I pass this place a lot from work and thought I would stop this evening. I was especially in the mood for some Caribbean food. I was surprised and happy to hear that they sell curried goat. I specifically asked if it was goat particularly because they advertise their food as Caribbean. These people are damn crooks! How can you be advertising lamb meet as goat meat?!!! And to make matter worse, it tasted like crap. They will not be seeing me again. It's possible the worse tasting food I have ever had.
(1)
Julia B.
Pretty good overall. Definitely not an inviting atmosphere but the staff was sweet. My party ordered all roti- literally tried one of each. They were fine. I'd say the only one I would order again would be the boneless chicken. Think chicken breasts sliced in roti. Salt fish was ok. Veggie good. Beef good. Shrimp not great.
(3)
Col S.
This unassuming carry out is well worth the hike. And boasts, in my opinion, some of the best roti in the DMV. Don't expect much in the way of ambiance, aside from a floral curtain and a photo of Obama, there is no decor. Food is made away from the eye behind a pane of drywall. And unless you get there early in the day, you'll probably miss out on some of the more popular items, boneless chicken and doubles. This is a family-run joint so you'll most likely be waited on by either the mother or very friendly daughter. My go-to is the goat roti and doubles with extra tamarind sauce. Don't expect to dine-in, there's no seating and make sure to bring cash, this place is cash only.
(5)
Mai S.
I ordered the oxtails. It was accompanied with peas and rice and cabbage. I would love for the oxtails to be seasoned a little more. The rice and cabbage were very good. I tried the plantains that were delicious. Crunchy outside soft center. I would try this restaurant again.
(3)
Brittany B.
I had the shrimp roti and it was delicious! I also ordered their special of the day which was the stew chicken with rice and red beans, alongside spinach and plantains. The stew chicken was really good also but I wish they gave a larger portion of plantains. They only take cash that is a bit inconveniencing. Overall I would definitely go back!
(4)
Santana Ross W.
I ordered the goat roti and was not impressed. The best thing was the tamarind sauce. I loved that. Maybe next time I'll try a different type of roti.
(2)
Melissa D.
As a Trini woman, I was excited to find a place that sold roti, but I ended up feeling disappointed. For most Americans hoping to find good "ethnic food," you'll honestly probably enjoy it. The variety is okay and it doesn't taste bad. However, as someone who grew up eating this, I was disappointed. I know how good it can taste, and that did NOT meet my expectations. The sauce for the pholouri left much to be desired and the goat roti wasn't as good as I'm used to. Also, the lady was rather curt with me and I had to pay with cash.
(2)
Crystal P.
Big up! I traveled all the way from Arlington VA to take in some Trini food! In Brooklyn, these places are a dime a dozen. In the southern state you have to drive mile for it. With that said, if I come to your establishment, you better believe I m going to review you. I recommend this place! It's cash only. Most places with good food are. I was recommended to this place by a police office at my job. I ordered 3 roti. Two chicken and one shrimp. It was absolutely delicious. No I didn't eat all of them myself. I didn't like the trini soda. I m going back for the one of the dishes with the trini fried rice. Good spot!
(4)
Jeanall M.
The first time I ate here I purchased the Roti Chicken. Didn't really like it, it was a little dry. But I gave it another chance and purchased the Roti shrimp. Sooo good. Still a tad bit dry but super delicious.
(4)
Kassie E.
