Pukka

Pukka was quite good in terms of food and service. I came in with a friend for dinner on a cold day and they offered to hang up our coats at the front. Food portions are smaller than a typical family style restaurant - but good for sharing between 2-3 people if you're getting multiple dishes. Menu was modest but diverse with options. We tried the veggie pakoras (great batter flavour), okra fries with apricot chutney (savoury yet sweet pairing very well with the chutney), garlic naan (ok), pickerel and rice (very good flavour), Punjabi chicken curry (ok / much more lightly spiced than expected but could be preferred by some), and sweet rice for dessert (good with mild sweetness, and I enjoyed the cardamom top off). Because the chicken curry had mild flavours we noticed it paired much better with the rice than the naan - as you can taste the spices more with the rice. We also appreciated the mocktail offerings - highly recommend the elderflower gin and tonic! Great overall, would come back again to try more dishes.

Pukka Indian Restaurant — and yes, Pukka means Definite. This place DEFINITELY delivers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 10 Stars out of 5!!! From the moment you step in, you know you’re in for something special. Pukka in Hindi means Definite, and this restaurant is definitively nailing Indian flavors—bold, authentic, and unforgettable. Take the first bite of the Daal Makhni, and you’re instantly transported to Delhi, where you find the most authentic versions of this classic. That slow-cooked richness, the depth, the comfort—it’s all there. One spoonful and nostalgia kicks in hard. Ofcourse we had the Butter Chicken—a dish everyone claims to perfect, but very few actually do. Pukka’s version takes you straight to Old Delhi, to those legendary kitchens where the recipe hasn’t changed for generations. The gravy is silky, rich, and perfectly balanced—not overly sweet, not overly heavy—just the way authentic butter chicken is meant to be. Every bite carries that deep, smoky, slow-cooked flavor that reminds you why this dish became iconic in the first place. It’s comforting, nostalgic, and unapologetically classic—proof that when done right, simplicity is everything. The spinach mushroom curry deserves its own standing ovation. Not only does it tantalize your taste buds, but visually… wow. You almost don’t want to disturb the plate because the presentation itself is mesmerizing. The bite takes you to India, while the presentation takes you to Italy—Pukka is clearly playing with all your senses at once, and doing it brilliantly 🙂 And PLEASE—save room for dessert. Trust me on this. The kheer… OMG. I hate to spoil the surprise, but I have to. It’s served warm (yes, hold your breath), accompanied by two biscotti. One bite in, and I was instantly reminded of my Naani Maa’s kheer. Pure comfort. Pure love. Impossible to stop. Then comes the sticky toffee pudding—with subtle hints of cardamom and cinnamon, paired with ice cream that just melts into the experience. It’s indulgent, balanced, and unforgettable. The Pukka team has done a phenomenal job bringing creativity into every single aspect of the restaurant— the aesthetics, wall décor, menu design, presentation, and most importantly, the taste, which stays beautifully authentic despite all the innovation. Fatima took great care of us and provided some excellent recommendations. So keep taking bite after bite—because what you’re seeing might be artistic and modern, but what you’re tasting is unapologetically Indian. I’ll definitely be back—for the chaat, and for all the other dishes I couldn’t try this time i.e. Biryani..Paneer...and paan ice cream etc... Pukka doesn’t just serve food—it serves an experience. 💛🍽️

I visited Pukka for the first time in nine years and the food was still just as good as I remembered it. We had the 3-course Winterlicious menu and tried the prawns, butter chicken, lamb and tofu dishes, as well as the chai sticky toffee dessert, and were quite happy with everything we got.

I had catering done from Pukka last weekend for a work event where I would be having 100+ attendees and I was so nervous because I’ve never arranged for food like that on my own for such a big group but Pukka and specifically Harsh from Pukka took such good care of making sure it was a seamless process for us! THE FOOD WAS AMAZING, I kept hearing compliments on it the following week and most importantly the service I received was impeccable. Harsh gave me great suggestions to make ordering it easy and likeable for the attendees and he was also early to deliver the food considering there was a lot of road closures in the city. I will definitely be keeping them in mind for any future events!!!!!

The food was unreal; especially the garlic naan. This might be some of the best Indian food in the city. The mango lassi was also incredible; I don’t know if they added cardamom ? I’ve had a lot and this was a standout. Definitely recommend eating here. Service was also amazing. Thank you so much for having us .

Follow @bredgyeats on IG for more food posts! I remember watching a show named Pukka when I was younger, but I definitely enjoyed my visit here better. An elegant take on the street food chaat, it delivers a melody of crispy and crunchy textures, with an appetizing acidity and creaminess from the fruits, tamarind chutney and yogurt that makes you hungrier as you eat. Then the hard-working fisherman got a big catch today of a beautifully tender and flaky cod, along with king prawns that are delightfully fresh and sweet, served in a rich coconut broth that's brightened with lemon. Not sure where the name Chicken 65 came from, but I'm glad that's not the price. The roasted pumpkin curry is enhanced with garam masala, each bite dissolving in your mouth and perfuming a delightful natural sweetness in the velvety coconut milk base.

