My favourite Indian in all of melbourne! Their curries are absolutely amazing. I’ve been here at least 10 times and it never disappoints.
For our date night, we always randomly choose a cuisine/restaurant to try. Few weeks ago, we’re craving curry dishes. Instead of ordering from our usual go-to places, we decided on trying out this place for the first time.
We ordered their Chickeen Saag, Butter Chicken and momo. With a side of Aloo Paratha (potato inside), garlic naan and saffron rice. I know this look like a lot of food for 2 people, but we like to have extra portions to reheat the next day 😂
Overall, the dishes were flavorful and delicious. The butter chicken really surprised me, as with this one there is a hint of smoked flavor which elevated the dish imo. Great portion for the price too. I really recommend people to give these dishes a go!
My partner and I got the 2 person banquet and it was AMAAAAAZING!! We were so pleased with our meal and walked out so satisfied and full. Service was great and we would 100% recommend!!
Meat is always so tender and the curries have so much flavour, love the jalfrezi and vindaloo (very hot!)
We visited Punjabi Curry House tonight for some seriously good flavoured curry dishes and some friendly attentive service. We were the first to arrive tonight in what ended up being a busy bustling restaurant by our meals end. The menu read well and we started with Samosas, Chicken Tikka and some vegetarian fritters. Sadly the samosa were a little on the cool side but they still packed plenty of flavour. The chicken tikka had a real smokey flavour and was a hit at our table. Our mains were also full flavoured with lovely versions of tandoori chicken and butter chicken which came with a little more spice heat than your typical butter chicken
I would definitely eat here again and noted byo wine was an option for next time. In the entertainment book and also participates in zomato gold.
Absolutely tastiest authentic Indian food in Melbourne! Everything right from food to service to ambience was superb. Added to my list of “ hangout spot for tasty Indian food”❤️
Great food on both my previous visits. Their Chicken Tikka Masala is just smoky goodness. And the goat curry was simply amazing. Highly recommend.
Great great food, ambience and customer service! The first time I tried their food was actually a delivery order - the food delivered was fresh, hot and delicious (We ordered butter chicken, naan and biryani)!
Decided to pop by for a dine-in! It was such a pleasant experience as the restaurant felt like an Italian eatery because of the lighting and deco set-up! We were served by friendly mannered staff as well, they were thoughtful and polite!
The food was the highlight! We order their mango lassi, butter chicken (all-time favourite!), chicken biryani, goat biryani, garlic cheese naan, garlic naan and papadum! They were all delicious!
Their biryani was very flavoured and their texture was good too! Butter chicken was not super sweet and it was fragrant too (they used tandoori chicken yumz)! Everything was considered spicy for us but we had yummy in our tummy so it was fine!
Totally recommend anyone who loved Indian cuisine to give it a go :) Will definitely return for good meals again and again!
AMAZING FOOD! Food came out sooo quick and all at once (group of 5 so we ordered a lot) and the waiter and waitress were so friendly 💕 the ambience was also really nice, dimmed lights and it was probably the best Indian restaurant I’ve been to in Melbourne! (I’m Indian). The naans were perfect and especially the balti curry was delish!! Also just a side note, the presentation of the food was really nice, came out in traditional Indian dishes and the portion sizes were great for a family of 5!
This is a great Indian spot in Collingwood! It is really delicious, I particularly love the fresh naan and spiced rices. The staff are really friendly and attentive, adding to the great experiences I’ve had here.
Had a delicious dinner here with 5 of us. All the various curries and naan were really good. I loved the cheese naan best. The waiter Agam was particularly helpful, friendly, knowledgeable, and had great recommendations for us. Thank you!
Ordered via menulog their $55 special incl wine. Garlic naan bread was yummy, flavoured rice decent, but butter chicken was quite burnt and had burnt taste throughout although the sauce was rich and flavoursome
Consistent and tasty, tikka, naan and butter chicken are great. Never had a bad meal. Can get via uber eats or they will deliver too. Always a go to!
I was looking for an authentic Indian restaurant and I believe I have found it. Flavors are spot on. Great use of spices and a real pleasure to eat.
Will return here for sure.
Friendly staff and reasonably priced.
So good.
Amazing Indian food..lot better than Aangan. Chili chicken, keema naan, cheese naan, garlic roti, shabnam curry, veg balti, paan kulfi with rasili supari sprinkles
Natasha Juchkov (Culinary Runway)
+4
I had the pleasure of being invited to dine at Punjabi Cafe. The interior decor is lovely with mood lighting and bright colours. The food was also really good quality while still being a reasonable price, and they serve a variety of meat, seafood and vegetarian options for various dietary requirements.
