Thanjai is an authentic South Indian Restaurant which serves mostly vegetarian and some non-vegetarian food offerings. We specialize in creating the true flavors of South Indian recipes that are familiar to all who grew up with these dishes. We offer a rich blend of flavors, colours, seasoning, health values, aroma, tastes and the visual appeals of this unique cuisine. And, we are the only restaurant in the area offering you this taste experience. Many of the dishes are ‘gluten-free’ and offer low fat and low cholesterol values.
Reviews consistently praise Thanjai for authentic South Indian flavors delivered with freshness and balance, from fragrant biryani and rich goat dishes to crispy dosas and comforting sambar and avial. The banana leaf feast and a variety of thali options appear especially beloved, often described as homely and welcoming with dishes that feel prepared with care. Service is repeatedly highlighted as friendly, attentive, and efficient, with many noting staff who explain the menu and make good recommendations; some comments mention room for improvement in consistency and pacing during peak hours or lunch service. The restaurant is described as clean and well maintained, with a warm, family like vibe and a vibrant atmosphere, occasionally noted as a bit loud. Several reviewers travel long distances or visit multiple times, calling it a standout for South Indian cuisine in Montreal or in Quebec, and praising specific dishes such as chicken biryani, chicken kothu parota, dosa varieties, vatha bath kulambu, ashoka sweet, and payasam. While most experiences are positive, a few mention missing menu items or inconsistencies in service and vegan labeling, but the overall sentiment remains highly favorable and the place is often recommended and repeated as a must visit for fans of Tamil Nadu style cooking.
I visited from Vancouver on a business trip & tried the killi poratta with chicken lollipop-it instantly reminded me of my hometown, Sivakasi. Amazing service & excellent food quality. This is always my go-to restaurant in Montreal.
Called to ask about vegan options. I started in French & the call was immediately disconnected. When I called again, I was abruptly told'Speak in English,' & my question was answered with a blunt'No.'
Not having vegan options is perfectly fine, but the lack of service in French & responding so dismissively shows very poor customer service.
Mar 15, 2026
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Excellent experience! The restaurant offers authentic South Indian taste with fantastic & delicious flavors. Every dish was fresh, well-prepared, & truly amazing.
The staff communication is very good & friendly. They take time to explain the menu & recommend the best dishes based on your preference, which makes the experience even better.
The service is fast & efficient. The restaurant is very clean & well-maintained. The presentation of the dishes is beautiful & professional, & the taste is absolutely fantastic.
Overall, amazing food, great customer service, fast service, & a clean environment. Highly recommended for anyone looking for real South Indian cuisine!
We hosted a party at Thanjai Restaurant yesterday with a vegetarian menu, & all our guests truly enjoyed the delicious food.The party hall was perfect for small events, & the staff were very kind & helpful throughout. I highly recommend Thanjai for small celebrations!
A truly satisfying South Indian meal! The sambar instantly took me back to Chennai comforting, nostalgic, & full of authentic flavour
I tried their Veg Thali, & it felt very homely. It comes with three different vegetable preparations, giving a nice balance & a good carb fibre split. Everything tasted fresh & thoughtfully prepared. Definitely a solid 4.5/5 for the Veg Thali.
The Egg Biryani was decent - I'd rate it 3/5. It lacked the depth of flavour you'd typically expect from a non-veg biryani.
However, their Chicken 777 is a must-try! It's similar to Chicken 65 but tossed in flavorful Indo-Chinese style sauces bold, slightly spicy, & very satisfying. Easily a 4/5.
They also make a wide range of South Indian snacks like murukku or chakli, thattai, ribbon pakoda, & more & they're very reasonably priced. I tried the butter murukku, thattai, & ribbon pakoda, & they were excellent. Honestly, I'd consider ordering directly from them instead of buying from a grocery store!
If you're craving authentic South Indian comfort food & snacks, this place is definitely worth a visit
Ordered the ambur goat biryani for my party of 10 pax it was absolutely phenomenal ,
perfectly cooked, fragrant, & packed with rich flavours & right balance of spices.
The delivery on time as promised at 1130 am with the extra treats were such a thoughtful surprise! They were just as delicious & added an extra layer of joy to the whole experience. It honestly felt like a generous homemade feast rather than just a meal. Highly recommend & deeply appreciated!
We visited Thanjai for dinner yesterday with our family m. This was our 4th time here, & it's officially our favorite South Indian restaurant so far! We're from Ottawa, & it's honestly hard to find authentic, satisfying South Indian food there. We've been searching in both Ottawa & Toronto, & we're so happy to have found this gem.
Our kids (6 & 10) always look forward to eating here. Our absolute favorites are the Chicken 65 Biryani & Chicken Kothu Parota both are consistently delicious. The quality of the food & the service are always top notch.
Yesterday we didn't have any plans, so we literally drove to Montreal just to enjoy Thanjai's food , it's that good! We would be thrilled if they ever opened a branch in Ottawa.
We visited this restaurant for the first time with high expectations. I went with my husband & brother, & the restaurant looked nice from the inside, which made us feel hopeful about the experience.
We ordered Chicken Lollipop, Chicken 777, Masala Dosa, & Chicken Curry Dosa. Our food arrived within 20-25 minutes, but unfortunately, the taste was very disappointing. None of the dishes were good, & we were extremely dissatisfied.
What made the experience worse was that from the next day onwards, all three of us had stomach issues, including vomiting & stomach pain. We usually go out for dinner once a week & enjoy exploring different restaurants, but something like this has never happened to us before.
Overall, it was a very bad experience, & I would not recommend this place.
Service takes a long time to serve for group of 25 people
Alcohol drinks not too good
Too loud music
Friendly staff & have a good memory
No space to hang jackets
