2021-11-23T15:30:54-05:00Nov 24, 2021|

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A taste of home for Indians in Toronto and the GTA

As a newcomer to Canada, it’s natural to occasionally miss your home country and crave things that remind you of home. One of the advantages of being in a country as diverse as Canada is that, no matter which city you’re in, you can always find a taste of home.

As you settle in Canada, staying in touch with your cultural roots can help you overcome homesickness, forge connections with other newcomers in your community, and enjoy the best of both worlds. 

Toronto is the most multicultural city in Canada. If you’re an Indian living in Toronto or the GTA, you’ll find lots of options for Indian food and culture. Toronto even has entire neighbourhoods dedicated to all things Indian. To help you better adapt to life in Toronto while staying connected to your roots, we asked Indians living in Toronto and the GTA to list their favourite locations for food, shopping, cultural gatherings, faith, and general support. Here’s what they shared with us: 

In this article:

Indian restaurants in Toronto and the GTA

While there are a host of Indian restaurants and food options in and around Toronto, the following favourites come highly recommended:

For North Indian food:

  • Moti Mahal, Gerrard Street, Toronto
  • Parathe Wali Gali, Brampton
  • Sher e Punjab, Danforth avenue, Toronto

For South Indian food:

  • Sarvana Bhavan, Scarborough and Mississauga 
  • Coconut Grove, Scarborough and Mississauga
  • Thanima, Mississauga
  • Udupi Madras Cafe, Mississauga
  • Dosa Twist, Etobicoke
  • Taste of Malayalees, Mississauga
  • Nammude Kada, Brampton

For Gujarati and vegetarian cuisine:

  • Shreeji Catering and Takeout, Brampton

For Indo-Chinese food:

  • Super Hakka, Scarborough

Indian grocery stores in Toronto

Many of the large grocery chains in Toronto and the GTA have dedicated aisles for Indian products. For instance, you might be able to find many of the items needed for Indian cooking in grocery stores like FreshCo, No Frills, and Walmart.

For harder to find items, specialized Indian grocery stores include:

  • Panchvati, multiple locations
  • Motherland, Brampton and Scarborough
  • Om India, Etobicoke
  • Subzi Mandi, Brampton
  • Queen Supermarket, Downtown Toronto
  • Kerala Groceries, Brampton

If you prefer to buy groceries online, you can also visit:

Indian shopping and cultural events in Toronto

Several Diwali and Eid celebrations happen across Toronto and its suburbs, such as Brampton, Scarborough, and Mississauga. Local temples, mosques, and community centres usually have information on these gatherings. Gerrard Street in the south-east end of Toronto also hosts many Indian festivals. 

If you’re looking for Indian clothing or jewelry, Brampton or the Indian Bazaar at Gerrard Street are the places to visit. 

Places to worship across Toronto 

Toronto’s focus on multiculturalism means you have plenty of options for worshiping in your faith. As a newcomer from India, depending on where you live in Toronto or the GTA, you might even be able to find places of worship where prayers and ceremonies are conducted in your first language. 

Here are some places of worship frequented by Indian newcomers from various religions:

Hindu

  • ISKCON Hindu Temple, Midtown Toronto
  • Hindu Sabbha Mandir, Brampton
  • Vishnu Temple, Richmond Hill

Sikh

  • Pape Gurdwara, Toronto
  • Dashmesh Darbar Gurdwara, Brampton
  • Dixie Gurdwara, Mississauga
  • Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Mississauga

Muslim

  • Jame Makki Masjid, Brampton
  • Jannatul Ferdous Mosque, Etobicoke

Christian

  • Many across the GTA with services in Malayalam and other languages 

Finding daily support in Toronto

As you transition into your new life in Canada, it’s good to know where to go for general support and information. Employment support, accommodation advice, personal finance programs, and language classes for children are just some of the services offered by the organizations listed below: 

 

 

 

This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.