Island Foods

1182 King Street West Website
Phone: 416.532.6298

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Posted by Staff
May 1, 2008

Currently 3.72/5
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Rating: 3.7/5 (18 votes cast)

Island Foods is the old stalwart of the Toronto roti scene. It's been around for almost 35 years, has maintained a booth at the CNE since 1976 and still operates two bustling downtown locations - one at the Grange foodcourt across from OCAD and the other at King and Dufferin.

With an apartment near Queen and Ossington I've been frequenting the latter location for some time now. It's one of the many roti restos within a mile of my place and competes with the likes of Gandhi and Bacchus for my occasional roti cravings.

The offerings here are decidedly different than what you'll find at the other spots. The cooking style is Trinidadian which provides a more fluid texture, gravys, sauces and milder spicing (unless you ask them for a heavy dose of hot sauce).

Almost all meals are potato based. All rotis come with potato. There's straight-up potato ($4), shrimp ($6.55), boneless chicken ($6.35), goat ($6.10), beef ($5.85), channa ($4.50), eggplant ($4.50) and spinach ($4.50). 75 cents are added for each additional ingredient.

Also on the menu are a variety of dinners, the highlights of which are oxtail stew ($7.90), shrimp ($7.65) and chicken ($6.25). Doubles ($1.30), beef patties ($1.30) and tamarind balls ($1.25) are also available. For the full menu, check out Island Foods' web site.

My regular order is a spinach and channa roti (pictured top). Like most of the meals, part of the order is prepared in the back kitchen while some of the ingredients are supplemented from the trays under the heat lamps next to the cash.

While the presence of heat lamps might foreshadow quality issues from a lesser place, at Island Foods it's not really a concern because the restaurant is almost always busy. Lineups are the norm during peak lunch and dinner hours and all through the day they seem to do a fairly brisk take-out business. Faded yellow tables provide the backdrop for those looking to dine-in.

So where does Island Foods fall in Toronto's roti hierarchy? Flavour-wise, for a West Indian style roti it's tough to beat. But while prices here are a bit cheaper than the competition, size-wise the rotis are about 2/3 as large. And this in my opinion is the lone drawback with Island Foods. While the kitchen (and heat lamps) consistently deliver the flavour, the rotis just aren't big enough to satisfy me like the alternatives.

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I have such fond memories of Island Foods from when I was working in the neighbourhood. I live too far to make Islands one of my daily food haunts, but thanks for this review, it made me all nostalgiac.

And to date, I personally haven't had a tastier roti since. I know, I probably should get out more. ;)

Posted by: Pamela at May 1, 2008 10:09 AM

I prefer Baccus around the corner on Queen. The rotis are way bigger and I find it is consistently better than Island.

Posted by: binlazer at May 1, 2008 10:18 AM

Island Food roti's aren't big enough? Someone has a BIG appetite! :o

Back in the day when we were young and could *EAT*, a few of us would simply supplement our roti with a beef patty -- better variety than just one big roti meal.

Island Foods is the BEST! =D

Posted by: Raven at May 1, 2008 10:22 AM

I'm actually friends with the ownership @ Island Foods and they're Trinidadian which is also the style of cooking.

One of the excellent things from the menu that you can't find at most Jamaican roti shops is the excellent 'double': a heap of channa stuffed between two fluffy pancakes and smothered in hot sauce. That and a 'Ting' makes a fantastic snack.

Posted by: frank at May 1, 2008 10:34 AM

Given that I live at the corner of King and Dufferin (and have since I moved to Toronto two years ago) and that it's also where my office was for the first year and a half that I was here... I've eaten a lot of Island Foods... I would have to say at one point that I was eating there nearly daily. Now it's not so frequent but that's simply because I work downtown.. Anyways.

I'd been told when I moved here that Albert's had the best Roti... I tried it... it doesn't compare to Island Foods... For those that don't find them to be sufficient... add a bit more to them...

My staple is Boneless Chicken (occasionally Goat) with Extra Potatoes and Spinach. You get double potato and spinach which leads to a very large Roti... add a Double (probably the most amazing thing I've eaten) and you've got a hell of a meal.

Definitely the best roti in town.

Posted by: Tyler at May 1, 2008 11:07 AM

actually, most roti shops do have doubles' (and it's always "doubles" because it's two pieces of barra - chewy and fluffy fried dough) but most patty shops will not have doubles'.

i've never actually liked islands roti and double style and much prefer the roti at places like roti lady just south of queen west and west of dufferin. overall the fave goes to drupati's in the west end though.

Posted by: vanessa at May 1, 2008 12:30 PM

ISLAND FOODS MAN!

Unfortunately, I'm not around Parkdale right now, so now you guys are making me crave for it. I may have to settle for second-tier roti somewhere in the suburbs.

Posted by: TIto Toronto at May 1, 2008 12:44 PM

I don't understand why people laud Bacchus for it's curry & roti. Quite frankly I find it bland and overpriced.
You folks need to head out to Nicey's or Friendship Restaurant (both in Scarborough, but it has been awhile since I've been to either) or go to a place along Eglinton East near Oriole. Take a chance and go into one of those small little places there with the Soca blaring and, for most, unintelligible stream of Patois coming from inside.
Get roti made by real Trinis or Guyanese. For those who don't know, roti isn't Jamaican and they don't eat ti at many places there.

Posted by: Andrew at May 1, 2008 2:26 PM

When I was at OCAD, Island Foods was my kitchen (when I had money left over from art supplies!). The best ever - food wise, friendly people behind the counter and always fresh.

Size wise - I honestly can't compare it to any other place, but the Roti's were big enough to fill me all day - and give me a carb-induced need for sleep for the afternoon!

Posted by: simone at May 2, 2008 2:26 PM

FYI - Island Foods has THREE locations, and has had them for at least 3 years. Their third is on Don Mills just North of Lawrence. It's my preferred location to visit (used to be at Mt Pleasant and Eglinton) and I love it there. I journey for the roti.

As for size? I wouldn't want it any bigger or it becomes two meals... And I want to leave room for the doubles. ;)

Posted by: Amber at May 3, 2008 12:58 PM

I started off eating at Island Foods on King and Dufferin in 1999 and now frequent the newest addition on Don Mills Road.
For a West Indian Restaurant-they are by far the most professional looking and acting restaurant (and owners), they are very, very clean-and I am in the food service business. Now for the food-I have had most of the menu items and all of them are delicious! The curry (which they told me is specially blended for their family business) is amazing-I find it is a main comfort food for me-I crave the taste of their curry in my mouth. The Roti shells are so soft and chewy and just about as flavourful as a roti can get!
My dirty little secret (since I am a chef) I buy an extra dish of curry sauce to go and then the next day I will saute some shrimps and then pour the curry over it -my friends think I make the best curry!
Keep up the great great cooking and amazing work ethic!

Posted by: Janet at May 27, 2008 12:20 AM

I love their rotis! They are the best in Toronto!

Posted by: Teena at June 19, 2008 10:41 PM

THE BEST ROTI I'VE EVER TASTED!!! Time your visit during off-peak hours though as the line-up goes out the door!

Posted by: JC at July 25, 2008 4:13 PM