Need something to do this weekend? Here are five places to warm up with a hearty serving of curry.

Dosa Corner, 8248 Fraser Street

This textbook South Indian joint on the southern end of Fraser Street just might serve the most succulent chicken korma in the entire Lower Mainland. Oozing with hints of coriander, cumin, and yogurt, the tender braised meat in this stewy dish is simply out of this world. It might as well be called “crack korma” because it’s that addictive. And there’s no need to fear those scorching South Indian–food heat rushes—if you ask for mild, it comes that way. As the name suggests, there’s an extensive selection of vegetarian and nonvegetarian dosas, which you can dip in delicious lentils or samba for added flavour. There’s free parking beside the restaurant in the lot by the Fraserview Banquet Hall. But a word of warning: this is not one for those looking for upscale dining establishments. It’s inexpensive, chaotic, and casual, with a large TV screen showing Bollywood videos on the rear wall—kind of like what you’d expect to find in Hyderabad or Chennai.

Bob Likes Thai Food, 3755 Main Street and 1521 West Broadway

People often associate curry with Indian food, but the truth is you can actually find delicious curry in other cuisines. If you just so happen to venture into Bob Likes Thai Food on a cold and rainy day, be sure to order its hearty green-curry chicken. A coconut-milk-based curry (with a bit of heat) that is made with basil, eggplant, and bamboo shoots served with jasmine rice, it’s a great meal on a chilly autumn day. Other curry options include panang beef (coconut-milk-based red curry with beef, bell peppers, and lime leaf) and yellow-curry fish (coconut-milk-based with fish, turmeric, potato, and shallot). The bold Thai flavours are apparent as the taste lingers in your mouth long after you’ve finished your meal, so maybe order a drink to cool off the postlunch breath. We recommend its Thai iced-tea—black tea that is sweetened with sugar and condensed milk. Yum. 

Raga Restaurant, 1177 West Broadway

Celebrating its 35th year in business, Raga seems to get better with age. Its thalis feature a smorgasbord of meaty and vegetable treats served on metal plates and bowls, including lamb, tandoori chicken, and unforgettably tasty butter chicken bathed in a subtly flavoured, tomato-y curry. For pescetarians, the prawn and fish curries are also exceptional, especially when paired with fluffy and hot naan from Raga’s charcoal-heated clay oven. The room’s elegant interior joins warm golden yellows with burgundy, adding to the restaurant’s allure, which is topped off by its outstanding service. All of this comes at a price—it’s slightly more expensive than some nearby Indian restaurants, such as Akbar’s Own and Tandoori Fusion, which are farther west on Broadway. But for special occasions, it’s well worth the visit, especially for those thalis.

Phnom Penh Restaurant, 244 East Georgia Street

Sometimes the best thing about a dish is the way it transports you to a different place and time. Take, for example, Phnom Penh’s Cary Ga Nam Vang, a sweet and spicy riff on Cambodian street food that starts with a hot pot, coconut milk, and fragrant yellow curry, and includes sweet potato, onion, and chicken leg and thigh pieces so tender that they fall right off the bone. As those who’ve been to Phnom Pehn know, the spot isn’t going to win any major decor awards, with the vibe bringing to mind a budget-minded dim-sum joint. But dig in when your order hits the table, and you’ll instantly be thrown back to that time in Siem Reap when morningswere spent climbing the ruins at Angkor Wat and afternoons were for predinner Tomb Raiders at the Red Piano. And if you’ve never been to Cambodia—or, for that matter, stepped on a plane—Cary Ga Nam Vang will at least give you a taste of what you’re missing out on.

Take Thai Home, 1736 Commercial Drive

Yes, folks: the giant orange squash more associated with homemade pies and  jack-o’-lanterns at this time of year also turns out to make a damn fine Thai curry. At this popular Drive outpost, the pumpkin's sweetness plays richly off the spiciness of fiery red curry, the creaminess of coconut milk, and the tang of basil. Add your own meat or fish—we like it with prawns—or just go veggie. Either way, there's enough heat to warm you like you're spending fall in Koh Samui rather than drizzle-bound Vancouver. Spoon it over steaming jasmine rice and wash it down with a Singha beer for the full experience.