The Best Roti in Toronto
Toronto, perhaps more than any city in the world, is blessed with an abundance of great roti. It's a fixture at street festivals, big events like Pride and Caribana and is almost a competitive sport in neighbourhoods like Parkdale and parts of Scarborough.
For those who indulge, the question of who makes the best roti in Toronto is taken very seriously and allegiances run deep and often divided between a certain East-Indian variety to the more common Caribbean styles.
For carnivores, a great roti begins and ends with the quality of the goat, beef or chicken inside. But many places also create some amazing vegetarian varieties, mixing well seasoned combinations of spinach, squash, chickpeas, potatoes and other vegetables. While it's a less common menu item, some restaurants also make a shrimp roti. And at one spot in Scarborough that's been making roti for more than 30 years they offer healthier substitutions like spelt.
It's also a general rule that the best roti can be found at places that actually specialize in it. Some restaurants on this list offer a full-featured Caribbean menu, table service or are better known for their jerk. But size of premises doesn't necessarily equal quality so it's worth venturing to the smaller shops where both variety and taste usually come out on top.
Gandhi Roti
Gandhi's is probably the most unique roti of the bunch and for some that's a reason why it's the best. The roti here is East-Indian influenced and everything is made fresh in an open kitchen for everyone to see. The only downside is that wait times can be a bit long as the place is so darn popular. More...
Bacchus
For those who prefer a Barbadian and Guyanese style roti, Bacchus is arguably the best in the city. It's one of a handful of Parkdale roti shops that does brisk business and offers a good selection of vegetarian options. It's licensed too! More...
Island Foods
Island Foods is a long time player on the Toronto roti scene and has three locations stretching from Don Mills to the Grange Food Court to King and Dufferin. The style here is Trinidadian which results in flavours that are a bit more subtle than Gandhi and a package that places more emphasis on potatoes than Bacchus. More...
Drupati's
Drupati's just might be the unheralded King of Toronto's roti and could have easily been higher on this list. Located in a strip mall in Rexdale, this Trinidadian style roti shop is also famous for their doubles. More...
Curry & Roti
Curry & Roti has been making roti for more than 30 years on Lawrence Avenue in Scarborough. The menu features lots of vegetarian options such as eggplant, pumpkin, spinach and channa; as well as goat, shrimp, lamb, beef and chicken for the carnivores. They're also the only roti place in Toronto to offer spelt as an option. More...
Mother India
From the same owner as Gandhi, some might wonder why this Parkdale offshoot isn't higher on the list. Two reasons - while the wait might be shorter here, the atmosphere doesn't measure up and the spice levels of the roti are held back a bit unless you make a special request to make them Gandhi hot. More...
Reyanna's Roti Shop
Another Scarborough gem, Reyanna's is one of the few places to have duck roti on the menu. Prices are also very reasonable with all veggie varieties available for $5 including tax. More...
Caribbean Roti Palace
The Annex isn't known for being a roti destination but if one restaurant were to be the exception it would be the Caribbean Roti Palace on Bathurst. The usual suspects - goat, chicken, beef, squash, spinach, eggplant - are all available here along with doubles and aloo pie. More...
Pam's Roti
Pam's recently moved a few blocks west into larger digs but they still still serve up Bloor Street's best - and biggest - rotis. For vegetarians, the list of ingredients is more extensive than most with okra making an appearance on the menu. More...
Vena's Roti
Across the street from Pam's, Vena's rotis are comparable in their freshness, variety and size; with the main difference being that Vena's tend to include a little more sauce. More...
Ritz Caribbean
Ritz makes chicken, goat, shrimp, veggie and channa roti. Sizes are a bit on the small size considering most cost $7. Pack extra napkins as the rotis tend to be a bit runnier that most places. More...
The Real Jerk
Queen East's lone representative in this list, The Real Jerk is one of the full service dine in spots with a huge list of Caribbean meals on the menu. Unique finds here include the lentil roti but the best bet is to go for the shrimp. More...
