Dylan YoungIf you’ve never heard about doubles, the iconic Trinidadian street food, then you’re in for a treat! It’s made of curried chickpeas served on two fried flatbreads, and it’s an explosion of flavour—sweet and savoury, with a kick of spice that numbs the tongue!
I love to eat doubles for breakfast or a late-night snack, but I know some people who treat it as a hangover food (apparently, it’s really effective). It really is an all-around dish, so eat it whenever you want!
There are a few spots that offer doubles in Toronto, and here are some of my favourites.
Mona’s Roti
– From: monasroti
Address: 4810 Sheppard Ave E, Scarborough
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday—10 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14164121200
Mona’s Roti is a beloved spot for Caribbean cuisine in Scarborough, and though their titular roti is my favourite dish, I have to say that their doubles is noteworthy as well.
The dough has a lovely crispy exterior and a fluffy, almost airy interior, and I love that contrast in texture. The chickpea filling is thick and rich, with strong savoury notes.
I recommend adding tamarind and pepper sauce because the sour-peppery flavour combo elevates the dish!
| Pro Tips: This place tends to be super busy on the weekends, so I recommend coming here on a weekday. Also, try coming before 5 pm because their doubles tend to sell out fast. |
Randy’s Roti and Doubles
– From: randysroti
Address: 876 Yonge St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—9 am to 8 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—11 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +16473501400
Randy’s Roti and Doubles started as a humble food truck in Toronto, and now it has its own physical location. If that isn’t a testament to how good their food is, I don’t know what is!
I have to say the doubles is the best thing off their menu. It’s large enough that I feel full and satisfied afterward, and the flavours are outstanding. It’s savoury, with a hint of fruity sweetness, thanks to the mango chutney.
I also really like the sauce. It adds a distinct cilantro-esque flavour, which elevates the dish somehow.
| Pro Tip: This restaurant offers several services for special events. For example, you can book their catering services or you can host a celebration right here. |
Debe’s Roti and Doubles
– From: debesroti
Address: 2881 Jane St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—11 am to 8 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14168399874
Debe’s Roti and Doubles is a tiny takeout joint on Jane Street, so it’s easy to overlook. But don’t miss out on it because they serve amazing Trinidadian cuisine.
What I like about this spot is that it lets you add other meat options to your doubles. I usually add shrimp to mine because I love its mellow sweetness, but I also recommend chicken. The chicken pieces are tender and add extra savoriness.
The doubles is also slathered with tamarind, mango, and cucumber chutneys, so every bite gives you a wonderful combination of sour, minty, and spicy flavours.
| Pro Tip: If you want the restaurant to cater your event, you can fill out the form at the bottom of their website. You can also call them. |
Ali’s West Indian Roti Shop
– From: smoo
Address: 1446 Queen St W
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14165327701
A snug and cozy spot in Parkdale, Ali’s West Indian Roti Shop is one you definitely don’t want to overlook. Even though roti is the signature dish, the most popular—at least for me—has to be their doubles.
They use bara bread for their doubles, and it’s so soft and fluffy. The filling is also thick and aromatic, and I love the overwhelming savoury and spicy flavours. I love to add chicken to my doubles, but other times, I go for plantains because they add a lovely sweetness.
| Pro Tip: There’s no dedicated parking spot here, so I recommend using public transportation instead of driving. If you prefer to drive, your option is paid street parking, but the spots get filled out fast. |
Wicked Carib
Address: 2573 Victoria Park Ave, The Esquire Plaza, Scarborough
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14167925757
Formerly called Leelas, Wicked Carib is one of my favourite spots for Caribbean cuisine in the Greater Toronto Area. I could wax poetic on their rotis and jerk chicken, but for now, the spotlight is on their doubles.
They have different types of doubles available here, and I tend to order them on rotation. For now, my go-to is the doubles with butter chicken. The filling is extra thick, rich, and buttery. The sauce adds a sweet and peppery kick, and by the end, I’m licking my fingers!
| Pro Tip: You can book their catering services for your special event. |
ARC Hot Roti and Doubles
– From: caribbeanpot
Address: 2680 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—9:30 am to 6 pm
- Sunday—9:30 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14167557806
If you’re looking for a spot serving cheap but delicious eats, then you need to stop by ARC Hot Roti and Doubles. It’s a popular restaurant in Scarborough for that reason, so expect to find a crowd here no matter the time of day.
The doubles here is always served piping hot, but I can never resist, so I chomp at it immediately. Getting slightly burned is worth it, though, because the filling is savoury, sour, and spicy perfection.
The only downside is that it can get pretty greasy, but it’s not too much of a deal-breaker for me.
| Pro Tip: This spot sells their own mango chutney in jars. I recommend getting one so that you can have a condiment in case you’re ordering in doubles at home. |
The Roti Hut
– From: therotihut
Address: 351 Pitfield Rd, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Sunday and Monday—11:30 am to 9 pm
- Tuesday to Thursday—11:30 am to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11:30 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14162984153
The Roti Hut has been owned and operated by the same people for a long time now, and the vibes here are always warm and cozy. That’s one reason I come here often, and the second is that the food is great, especially the doubles.
