Toronto is getting ready to turn up the heat for six days of Caribbean Carnival celebrations, bringing together music, mas, food and culture from across the Caribbean diaspora. And after hours of fetes, boat parties, and jumping up along the parade route, there’s no better way to refuel than with the flavours of the islands.
With more than one million people expected to take part in Toronto Caribbean Carnival celebrations, the city’s Caribbean food scene will be serving everything from jerk chicken and oxtail to doubles, roti, griot and creative Caribbean fusion. Whether you’re craving a quick bite after the parade or looking for a sit-down meal with friends, these seven independent Caribbean restaurants across Toronto and the GTA are worth adding to your Carnival weekend plans.
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Tropical Joe’s
Cuisine: West-Indian comfort food
Address: 563 Sherbourne St., 1000 Gerrard St. E.
This family-run spot is known for serving classic West Indian comfort food, including jerk chicken, curry chicken, curry goat, oxtail, and fresh roti. The menu also features Caribbean-inspired specialties like jerk chicken poutine, stuffed patties, soups, and sandwiches, in addition to vegetarian options like curried chickpeas.
Founded by Joseph Boodhoo, who came to Canada from Guyana in the 1970s, Tropical Joe’s has two locations, one in the Gerrard Square food court and one on Sherbourne. The Sherbourne location is open 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Wednesday- Friday, 12 – 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and 12 – 9 p.m. on Sundays. The Gerard Square location is open 10:30 a.m.–8:45 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.–5:45 p.m. Saturday, and
11:30 a.m.–5:45 p.m. on Sunday.
The eatery offers takeout and catering menus.
Rhum Corner
Cuisine: Haitian
Address: 926 Dundas St. W.
First opening back in 2013, Rhum Corner brings Haitian flavours to downtown Toronto. Their affordable menu features a small selection of entrees and snacks, and a wide variety of drinks.
The name comes from the founder Jen’s husband Roland drinking rum and cokes at Cocktail Bar, located just across the street, and serving them up for friends in the corner, while the concept was from a dream the couple had to open a Haitian restaurant with a cool atmosphere.
They have one of the largest and most diverse collections of rum in the city with dozens of options of choice, so if that’s your tipple of choice, or if you just love a good rum punch, Rhum Corner is the place to go. The spot is open from 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. Tuesday – Thursday, with the kitchen closing at 10 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 1 a.m., serving food until 11 p.m.
Debe’s Doubles & Roti
Cuisine: Trinidadian
Address: 2881 Jane St.
Nestled in the Jane and Finch community, Debe’s Doubles and Roti is a hidden gem among Toronto Caribbean cuisine.
The Northside eatery has a wide menu of delicious snacks, meals, and sides in vegetarian, meat, and seafood varieties. This includes their namesake roti and doubles, which include curried chickpeas and can also be adorned with meat.
Debe’s also offers deals on different days throughout the week, including buy-one-get-one-free doubles on Wednesdays, buy-one-get-one-free pholourie on Thursdays, and free cans of pop with every meal on Friday.
Debe’s is a take-out style establishment, open 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Sundays. You can find their full menu on the restaurant’s website.
JamICan
Cuisine: Halal Jamaican
Address: 160 Baldwin St.
Kensington Market has a Jamaican restaurant serving up authentic food from Jamrock, with a twist. Everything on this menu is 100 per cent halal.
The menu focuses on traditional Jamaican dishes including Jerk chicken, curried chicken, stewed chicken, and BBQ chicken, Oxtail, and curried goat. They also have seafood options like jerk snapper and curried shrimp, and Jamaican staples including ackee and saltfish, rice and peas, plantain, bammy, fritters, soups, and Jamaican black cake. Both vegetarian and vegan options are also available for the herbivores, including in-house veggie burgers and stews.
JamICan is open 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Friday-Wednesday, and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Thursdays. In addition to takeout and delivery, JamICan also offers catering.
Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen
Cuisine: Jamaican
Address: 104 Portland St.
If you’re looking for a place to enjoy a more elevated Caribbean dining experience, you may want to consider Chubby’s. Located in the heart of the Entertainment District, this restaurant has been Michelin Guide Recommended four times over, serving up eats inspired by the Caribbean in meat, seafood, and vegetarian varieties. They also have a tasty drink menu, with cocktails and other offerings good enough to deliver Island vibes to you right in the heart of Toronto.
Chubby’s is open Tuesday from 4 to 11 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday from 12 to 11 p.m., Friday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to midnight; Sundays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Monday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Patois
Cuisine: Chinese-Jamaican
Address: 794 Dundas St. W.
Named for Jamaica’s national language, Patois is described as the merging of great food ideas from various cultures, executed with respect for the ingredients. This spot blends Jamaican and Chinese flavours into a menu that combines island classics with bold fusion dishes, featuring classics like jerk chicken, oxtail, fried chicken, Jamaican patties, and rice and peas alongside creative dishes like jerk chicken chow mein, jerk pork belly yakisoba, popcorn shrimp fried rice and its famous pineapple bun burger.
In addition, Patois has platters designed for sharing, including “The Whole Shebang,” which serves three to four people, while the “Belly Buss” feeds two guests. The downtown establishment is closed on Mondays and open Tuesday–Thursday from 5-10 p.m., Friday 5-11 p.m., Saturdays 5-11 p.m. and Sundays 5–10 p.m.
Leela’s Roti
Cuisine: Trinidadian street food
Address: 900 Rathburn Rd. W., Mississauga
Serving up delicious Trini street food since 2009, Leela’s Roti prides itself on celebrating Caribbean culinary heritage through traditional recipes. The menu features something for everyone, including everything from doubles to stew chicken, bakes and saltfish, channa and potato, and more.
Located outside of Toronto, but within the GTA, this Mississauga spot got an honourable mention because it’s a Toronto fan favourite, and it’s close to Pearson International Airport, making it a great spot to visit if you’re flying into Toronto for Caribana. Leela’s is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.– 8 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and closed on Mondays.
