
Far be it for me to detract from the pack here, but Vij left me feeling underwhelmed.
I had never even heard the buzz about this place before coming but have experienced similar ravings* about curry houses in London and know what to expect. That's right, I said it, curry house. Because that is what this is. It's not fine dining and it did not blow me away. But at $28 minimum for main courses, I was blown away by the prices. Bloody hell. It's curry! And mostly vegetarian.**
It was higher class curry than you get at most Indian restaurants but while my companions stuffed themselves, I was left feeling a bit meh***. And filled up on naan bread. The staff are charming and stylish and came round to give us lots of samples of the treats we missed when we didn't choose to wait an hour in the line up but nipped off for a cocktail. I was impressed by how they knew who we were, had been waiting and not given the table away and came right over to serve us. That is classy service.
I would go back but not if I had to wait two hours.
* Tayyaabs, I'm looking at you.
** This feels very Emperor's New Clothes to me, I suspect Vancouver has too much sushi and not enough Indian to make good competition.
*** I'd actually completely forgotten I'd eaten here. -
Review from Robert B.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2012
I only have two words to say about vij's; lamb. popsicles.
i had heard so many good things about these lamb popsicles that they were the first thing i ate there and they were "i thought i died and went to heaven" good. The next few times i went to vij's i wanted to try other things and since we often taste each other's food, i think i've tasted most of what's on the menu. everything is really, really good. like others have mentioned, this is not traditional, classical indian food. since i've never been to india, i don't know what they would serve in a gourmet restaurant there but that's what vij's seems to me to be. last time i went, i was wondering if i should try the lamb popsicles again worried that i would be disappointed since they might not be as good as i remembered. oh. my. god. they were as good as the first time and maybe even better than i remembered. they were otherworldly awesome.
we've always had great, attentive service. the ambiance is comfortable and casual. the only thing that is a problem is the wait if you go early. the place seems to open up a little later on so i'm thinking that next time i go i'll try and go late. and i'll probably have the lamb popsicles again. -
Review from Eric S.
1/18/2012
Whenever I'm in town, Vij's is where I go! Great service that is perfectly complemented by the excellent food. Here's what we got...curried chickpeas with sweet potato-ricotta cookies, yam paneer and cabbage in pureed lentil curry. Main courses were roasted mashed eggplant with butternut squash and the beef short ribs braised in yogurt. As with any restaurant that just does it all right, Vij's fills up fast, so get there early, or be prepared to wait.
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Review from Rohan S.
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is my hands down favourite restaurant in Vancouver. It lives up to it's hype and it's worth all the waiting you have to do for a table.
Be warned, if you're going to eat here, you need to make an evening of it.
When you show up, head to the back and get your name on the wait list. Chances are you'll be waiting at least 90min for a table. I'd suggest hanging out in the back, have a few drinks and sample all the free appies that roll out of the kitchen.
I've managed to work my way through most of the menu and you can't go wrong with anything on it. I'd suggest starting with the mutton kebab and the Punjabi Heart Attack (it's not on the menu anymore, but they still make it if you ask). For you main, have the Lamb Popsicle and for desert a hot cup of chai and gulab jamun.
In addition to the phenomenal food, the service is also top notch. The wait staff is friendly and they don't rush you, even if people are stacked up like chord wood in the back.
This is somewhere you need to eat! -
Review from Ed K.
Vancouver, BC
11/23/2011
Love. love , love this place.
Every time I come here I leave extremely happy.
I have a couple friends from Texas and when they visit ( often) Vij's is always top of the list.
For a table of four people make sure to double (or even triple up) on the Lamb Popsicles.
This isn't traditional Indian food but what you make with Indian flavours and the best local ingredients available.
Can't wait for my next visit. -
Review from Michael S.
Vancouver, BC
2/25/2012
Simply stated, my favorite restaurant experience in Vancouver. In our first visits we would have lamb popsicles and other dishes, and while the others were excellent they just lacked the magic of the lamb popsicles and that magical sauce - and I am not even a red meat person. Now we all get the lamb popsicles - Vij even commented that we had figured it out. Red wines suggested have always been very good as well, so i just follow their wine suggestions. I like arriving 430-445 for the 530 seating. This is about the only restaurant I can imagine lining up for. If we don't get in for the 530 seating, sometimes plan B is Maurya on Broadway. Enjoy!
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Review from BJ L.
4/3/2012
Everything our advance research told us it would be. We are in town from Pittsburgh and this restaurant was on the top of our "must go there" list. There were 5 of us. 2 are cheeseburger-and-onion-rings types. By the end of the dinner, we were all converts. The food was unlike any I've ever had in an Indian restaurant. A great blend of traditional flavors prepared and served in non-traditional ways. Our table had (and shared) chicken, goat, prawns, pork tenderloin and lamb popsicles. Clean plates all around. Service is great. Complimentary appetizers passed as we deliberated our dinner choices were excellent. All in all, highly recommended. Get there at 5 PM. Worth a 1/2 hour wait in line.