As always - Pukka was great. The pumpkin curry was amazing. When I was ordering, the woman on the phone suggested it instead of something else. What a great find. I also asked about garlic- it was so well labeled. Enjoyed our dinner ( and some for breakfast as well!).

We had an amazing evening at Pukka. The food and service is always amazing here. A cozy place, we started the evening with refreshing Indian inspired cocktails like Lady Grey or Bombay Sour. The food is delicious, elevated Indian dishes full of flavour. On the menu are a variety of seafood, chicken, lamb and short rib in aromatic classic Indian Curries and Masala. Presentation here is always on potent! There is a variety of amazing vegetarian dishes that you should try as well. The dishes are generous and moderately priced. If you need help, the servers are there to guide you in the right direction for a great experience 🍽️ One of the best places in the city for Indian cuisine! If you haven’t been here, you should definitely put this place on the top of your list.

Not your average Indian restaurant, Pukka stands in a class above the vast majority! Their butter chicken, chaat and pumpkin curry are absolutely divine! The garlic naan is simply incredible, and the chicken tikka is a fresh take on the traditional one you would find in most restaurants. The mango lassi was the perfect drink to pair with the meal. Service was friendly and prompt, the restaurant itself is very aesthetically pleasing, with interesting artwork and beautiful plates. Do yourself a favour and dine at this local gem of a place!

Delicious food and good service. My favourites from our dinner: samosas, gunpowder shrimp, butter chicken, okra fries, green beans, rice and plain naan. We really enjoyed our night out, thank you.

Everything, but everything, is well made and delicious here. The punjabi chicken is exceptional with a wonderful depth of smoky spiciness. I appreciate the mild vegetable curry with just the right - not mushy - texture of the vegetables. The service is always pleasant and accommodating. We have always felt welcomed here.

Open for more than a decade, Pukka has been a staple in the midtown Toronto area for their contemporary Indian cuisine with the classics and reimagined takes on childhood favourites! Ranging from their Pukka Chaat to start off any meal or their hearty mains such as their paneer and Seafood Curry, it is a great meal to share with friends and family!

It's still a 5! They now have this hakka tofu dish that is so good. I also love the vegan kale salad with this vegan cashew dressing. The other plus is that they use aquafaba in their cocktails which makes them vegan friendly. The pumpkin curry is also delicious. In the summer they have a street patio as part of the cafeTO program and that is lovely as well. Happy repeat customer.

Came here with a friend to try out this Indian fusion restaurant. Service was normal, not super fast but very friendly as they also take your coats for you. It was warm inside and dark, really setting a nice ambience for a date night. The food was good but not outstanding. Although it's considered an Indian fusion restaurant, some dishes (duck breast) didn't taste very Indian. We ordered the Pukka Chaat, which was flavourful and with a tiny kick of spice. We also ordered the duck breast with blueberry curry, but the curry was more of a jam in my opinion. Finally we got the pumpkin curry which was delicious but it is mildly spiced.

I've been to Pukka twice now, one time for Winterlicious back in 2018 and a second time this early autumn. Both experiences have been wonderful! Food: I honestly enjoyed all the dishes I had from Pukka. From my recent visit, the chaat is a yummy appetizer to go for when you want a refreshing mix of textures. The Boatman's Fish and Prawns and Punjabi Chicken Curry were each distinct and so flavourful. The Boatman's Fish and Prawns reminded me of a seafood bisque - the taste is different though - more of a turmeric and lemon-coconut curry base. The portion of garlic naan could have been more but did not disappoint. Service/atmosphere: The waitress who served us was patient, and gave amazing customer service that was welcoming. I hope Pukka considers opening a brunch menu at their restaurant, I still remember the pakora-eggs benedict they served when Ji (their brunch restaurant) was open back then.

I can confidently say that I was not ready for this knock out meal. My coworkers and I got a last minute call up to this meal when there were last minute cancellations which was just fine with us. Our dinner was served to us in a tasting menu style. We started off with a few different appetizers. There were sweet potato samosas with a duo of chutneys and a colourful Chaat that was piled high. There was also a spicy chili chicken app which I could only manage a few bites of due to low spice tolerance. The main course was a medley of curries with baskets of all kinds of naan - plain, whole wheat, and garlic (the tastiest one!). Of the mains, my favourite were the lamb chops that were served on a butter based sauce. The lamb itself was grilled to perfection and I didn't care how full I was - I wasn't leaving any of it on the plate. We were treated to two desserts. The first was a chili chocolate cake that was served with a scoop of raspberry sorbet. The flavours were too complex for me to appreciate. The spice was definitely there. I did really appreciate the sorbet though. The second was a pavlova topped with edible flowers and berries. This was the perfect consistency and a great way to end a super filling meal. The last thing to touch on are the beverages. I ordered a mango lass with my meali. It's served in a smaller glass for good reason. This lassi is pretty thick, almost like a smoothie but very, well, smooth! It's definitely a little filling on it's own which probably explains the smaller size. With dessert I ordered a masala chai tea. It's served in a cute lightbulb glass. Sugar was offered with it but I really liked it just as it was. Final final thing, the ambiance in the restaurant is pretty nice. It's a modern interior with huge doors that can open up onto the patio facing St Clair which helps with airflow. We went on the hottest day of the year (so far) so that really helped with comfort.

We had a wonderful dinner at Pukka with my family which was a large party of teenage boys and adults. We all found food we loved. The blueberry duck was to die for. We thoroughly enjoyed all the dishes we ordered. The service was top notch. They made such a lovely effort to squeeze our large party in too. We'd absolutely come back again when we visit Toronto.

Beautiful decor, very modern and doesn't look like a typical Indian restaurant. I think it would be good for a romantic date or dinner with friends. The food was good although definitely not the best I've ever had. Still very decent. For the price. The service was fast and courteous. Would recommend!

No seats were available but we were lucky enough to sit at the bar. The food was a bit pricier side, but they were very flavorful. It was easily approchable for people who are not familiar with Indian cuisine. The service was fast and servers were very friendly. The inside is quite deep and not as small as I initially thought.

Came here for dinner. Relishes Indian food (very detail oriented) and friendly attentive service! Highly recommend

This is our go-to restaurant in the neighbourhood and it never disappoints. We love all the dishes. Service is great, drinks are great, prices are reasonable. What more could you want/

Pukka is an Indian fusion restaurant that's trendy and modern. * Gunpowder prawns - delicious appetizer! * Vegetable pakoras - Everyone loves deep fried food * Punjabi chicken - A spicy chicken curry that's super flavorful! * Lamb lollipops - The lamb is amazing! Very tender! * Crispy okra fries - Can't go wrong with okra! * Stuffed paneer - Indian style cheese! Amazing vegetarian option! * Sweet plate - chocolate truffles and spiced caramel popcorn. I can't stop eating the popcorn! It's so good!

We chose this place, because they had items on the menu that could be made vegan while also satisfying the other half of our group that are meat eaters. Everything was really good. I especially enjoyed the flavors of the South Indian Vegetable Curry dish. As an appetizer, I ordered the Pukka chaat. I appreciated the option to omit the yoghurt, upon request. It's a beautifully decorated restaurant, and the service was exceptional. Very accommodating. When visiting Toronto again, returning to Pukka will be a must.

The restaurant is located away from the prime tourist areas so you see some neighborhoods on the way. We had the Summerlicious with Gobi 65, eggplant, chicken Tikka Masala, and the rice pudding. The cauliflower was delicious. Deep fried with chiles, masala spice, and lots of garlic. The eggplant was a close second although the cracker had an odd texture. The CTM was odd. We have had CTM in London and multiple cities in the US. This version was very thick and sweet. I also think it included a nut butter, probably peanut. It was not bad but I prefer other versions more. The chicken was well cooked though. Rice pudding was good. It does not have rose flower water and I appreciated that. Service was excellent.

Yummy food specially the brownie was so so good. Highly recommend their pasta too, chicken one!

Came here for summerlicios. Walked in and everything were pretty westernized including the interior and the décor. Appetiser - The tandori smoked eggplant with roti crisp supposed to be crispy????? But our plate of roti are chewy/soggy. Beef kebabs and Vegetable Pakoras- the best out of the four that will suit everyone's taste Pukka Chaat - sweet and sour salad, very appetizing Beef brisket - tasty. Didn't really have a strong impression of this dish. Sauce was spicy, and the meat can be softer. Butter chicken - not my favorite dish, but I like the way the make it, sauce is thick and sweet Rice - Was expecting full on basmati or long grain rice, instead we got some hot and dry flavourless broken rice. Dessert - regular western style sweets Overall I think it's overpriced and I don't think I got much Indian out of it.

Walked in and was shocked to see that I was the only Indian on 20 some tables. Also it doesn't look like a typical Indian restaurant but more like neighborhood European pub restaurant. Wanted to leave as I assumed this place will serve localized Indian food. Still decided to stay and the outcome was really good :) Stellar service, ensured I had my choice of water and I was enjoying the food. Hara Kebab: 5 stars on taste. Soft from inside and crisp to perfection from outside. Dal Makhani: 5 stars, cooked to perfection Laccha Parantha: 5 stars, cooked to perfection Definitely coming back :) And I was wrong, there were few other Indiana too. Couldn't see in dark ;) as interiors are dimmed for right ambiance.

Went here for Winterlicious and I must say I was impressed! It's a small spot on St Clair W (it's sister spot Ji is just down the street). This place was pretty busy so I would recommend making reservations. It serves higher end Indian food so the prices do reflect that, but the quality is worth it. We had the chaat papri and the Chicken 65. Tthe chicken was nice and spicy and accompanied well with the chaat as this was cool and fresh. The 2 apps balanced each other out nicely. for mains we had the lamb and the curry fish. The fish was nice and flaky and soft if a beautiful cream sauce. The lamb..oh my...was a HUGE piece (think Fred Flintstone size). It was tender, falling off the bone delicious. It comes with basmati rice in a food container like jar (Indian people will know what I mean when they see the jars...lol). The desserts we choose were the dark chocolate spicy ganache. Definitely dark chocolate tasting - rich and smooth, but I couldn't really detect the spicy in here. The other dessert we had was the mango pudding. It tasted so fresh, so much like eating a ripe mango it was unbelievable. It's probably one of the best deserts I've had in a long time and it's so simple. Will definitely be back to try this place again and it's sister spot - Ji.