Coconut Grove
This hole in the wall near the bus terminal at Dundas and Bay might not look like much but the food is cheap and tasty. A good bet for those on the prowl for halal meat. More...
Ackee Tree
Roti is not the thing to get at the Ackee Tree but only because the rest of their menu is so good. The flavours here are Jamaican influenced which means this is one of the few places you can get some fresh plantain on the side. More...
Albert's Real Jamaican
With their Queen Street location shuttered, Albert's on St. Clair is now busier than ever. But like the Ackee Tree, Albert's is known for a lot more than their roti. Vegetarians won't do well here but for the meat eaters the thing to get is the beef roti which is only available Thursday to Sunday. More...
Comments (35)
I've had roti at every single one of those places (yeah, I like roti) and I still have to say that Drupati's comes out on top, time and time again.
Also, best doubles in THE WORLD. Yeah, that's a bold claim, but it's true.
Mother India and Ghandi will always be among my favourite places for Roti. My favourite being their Chicken Jalfreezi, ordered spicy.
I'm surprised Ali's wasn't reviewed as its considered by many Caribbeans as one of the better roti spots. Also, roti is NOT a Jamaican dish (and yes, I'm 3rd generation Chinese-Jamaican so there...my validity card on the table) so naturally, any Jamaican spot isn't going to do the Guyanese or Trini dish as good as well...the Trinis or Guyanese. It's akin to going to a Chinese restaurant to find the best Bulgogi.
What? no Roti Hut?
The rotis there are great AND they just underwent a major renovation that vastly improved the decor.
@chenyip - you can read a review of Ali's here:
http://blogto.com/restaurants/aliswestindianroti
Personally, I'm not a big fan.
I'm willing to bet you haven't had mother india in a while, because for the last 6 month or so it has been really HOT. I always used to order medium spice, and now medium means fire! I feel like a baby ordering medium/mild, but it's so damn hot otherwise you can't actually taste the goodness!
I live close to Pam's and Vena's and for my tastes, Vena's is much better. Mother India is awesome but it's a totally different style of roti.
Please Ritz, Albert's and Real Jerk - please stick to the Trini joints - the Jamaican places don't make a good roti at all (too wet and crappy roti skins)
Very inaccurate picture of roti. personally, vena's is on top. simple, not too spicy, filled with enough sauce, and filling...
gandhi is expensive, awkward tasting, and has poor service when busy
The best roti shop is "Baras Hut" in Missisauga, just east of Hurontario on Dundas. There's literally a lineup outside the shop on Saturday's for their doubles.
@jmsm: I have only been in the neighbourhood of Mother India the past six months, so I can't compare it to what it was like prior to that. But I love the spiciness of it. And I usually order it medium-to-hot. Depending on the selection of roti, some of them are better served spicy.
@Shawn: What do you mean by awkward tasting? I find Ghandi's (and Mother India's) rotis to be good value. They generally feed two. :)
I visted Mother India today and was pleasantly surprised. We've been going to Gandhi for tghe last 9 yeas or so, but though similar, I found M.I.'s spicing to be more to my taste (medium / spice for flavour rather than blow your head off). Thanks for the recommendation.
My personal favourite is "Triple Z" in the Junction. Great "no-frills" atmosphere and delicious food, reasonably priced.
I personally love Vena's! Being veggie - their chickpea, squash, spinach combo is just magnifique!!! But Gandhi, Bacchus, Mother India, Albert's and Ali's are also good. Drupati's eh? Ok, I'll try it :)
Ive eaten at most of the places here and there's something about Pams that i just cant get enough of...
Great reviews best I have seen so far, I wish there could be a more comprehensive reivew of many other roti places out there. There is a need for this as in the GTA, people just put up a roti sign and think that's all they need to do to get and maintain customers. Back home in Trinidad there are thousands of roti shops so each store must out compete each other in quality and taste in order to be distinct so this automatically controls quality, in GTA this does not happen, thus the need for review site. I would love to help you setup a more comprehensive review.
