Restaurant

5 Spice Dining

Name: 5 Spice Dining
Address: 2826 Markham Rd, Scarborough, ON, M1X 1E6, CA
Telephone: (416) 291-5522
Price range: $

Sri Lankan•Scarborough•$

5 Spice Dining is one of the best sri lankan restaurants in Toronto for dinner, especially if you want a strong option in Scarborough.

Editorial review•Jun 10, 2026

5 Spice Dining occupies a particular lane in Scarborough's South Asian dining corridor — one that sits at the crossroads of Sri Lankan, South Indian, and regional Indian cooking without fully belonging to any single tradition. The menu draws heavily on Tamil culinary geography: Jaffna in the north of Sri Lanka, Kerala on India's Malabar coast, and the deep-spiced Chettinad kitchens of Tamil Nadu. That's a deliberate and coherent editorial choice, not a sprawling pan-Asian hedging strategy. At price level one, it's clearly pitching to the Scarborough community that knows these flavors firsthand, not tourists needing a primer — and the menu reflects that confidence. The dishes that define 5 Spice's reputation speak directly to that regional focus. The Jaffna Calamari is the anchor — Jaffna-style cooking is known for its aggressive use of dried chilies and curry leaves, and calamari prepared in that tradition tends toward a deeply spiced, dry fry that's distinctly different from generic South Asian seafood. Chettinad Chicken draws from one of South India's most labor-intensive spice traditions, built on kalpasi, marathi mokku, and freshly ground masalas — dishes that take their time seriously. The Kerala Baked Fish in Banana Leaf is a regional classic: the leaf both steams and imparts fragrance, and the preparation signals a kitchen willing to do things the traditional way. Bamboo Biryani — rice cooked and served inside bamboo — is the kind of theatrical-yet-purposeful dish that diners consistently cite as a reason to return. Rose Falooda closes the meal with a familiar South Asian dessert that bridges nostalgia and refreshment. The practical move: order the Jaffna Calamari early — it's consistently the dish diners reference first. The Bamboo Biryani is worth flagging if your table is ordering communally, given its format. For groups leaning into the full breadth of the menu, pairing the Kerala Baked Fish with the Chettinad Chicken covers both the coastal and inland registers of Tamil cooking in one spread. Walk-in friendly at most hours, but weekends draw the Scarborough community crowd — earlier is easier.

Priya Sharma, Dining Editor

Methodology•Toronto guides•Editorial team

spicy sri lankan south asian aromatic dinner takeout

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Taste ID

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Rating (Google) 9.0

3,619 reviews

Toronto

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.0

Rating

Based on 3619 reviews

Best used for

dinner and spicy

Price and pace

Budget-friendly

Neighborhood

Scarborough · 2826 Markham Rd, Scarborough, ON M1X 1E6, Canada

Price

Budget-friendly

Google rating

9.0 from 3,619 reviews

Phone

(416) 291-5522

Photos of 5 Spice Dining

What to order

Signature dishes at 5 Spice Dining

Paneer Tikka

Cubes of malai paneer marinated in spices and grilled in house tandoor

Chicken 65

Deep-fried chicken cubes marinated in a rich masala base

Jaffna Calamari

Fried Squid Seasoned in Jaffna Style Spices

Bamboo Biryani

Aromatic basmati rice cooked with authentic spices, lobster, and your choice of meat inside a bamboo served with brinjal moju, yogurt raita, onion sambal, wattalappam

Kerala Baked Fish in Banana Leaf

Why go

What makes 5 Spice Dining worth the move

5 Spice Dining is a clean first click in Scarborough in Toronto when you want a sri lankan option you can trust. Paneer Tikka and Chicken 65 also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 3,619 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.0 from 3,619 Google reviews

Best used for

dinner and spicy

Style

Sri Lankan in Scarborough

Spend

Budget-friendly

Best for

spicy sri lankan south asian aromatic dinner takeout

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.0 from 3,619 reviews

Price point: $

Popular dishes: Paneer Tikka, Chicken 65, Jaffna Calamari

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Priya Sharma for 5 Spice Dining

Google snapshot

9.0 from 3,619 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Priya Sharma

Hawa Beirut Restaurant Lounge opened on the King East corridor in November 2024 with a room that announces itself before the first drink lands.

Israeli moderndinnerdate night

2398 reviews

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 2826 Markham Rd, Scarborough, ON M1X 1E6, Canada
Phone: (416) 291-5522
Price: $
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Google rating: 9.0 (3,619 reviews)
Cuisine: Sri Lankan
Neighborhood: Scarborough

Restaurants in Scarborough

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does 5 Spice Dining serve?

5 Spice Dining is a Sri Lankan restaurant located in Scarborough, Toronto. 5 Spice Dining occupies a particular lane in Scarborough's South Asian dining corridor — one that sits at the crossroads of Sri Lankan, South Indian, and regional Indian cooking without fully belonging to any single tradition.

What is 5 Spice Dining best for?

5 Spice Dining is best for spicy, sri lankan, south asian, aromatic, dinner, takeout. 5 Spice Dining is a clean first click in Scarborough in Toronto when you want a sri lankan option you can trust. Paneer Tikka and Chicken 65 also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 3,619 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at 5 Spice Dining?

5 Spice Dining is in the Budget-friendly price range ($). Google rating: 9.0 from 3,619 reviews

What should I order at 5 Spice Dining?

Start with Paneer Tikka, Chicken 65, Jaffna Calamari and Bamboo Biryani. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is 5 Spice Dining worth visiting?

5 Spice Dining holds a 9.0 Google rating from 3,619 reviews. 5 Spice Dining is a clean first click in Scarborough in Toronto when you want a sri lankan option you can trust. Paneer Tikka and Chicken 65 also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 3,619 Google reviews.

Where is 5 Spice Dining located?

5 Spice Dining is located at 2826 Markham Rd, Scarborough, ON M1X 1E6, Canada. Directions are available via Google Maps.

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