Sooooo good. Pumpkin curry - 5/5 Lamb lollipops - 5/5 Stuffed paneer - 5/5 Chicken 65 - 4/5 (too spicy for me!) Naan - 4/5 Rice - 2.5/5 Flavourful, unique, rich, inventive . Food delivered piping hot. Lamb was very expensive but everything else fairly priced. Can't wait to try everything else on the menu

Found my new favorite Indian restaurant. The way to my heart is a nicely done dish of butter chicken with its creamy sauce and tender morsels scooped on a piece of garlic naan. That's exactly what I got tonight. 5 ‍5 5 4 ‍ 3 For their location I would give a 5 (a 4 if you have a car). It's right after Christie and St Claire and you'd have to pay for parking on the street. For the quality of food, couldn't have been better My chicken was the most tender and the sauce was not too overwhelming. Their service is super fast. The food came in a few minutes and you know that long never ending wait when you've asked the bill? That didn't happen there. Asked the bill? It's in front of you in two blinks. The options on the menu are very interesting. I had the Okra fries as a side, very tasty, crunchy just wholesomely delightful. They also have a Vegan dish that was very tasty (those who can't handle spice, don't venture there). As for our waiter, although there's only one waiter - he was very fast and efficient. However not the friendliest. But again, being one sole waiter for one great restaurant like this might be very vibe consuming.

Great Ambience, Good-ish (But definitely *not* great food), Overpriced. Chaat Salad - Neat Idea, Poor Execution..It was overdressed and soggy. Veg Pakora - Good. Substantial vegetable pieces, lightly battered, crispy and well-seasoned. Butter Chicken - Good. Rich, deep & Tomato-heavy sauce (which I love). Mushroom Stuffed Paneer - Bland sauce. 'Stuffed' is misleading. It was simply mushrooms layered between two paneer slices. Okra Fries - Crispy but they were sliced so thinly it was unrecognizable as okra taste and texture wise...but I think that may be what they were going for. Pumpkin Curry - I was so excited to try this and it was a huge let down. Maybe I had a bad batch but it was oddly sour/tangy, lacked flavour and was mushy.

3.5/5 stars. We came for early dinner tonight (they open at 5PM on Sundays) and the place was pretty empty, which was fantastic because partner and I could actually hear each other across the table. The place is very romantic - candlelit, bar seating availability, quiet. Service was very fast and polite - our server was very helpful with explaining the dishes and helping me navigate the vegan options. Be warned though, fellow vegans - this place is not super vegan friendly as most dishes, breads, and desserts/drinks contain some kind of animal product. We ordered all vegan tonight for me - the pumpkin curry ($14) and chaat appetizer I still highly recommend. The dal makhani (they can make this vegan/dairy-free if you ask!) was only so-so in my opinion. There was nothing unique about the flavors and the only spice I could really note was the spiciness. Nothing was overly spicy, but everything was spicy. Don't order the whole wheat non-dairy naan/roti. It's thin, dried, and blackened. If you want naan and don't have dietary restrictions, just go for the original buttery versions. There is a 3 course prix fixe menu for $49/two people, but we decided not to get it because it only had 1 veg friendly option in the main course selection. Prices are high (even small appetizers were over $10), but reflects the generous portion sizes and quality. We applied a $20 gift certificate (for if you spend over $50) that we picked up after an order from their pop-up at Saks.

Came here for Winterlicioius meal last night and it was better than what I'd expected! The ambiance was good, felt a bit towards the fancier side as it was a fusion Indian type of restaurant. Service was great, with attentive servers. We ordered Chicken 65 & Pukka Chaat for appetizers, Butter Chicken & Tofu tikka masala for the mains, and rice pudding & chilli chocolate brownie for dessert. The proportions were great. My favourite part of the meal was my appetizer, Pukka Chaat....YUM! Salad that tasted super refreshing. If I were to return, I would substitute the tofu tikka masala with another dish. It was a good pairing with rice, but after having tried the other dishes, this tofu dish became quite light. Overall, I would return on a special occasion.

I don't think the food taste good. Service is good but the place is a bit understaffed so it takes some time to get the attention of the waitress. I would not come back again. More details about the dishes we ordered: Pukka chaat: I find it way too saucy. Kale salad: tastes pretty basic. Not bad but not special either Lamb lollipops: the meat was nice and juicy. The sauce doesn't have much taste to it. Boatman's fish and prawns: shrimp tastes like flavourless frozen shrimp. The soup base doesn't have much taste to it Pumpkin curry: probably the best dish of the night. Tastes a bit above average. Sticky toffee pudding: it's not bad but it's very very very sweet

My husband and I finally got a chance to have dinner at Pukka after planning for it over a year, and we were not disappointed! From the moment we walked in and got our coats taken care of, and our friendly and knowledgeable waiter and the ambience, we were off to a great start. We requested to be seated by the window and our request was fulfilled. Now the main part, the delicious food with generous portion sizes. We orders Chicken 65, Pukka Chaat, Quebec Duck Breast and Punjabi Chicken Curry, Bread Basket and mango Panna Cotta and they were all amazing!!! I would definitely reorder chicken 65, it was mind blowing! So flavourful and a very generous portion size. The Punjabi chicken curry and creamy Mango Panna Cotta is also on my reorder list! Overall, it was a great experience and I would definitely recommend Pukka if you are looking for fusion Indian food while maintaining authenticity coupled with great service!

