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The Patty Shop
Categories: Restaurants Caribbean Event Planning & Services Caterers Caribbean, Caterers [Edit]
4019 MacDonald StVancouver, BC V6L 2N8
Neighbourhood: Arbutus Ridge
(604) 738-2144
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Beck C. said: "Dine Out Vancouver 2012. $18 menu. First timer's impression. Let's go! Johnny cakes (complimentary): flavour of Chinese doughnuts + cakey texture of plain doughnuts = east-meets-west Caribbean lovebabies that have forever corrupted…" read more »
19 reviews for The Patty Shop
19 reviews in English
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Review from Melody M.
3/26/2012
I have been coming to this place since I was a kid and still love the Jamaican patties here. It's a tiny little shop, no chairs or tables to sit and eat, the decor has faded, okay it's basically a hole in the wall that you wouldn't think twice to look at.
But the patties are unbelievable and have been consistent for years. The warm, out of the oven, patties are delicious to eat and smells wonderful. They come in mild, hot, and very hot. You can have chicken, beef, and spinach patties. They are cheap and the best part, they taste as great the day after. -
Review from Beck C.
3/21/2012 2 photos
This place is a trip. Let me name the ways!
When I was a young'un, I tried a patty & thought: meh.
Fast forward too many yrs & armed with an addiction for the spicier side of life,
I FINALLY revisited my good old neighbourhood fixture.
The curry beef patty was an epiphany. As in, I can't believe I took you for granted, Patty Shop!
Memory trips aside, this place transports you BACK in time & ACROSS the ocean.
It's no-frills Jamaican comfort food:
piping hot, spicy filling, delivered in a flaky crust. All for only $2.34 (incl tax).
Dig into that piggy bank, empty those pockets & get yourself down here. Your taste buds will thank ya. -
Review from Christopher N. W.
Vancouver, BC
3/17/2012
Jess and I had decided to Indiana Jones the Jamaican Patties of The Patty Shop. I use the term Indiana Jones in the sense that we had to travel far and wide outside our normal neighbourhood bounds and past the civic geographies we normally cross specifically in search of a mythological food-stuff rumoured to exist. Along the way we may have to fight Nazis as well, or at least cranky West-Side nannies....
After nearly an hour of walking and winding whimsically through the neighbourhoods of the West side we arrived at a little convenience mini-mall straight out of the mid 60s when people would have just walked to their local stores and shops to purchase the days necessities. Or perhaps I'm idealising the past as we are all apt to do. Either way. We walked in the door, or at least Jess did as I stopped to snap a pic. I followed shortly after and stopped abruptly. Not due to the interior, well, actually due to it. It was just a coke machine and a counter. Barely a closet sized space with a large menu board and no one Man-ing (Woman-ing?) the counter. A small antique bell sat by a register with a note: "please ring for service."
We rang. A portly woman popped her head around the corner of the wall that divided us from the place where the Patty Magic happened. She stared. We stared..... Then ordered.
Each patty was around $2 to $3 and you can buy them frozen by the dozen for a little cheaper. We paid and headed to the produce store next door to get some beverages given that the pop machine was "Out of Order, Do Not Use."
Back on the street the sun shone bright and strong, invigorating us. Until we noticed the bus stop was enshrouded in a shroudng shade of dark shadow. Cold and shitty. I suggested the curb, Jess conceded. We felt like teenagers skipping school heading downtown to eat cheap greasy dollar pizza eats and everything about it was good. We sat down on the curb and pulled the flaky pastries from their angelic white bags now dotted with the oily spits and spots where the patties had tried to bore a hole back out.
First bite reactions: Jessica made a creepy food-gasm face and I ran back for napkins. Upon returning she was seated comfortable enjoying the ever-living-fuck out of her patty. I looked into my bag, pulled one at random and bit down....
Heaven? Not quite, but that is a quality patty/pastry. Given the awful iridescent orange pizza pop soft pastry mealy mouth garbage that usually passes for a Jamaican Patty this light crispy airy patty was closer to a good Cornish Pastie (although there are enough garbage ones of those as well...). My palate grabbed hold of curry and I knew which was my first....
