The downtown Vancouver restaurant’s festive menu runs November 1 to 15, with B.C. squash soup, thepla tacos and paan mithai among the dishes.
Five courses for $45 is a welcome reason to make dinner plans downtown. Desi Indian Lounge is celebrating Diwali with a special menu available daily from November 1 to 15, 2026, bringing B.C. squash, regional Indian dishes and a sweet finish to its Hornby Street dining room.
We loved our last meal at Desi Indian Lounge, so this Diwali menu gives us a good excuse to return. You can also read our earlier story about Desi’s Himsagar tasting menu and its support for Summerland fire relief.
The Festival of Lights is an occasion for gathering with family and friends, sharing meals and exchanging sweets. At Desi, the celebration starts with soup and chaat before moving into a choice of appetizers and mains.
What’s on the five-course Diwali menu?
First comes BC Curried Squash Soup, served with wholewheat flatbread. The second course is Khaman Dhokla Chaat with chickpeas, chutney, yoghurt, crispy kale and sev.
For the appetizer, choose Kerala Pepper Bites, made with chicken or cauliflower, pepper, curry leaves and tamarind; Tandoori Pear Salad with roasted pear, avocado, yoghurt, walnut and arugula; or Thepla Tacos, with paneer or chicken in a fenugreek shell with slaw, chutney and tandoori mayo.
The main-course choices cover creamy, coconut-rich and vegetable-based dishes. Paneer Pasanda features dry fruit-stuffed paneer in a spiced creamy gravy, while Malvani Chicken comes in a coconut sauce. Konkani Prawns, with chilli, coriander, coconut and kokum petals, are available for an additional $2.
There’s also a vegan main, Mushroom Matar Masala, made with button mushrooms and green peas in an onion-tomato gravy. All mains are served with rice and naan.
Dessert is Paan Mithai, bringing together sweet rose, crisp betel leaf and candied fennel.
Desi Indian Lounge Diwali dinner details
When: November 1 to 15, 2026, available daily
Where: Desi Indian Lounge, 1355 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Price: $45 per person; Konkani Prawns add $2
Information: desilounge.ca | 604-681-2131
The restaurant lists its opening hours as 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Contact the restaurant for Diwali dinner seating times and dietary requests.
Menu and image supplied by Desi Indian Lounge’s PR team.
