If you're craving a delightful fusion of Indian snacks and sweets with a touch of Japanese…read moreinfluence, look no further than Tokyo Mithaiwala in the heart of the Vancouver metro area. This hidden gem truly has the "IT" factor when it comes to offering a unique and unforgettable culinary experience. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with warm and homely hospitality, making you feel like a welcomed guest in a friend's home. The staff is not only knowledgeable but also eager to share their passion for the delectable treats they serve. The menu boasts an impressive array of traditional Indian mithai (sweets) and snacks, each lovingly crafted with authentic ingredients and a hint of Japanese flair. Whether it's the mouthwatering fusion desserts or the savory chaats with a twist, every bite is a harmonious blend of flavors that will leave your taste buds dancing with joy. The presentation of the dishes is as artful as the taste, reflecting the care and attention to detail that goes into every creation. It's evident that Tokyo Mithaiwala takes great pride in not only satisfying your cravings but also ensuring a visually appealing experience. The ambiance exudes a cozy charm, perfect for unwinding with friends and family, or even enjoying a solo treat-to-self moment. Without a doubt, Tokyo Mithaiwala stands out as a must-visit destination for those seeking delightful Indian treats with a dash of Japanese fusion. The flavors, the atmosphere, and the hospitality combine to create an unforgettable dining experience that will keep you coming back for more. Whether you're an Indian food enthusiast, a lover of fusion cuisine, or simply someone who appreciates warm hospitality, this place is bound to capture your heart and taste buds. Mention this review to receive extra smiles and maybe special blends of Chai :-)

The cultural lineage of this place is certainly interesting, since from what I understand, this is…read morethe only Canadian location of an Indian restaurant from Japan. The restaurant is beautiful with both Indian and Japanese design sensibilities. They have a table service restaurant with both high tea and an extensive a la carte menu, and it looks like you can also buy mithai in bulk. The food isn't really Japanese-Indian fusion as you might expect, but more like Japanese impression of Indian food, if that makes sense? There's a few hints of Japanese and Asian influence, but the menu is mostly modern Indian. All vegetarian. There's no vegan or gluten free options for afternoon tea, but the a la carte menu includes many clearly labeled vegan and GF dishes. I wanted to try the afternoon tea set to get a wide sampling of their offerings. The set included: corn spinach puff, paneer tikka slider, cream cheese cucumber sandwich, samosa, chutneys for dipping, manchurian skewers, orange cranberry scone with whipped cream, rose rasmalai cake, dodha crunch, motichoor cheesecake parfait, and the choice between masala chai, coffee, or hot/iced caffe latte. It's $32/person for the set, which is a great price. I also appreciated that it was possible to order the set for just one person since it seems like many teahouses will only do it for 2+ people. I thought all of the items in the set were pretty good, and there was a balance between the sweet and savoury items. The only things that really left anything to be desired were that the scone was a bit dry and crumbly, and I thought the tandoori paneer could have been more flavourful. In general the flavours of the savoury items were a bit more subtle than in typical authentic Indian food, but for the most part it didn't come across as bland to me, just a different take on it. The standouts in the set were: the paneer slider - even if the paneer itself didn't impress, I loved the almost flaky texture of the pav - the manchurian, and the rose rasmalai cake. Also, the cream cheese cucumber sandwich had cilantro or chutney or something in the cream cheese which made it much more interesting than the plain version of this sandwich. The masala chai (my chosen drink) was also very good. It was served in a pot that contained 2 small servings. My waiter was very friendly and stopped by a few times to check in. When I was done eating and wanted my bill, it was easy to get his attention. I visited at what seemed like a quiet time so I didn't have much competition for attention. One thing that I thought was odd was when he gave me the machine to pay, there was no tip option - it would be cool if they had a no-tip policy, but I never saw any mention of it, so I wonder if he accidentally bypassed the tip when putting in my charge. It was an interesting and very pleasant experience. I was so curious about this place that I made a trip out from Vancouver just to try it (and couldn't get anyone willing to go to Surrey for afternoon tea with me, hence the afternoon tea order for one), and it was worth the trip!

I would skip the lunch tasting course. It was a bit misleading since it says multiple courses, but…read moreeverything just comes out on one plate. I didn't really enjoy most of the items, and the dessert was only okay. That said, their chicken and rice is absolutely delicious and worth coming back for. The ambiance is cute, and the service is good. I'd return, but only for the chicken and rice.

While doing some shopping in South Surrey, B.C. we happened upon a cute restaurant, Banana Leaf…read moreMalaysian Cuisine. In addition to South Surrey, they have 4 other locations the greater Vancouver area (Robson, Broadway & Oak, Kitsilano, and Davie). Up until this point, I had never tried Malaysian Cuisine, was always curious, but it just never happened. On a side note, I remember the first time I tried Thai food, back in Nashville when I was in my mid 30s. Odd that it took me that long and even odder considering I grew up in Brooklyn and New York City, the melting pot of the country. I didn't really have a concept of the distinction between different types of Asian food, my only point of reference was Chinese food. I remember being blown away upon that first time trying Thai food (and hooked ever since) and the experience was quite the same with my experience with Malaysian cuisine. We meant to order two appetizers but through a miscommunication, actually ordered three, oops! It was a good problem to have. Between the appetizers and the main dishes, while each course was a generous serving, nothing was heavy or made me feel bloated in any way. At the same time, the flavors just seemed to burst, with very distinct and pleasing tastes while combined with beautifully decorative touches that were aesthetically appetizing! The Eggplant Fries were really interesting. Personally, I find eggplant can be challenging to work, to get flavored just right and get cooked enough so it's not rough to eat but not cooked so much that it becomes mushy. Maybe it's just me but I do struggle with that at times. I found the fries to be a perfect balance between firm enough to warrant being called "fries" with just the right amount of chew, not too mushy. The Spring Roll Lettuce Wraps were beautiful, creative and imaginative. You place the spring roll inside the lettuce along with the vibrant red cabbage, fold the lettuce and dip into the sauce *chef's kiss* Both the Tofu Goreng appetizer and Tumeric Coconut Spinach were bursting with flavor. The Pineapple Fried Rice also had an amazing depth of flavor along with the beautiful presentation inside the pineapple. Last, but definitely not least .. I've never had anything like their Mango Margarita. As clear to see in the picture, it's filled with fresh ripe whole mango pieces which really helped elevate this drink to the next stratosphere lol. If this is what I can expect when eating Malaysian Cuisine, count me in for a repeat performance!

The wait was long for the food. But it was worth it. Everything was made to order and everything…read morecame in hottt. The restaurant isn't very big and there's limited seating. There's plenty of street parking and they also have customer parking in the back. This would be a good place to try Filipino food if it's your first time. The server was informative and explains to you what the different kinds of dishes were. Get the crispy kare-kare. This one was my favourite out of the bunch.

Food is great!!! Love the ambience... just like home. Service was friendly and focused…read more We will be back .... Pretty sure!! ‍

I finally had a chance to try Fufu from The Taste of Africa along with some other dishes and I'm…read morehappy to have had the opportunity. The fufu with peanut soup was a vegetarian dish and besides having a nice aroma, the taste was just as top tier. The pounded yam with egusi was my favorite as you really can't beat how fresh and delicious this was. The pieces of goat and beef along with chilis, onions, peppers and I believe the other bits were either squash or pumpkin was amazing. The jollef rice could have been a little less wet, but I'm not an expert in this field. I still enjoy it, but slightly drier would have been my preference. The honey jerk chicken was juicy and tender. It was full of flavor and the sweetness balanced the savory well. Everything was made fresh and even though it was for a take out order, everyone loved it.

This restaurant was small, but felt very cozy (as if you're visiting someone's home)! There were a…read morelot of customers that came here for take out, but my friend and I opted to dine in. We ordered the egusi and spinach stew and it came with a big portion of fufu as well. All of their stews also come with goat meat and beef, which was really nice. This was our first time trying fufu and we were given a bowl of warm water to wash our hands and no utensils. My friend and I got to learn how to eat fufu and we really enjoyed it! The soup was very flavorful and spicy and paired well with the fufu. It was very filling so we had leftovers (I think this meal can be shared between 3-4 people)! I am definitely going to try their other soups.

We had never been to this restaurant before and it was recommended by a friend. We drove all the…read moreway from Port Moody to surrey! one of the best restaurant experiences that one can have! The food was amazing! The service was great and the ambiance was awesome ! Our waitress was Cheri and she was verrrry helpful and friendly . We totally recommend this place for anyone who loves delicious Indian cuisine ! The only complaint I can say is they didn't bring all foods at the same time. Thanks THE BACK ROOM for an lovely experience!

New owners. Ambiance is nice but pretty dark for a luncheon…read moreunless you are trying to eat in the dark... then you will enjoy this place. The vegetarian thali is unfortunately awful. Paneer is not fresh and taste like it was cooked from frozen which gives a weird texture. The shrimp tandoori is good but it came out raw and this is the 2nd time eating there. The daal was delicious. The yellow and black were both delicious but wished it was a bit tastier with more spices. Not sure if the chef is new or is just starting out... but please start tasting your food before sending it out because it all looks great... but lacks taste. I am hoping that you do better because I don't want to give up on you....

One of my favorite Indian restaurants in the Vancouver area. I don't usually like eggplant but…read moretheir baingan barthan (spiced puréed eggplant) is so good that sometimes I crave it. Everything I've tried there has been extremely flavorful, it's some of the best Indian food I've ever had. Everyone is friendly and helpful, we always get served sooner than I expect to, and the restaurant is beautifully decorated. I'd give this place 10 starts if it was an option.

The appetizers and the quantity of food was great, loved the chola Kulcha (most authentic). Chicken…read moretikka was great too almost craving that again. The curries were more run of the mill sauces that were good but nothing remarkable. Will try again if in the area.

My husband and I went to New York New York to celebrate our anniversary. We showed up Saturday…read morenight without reservations and we were grateful to find a table. The place was busy! To start, we decided to try something new to us: Saganaki. In all honesty it wasn't what I expected. There were so much oil and grease in the pan fried appetizer, it didn't work for me. Next time I'll try another appetizer or stick with the calamari. Husband ordered the calamari platter and I had the Lamb Slouvaki. Both were solid choices with lots of carb on the side! The restaurant was BUSY but that was to be expected on a Saturday night. It seemed like a good place for patrons of all ages (from young to experienced). Service tried to keep up and they were speedy enough. Not a bad place if you don't mind a loud ambiance.

We went to New York, New York for Greek food last night. It used to be one of our regulars but it…read morereally went downhill so we had not gone for years. A few months ago, my husband said that he had read very good reviews for it so we decided to give it a try. It was very good. Just like it used to be, so we decided to go last night - Mother's Day. I think it was a bad night to go. The service was excellent considering how busy the restaurant was, but the food was disappointing. We shared saganaki as an appetizer and it was good. It was flamed at the table, crispy on the outside and nicely melted. Served with pita bread it was delicious. The Greek salad was nice and fresh with cucumber, tomatoes and olives. My husband had moussaka and his comment was that he has had better. I had roast lamb. It was very dry and overcooked. Our entrees were served with generous portions of rice and lovely marinated potatoes We shared a bourgatsu for dessert and it was also very good. We would probably give New York New York another try since we did have a very good experience on our previous visit but last evening was very disappointing. I'm hoping that it's just because the kitchen was overwhelmed because of Mother's Day.

It was supposed to be my final meal of this leg of my Vancouver food trip, and with so many…read morerestaurants to choose from, I decided to trust my gut and head to Dragon Wok. Faced with two locations, I picked the newer one for reasons I can't quite explain, and thus began an amazing journey. The spacious parking area was a great start, and as soon as I stepped into the restaurant, I was greeted by a bright, soothing, and clean environment. The Far East vibes were unmistakable, with signs all around confirming I was in a Chinese place. A polite girl greeted us and guided us through the extensive menu, helping us choose the best dishes and combinations. To give some context, Indo-Chinese food originated in Kolkata, Bengal, and evolved as it spread across India, with each region adding its own twist. My favorite is Bangladeshi Chinese, known for its aroma, toned textures, and balanced, soothing sauces and condiments. Although Indo-Chinese variations have diverged from their Bengali-Chinese roots, I was hoping to find something that would closely match my taste preferences. That's when a gentleman named Abrar approached us. To my delight, he was from Kolkata, the birthplace of Indo-Chinese cuisine. He took the time to understand our preferences, crafting recommendations that seemed tailored just for us. He went above and beyond, even deciding how to tweak their original dishes to match our taste buds. We decided to go all out with his suggested combinations. We started with the appetizer, the Spicy chili garlic wings, and they were incredible--thin, yet with the crispiest crust, perfectly balanced with the chili garlic sauce. They were well-marinated with no gaminess, and the juicy inner layer contrasted beautifully with the crunchy exterior. 5/5. The Masala Fish blew us away--it was unforgettable. It wasn't overly spicy; a hint of sweetness brought out the flavors, with a light, airy crunch giving way to melt-in-your-mouth fish. The Crispy Chili Beef was very special. It wasn't dry, with a perfect semi-crisp exterior and juicy interior. Each bite validated how beef should be cooked. The sauce was perfectly balanced, neither too salty nor too sour. The Ginger garlic chicken was stir-fried to perfection, super soft with a soothing gravy, and the perfect blend of oriental sauces. Everything was balanced just right. The vegetable Hakka chowmein were not too oily, and though the noodles were a bit thinner than usual, they complemented every entrée so well it felt like a match made in heaven. Finally, the dessert--Ice cream with fried banana--was an ingenious creation. The warm, crunchy banana paired perfectly with the cold ice cream, creating a delightful ending to the meal. The girl at the reception (sorry, I didn't ask her name) was incredibly cordial, checking in on us several times and even offering complimentary green tea. Abrar also checked in on us a couple of times, providing exceptional service. I noticed him being attentive to every customer, offering nothing short of the best service you can get in a restaurant. I know taste buds vary, and Indo-Chinese palates differ across the subcontinent, but as someone extremely picky about Indo-Chinese food, I feel I had my best Indo-Chinese experience in North America at Dragon Wok. You're in good hands with these experts from the birthplace of Indo-Chinese cuisine.

Dragon Wok is a solid choice for tasty Indo-Chinese food with great portion sizes! The servings are…read morehuge--you definitely get your money's worth, and there's usually enough for leftovers. The menu is extensive, offering everything from classics like General Tso's and lo mein to more unique options. With so many choices, there's something for everyone. The food always comes out hot and flavorful, and the staff is friendly and efficient. It's a great spot when you're craving Indo-Chinese food and want big portions that satisfy. We got veg fried rice, Manchurian chicken, and shrimp chow mein and honestly those plates were wiped clean. It was enough for four starving people. I'm tempted to come back and try their soup and other things on the menu. Can't wait!

Love the spicy chicken!!! Never go wrong with combo B (spicy chicken, blackened noodles, spicy…read moreseafood soup/noodles) . Always my go to place when visiting Surrey!

I'm extremely disappointed by our experience yesterday, especially because I've always genuinely…read moreenjoyed this restaurant. Unfortunately, what happened was unacceptable. Our party of six waited over an hour to be seated. If my mother hadn't spoken up, we likely would have waited even longer. Although reservations are not accepted, guests are placed on a waitlist upon arrival. Our name was clearly on the queue, but not in Korean and while I initially understood smaller parties of two or four being seated ahead of us based on table availability, concerns arose when another party of six--who was behind us in line (name was written in Korean--was seated before us. This was deeply frustrating, as we were next in line for a table that could accommodate six people. When we raised the issue, the hostess admitted it was a mistake, yet still chose to seat the other group first. They were 5th in the queue. Despite our complaint, there was no sincere apology, and we were forced to wait an additional 10 minutes while they set up another table. The entire situation left us feeling unfairly treated and discriminated against. As loyal customers who regularly spend over $300 per visit ordering family combos, extra dishes, drinks, and more, this was incredibly disappointing. Sadly, we will not be returning. There are many other restaurants that treat their customers with fairness, respect, and appreciation.

Good food, quick and friendly service, glad it's still open. One of the places in Cloverdale I…read moreappreciate very much

Ken's has great customer service. We got in close to closing time and there were not a lot of…read moreoptions nearby that would still be open. They did hesitate to serve us to go and was willing to accommodate a large order. The food was really good and it was a good deal for the amount of food provided.