A Toronto restaurant is trying to turn things around with a new food truck after its iconic building was badly damaged in a fire.
Located in Little India since 1996, Lahore Tikka House is perhaps the city's most popular North Indian and Pakistani eatery, beloved not only for its mouthwatering food but also for its colorful, immersive atmosphere and spacious seating.
After locals were horrified when the property was listed for lease in 2022 (don't worry, it was only renting out the top floor), a fire broke out at the restaurant in June 2023, forcing it to close indefinitely, making the worst nightmare a reality for many fans of the restaurant.
But nearly a year after the fire that changed everything, the restaurant is now operating out of a food truck parked in its on-site parking lot.
Tikka will reside next to the under-construction Lahore Tikka House.
The food truck “Tikka” [the] “We want to give back to the community,” owner Adam Sayani, son of the late founder Alnoor Sayani, told blogTO.
The truck, which opened on Mother's Day this year, is serving up a selection of the restaurant's most beloved dishes, including grilled kebabs and curries, to keep patrons satisfied and fed while the restaurant rebuilds from the fire.
Chicken tikka is the truck's specialty, but they also serve curries and biryani bowls.
“We thought it would be a great idea to bring in a food truck to give back to the community and customers who have supported us since 1996,” Adam says.
Adam told blogTO that the truck will also create opportunities for catering and expansion outside the city once restaurants finally reopen.
Food is prepared inside the food truck.
“Lahore Tikka House was founded by my father in 1996. He passed away in 2013 but my mother did a great job carrying on the family tradition. Now it is my turn to take over and lead the business to new heights,” he says.
Owner Adam Sayani (standing) poses with his staff in front of the tikka.
Adam told blogTO that business is going well for the food truck, but there's even more good news for fans of Lahore Tikka House: the restaurant is finally set to reopen this summer.
“We plan to operate both the restaurant and the food truck from August,” he says, although the exact reopening date for Lahore Tikka House is yet to be decided.
Tikka is located at 1365 Gerrard East and is open from 3:30pm to 9pm on weekdays and 1pm to 11pm on weekends.