My experience here was a wonderful one... not only did they serve delicious dishes, the service and atmosphere definitely elevates it higher than other Indian restaurants. I would say that this would be the perfect spot for anyone who love Indian food or new to it. Definitely make this a spot for you to try. The restaurant is a lovely modern atmosphere with lots of exposed brick and sunlight coming in from the large windows up front. The tables are wonderfully well spaced so you get your own personal space and you're not claustrophobic. One thing I appreciated is their gentle touch of Indian accents... it's not in your face with huge pictures of Taj Mahal or elephants. It's the subtle accents of Hindi that gives a hint of the type of cuisine. One thing that was a standout was the service... just super warm, well informed of all dishes, and just generally fantastic and attentive. They were able to recommend their top dishes to our palate and create a wonderful meal. We ordered the vegetable pakoras, stuffed paneer, butter chicken, pumpkin curry, masala chai, bread basket, and mango lassi. Vegetable pakoras - this is a bit of a modern twist as it was more like vegetables fries dusted with crispy skin of chickpeas. Usually I see shredded vegetables and made into more lacework patties. Either way, nicely fried up and crispy. But I would say at $9, it is possibly the most expensive set of vegetables fries I've had in a while. I think my fries at other Toronto high end places were only $7. I can see why people comment on how this isnt value. 3.5/5 Stuffed Paneer - Gorgeous presentation, wonderful flavours... if you're carnivorous or vegetarian, I would say this is a must order. A touch of heat adds to the creamy cheese that has a denser texture. The curry underneath is a perfect compliment. 4/5 Butter Chicken - It seemed it had a giant tender chicken breast or 2 medium sized chicken pieces in this dish. The chicken was perfect texture. Definitely a step above your usual fare... wonderfully balanced in terms of spice. It would be a good starter to anyone. I admire the gentle hand for the butter... it wasn't super oily and did not have an pool of butter on top. 4/5 Pumpkin Curry - This stole the show... how does a purely vegan side dish do this? Great spice balance to compliment the soft tender sweet squash. The coconut milk adds to it and tempers the light hit of spice. Just amazing overall 5/5 Bread Basket - you get 3 types... roti and 2 types of naan. At first this seemed expensive but we barely had room to eat all of them so if you have at least 3 people, would recommend to get this. 4/5 Masala Chai and Mango Lassi - The chai was creamy and very flavourful of cardamom. I was expecting a bit more cinnamon or ginger but still a nice drink. The mango lassi was good as well. Nice tartness and not overly sweet. 4/5 Overall, very well executed food with excellent service. Possibly the best overall Indian restaurant experience in Toronto for me.

In a city replete with excellent Indian restaurants, Pukka stands out for having great food and great service, with nice cocktails if you're into that kind of thing as well. Attentive, thoughtful service. Large portions. Delicious vegetarian and vegan options. Parking can be a challenge of course given the popularity of the area.

No question the best Indian restaurant in GTA. Only regret, I did not order enough of punjabi chicken. Cocktails were heavenly and apps were outstanding. But next time I m here, I will bathe myself in the Beat of Punjab!!!

I've been wanting to try Pukka for a very long time, and Winterlicious provided a great opportunity for that! Overall, I love the cozy atmosphere and the warm, attentive service. Our waitress even gave us fresh rice with our leftover curry! Portions are actually pretty huge, even with the Winterlicious menu, so we left very full! The drinks: My companion ordered the Pukka Cup, which was delicious, and my own non-alcoholic pomegranate lemonade was great as well! The food: -Chicken 65: While it wasn't what I'm used to with more authentic versions of this dish, the tamarind flavour in this iteration was a nice tangy twist. It was a nice starter! -Coconut Seafood Curry: A lovely medium-spiced curry with fragrant basmati rice accompaniment. The portions of seafood were generous, and it was a very comforting main that didn't actually feel that heavy! -Mango Panna Cotta: This was good but nothing to write home about. Very fruity, and a little on the heavy side. Really liked the water that came with it. I thought the portion was a little too large, where eating it becomes a bit tiresome. -Rice Pudding: My dinner companion ordered this and I definitely had a bit of dessert envy going on. This spiced rice pudding was warm and sweet and honestly just felt like a culinary hug.