The Roti Hut near McCowan and the 401 is definately the BEST roti in the city I've personally been going there for over 20 yrs and have found none that can compare.
Another excellent Roti Shop is located on Pittfeild in Scarborough 401 & McCowan north of 401 second set of lights make a left. Nice selection of Roti's and other items. Extremely nice eat-in resturant with plesant staff to serve.
Try it you will not be disappointed.
I agree, Roti Hut is famous... do your research BlogTO. As a Jamaican, I say leave us out of it. We can get a false roti by the unknowing hungry belly, but not a true Caribbean.
wow.
Ali's is a serious omission. Other than that, this list is pretty thorough. I still don't really understand how Ghandi and Mother India even qualify since they are way more East Indian than West. Tim, are you into them because they offer something totally different than the traditional roti?
I don't think Ali's is up to standard as I've mentioned before. As for Gandhi and Mother India, I think if you ask around you'll find out most people much prefer them to any other roti in the city. Not sure why they wouldn't qualify. Nobody ever said roti needs to be from the Caribbean.
Tim I totally disagree.
That's like saying sushi doesn't have to be from Japan, or taco's don't have to be from Mexico.
Sure, in a literal sense, we're not actually getting sushi from Japan, Taco's from Mexico or Roti's from the Caribbean, but those dishes are each culture's culinary hallmarks.
Would you slap potato chips, gravy and shredded asiago and call it Poutine?
So yes, a proper Roti should be of Caribbean descent and should adhere to the tradition's recipe.
PS: here's the litmus test. Take a Ghandi's roti to a Trini grandparent and convince them that it's the best and most authentic roti around. I guarantee they'll slap the spit out of your fosi hole.
Try the original and the best - Ram's Roti - now at 1770 Albion road. I have been going to their different locations since 1968. Their doubles and rotis are fantastic - true Trinidadian!
Try it - you won't regret it.
i'll have to cosign with chenyip again. besides the fact that we're friends and share certain biases, he's dead on here.
if i wanted butter chicken or sag paneer, i'd go eat them on gerrard street(i don't eat either but that's beside the point), and if i wanted a roti, i expect it to taste like someone's trinidadian grandmother made it.
i guess if your standard includes 2 locations that don't even fit the category in my humble opinion, then i guess that brings to light the reason why our opinions are so different on ali's.
Ok. Its time to set the record straight!! I have traveled across the west indies in search of the best roti.. and I have to say that there are two place who can cook up the real deal!! #1 is MONA'S ROTI at 4810 Sheppard near McCowan and #2 is BUCCHUS on 1379 Queen W. Those who chose Gandhi's really do not know about roti (JUST BECAUSE ITS TRUELY INDIAN STYLE MEANS NOTHING- ITS SOGGY AND MESSY..YOU NEED A KNIFE AND FORK TO EAT IT ??? THATS NOT A ROTI.. SO WHAT IF ITS DIFFERENT!!! IT SUCKS)
I am new to Toronto and had no Roti bias as of three days ago, right before I tried both Bacchus and Gandhi over a two day stretch. I had the chicken tika at Gandhi and the goat at Bacchus. From my perspective ( I am a french trained chef ) Gandhi had the more accomplished, complex flavours. The goat at Bacchus was dry and the seasoning was one-note -like it had all come out of a can. Harsh, I know, but compared so immediately to Gandhi this was my impression. Down the list I will go...
My fav. roti shop is Danforth Roti Shop, a little hole in the wall at 2844 Danforth Av (near Dawes). They have ridiculously delicious vegetarian rotis with lots of veggies to choose from!
I really like the boneless goat roti at Island Foods in The Grange...a little hot sauce goes a long way, throw in a bottle of Ting and you're good to go.
But how allyuh miss two of the best if not the best roti shops in the city???Roti Roti and The Roti Place are the two best places to go and get food...these two places does give real best service and good prices...and how the original roti man get left out?the person who write this should feel shame not to mention Ram's Roti Shop...good roti good people...is a real shame when people forget who paved the way for roti shops and west indians
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