Sambal | Modern Indonesian Bistro

Been having sambal from Day 1 where they do delivery from home. So happy, finally have permanent place. Was here for their grand opening at. Danforth and Broadview on 17 aug 2025 and they gave me surprise celebration with candles for my birthday visit this weekend. The beef ribs is so tender even my grandma teeth can chew. Service is excellent, they refill the water bottle, authentic ambience and feel like home feeling. Thank you Sambal from bringing home to me once more!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Beef Rendang

We've been here literally ten times now with friends and family and the verdict is always outstanding. My family is from Indonesia and the dishes here are so authentic and full of flavour! Our favourites that we order every single time are the sambal flight, chicken sate, bakso bakar (meatballs), and especially the iga bakar (beef ribs). The ribs are huge, so flavourful and fall off the bone. I also love the ketroprak (salad with peanut sauce, tofu, vermicelli) and nasi uduk (rice and chicken). My dad loves the bakmi ayam (noodles with chicken). The cocktails here are also a huge standout - they incorporate classic cocktails with a bit of Indonesian flavour and they're all good. My husband's favorite is the Senopati (like a Manhattan with Pandan). The Es Teler sundae is a really nice refreshing way to end the meal. Last, but certainly not least, the service is outstanding - they are all so warm, personable and attentive, and the food always comes out hot and fresh. We can't say enough great things about this restaurant and the team behind it!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Sambal Modern Indonesian Bistro offers a contemporary twist on traditional Indonesian cuisine. The restaurant blends bold spices, rich flavors, and elegant presentation in a warm, stylish atmosphere. With excellent service and creative dishes, it delivers a memorable dining experience inspired by Indonesia’s culinary heritage.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A small bistro at the Danforth with a small menu and higher price points.

The “Famous Beef Rendang” flavour has been adapted to cater to the Western palate. Although mixing the “Sambal Ijo” with the rendang will kick up the heat level, the bold and complex spice (rempah) flavour profile and the warm smouldering heat of chilli are missing. For the “Balado Egg”, it appears that the red sambal was only added on top of the egg during the plating process, rather than being reduced, tossed, and simmered with the fried boiled egg for a few minutes. The kerupuk had slightly lost its crispness, and the cucumbers were somewhat dry.

The “Gula Aren Panna Cotta” is slightly gritty and too firm or not silky enough. It would be nice if the panna cotta actually had coconut flavour and pandan aroma. The toasted desiccated coconuts sprinkled on top barely give a coconut flavour, and the pandan aroma is missing.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 3

Sambal is now my new favorite restaurant in Toronto - their nasi-goreng packs a punch , the satay-ayam is so soft and flavorful, the cocktails and desserts are both really good. It's the perfect spot to go with friends and family or even a mid-week dinner to forgot about work! Highly recommend:)

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

An amazing experience and the food is 10/10.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Delicious

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

the nasi goreng and the chicken skewers are all out of this world. best indonesian food in the gta for sure. the servers were also very nice to us as a large group celebrating a birthday!

everything is halal :)

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I visited this restaurant a few weeks ago after a recommendation. He had nothing but praise for this place so I gave it a try. In the end it wasn't a bad recommendation but wasn't amazing either.

For appetizer we ordered skewers which were delicious. Meat was tender and flavorful and I really liked it with the peanut sauce. For my main I decided after looking through all the pictures online to get the Petruk's bowl which is rice, some meatballs and an egg. When the dish came the first thing I noticed is that the portion was much smaller than I expected which left me borderline hungry. Aside from that the meatballs were pretty good but not amazing. Also the rice is supposed to be coconut rice but I did not taste any hint of coconut flavour which was really disappointing. Overall the dish was decent but nothing to write home about. I guess maybe my expectations were too high after the hype but it was a fairly decent meal.

The service was good as the staff answered all our questions and were super friendly chatting with us. The wait for the food was also fairly reasonable so no complaints about service overall.

All in all I thought it was a decent experience. The food was pretty decent and the staff was great. Worth a try if you're in the neighborhood.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 4

Fantastic food and very friendly service

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We had such a wonderful experience at Sambal Modern Indonesian Bistro. The food was packed with flavor, with just the right amount of spice to enhance every dish without overpowering it. The drinks were equally impressive—refreshing, unique, and crafted with care. The small, cozy atmosphere added to the charm, and the exceptional, attentive service truly elevated our evening. Sambal is a hidden gem on Danforth that delivers both warmth and quality, making it a place we can’t wait to return to.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Beef Rendang

Disappointing..

You guys are doing amazing 💕 welcome to the neighborhood

I had such a wonderful experience at this Indonesian restaurant! The food instantly reminded me of home, especially the nasi goreng, satay, and ribs, which were absolutely delicious and full of authentic flavor. The atmosphere is warm and homie, making me feel like I was back in my hometown. The service was also excellent, Hansen in particular was very attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better. Definitely one of my favorite spots, and I’ll be coming back often!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I'm Malaysian and craving this type of food in Toronto. The meal is delicious, the satay remind me of home. Sambal not too spicy, but still good. Owner also very friendly.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5