I'm quite the rookie on Indian food but I'm always up for trying a new cuisine so I headed to Punjabi Curry Cafe to try some traditional Indian food!. Traditional at it's heart it was great to see passion for the food from the waiters and a care for the food. That was amazing to see and there was also a lot of care with the space. The actual restaurant is more modern than I expected too.
Melbourne Food Journey
+4
The delicious curries, garlic naan and saffron rice at the Punjabi Curry Cafe are the perfect way to warm up this winter! An extensive menu, great location and very kind and attentive staff!
Food is exceptional especially the butter chicken and mixed tandoori! Service is fast and professional! Definitely come back for more! Thanks!
I use to live in Collingwood so who knew there’s been a value for money Indian restaurant located on Johnston Street for the last 10 years. Punjabi Curry Cafe specialize in authentic North Indian cuisine and everything we tasted was definitely delicious!.
Veg Samosa with Tamarind Mint Sauce. Talk about a big entree.. this samosa was huge! Hubby thoroughly enjoyed it but I found that the skin was a touch too crispy for me. Good tasty filling though with the right about of spice.
Chicken Momos - I figured we should try something different so we went with this steamed dumplings house special dish that came with a spicy tomato chutney. This was a slight disappointment as I was expecting a juicier dumpling. The chicken in this dumpling was a bit too dry and chutney didn't work for me.
When we walked in and saw the oven at the back followed by the charcoal aroma; we knew we must get the Naans. The only problem was, we couldn't decide between the Garlic Naan or the Cheese Naan so we got both!!! Although the cheese Naan was delicious with the cottage cheese and spices, the plain flour bread with the touch of garlic works a lot better with the curries...
I had reserved dinner for two and as soon as we got there the table was already set up and wait staff were very attentive. Food was great and is the sort of place I would be happy to return to. Ordered the curry chicken and beef aloo curry with lamb mince naan.
We were lucky enough to be invited to visit Punjabi Curry Cafe for dinner last night. It’s always hard to choose what to order since everything on the menu sounded delicious, but we settled with their signature chilli chicken and chilli prawns, we didn’t realise it was the same dish with different proteins but my partner loved the chicken and I devoured the prawns. It was spicy, with a hint of sweetness. It was a great start!
Mains we shared a chicken tika masala and a lamb rogan josh, both full of flavour, though I wouldn’t have minded a little more of a kick in my curries. We also shared a garlic naan and rice.
We were offered a dessert but our bellies were happily full.
I would happily return and pay for my own meal. There are so many other dishes I want to try!
Also, the service was friendly and warm, there is no reason to not return!
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to Punjabi Curry Cafe in Collingwood to review the restaurant. Punjabi Curry Cafe specialises in Northern Indian food, and prides itself on high level quality service and food. For the most part, it was a great experience, just a few things here and there about some of the dishes that could be improved!
It had been a long time since I had Indian food thanks to my boyfriend getting horrendous food poising from it. When Punjabi Curry Cafe invited me to come and try some of their delicacies I started to do a little happy dance ( be happy you didn’t have to see that). I’m always wary of places knowing I’m going to review them, you never really know if this is what the service is actually like or if they’re just putting on a show so I kept my eye out to see how other customers were treated. I can happily say we were all treated equally. The waiters/waitresses were happy to welcome you, were very attentive and generally seemed like they enjoyed working there.
This place is delectably exquisite. It takes my tastebuds on a journey from New Delhi to Mumbai with every bite. Yum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was my first time trying out Indian food in Melbourne (having previously only had it in the U.K.) and it was definitely a unique experience – taking my tastebuds on a tour of strong spices and aromas that cannot quite be recreated in another cuisine. We were offered the chance to try a vast array of dishes, spanning from seafood, to vegetarian, to lamb and chicken so it definitely encompassed a lot of what Indian food stands for. The restaurant itself has a beautiful atmosphere, dim and subdued with cosy seating mostly for 2 or 4 customers, and a few rounded tables. Just off from a popular street in Fitzroy, this is a perfect spot for a family dinner or perhaps a special date night with someone who enjoys Indian! They also have a large kitchen out the back with a great number of chefs keenly preparing everyone’s orders.
Punjab Curry Cafe has been around for over 10 years and it’s no wonder people keep coming back – it’s a great place to eat a North Indian feast. They have traditional flavours and techniques down pat and it shows in the food. Punjab curry cafe – Pani puri. We started with the little pani puri puffs which are little crispy shells you eat in one mouthful after pouring the sweet, sour, spicy liquid in.