I title my review..."Should my Roti Goati Be THIS Crummy?" First of all let me say that as a woman of Caribbean ancestry I am disappointed. I was expecting to not wait for a really long time and surprise, surprise! I DID! C'mon Jamaicans, Trini, & Haitians....We have GOT to do better!!!! Lets start off with the Ugly... I get to the Caribbean Palace..."What you want?" umm...."o hey HELLO! Im doing great too." Thanks for asking, Trini lady-who-hates-her-job lol. PAUSE that manners lesson for a news-break ***THEY DONT TAKE CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDS*** Ok so I go out to the ATM and withdraw my precious funds, yes they've missed being hit with the what? 2.5% transaction fee Visa charges merchants....but somewhere in Credit Card Hell my bank and Citi Bank are rolling over in their graves, dancing with my $5 ATM Bank fee. Thanks CP! We now bring you back to the topic at hand. Come back with $20 ($5 psuedo) in hand...I tell the Man behind the counter, I would like a goat roti please! Ok. So I wait....and wait....and wait. Alright since I know Im an impatient person I go next door to snack on some french fries. Yes at the pizza place. Takes them all but 3 minutes to get my fries. I go back and wait....and wait some more. 10 minutes go by. I inquire "is my goat roti ready?" Why yes its been sitting on counter but she cant ring me up because she is waiting for the register to relinquish an pending order. Ok. So how long have you guys been doing this? A goat roti is $10 bucks....plus 6% tax...thats 10.60. I do the math drop off the cash plus a dime tip (lol) and grab my roti. DEUCES Open up and its a crummy, boney mess! Ive actually never had a roti before. So Im not quite sure if the roti should be crumbly? But Im guessing it shouldnt be. The curry goat has a bone in it and seriously needs some salt! is that how it should be too? IDK I cant say but it doesnt seem right. Someone back me up? All I know is. Im gonna take my ten bucks elsewhere and get speedy friendly service. PS CP We dont care that Obama ate one of your trashy goat rotis its STILL crummy!
(3)
Nique K.
The food...is amazing. Ok. Maybe not as good as the roti in NYC ..but it's as good as you will ever get here in Maryland. I enjoy coming back here for their Roti or phoulouris. I can also order a huge batch at the drop of a hat and they always have what I need. The only down side is that they take cash only. Cash is not convenient at all - but the food is worth the inconvenience of making a trip to the ATM before.
(5)
Wesley T.
How hard is it to listen to me when I order? The one specific thing I asked for was just roti skins and not Dahl puri in the roti. This has happened twice already. I drove 30 minutes there and back and of course I have to eat this at home and open the bag and it's not what I ordered. Stewed chicken contained 5 bony knobs of chicken. Not worth $9. I'm just going to make my own roti from now on. My wife liked her vegetate roti so they got an extra star.
(3)
Mike K.
This was my first time and I was very impressed by how nice they were. I also met the owner and he was really nice too. I got the double which was very delicious. If I lived close by I'd be here every week! Zig Zag the Magic Man funmakers.biz
(5)
Delie H.
Pro: Excellent goat roti and doubles. The goat is flavorful, few bones, curry is not too spicy. Doubles are my go to, I buy a few and freeze them for later. Get the tamarind pepper on the side. Con: No debit or credit, cash only. No seating. I will fight the traffic to dine here! A taste of home away from home!
(4)
Andrew M.
So let me preface this review by stating that I bought into the hype and was expecting a knock you out your socks type of food experience. I was disappointed. Me and my eating partner purposely got way too much food to try to get an accurate sampling of what CP had to offer. So we got: Doubles - pretty decent flavor on the chana, sloppy to eat. Cocoa Bread - had a previously frozen aftertaste, big nono. Beef Patty - different take: mushier contents, less flaky crust than I'm used to, but pretty good and spicy flavor. Best thing they had to offer that I tried, in my opinion. Boneless chicken Roti - basically a curry chicken and potato burrito. Not bad but not great. Goat Roti - OK flavor and texture on the goat. A bit gamier than Caribbean goat I've had elsewhere. Doesn't seem very well thought out to have bones in a wrap-style food though. Picking out the bones transformed the goat roti, or goati as I like to call it, from a portable hand-held edible into a knife and fork, hunt and pick dish. crispy dessert things (forgot the name) - not bad, hint of rosewater and cardamom, but I was done with it after eating a couple. Pineapple Ginger drink - gingery, refreshing, and delicious Plantains - didn't get to try because they ran out. How do you run out of plantains?! A lot of these were at the suggestion of the nice and very helpful young woman behind the counter. She helped to aid our decisions so we could get a good, representative sampling. She alone earned this review an extra star, keeping it from the doldrums of the 1s and 2s. Bottom line: It was worth a try, but don't believe the hype. I wouldn't go back. A couple things to take into consideration if you're going to try it: there is literally no seating, so basically a take-out only joint. And it's cash only.
(3)
Rhonda B.
Love the Roti
(5)
Cici H.
