Tamarind Hill

Malaysian restaurant · Central Lonsdale

Tamarind Hill

Malaysian restaurant · Central Lonsdale

1

1440 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7M 2J1, Canada

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Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null
Tamarind Hill by null

Highlights

Tamarind Hill delivers cozy vibes and bold Malaysian flavors with standout laksa, tender satay, and rich rendang in North Van’s chill scene.  

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1440 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7M 2J1, Canada Get directions

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CA$20–30

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1440 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7M 2J1, Canada Get directions

+1 604 990 0111
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TamarindHillNorthVan

CA$20–30

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Last updated

Aug 3, 2025

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@aiko707

Pretty legit Malay place, Beef Rendang is really good

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Jasmine Shariff

Google
Wow! I’m so happy my friend and I tried this place! I wanted to sample a few different dishes. So we ordered the chicken sate and roti kanai as appetizers. The sate was the best I’ve ever eaten!! Tender flavourful morsels with a lovely peanut sauce. Yum. My friend and I loved the Kanai roti as it was served hot off the grill and went well with its accompanying sauce as the other dishes. For our entrees we had two curries: The Beef Redang was abandoned in a delicious. The Sayur Lamak (mixed vegetables) was bland and uninspired. Louis, the owner/ manager/ host did a fantastic job serving us. He was very attentive and made good suggestions for our meal. The food is a little overpriced for the portions and ingredients. The place is charmingly decorated as you can see… Middle Eastern hanging lamps, and the lovely little signs for the restrooms. I forgot to take pictures of the food but we’ll return another time. Highly recommended!

Patricia Chua

Google
We enjoy the food here especially the Ipoh char hor fun, char kuey teow (rice noodle dishes), tofu goreng and mee goreng which we are delicious and authentic. Service is fast and prices fairly reasonable.

Ingrid

Google
Happy for a southeast Asian restaurant in North Van but just don’t expect anything authentic. Malaysian Laksa had a rich coconutty broth and used VERMICELLI instead of thick rice noodles like what 😭😭 so that was a nightmare. But broth was good (can’t go wrong with anything coconut milk the richness hides it all). Somehow it had big chunks of chicken thigh instead of “shredded chicken” so that was weird. Char kway teow didn’t have cockles or egg, did not use fresh rice noodles either but the flavor and wok hei was there though so at least they got that right. Again frozen seafood mix. Gado gado was just blanched bean sprouts and a watered down peanut sauce 🤯 mind was blown. 4 stars only cuz it’s North Van & walking distance ha

Ruby Esmundo

Google
The food was good. It is a little pricey than I expected. They were small portion too. The place is small and quite dark where we sat. The place and food is nice, but is not something I would go back again with children. Maybe if it was for a date, but definitely not a family restaurant. The owner was like “Don’t touch this light, it is hot.” “Don’t put your water in the middle of the table because the tables are not the same height.” So many precautions that we had to watch out for. There were so many things that could get knocked down like the divider. So to be safe, don’t bring kids. There was minimal street parking.

Dvir M

Google
My first time at this restaurant. Service is really good. The food is fantastic. Well priced. I wish I’d know this place before… definitely I’ll be back.

Emma Hawley-Yan

Google
A perfect spot for Malaysian food with vegan options in North Vancouver! I had the curry laksa and it was delicious - broth was full of flavour, loaded with good veggies and tofu, and was a very generous portion. The owner is so welcoming, and was knowledgeable about which dishes can be made vegan. Most of the vegetable, laksa, and rice and noodle dishes can be made vegan upon request.

NM Tsang

Google
wayyyy overpriced for mediocre food. (food court food is even better than this) worst hainanese chicken I've had, chicken is bland and stiff, the soy sauce base is pure salty soy sauce, chili sauce is the kind you can find at a Chinese restaurant in the US! also ordered the ipoh char hor fun, the rice noodle is as pale and bland as you can get , no pre-preparation on the rice noodle obviously, just dump a pond of salty taste sauce on top of it. lastly, the gado gado salad is a joke, $11 for a plate of steamed bean spouts and peanut sauce on top!! I can hardly find any other more valuable ingredients in the dish, only a few chunks of potatoes and TWO thinly sliced tofu. never coming back to this place ever again!