Was recommended here by a friend who loves authentic Indian food, and I can confidently say that this restaurant is one of the best Indian restaurants in Melbourne! Food is full of flavour and reasonably priced, service is fast and attentive, ambience and decor is fantastic.
We have been a few times now, and never left even slightly unsatisfied.
If you love your Indian food, you need to check this gem out!
Located on the busy Johnston Street in Collingwood, Punjabi Curry Cafe is a prime example of a restaurant which you should not judge by it's cover. Having driven past Punjabi Curry Cafe many times on my way to the city, the shopfront has never caught my eye, as it is quite cluttered and doesn't really draw much positive attention. However, after seeing the interior of the restaurant and trying the food they had to offer we were pleasantly surprised.
Best butter chicken!!!! Punjabi Curry Cafe has amazing butter chicken, the Naan is also nice, the service is excellent. It can get a bit smoky inside the restaurant due to the tandoor, best asthma sufferers don't eat in.
Went for late night dinner at Punjabi Curry Cafe. Ordered the beef vindaloo, chicken korma. The vindaloo had a good heat and was tasty. Although the beef was abit tough. Chicken korma was extremely good. The chicken was tender and kormas was well balanced. A hidden gem, would go back to try other dishes.
Punjabi Curry Cafe is a delightful Indian restaurant that specializes in North-Indian cuisine. Located on Johnston st, the restaurant serves a wide array of authentic dishes that caters to meat lovers and vegeterians alike. This was my first time trying out Indian cuisine in my life so I was excited when the owner Foram invited me to try out their delicious food.
Big fan of this cafe in Collingwood.
Butter chicken is the best I’ve had so far.
Fresh naan as well.
Tandoori chicken is amazing, prawn masala has a nice thick texture and really good lamb saag
I often get take away for a nice meal at home. They’re always super busy with heaps of take away and UberEATS orders. Heaps of seating inside as well.
Highly recommended.
Had a good delicious meal here of palek paneer (Indian cheese in spinach sauce), chicken korma and beef vindaloo. Flavours were really spot on and yummy. Had much better roti elsewhere though.
Good reasonable prices for the area. Highly recommend!
Chicken Biryani is a must try for this place. The food has that Indian touch which I'm sure every Indian craves for in a foreign place. I ordered for home delivery and must say the service was quick and really nice. The food was customized as requested. I really enjoyed the experience and would love to visit/order again.
I love this place!! I like to sneak in for a quick meal between bands when I'm at a show in the area, service is always quick, the staff are really respectful & friendly & the food is absolutely delicious!!
Butter chicken here is hands down amazing. Had the lamb vindaloo as well and it was pretty good, very spicy though. The curries here goes best with some naan bread.
This is one of the best Indian restaurants I tried in Melbourne. Food is really good, authentic and tasty. Recommended for a visit; haven’t tried non-veg though.
Collingwood isn’t a place I visit often, especially in the evening – traffic is a pain, it’s hard to find parking and it’s just a little too far from home. However, I love Indian food, and coming from Manchester where we have a whole mile of Curry restaurants, I’ve struggled to find a really great curry since moving to Melbourne, so when Punjabi Curry Cafe invited us in to sample some dishes from the menu, I thought I’d make that extra effort – and I was pretty glad I did. (Note: I should probably add here that M.B. finally has his Aussie L’s so he actually did the driving, while I dealt with the complex navigation of driving down one straight road).
Charlie Daniels (Curious Charlie)
+4
Located off Johnston St in Collingwood, Punjabi Curry Cafe specialize in authentic North Indian cuisine, with fresh ingredients and friendly staff. We love discovering new places, and so were delighted to dine in on a Tuesday evening. Inside it's nice and warm, inviting datesworthy atmosphere with a fireplace (on a tv screen). It is also the biggest Indian restaurant I have ever seen!
My go to for an amazing curry. The food is delicious and the service is amazing both dining in and home delivery. You will not be disappointed.
Punjabi Curry Cafe might not look like much from the outside, but there's more than meets the eye at this Collingwood curry house to warrant a look inside.
Located in Collingwood, Punjabi Curry Café is that reliable local Indian restaurant you want to return to time and time again. That place which satisfies your curry cravings without breaking the bank. Run by partners in business and life Raj and Krystle, the restaurant has been serving the neighbourhood for over 10 years. The menu specialises in North Indian cuisine, made from fresh produce.