Curried Beef :
Hello there mild curry and low quality beef. I forgive you due to price but what's the problem here? Oh right. Not enough seasoning. Bulk this fucker up. More salt and pepper and more curry. Don't be afraid. Just do it. Essentially just beef in a light roux and fat based gravy I was glad in the end I ate this one first. The pastry was on the higher end of professional and it gave me hope. Given Jess's reaction to her Veg, and Chicken I was worried I might have been eating the wrong patty....
Patty the second:
Luckilly these patties don't weigh to heavilly. I opened my water as a Bus in Training went by and pulled my second pastry from the bag and bit in like it was a scratch n win (or lose) and hoped for the best.
Oh hells yeah!!! Chicken. A sublime mix of potato, curry and chicken flecks. This is not fine dining, this is street eatimg and we were literally eating on the street. A man came to drive away and we had to move so he could move his car. I truly hold the best food in this world is that found prepared sold and eaten on the streets by the people that live, sleep, eat, work, fuck, and die on those streets.
Anyhow, I was happy with the Chicken. Jess said it, "tastes like an entire chicken dinner all wrapped into a pastry," and she wasn't far from wrong. I was so happy with the Chicken that I put it aside to taste what I assumed would be the spicy beef.
It was... and it wasn't.
It was beef and fairly tasty but it was very similar to the first Beef Patty I had eaten with less curry and only the mildest hint of spiciness to it. Now this is something I have encountered numerous times in the food industry. "Spicy" food is prepared to meet the level of "spicy expectation" by the lowest common denominator of the social spectrum which thows the whole fucking system out of wack. I see it time and time again in South Indian restaurants, Szechuan restaurants, Mexican restaurants , etc... I just want something to bring a tear to my eye. I don't need a painful habanero or scotch bonnet heat but please, challenge me. **sigh**
For now, if you find yourself in the far flung 'hood of 23rd and MacDonald do yourself a favour.... grab a few dozen (Chicken!) patties from the Patty Shop. At least so I can have on too.Listed in: Best Food Under $10
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Review from Herman E.
3/5/2012
Jamaican patties, ja-makin'-me hungry! Sorry, I couldn't resist that one!
My usual stop if I want a patty. Actually, it's my only stop. Curry beef or spicy beef is what I usually get. As others have mentioned, this is not a sit in shop. I usually get a dozen frozen, and use them as stand by if I get home late from work and too tired to cook. -
Review from Carmen C.
2/23/2012
The very first Jamaican Patty I've ever had came from The Patty Shop. I used to live around the corner from it, and being the picky eater that I am, I didn't really have the desire to try anything from this little hole in the wall.
After a while, I started to notice that the place was always fairly busy. There's an elementary/ junior high school not far from the Patty Shop, and school kids were always lined up, right out the door, waiting to get their eager hands on a nice, hot Jamaican Patty.
Finally, I gave in and tried one. It was a whole lotta Jamaican Patty Goodness! A flaky, pastry like crust with hot, spicy and delicious meat. **drool**
I'm a huge fan of both the mild and spicy beef patties. You can buy them individually ($2 each) or buy a frozen dozen.
The staff are friendly.
Just a heads up, when you walk into this place, prepare to be transported to the 1970's. There's wood paneling, faded old 'Jamaica!' posters and a giant cork board covered in business cards.
Keep in mind there's no seating here. You come in, grab your yummy patties, and leave.
I love this place. :D
Oh!!! And it's Cash only. No debit or credit cards. -
Review from Brian F.
Vancouver, BC
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love this place and make the drive from the North Shore once a month.
Stuck on the Spicy Beef - but am always happier after a chicken roti. -
Review from Katie C.
Vancouver, BC
4/7/2012
a tiny shop where you can just pop in, grab some patties and leave.
no seating, in case any of you are wondering.
these things are small but boy are they filling.
i bought three kinds to sample: curry beef, chicken and spinach.
curry beef is definitely spicy!
i enjoyed the chicken one the most, it had potato and the sauce was mild, so it didn't dominate the ingredients inside the patty.
as for the spinach, i thought it was rather like a fritatta inside the dough pocket haha. can't say i was a fan, but it was still good. preferred the meat ones better though!
very cheap and delicious, i would high recommend.
you can also buy them by the dozen to make at home! -
Review from Edward L.