C B

Google
A gem hidden in plain sight! Their char kuey teow is one of the best I’ve had in a while, bringing me back to South East Asia! The classic fried rice? My gosh! It’s subtle but so delicious. Generous with meat and other fried rice contents. Hits all the right spots! The owner is so hospitable, he doesn’t smile much at the start but is actually very attentive and friendly. He remembers our preference from past orders. This is now our go-to for Malaysian in Vancouver. Keep going Tamarind Hill! We’ll keep coming over! 🫶
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Tony X.

Yelp
Whenever I'm in the mood for laksa on a cold, overcast day while in the North Shore, I make a trip over to Tamarind Hill. Both Singaporean and Malaysian laksas are available - I've had the both, and they are both excellent with the perfect level of spiciness. The interior of the restaurant is dark, and usually quiet, so you could get seated right away. Staff are friendly and quick to take your order and get your food over to you.
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Charlie K.

Yelp
The Laksa!!! The broth is so rich and balanced - tangy, umami, slightly sweet and a hint of spice. I will go back over and over again for the Laksa! Gado gado salad is refreshing and tossed in the classic satay sauce - yummy but easy to make at home! Satay skewers were tender and flavourful (bonus: they let you do 2 beef 2 chicken for some variety). Waited forever to make it to this spot since the hours are tight! The interior is cozy and comfortable. I so wanted to give this one 5 stars but I was put off by the service: we arrived an hour before closed and were very rushed. That meant the food came out quickly at least!
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Jonny M.

Yelp
Finally was able to try Tamarind Hill Malaysian Cuisine. We'd attempted two other times but they were randomly closed. It's a few doors down from Hachi Hana Japanese. We dropped in on a Saturday (1:15pm). The inside is dark and poorly lit. Menu consists of appetizers & salads, vegetables, meat, seafood, laksa and rice & noodles. They were oddly already out of several staples (roti canai, hainanese chicken and beef rendang). - Sambal beef with asparagus ($22.00) - our waiter suggested that we try this dish. Beef was salty. Small, unsatisfying dish that wasn't worth the price point. Doesn't even come with rice. - Nasi goreng ($16.75) - standard fried rice. Lacked wok hei. - Malaysian laksa curry ($16.00) - good heat to the laksa. Decent amount of vermicelli. Broth was well rounded, more curry than coconut. One of the better laksa's I've tried in town. Would only return to TH to try their other laksa options.
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Jake B.

Yelp
Delicious Laksa. Cozy little place with quick, friendly service and great food. Hope I get the chance to stop in again one day.

Moogie C.

Yelp
Favourite dishes to share are their: - char kway teow - okra, eggplant & green bean trio in sambal sauce - grilled fresh halibut in banana leaf (watch for bones) - roti canai Individual order: Malaysian curry laksa (for the broth alone; they're a bit skimpy on the ingredients). Nice decor. Efficient but not overly friendly service. We're lucky to have them on the North Shore!
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Larry H.

Yelp
My wife and I and friends have been visiting this restaurant for number of years. We enjoy their food and sometimes get home deliveries. We enjoy the Hokkien Mee, Sambal Beef with Asparagus, Beef Rendang, and the Green Mango and Papaya Salad to name just a few dishes. Give it a try.
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Audrey L.

Yelp
Delicious and friendly! We got the assam seafood laksa (which has an incredible tamarind broth) and the char bee hoon. They accommodated for allergies and the food came out fast. Would have liked a bit more protein but still enjoyed our food!
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Matt B.

Yelp
I was finally able to retry this place, as I had only done takeout here during Covid. Still very vegan-friendly, so I decided to try their Spicy Curry Laksa ($16 plus tax), veganized -- they can do vegan versions of both the curry and Singapore laksas, plus many other dishes. The laksa came out in under 5 minutes. The presentation is beautiful, coming with mixed veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, green cabbage, carrot), tofu, and vermicelli. The broth was absolutely decadent, being beautifully balanced, with a rich curry character, not too heavy, wonderfully spiced, and elegant. Honestly, it doesn't get much better than this. In my opinion, Tamarind Hill's vegan laska is on par with Banana Leaf's. Wonderful place. Highly recommended.
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Vivian G.

Yelp
Friendly quick service. Delicious food and large portions. Simplistic decor. Would return if we were in the area again!

Ritz E.

Yelp
How to make a customer feel unwelcome - no joy here. What happened to this place, given some of the better reviews? , How to make a customer feel completely undervalued has been perfected here. Having had a restaurant, I understand how complex the business can be, but this was sad. I read the poor reviews and should not have bothered going here, but we had walked too far. They have lost the idea of customer service. This was a very small, poorly lit place, and although the decor wouldn't by itself assist in this place qualifying for decent ambiance, the frontman providing service, the dishware, the meal presentation, the lack of attention or care from the server, the lack of attention to the quantity and dishes ordered, created an environment of wanting to get up and leave. He certainly was not friendly but did oblige us with a table for four as it was empty when we arrived. The food was ordered and delivered quickly but without a smile or eye contact. The papaya salad was tasty but placed on the table with two small plates that hardly held half of the salad. He never came back until the beef came. We ordered a beef stew dish (not two cups) for $22.00, NO RICE included. We did not get a proper new plate...ever. We were to continue eating off of dirty side plates. Although tasty enough, it had maybe ten pieces of half-fatty beef and ok pieces intermingled with a few potatoes. That, too, was dropped on our table in passing to another table - not a glance in our direction and not a question of how it was. We ordered one rice but had to pay for two. The total experience was so poor that I would not recommend the place I recommend against bothering--$ 42.00 NO TIP, was poorly spent. It was an overpriced pit stop. There is no joy here. We won't go back to that place. It completely lacks hospitality.

Mandy S.

Yelp
As a foodie, I can't tell you how much I love the food here. Plus, I am not sure if there is another Maylasian restaurant on the North Shore. I have never been disappointed by the flavours and feels so good to support an independent, local family owned restaurant. The owner just told me they will be serving dim sum for lunch which I am excited to try out. Will post my thoughts when I try that out.
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Jeffrey S.

Yelp
The clouds swirled overheard, gray and dark. They weren't the kind that make you reach for an umbrella; most folks assume those are the most threatening. No, these clouds were even more menacing. They were low, silent, and crept over the city the night before -- a stark contrast to the deep blue forever skies from the day before. Down at the pier, I settled into my hotel. The carelessness of the day before, with all of its meandering on footpaths and picnic-for-one attitude now being pushed out of the picture by an afternoon of work. "Hmph," I thought, as I coaxed my suitcase onto the stand by the television, "I only have a few more hours until I meet with the boss." I can hardly complain. Flying to Vancouver to help out with a party is sort of the jackpot of work trips. I'd had the entire the day before to myself, weaving all over the footpaths, sidewalks, and hiking trails while I stopped every so often to snap a photo, eat a chocolate, or just take in the view. But that afternoon, with only a few hours left before the work portion began, I knew I needed to make the time count. Pizza? Nah. Sushi? Promising, but we were going to go later that night. Hold on a minute... Malaysian food? Laksa? And it's less than a mile away? Like a sliver of sunlight through the thick, heavy skies, I fixed on Tamarind Hill as my lunch destination. "It's perfect," I thought to myself, "I'll get some soup, and be ready to work!" I exited the hotel and headed up the hill. Making your way up Lonsdale is no small feat. It's steep and unrelenting. "Soup. Soup. Soup." I was undeterred, and after passing through Victoria Park I arrived at the upper area of Lonsdale, found Tamarind Hill, and went inside. I was a few minutes ahead of the lunch crowd, so I was seated immediately. In front of me, and older gentleman slurped hot red broth from a soup spoon, loading it with noodles and other brightly colored morsels from time to time, using his chopsticks with calculated precision. "This man has souped before," I postulated, and I watched his surgical precision for tips about how to eat Malaysian laksa. We don't exactly have a lot of it where I'm from, and I appreciated his expert (if unknowing) demonstration. Soon enough my seafood laksa arrived. It was enormous, the bowl large enough to wear as a hat, bursting over with vibrant red liquid, and bits of mussels, cuttlefish, scallop, shrimp, shredded chicken, boiled egg, tofu puff, and shrimp cake. I leaned in, loaded up the chopsticks with the soup as a safety net, and took my first bite. Now, my feet are firmly planted in the scientific world. I'm not a natural at it, but I understand the basics of how this world works. So you have to understand that while I'm not sure, scientifically speaking, that the actual clouds above me broke to let in a bright beam of light; I am certain that it did happen on some level of human existence. The spicy flavors filled my heart and warmed my belly. This was the lunch I was in North Vancouver to try, on this day, under that sky. The whole menu is tempting. I made the right decision with assam seafood laksa, but I could go back every day and try something new. As the lunch crowd filed in during my quasi-meteorological experience, I saw new dishes exit the kitchen and my curiosity had me peering over at each new order. "What's that?" I asked the table next to me. "Char kuey teow," they responded. I nodded as if I understood; but then again, noodles are the universal language. With rosy cheeks, I donned my fleece jacket and again headed out the door. This time, I headed downhill and the journey was a little lighter, a little brighter, and I smiled about the coming days while laksa sloshed around in my stomach, reminding me in each step of the happy little lunch I'd just eaten.
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Tomas A.

Yelp
Extremely delicious menu, it is a festival of exotic flavours!!! Portion are generous, so the prices. Only one great young waiter who knows all full menu and capable to explain any dish We had mango and green papaya salad, sayur lemak (curry vegetables) , hainanes chicken, soft crab, roti canai, pineapple sea rice, beef rendeng and delicious wine and cocktails. We were four people and we had a great time. We will go back !!! It was fully packed all tables, and a lot of take away customers!!! Extremely delicious.
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Jen K.

Yelp
We ordered laksa and friend rice. The food was inedibly salty.. and then I found two strands of hair in the soup... I couldn't finish what we ordered...
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Carola G.

Yelp
We ordered takeout from here for our little outdoor Covid celebration. The food was fantastic and enjoyed by all. The roti canal was very good - flakey and not overly greasy. Char Kway Teow was delicious and the Sambal Green Beans were my favourite with lots of sambal and juicy shrimp in the mix. The Sambal Prawns were also outstanding. Looking forward to being able to dine in again hopefully soon! Good job, Tamarind Hill.

Quarks A.

Yelp
I was craving for authentic Malayan food and found this place through Yelp. I ordered the classic Indian Nee goreng which were tasty and reminded on street noodles in India so unexpectedly served a different nostalgic purpose. My husband opted for Char kway Teow and Singaporean shrimp wasn't too excited about the flavour profiles and taste. All in all an average experience. My rating: Flavour: 3 Ambience: 3 Service: 3 Uniqueness: 2 Cost: 3 Vibe: 3
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Glen M.

Yelp
Well sure the food was good. But just good - not great! There're a lot of great restaurants in North Vancouver. Right off the start the waitress struck a nerve. After the four of us were seated she told us we may be asked to move to a smaller table if a party of 6 shows up - ya no! One menu was given to the table to share but please don't touch it - ummm really? Our plates and cutlery were placed on the table in a Rubbermaid bin - classy LOL! (I get 'covid precautions', but I eat out often and I've never had my plates brought out and left on the table in a Rubbermaid bin). The food was good, but portions were small. As we were leaving the waitress kept saying 'sorry about the service!' I didn't realize that our mother in law didn't leave her a tip. Had I known I would've left the tip, but again a classy move by our waitress. Oh look. There's our waitress. She found time to meet us as we were leaving. If you want to be tipped for your service, then learn how to service tables! Would I eat here again? I doubt it!
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Stephy Y.

Yelp
I underestimated the amount of people wanting Malaysian food in North Van. The place was packed when we got there. Luckily there was one table left. It was nice to be inside on a hot sunny day. I also love the decor. It's a bit different from the rundown homey kind of Malaysian restaurants. Things we tried: -Roti Canai (3/5): It could be a bit flakier. Average curry dip. I don't like nor hate it. -Laksa: Malaysian - Coconut broth (3.5/5): They have 3 types of laksa; singapore (curry), malaysian (coconut) and assam (tamarind). I'm more used to the curry with coconut milk type but it looks like they really separates them 'cause the Malaysian version is not spicy at all. I couldn't find the shredded chicken it claims to have. However, we did get a big bowl of noodles. Toppings to noodle ratio was ok. The broth was average tasting not the typical laksa taste I was looking for. -Hainanese Chicken (2.5/5): The chicken was plump with lots of meat. The meat was tender and moist but it was flavourless. The minced ginger didn't add much to it. I found this dish to be quite disappointing. Note, this dish doesn't come with rice. You must order on the side. None of the dishes I had that night stood out to me and there are Malaysian places closer to me that are better so I wouldn't travel that far for it here.
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Rohan T.