Note: CASH ONLY!!! Stopped in a little after 8pm on Saturday to grab a quick bite to eat before going out. Upon walking in, the young lady behind the counter asked the cook if they had any food left. Big, sigh!!! How do you run out of food?? Anyhoo, I ordered the Channa roti and sorta wanted something else. The lady went over the menu to let me know what was no longer available for the night. Basically the ENTIRE menu. I just stuck with my original order. When it was time to pay, I gave the lady my card and she pointed to the "Cash Only" sign. Grrrr, so I walked through the lot to get cash from the ATM. I returned, grabbed my food to go. The roti wasn't too bad, just a little crumbly. I didn't care much for the Channa filling. It was a little dry. I think I will stick to the other Trini restaurant located on Georgia Ave. This place could definitely use some customer etiquette. The lady preparing the food in the kitchen complained from the time I walked in the door up until the time I left the establishment.
(2)
Roy S.
I went back recently and I was terribly disappointed... I got the boneless chicken roti and while huge it is still $12. The food was sooooo bland... No spices at all, the roti just falls apart so everything spills, and again it had no flavor!!!
(1)
Jim P.
FYI....just wanted to let ya'll know that this place accepts credit cards. Food is solid. Take it to go. Standing room only. Friendly workers. Loud music.
(4)
Sharon C.
I swear some of the reviews on here are just silly. I grew up in Hyattsville and any true West Indian (especially a Trini) knows Caribbean Palace as a dependable go to for a decent Roti. The alternatives Teddy's Roti shop (Walter Reed), Rita's (Howard/Shaw), and Crown Bakery (Takoma), all on Georgia Ave., are reasonable contenders. In fact, I'll admit Teddy's has the best food over all, but I go to CP because it's closer and more convenient to me. What I don't get is why people are complaining about things like "crumbly" roti. It's Dahl Puri. There are crushed split peas in it, that's what Dahl Puri is. It's Roti. WITH DAHL! If you know anything about roti (as some reviews claim) you'd know that they prepare the dough, stuff it with dahl, roll it out flat , then cook several to have them ready to sell. You cannot walk in and ask for "roti skins" and be upset when you get Dahl Puri. If you want to forgo the split peas, CALL AHEAD and request an order of Buss up or Buss up shut. It's a flaky buttery, torn apart variation, and IT'S AMAZING! Problem solved. That is the only roti you'll get from CP without the dahl. As for having bones in a goat roti, direct me to a place that offers goat roti without bones and I'll stay right where I am. I suppose you like your oxtail boneless too? (Side-eye) Doubles? SLOPPY TO EAT? I won't even address that. People love to yelp about cuisines they know nothing about; and for the record complaining about having to pay with cash at a take-out business in Takoma/Langley is BEYOND pretentious. This ain't Georgetown. Get over yourself.
(4)
Christine S.
I'm not as familiar with West Indian food as I am with Indian or other ethnicities, but my husband found this place and brought home some DELICIOUS takeout when we first moved in to our place in Takoma Park. The roti is amazing - so far I've only had the chickpea and potato stuffed roti, and it's a great balance of spices and heat. We also enjoyed the jerk chicken, rice with peas, fried dough balls with a tamarind sauce (YUM!), and a chickpea curry on small naan-like circles. We will definitely be going back here again and again - we brought some of this food to my sister and she adored it as well. I'm so excited to find delicious new (to me) cuisine right nearby!
(4)
Michelle T.
Not bad of a place. The roti skin is much better then the Negril one. Pretty good. I just didn't like how I paid for my order, then the cashier went back and made it..no gloves! Eww!
(3)
Ashley W.
