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.
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 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.
During my trip from the US to Montreal, I stumbled upon Thanjay & had an unforgettable dinner experience. The flavors here are extraordinary-dishes like Chicken 777, Kili Paratha, Shrimp Fry, Tandoori chicken, & Hyderabadi Biryani blew me away. Every bite surpassed the last, so much so that I returned the next day for lunch. If you're in Montreal, I can't recommend this restaurant enough-it's a must-visit for any foodie.
We had dinner for two on a Sunday evening, & it was a wonderful experience. The restaurant was quite empty, so the food arrived quickly & was served piping hot. As is typical with excellent Tamil cuisine, the dishes were incredibly flavorful, prepared with quality ingredients, & perfectly spiced. My only suggestion would be to enhance the service slightly by having staff check in more frequently, clear empty plates, & be a bit more proactive.
When you advertise for a special meal, make sure all the dishes are ready & available. I did not want white rice & l came for Matta rice. This is not Kerala Sadhya. Sadhya Sambar, Pulinji etc nothing was authentic Kerala style.
Sep 6, 2025
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Loved it. They provided really a good service out there. Especially rohit, that guy is really cool. He made us feel like home. Tasting our home country dishes in an authentic restaurant is a different emotion.
We didn't know what to expect when we walked in the door, but the host was so good at food suggestions that we thoroughly enjoyed everything. The Parota bread was really fresh & so good with all the curry dishes!
Jul 14, 2024
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Nice Indian place for dine in , they had great menu like Rasam, dosa, appetizers for travellers, we have been out of home for a week & was looking for simple home cooked food, this menu totally satisfied our needs with rasam & chicken 65, we also tried their dosa it was good , the biryani was just mediocre for us & rest of the dishes we tried were really great, we could see lots of people coming & having food from locals, that shows the food is really good here!!! The chicken noodles we tried was also good.
I go out of my way to eat here everytime I visit Montreal. The best Chicken 65 & biriyani I've eaten in Canada. They also have lesser known Tamil dishes like murtabak. There's a plaza 1min walk away too where you can always get free parking easily.
We ordered paper dosas . As diabetics, it is the type of food we can eat . We specifically chose the ones made of mainly lentils & a bit of rice for the crispy side . At the end of the meal , our stomachs starting swelling , clear sign that wheat was used . The night was long & extremely uncomfortable. We will never set foot again in that restaurant . The fact that our dishes came as soon as we had finished ordering should have been a warning sign as well as the lack of crispness.Fool me once ...
Good atmosphere but overrated outlet. It's quite expensive from value for money perspective. I travelled half way across the city to try out some good South Indian food, but was left disappointed. Service & sitting is nice with tall ceilings offering a good breather & it's quite clean. Ordered naans, parotha, chicken curry & chicken 65. All breads would qualify as baby naans due to their size. For almost 4 dollars each these are a ripoff. Currys were pretty average, mostly bland & watery. You'll find the two dishes mostly similar in looks & in taste. Overall, not worth the brand name.
Apr 8, 2024
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On Christmas Day, we dined at Thanjai & were pleasantly surprised by the swift seating despite the busy holiday. The restaurant's ambiance was basic, but the food was exceptional. The highlight was the Kothu Parotta, which was outstanding. We also savored the Chicken Chettinad with rice, a dish that was truly impressive. Service was prompt, giving us an authentic Tamil Nadu dining experience. Surprisingly, even the Indo-Chinese dishes like fried rice & Gobi Manchurian were perfectly prepared. The meal was definitely worth the cost. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed on Boxing Day, or we would have gladly eaten there again.
We had dinner here & tried their vegetable Briyani, egg kothu & mushroom murtabha. Dishes were decent & service was slow & not very attentive. They also didn’t have many of the items in the menu this day. There was some birthday party happening downstairs in the event area & it was a bit loud that spoiled the ambience but otherwise they ambience is well lit, well decorated & clean. The restaurant is right on the street so easy to find but only paid street parking.
