I was quite surprised and delighted to come here for dinner. The restaurant used good quality meat and mostly chicken without bone, which was very unusually for small buffets. I really enjoyed the onion pakoras and chili chicken which I think was breast meat. The buffet had a good variety, and something for everyone to enjoy. A few veg items, land sea and air meats, and flavour enhancing side dishes. The staff were very friendly, the restaurant was clean, and the noise was just enough for us to hear everything my table mates were saying. read more

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3.5/5 This place is a real representation of Gujarati cuisine with an affordable eat-it-all economical thali. Overall it comprises 35+ dishes that include: 1. Snacks such as Golgappe, Vada Pav, Dabeli, Dhokla and Dahi Vada 2. Sabjis such as Aloo Tindola, Bhaji, Matar Paneer, Gujarati Kadhi, Sev Tamatar, etc. 3. Lentils such as Dal, Sambhar, Chholle 4. Rice 5. Breads that have Roti, Puran Poli 6. Desserts such as Gulab Jamun, Aamras, Rabdi, Halwa And lastly, Chaas to digest it all. All this at $15 per person...Isn't it amazing? Best thing was that everything run and managed by women. Women power in all its glory. Although, it would be great if they could maintain more hygiene at place and make it spacious enough to move around while taking food from the buffet. Some of the basic Gujarati snacks failed to wow like Dhokla and Puran Poli. But items like Matar Paneer, PaniPuri, Aloo Tindola, Dal were amazing. Special mention to world's best roti ever. Follow @mygourmetaffair on instagram for more reviews/food explorations in Toronto/GTA. read more

Govardhan Thal - Thali - Indian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I decided to try this place out because I had heard good things about their Vada Pav. I stopped by for a quick snack, it did not disappoint! Their Vada Pavs are well made and are actually pretty spicy! To top it all off you honestly can't beat the amazing price of $1.25 per sandwich. This restaurant is tucked away in this small plaza and is run by two very nice Gujarati Aunties. If you're looking for home cooked Gujarati Food, this is definitely the place to go. They have a large selection of vegetarian dishes in their self serve buffet. Definitely an ideal spot for homesick students in the area. I would come back here to grab Vada Pav snack the next time I'm in the area. read more

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Love their home like food, I'm a fan of the aloo bonda and different types of rotis. Wish the inside was maintained a bit more so we could sit and enjoy the food. We get takeouts and they're very well priced. read more

Amazing Gujarat food. Feels like home where ladies serve fresh Rotli, thepla and rotlo which is Bajra flour chapati, people with gluten allergies get that option. Every time I visit . I have to go here once. read more

First time trying this place with friends and it was a great experience. AYCE for 13.99-14.99, and everything was vegetarian. The eggplant curry was my definitely my favourite and the little puffs (don't know what it's called) that you can put sauces in. Most of the cooks and waitresses did not know how to speak English but it did not hinder good service. The ladies would often walk by our tables and serve fresh roti right off the stove as well as another type of roti with sweet filling inside (again, don't know what it's called). There was also a dessert portion and my favourite purée was so good. After, you have to put your trays and dishes in the back in a bin which wasn't communicated but luckily came with a friend that has been here before. Definitely will come back! read more

Govardhan Thal - Indian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The food is simply outstanding. The ladies are very friendly & hospitable. Hole-in-the-wall places like these have the best food. Don't look for ambience - just food. Better ventilation is needed to exhaust the cooking smells since we all got out smelling of surthi-undhiyu! The eating dishes like cups, plates could be cleaned better. read more

Came here with a couple of friends last night and it was great! I am not too familiar with Gujurati food but I thoroughly enjoyed it anyway (not super spicy, so just right for me). My favourite dish was one with sweet potatoes and eggplant. I also really enjoyed a roti with sweet filling. :) read more

Govardhan Thal - Indian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Hello I visited tplace since I came to canada and was looking for Gujarati food i kind of liked the food as it was similar taste of my moms hands so I bought the monthly pass I mean coupons of6.50 per each coupon but after having food for 20 days i felt as if itwas not fresh And frankly speaking the customer service was pathetic I didn't expected much as its was a buffet type dining out let But too loud on internal employees talking and did not understand that customers were waiting for the food and rudeness showed when i enqured for my order in short never suggest anyone to this place its worst read more

Self-serve (aka no wait time) vegetarian thali with a wide range of options. Foods were flavourful, some were sweeter than I'm used to, but then again, I'm not familiar with Gujarati cuisine. Cooks come around with fresh made roti, water jugs, the cashier played host and made the effort to be attentive despite being busy. Tried sweet roti for the first time here, reminded me of a Chinese sweet bean paste pancake with a dash of cardamom - - yummy! At $15 per person, you can't go wrong for the taste and value. read more

Govardhan Thal - Self-serve vegetarian thali! - Indian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Went to the restaurant to eat a Gujarati thali. The food was quite authentic. A good range of dishes also, even for a picky eater like me. And was value for money. If you want to try Indian food but cannot take the spice, a great place to go. Would have given a higher rating if the bhaji were more moist. Otherwise would definitely recommend a try. Enjoy! read more

I have visited this place twice, the food is good, their thali and buffet are value for money. The only bad thing is that the women over there mostly speaks in Gujrati which I don't understand and it's really difficult to communicate with them read more

Pure. Gujarati. Food. Pretty much says it all, right? Sometimes a vegetarian buffet made to order and continually replenished is all you really need as a quick culinary introduction to Scarborough, a dynamic and growing eastern suburb of Toronto. This is an epicenter of South and East migration, and it has left an indelible and delicious imprint on the landscape. This isn't about generic "Indian" food: these are regional delicacies and specialty dishes: lentils, chick peas, potatoes, all sorts of rice and breads and chutneys and spinach and tomatoes and garlic and onions and the sweet smells and intoxicating aromas of spice after spice after spice ... A sensual feast for a fraction of the cost of the what you would pay in the downtown districts. Really, that's not a bad way to get lunch, at all. In fact, it's one of the more memorable meals out I've had in months. Served on metal trays and tiny bowls, all in a shopping district catering to the local South Asia community who are its most frequent guests.You feel right at home even if you've never been to Northwest India or tried this style of food before. Pure. Gujarati. Food. Try it sometime. read more

Not bad - but could be a lot better for the price you pay The food is decent; atypical for ethic Gujarati fare and hence almost all main course items are tad sweet; food is served buffet style and a set menu. Service is mediocre, at best nonchalant; you get there, eat, leave, no frills. Ambience is lacking a lot; cramped and bare bones. They could do better in this dept. for what they charge. Go there if you must eat traditional Gujarati cuisine. Expect nothing; and thou shall not be too disappointed. read more

Don't like attitude of servers Not worth the money; food isn't as tasty some taste spoiled and is not worth the price that I've paid for. Attitude of servers was not pleasant; don't plan on revisiting. read more

The food here is definitely "homely" - the rich masalas or the heavy use of oil or color is missing and that is perhaps the reason why it's so popular. There are six ladies who manage the kitchen and the service typically depends on their mood and how exhausted they are - remember making those rotis and other curries in that small space is no joke. The place can get quite tight (especially if you are on the bigger/heavier side like me). There are about 6 tables and during peak hours, there is a line up. The food is good and that's the reason why you go there. The storage area is almost making its way to the washrooms and the kitchen area can be viewed from there - one can question the amount of hygiene they maintain. I really enjoyed my meal there and the ladies (including the daughter of the owner) were really nice to us but I would hesitate going there again during the peak hours. I am all about the great quality of food that gets the highest weightage for a Yelp review but there are other things in life too that matter! If you are visiting the place, lower your expectations. Only expect good food and nothing else and you won't be disappointed. Cheers! read more

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This spot has great food with great taste which is most authentic. I will definitely recommend this any day for any meal. My all time favourite is Dhoka and Ragda Patties read more

This is the place to have gujarati food, this food is more than enough for one diet, its too heavy. The good food at cheap rates. Affordable for students. read more

We ordered catering from this restaurant for about 35 people for a meeting we organized at the University of Toronto Scarborough. The food was excellent and plentiful. We will definitely use them again! Very professional. Highly recommended. read more

Really good, fresh, authentic Gujarati food! A number of dishes, which always provides great variety. You can pick from spicy to sweet! And of course it's super affordable! It's a small family run restaraunt, but the recent renovation and addition to the buffet has really been great! The ladies working there are very nice and helpful. I usually go here when I am looking for some good veggie Gujarati / Indian food. I believe you can dine in, do take out or cater from them. read more

The food is served hot and fresh by a kind and friendly host. We really enjoyed our dining experience because of the tasty delicacies and piping hot rotis and puran polis. The place is small but feels cozy and warm because of the excellent hospitality. read more

I have been several times to this restaurant having great expectations and I think my conclusion at the end is: STAY AWAY. This is probably the only Gujarati restaurant (I am Gujarati) in Toronto at the moment. Although they may have tasty dishes at times, I would avoid for the following reasons: 1. Poor service. They don't have any servers. On a busy day, you will wait endlessly for your next 'rotli' or buttermilk and it will arrive late if you are lucky and if you are unlucky, you may wait endlessly and decide not to have any more. The owner mans the cash counter doubling up as the server, and can be very rude. 2. Freshness of food. Food at the buffet is often stale, has dried up or has hardened (take the khaman dhokla for example). 3. I have seen plates of "khaman dhokla" right outside the men's bathroom. No elaboration required. 4. Inhumane conditions for customers to sit in and for the poor cooks to cook in (you can see them cook in front of you). It has zero ventilation and no air-conditioning. On a hot July day around 1 pm, there were no fans turned on. At the request of a customer, the owner grudgingly turned on a single fan. Customers are baked sitting there, but the poor cooks are fried inside sweating profusely. read more

Terrible. Unhygienic and dirty. There were flies everywhere, place looked like it hadn't been cleaned in days. Friendly staff for the most part. Ok food. read more

This is my favorite south asian restaurant in Toronto. OK in North America. Home style Gujarati food, family style. Tushar and Bina Shah put out the best pure veg Indian food imaginable. Their selection is always varied, with splendid dals and vegetable dishes, and always a few sweets. The crowning touch though are Bina's hand made breads; they really lift the experience into an ethereal realm. Her dokha is scrumptious too. read more

Super gujarati thali.. The buttermilk, kadhi and puran poli are delicious.. Large variety with authentic indian food..

I have been to this place a few times and finally decided to write a review because I took my family there and had a terrible experience this time because I learned that the man there (I believe he is the owner) is a real jerk. I told him that he would never see me there again. Please be careful when you go to this place if you are dealing with him. The food was ok at best this time around. Some of the curries were cold. When it came time to pay, he charged us quite a bit and when I went to talk to him about it, he just went to the back. What a real jerk. He actually charged a full dinner price buffet for my 4 year old son when he should have only charged $4.50. I had no problems paying the full price for the people that were eating the buffet but at the end he over charged us by around $15. He did not care to reason and really ruined my evening only because he was a real jerk. On another note, we also had a baby with us yesterday who is 9 months old. When I got the high chair, it was filthy. We used our wipes to clean the high chair and the wipes ended up becoming black. This is not a cleanest place but I knew that when I went there. I was just very disappointed the owner overcharged us. To put things into perspective for the money we paid here we could have all eaten Naan and Kabob comfortably, Swiss Chalet and had left over, Lahore Tikka House, Mr. Greek, and many other restaurants that have a great ambiance, do not overcharge people and have great service for kids. I do not normally write reviews but I wanted to make people aware of dealing with this person. Thank you. read more

We visited Govardhan Thal for the first time last week. The place is quite run down - on one side are the tables and chairs and on the other side are the food counters and the kitchen - where 2 or 3 persons were continuously busy. None of them wear any plastic gloves and use bare hands for everything related to their work. The smoke from the kitchen was all over the place - causing watering of the eyes. The staff were dressed in simple homely clothes and were advising guests about the food. Having said the above, the food items were pure Indian - with some of them having sugar in them (gujarati items) and some of them were very spicy and hot (example - vegetable and dal). The Chhach (liquid Yogurt) is splendid. Is it a place I will take a guest ? The answer is yes - if they look forward to eating tasty food, ignoring the shortcomings. With my own family, I will surely visit there from time to time. Overall simply great taste - however suggest some improvements: - relocate to a bigger place - with more room between the tables; - ensure that the place is well painted and clean; - isolate the kitchen from the food service area (and get better venting for the kitchen); - arrange for well dressed staff; Will go there again! read more

This place is JOKE. Dont go there even if they are selling food for free. my overall experience was minus 5 star. I walked inside and found owner yelling on their employees like B grade movie villain. I waited 10 min to place my order of limited dish/thali. I was told its self service I took everything and waited for Rotis. I was given 2 at first and then 4 on second round. (they were supposed to give only 4 in limited dish) Then owner started yelling on me saying that you took 2 more so you have to pay for it. I was not aware of but they served me. I said this is my first time and I will pay of I was given still that weird lady owner kept yelling as if it was my fault. I could barely eat my stuff later on and left the shop ASAP after paying whatever they asked me to pay. It was not employees fault that lady owner did not pay attention and gave me 2 more. This place is STUPID JOKE, New students like me go there because of less stores near by. I hope very soon new stores will start so people can avoid this crap. read more

The food is stale and recycled from their freezers. We saw it being reheated and was confirmed by the lady in the kitchen.They abuse their staff in front of customers.Its so embarassing and the quality and hygiene is questionable. Avoidable unless you have no choice. read more

This is a great place for people for people who are looking for vegetarian Indian food. Obviously Indian food has it's own range of cuisines, and this is Gujarati to be exact. It's worth eating here, you get a big ass plate with several bowls and you can eat up as much as you want. Worth the money. The food tastes good too, but obviously it's not meant for the weight conscious. The ambiance is relaxed and friendly. I have to admit though, the first time I went there I thought it was fairly cramped but this is not about a fine dining experience or anything, just about getting good food when you are hungry! read more

Small family business located in a Indian (Gujarati) community. Food is very average lacking freshness and, authentic traditional taste. Food is sugar dipped! Attitude of owner/server is very bad as if he/she is feeding customers for free. Definitely not a welcoming atmosphere. Sittings cramped with oily, smelly table surfaces. Not pleasant for dine in. Avoid it if you have option. read more

This restaurant definitely needs a check on food quality and hygiene. I visited during winter-January for a dinner buffet and found that some of the food was not fresh. I insisted on the same being substituted with some other food item or a refill, however was turned to a deaf ear by the owner. The rotis served were quite dry. The service was quite slow as they concentrating more on takeouts. Does not live upto the quality and service that I paid for! read more

This place is probably more like a 3.5 to me just based on flavor of the food, but the hospitality of the owner is incredible and he makes you feel right at home, which easily bumps my rating to a solid 4 stars. Good amount of variety on the buffet-style menu, and at a more than reasonable price. read more

Food is always good, But the place is not hygienic at all, the lady taking money in front will touch the food without washing hands. Customers use same dishes again for taking more food. Staff inside the store taking customer dishes and clean table without washing hand will server you also. They also have very bad customer service. read more

These people are absolutely a joke! They have the worst customer service, in fact they don't even have basic etiquette. I will never go back to this horrible place EVER AGAIN! read more

Awesome food. Small family joint with thali style buffet and fresh rotis of all types. The place is a bit cramped for space which is the only down side. Would recommend. read more

This place is simply amazing. One must go here and have their unlimited thali. Food is authentic gujarati fare with lots of varieties and fresh rotis served on your table.They even serve buttermilk and also special rotis every 10 mts. Simply amazing food. read more

I had a very bad experience with this restaurant, food is smelling (perished) like hell, one of friend health got upset after having a Thali. I strongly recommend staying away from Govardhan Thal. read more

Stay out of this place to avoid food poisoning. The subji's are old stock. Groceries are kept near the washrooms. The only thing fresh is their roti. read more

We were a group of 9 people who visited them last sunday ....the sitting was uncomfortable ......we had to split up ........the food serving was very slow ......we had to wait for our rotis to come up but then the food got cold ....they were warming food in microwave that was straight from the refridgerator ......their Undhiyo was out and they didnt add more saying it was finished ......the khansvi was cold as ice .......go there and you will be lucky if you find fresh food ....?Never Never again ! read more