What to Order at an Indian Restaurant in Victoria (A Friendly Guide)

Every week someone sits down at Zaika, opens the menu, and quietly panics.

We understand. An Indian menu can have 40 dishes, most of the names aren't in English, and nobody wants to spend dinner money on the wrong thing. So we wrote the guide we'd give a friend who asked, "I want good Indian food in Victoria. What do I actually order?"

No food-snob language. Just what each dish is, who it's for, and what to eat it with.

The short answer (if you're hungry right now)

• Never had Indian food? Old Delhi Butter Chicken + Garlic Naan.
• Want our signature? Chicken Dum Biryani.
• Like bold, deep flavour? Kashmir Special Lamb Rogan Josh.
• Vegetarian? Mother's Special Dal Makhani or Punjabi Saag Paneer.
• Just a snack? Two Punjabi Veg Samosas and a Mango Lassi.

Everything on our menu is 100% halal, and every curry main comes with complimentary basmati rice. Keep reading for the longer version.

If you only order one thing: Chicken Dum Biryani

Biryani is not fried rice, and it's not rice with curry on top. It's long-grain basmati layered with marinated chicken, fresh mint and saffron. The pot is then sealed and slow-cooked on dum (steam) so the spices work their way through every grain.

When it's done right, you can smell it before it reaches the table. It's the dish our guests keep writing about in their Google reviews, and it's the one we'd judge any Indian restaurant in Victoria by.

Price: $9.99 / $15.99

Order it with: a cold Mango Lassi ($3.99) to balance the spice.

Want to know how we make it? Read the full story of our chicken dum biryani

Vegetarian? The Hyderabad Special Veg Dum Biryani ($14.99) is cooked the same slow way.

If you want something mild and comforting: Butter Chicken

Yes, it's the "safe" order. There's a reason it's the first Indian dish most Canadians fall for.

Our Old Delhi Butter Chicken starts with chicken charred in the tandoor. That's then simmered in a silky tomato, butter and cream sauce and finished with dried fenugreek (kasuri methi), which gives it that slightly smoky, "what is that?" flavour. It's rich, not fiery, and it's the one we recommend to first-timers and kids.

Price: $16.99 (with basmati rice)

Order it with: Chef's Special Garlic Naan ($3.99) for scooping up the sauce.

Why our butter chicken tastes different

If you like bold, deep flavour: Lamb Rogan Josh

Rogan josh comes from Kashmir, and its deep red colour comes from Kashmiri chilies, which bring colour more than heat. We slow-braise tender lamb in yogurt, tomato and whole warming spices until the gravy turns rich and glossy.

This is the dish our regulars order on cold, rainy Victoria evenings.

Price: $19.99 (with basmati rice)

Order it with: Traditional Butter Naan ($2.99).

The story behind our rogan josh

If you want to eat like the regulars: the goat dishes

Our goat curries are where many South Asian families in Victoria end up once they've tried the classics. They're bone-in, slow-cooked and full of flavour, the way they're made at home.

• Bihari Goat Curry ($24.99): bone-in goat in a spiced onion gravy. Homestyle and hearty.
• Awadhi Bhuna Gosht ($24.99): semi-dry and slow-roasted with caramelized onions. Big flavour, less sauce.
• Punjabi Goat Kadai ($24.99): stir-fried with bell peppers and onions.

If you've been searching for authentic Indian cuisine in Victoria that tastes like home, start here.

If you're vegetarian (you're well looked after)

Indian food might be the easiest cuisine in the world to eat well as a vegetarian. Our favourites:

• Mother's Special Dal Makhani ($13.99): black lentils slow-cooked until creamy. Humble and addictive.
• Punjabi Saag Paneer ($14.99): fresh paneer (Indian cheese) in a spiced spinach purée.
• Nawabi Malai Kofta ($14.99): paneer, potato and nut dumplings in a creamy cashew sauce. Good for anyone who likes mild and rich.
• Dhaba Style Yellow Dal Tadka ($9.99): yellow lentils tempered with cumin and garlic. Simple, cheap and very good.

All vegetarian mains come with basmati rice too.

Starters worth ordering

Don't skip these. They're some of the best-value things on the menu.

• Punjabi Veg Samosa ($4.99): crispy pastry filled with spiced potato and peas.
• Old Delhi Samosa Chaat ($7.99): crushed samosas with yogurt, chutneys and spices. Sweet, tangy and crunchy all at once.
• Chennai Special Chicken 65 ($12.99): spicy fried chicken bites, and the one to order with a cold drink.
• Amritsari Fish Pakoda ($9.99): fish in a spiced rice-flour batter. Light and crisp.

How to order Indian food like a pro

A few small tips that make a big difference:

• Share everything. Indian meals are meant for the middle of the table. For two people, order two curries, one bread, and a starter to share.
• Bread or rice? Both. Rice already comes with your curry. Add one naan per person.
• Balance your table. Pair one rich dish (butter chicken, korma) with one bolder one (rogan josh, goat).
• Not sure about spice? Ask us how hot a dish runs before you order. We'd rather guide you than have you reaching for water.
• Finish with something sweet. Warm Gulab Jamun ($3.99) or Shahi Kheer rice pudding ($5.99), and a Kadak Chai ($3.99) brewed with cardamom, ginger and cinnamon.

A simple order for two (around $50 to $60)

Is everything halal?

Yes, 100%. Every meat dish we serve is halal. That's why so many Muslim families in Victoria, and visitors searching for halal food downtown, end up at our tables. Read our guide to halal food in Victoria, BC

Dine in, take out or get it delivered

You'll find us at 2630 Bridge St, Victoria, BC V8T 1T6.

Hours: Monday to Friday 11 AM to 9 PM · Saturday and Sunday 12 PM to 10 PM

Delivery & takeout: order through Uber Eats, DoorDash or Skip The Dishes, or call +1-250-388-3966.

We're a short drive from downtown Victoria, Esquimalt, Saanich and Oak Bay.

Related reading

Choosing where to eat first? Read what to look for in the best Indian restaurant in Victoria, BC.