Best all-you-can-eat Indian buffet in Toronto
The Host is a venerable Toronto restaurant that also boasts the best Indian AYCE in the city. The draw of AYCE is quantity over quality but this is a rare case where you can get both quantity and quality. This buffet is only offered during Friday lunch hours, so plan your visit accordingly.
Two reasons why this is the best buffet. Every item is good enough to order on its own. That is the hallmark of a great buffet. Even secondary items like naans and dessert are done well. I can’t think of any other AYCE restaurants where everything is a hit. The second reason is that it costs $22.59, which is shockingly affordable. If you need more reasons, it’s consistent in quality and conveniently located downtown.
To be clear, there are slightly better Indian buffets in the Greater Toronto Area which includes Mississauga and Brampton. However, The Host reigns supreme in Toronto proper.
The buffet is hosted in a naturally-lit room at the back of the restaurant. There is plenty of seating space and it’s easy to get a table even though the buffet is popular. It attracts staff from the nearby University of Toronto as well as Yorkville residents.
The food
There was a sufficient variety of dishes to please vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters: 7 appetizers, 7 mains, 4 desserts, rice, naan, and condiments. The spice level was at most mild. If an item runs out, you don’t have to wait too long for cooks to replenish the trays. The service staff was vigilant in monitoring food levels and keeping the service going.
Unsurprisingly, the deep-fried foods were the best appetizers. I did not bother with salads.
- Potato samosa. 8/10. Not greasy, plump filling, mildly spiced.
- Pakora (fried vegetable fritter). 7.5/10. Lightly seasoned and crisp.
- Vegetable spring roll. 7/10. Same as those served in a good food court. To be fair, it’s difficult to make a mind-blowing spring roll.
- Chaat papri. 7/10. Make your own chaat (Indian snack with assorted deep-fried things). There were various fixings you could add, like tamarind and mint chutneys, dahi (spiced yoghurt) and channa (chickpeas). It was actually better than I expected. Not as good as chaat from street food specialists but was a step up from ready-made supermarket packages.
- Channa salad. 6/10. Nothing particularly good or bad. Chickpeas had some bite and were not mushy.
The highlights were the main courses. Each curry had its own distinct taste.
- Potato okra. 8.75/10. It sounds boring but this was actually my favourite dish. It probably had to do with the piping hot tawa (griddle) that gave a nice caramelization to the vegetables. I could hear the vegetables sizzle when I approached the station. The potato chunks were coated with mild chillies and paired well with the okra. I love the grassy scent of okra. I went back for thirds.
- Tandoori chicken. 8.5/10. This was quite close to perfection. Light char on the outside, inside was juicy, and well-seasoned. Slices of lemon added a touch of brightness.
- Butter chicken. 8.25/10. A sign of good butter chicken is being able to actually taste butter in it. That requires a delicate balance of ingredients. I’m happy to report that this one achieved success.
- Paneer butter masala. 7.5/10. This was like a vegetarian version of butter chicken but with slightly different spices. Paneer (cottage cheese) was firm and held well.
- Goat masala. 7.5/10. I don’t usually go for goat meat because it is usually gamey and overcooked. This one wasn’t. Traditional Punjabi style.
- Achari baingan (eggplant curry with pickles). 7.5/10. Well-cooked eggplant. Neither mushy nor tough. I would have liked another supporting vegetable to provide contrast. Carrots or karela (bitter gourd) could work.
- Naan. 7.5/10. These were snapped up whenever a fresh batch went out. It was the only item that was always running out. It was good, not great. Still, a satisfying vehicle to scoop up the many curry dishes.
- Dal makhani (lentil curry). 7/10. One of the simplest North Indian dishes. Standard textbook version.
- Jeera rice. 6/10. Average. Literally Basmati rice with jeera (cumin). The rice at the tray edges were drying out from being left out for so long. Understandably, most diners ignored rice and went straight for the main dishes.
Desserts were above expectations for this price point, even though the selection was nothing special.
- Kheer (rice pudding). 8/10. Saffron was infused to the right degree. Pleasantly floral and not too sweet.
- Gulab jamun (fried milk powder balls). 7.5/10. Any gulab jamun that is not sickly sweet is a winner for me. It is easy for the dough to soak up too much syrup and become mushy, but this gulab jamun was light. It managed to maintain a thin shell.
- Fruit pudding. 6.5/10. Tasted like a instant pudding and had the consistency of a milkshake. The taste was as indistinct as a supermarket fruit cocktail. They could have switched this with something else like kulfi or halva, because there was already another goopy dessert on the table.
- Fresh fruits. 6/10. Cubes of watermelons, pineapples, and melons.
The place
From the outside, the restaurant looks like the ground floor of a regular home. Inside, the space opens up to a cavernous area with multiple dining areas. Not all of them have sufficient natural light, so get a seat by the front if you can.
The decor is reminiscent of a hotel restaurant in the 1990s, which is coincidentally when The Host was founded. A few Indian curios are scattered around the space.
Verdict
The Host scores high on taste and price. Everything is a hit. The fact that this is an AYCE buffet makes it even better. 8.5/10.
Practical information
- Name
- The Host
- Rating
- 8.5/10
- Recommended dishes
- Tandoori chicken
Potato okra - Prices
- Friday lunch buffet: $22.59 ($19.99 before tax)
- Address
- 163 Spadina Avenue
- Hours
- Monday to Thursday 1200h – 2100h
Friday to Saturday 1200h – 2200h
Sunday 1200h – 2100h - Date of visit
- November 2019