The doubles dough here is made with chickpea flour, making it thicker and fluffier than the usual roti dough. It’s also deep-fried into a puff, and I love the combination of a golden crispy exterior and a pillowy and even slightly elastic interior.
As for the filling, expect an explosion of sweet and rich flavours. I usually add a generous dollop of tamarind chutney for an extra punch of sourness.
| Pro Tip: This restaurant offers catering services for special events, such as birthdays, weddings, and funerals. |
The Original Drupati’s
– From: theoriginaldrupatis
Address: 35 Woodbine Downs Blvd #3A, Finchwood Plaza, Etobicoke
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—10 am to 9 pm
- Friday—10 am to 12 am
- Saturday—9:30 am to 12 am
- Sunday—9:30 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14167454189
The Original Drupati’s is an unassuming restaurant in Etobicoke, but it deserves hype, in my opinion.
I love getting the gourmet doubles with chicken here. On its own, it’s already savoury and spicy, but I like to take it up a notch by ordering an extra hot pepper sauce. My tongue is on fire afterward. I love it!
| Pro Tips: This restaurant hosts specials for events like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Christmas. They also have special promos every day, such as discounted beers and lunch specials.If you want to book their catering services, fill out this form. |
Smoke ‘N’ Roti
– From: smoke.n.roti
Address: 3320 Keele St, North York
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday—11 am to 7 pm
- Saturday—12 pm to 7 pm
Contact Number: +14166337171
If you’re ever in the North York area, then Smoke ‘N’ Roti should be on your itinerary. This humble spot serves home-style Trinidadian cuisine, and it’s divine.
Their doubles has thinner flatbreads than I’d prefer, but I do like how chewy and elastic it is. The chickpea filling inside is wonderfully spiced, so it’s savoury with a bit of heat in the background. The spice is pretty sneaky; I only notice my tongue is numb once I’ve eaten everything.
| Pro Tip: Planning a Trinidadian theme for your event? You can book the restaurant’s catering services. |
Indar’s Roti and Doubles
– From: indars_roti
Address: 1152 Albion Rd, Etobicoke
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday—9 am to 6 pm
- Friday to Sunday—8:30 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14167450009
Indar’s Roti and Doubles is my recommendation to all my Muslim foodies who want to treat themselves to a serving of doubles. This halal restaurant hasn’t disappointed me once with their food!
Their doubles features two flatbreads with a lovely chewy texture and a curry chickpea filling that’s savoury, spicy, and a bit earthy. You can keep it vegetarian if you want, but personally, I prefer the one with chicken. I love how the chicken pieces are tender and juicy and how they absorb the flavours from the rich sauce.
| Pro Tips: Enjoy their doubles lunch deals for a discounted price every day, only from 11 am to 2 pm.Book their catering services and host an amazing Caribbean-themed party. |
Dave’s Drupatis, Roti, and Doubles
– From: davesdrupatis.scarborough
Address: 2866 Ellesmere Rd, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—10 am to 9 pm
- Saturday—9 am to 10 pm
- Sunday—10 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14162899988
I love the vibrant and colourful atmosphere at Dave’s in Scarborough. I also love that the food is just as vibrant! The doubles here is simple enough, but it’s still hearty and filling.
They also have a gourmet version, which lets you add your meat of choice. So far, I really like the chicken doubles because it’s extra savoury, but the goat one is great as well. The goat meat is tender, and it tastes slightly sweet.
| Pro Tip: This restaurant has its own app, available on both the App Store and Google Play Store. You can order food directly from this app. |
Roti Roti Family Restaurant
– From: albionislingtonsquare
Address: 979 Albion Rd, Etobicoke
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday—10 am to 7 pm
- Saturday—9 am to 7 pm
- Sunday—9 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14167459208
Roti Roti Family Restaurant is such a low-key restaurant on Albion Road. I only came here because a friend recommended it to me, and thank goodness I actually followed through!
Their doubles is pretty big—about the size of my palm—and it’s filled to the brim with saucy chickpeas (and meat if you want). Because of this, it’s pretty messy to eat, but hey, I don’t mind it!
As for the flavours, they’re bright and in-your-face; there’s a zing of tanginess followed by rich savoriness. There’s also a hint of herbiness that I quite like.
| Pro Tip: Their doubles isn’t as spicy as the others, but if you want yours to pack quite a lot of heat, get the house pepper sauce. It’s made with scorpion pepper and scotch bonnet, so your tongue will definitely feel like it’s on fire. |
Pam’s Caribbean Kitchen
– From: tangtastestoronto
Address: 1089 Bloor St W
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday—12 pm to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14165333588
Pam’s Caribbean Kitchen may only have a simple menu, but every single one is a hit, and that’s enough reason for me to love this place. Of all the dishes, though, I have to say that the doubles is the best.
Their doubles is on the thicker side, which is usually a miss for me, but I like how this version is chewier and fluffier. The filling inside is savoury and earthy, with a hint of spice.
This dish tastes even better with mango chutney because the sweetness adds so much depth to the flavour profile.
| Pro Tip: I recommend ordering a side of rice and peas to accompany your doubles. The rice is spiced and earthy, and it tastes so good when you combine it with the chickpea filling. |
