Vij's Restaurant

We were able to get in to Vij's despite the wait list while visiting Vancouver. I am glad we did. I have never been to a Michelin rated Indian Restaurant.

The flavors were wonderful. I think the chef really wanted you to taste the actual base versus just spicing things up as is usual of Indian Restaurants.

The meal was delicious. Can't wait to go back again.

My last visit to Vij's was over 20 years ago, before my food critic phase. I remember it being delicious yet expensive.

Today, we celebrated dual birthdays--mine and my friend's.

Vij's is housed in a plain industrial building. Inside, there are three levels: the bustling ground floor with the kitchen, a quiet mezzanine for introverts, and a semi-open rooftop patio, which we chose. The sunset light filtering through greenery created a lovely atmosphere.

We ordered three appetizers: eggplant, prawns, and samosas. While not the best I've had, the prawns were overly salty, and the samosas were dry.

For mains, we had curry lingcod, rogan josh lamb, and lamb popsicles. The lamb popsicles were the highlight, perfectly grilled but too small. The rogan josh was dry, and the lingcod lacked flavor.

Overall, the ambiance was pleasant, and service was excellent, especially with Vij himself greeting guests. However, the bill didn't match the quality of the food. Thankfully, it wasn't my treat.

Vij is a well celebrated michelin guide Indian restaurant on Cambie St. The ambiance and service truly made it a memorable visit. However, I do feel like the dishes were made for people who can't handle spice or have been adjusted to the local palate.

Pork Belly Spoonful ($6.5) 6.5/10
Very tender and flavourful, not sure if I tasted any apple or mint tbh.

Thali ($34) 7/10
The roasted eggplant and chickpea kofta were my favourites, with the rest of the dishes being alright. My friend claimed that traditionally we would have gotten rice or naan but apparently not in here.

Lamb Popsicle ($33) 7/10
The reason why we came to this place. Our friends raved about this place so we had to try it. The fenugreek cream curry was delightful, however I do have to say that the lamb was actually super tough to eat and somewhat small.

Whole Wheat Chapati ($3.75) 5/10
A thinner flatbread made from whole wheat. This was supposed to be healthier but honestly I prefer naan.

Rose Syrup Ice Cream ($14) 7.5/10
Served with gulab jamun. A sweet bomb for sure, even coming from sweet tooth like myself. Personally eating the ice cream with gulab jamun was a bit too much sugar for me, with that said the ice cream itself was lovely.

Honestly, this is probably the worst Indian food I've had in Canada. Given that this restaurant is on the Michelin guide, everything in this restaurant lacks flavor and the curries almost have water like consistency.

I would not believe the hype that has been built around for this place. There are better places around to try.

Now we came here around 9:30 and had the worst experience ever. The funniest thing is that they won't even let us return a dish and just exchange it.

The ambiance is good but it isn't good enough to distract you from the horrible food that is served.

If you are going to go to only one restaurant in this city ( and you enjoy Indian cuisine) this is the place I'd pick. Vij, the owner himself introduced himself and made sure we were well taken care of. The patio is a must - beautiful. Delicious food and awesome service.

Let's start with the service, it's what really sets the tone for the night. They welcome you in and everyone is just very friendly and welcoming. The owner was also checking in on every table to make sure people are well taken care of.

The starters from the kitchen were simply amazing, super delicious little bites, very flavorful and a hint of heat. We ordered the special of the day and chicken curry, both dishes were surprisingly quiet in spice level. The flavors were nice, but very different than expected. We are just used to a lot more spice, but it's not a bad thing. We did enjoy the dishes and especially their naan with garlic and ginger.

They do have a very large wine and cocktail menu and even offer many alcohol free choices which is great. The restaurant itself has a super nice vibe, but parking is reliant on street parking (which was hard to find).

Everything on the menu is divine. Service is impeccable and you can feel the pride coming from the kitchen. Popped into Vancouver for a day and asked a friend where to eat and he recommended Vij's. Best recommendation ever! Everything looked so amazing, we order 5 entrees for 2 ppl plus the saffron ice cream and ate it all. I want to come back to Vancouver just to come here again. Thank you for being so kind and cooking such delicious magic in your kitchen.

Service was exceptional. Fun and caring, super helpful when it came to ordering.
Lamb popsicles - the sauce is divine. You could drink it. Will definitely be on our list next time we are in Vancouver.

Vegetarian food was poor quality.
The pakoras were dry

We found a hair in the food and the manager said it has happened a few times and informed the staff. He went on to say these things can happen. After that the owner Vij did not return to the table. Prior to that he was friendly and visited multiple times.

This should not happen in a Michelin recommended restaurant. I was appalled at this response.

My guest did not finish the meal. I would never recommend this place. There is much better Indian food in the city. The food overall is very low quality. Don't fall for the hype.

Last night I had the pleasure of dining at Vij's , and it was quite an experience. As a spoiled New Jersey resident , with high standards for Indian cuisine, I must say the food earns a solid 3.5 stars in my book. However, what truly stood out was the impeccable hospitality and service, earning Vij's a well-deserved 5-star rating from me. The energy of the restaurant was vibrant, and the host welcomed us warmly, setting a comfortable tone for the evening. It was a special touch to have the Michelin star restaurant celebrated owner and chef himself ensuring that every guest had a fantastic and comfortable dining experience. Overall, Vij's exceeded my expectations with its exceptional service and warm atmosphere.