Happy Canada Day, y’all!  We’re celebrating with a stroll through one of our favourite ‘hoods in the city.  BanglaTown is located on the eastern end of Danforth Avenue just before Vic Park.  Located in the Danforth Village BIA, this strip is often overlooked when it comes to food coverage.  We’re aiming to change that.

One of our spots is Red Hot (3030 Danforth Ave).  This no-frills dining room has a menu of curries & kabobs that never break the bank.  The staff and patrons are always intrigued when we ask questions about ‘Deshi dishes and cooking.  Their food never fails to amaze (consistently delicious after multiple visits).  If we ever organized some sort of local food tour, this would be the first stop.

Goat Rezala is our favorite dish on the menu.  Full stop!  Nothing like what we were expecting with a gravy heavy on the yogurt and, somehow, not the least bit oily.

Chewy cuts that have fallen off the bone.  It really packs a punch in the heat department avec curry & pepper.  Served with naan in lieu of utensils!

Another absolute banger of a dish is their Duck Curry.  We can’t get over how much meat is actually on the bone here.  The gravy is saucier with Madras notes from across the Bay of Bengal.   Served with crispy paratha for mopping up the delicious dregs.

Red Hot also has an assortment of kababs that come with rice and salad.  Chicken is of the dark & boneless variety with a nice char from the grill.  Can’t do much better for a ten spot.

On these long, hot summer nights, the sidewalk in BanglaTown is absolutely bustling well into the evening.  Markets and restaurants alike are packed to the gills with folks of all ages enjoying the food.  It’s a vibe!  We take it all in and are grateful to be part of the energy.