Let me begin with what we all want to glean from a quick glance at a restaurant's page: yes, it was absolutely fantastic. If you're Trini and you're looking for an authentic taste of home, go to Caribbean Palace. Now let's get into the juicy details. Quality Trinidadian food is notoriously difficult to find in the DC metropolitan area. I myself had to bend my rule of never entering the state of Maryland under any circumstances to find this restaurant- this, if nothing else, speaks to the rarity of the cuisine. Caribbean Palace is the best Trinidadian food I've had since the last time I visited the island. There are specific qualities that make Trini food as delicious as it is. The thinness and delicacy of the roti. The unique blend of ingredients which make aloo pie and doubles hot without sacrificing flavour. The juicy pieces of well-seasoned meat wrapped in the roti shell. Caribbean Palace has all of this and more. I was especially impressed with the way they got the flavour of the doubles right (for reference: Teddy's in NW make their doubles too sweet. It's disconcerting in a dish that's supposed to be all about spice and savour). Doubles are basically pieces of fried dough filled with curried chickpeas and can be spicy or mild. You'd usually get them from a street vendor in Trinidad. Caribbean Palace made me remember what it's like to stand outside in the heat of a sweltering day on a crowded street in Penal and take my first bite of that doughy piece of heaven. The more of the food I ate (I ordered a LOT of it- two chicken rotis, two doubles, one order of pholourie, one aloo pie) the happier I became. My best friend, who agreed to make the trek with me, rhapsodized about it too. I'd recommend trying any of the food that we ordered. Quick explanation of terms: roti is the Indian version of Middle Eastern naan. We make ours thinner, much softer, and we stuff it with spices. We usually wrap this around chicken or goat meat and eat it with our hands (be forewarned: we usually leave the bones in so ask for boneless if you prefer it. The portion sizes are really big, so bring a friend!). Aloo pie is a pocket of fried dough stuffed with spicy potatoes. Pholourie is like fried dumplings that come with a sweet and sour tamarind sauce. Now that Caribbean Palace have proven themselves with the basics I trust that the rest of their menu is just as good as what we got - be adventurous with your selections. If you don't know what something is, just ask. The girl who was working there when we went in at around 3:30PM on a Friday was obviously raised here in the states (no accent) but she looked like a Trini. I'm guessing her family runs the restaurant. She had an amazing memory- I rattled off the list of what I wanted and she went right into the kitchen without hesitation. I was impressed. All of the food came out piping hot and smelling like home- my mouth was watering as soon as she put the bag into my hands. About the area and the physical properties of the restaurant itself: Takoma Park may not be the nicest place in the world, but it's not that ghetto. For all of you who are familiar with Manassas, Virginia, it's that level of shady. Bear in mind that this is coming from someone who's well versed in shadiness, but I wouldn't blink at going there by myself during the daylight hours. The parking lot was a little cramped and people were driving like people drive in Maryland, but my car, my best friend, and myself made it back across the border unscathed. Essential things to know about the restaurant: it's the definition of a take out place (no seating) and it's cash only, so be prepared. They get your order ready surprisingly quickly and it's a cheap price for a lot of food. We got our order, we paid, we left. Simplest transaction in the world. Only two complaints from me: for those of you who have had original street vendor doubles, you might be disappointed in the thickness of the dough here. It's thin on the bottom, making it messier than it usually would be. The dough gets soggy, rips, and then the chickpeas fall through the holes. They give you the doubles wrapped in foil but it was a little bit difficult to keep all the curry in the aluminum. Also, the pholourie wasn't as light and fluffy as I expected. This might just be because I'm used to the way my grandma made it, but it was slightly disappointing. However, the tamarind sauce was spot on and the flavour of the pholourie was perfect so I can't complain too much about the texture. Despite these minor shortcomings it passed the ultimate test: my Trini mother tried the food that I brought home and she pronounced it the best Trini food she's had since she moved here. This review is long, I know, but I'm really passionate about Trinidadian cuisine. I'd recommend making the trip to Caribbean Palace whether you're a Trini who needs a fix or someone who's trying their first bite of the islands. Either way, you'll leave equal parts amazed and satisfied.
(5)
Lisa W.
