Restaurants
Island Foods
Island Foods is the old stalwart of the Toronto roti scene. It's been around for almost 35 years, has maintained a booth at the CNE since 1976 and still operates two bustling downtown locations - one at the Grange foodcourt across from OCAD and the other at King and Dufferin.
With an apartment near Queen and Ossington I've been frequenting the latter location for some time now. It's one of the many roti restos within a mile of my place and competes with the likes of Gandhi and Bacchus for my occasional roti cravings.
The offerings here are decidedly different than what you'll find at the other spots. The cooking style is Trinidadian which provides a more fluid texture, gravys, sauces and milder spicing (unless you ask them for a heavy dose of hot sauce).
Almost all meals are potato based. All rotis come with potato. There's straight-up potato ($4), shrimp ($6.55), boneless chicken ($6.35), goat ($6.10), beef ($5.85), channa ($4.50), eggplant ($4.50) and spinach ($4.50). 75 cents are added for each additional ingredient.
Also on the menu are a variety of dinners, the highlights of which are oxtail stew ($7.90), shrimp ($7.65) and chicken ($6.25). Doubles ($1.30), beef patties ($1.30) and tamarind balls ($1.25) are also available. For the full menu, check out Island Foods' web site.
My regular order is a spinach and channa roti (pictured top). Like most of the meals, part of the order is prepared in the back kitchen while some of the ingredients are supplemented from the trays under the heat lamps next to the cash.
While the presence of heat lamps might foreshadow quality issues from a lesser place, at Island Foods it's not really a concern because the restaurant is almost always busy. Lineups are the norm during peak lunch and dinner hours and all through the day they seem to do a fairly brisk take-out business. Faded yellow tables provide the backdrop for those looking to dine-in.
So where does Island Foods fall in Toronto's roti hierarchy? Flavour-wise, for a West Indian style roti it's tough to beat. But while prices here are a bit cheaper than the competition, size-wise the rotis are about 2/3 as large. And this in my opinion is the lone drawback with Island Foods. While the kitchen (and heat lamps) consistently deliver the flavour, the rotis just aren't big enough to satisfy me like the alternatives.
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And to date, I personally haven't had a tastier roti since. I know, I probably should get out more. ;)
Back in the day when we were young and could *EAT*, a few of us would simply supplement our roti with a beef patty -- better variety than just one big roti meal.
Island Foods is the BEST! =D
One of the excellent things from the menu that you can't find at most Jamaican roti shops is the excellent 'double': a heap of channa stuffed between two fluffy pancakes and smothered in hot sauce. That and a 'Ting' makes a fantastic snack.
I'd been told when I moved here that Albert's had the best Roti... I tried it... it doesn't compare to Island Foods... For those that don't find them to be sufficient... add a bit more to them...
My staple is Boneless Chicken (occasionally Goat) with Extra Potatoes and Spinach. You get double potato and spinach which leads to a very large Roti... add a Double (probably the most amazing thing I've eaten) and you've got a hell of a meal.
Definitely the best roti in town.
i've never actually liked islands roti and double style and much prefer the roti at places like roti lady just south of queen west and west of dufferin. overall the fave goes to drupati's in the west end though.
Unfortunately, I'm not around Parkdale right now, so now you guys are making me crave for it. I may have to settle for second-tier roti somewhere in the suburbs.
You folks need to head out to Nicey's or Friendship Restaurant (both in Scarborough, but it has been awhile since I've been to either) or go to a place along Eglinton East near Oriole. Take a chance and go into one of those small little places there with the Soca blaring and, for most, unintelligible stream of Patois coming from inside.
Get roti made by real Trinis or Guyanese. For those who don't know, roti isn't Jamaican and they don't eat ti at many places there.
Size wise - I honestly can't compare it to any other place, but the Roti's were big enough to fill me all day - and give me a carb-induced need for sleep for the afternoon!
As for size? I wouldn't want it any bigger or it becomes two meals... And I want to leave room for the doubles. ;)
For a West Indian Restaurant-they are by far the most professional looking and acting restaurant (and owners), they are very, very clean-and I am in the food service business. Now for the food-I have had most of the menu items and all of them are delicious! The curry (which they told me is specially blended for their family business) is amazing-I find it is a main comfort food for me-I crave the taste of their curry in my mouth. The Roti shells are so soft and chewy and just about as flavourful as a roti can get!
My dirty little secret (since I am a chef) I buy an extra dish of curry sauce to go and then the next day I will saute some shrimps and then pour the curry over it -my friends think I make the best curry!
Keep up the great great cooking and amazing work ethic!
I guess my appetite is smaller, because this is a perfectly sized lunch for me.
I called the Resturant spoke to the manager and told her that it tasted burnt and I can't believe they sold that to me. She told that I there was no way it was burnt and that I should just not order the oxtail. I wouldn't take the time to call if it tasted they way it should. I told her I've had oxtail many times and know what it should taste like and I've made it myself and I know it's easy to burn the sugar used to make it. She made up excuses and never once apologized for the inconvenience and
disappointment. Instead she argued with me telling me that's how they make it which I can't believe because it was clearly burnt. I will never go back there and I'd advise anyone I know to do the same. I should of turned around and gone to Bacchus instead. I would have to agree with the previous comment they have better roti. When I was waiting for my food which took over 20 minutes by the way I watched a server prepare a roti and there was bearly any meat and lots of sauce! What a shame.
I am disappointed with the experience and how the manger handled my phone call. And I'm still starved!!! They are truly overrated and have horrible customer service. I went to the King St location.
I've been going to Island Foods for about 20 years now. There is NO OTHER place I'd rather eat Roti than here! Unless of course when they have a booth at the CNE!! Keep up the good work girls, you're making your parents very proud!
you can actually taste the saffron they boil the potatoes in and their doubles are poor and stale. i go to the don mills location and their doubles are forever stale and at times they dont have...i only go because i live in the area. the dinner is bland and ugh. so waste your money here.
what they lack in food quality it sure make up for a clean place. this place it busy because the area has mainly white people who works in offices so they dont know any better.
At least I got my roti on a plate, when I went to island foods at the Ex in the summer they have it to me as a wrap!!! Like that wouldn't be the messiest thing to eat?!? Weird lol