Ali’s West Indian Roti Shop– 1446 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6K 1M2
Country: Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Seating: Takeout counter with indoor seating
Must-try dish: Jerk Chicken
The high: All the dishes were incredible when fresh, but held up well the next day too. 
The low: The hot sauce was so hot even a drop burns your mouth. 

Since the recent discovery of Trinidadian cuisine was a great success, Mandrea Bike decided to give Ali a visit for another round of West Indian food. The pandemic restricted the experience to pickup only, but a dine-in would have been the first choice. Therefore, Ali and the smells of the Caribbean were welcome into our home allowing for a brief moment to forget about the gloomy weather on a cold Sunday evening. 

With the advice from Ali himself, an order was made for a Goat Roti, Curry Chicken Roti, Jerk Chicken, and of course, Doubles.

The name suggests that this small shop specializes in Rotis, and although they were absolutely fantastic, the must-try dish of the night was the Jerk Chicken. The meat was cooked to perfection, the spice level was hot without being overpowering and the rice flaunted gorgeous aromatics. 

It must be noted to approach the hot sauce with caution as even a drop set our mouths on fire. Andrea fell victim by pouring an aggressive pool of it on her plate while Mat approached it vigilantly by tasting only a drop.  

The Rotis were delicious with the right amount of sauce to meat ratio, and tender meat on top of that. It’s not surprising that the goat was favoured, as Mandrea Bike is a sucker for all things goat. This being said, the Curry Chicken was still a hit. Since the last experience was highlighted by a discovery of Doubles, there were high expectations for these chickpea-filled hot pockets. 

HEAD TO HEAD: Ali’s West Indian Roti  versus Radica’s Hot and Spicy
As both of these Trinidadian restaurants were amongst some of the top eats of the pandemic,  and our orders were similar from both, it was fitting to face them off against one another to share the highs and the lows. 

Rotis – Ali’s West Indian Roti came on top in this category, there was more sauce and generous chunks of meat. While Radica’s Rotis were enjoyed, the sand-like texture on the dough made for a dry mouth. 

Doubles – Radica’s Hot and Spicy was victorious in the category. It could be because this was the first experience tasting these fabulous chickpea stuffed dough balls, regardless, Radica’s seemed to have a slight advantage on their flavours and textures. They even had a few different varieties such as lamb and jerk chicken. If you’re at Ali’s still order the Doubles though. 

Jerk Chicken – The category of Jerk is difficult to judge as both of these spots had memorable plates. In the end, Ali’s scrapped its way to the win with the fall off the bone chicken. The tenderness of the meat was enjoyed in every bite.  

The desire to travel to Trinidad became strong after tasting these two restaurants. Most people travel to the Caribbean for the stunning beaches and an opportunity to relax. Things would  be slightly different with Mandrea Bike, since the duo would undoubtedly be running around the island in search of the best Doubles. 

Putting it out there – where are Toronto’s best Doubles? 

Eat with you soon,

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)