You’ve ordered butter chicken with a side of naan and pilau rice from your favourite Indian restaurant approximately 282 times since the pandemic started. Same. Date night and how–is–it–only–Tuesday takeout are getting dull. You’ve considered swiping right on sushi or falafel but DON’T. Cheating on Indian food to spice things up isn’t the answer. Indian street food in Canada is.
Don’t let North American notions of street food fool you – it is not limp hot dogs and food trucks with Michelin–starred price tags. Indian street food is “snacky” (and who hasn’t become obsessed with snacks since the pandemic started?). Unlike heavier curries, which are generally for main courses, Indian–style street food is made with simple and tasty ingredients cooked in front of you. Dishes mix textures and the four “s” flavours: sweet, spicy, sour and savoury.
The best options for Indian street food in Canada stay true to their roots – with just one bite transporting you to a busy corner of Delhi, where food stalls line the streets. From Mughal–era kebabs to pani puri to idly sambar, the options are as varied as the country of 1.3 billion where they originated.
In street food you feel the energy of India, and right now, that’s a boost we all need. These are the eight best Indian street food restaurants in Canada: