| Indian Street Food Company | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | September 1, 2015 |
| Owner(s) | Hoshang Bakshi [1] |
| Previous owner(s) | Hemant Bhagwani [2] |
| Food type | Indian |
| Rating | Bib Gourmand (Michelin Guide) |
| Street address | 1701 Bayview Avenue |
| City | Toronto, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Website | www |
Indian Street Food Company is an Indian restaurant located in the Leaside neighbourhood of Toronto's midtown.
The business was established in 2015 by Hemant Bhagwani, a Toronto-based restaurateur best known for founding the fast-casual Indian restaurant chain Amaya Express. [2] Before the opening of Indian Street Food Company, the location was home to another of Bhagwani's establishments, Amaya The Indian Room, a more upscale counterpart to the Amaya Express chain. [2]
The restaurant specializes in street food dishes and regional curries representing diverse cuisines from across India. [3] Bhagwani, who was born and raised in New Delhi, India, envisioned the restaurant as a blend of family recipes and the snacks one would commonly find sold at Indian railway stations. [2]
At the time of its opening the restaurant featured three co-chefs, each overseeing a specific aspect of the culinary process. One chef responsible for the 'street food station', one managing the tandoor (an Indian style clay oven), and another operating the 'hot range' (preparing curries). [2]
In summer 2017, Bhagwani sold ownership of the restaurant, citing his wish to retire from the restaurant business. [4] The restaurant is presently owned by Hoshang Bakshi, an Afghan immigrant to Canada who purchased the business in late 2019. [1]
The restaurant received significant local media attention for its strict no-tipping policy at opening, straying from the norm of most sit-down restaurants in Canada and North America at the time. [2] [5] [6] In lieu of tipping, the restaurant charges a flat 12% administrative charge which Bhagwani cited would be used to ensure employees received a fair wage, alongside splitting a share of the restaurant's daily revenue. [6] Indian Street Food Company was the first sit-down restaurant in Toronto to publicly institute a no-tipping policy. [6]
As of 2024, following changes in ownership from Bhagwani, the restaurant discontinued its no-tipping policy.
The business was named a Bib Gourmand restaurant by the Michelin Guide at Toronto's 2022 Michelin Guide ceremony, and retained this recognition in 2023 and 2024. [3] A Bib Gourmand recognition is awarded to restaurants who offer "exceptionally good food at moderate prices." The Guide cited the deep-fried cauliflower with sweet chili glaze as a kitchen speciality, as well as highlighting the restaurant's chaat and thali platters. [3]
The Globe and Mail praised the restaurant for its inventive menu, highlighting standout dishes like the "chaat on wheels," eggplant fries, and tandoori lamb chops, including noting its use of bold flavors and focus on diverse regions of India. However, the review also suggested the restaurant was playing catch-up to newer, more innovative Indian spots in Toronto. [5]
The Michelin Guides are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tire company Michelin since 1900. The Guide awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few restaurants in certain geographic areas. Michelin also publishes the Green Guides, a series of general guides to cities, regions, and countries.
Dim Tu Tac, founded in 2015, is a Cantonese cuisine and dim sum restaurant chain in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 'Dim tu tac' means "anything you want" or "anything is possible" in Cantonese language. The name also expresses the restaurant's mission to help food lovers explore the Cantonese gourmet world through a combination of innovative cooking techniques and the using of ingredients from many different culinary cultures.
Hemant Bhagwani is an Indo-Canadian chef, sommelier, restaurateur, cookbook author, and entrepreneur based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sin Huat Eating House is a restaurant located in Geylang, Singapore. It is run by Danny Lee and primarily serves seafood dishes, including crab bee hoon.
BB's is a Filipino restaurant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sunnys Chinese is a Chinese restaurant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
White Lily Diner is a restaurant in the Riverdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Karma Indian Bistro is an Indian restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It has received Michelin Bib Gourmand status.
Chica's Chicken is a restaurant in The Junction neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It specializes in Nashville hot chicken.
Conejo Negro is a restaurant located in the Little Italy neighbourhood of Toronto's West End.
Cherry St. Bar-B-Que is a barbecue restaurant located in the Port Lands area of the Riverdale neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Ace is a restaurant and gastropub in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto's West End.
Favorites Thai is a Thai restaurant in the Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood of Toronto's West End.
Alma is an Asian fusion restaurant in the Bloordale Village neighbourhood of Toronto's West End.
Guru Lukshmi is an South Indian restaurant located in Mississauga, Ontario.
Wynona is an Italian restaurant and wine bar located in the Riverdale neighbourhood of Toronto's east end.
Enoteca Sociale is an Italian restaurant located in the Little Portugal neighbourhood of Toronto's west end.
Campechano is a chain of Mexican taquerias operating in Toronto, Ontario.
RASA is a contemporary restaurant in the Harbord Village neighbourhood of Toronto's Downtown.
Fonda Balam was a Mexican restaurant that operated in the Little Italy neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. It was owned by celebrity chef Matty Matheson.
