Written by 2:52 pm Restaurant Reviews

Review: Balti Indian, one of the best new Indian restaurants in Niagara Falls

The building has recently been a Chinese buffet, hookah lounge and Hakkah restaurant. Is Balti Indian here to stay?

All photos courtesy of Balti Indian

Address: 5306 Victoria Ave, Niagara Falls, Ontario

Food: 9/10

Space: 7/10

Price: 8/10

Total: 24/30

A newer addition to the Victoria Ave. strip, Balti Indian—a second location from a restaurant with an original location in Whitby—takes over from a short-lived hookah joint that, itself, took over from a Chinese buffet that only ever got tour-bus traffic. The building is shit from the outside, crumbling gray concrete with a perennially vacant neighbour whose window has had a hand-written “For Rent” sign for as long as we’ve lived here. The gravel parking lot is a massive eyesore. This makes it all the more impressive when you walk in the door, see the old Chinese-restaurant-style wallpaper, and taste the excellent food on menu. We’ve visited multiple times, ordering a smattering of veggie options including the bhindi, or okra, which is a somewhat rare find at Indian restaurants; as well as their veg momos and creamy, buttery dal makhani. The lamb rogan josh pulls apart gently in a terrifically deep sauce. The naan are enormous and freshly baked. The mango lassi tasted more like yogurt than mango, but wasn’t overly sweet, which we appreciated.

Balti Indian garlic naan

As mere caucasians, we won’t pretend to vouch for the authenticity, but we can make one overarching recommendation. This place was called the Hakka Station when it opened, and changed to Balti Indian after a couple months. The menu still offers Hakka, Thai and Chinese options. Back when it was the Hakka Station, we visited and tried—of course—the Hakka food. It was mediocre. Now that it’s Balti Indian, we only eat the Indian food—and it’s great. We have not tried the Hakka or Thai options here, nor are we likely to. But it’s worth noting that they have a very expansive menu that spans a few too many cultures for everything to be done well.

We also appreciate the ability to choose our level of spiciness—though we always choose mild, which is still too spicy for our toddler.

Balti Indian tandoori chicken

Prices are also in keeping with other South Asian restaurants, around $15 or less for most items, slightly more for “signature items”, though almost nothing is over $20.

(Photo courtesy of Balti Indian)

The building also may not be air-conditioned; we visited on one hot summer day and found it a little sweltering. But they’re trying to improve the vibe, which we appreciate. Stringing up fairy lights outside, revamping the furniture, adding a funky robot waiter who delivers food—it’s good stuff. One of the best new Indian restaurants in Niagara Falls, for sure.

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