Govindas is a vegan/vegetarian restaurant. I went here a couple years back with a friend via a GroupOn deal. The price is already extremely reasonable without the GroupOn but I think with the GroupOn I might have spent around $10 or a little under (I can't recall the exact amount right now). The restaurant is located inside the temple. I'm not sure if the restaurant proceeds go to the temple or not so I can't comment on that. I was given a plate with an assortment of savory things and a salad. I don't recall getting dessert like many other reviewers and maybe the dessert would have tasted a bit better as my food experience was not that great. The food looks good and the portions are more than enough for the price and will fill you up. However, both my friend and I agreed that the food was too salty to the level where it made it unpleasant to eat the food. I didn't want to waste food but I had to push myself to eat it, which is a shame. Maybe it was an off day, I don't know. Two stars for the reasonable price and portions, good service, and the nice ambiance. Unfortunately, I really do not recommend this place and will not be coming back. read more

Govinda's - Vegetarian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We just left Govinda's, so the yummy food is still with us. The restaurant had few patrons, so we had our pick of tables. I asked for hot water with lemon...sorry, no lemon...lime?...sorry, no lime...ok, just hot water. The other two people ordered tap water. All the waters came in paper cups!! I asked for and got a real cup, which was great for the hot water. The meal was excellent - very appropriate portions, so that we all finished our meal and didn't have leftovers. Prices were reasonable and the service was prompt and courteous. I would return next time I'm in Toronto. read more

Food is vegetarian. Kind my mom makes. I had the big thaali. Seating space is aplenty. It's attached to the temple so not too noisy. I think it's a favourite with regulars. Service is quiet and friendly. They also do not charge tax. read more

Great neighbourhood staple for vegetarian Indian cuisine. Lovely ambiance, tasty home cooked food, and friendly service in a peaceful atmosphere for dining. They also offer delivery. read more

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Located inside the temple. The dining area itself is in a large hall, with food being served from one of the corners. For $10, you get a soup and salad, a plate of food, and a dessert. The options vary day-to-day, sort of like a canteen. You basically get what they felt like making that day, so things may be different everytime. It's quite a lot of food for what you're paying for, since you get the full 3-courses. I don't know about the taste since I don't visit too many indian places, but I found it pretty tasty although there's no meat. Has various sauces and spices in everything. This probably isn't really a restaurant but part of the temple operations for the people that spend their days there, so don't be surprised with how it works. I don't expect it to operate like a commercial restaurant. read more

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Amazing prasad/food. Must try in Toronto if you are in love with vegetarian food! They literally serve you the best vege delight in downtown Toronto! read more

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Had the $12 to $15 (after tip) lunch 3 years ago : it was fine. Had the Bistro menu today : pizza ( store bought thin , couldn't taste the ginger/corriander/oregano, not a fan of this particular plant-based mayo, no plant-based cheese ) & burger ( patty is supposed to be soy, but I believe it is mostly wheat) . Had to wait a long time for another napkin. Fine if you simply need a place to chill with your ppl. 15% tip, no tax. The temple has a lovely small shop. read more

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$10 - soup, main course, dessert $2 - tea Accepts cc, debit, cash. 4/5- food. Delicious and ample. 5/5 - service. Courteous and kind. 5/5 - atmosphere. Serene and clean. Check the hours, map your route and must-experience. read more

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Namaste y'all. Govinda's has an excellent selection of karma free food in Toronto. They've got all sorts of vegan dishes ranging from Indian to Italian to fast food. If you want some amazing food that is prepared without of the suffering of your fellow beings please come try Govinda's. All the food here is made with love and offered to RadhaKrishna as prasadam so you're eating food that is sanctified. While you're here you can pop in next door to take darshan of Sri Radha Krishna, Sri Jagganath, Balaram and Subhadra. Enjoy some kirtan and satsangh. Tell everybody Hare Krishna and Hari Bol for me. read more

I really enjoyed this unique experience! Firstly, as other reviewers mentioned it's located inside of a real working temple, it's quiet and serene and definitely doesn't have the look of a restaurant. My partner said it almost feels like a museum. We were told to sit wherever we wanted, there were a few tables occupied but there was lots of space to choose from. It's a very quiet place and I felt awkward when the chairs were screeching as I pulled one from underneath the table, but otherwise it's lovely and peaceful. The server came over to us and asked if we'd been there before, we let him know that it was our first time and he explained the process. He would bring us a soup then our meal, which consists of the daily sampling of a few vegetarian dishes, and then a dessert. The food changes daily so you can't really choose from a menu like a regular restaurant. He asked if we had any allergies or intolerances and then left to bring us the soup. The soup was a butternut squash and it was light and peppery. I enjoyed it, it wasn't a traditional rich squash soup like I'm used to, it had some traditional Indian flavour to it which I enjoyed. The main course consisted of some type of fried basmati rice with veggies and tofu, a spinach pakora, green peas with paneer, a lentil curry, some other type of pea curry, a potato and carrot curry and a piece of roti. I particularly enjoyed the pea curry, the rice and the pakora, but I found everything to be yummy. I've definitely had better Indian food but it's always been much richer and saltier so I felt that this was healthier and more homemade tasting. Like others have mentioned, it's a lot of food, certainly enough to fill a big appetite. For dessert we had a choice between a raisin cake and a cranberry ball, we each ordered a different one so we could try both. The cake was a bit tough and dry, perhaps were just not accustomed to this type of pastry and the cranberry ball tasted like a giant dried cranberry, perhaps there were some nuts in there as well, I thought it was a nice end to the meal. The server was kind and made us feel comfortable, our food was brought out quickly and water was filled regularly. No complaints about the service at all. Overall, I thought it was a great and very unique experience. Have I had better Indian food? - Yes I have, but this tasted homemade and healthy and the $10 price is unbelievable value. Plus I got to try some new dishes that I've never had before. The venue is super unique and good conversation piece, definitely come with an open mind and your appetite! read more

This has to be the best deal in Toronto next to eating at mother's house! When one thinks of Hare Krishnas one thinks of old movies with chanting monks in orange garb begging for money, but Govinda's had none of that. This vegetarian and vegan 'restaurant' is located inside the Krishnas' temple and serves a plate of whatever (vegetarian and vegan Indian food) they have cooked and prepared on that day. Firstly, the food was tasty, seemed healthy and despite having one plate filled me right up. Secondly, the decor and setting is literally the most amazing in GTA given how one is sitting inside a temple with the related statue, icons, paintings, high ceiling and pillars. Thirdly, did I mention the food was $10 only? This place is cheaper than poisoning oneself at Denny's or killing off the kids at McDonalds and healthy and tasty! Think about that next time a junk food global chain charges you $13 for its crap. Back to Govinda's: The food comprised of white rice and/or bread, lentils, potatoes, pakora and vegetarian balls sandwiched between a salad and a choice of desserts. We actually dropped into the temple proper/sanctuary for the experience and took time to appreciate the decorative items. I swear the two attendants refilled everyone's water more often and were more polite than the waiter at the hip and expensive brunch place on King Street and that was after we had asked the King West waiter for a water refill! The only down side to this place is the singular set meal and the washroom which, while not unclean, had some toilet paper strewn here and there and had a bag of trash sitting on the floor. No animals were killed in the course of writing this review. read more

I was very near to this place, we are neighbourhood. The food is delocio-ous and hygenic. Highly recomended. Keep the spirits high.

When I first arrived I was concerned that maybe it was too quiet. I appreciate not having to compete with loud music or the cacophony of other people, but I was nervous that having a conversation with my friend would disturb the silence of everyone else. But it was fine, or at least I didn't feel like that one jerk talking in the quiet car. The space was large and there were plenty of places to sit. The building is beautiful. Everything is very clean and orderly. While the cafe is in the temple, there's a separate entrance. You don't order your meal, as the menu is set each day. The server welcomes you and asks if you're vegan or have any dietary restrictions. For $10, you get a soup, a main dish (with several items), and a dessert. Drinks are $2 extra. It was a lot of food and everything was delicious. Our server walked us through what each item was. There are a few different places to go for lunch in the neighborhood, but this is the healthiest and probably the least expensive option. read more

We did not know about this place until it popped up on Groupon and we decided to go since the food price was insanely cheap. We got a deal for 4 people for around $30 total (their regular price is $10 per person which is sill very cheap). This place is located inside an Indian temple. It is extremely peaceful there. We went on a Monday evening and there were only two people other than us sitting there. The server was a nice gentleman who told us that all the food is made by temple volunteers. There is no set menu - it changes on a daily basis. He explained the food options to us: everything was vegan except for a paneer dish that was vegetarian. The food was lovely! I would buy it even if the price was higher. We got to try all the options they had that day (a salad to start, lentil soup, vegetarian "meat" balls in tomato sauce, basmati rice, deep fried vegetables and many other delicious dishes). The place felt cozy and staff was welcoming. I should have taken a photo of the food when I was there but you have no patience when you are starving... I am surprised that I had not heard about this place until now! We will definitely go back again! read more

I've been coming to Govinda's for about 13 years now - in my opinion it is one of Toronto's best kept secrets for really delicious Indian food! The portions are beyond generous - I've never once come away hungry when eating there. I would never in my life call their food bland like some other review mentioned. No they don't use garlic and onions, but they use hing (a spice that has the same sort of savory taste profile as onions and garlic), and plenty of other spices and curries, so the food is extremely flavorful and tasty! And the staff is always very warm and welcoming. If you go there enough for them to recognize you, it gets really lovely as they get so happy to see you back, and you feel like it's really "your place". And you absolutely cannot beat the price. In the past few years they have renovated the dining room, and it's absolutely stunning inside now! The dramatic vaulted ceilings create a real sense of grandeur, and the authentic and large, beautiful Hindu statuary and tapestries are as gorgeous as they are fascinating to get up close and really take a good look at. Most of the time there is gentle Indian music playing, though sometimes it may not be - either way, the natural light that comes in from the skylights is lovely during the day, and at night the low lighting makes for a really intimate and relaxing feel. Yes, this restaurant is inside the Hare Krishna temple, but it's in a completely separate section of the building, and it's never something that comes up if you're there to eat. In fact, I think it's a really cool element - how often do you get to visit a real temple AND get an flipping awesome meal on the cheap? If you have no interest in the temple part, then you simply stick to the restaurant room. But if you like to catch a bit of culture, you're free to pop into the temple-space and look around before or after your meal, and if you have any questions one of the staff there is always happy to answer them. I couldn't find anything to complain about if I tried. Like I said, I've been going there for 13 years. I found the place when I was in university, fell in love, and have been going back - dare I say, religiously - ever since! read more

I went here on Groupon, but their prices are soooooo cheap you don't need to wait for that special deal. It's a non for profit located in a temple. It has a very quite atmosphere that you'd expect temples to have. The buffet is served to you as many times as you wish and they have a variety of desserts (chickpea flour cookies!!!) and drinks (tamarind juice is an interesting choice but very strong in taste). I'd definitely come here again esp when I feel like saving money and eating a good Indian food. read more

Simply best Indian vegetarian restaurant in Toronto with elegant ambience and meditative atmosphere. I love to go there often. Food is really yummy starting you with soup and salad, then main course and ending with Dessert. It's worth your every penny, time and taste buds and I guess the best value for money you will ever find in Toronto. read more

Nothing impressive. Mediocre food. Usually Iskcon restaurants are very good. This one didn't meet expectations. Just because this restaurant is in the temple, it can't be reviewed as great food. They could do better. The people serving were nice and the place itself was spacious and clean. read more

Bought $10 for 2 from Groupon. Pretty cheap. You get for what your pay for. Keep in mind it's non for profit organization. A temple. If it's a hot day, then don't even bother going in there. There is no AC or FAN. You will sweat like a pig in there. Servers are volunteers and they are amazing. Food not so much. It's blant. I recommend stay away from this place...however I recommend helping the organization. read more

Just incredible! Clean, fresh, and healthy! I was speaking to a friend who spoke about his friend, a macrobiotic chef in LA... she won't eat anyplace but Govindas! Practically the only restaurant in Toronto I eat at. read more

Very simple basic dishes, mediocre taste and very limited selection. Bought $10 for 2 from Groupon. Pretty cheap but you definitely get what your pay for. It's actually located in a temple so depending on how comfortable you are eating there it could feel like a totally amazing experience or just uncomfortable. In the summer it's incredibly hot as there is no aircondition. It's also a non for profit organization and everyone is a volunteer there. read more

Food was cheap but not great. The meal starts with soup and salad, and then unlimited amounts of some of the foods at the hot table. One dessert is also included. Found the process a bit confusing and the servers seemed equally as confused. read more

Fridays and Saturdays are best! A good place to decompress with bad karma always left at the door. read more

Love this place. Very tasty vegetarian, top quality and inexpensive. Too bad hours are limited.

Went there on a groupon deal ($10 for 2 people for lunch or dinner buffet). You get a bowl of soup and a small plate of salad and two times at the buffet (someone puts the food for you on a plate to monitor portion control) and one dessert (non Indian). I found the food to be incredibly salty and very bland - very little variety. The place is in some sort of church, and the actual restaurant is in a room with really high ceilings but it was dark and a little dingy. The people were nice, but unfortunately I wouldn't recommend it. The experience was a bit weird for me. read more

It's like if you took Chipotle, made it Indian and added unlimited refills of everything and threw in bonus soup, salad, and desert. They're probably making nothing in terms of profit because the food quality is so high and so delicious. Interior looks like an Indian temple. 10/10 and two thumbs up read more

Generous servings. A unique settings and some really interesting vegetarian dishes. For the price you should give it a shot.

I went here with a groupon but it was cheap anyway. the food was mediocre..nothing fancy... finally a place that served not only main course, but also salad and dessert. read more

Govinda's is the vegetarian restaurant in the Hare Krishna temple. The food is Indian but they don't use garlic or onions, so it's a bit bland. The price is actually a donation. The last time I went there it was $7. The volunteer working there pushed the food around on the plate with his fingers a bit, which I didn't like so much. Every so often there is a jingling sort of chant that comes over the PA system. It's an interesting experience, but the food isn't that great and the atmosphere a bit weird. read more

We enjoyed the BEST vegetarian lunch ever ! Delicious food, warm hospitality, quiet and beautiful place. Thank you Govinda's. We'll be back (next time for supper) and we highly recommend ! read more

This was a unique experience. I've never gotten lunch from inside of a Hare Krishna Temple before, safe to say. Dim lighting, nicely made-up tables, soft Indian music. Kind of a funky atmosphere. I liked it. Got the dish to go, $10 all in, pretty generous amount, lots of variety, nice taste, pretty fresh. Really enjoyed the date balls for dessert. I'm not a vegan or vegetarian by any means, but I still respect the food and the ethos behind it. All in all, I enjoyed it. Will be back for sure, maybe I'll try eating in next time and soak up more of the atmosphere. I don't know how they make any money though, it wasn't very busy and it's pretty cheap and there is no alcohol obviously to help pad the bottom line. Hope they make it, I'd like to come regularly! read more

I've lived in this neighbourhood my whole life and love this spot. The price is great for the wonderful quality of veggie buffet and it's a non-profit. The staff, who are all volunteers, are always lovely and attentive. If you're cool with a small spread of delicious food, huge portions, good prices and lovely people then this is a great spot. If you're looking for a vast menu with tons of options and have a more limited diet, perhaps not for you. We love it! read more

This place rocks. Friendly staff and calming atmosphere. I recommend it to anyone!

We visited this restaurant, which is inside the ISKCON temple of Toronto after our son's Convocation ceremony on 8th June 2016 in the evening, along with the Dharamshi family. We took a $10 vege buffet, which was really good, starting with Salad, then the main course and we took a dessert of Dates and dry fruit crushed round piece very tasty, included in buffet. Highly recommended read more

Nice selection of a vegetarian buffet. A little hard for me to eat here as a vegan. I was disappointed in the limited amount of gluten free options as well as the ghee and cheese in 70% of their dishes. For a $10 buffet it is a great deal. Service is warm and welcoming. read more

Not worth the money.... Even though it was 10.00....the portion is a joke. The waiter was nice but the kitchen staff give you hard time if you want seconds. I miss the former Govindas when you pay a donation and the food was an abundance and all persons from all walks of life can attend.... Now it seems like its only for high income people. read more

Food is simple, karma free (nobody was killed...) I like it! Plus very chip.

Look for deals on Wagjag or Groupon they always have deals for this place. We got 2 lunch buffets for $10. That's $5 for a buffet. It was in a cool building i think it use to be a church. There wasn't a big selection but worth what we paid. Not sure if i would pay full price for this place. The food was decent, only a couple dishes did we love. read more

Great place to eat; delicious food; numerous Indian dishes to choose from; amazing price! We keep going back! When you arrive, a friendly server seats you and brings salad and soup. Then you go to the steam table, and a server dishes out your food. You can indicate what dishes you'd like, and how much of each. Such interesting, yummy food, and lots of it ... sometimes we don't even have room for dessert! The beautiful, large dining room has a really Indian 'feel' to it; reminds me of some of the wonderful places I visited in India, which adds to the fun of the experience. :-) Everyone I know who's tried Govinda's loves it. No wonder. Delicious, nutritious food, served by friendly staff, in an amazing and interesting setting, at rock-bottom prices ... as someone else said: "...one of Toronto's best kept secrets for really delicious Indian food". I'll add - Govinda's is one of my very favourite dining experiences in Toronto. A great place to visit for a quick lunch, or a leisurely dinner, and the perfect place take out-of-town guests for an inexpensive, unique experience. :-) Try it ! read more

The first time I went to Govinda's was because I bought a groupon and I was really amazed by the truly delicious vegetarian food. It helps that the restaurant is in a temple, scrupulously clean and pretty to sit in. It helps that the staff are lovely, friendly and very helpful. But really, it's the food that had me going back time and time again, without a groupon. It's one of those places I need to go to often, everything is just so yummy. read more