Savor the rich flavors of the South, right here in Toronto.
Our carefully curated list of the best South Indian Restaurants in Toronto ensures you enjoy authentic, flavorful, and traditional dishes.
Leela Indian Food Bar
Leela Indian Food Bar specializes in authentic Indian cuisine with a modern twist. They offer a variety of dishes featuring traditional flavors like butter chicken and saag paneer, as well as adventurous items like their eggplant fries and lasooni cauliflower. The restaurant also provides vegan and vegetarian options, and offers both dine-in and take-out services.
Location, Contact & Social Media
| Address | 3108 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6P 2A1 |
| Website | https://dundas.leelaindianfoodbar.ca/ |
| Phone Number | +1 416-769-7777 |
| [email protected] | |
| https://www.instagram.com/leelaindianfoodbaronjunction |
Recent Reviews
| Average Google Review Rating | 4.8 |
| Google Reviews | Over 2260 |
“Just absolutely wonderful! Best I’ve had in Toronto, hands down.
Flavours so spot on. Fresh, delicious, made with care and love. Beautifully designed and executed.
Service was excellent. This is a fantastic spot that deserves patronage and praise.”
Matthew Brydson
“Recently tried this restaurant for the first time and was quite impressed! The ambiance of the restaurant is nice is this cozy place. I ended up ordering with my girlfriend a Mango lassi (Best I’ve had in my life). Samosa (highly recommend this) the flavours and the sauce they use with it is delicious. Mutter Paneer (very tasty curry). Vegetable Biryani and Garlic naan. This is some of the best Indian food I’ve had in the DT Toronto area. The service is great as well, they make sure you are happy and content while you’re there. I had allergy concerns since I am allergic to nuts and they made sure to help with my request with what I ordered. If you’re at the Junction area in the High Park area, definitely stop by and try this place! You won’t be disappointed. Support local ethnic places like this, they are what make these areas great.”
Patrick
South Indian Dosa Mahal
South Indian Dosa Mahal specializes in South Indian cuisine, particularly dosas, which are thin, crispy pancakes made from a fermented rice and lentil batter. The dosas come with a variety of fillings and accompaniments such as curries, chutneys, and sambar. They also offer a variety of appetizers, popular drinks like masala chai, and vegan and gluten-free options.
Location, Contact & Social Media
| Address | 9 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 2K2 |
| Website | https://www.dosamahal.com/ |
| Phone Number | +1 647-341-8553 |
| [email protected] |
Recent Reviews
| Average Google Review Rating | 4.5 |
| Google Reviews | Over 263 |
“Had a chance to eat at the Roncesvalles location yesterday with my son and his gf. I frequently ate at South Indian Dosa Mahal at Bloor/Lansdowne before the fire and I have longed for their food ever since. The food is still just as amazing and the prices are great. We all had a thali. All the best to the Logan family, especially Naomi who I remember fondly from the previous location.”
Gerald Gauthier
“Happened upon this place and am now wondering how much I have missed out on all this time. I ordered the plain dosa platter, which came with an excellent variety of curries and chutneys. It was over the moon delicious, every single thing. I am especially fond of their hot masala tea. Service was also 5 star. The person who served me did so with great knowledge of the food and a kind heart, giving me some extra chutney without asking after we talked about how much I particularly liked that one the best. Very reasonable prices. Highly recommend for their excellent food, great service and relaxing atmosphere.”
hammyone1
Kothur Indian Cuisine
This restaurant specializes in South Indian food, including dishes like Masala Dosas, Rotis, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Naan Bread. They offer delicious food with friendly service and reasonable prices.
Location, Contact & Social Media
| Address | 2403 Lake Shore Blvd W, Etobicoke, ON M8V 1C5 |
| Website | https://www.kothurindiancuisine.com/ |
| Phone Number | +1 416-253-5047 |
Recent Reviews
| Average Google Review Rating | 4.4 |
| Google Reviews | Over 784 |
“I had the chicken biryani, paneer makhani, garlic naan for dinner and ras malai for dessert.
Food: Chicken biryani was so tasty and flavourful. It had cardamom and star anise in it so really good and expensive ingredients so I thought the prices were justified. The paneer makhani was flavourful as well. We got medium spicy and it was the perfect amount of spice.
Con: The ras malai wasn’t cold and there was no pistachios in it which it traditionally should have. It wasn’t the greatest.