I'm really quite confused as to why there are so many high reviews of this place. I came here on a Sunday evening with 4 other people. The restaurant itself is very nice and clean and the service is great other than the fact that the waitress recommended WAYYY too much food for all of us. She recommended that between 5 people, we should order 4 appetizers and 4 mains. We're all big eaters so didn't think much about it until the food arrived. We ended up ordering 3 appetizers and 4 mains and two mango lassi. We ordered the pukka chaat, vegetable pakoras and chicken 65 to start and the boatmans curry, butter chicken, punjabi chicken curry and the beef short ribs as the mains to share. The pukka chaat was delicious. It was fresh and crispy and a great start to the meal. It is on the spicy side which I didn't expect and wasn't too big on since I knew the chicken dishes would be spicy. The vegetable pakoras aren't your typical pakora. I wouldn't recommend this dish. It came in sticks of vegetables which were soggy and nothing special. I've had better at Indian buffets. Chicken 65 tastes like Hakka style chilli chicken. It also wasn't anything special considering this was one of their most popular appetizers. The boatmans curry was delicious. It was light and creamy. It's different from most other curries I've had. It was almost similar to a thai curry. For $32, this is a splurge. The butter chicken was pretty good. Tastes like your typical butter chicken. Nothing I would go out of my way for. The Punjabi chicken curry was decent in my opinion. I would never order this if it were up to me, but a couple of my dining patrons thought it was delicious. The beef short ribs were delicious. The meat was soft and sweet. Overall, I thought the food was just okay. I don't think I would be back considering the price. I know that part of what your paying for is the cleanliness and service, but I'd rather pay less and ignore all that for better food.

This is certainly not your typical Indian restaurant. Go to Pukka for really great innovative Indian inspired dishes and excellent service. Some of my favourites include the Boatman Fish & Shrimp in a creamy Coconut Curry, the cumin spiced braised Beef Short Ribs and Seared Duck with curry apple. The Naan is baked fresh and is the best.... light and airy! For starters, try the south Indian fried Chicken 65 in tamarind and chillies, the Corn and Spinach Tikka and signature Pukka Chaat slaw. For those on a Vegetarian lifestyle there are plenty of choices on the menu. If you havn't been to Pukka, I definitely recommend trying this place.

This was my first visit to Pukka. The place looks fantastic and the staff were very helpful! Tonight I found some new items on the menu that I haven't tried before at other Indian restaurants. I was pleasantly surprised to see the variety of food that I could have gluten free, and that they served gluten free drinks as well. I'm sober, but nice to see. I ordered the pumpkin curry and the Punjabi chicken curry. The curried pumpkin was to die for set off with coconut milk, kefir lime, and grape tomatoes. The Punjabi chicken curry was quite extraordinary as well. Very bold flavours and nice fat level. Excellent touches of cinnamon! I quite enjoyed the meal. The prices are higher than most Indian restaurants I go to, but he food was well worth it. If you've never been, and you like Indian than you need to go. And lots of ginger on top!

I like Indian food and I have lived in India to be able to judge the quality of it. We had stuffed paneer, butter chicken and pumpkin curry. Also for starters we had poppadoms and samosas. Excellent quality of chutney which came with samosas. Samosas themselves were nice. Stuffed paneer was a bit overcooked not very soft although the curry was excellent and full of flavor. Butter chicken and pumpkin curries were very good. Naan was fresh and tasty. The service was excellent. The girl who served us was very attentive and nice. Overall I enjoyed my time and the food. Very nice decor and atmosphere.

I'm very snobby when it comes to Indian food as most restaurants aren't worth trying. The hype here is real. Four of us went out for dinner based on the reviews and it did not disappoint. If you in the area and looking for good Indian food this is where you should go!

Love this place, the flavours were really thought out and gave a twist on traditional Indian food. Pretty expensive for what it was but I would still come back for the quality

Amaaazzzinggg Indian food!! I came here for winterlicious 2019 and was blown away, especially for the butter chicken! Yes I know it's a very standard dish but being someone who can't handle spicy foods, it's my safe go to bet. It was just so creamy and fragrant. I did enjoy the appetizer and dessert as well, but the main was definitely the most memorable. Our server was attentive and brought our dishes in a timely matter despite the fully packed restaurant. It was also kinda cute that the rice came in cookie jars. If only they had a location uptown, I'd be eating a lot more Indian food :P

I found the food at Pukka really modern and authentic, and have been there twice for foodie events. The restaurant has a very nice vibe to it, and the neighborhood seems to agree given that it is buzzing even on a Tuesday night with an ice storm outside. Some of my favorite dishes there are the gunpowder shrimp, and the beef ribs which are fall-off-the-bone tender. There really isn't anything I didn't like there, and I find their use of spices suit the dishes perfectly. I feel they perhaps toned down the heat on some of the dishes to suit our palates more, but it did not take away the delicious of the food there. I would totally go back to Pukka again and again. A minor thing that I would like to see improved is their beer selection, which I think could be expanded just a bit.

One of the most satisfying dining experiences that I've ever had was here at Pukka. Every course that I had was well presented, very filling and mouth watering delicious. I had the Pukka chaat for apps, the South Indian fish curry for my main and cardamom rice pudding for dessert. I also had garlic butter naan and rosewater and cucumber G&T on the side. My only criticism would be that the basmati rice included with the South Indian fish curry was a bit too salty for my liking. I also discovered that I now love cardamom rice pudding. My experience at Pukka was made even better by the great service that we got from the staff. Everyone was really friendly and informative. I also really appreciated that our tables were wiped after each course (something that I've never had before at any restaurant). The ambiance at Pukka is sophisticated and very inviting. Along with delicious comfort food, it is the perfect place to stop by for intimate get togethers. I look forward to stopping by again to try out more of the delicious food here at Pukka!