Find us on instagram: loveatfirstbite_aus
Punjabi Curry Café is located on Johnston St in Collingwood, about a block away from Smith St. The distance from the hipster heartland is probably fitting as here you will find classic Indian cuisine that has not been adulterated by any superfood or miracle green. And that stand against the trend washing many restaurants in that area, suited us perfectly given that we love authentic Indian food. Spicy, rich and flavourful Indian meals occupy a special place in our friendship for it is the food stuff that has sustained many of our deep and meaningful conversations about life. Seriously, how can you not be inspired to solve existential life crises while chowing down on a delicious slab of naan dipped in a creamy curry?
If you're looking for Melbourne's best naan bread, then look no further than Punjabi Curry Café on Johnston Street in Collingwood. Punjabi Curry Cafe's colourful décor certainly has an eclectic charm - complete with an open fire playing on the TV, and the sound track of the old school French movie Amelie playing in the background.
Steve and I were very kindly invited to try out the Punjabi Curry Cafe. It's close to home so we were keen to see what it's all about. I have to put it out there though. Indian cuisine in Australia has never quite hit the spot like Indian in UK. There is something about the freshness of flavour and thickness of the sauce and the softness of the naan that just puts UK Indian cuisine up there unsurpassed.
Punjabi Curry Café is a beautiful eatery in Collingwood that serves up delicious Indian cuisine. They even have a tandoor room at the back to showcase the chef at their best. With an extensive menu, they have dishes to cater to all tastes and their garlic cheese naan is definitely worth trying.
Amazing traditional indian flavours. Great, fresh quality ingredients. The veg manchurian is a dish I have never encountered at any other restaurant and is a definite favourite that I have returned for many times over.
Great food, great customer service. They improved their food quality from the time I ate here last time. I had a very tasty Kadhai chicken and it's highly recommended.
The vegetarian food is lovely and very reasonably priced. Really enjoy the baingan bhartha. Delivery time is always on point and the portions are generous as well.
My go to Indian restaurant. You always know that you're paying your money's worth when you come here. The portions look small but you get very full
Have ordered a take away from this place quite a few times. Love its Daal Makhni and Tandoori chicken.Great punjabi food and surely reminds me of food back home. Good value for money definitely.
Wonderful experience, everything was delicious with friendly, excellent service. Would definitely go back. Butter chicken, lamb vindaloo & lamb korma was all amazing & generous portions of rice.
Delicious garlic naan and on point butter chicken. Rich tomato flavour, perfectly spiced and not too oily. Loved it. I only wish I got more!
It's always a pleasure to come to Punjabi curry cafe. Very good value for money, great curries and Naans. It's very nice that you can get a table still any day of the week and is also byo
I ordered chicken biryani, lamb rogan josh, keema naan, chilli chicken and garlic naan to be delivered. They delivered on time. Friendly staff. The food was so tasty. I will definitely order from them again and recommend it to anyone.
If it's delicious indian food you are after, along with service with a smile, then look no further than Punabi curry cafe. Consistently good, with polite professional wait staff who make the evening easy and comfortable. They do a lot of takeway so the restaurant itself is never packed, but don't let that bother you. I love their palak paneer, aloo ghobi, lamb korma and more. I think I've pretty much tried everything and it is all good. Maybe the naan bread is a little too oily sometimes but I'm happy to let that slide...
As tempted as I always am by the wafts of curry that emanate from bain-maries in food courts, I know the bloat after will be far from worth it. As sad as it is, the food of my homeland makes me sick like no other – it’s a cuisine that thrives on copious amounts of onion and garlic – unless it’s prepared by someone who subscribes to the Hare Rama Hare Krishna school of thought that onion and garlic “increase passion and ignorance” and should therefore not be consumed. In my experience, the only thing onion and garlic increase is ill-timed bursts of flatulence, which I can’t see being conducive to passion but has probably resulted in feigned ignorance on my part whenever my partner starts coughing furiously.
My go-to delivery curry and I have found no close competitors. The butter chicken is to die for.. although the price is quite steep comparably (competitors/size).
Sometimes delivery takes a while when they're busy but the food is always worth it. Great variety, excellent vegetarian options. Our local. Sort yourself some chat paapri
We've been regular customers of 'another fitzroy indian institution' for the last 7 years and although they are awesome, i've been curious to see why punjabi had such a high rating. The butter chicken and rogan Josh, and garlic naan were all amazing. Pre ordered and it came 5 minutes early, still piping hot and delicious. Its unfortunate, but I think Punjabi is our new takeaway Indian.
Punjab Curry Cafe is like the antidote to my bouts of homesickness! I've ordered home delivery from here a good number of times and each time the food has been good. My personal favourite is their chicken jalfrezi. Have never been to the restaurant but the delivery service has been timely and friendly. Overall, a neat place to get Indian food delivered and though I wouldn't call the food exceptional, it is still very good and have enjoyed it each time.