Yelp
Good selection of food. They have their own rendition of the Malaysian food, but pretty close the the real thing... The chicken curry is good (very different from the original), the noodle dishes are pretty good too. Not a fan of the murtabak not the gado-gado salad which is extensively used. I wish they had kopi or teh or Malaysian dessert.
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Rizza S.

Yelp
I have been wanting to try this place out and have high expectations based on previous reviews. When finally was in the area I convinced my husband and my mom to come have dinner here. We ordered chicken satay, beef rendang, roti, Singapore laksa and deep fried banana with coconut ice cream. I was disappointed. Everything we ordered except for the dessert were all salty!
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C. D.

Yelp
Food = Amazing / Service = Crusty. I've been there a few times and the food has been consistently great, as noted by most other reviewers. On the most recent trip though, the woman who served us was dismissive and rude, throughout the meal. Not sure what was eating her, but it was unsolicited and un-called for. It definitely left a bad taste in my mouth, and will make me think twice about going there next time I'm in North Van.
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Jurn L.

Yelp
This may be my new favourite spot for Hainanese Chicken. At $19.50, seems pretty steep compared to other Malaysian spots (and doesn't include the rice).. but soon you see how big the portions are and you understand (I didn't finish and ended up bringing some home). This Boneless Hainanese Chicken couldn't have been more perfect.. plump, juicy, moist. So good! Looking forward to the next visit.
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Volha A.

Yelp
I wanted to try Laksa for the first time, so this restaurant seemed like a good place to start. I went with Malaysian Curry Laksa. Although flavorful and perfectly spiced, I didn't like the rice noodles in it; egg noodles might have been a better combo. The chicken skewers we got for appetizer were actually very good, but lacked salt in my opinion. The peanut sauce was soooo good! My favorite dish was the one I ordered for my table partner -- Char Kway Teow. OMG! So good! I love the cuttlefish in it, how sweet and carry the noodles were....Have been craving for more ever since we left the restaurant. This place is small and cozy, nicely decorated. The bathroom, though, was super small and dirty. The service could have been better. The girl forgot the drink we ordered, we had to ask about it when our food got to the table. Seemed to be a lot of chatting going on between the coworkers instead of remembering what the customers ordered. A nice little place with some great dishes, I would gladly go back just for the char kway teow noodles.
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Rosemary P.

Yelp
The reviews on this site made me believe that the food here was really good... however, in trying out the cuisine, we found that it lacked authenticity. We tried the Hainanese Chicken rice, satay and roti canai. Although the chicken portion was generous, it lacked the layered flavors and complexity of a juicy Hainan style chicken. Even the rice was not on mark. The satay was ok, but the roti was thick and rubbery... the portion of the curry sauce for the roti was also very small that we ended up with a lot of roti with no sauce to dip. In asking the waiter if we could order a larger portion, it was declined as nit available. The service was prompt and we finally in the end learned that the original Malaysian chef was no longer at the restaurant and no further Malaysian cook remained. I guess that explains it all...!
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Marcus K.

Yelp
If this was a movie I'd give em two thumbs up. Excellent Malaysian food here. We had pepper soft shell crab. Was sooooo tasty. Right on! Also had Hokien Mee noodle dish with shrimp, chicken and octopus. Quite good but it was good but slightly sweet. Would definitely come back and try again.
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Simon K.

