Dylan YoungYour stomach is grumbling, and you don’t want to wait for an order but still want a delicious and filling meal. What do you do? For me, I only have one answer: go to a buffet!
Personally, I love Indian buffets. Every time I step inside one, my mouth drools from the aroma. Time for me to get multiple servings of butter chicken!
Toronto has a few Indian restaurants offering buffets, and here are the ones I keep going back to.
Aroma Fine Indian Cuisine
Address: 287 King St W
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—11:30 am to 10:30 pm
- Friday to Sunday—11:30 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14169717242
Craving Indian cuisine during your lunch break? Then, Aroma Fine Indian Cuisine is where you should go.
The food selection here is pretty small, but I don’t mind it because the dishes I’ve tried are all delicious. The curries, in particular, are fantastic. The spices from the sauce come alive on my tongue, and the meat (I prefer chicken) is super tender.
Then, I pile my plate with a lot of naan to scoop up the remaining sauce on my plate. Yum!
| Pro Tips: I recommend coming here using public transportation because there’s no dedicated parking space. If you must drive, street parking is your best bet. Also, keep in mind that this restaurant is located on the second floor. So, it’s not wheelchair-accessible. |
Little India Restaurant
– From: eatinontario
Address: 255 Queen St W
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Tuesday—11:30 am to 10 pm
- Wednesday to Saturday—11:30 am to 10:30 pm
Contact Number: +14162059836
Little India Restaurant is another perfect place to go if you’re looking for a lunch buffet.
I always go for any of the tandoori specials, especially the chicken ones. The meat has a lovely char to it, making it taste smoky. It also tastes tangy and spicy, thanks to all the spices and lime.
| Pro Tips: This restaurant offers catering services. If you want to learn more, you can reach out to them via their contact form. If you’re dining with a group of five or more, I recommend reserving your table at least a day ahead of your visit. |
Gautama
– From: picassos_plate
Address: 1416 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday—3 pm to 10 pm
- Friday to Saturday—12 pm to 10:30 pm
- Sunday—12 pm to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14164694444
What I love about Gautama is its dimly lit, cozy atmosphere. As a result, I feel at ease here, as if I’m dining in a friend’s house.
Of course, the food is worth noting here as well. There’s a great variety, including my favourite Indian dish ever: butter chicken. Their butter chicken has a thick, glossy sauce, and it tastes on the sweeter side. I prefer mine to be spicier, but this one still hits the spot.
| Pro Tips: This restaurant hosts specials during Father’s Day. If you order online, you can enjoy a 10% discount. |
The Host Fine Indian Cuisine
– From: hostrestaurants
Address: 87 Elm St
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14169624678
The Host Fine Indian Cuisine looks like a fine dining establishment, just without the pierce tag. This restaurant is also operated by a multi-generational family, so the menu features both traditional and modern flavours.
For the buffet, you can expect several stations for different types of food. I usually start my meal with soup (I love a good lentil soup to kick off any meal), then I jump into a hot entree. My favourite is the Malabar shrimp curry, which has a creamy, coconut-y sauce and a lovely spicy aftertaste.
| Pro Tips: Host a private dinner with your loved ones here.If you’re planning a gathering and you already have a venue, you can book the restaurant’s catering services. |
Bombay Palace
– From: bombaypalacetoronto
Address: 71 Jarvis St
Operating Hours:
- Saturday to Tuesday—5:30 pm to 8:45 pm
- Thursday to Friday—11:30 am to 2 pm, 5:30 pm to 8:45 pm
Contact Number: +16478675536
Located in Downtown Toronto, Bombay Palace has been a beloved staple since 1976. It has an inviting atmosphere and a menu full of traditional Indian dishes.
The buffet here is available for both lunch and dinner, and it features a total of 75 dishes (both hot and cold). My go-to choices are the butter chicken and the goat curry, then I pair them with slices for fresh buttered naan. Rich savoury flavours with buttery goodness—perfection!
| Pro Tip: Make your event memorable by having this restaurant as your caterer. |
Saravanaa Bhavan
– From: gluttony_person
Address: 1571 Sandhurst Cir Unit 153, Woodside Square Mall, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday—11 am to 10 pm
- Wednesday to Friday—11 am to 10 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—10 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14162937755
Saravanaa Bhavan has been around since 1981 in India, and it has become popular enough that it branched out to other countries. Fortunately, there are several outlets in Toronto, and my go-to is the one located in Scarborough.
Their buffet is available for brunch, and I always pile my plate high with potato masala and the curry of the day. I also can’t resist devouring puri and dosa (two types of Indian bread) because they’re always served hot and fresh. Dipping them into curries is simply the best.
| Pro Tip: If you want to book their catering services, fill out this form. You can also send an email to [email protected]. |
Anjappar Chettinad
– From: anjapparcan
Address: 3090 Eglinton Ave E, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—11:30 am to 10 pm
- Friday—11:30 am to 11 pm
- Saturday—10 am to 11 pm
- Sunday—10 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14162652695
If you’re craving Chettinadu cuisine (popular in the Karaikudi region) in particular, then you need to go to Anjappar Chettinad as soon as possible!
Every time I come here, I treat myself to the uttappam (large Indian-style pancake with different toppings). My personal favourite is the chilli onion uttapam. It’s sharp and tangy, and it also packs quite the punch, thanks to the chillies.
I also can’t say no to a sweet treat. The gulab jamun is spectacular! The dry milk balls soak up all the flavoured syrup, so it’s a sugary explosion inside your mouth.
| Pro Tip: This restaurant offers catering services if you’re interested. |