Amazing food as well as good atmosphere, attentive service and reasonable prices. indian punjabi food is very good in taste. will definitely visit again.
This is my got to Indian. whether its something from the tandoor or just a bowl of dhal they do it so well. perfectly seasoned with a great amount of heat. This place is perfect for your little local take away.
ItsTrueFatKidsLoveFood
+4.5
This place has become my favourite curry place. Decent prices curry that are always delicious. BYO wine as well, which is great if your dining in. Also does delivery in the area.
Best Indian food! Never fails to impress us! :)
So good. Probably the best curry I've had in Melbourne. We had most of the menu. Definitely recommend.
Cha liked this, but I wasn't a huge fan. See, the chef here is clearly madly in love with coriander. It's in pretty much everything, and not just ON, where I could easily get rid of it, but chopped up nice and fine and put THROUGH everything.
Best Indian in Melbourne. Great job guys - you are spot on with flavor, flexibility, service and everything. i visit this on a fortnightly basis because its just THAT good.
Exceptional food and value. Was recommended this place by a taxi driver. He wasn't wrong, seriously top notch indian. Easily the best i have had anywhere in inner north by a long stretch. And right near the Tote! Perfect location!
Consistently good Indian food, which is rare due to quick turnover in chefs I've noticed with most indian restaurants.
Love this place. Goat curry is all time.
Food-10
Service-10
Value-10
A must try if you are nearby! Samosas to die for.Butter chicken is amazing authentic flavour.Keep up the good work punjabi curry cafe!
I've ordered delivery from Pubjabi Curry Café a few times and must say the speed of delivery and value for money are fantastic. The sauces are delicious. The butter chicken is the best I've tasted. Highly recommend the fish curries as well.
Do recommend.. Lovely curries, with great amount of flavour and spices. Definitely some of the better Indian food I've had and reasonably priced. Will return/re-order/recommend! :)
The food is quite flavourful, I can only talk to the vegeterian options and they are relatively good. If you would like extra spice, you just have to ask for it and they will gladly cater for you.
Never leave here without feeling extremely well fed!! Abundant with excellent and nourishing vegetarian options but I always find myself coming back for the palak paneer and the chana masala 🫶 super friendly and attentive service and a cozy restaurant :)
Delicious curries and perfectly seasoned & prepared naans. The Punjabi chicken curry is easily the highlight. Have eaten in plus had takeaway from here, both awesome. The one criticism I have was the tandoori chicken, as it was really dry.
For our date night, we always randomly choose a cuisine/restaurant to try. Few weeks ago, we’re craving curry dishes. Instead of ordering from our usual go-to places, we decided on trying out this place for the first time.
We ordered their Chickeen Saag, Butter Chicken and momo. With a side of Aloo Paratha (potato inside), garlic naan and saffron rice. I know this look like a lot of food for 2 people, but we like to have extra portions to reheat the next day 😂
Overall, the dishes were flavorful and delicious. The butter chicken really surprised me, as with this one there is a hint of smoked flavor which elevated the dish imo. Great portion for the price too. I really recommend people to give these dishes a go!
The food is quite flavourful, I can only talk to the vegeterian options and they are relatively good. If you would like extra spice, you just have to ask for it and they will gladly cater for you.
Panjabi Curry Cafe is a local favourite in Collingwood. While they have been trading for over 10 years, this was my first time visiting. They have a spacious dining area, with lots of natural light. Up the back they have a bar and an open tandoor.
We started off with some crispy papadams, with a sweet tamarind chutney and raita.
For mains, we enjoyed Punjabi Kadai Prawn. A generous school of prawns, in a scrumptious capsicum, tomato and ginger curry. It had a nice spicy kick to it as well. While the dish looked small, it was quite filling. On the side, some fragrant saffron rice was on hand to soak up all the curry.
Lamb cutlets were next to arrive. These were marinated in yoghurt and spiced, then cooked in the traditional tandoor. They arrived on a steaming hotplate, with grilled onions. The meat was tender and delicious. It was wrapped in foil, which was unsightly, it would be best to serve the dish without this.
Much of the restaurant’s best foods are cooked on a traditional Indian over, a Tandoor. It takes an hour every day to get it up to the optimal temperature. The naan bread is cooked in this oven and takes less than a minute to produce fluffy, warm bread.
I washed the food down with a refreshing Kingfisher Beer, all the way from India. With great service and even better food, Panjabi Curry Cafe is one of the best Indian restaurants in Melbourne.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes