Cheap eats: Indian lunch specials in Vancouver
Warm daal, spicy tandoor, nourishing curry: Indian cuisine offers some of the most comforting lunches around – and in Vancouver, they’re often among the most affordable, with midday specials ranging from reasonable to downright cheap. These local eateries will fill you up without emptying your wallet at lunchtime. [Image credit: iStock.com/ JoeGough]
Indian Oven Restaurant
2006 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M9Indian Oven is heralded as a luxurious, family-friendly fine-dining spot, but most people don’t know that this Kitsilano restaurant also offers fantastic lunch specials for nearby office workers. When paired with the daily $3 pint or $10 pitcher, the $15 rice, naan, and entrée special becomes a lunch that mixes business and pleasure with just the right amount of spice – and price.
Mirchi Restaurant
7964 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6P 4Z2For authentic Indian cuisine served with a smile, look no further than Marpole’s Mirchi Restaurant. Lovingly owned and operated by the Mirchi family, the quaint bistro with the bright yellow sign offers a reduced-price lunch menu that’s both satisfying and affordable. For less than $25 combined, you and your partner-in-dine can choose from a range of home-cooked entrees, naan and sides that include vegetarian, seafood and meat options.
Chutney Villa South Indian Cuisine
147 Broadway E, Vancouver, BC V5T 1W1Offering traditional Sri Lankan dishes as well as South Indian cuisine, this beloved restaurant in the heart of Mount Pleasant boasts a near-unbeatable lunch deal: between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm each day, diners can choose one curry with five ample sides for under $10 – plus a 10 per cent discount off the entire menu.
Dosa Corner Restaurant
8248 Fraser St Suite 110W, Vancouver, BC V5X 3X6A lunchtime tradition in South India, dosas are paper-thin, crispy pancakes made from rice and lentil, stuffed with a range of fillings including potato masala, chicken and beef – making them the perfect on-the-go lunch that’s both satiating and fun to eat. Worth the trip up Fraser Street, Vancouver’s popular Dosa Corner offers more than 30 varieties, all for less than $10 each.
Sula Indian Restaurant
1128 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3X2When entering Sula at lunchtime, prepare to be captivated by the restaurant’s beautiful, contemporary decor, which offers plenty of cozy corners for tucking away in with a friend. Perfect for intimate meetings, this refined yet offbeat Commercial Drive eatery offers an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for just under $14 on Thursdays and Fridays that includes many vegan and vegetarian options.
Curry2U
281-1689 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9Located in the Granville Island Public Market, Curry 2 U’s dirt-cheap, daily lunch deals can’t be beat. Take Kebab Monday, for example, when you’ll enjoy the kofta (meatballs) with rice, naan, greens and lentil curry for less than $7. Or Tandoori Friday, when a quarter tandoori chicken served with greens and yogurt dip is just $5.50. What’s the best day? It’s hard to choose, but on Tiffin Thursdays, bring your own environmentally friendly dishware to get two whole dishes for only $5 – and that includes rice!
