Desi Tadka Restaurant is described in reviews as offering authentic desi flavors in Montreal with well balanced spices and fresh ingredients. Diners celebrate butter chicken for its rich, comforting profile and naan that arrives hot and fluffy, while halwa puri and nihari are noted among the best in the city. The menu also features gol gappey, pani puri, chicken tikka roll, samosas and a range of biryanis, including a value oriented dollar biryani. Many find portions generous and the food consistently tasty, with a welcoming atmosphere and friendly service that enhances the experience. The place is regarded as an underrated gem that delivers good value and quick service, with takeout becoming a convenient option for busy days. Occasional remarks mention spice levels can be spicy and one visit or wait times may be longer, but overall the sentiment is positive and suggests Desi Tadka Restaurant is a reliable go-to for authentic Pakistani cuisine in the city.
A Taste of Home in Montreal! 🇵🇰
If you're looking for authentic Pakistani flavors in Montreal, this is the spot. We came in for a family brunch & were blown away by both the food & the hospitality.
What we ordered:
• Halwa Puri: Perfectly crispy puris & the halwa had just the right amount of sweetness.
• Paye with Naan: The paye was rich, sticky, & flavorful-exactly how it's made back home. The naan was fresh & fluffy, perfect for soaking up the gravy.
• Chicken Thali: The portions were absolutely huge. It's rare to find a place that doesn't skimp on the servings!
The highlight of the experience, however, was the service. The owner was incredibly kind & treated us like guests in his own home, even giving us complimentary tea for all three of us at the end of the meal.
My parents are visiting from Pakistan & they are very picky about their Desi food, but they truly enjoyed every bite. It's officially parent-approved! We will definitely be coming back.
Highly recommended for anyone craving genuine Lahori/Karachi vibes in the city.
Tried this desi spot recently & loved it! The flavors were authentic, spices perfectly balanced, & everything tasted fresh. The butter chicken was rich & comforting, & the naan came out hot & fluffy. Service was warm & welcoming too. Definitely coming back for more!
Feb 23, 2026
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We'd been craving some Biryani after class, so we decided to just walk into the first spot we saw & luckily, Desi Tadka was right across the street. It's a small restaurant with a quirky little front step that immediately caught our attention.
We ordered a Lamb Biryani & a Chicken Biryani, plus some Vegetable Samosas to start while waiting for the main meal. Honestly, we went in hoping to relive the taste of the Biryani we used to have back when we were still in the UAE. & to be fair, it came pretty close! The flavor was rich & satisfying though a bit on the spicier side.
At first, I was really enjoying every bite, but halfway through, the heat started to catch up with me, & it turned into a water-bite-water routine. That said, I don't blame the restaurant it's the traditional level of spiciness. I probably should have asked them to tone it down, like we used to do back in the UAE, but since we were starving, we didn't think of it. (Lesson learned 😅).
Interestingly, another customer eating there mentioned,'Today is a little spicy, not like last time.' So maybe it was just one of those days!
As for the Vegetable Samosas with sauce its absolutely spot on. Crispy, flavorful, & nearly perfect.
The chicken tikka roll is very tasty! I tried the 1st time for dine-in but made it a habit of calling them for take-out so that I don't have to wait when calling!
Maybe it's because I was hungry, but the food seemed to take ages it arrive. But it was sorth the wait! We both had a chicken wrap & mango lassi; they were were delicious. & looking around the restaurant, I noted that everything looked great. I am from Victoria & sadly there isn't anything that matches the calibre of Desi's in my town, but on my next visit I'll be back, & willing to wait
This place is actually really good. I tried the pani puri & it was amazing. The butter chicken is really great as well. I'd definitely recommend this restaurant! 10/10. The owner is very welcoming & made sure we received great service.
Been here many times & had a great experience definitely would recommend trying chicken tikka with the naan aswell as the tikka roll if your on the go. Side note if your vegetarian i would really really recommend trying out the samosachaat as that this my fav meal to eat on the days im veg. Overall great experience with nice smiles.
The garlic naan is soooo good. Ate that naan with butter chicken & definitely hit the spot. What i love about this place is the amount drinks they have. They have so many options its hard to choose.
Mar 2, 2025
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Went in looking for the 6.00 Naan Roll takeout only Monday to Friday as advertised in the front. He asked my what type to chose from. Chicken, chicken Tikka or beef. I chose chicken Tikka. Turned out it was 8 dollars & when I questioned it, he said I gave you the choice & that's what you picked & it cost extra. So the chicken Tikka one is 2 dollars extra just because of some seasonings? Beef understandably might cost more. dishonest advertising!
Picture yourself at the roadside dhaba in Lahore Pakistan with amazing chefs & the hosts, who will replicate the experience similar to if you traveled there ! I got the chicken Thali . It was amazing . The taste of the food is similar to if I go abroad.. I promise you that. If you are in Montreal you are doing a disservice to yourself by not stopping here ! Thanks a lot guys. Keep the quality high as always. There menu has many varieties. The lamb Thali is next for me on my next trip !
