Roti and/or Jerk Chicken

[jdgo75]

Anyone have any suggestions for good Jerk Chicken and/or Rotis in the Yonge and Eglinton area?

Thanks

[jdgo75]

Hi All.

Thanks for the feedback. Went to Carribean Bistro as it was right down the street from an appointment I had in the area. I had the jerk chicken Roti and a double. I don't have a whole lot to compare it to, but I thought both were very good. Nothing I would go out of my way for, but when in the area, I would return again. As noted above, their hot sauce is great.

[Jolinda]

Just ate there today. Good food. I had the taste of Jerk chicken and oxtail combo, veggie roti and the goat roti. (Don't comment about how much food I eat :)) I enjoy Caribbean food and tried to check out as many places as possible. The oxtail stew was a bit sweet but it was very good with the rice which came on the side. Goat was very well prepared and there was hardly any gaminess to it. The veggie roti had nice combination of vegetables and I liked the crunchiness of the cabbage. It also had unique subtle curry taste which was very pleasant. If you like hot, hot sauce, their home made hot sauce has a BIG kick. They sell it in a small jar for $8.95 but it will go a long way. Although their dishes are a bit pricey but the portions are good.
I personally like saucier roti so I commented to the owner. She responded that she would serve the roti with sauce on top or at your request; she’ll put more sauce in the roti.
The best part was that the owner was very friendly and the service was great….that’s half the reason for going back to the same place.

[garfield]

Carribean Bistro is your best bet.
There is another small shop on the Eglinton Subway Station near the 34 bus stop. It has chicken rotis and doubles.
Not chowworthy at all but passable if you are in a hurry.

[jmarcroyal]

Id love a good roti from some take-out place, but last time I went to some random place the chicken had bones in it and that really turned me off. If the chicken was completely bone/grissleless it would have been great, I guess thats just the result of a chef/cook that doesnt really care...

[wontonfm]

Chicken roti is traditionally served with bones. I can't comment on gristle though.

WON

[jmarcroyal]

are you talking with bones inside the wrapped up roti?? Thats rediculous, I take a bite and get some bone, im sorry but it ruins the whole mouthful. Am I supposed to disect the thing??

[TorontoJo]

Yes, believe or not, that is the way they make them in the islands. Just imagine trying to eat a goat roti. Little bones everywhere. I personally hate it, and go for the "less authentic" versions with no bones. :)

[jmarcroyal]

thats so stupid, its like making an omelet and leaving the egg shells in. I guess Ill stick with the "less authentic" so I can actually enjoy it.

What am I supposed to do normally, take a big bite, sift the bones out in my mouth and spit em on the ground??

[TorontoJo]

Yep, pretty much. :)

[jmarcroyal]

atleast now I know some places I can go to get the "less authentic" stuff cuz I absolutely love a nice roti!

[TorontoJo]

A lot of places have boneless chicken roti, and some have boneless goat (though that is harder to find). Just make sure you ask if it's boneless before ordering, as many places have both bone-in and boneless.

[aser]

I don't think it's stupid, it's just different cultural expectations. People much prefer meat on the bone in their native countries. Bad analogy there, bones add flavour, egg shells do not.

boneless is pretty north american centric thing, the home of boneless wings.

[TorontoJo]

Yep, the bones add great flavour during cooking. I just find it fussy to eat around them.

[Truffles]

If you're eating roti in Trinidad/Guyana, or in a Trinidadian or Guyanese household in north america - you're more than likely not eating it wrapped up - you're tearing bits of roti and using it as a spoon for your curry - hence there's no need for boneless...

And cooking meat on the bone does make for better flavour....

[JennaBean]

That's the way it is supposed to be served. The bones as flavour and help thicken the sauce from the gelatin in them.

[TorontoJo]

Yeah, you have to find a place that does boneless chicken. Island Foods on Don Mills, south of Lawrence has boneless chicken roti, as does Gandhi downtown (if you like the East Indian style, which I do).