For a time warp back to 1970s Jamaica and some life-changing patties, head right on down to this hole in the wall.
I've been coming here for over 2 decades now, and they have not changed ANYTHING in the shop at all. Right down the faded posters, and the bulletin board full of business cards. I remember seeing the same ones in elementary school! Okay, I lied. The patties were $1.15 in 1994, and in 2011 they're $2 each for the basic (mild beef) one.
For service, ring the bell on the counter. Same bell after 17 years.
Just so you know, there is no seating here. It's really just a food counter hidden inside a physical store. With that said, there are some nice flower beds in front of the adjacent stores where you can sit on the ledges. The stores all have canopies too, so you're in the shade.
You can buy individual hot ones as a snack, or you can buy frozen dozens. The hot ones were a HUGE part of my growing up, though now I simply buy the frozen ones.
Every time I eat one, it brings a stupid grin to my face. They have several flavours. If you've never had one before, go for the basic "mild beef" to get a feel. My personal favourite are the Pizza, and Curry Chicken. The Pizza ones ain't no Pillsbury Pizza Pop, so don't even think of drawing that comparison. As for the curry chicken.. pure crack. I've had patties all over the place and no other place can match these ones. Not even close.
What else can I say? In case you missed it the 1st time, the patties here are LIFE-CHANGING. I'm serious. Highly highly recommended.Listed in: 2011 Ed's Picks
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Review from Amber H.
Vancouver, BC
2/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've grown up eating patties from the Patty Shop and in my opinion there's no other Jamaican patties in town that even compare! I remember going there with my Mum when I was very young and loving it even then - she would let me eat the edges of her crust as the filling was too spicy for me. I always secretly hoped I would get an 'accidental' bite of the curry filling - I loved the way it made my nose burn even if I was barely able to stand it! ;)
I've had every flavor, but my favorite is the curry chicken - it's currylicious! I've always been impressed at how consistent their fillings are (never an errant funky piece of chicken!) and how non-greasy their pastry is. They really are the kings of Jamaican patties in town!
Just remember to take cash with you when you go... and don't forget to grab a bag of frozen patties so you can enjoy them at home as well! :)Listed in: Quick Eats
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Review from Justin L.
3/21/2011
The Jamaican patties at The Patty Shop are the best around. YOU HAVEN'T LIVED UNTIL YOU'VE EATEN A PATTY HERE. Soft, flaky pastry that melts in your mouth with the succulent, flavourful fillings. You can get different levels of heat for the curry fillings and the spinach option is pretty good, too.
When you walk in, ring the bell for service.
It's a lovely snack before or after a visit to the Motor Vehicles office across the street. Just be sure to wipe your mouth before having your driver's license photo taken. -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
8/21/2010
* Unexpectedly good *
I had heard about this little spot selling Jamaican Patties, and I was skeptical.
Let's face it, Vancouver is not a hotbed of Caribbean cuisine. And this part of Vancouver West wouldn't jump to mind immediately if thinking of where there might be a good Caribbean spot.
But I had to renew my driver's license across the street at ICBC (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) and figured I would finally pop in and give it a try.
I had the curry beef patty and the spicy beef patty. My impressions:
- The crust was nice and flaky. Excellent!
- The patties were served warm from the over. Excellent!
- The colour of the crust was not as yellow as I would expect. Perhaps they don't use enough tumeric? Curious.
- The curry beef was nicely seasoned, and overall excellent. The spicy beef was a little bit underseasoned (particularly for one called spicy). I would definitely opt for the curry beef and trying some others next time.
What a pleasant surprise in an unexpected location!Listed in: Vancouver Latin and Caribbean…
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Review from Ralson C.