Yelp
I really enjoyed their food at their original location, and wanted Malaysian on this night, this one was closer then going off to New Westminster for the same thing. It's a small place, not as big as their flagship store. It was a busy night, and they looked understaffed when we were there, we were sat in the booth near the front and menus and waters were presented to us. Our orders for this night as follows: roti canai - nice and fluffy, served with their house made curry sauce, a little spicy kick to it, which I really liked, kept on dipping the roti in this stuff. The Roti, has a great chew to it, a good starter to meals like this. The satays were next, and we went with a mixture of beef and chicken (as someone on the table doesn't like lamb!) and this were not overly plump (thank goodness no over steriod meat!) served with their housemade peant sauce. The meats were well marinated with lemongrass, these suckers seemed to have disappeared off the table quite quickly, served nice and hot. Definitely a must order if you like meat on a stick. The beef rendang was pretty good, not overly beefy as some places I have had before. Spiced well, with tumeric, onions, lemon grass, and coconut. Get a bowl of rice for this, you want to take advantage of the sauce, talk about comfort food. Chicken and green beans in curry was another dish we had, I wasn't that impressed at this one, could have passed, as it just felt like a regular stir fry. Big chicken bits, peppers, green beans, something I would probably see my mom make, but if you like this dish, it's not bad, just something I would not really choose.. and I didn't choose. The laksa was next, and only a few weeks back I had their amazing laksa at their flagship location. I like that in the menu in brackets right beside this dish it says (one of the best Laksa's in Vancouver!)... well.. both your locations are not in Vancouver.. but I'll forgive you for that! Also... this was good.. but if you haven't had it at the New Westminster location.. that was is better! There's just more, the soup was deeper at the other location. The last thing that came was the pineapple fried rice, and no.. you don't get it served on half a cut open fresh pineapple (also.. for you to think of.. was that pineapple being served really fresh.. think about it......) I loved that you could taste every piece of rice break apart in your mouth. The medley of raisins and pineapple served with everything that they tossed in this thing was just right. If I had to sit in front of a couch with one spoon and a box... this would do, pure comfort food.. every bite was flavourful, your mix of sweets and savory's. With this location, there are some items on the menu that they don't serve, unlike the New Westminster location, and they are listed, just for you to know, it's like a nasty tease... that I personally would probably get rid of, from the menu, cause your always going to wonder... what is that... and why can't you do it here. I think I was here on an off night, as the service was slower than usual, as they looked short-handed, at the same time the food is good here, and I would come back, if I don't want to waste the petrol and scoot over to their other location.
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Cee T.

Yelp
The service was so rude my husband and I kept laughing. The guy who came after us got his meal first even though we ordered the same thing. However, I'm giving 3 stars because the food was really good. Come for the food, and the comedy routine as the server barks at you to write your own name on the COVID tracking sheet, says "the menu is there" and walks away, and doesn't offer you a drink.
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David Y.

Yelp
I stopped by here during my visit to Vancouver, and I've got to say this place has the best Malaysian food I have ever tried. I admit I haven't yet visited Malaysia, but I have eaten at several Malaysian restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley. I ordered the char kwai teow and the chicken curry, and they were both excellent. I was curious as to why this place didn't get better reviews, but it appears that most of the low scores are not food flavor related. I pick my restaurants strictly on food flavor and quality, and I am bothered by Yelpers whom rate a restaurant a ridiculously low just because they felt disrespected or they think the furniture is a bit old. That throws off those of us who are in a quest for finding the best foods around the world. True this place is pricier than similar restaurants in the area, but For me it is worth it, since I can taste the extra care they put into their food.
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Anthony N.

Yelp
I call this place dependable. Like it wasn't the first or second choice.... In a bit of bind and ended up here. The food nonetheless is good, maybe they could use another wait staff but that's expensive. Nothing really stood out but it doesn't have to! It's great to have a dependable goto, that's busy but not to busy for you to just squeeze in and enjoy good food at fair pricing!

Med M.

Yelp
My first visit here and was accidental as wanted to get food from Krua Thai place but had a 45 minute wait. So came across the road, Looked at the menu on the window outside and decided to try the Nasi-Goreng and their Curry Chicken. Went back 10 minutes later to pick up and noticed prices for both items are higher than on the menu outside and she says is because the menu on the window is their lunch menu. Food was just ok but portions are way too small for what they charged ($18.50 for the just the curry). Across the road I pay $11 for Thai curry same portion and much tastier. I would never go back to Tamarind Grill. Even compare to other Malaysian places like Banana Leaf, it fails in both flavour and portion.
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Melanie E.

Yelp
We went to this place on a rainy Sunday evening and it was busy. The food was delicious as usual. We had the beef with asparagus and the pineapple fried rice. Both dishes were flavourful. I wanted to try their soups and a shrimp dish but we weren't that hungry. We will be back to try more dishes! The waitress did an excellent job servicing all the tables. She's a pro. Best Malaysian food on the North Shore!
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Marc D.

Yelp
* Malaysian in Persia * Found in an unlikely location in the heart of the Persian area of Lonsdale, this restaurant had me a bit worried both by its location and the overall slightly non-hole-in-the-wall appearance. But my char kway teow was one of the better ones I've had in the Vancouver area - go figure! It was a generous portion plated nicely (http://www.yelp.ca/biz_photos/vMDuSdEArpoX3OOz-zkSYQ?select=AlKGsdSIVBv40RAQPwpHWA). But perhaps most importantly it had good wok hei - that lovely flavour that many places seem to miss. The seafood was also perfectly cooked in it. It is so common to find overcooked squid or shrimp - but not here. They were perfectly prepared. Overall a great dish: http://www.yelp.ca/biz_photos/vMDuSdEArpoX3OOz-zkSYQ?select=ta55gLVIHkdDn-OLwq6POA
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Ray P.

Yelp
One of the better Malaysian restaurants in the Lower Mainland. The food I've ordered never disappoints. For appys, their satays are layered full of flavours while their Roti Canai is done just right...not too oily or heavy, flaky, and oh so delish! For noodle soup lovers, their various laksa bowls (curry, Singapore and Assam) can't be beat. My other favs include the Sambal green beans, K.L. Hokkien Mee (fried thick noodles in a dark soy base), Nasi Goreng, and Char Kuey Teow. Note that their original New Westminster location serves special combo lunch meals for 2-4 people that the N. Van. location doesn't offer. Worth checking out if you're in that neck of the woods.
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Peter L.

Yelp
This used to be my favourite Malay restaurant in North Vancouver, and only a couple of years ago it used to offer excellent service and food. It is always a bad sign when the portions shrink, as they prices rise significantly. The furniture could also use some repair, as it is now torn and looks well worn. Today's food was quite bland and quite expensive for what you get. The restaurant was empty at 7:00 PM, another sign that things are going downhill at Tamarind Hill. I shall not return.
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Yvonne C.

Yelp
Completely inauthentic! Was sorely disappointed in this place. The assam laksa is completely wrong, the stir fried veggies were bland. Chicken rice was also wrong - the flavour was off, the chilli was not the right taste or texture.
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Brian C.

Yelp
Fantastic food! 5 stars for both lunch and dinner. Have to try the Malaysian laksa, hainese chicken, and the eggplant. Don't forget about the deep fried banana! Lunch is very good value compared to what you get! Highly recommend. The restaurant tends to get busy earlier in the dinner rush rather then later so be prepared for that.
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Nitin S.

Yelp
This was a long overdue review for one of the best Malaysian restaurants we have visited. We were visiting Vancouver and happened to find this place among the nearby restaurants. Stepping into the restaurant we found the ambience to be excellent...the place was cozy, yet tables seemed to have space and privacy. For dinner, since we had two young kids with us- the owner very kindly suggested a special fried rice which was mild. We got the new goreng, satay and the roti canai. All the food was outstanding...perfect balance of sweet, spice and heat. I'd also like to give a shout out to the owner of the place - very nice person who took exceptional care of us and took the time to chat with us and our experience visiting Canada. I wish we'd have his restaurant here in Big D!

Jessica L.

Yelp
Amazing food. We just had dinner here and we're so happy with the choice. Prices were super reasonable and portions were really big. We started with the papaya and mango salad as well as the roti canai. The salad was nice and light and very fresh. It's been a while since I've had roti and oh my god was it good. The curry dipping sauce was heavenly. It was my boyfriends first time trying this and he loved it. I could drink that sauce.. So flavourful! For mains my boyfriend ordered the nasi goreng and I tried a couple bites and it was pretty good. Very reminiscent of a Chinese fried rice. I had the Singapore laksa and it was delicious as expected. It was creamy and sweet from the coconut milk and there was plenty of seafood and tofu in it. The only thing I thought it could have improved on is the spice level. I eat a lot of spicy food so my tolerance is very high and it didn't taste spicy to me. However, the waitress overheard me and soon after came by our table saying she had overheard my comment about the spice and brought over a dish of pepper flakes for me to add to my soup, which I thought was great customer service. Great flavours, awesome prices, big portions and fast and efficient service. Very happy with our whole experience.
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P L.

