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Brampton Roti Shop
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
4 reviews for Brampton Roti Shop
4 reviews in English
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Review from Janelle W.
9/28/2009 6 photos
Between T.J. and me, I've always been the one with the travel bug, dragging him aboard airplanes, onto ski lifts, into cable cars. I was always the one to propose a trip, search for flights, book hotels, schedule activities. I was the one with my nose always in a Lonely Planet. I was the one who memorized United's reward mileage chart. I was the one who could name the airport codes, rainy season, and entry Visa requirements for every country along the 30th parallel.
But after eating at Brampton Roti Shop, T.J. was the one searching online for flights to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, until 3:00 a.m.
Their Trinidadian roti really is THAT good.
"But I thought roti was Indian food?" you may wonder, "Why do they have it in Trinidad?" Ah, the gifts the British have given us! On their quest to colonize the Caribbean, the Brits brought with them Indian indentured servants. The Indians brought their exotic spices, aromatic curries, and springy flatbreads. And even after the English bid "pip, pip, cheerio" to the West Indies, the Indians--and their foods--remained.
Thus began 150 years of culinary fusion. This was not the forced fusion of P.F. Chang, but simply culinary nature running its course.
More recently, Trinidadian émigrés to the GTA have opened Brampton Roti Shop, bringing the true taste of their roti to those of us north of the Tropic of Cancer.
The roti (~$7/ea) is a pliable wheat flour bread of two layers, folded into a tidy pillow around a savoury curry filling. Choose from chicken, goat, shrimp, or potato curry. I'm partial to the chicken, which has a delicate slow-cooked tenderness. The potato curry, more tart than the meat curries, is cooked just long enough so the potatoes are mashed, not mushy.
The curries are slightly sweeter than their Indian counterparts, and made with a touch of coconut milk. A different--though no less complex--blend of spices gives these Caribbean curries a lighter, leafier taste, as compared to the more ghee-heavy, earthy Indian curries.
Although the roti are big enough to knock you into a food coma, don't miss the short eats... chewy aloo (potato) pies, doubles (flatbread, curried chickpeas, and chutneys), and phulourie (garlic-onion fritters). Street food in all its glory.
Like many of my favorite restaurants, Brampton Roti Shop ignores the green revolution and uses styrofoam plates with plastic utensils. But more often than not, food not served on styrofoam tastes like styrofoam. Maybe I'm selfish, but I'd rather have a taste-bud-blowing meal than than save a cubic centimetre in a landfill.
But now, I'm off to hear T.J.'s argument that $450/person is a reasonable roundtrip airfare to Port-of-Spain.
*** Cash or Canadian debit only *** -
Review from Victor S.
1/4/2012
In my quest for Roti around the world, this is the best Roti I've had since I left Trinidad in 1997! Buss up Shot roti bread is outstanding! Wish they had mango chutney and the curry potatoes were more chunky and had 'channa' - that would've given them an extra star or more.
Owners-cooks are very friendly and the place is clean and nice - for a Roti shop. Would go back if around the area. -
Review from Duck D.
Brampton, ON
2/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Didn't have as good of an experience as these other two people but it's still tasty. Ordered 2 doubles and a chicken roti and a banana drink to go. Doubles weren't bad, a little soggy for my liking, but I'd get the doubles again. The chicken roti on the other hand wasn't my favorite in the area. Maybe I just got unlucky but I had alot of pink and gristly bits of chicken in the roti, I generally like to see at least some white meat but most of the pieces I got inside were a little gristly etc. for my tastes. I much prefer the chicken roti at Vishnu's on Kennedy. This one at Brampton Roti Shop is alot "wetter", more gravy I suppose where the one at Vishnu's is drier, but it's all about your own opinion.. Next time I go I'm considering trying the shrimp, but I often wonder if places like this have them de-veined or not.
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Review from Jenny T.
9/7/2010
Whenever I'm in Ontario for business, I always make time to drive out to Brampton just for a chicken roti from the Roti Shop. I was introduced to this place several years ago by a friend in Canada and have been going back faithfully year after year. The service is great and everyone there treats you like family. A "must try" in Brampton!!!