This restaurant *does not have seating.* We drove an hour to satisfy our Trini food craving, planning to have an informal dinner and found that it is only take-out. There is not a single table or chair, and nowhere close by to eat outside. Somehow in my reading of the Yelp information & many of the reviews, I was unaware of this fact prior to our arrival, and I want to alert those who may come looking to have a sit-down meal. That being said, the food was really tasty (once we got back home to eat it!). My husband and his parents, who are all from Trinidad, agreed. We ordered goat roti & chicken roti, both of which were excellent. The goat had a surprisingly large amount of meat and few bones, more so than any other Trini curried goat I have had in the past. The curries were a little on the salty side, and the reviewer who said that they are oily is right - but I did not find that the oiliness took away from the tastiness of the dishes. The roti skin was exceptional - delicate and fresh. We were disappointed, though, to find that they only make buss-up-shut (paratha) with 24 hours advance notice, so if you are looking for that be sure to call in advance. We were excited to see that they serve doubles every day, even at dinner time. The barra for the doubles was soft and thin, the best I have had in the states. However, the curry in the doubles was also very salty & lacked the tanginess of tamarind sauce - it was a basic chickpea curry with a nice flavor but nothing amazing. They do have available tamarind sauce, which they did not ask if we wanted added but I am sure could have been added without difficulty. They only had 2 doubles left when we arrived in the evening, so you also might want to call ahead to order doubles if you will be bummed if they run out. Overall, a great meal. We will definitely be eating here (oh wait, getting take-out from here) again even though we live 40 miles away. We have not found any Trini food as delicious outside of the New York area, or of course Trinidad. As a side note, Islander Caribbean on U Street is not even close to the quality of Caribbean Palace & does not serve doubles or pholourie.
(4)
Sakima R.
I LOVE this place. I ordered doubles and they were hot and fresh! This is authentic good Trini food. I go every chance I am in the city. The only problem is it is cash and carry. Thank God there is an ATM next door.
(4)
Ricky W.
Tried this place based on the glowing Yelp reviews, I was a bit disappointed. First off, the prices were a bit higher than I expected. Each roti was between $8.50 and $12, for a one dollar sign place, I was thinking more like $6. We ordered a King Fish roti and a Boneless Chicken roti. The chicken roti was good, nothing amazing, but not bad. The King Fish was no good. Very bland, very overcooked. The spices used in both were nothing special, I think they added extra curry powder to make up for a lack of other flavor. The portions were fairly large. There was a good crowd inside, which I took as a good sign. The food was certainly fresh made, and the lady behind the counter was nice enough. The 2 star description of "Meh, I've experienced better" suits this place to a T.
(2)
Jim H.
The food here is unreal. Amazing roti with fish, chicken, goat etc. I've never had anything that was less than stellar here. Just to clarify, it is in Langley Park rather than Takoma, which has a different vibe. If you don't have a problem being around brown people then there are no worries with the neighborhood but I see some UMD kids who seem to think that they're in the middle of an episode of The Wire because everyone's not white and driving 40k car. It is only carry out but the meals are so self contained all you really need is a bench in a park on a nice afternoon for this reasonably priced but top notch stuff.
(5)
Brian R.
I got a chicken roti, which was quite good, kind of like a Caribbean/Indian burrito. Next time, I'll get the boneless chicken options, so I can just bite into it. Oh, and Trinidadian women are as attractive as everyone says, so your server behind the counter may be super fine.
(5)
C C.
LOVE this place. One of my favorites. But first, this is Langley Park, NOT Takoma Park. It might be right on the edge, but this is definitely the Langley Park neighborhood. There's nothing wrong with Langley Park, but it's a different town, and a different county (PG as opposed to Montgomery). The food is really, really good. I enjoy living in the area because of the diversity of inexpensive restaurants, and this is one of the neighborhood gems. Ashley W from Virginia can stay on her homophobic, lily white, gun-toting side of the Potomac. I went to college in Virginia, and was glad to get the heck away from that redneck state. Stay over there, honey. We don't need you over here.
(5)
Rob C.
came here for carry out. haven't had a lot of Trinidadian Roti but had a good one in Miami. got a boneless chicken one here, stuffed with potatoes, moist, soft thin roti, flavor overall was pretty good, a little drier and could use a little more spice. pineapple ginger drink was nice and gingery. also tried the tamarind balls but didn't like them so much.
(4)
Erica B.
I'm not West Indian by a long shot but trust me I know good West Indian food when I taste. This is by far the best Caribbean food on MD.... hands down. I had an order of doubles (that was my first time), and the stewed chicken platter with spinach, potatoes, rice and red beans. I cant believe I forgot the bread! This food honestly taste like someone 's West Indian grandmother made it. The best partcis I only paid a total of 10.81. Sweet Mango in DC would have ran me at least $2 more. The only bunker is I wish you had an option of choosing white or dark meat (I prefer white).. sweet mango gives you the option. By as one of my good Trini friends explained to me many yrs ago that Caribbean prefer bone in chicken so must of then only cook with that. *shrugs* This place is about 35-40 mins from my home so its definitely not a hop, skip and jump from me but when I'm on that side of town I promise to only eat there. Give it a try... u wont be disappointed.