Yelp
Was recommended to try the laksa here. This place is cute and cozy. I ordered the Singapore Laksa (spicy coconut) which is very flavorful and filling however it is very 'coconutty' and NOT spicy whatsoever. Kinda disappointed cuz I like spicy, the description is kinda misleading. My friend ordered the Beef Rendang which is also flavorful and tender. However NOT worth $16.95. it came out in a tiny bowl... That's all it is... And they charge extra for a teacup portion of steamed rice.. can't say I'll return however if I'm in the area and craving a bowl of laksa I may contemplate wandering in..
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Simon W.

Yelp
Nice little authentic south East Asian food. Great for rainy days which is usually when I opt to get take out here. It'll take you more time to find parking than they take to get your food ready; luckily you can call to get the back door open. nasi goreng is always on point, hainanese chicken is usually good but sometimes off. Nice to sit in too as it's a darker relaxed ambience.
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Diego D.

Yelp
My favourite Malaysian restaurant in town. This location much better than the one in New Westminster in terms of local, service and how food tastes. Their Singapur Laksa is amazing, very tasty. After that, I love the Mie Goreng noodles they prepare. To start they have good satays (beef, chicken or lamb), but like the roti as well. Menu is not that large, but good enough to to give us many chances to try something else every time. Service is great, very efficient and friendly.
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Sammy Y.

Yelp
My favourite Malaysian cuisine with authentic foods that carry lots of flavor! A chain restaurant with an underground local type of ambiance.
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Himanshu R.

Yelp
We went here specifically for the roti. That dish didn't disappoint one bit, it was excellent. We also ordered a vegetarian version of nasi goreng which was absolutely tasty with one caveat, it was very very spicy despite asking for a mild version and hence knocking off the one star. The coconut milk based veggie curry was absolutely tasty. The adjective used by my kid was "best ever". Service was excellent. Portions were reasonable in size, prices were also reasonable. One minor detail - they're a bit stingy with adding tofu to the vegetarian dishes, didn't bother me much but just something to watch out for.
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Todd G.

Yelp
Ordered the Malay Laksa. Took me back to KL. The portion was large and flavors were as I had in Malaysia. I read some of the bad reviews and maybe they need to eat at Big "M" Steakhouse instead. (McDonald's).
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Emilie N.

Yelp
I tried Roti Canai and Singapore Laksa. The Roti Canai was very delecious. The dip that came with it was a curry based hot and spicy dip. The Laksa was awesome. The portion was very big which was enough for two people. The laksa was mild spicy with lots of noodles. The sea food inside Laksa tasted very fresh. Waitress was very friendly and polite. The ambiance was romamtic. I will definitely go back there whenever I miss Having Laksa

Maha H.

Yelp
The beef stew sauce was nice, yet the quality of meet was poor. The chicken curry tasted really bad. The coconut rice was okay but it had lots of brown pieces in it ?!?
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Caley V.

Yelp
The best time to eat at Tamarind Hill is lunch for the special lunch menu. My favourite items are the sweet and delicious roti to start aside a spicy singapore laksa. If you have someone to share food with the malaysian chicken curry is also a must try. For a fresh and spicy salad try the green mango and papaya salad, so good. Tamarind Hill tastes authentic and is reasonably priced. I have come back again and again for lunch when in north vancouver.
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Prem D.

Yelp
I love this spot!! The food is cooked fresh to order. It can be a little spicy so be sure to tell them mild if you are sensitive. It's been a go-to lunch spot for me. Great coconut chicken curry! I've often called ahead of time to tell them my order before I arrived because I was pressed for time and they always accommodated. There can be a bit of a lunch rush during the week so get there early! I'd recommend most of the noodle dishes and samosas! Definitely a filling lunch.
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Serena T.

Yelp
Laksa is sooooo good here! Order Malaysian laksa if you like it spicy. Order Singaporean laksa if you like it mild and sweet with coconut flavor!