No one eats more than I do. Seriously. I am a fat, fat man, in a little man's body. All I do is eat, then walk to the next restaurant to burn off a couple calories to eat again. I've eaten all over this great city but only started writing reviews now because the Ball & Chain's sister got invited to Yelp Elite and she can't even boil water and only eats where I tell her, so here we go: There are certain cuisines (Indian, Portuguese, Mexican, Caribbean etc) that are just not often associated with high end. Pukka is the Indian exception to this rule. This was the best Indian meal I've ever had. Due to cost, I'm still ordering Banjara more frequently, but if I had to choose one Indian meal to impress, it would be Pukka. If I was an Indian parent, I'd give my daughter away for a dowry consisting of dinner here. 5 dowries out of 5.

I LOVED this place! The food was flavorful & delicious!! The service was amicable! Our server went above and beyond and was very helpful and accommodating. We ordered a whole array of things- the lamb chops, fisherman's curry, butter chicken, the okra fries, grilled paneer, daal makhani and I must say each one of them were AMAZING!! The best part- I didn't feel the food was overpowered with "masala's" and the food kept its flavor! I would highly recommend this place

Dinner was above average as expected for the price but not exceptional. We had the following for two people: Chicken 65 as an appetizer- Good amount of taste but chicken could have been more tender. Lamb lollipops- Tender and sauce was creamy Beef short ribs- Recommended, beef was super tender and sauce had a good amount of spice and was great for naan and rice. Wilted greens + paneer- There were chunks of cheese with some greens. Not that tasty, not what we had expected, would not recommend. Rice- great with curry Galic naan- One order come with 4 pieces, it was okay. Not enough garlic taste.

I often cook Indian food at home and I frequent Indian food establishments, so I'm a tough critic when it comes to restaurants serving this cuisine. Pukka didn't disappoint--it's modern Indian food with a twist. My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday night and ordered the crispy okra fries, daal makhani, and vegan tikka masala. All these items were delicious with a good depth of flavor, although the tikka masala was a little too spicy for our liking. The food came out very quickly, but as other reviewers have noted, the polite and courteous staff were a bit hard to flag down, especially as the evening progressed. The restaurant is a little on the pricy side but definitely give it a go for the terrific food.

BEST Indian food around, by far. Not only is this high class Indian, it's worth the couple extra dollars too because you get larger portions than other places. I mean, I've paid less for Indian, but also gotten less - so I'd rather order from these guys because I know I'll get my money's worth AND the food is delicious. SUCH FLAVOURS!! OMG. The lamb, the butter chicken.... Can't wait to eat from here again. And delivery was fast too!

Food 2.5/5 (50% of final grade) From my experience with South-Asian restaurants (although limited), this restaurant didn't stick out as anything particularly special. If anything, the portions were small (perhaps due to Summerlicious?)... They had free refills of the rice though, so I guess the concentration was to fill our stomachs with the rice smeared with the gravies they drowned their entrees in. Ambiance 3.5/5 (15% of final grade) My party of four was seated at a high table, and placed delicately on our table was a candle in a glass holder. The general lighting was a cozy burgundy, giving the place a rustic glow that was both upscale yet casual. Service 3/5 (15% of final grade) Our glasses were always filled, they ordered our food promptly (as if they wanted us to order ASAP), and the food came fast. The appetizer came really fast and the entree came only after quite some time though. Also, it almost seemed as if they wanted to shoo us off, and although there wasn't anything impolite about what was said, their tone of voice was of annoyance-- we didn't even make any requests except to refill our rice once! I still give it a slightly above par mark for attentiveness though -- glasses filled, chums! Cost 2/5 (10% of final grade) I think for the taste aspect of the food I could easily find it for a much more affordable price elsewhere. That extra $20 bucks or so you're paying is for the atmosphere and the atmosphere only. Brownie Points 2.5/5 (10% of final grade) The placement of the food was nice. Made for some picture worthy Yelp photos! Final Grade = 53.5/100 = 3 Stars TLDR: I guess it's an appropriate location to try out for Summerlicious, but not for its regular price.

The food in this place is fabulous. It's not your typical Indian offering. It's more upscale, with interesting flavours. The atmosphere is great. Again, it's not your typical Indian restaurant ambience, but instead, it's a cool-chic bar ambiance. It's easily one of the better Indian restaurants I've been to in a long while, and it would have been perfect, if it were not for one major draw back: you get very little bang for the buck. For appetizers, the "Kale Salad" is delicious, but small for $11.80. The "Samosas" are filled with sweet potatoes and are a step above you average samosas, and are a better value at $7.80. "Chicken 65" ($12.60) is a must - it's full of rich flavours. For the mains, the "South Indian Vegetable Curry" is beautiful, but on the expensive side - $17.60. The "Pan Seared Pickerel" is a nicely cooked piece of fish in very rich tomato gravy, but is a small portion for $24.70. The "Boatman's Fish Curry" has fish and prawn in a very rich, yet delicate curry. Again, it's not very big for $27.40. The "Butter Chicken" ($19.40) is a step above your average butter chicken. The "Okra Fries" ($8.70) are beautiful. The restaurant boasts an elegant bar. Unfortunately, it's one of the weak points of the restaurants. For starters, it's very slow to take drink orders at the dinner tables, and even slower to bring out the drinks. Secondly, it has limited selection. I wanted a Jack Daniels, and they did not have it. What bar does not have Jack? Third, the drinks are expensive. As alternative to the Jack, I got the Woodford Reserve (which is a beautiful bourbon aged in a cherry cask), and it set me back $11, which is a high price. Forth, the pour is very stingy. Several of us complained that the serving was much smaller than a full ounce. The service overall is pretty good. We were a party of 10, and we stayed at the restaurant very late (well past all the other diners have left), and the manager kept the place open for us, and had the nice tact of not letting us feel like we overstayed our welcome.