(5)
Barry E.
I'm sitting in the parking lot outside Caribbean Palace as I write this, having once again enjoyed one of their amazing rotis. Seriously folks, we're talking roti perfection here: fresh, soft, roti, sprinkled with chickpea flour on the inside, with delicious, flavor-packed fillings on the inside. I only have the veggie ones, which I absolutely love, but I have to think the meat ones are at least as good. Like the previous reviewer said, it's completely no-frills, cash only, but strictly delicious! P.S. Be sure to ask for their hot sauce in your roti. It's got a serious kick.
(5)
Karla W.
great trini fare!!! Doubles doubles doubles
(4)
iona p.
Greetings everyone out there in YELP/internet land and those looking for a beyond mediocre quality of food & service providing authentic tasting "Trinidadian" style caribbean food, "ALL YUH FIND DE RIGHT PLACE"!!! Just this evening, i was on the internet/google looking for another place/option, outside of Rita's carryout (off of Georgia Ave near the Howard University area), for my roti "fix"..and i stumbled across this particular listing. I saw that the ratings blew Rita's out of the water in damn near EVERY category/aspect..from quality of food/flavor to quality of customer service. I called Caribbean Palace around 7p (they close at 8p) and ordered 6 of the PLAIN Roti skins (that's the term used for PLAIN ROTI w/o ANYTHING...no curry, chana, vegetables, meat...etc.), so i could have to use with MY OWN homemade curry chicken/goat..etc.(most caribbean restaurants in my opinion try so hard "cut corners" that their curry's quality of flavor suffers, so i make my own. By the way, "we" refer to the different dishes offered as CURRY CHICKEN/CURRIED CHICKEN, CURRY GOAT/CURRIED GOAT, STEWED CHICKEN..etc. NOT "chicken curry", "goat curry" or "chicken stew"...that is not the way Trinidadians and Tobagonians say it. That is the correct way to say/order it, just so no one has to look or sound "silly" needlessly) I was coming from quite in Woodbridge, VA and i arrived about 8:10p-8:15p and i called them as soon as i got RIGHT ON NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE. and they WAITED for ME!!! (that kind of service & KINDNESS is a TRUE RARITY in this day and age!! and that kind of service warrants unwavering loyalty and a handsome tip this evening!! But DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE GOOD PEOPLE, if you haven't showed up without any phone call to tell them where you're at/what happened, THEY WILL PACK UP & CLOSE FOR THE DAY WITHOUT YOU...hell, we're Trinis, we does have lives and family outside of WORK too, ya know!)...LOL!!!! The best part WAS that while i was still sitting in my car in front of the store, i decided to take a "quick bite" (with my gluttonous shameless @ss! LOL!!!)..to see if it was worth the drive and law shattering speed to bust it up there..AND IT WAS WORTH IT!!!!! and then SOME!!! The roti's flavor was ON POINT (having the right amount of ground split peas, geerah and a pleasantly surprising mild lingering heat on the back end of the roti's flavor. The dough is also rolled out to the best thickness and circumference making the size of the Roti Skin FIERCE!!! and nice & LARGE for those of us out there with a cosmic "black hole" for a stomach/appetite!!). After my "quick sampling", I flew back out of my car and ordered 4 MORE Roti Skins, making my grand total 10! (I wasn't going to be coming back up to MD from VA for a good while, i decided to "stock up"..lol!), so you can bet all yuh sweet backsides you WILL be filled and fiercely satisfied...me, myself hasn't any qualms paying a decent buck or several for QUALITY! Let's face it everyone MOST of the time "cheap food" tastes just LIKE THAT, "CHEAP"!!!! You ALWAYS get what you pay for..and in all honesty the prices aren't bad AT ALL considering potion size, quality, FLAVOR & quality of service!! Your tastebuds are worth the "investment"---admits that with unwavering GUSTO!!! I am a product of a DIE HARD, West Indian "Ol' School", Countryside Tobagonian mother & Malik Trinidadian native father..and i grew up my WHOLE entire life going back & forth from the DC Metro Area to BOTH Trinidad AND Tobago at least 2 times a year, many many times spending a whole "summer vacation" between BOTH islands since I was a TODDLER...I am now in my LATE LATE 