[Snarf]

I am not a fan of the bone-ins either, but I can see the arguments both ways. Caribbean Bistro does bone in duck and chicken, as well as boneless. Island foods I think does a fully displayed bone in, but would probably consider the boneless as the default (meaning what they would give everyone). Very recently had their boneless goat, and found it to be artful, devoid of gristle, and the cause of good dreams.

Bonus points if you can identify the band...."baby eat that chicken slow, it's full of all those little bones....". Earlier in the song, they use the phrase "So regally decadent here...".

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Caribbean Bistro
2439 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4P, CA

[NorfolkGuy]

"Little Bones" Tragically Hip

[Snarf]

Well done. Tip of the day is the yellow and red hot sauces at Pupusa Gourmet at El Gordo's on Augusta.

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El Gordo
214 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON , CA

[mariecollins]

If it's lunchtime then try the Output restaurant on the 3rd floor of 2180 Yonge street. They are Trinidadian and have Caribbean specials.

[TorontoJo]

I'm thinking your best bet is Caribbean Bistro:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/441756
http://www.yelp.ca/biz/caribbean-bist...

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Caribbean Bistro
2439 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4P, CA

[Matt H]

Second Caribbean Bistro. They are Trini, so stick to the Roti and Doubles and you shouldn't be disappointed. The Doubles especially are very good.

As far as Jerk is concerned, don't bother. Not sure what your idea of Jerk is, but its not served anywhere in the GTA....a Version of it yes, but not the real thing.

[Notorious P.I.G.]

Spences/Raps is not the real thing but for what it is surely it's worth checking out and not totally writing off no?

[Matt H]

No not worth writing off at all, they are tasty.....but Basically its Chicken with Jerk sauce that's BBQ'ed. So if you are craving Jerk in its truest form they will not do, but if the expectations are a decent piece of BBQ (or cooked) Chicken then I am completely in your corner there.

I would also include Mr. Jerk at Peanut Plaza as well in that group you mentioned.

[aser]

No it's not cooked w/ pimento wood/leaves/berries but I gotta say, Rap's is still pretty damn good. Makes me want to say "GAH". Still my vote for best in the city, by far.

Mr jerk jerk pork lunch special, best bang for buck in the city. I miss thee as I'm rarely in that area anymore.

[Matt H]

Trust me I am with you there, I appreciate that there are options throughout North America that scratch the itch for "Jerk" whenever you have it.

My main issue with the cooks is that I do not understand why the extra effort is not put forth with at the very least using All Spice Berries to create the effect of using the wood and leaves (I do not expect wood in Toronto, there is no source importing to Canada at this time) But in the case of the berries it is very easy to rig up a pouch with the berries and get it relatively close to the taste of the Pimento smoke. I know this because I do it at home.

[Notorious P.I.G.]

You hit the nail on the head about what I like about them for sure.

My old standby is Peppas in Flatbush so I'm glad we have something here that's not too far out of that galaxy.

[Matt H]

I really enjoy Peppas and McKenzie's in Brooklyn as well. Probably my two favorite places outside of South Florida and Hartford for Jerk.....excluding JA obviously.

As far as your other question that "disappeared" Post on the Boston board and I will steer you in the right direction.

[garfield]

Have you had their doubles lately? I notice a slight decline in quality. But still that's my favorite brunch on the weekends.
Their Bangni used to be very good but its really ordinary now.

[Matt H]

Haven't been by there in about a year, so if there is a recent decline I definitely haven't had an opportunity to experience it. Last time I went I enjoyed it.

[wontonfm]

I say Caribbean Bistro ONLY because you are looking around Yonge/Eg and I'm pretty sure it may be the only option in the area! I really want to be a fan of their rotis and doubles but I don't enjoy either that much. CB definitely isn't on the same level as some of the best roti/doubles spots in the city. They do some good soups though!

WON
http://whatsonmyplate.net

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Caribbean Bistro
2439 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4P, CA