Owed by Derek Valleau (Crush Wine Bar) and Harsh Chawla (restaurant industry consultant), Pukka (@pukkatoronto) definitely introduce a playful, chic, contemporary take of Indian cuisine to St Claire West. I was lucky enough to be invited by Vicky (@momwhoruns) to their media event, not only was the food amazing but also a very fun and intimate with only around a dozen of bloggers around a big communal table. Pukka means solid, genuine, authentic and the owner thought it's a fun word to use as the name of the restaurant. In British slang, it also means first class or absolute genuine. With Chefs who previously worked at Scaramouche and Amaya, they have developed a solid sized menu of Indian classics as well as more Western inspired flavors and ingredients such as the Goat Cheese Stuffed Lamb Kebabs and Eton Mess dessert we have. For a Tuesday night, there wasn't an empty seat by 7:00pm Peter Boyd (Scaramouche Sommelier) came up with some great wine pairing which wouldn't be easy task given the bold flavors of Indian dishes. Our dinner was paired with a white and a red wine : ~ 2012 Pinot Bianco, Nals Margreid Italy $46 ~ 2012 Cotes du Rhone, Saint-Michel France $9.30/glass $45/bottle Baby Kale Salad ~ dates, lotus chips, special cashew dressing ~ This was so good, fresh crispy with the nutty dressing, the sweet dates and the perfectly crispy lotus chips. ~ Perfect combination of flavors and textures. Chicken 65 ~ South Indian Fried Chicken , chilli-tamarind sauce ~ Why 65? Some people says it's made from 65 types of spices, some said it's made 65 times before it's successful and some says it's invented in 1965, a dish originated from Chennai, India and is normally served as a bar snack. ~ This was perfect with our white wine, can't help but wanting more. Goat Cheese stuffed Lamb Kebabs ~ pomegranate reduction ~ Not sure how Indian this was but it was delicious. ~ The cheese oozes out when you cut into it although filled with cheese, it was surprisingly not heavy at all especially with the dipping sauce. Vegetable String Chaat ~ puffed rice sprouts, chutneys, sweet yogurt ~ Love the presentation but unfortunately both texture and flavor felt flat especially after the previous dishes which had stronger flavors. ~ Maybe this should have came first. Assorted Naan Basket ~ I try a few flavors but I do like the plain one the best Poppadoms + Chutney ~ This was so addictive, we all agree that we can munch on them all day long. ~ As if the crispy goodness wasn't enough, it came with a passion fruit chutney. Daal Makhani ~ slow cooked black lentils ~ This was a side dish but so delicious that I wouldn't mind just having this with some naans. French Beans ~ caramelized onions, turmeric, coconut ~ This was bland, forgot the salt? Not sure but the beans was crisp and refreshing which is a pretty good side for all the other dishes. Pan Seared Pickerel ~ coconut, curry leaf ~ I am usually not a fan of cooked fish but this was delicious with the crispy pan seared skin of the fish that's so yummy with the thick coconut curry sauce. ~ Due to the more delicate texture of the fish, I find it perfect with the Basmati rice rather than the naan Beef Short Ribs ~ braised with black cumin, garlic, ginger ~ This was very tender, fall off the bone good and a great break from the other creamy option Butter Chicken ~ tomato infused butter sauce ~This is by far my favorite dish of the night, love the strong tomato flavor which was so refreshing and the chicken was super tender but feel like that some spices are missing... ~ it didn't prevent me from mopping the plate clean with a naan. Spinach + Mushroom Stuffed Paneer ~ pistachio korma sauce ~ I usually love paneer and I have to say I was a bit disappointed since it was rather bland. This was probably the only dish I didn't like that night. Eton Mess ~ rosewater meringues, pomegranate, mango, sweet lassi cream ~ Found the dessert not very "Indian" although it was very delicious. ~ Nice presentation and also a perfect palette cleanser to end the meal Verdict : ~ This is definetly not the usual overly heavy Indian food. This is refined! ~ I usually find the spices in Indian Cuisine overwhelming and difficult to digest but not here. ~ Can't wait to bring Ben back to try everything

Pukka is the best Indian restaurant in Toronto. The food is outrageously yummy and the team is courteous. Their customer service is amazing: when they once made an error on our delivery, they went above and beyond to apologize. The truth is that the food is so tasty that I wouldn't have even been so upset about a late order or mistake on my order. You must try the chaat and the butter chicken!