Leela Indian Food Bar (Gerrard) – 1386 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4L 1Z2
Country: India     
Must-try dish: Hariyali Chicken Tikka
Seating: Indoor seating with a patio on the side of the building. 
Dinner guests: Hilly, Pornstar Sam, Suited Sebastien, The Ballerina & Uncle Yusuf
The high: There are dishes from several regions in India. 
The low: The Aloo Gobi was too sweet. 

Despite having abundant Indian restaurants across Toronto, there’s a wide range in quality between them. There are also fancier ones that have modernized traditional recipes, and then there are the ones serving classic dishes more often eaten in India. Leela’s is in the classic camp with dishes from regions all over the country.  This year for Diwali, we’re sharing our dinning experience at Leela’s in Little India with you.

When you set foot in Toronto’s Little India, the number of Indian restaurants is overwhelming, especially when there’s a staff member out front trying to capture you to go inside. It’s probably best to avoid those spots. The better places know that they’ll have a full house regardless of outdoor marketing. Leela is one of the latter. 

If Indians didn’t invent family style eating, then they should have because that’s what this cuisine is all about! With a group of seven diners, we sampled several dishes on Leela’s menu. 

Kale Pakora
The greens made this particular pakora feel a little healthier than usual, but not by much! A Pakora is a popular Indian snack made with potatoes, onions, flour, and spices then deep-fried. It’s delicious on its own or dipped in chutneys. 

Dahi Puri
A popular street food that originates from Mumbai, this golf-ball sized shell is stuffed with potatoes, chickpeas, ragda (a potato and pea sauce), and yogurt mixed with tamarind and coriander. Eat it in whatever feels right, but we strongly recommend putting the full ball into your mouth in one go. 

Pani Puri
All of the ingredients and the presentation are the same as a Dahi Puri but without the yogurt, that’s replaced with a tangy spicy water sauce. The one bite approach of eating it is still recommended here. 

Pav Bhaji
Another classic street food from Mumbai, this is a duo type of dish made up of a dinner roll that’s dipped into a spicy curry sauce. Unlike other Indian breads, this one soaks up all of the sauce. 

Chaat Papri
This snack is enjoyed all over India and surrounding countries. It’s made up of a mix of wafers, potatoes, onions, chickpeas, spices, and a yogurt mixed with tamarind and green chutneys. To keep your hands clean, you may want to use a utensil, but to do as the Indians do, use your hands. 

Afghan Malai Chicken Tikka
These charbroiled pieces of chicken are tender and juicy, then topped with a cream sauce mixed with subtle spices. It’s one of the heavier dishes because of the sauce but it’s totally worth it, especially when sharing it with a friend. 

Hariyali Chicken Tikka
Despite all the choices, this dish was the favourite among our guests, so much so that we could have devoured a second plate of it. The dish comes with two thin pieces of barbecued chicken that are cooked in savoury green sauce made of coriander, garlic, and ginger. You won’t regret having this one! 

Spicy Chicken Madras 
Order this simply to taste the sauce. This winning combination starts with a tomato base with red chillies, coconut milk, and fennel seed with pieces of chicken. Although it’s advertised as being spicy, it’s more of a medium spice level, so don’t rule this one out of your order. 

Shrimp Malay Curry
Sweet meets savory in this velvety textured curry. The cream makes it rich, while the spices pack it with flavour. The shrimp take on the identity of the sauce, and there’s a lot of it, which can be soaked up with naan or rice. 

Dal Makhani
A decadent black lentil dish that cooks for 24 hours in butter and spices. It’s a must-order for a group because everyone wants a taste to go along with their naan or rice. It’s also a crowd pleaser for diners of all spice levels. 

Aloo Gobhi
This is usually a favourite, but it was disappointing at Leela’s because the tomato gravy was too sweet. It’s made up of a cauliflower and potato base with tomato and spices to doctor it up. Unfortunately it didn’t hit the mark like it usually does because the curry sauce itself was too sweet, perhaps this was caused by too many tomatoes or sweeter spices. Don’t be discouraged – it’s usually one of the best vegetarian dishes on an Indian menu. 

A few orders of garlic naan were necessary for the table to use for dipping, as well as a couple orders of rice. 

The opportunity to experience Indian street food in Toronto is a rarity, so this was a treat. Depending on your sense of adventure, or the strength of your stomach, street-fooding in India isn’t always an option. Plus, it was great to taste different variations of old favourites. If you’re craving Indian food in the Leslieville or High Park areas of the city, look to one of the Leela locations to satisfy that craving. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)