Atmosphere: The layout of the restaurant is really nice. It’s clean and modern and lit to the right amount.
Con: The servers aren’t too many so they are extremely busy and it took a while to get our ras malai.
I would definitely order here again and try the other dishes.”
N C
“BEST Indian food ever. I order twice in 2 days because it was so good! The sauces are very tasty and not too heavy, naan portions are generous and they are super friendly small business. Highly highly recommend.”
Jad Azar
Madras Masala
Madras Masala is a South Indian restaurant in Toronto, Canada. They specialize in Dosas (rice and lentil crepes filled with potatoes and spices) and other South Indian dishes such as Biryani (rice cooked with spices and vegetables), Sambhar (lentil soup), and Vadas (fried doughnuts). They also serve traditional beverages like Filter Coffee and Mango Lassi. Their food is made to order
Location, Contact & Social Media
| Address | 796 Bloor St W #1, Toronto, ON M6G 1L7 |
| Website | http://madrasmasalatoronto.com/ |
| Phone Number | +1 647-342-4359 |
Recent Reviews
| Average Google Review Rating | 4.3 |
| Google Reviews | Over 1028 |
“What an amazing brunch option! We tried the mix appetizer which had vada (yum) veg cutlet (super yum) veg pakoras and paneer pakora. it was great and big enough for 3 to share.
And then we had the masala dosa…..this was by far the best dosa i have eaten in a long long time. It was perfect and so crispy. the sambar and chutneys with it was great.
also tried their instant coffee…it was perfect. They even frothed it.
friend had the masala chai and she loved it.
small clean place and they checked all covid needed docs.
Staff were great and friendly as well.
will def go again soon.”
Zehra Khan
“Amazing tasting food and great quality. So glad I came across this place and will definitely eat here again. Service was quick and waiter made sure we had everything. An additional bonus is free parking right at their location, which is a big plus for being downtown. Would recommend 100%.”
Dharani Adunuri
How To Choose A South Indian Restaurant
South Indian cuisine, with its mesmerizing aromas, vibrant colors, and distinctive taste profiles, has been making waves globally for its variety and health benefits.
Canada, a mosaic of cultures and cuisines, has embraced South Indian food with open arms, making it a staple on its cosmopolitan culinary landscape.
Here are some pointers to help you make the best choice when searching for a South Indian restaurant in Toronto.
Know the Basics of South Indian Cuisine:
Understanding the basics of South Indian cuisine is the first step towards finding an authentic restaurant.
Dishes from this region are often characterized by their liberal use of rice, lentils, coconut, and distinct spices.
The staple includes various dosas (crepes made from fermented batter), idlis (steamed rice cakes), vadas (savory fried snacks), and sambar (a tangy lentil soup), and they are usually served with a selection of chutneys and spicy curries.
Menu Authenticity
An authentic South Indian restaurant will always offer traditional items, often with region-specific specialties.
Look for dishes such as Masala Dosa, Rava Idli, Uttapam, Bisi Bele Bath, or Kerala’s famous Sadhya.
Remember that South Indian cuisine is not just vegetarian; many dishes feature fish, chicken, and mutton, particularly in Chettinad and Malabari cuisines.
Spice Levels:
South Indian cuisine is well-known for its heat.
However, the spices are not just about the “chilli heat” but more about the delicate balance of flavours that bring out the best in every dish.
Authentic restaurants will usually offer a range of spice levels to suit the palate of a diverse clientele.
Use of Fresh Ingredients
Quality South Indian cuisine relies heavily on the use of fresh ingredients, from the vegetables used in sambar to the freshly grated coconut in chutneys.
The taste of South Indian food often depends on the freshness of its ingredients, and that’s something any authentic South Indian restaurant will respect.
Ambience
The ambience should reflect South Indian culture.
Decorative elements such as traditional Indian art, music, and sometimes even servers dressed in South Indian attire can add to the authenticity of the dining experience.
Reviews and Ratings
In the digital age, online reviews and ratings are incredibly helpful in evaluating any restaurant. Look for restaurants with high ratings and read the reviews to see if the food, service, and ambience meet your expectations.
Vegetarian and Vegan Options
A significant aspect of South Indian cuisine is its inclusivity of vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, making it a go-to choice for many vegetarians and vegans.
If you have these dietary preferences or restrictions, consider checking if the restaurant caters to them.