Parkdale is home to Toronto’s best Roti establishments. Just on one tiny stretch of Queen Street West by Landsdowne there are five roti shops that specialize in different varieties of the classic Caribbean snack food.
Ali’s Roti is the oldest Roti shop in town and owned by a smile happy and patriotic gent from Trinidad. I was thrilled to eat here as I have been to Trinidad and missed the flavours of their unique hybrid of Indian, African and Caribbean cuisine.
The restaurant is covered in cutesy meets corny ceiling to floor Caribbean murals. The restaurant prepares their own Mango and Coconut Ice Creams and also have a glass display case packed with local sweets and snacks. Ali’s is best known for its traditional Dhalpouri and Paratha roti’s which can be stuffed with chicken, goat, beef, shrimp, conch, duck and fish. Once you choose your meat filling you can add a variety of vegetables such as potato, spinach, pumpkin and eggplant.
I ordered a chicken roti with potato and pumpkin which was a divine (and cheap meal) moment. I also ordered a staple unique to this island nation: Trinidadian Doubles made with two crispy flatbreads filled with a chickpea curry and sweet tamarind sauce.
