Nothing beats a serving of butter chicken to warm you up on a rainy day or to simply gather with friends around a meal that's both spicy and sweet. Originally from India, murgh makhani is served with rice or naan bread and consists of chicken marinated in a sauce made with butter, tomatoes, and spices.
Whether you're looking for an authentic spot to enjoy this Indian dish or a modern version with a Montreal twist, this selection features several restaurants that offer butter chicken in various forms.
Le Taj
Multiple locations
With white tablecloths, Indian-inspired decor, traditional dishes, and a varied wine list, this cozy family restaurant offers an authentic Indian dining experience. The menu features a wide array of Indian classics, including a delicious butter chicken, as well as tandoori shrimp, a delicately spiced chicken korma, and a rich lamb curry.
Read also:
A Culinary Journey: The Best Indian Restaurants in Montreal
Gandhi
230 Rue St-Paul O., Montreal, H2Y 1Z9
Soft lights, Indian music, and white tabletops: Restaurant Gandhi transports its guests with an elegant yet authentic atmosphere. The menu features several Indian specialties, including the must-try butter chicken. And if you're the type who can't decide between several options, go for one of their combo menus, perfect for sampling a little bit of everything. The Taj Mahal combo, for example, features butter chicken, saagwala lamb, and aloo gabi, a mix of potatoes and cauliflower, all served with naan and rice.
Maison Indian Curry House
996 Rue Jean-Talon O, Montreal, H3N 1S8
This spot offers Indian dishes at affordable prices, generally between $10 and $15.50. Butter chicken is served with rice and naan. The menu also includes dosas, Indian rice flour crepes.
Restaurant Héritaj
701 Rue William, Montreal, H3C 0T9
Located in Old Montreal, this restaurant offers dishes that combine Indian influences with French culinary techniques. The menu features revisited versions of classics, including a cordon bleu-style butter chicken and a chicken breast stuffed with paneer, served with a creamy sauce.
India Rosa
Multiple locations
For a more modern take, this restaurant puts a fresh spin on some Indian classics. The butter chicken is made with chicken thighs, a signature butter sauce, and cashews. The menu also features a selection of tapas, such as samosas, tandoori-spiced marinated mushrooms stuffed with paneer and mozzarella, and cheese-marinated tiger prawns.
Rutba
3633 Boulevard St-Laurent, Montreal, H2X 2V5
The restaurant offers several variations of butter chicken. A section of the menu is dedicated to this dish, featuring a variety of options. There is a classic version, as well as variations such as one topped with burrata and served with lachha paratha, or a version with maple syrup served with rosemary naan.
Masakali Indian Cuisine
1015 Rue Sherbrooke O, Montreal, H3A 1G5
The restaurant offers a variety of chicken butter dishes, such as wings, nachos, or topped fries, in addition to the traditional version served with rice. The diversity of formats allows you to enjoy this dish in different ways.
Bombay Mahal
Multiple locations
For an authentic experience, add this Indian restaurant to your bucket list. In addition to their delicious butter chicken, which you can enjoy with naan bread or rice, the restaurant also offers Indian cuisine staples like palak paneer, cheese simmered in a spinach curry. To top it all off, the menu includes small bites to share, such as onion bhaji, fried onion fritters made with chickpea flour.
Shaaz
2100 Rue Crescent, Montreal, H3G 2B8
Located on Crescent Street, this restaurant's menu is so extensive that it will take you quite a while to browse through it all, and making a choice won't be easy. Among the must-try dishes is the famous butter chicken, served authentically with a subtle spicy kick. The establishment also offers a wide selection of vegetarian dishes, with over 18 curries made with mushrooms, potatoes, spinach, or paneer.
Mont Everest Masala
1999 Avenue Mont-Royal E, Montreal, H2H 1J4
If you don't really have time to sit down for a long meal but want to enjoy authentic butter chicken without all the fuss, head to Everest Masala. The restaurant offers a great selection of classic Indian dishes, including their butter chicken, as well as some of their most popular specialties like chicken korma or chicken rogan josh, simmered in a rich sauce made with ghee and spices.
Tula
5258 Boulevard St-Laurent, Montreal, H2T 1S1
If you want to introduce your vegan BFF to butter chicken, this spot is worth a visit. TULA offers entirely vegan Indian cuisine, without compromising on flavor. The menu revamps several classics, including a vegan version of butter chicken, made with plant-based chicken, tofu, and nuts to recreate the richness of butter. A wonderful way to rediscover this beloved classic in a more inclusive version.
Tabla
1329 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montreal, H2L 2H4
For outdoor dining enthusiasts, this Indian restaurant is the perfect spot to enjoy a meal in the fresh air on sunny days, or indoors in a chic, modern setting. In addition to their delicious traditional butter chicken, the restaurant offers a wide variety of traditional dishes, such as lamb rogan josh and saag paneer.
Mumbai Masala
3673 Boulevard St-Laurent, Montreal, H2X 2V5
To satisfy your craving for Indian flavors, head to this spot on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, where you can enjoy no-frills butter chicken in a simple, friendly setting. In addition to the classic version, the restaurant also offers a variation with an even creamier tomato sauce, for an extra touch of indulgence. To round out the experience, be sure to try a mango lassi, a refreshing traditional drink that will perfectly balance your meal.
Sandhu
4548 Avenue Papineau, Montreal, H2H 1V3
The restaurant combines Indian and Italian influences. The butter chicken is prepared with a yogurt and spice marinade, then served in a creamy tomato sauce. The menu also features pizzas and pastas, including a chicken curry pizza with mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and cilantro.
Moghel Tandoori
Multiple locations
For this outing, we're going slightly outside of Montreal, to Longueuil, for some butter chicken at Moghel Tandoori. Their version is made with coconut milk and almonds, then served with rice and naan bread.
The menu also offers several other options, including vegetarian dishes like aloo baingan, a dish made with eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes.
Tandoori Palace
3204 Boulevard Saint-Martin O, Laval, H7T 1A1
This restaurant located in Laval offers a wide variety of dishes featuring Indian cuisine, including butter chicken. A shrimp version is also available for those who prefer seafood. To accompany the meal, the restaurant serves basmati rice infused with cumin, onions, tomatoes, and green peas. Several Indian breads are also available, such as garlic naan or lachha paratha, a whole-wheat spiral bread generously buttered.