Vancouver, BC
11/19/2011
I grew up around West Indians in Toronto and lived in Brooklyn. The filling of the beef patty is very good, however I'm more use to the flaky yellow patty (those who know real patties understand me). The patty is more of a thin empanada crust. The chicken rotti paratha skin was a bit too dry and needed a bit more sauce in the filling, and surprising for a Jamaican promoted spot they have Roti since that is more of Trini food. Also where's the Coco bread? How can you have authentic Jamaican patties without coco bread??? It's probably the best around Vancouver, but being from Brooklyn, I wouldn't consider it authentic. I don't think the hot patty was that hot.
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Review from Peter S.
2/28/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I lived a few doors down from the Patty Shop in 2001 and was a frequent visitor that year. Mostly because I was going to school, and the patties fit into my budget nicely
But I have neglected my old hangout until a recent ICBC visit forced the issue. Thankfully my complete and utter lack of enthusiasm of this appointment was made all the more tolerable with 3 of the finest Jamaican patties this side of the Caribbean.
Not much has changed in my old hood except that the crack-shack we lived in has finally been leveled and replaced with a Vancouver special cookie cutter deluxe. The Patties are still damn good and the staff are always smiling in the simple storefront.
Yup. Still a fan! -
Review from Siri W.
9/4/2011
This place is wonderful and right near my new digs. Lucky me! I have limited experience with Jamaican food, so I opted to go with the mild beef patty just to be on the safe side.
The shop itself is a tiny little hole in the wall in the MacDonald village area. Decorations are sparse save for a blackboard with the choices on it and some requisite Jamaican culture nods - pic of Yussein Bolt, Jamaican flags...I believe possibly a Bob Marley in there somewhere).
The price is insanely good: $2.00 for one patty (or $2.10 for those fancier ones) and a great deal on frozen bulk as well, since I am always looking for low cost and quick options (student who doesn't like to cook speaking!)
The patty was amazing. The boy at the counter warned me that it was hot as it had just come out of the oven (can't get fresher than that!) but it smelled so good that I could not resist. I nibbled at the fresh, flaky pastry and hastily bit into the centre - thick, perfectly spiced, HOT beef greeted me. It burnt my tongue, but I didn't care - it was way too yummy to stop. I gobbled the whole thing down, savouring each and every last bite - and then I wished that I had bought more. Don't get me wrong, portion wise, one is definitely enough, but flavour-wise....I probably could have eaten forty. Okay I exaggerate. 20.
If you want some absolutely delicious, cheap, on the go eats, this place is fab. I will definitely be back soon to stock up my freezer! -
Review from Alison S.
3/27/2010
Wednesday is pizza patties and Thursday is taco patties, if you're into specials.
I've been a fan of the Patty Shop since moving to Vancouver 6 years ago; my faves are the spinach patty and the chicken curry patty.
On a nice day, buy some patties, take a walk down one of the cherry tree-lined avenues, sit at the park and watch the world relaxingly go by (great afternoon date for sure!) -
Review from Stephen Y.
Vancouver, BC
4/17/2010
Small store front of Jamaican goodness
Patties come ready to eat hot or frozen... Curry beef is my fav ! Hot beef not bad but I found mild beef kinda bland.
Chicken also pretty decent...
They also sell chicken and vegetarian roti - I really think the patties are the best deal. -
Review from Dan F.
Vancouver, BC
I'm on a mission to find patty's equivalent to those I grew up on in Toronto. Since then, I've been looking for a place to get one's with a crispy yellow outside and spicy beef in the center.
The filling is good and I'd say it was worth the drive there. The real test is when I get a chance to try their roti, my true defining factor of a great Caribbean restaurant. -
Review from Richard D.
Vancouver, BC
7/17/2009
Excellent pastry on these Jamaican patties. The chicken is the best filling. Also good is the curry beef. The hot beef is too beefy for my taste, and by that I mean it's all beef and not much else. Vegetarian options are limited to vegetable (so-so) and spinach (better, but it seems more Greek than Jamaican).
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Review from Beverley W.
Vancouver, BC
11/5/2008 1 photo
MacDonald Street is an unexpected location for Jamaican treats, but we're glad it's there. The Patty Shop serves hot and tasty Jamaican Patties to go or for sale by the frozen dozen. My favourites are the chicken and spinach, but all are tasty. They also have roti, but I've never tried it.
