Deserts – The Falafel Oasis (reviews, map, 905 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-251-4171) is a very casual vegetarian / vegan restaurant that serves Indian-style food.

The restaurant appears to be under new ownership, and from what I can tell, the food has improved, but the place seems to be a bit messier than before. This is definitely not a place to take someone to impress them! However if you want to get full on tasty vegetarian food for $6.00, order their “Chef’s special” (pictured below) and if it’s a nice day, take your plate out to the small patio.

Chef's special from Deserts Restaurant on Commercial Drive.

Indian Oven (web site, map, reviews, 2006 West 4th Avenue Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-730-5069) is one of my friend’s favorite places to go for Indian food in the Vancouver area. It’s located on the second floor of a building at West 4th and Maple Avenue in Kitsilano, with a great view of the bustling shopping district and the mountains and downtown skyline in the distance.

I was really quite impressed by the quality of the food (we ordered vegetarian selections this time, but the menu has a good selection of non-vegetarian items as well). To start we enjoyed an appetizer of Onion Bhaji ($6.99, pictured below) which were deep fried and crispy, similar to Pekora but without the meat. Hub-uk (click here for their Onion Bhaji recipe) describes what makes up an Onion Bhaji:

The basic recipe consists of onions being chopped and then made into a sort of batter with chickpea or gram flour, spices, and sometimes with herbs, then fried until golden. They have a mild taste and are not hot.

For the main course, we tried the Bombay Aloo ($10.95, pictured below), a tasty dish of diced potatoes cooked with cumin seed & specialty spices, and the Vegetable Korma ($10.95, also pictured below), which is made with carrots, cauliflowers, and broccoli cooked in the restaurant’s own special cream sauce. We also had an order of Pulao Rice ($3.50), and Garlic Naan bread ($2.25), which their menu describes as “white flour leavened bread coated with garlic”. Yum!

nanashi, a reviewer on DineHere.ca (click here to read review) writes:

Being from West Bengal, and growing up on Indian food most of my life I’m always looking for a taste of home. I discovered the Indian Oven last year and have found my self routinely selecting it for take out, over other Indian restaurants in Vancouver. The Indian Oven specializes mostly in North Indian cuisine, which is quite common among Indian restaurants in North America… Tandoori/tikk/kebab specialties of this restaurant are far above most of the other restaurants in west part of Vancouver.

The restaurant also has free delivery within a 5km radius (click here for their take out and delivery menu), and 10% off for pick-up orders.

Indian food from Indian Oven restaurant in Vancouver: Garlic Naan bread ($2.25), Bombay Aloo ($10.95), Vegetable Korma ($10.95)

Onion Bhajis ($6.99, appetizer from Indian Oven restaurant in Vancouver).

Closeup of Vegetable Korma ($10.95) from Indian Oven restaurant in Vancouver.

Garlic Naan bread from Indian Oven restaurant in Vancouver ($2.25)

Bombay Bhel Restaurant (more reviews, map, 4266 E Hastings, Burnaby, BC, Canada, phone: 604-299-2500) is one of my favorite Indian restaurants in the Burnaby area, a suburb that is only about 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver. The restaurant is located next door to the popular pasta place, “Anton’s”, which is famous for its exceedingly large portions. Bombay Bhel’s portions are more manageable, and the Bombay chef’s command of the Indian spices is really evident, making for an exotic, yet palatable dining experience.

WestcoastMunchers, a reviewer on Dinehere.ca writes (click here to read review):

Well first off, I am East Indian and have grown up eating this food since my mother is an awesome cook… This place is definitely authentic and the spice blends are certainly what your palate desires… My wife and I had the Halyari Chicken which is totally different blend of spices cooked in the tandoor. Magnificent is all I can say! We also had the Goan lamb curry which was very delicious. Service was very attentive, polite and friendly. Nice ambience too. Certainly going to be one of our favourite Indian restaurants in the Lower Mainland.

I ordered the “Non Vegetarian Thali”, which is a huge combination platter that includes a selection of veggie and meat curries, a cold yogurt sauce, some spicy peppers, some pieces of chicken, rice, naan, and papadum (Indian crackers). The platter was around $14 (pictured below). There are plenty of choices for vegetarians too, including a vegetarian version of this platter.

I’m definitely going back when I have the chance.

Non-vegetarian Thali combination platter ($14) from Bombay Bhel Indian restaurant in Burnaby.