St. Catharines might not be known for its spice trade, but this city sure as sh*t runs on curry. It’s the lifeblood of our culinary scene. Nothing would ever get done here without a proper butter chicken or biryani. Complex, comforting, and deeply satisfying, Indian food is in many ways the perfect cuisine. And St. Catharines does it better than anyone (also see our guide to the best international eats in town).
Khas Patti
$$ | (905) 397-4222 | WEBSITE
Khas Patti is a rather charming operation, and their claim to fame might be their butter chicken. But we’re also big fans of the well-seasoned yet hearty vegetarian options like the lentils and chickpeas, served with soft and fresh breads, slightly warm after spending a little time in the tandoor. While there are the standard options for curries, the paneer tikka—with the still moist paneer—is one of our favorites. There’s also a somewhat generous paneer kulcha.
Kabab and Thali Restaurant
$ | (905) 685-8003 | WEBSITE
Kabab and Thali Restaurant in St. Catharines might serve some of our favorite Non-veg Thali with aromatic Nihari, but they’re also very good at making the Vegetarian Thali. We’re especially big fans of the Halwa Puri combo that comes absolutely loaded with light and fluffy puris and rich, flavorful halwa.
Hot Kitchen Indian Restaurant & Grocery
$ | (289) 362-1008 | WEBSITE
The chicken biryani at Hot Kitchen Indian Restaurant & Grocery sets the standard for all other biryanis. Like the butter chicken or authentic Kerala-style dishes on their menu, it’s best in class. What makes this biryani so much better than all the other ones out there? The ingredients (they use perfectly fried chicken within the rice), the execution, and the attention to detail (they take their time layering the spices).
Hot Kitchen has that family-owned feel in the Niagara Region, and you’re probably going to have to navigate a cramped washroom no matter when you visit. But just know these generous portions at reasonable prices are always worth it.
The Curry Pot Restaurant
$$ | (905) 687-9999 | WEBSITE
The families and couples who have clearly just come from a long day and settled into The Curry Pot’s warmly decorated dining room have no idea how good they have it. The Lamb Biryani and samosas are what put this place on the map. But it’s the insanely flavorful platter—especially the tandoori chicken and momos (with the spices perfectly balanced first)—that make us consider moving to St. Catharines. We’d drive across town just to get that channa masala.
Everest Tandoori Kitchen | St. Catharines
$$ | (905) 646-7770 | WEBSITE
Everest Tandoori Kitchen serves glorious Chicken Steamed Momo so flavorful that you’ll need to savor each bite slowly before even thinking about the next one. The Paneer Lababdar is homemade and delicious, and you can get it with Butter Naan and White Rice, or go for the triple schezwan rice that’s tender and spicy, almost like a biryani. You can’t say you’ve really experienced this city’s breadth of talents in the world of Indian and Nepali food until you’ve tried the jalebi at Everest.
Taash – Indian restaurant and Bar
$$ | (905) 934-0999 | WEBSITE
At Taash on the west side, the dishes are plated-and-serve—made fresh right in the kitchen. But Taash is so consistently popular that they’re bustling and preparing food non-stop. You can get a basic butter chicken pizza, and it’ll be far superior to most you can get around town—but Taash’s system allows them to have many more options that you don’t see often, like the Tash special Chicken, fantastic vegetable jalfrezi, incredible Chicken Biryani, and the wonderful vegetarian spread.
We think about the Chicken Biryani a lot. Also, at Taash, the martinis aren’t pricey—they pour a glass from a large bar offering $5 specials and serve it on a cozy patio, where it immediately refreshes.
Touch Of India Restaurant
$$ | (905) 988-1155 | WEBSITE
It’s easy to spot Touch Of India Restaurant, tucked away in a cozy corner of St. Catharines, right near all the local shops and cafes. It’s very welcoming. There will often be a steady stream of customers, or a group of regulars chatting at the tables inside, because the Indian food here is reliable, thoughtfully prepared, and reasonably priced (most dishes run around $15–$20 at the time of this writing). These are not overly complicated fusion dishes. No, these are the meals for everyone.
Just remember to come hungry—the portions are generous.
Inchin’s Indian Kitchen
$$ | (905) 935-2243 | WEBSITE
The first time we went to Inchin’s Indian Kitchen, we lifted the lid and had one of those ‘holy sh*t’ moments. The dishes coming out of this pleasant, marigold-touched spot in St. Catharines are spectacular—like the veg combo with kadhai paneer and biryani combo, that by default come with super fluffy rice. There’s a standard goat laal maas and goat biryani, but make sure to get the chicken tandoori made with a nice blend of spices, heat, and seasoning.
The Indian Aroma Kitchen
$ | (905) 935-6094 | WEBSITE
Finding authentic Indian food in St. Catharines can feel like a treasure hunt. There’s usually a good explanation when you discover a gem—and at The Indian Aroma Kitchen it’s the incredible butter chicken poutine. Like bees to honey, people are drawn to the lamb vindaloo (the version here has a perfect balance of heat and spice, which is pretty special for this area) and the paneer pakora. You’ll spot regulars picking up their orders while shoppers buzz around the nearby outlets.
Shirazee’s Patties and Samosas
$ | WEBSITE
We often go to Shirazee’s Patties and Samosas for lunch because of the bustling food truck atmosphere, the authentic flavors, and handheld delights like the Stuffed Samosas and Pulled Pork Sliders. We also like the infinitely satisfying veggie samosas with their crispy exterior and flavorful interior, all made with quality ingredients and obvious care.
But when we’re feeling particularly adventurous, we’ve come to rely on the creative Gulab Jam and Vanilla Honey Ice Cream Fusion for dessert, a harmonious combination of warm, sugary gulab jamun and cold, creamy ice cream that we probably would have never come up with on our own.