20s, so let's just say that I'm not a novice in the flavors, culture & heritage of the twin island nation, BUT don't get me wrong i won't get too overzealous & claim (lacking humility), that i'm a so-called "expert"... So i hope that the Trinidadians & Tobagonians, as well as any of our fellow Caribbean brethren/sistren, & last but definitely never least all the "non-west indian/caribbean" decent/ethnicity fans of all our culture and cuisine, looking for some legit, real deal holyfield, fierce & authentic as it gets for being outside of Trinidad/NYC/Miami FOOD (specifically TRINIDADIAN styled), you all have came to the right yelp listing/review(s)!!! So once again, i do apologize for the NOVEL of a review I left you all out there. All i hope is to genuinely be of some help/service, slight entertainment & to share an unbridled, honest, truthful and eternally helpful comment/review... BE LIKE NIKE ANYONE READING THIS, AND "JUST DO IT!!"...go to Caribbean Palace and go for the gusto, you only live once!!! and please take it from a young woman with undiluted Trinidadian AND Tobagonian upbringing, raising and instilling...the roti offered at THIS VENUE is the closest you'll get to the real proper tasting thing outside of NYC, Miami AND Sweet Sweet T N T!!!! Bless up, ALL!! LIVE, LOVE and EAT through LIFE!!! P.E.A.C.E.
(5)
Sonal P.
I've been eating here for over a decade now and the food is just AWESOME! It's the best West-Indian food I've ever had & would recommend it to everyone!
(5)
Daniel L.
I'm not sure whether the review below is correctly attributed to the Caribbean Palace in the shopping center at the corner of University and New Hampshire. Caribbean Palace is strictly take-out and cash only. My Caribbean friends tell me this is as close to Trinidad and Tobago as you can get in the DC area. Their rotis, doubles, and curries are amazing. I am partial to their goat roti, chicken stew, as well as their vegetarian offerings. Understand, this is a no-nonsense take-out counter, but do not let this prevent you from getting some absolutely positively delicious food with the best flavor. Service is very friendly and very fast. I only wish they had some seating so I could eat their food fresh out of the kitchen.
(5)
Jeremy M.
My girlfriend turned me on to this place. I always get the roti with half spinach/ half chickpeas. I'm too into that to try anything else. I can barely eat it all in one sitting, but I almost always do.
(5)
A R.
I am TOTALLY confused on why this place receives good reviews. I went there for the first time and ordered 3 different dinners so that my family and I could share. I typically go to another place but kept passing this one and wanted to give it a try. EACH ONE was horrible and very poorly seasoned. There was not one good thing on the plate from the main dish to the sides. VERY disappointing. My husband is from Jamaican descent and I waiting for his response before I said anything. He also said the food was lousy and wanted to return it. I thought that we a little much but I will certainly not go back. YUCK.
(1)
Lily Z.
Amazing! This is my first experience with Caribbean food and I am way impressed. After gleaning the other Yelp reviews, I went with a roti, a dinner, and an appetizer, which was more than enough to feed my parents and myself. GOAT ROTI: a big delicious packet of meat and potatoes and spices wrapped up in a roti skin. The goat was very tender and came bones-in, but the experience of biting into a wrap and spitting out bones wasn't nearly as awkward as I thought it might be. The flavor and texture were both heavenly. The roti skin was soft and chewy and lightly dusted with flour? This was by far the best part. STEW CHICKEN: nothing spectacular after having had the roti, but quite competently done. I didn't care much for the spinach (kind of clumped together), but the plantains were sweet and chewy and the chicken tender and flavorful. The rice was nothing to write home about but there was quite a bit of it. DOUBLES: I was expecting something a little more crispy and chutney-ish from the wikipedia, but it was quite tasty and cheap. The bread was soft and the filling was well spiced. Seemed to be primarily chickpea. In sum: delicious and fulfilling. Not jaw-droppingly cheap, but great portions for the price. I also know I'll be craving more of that roti for a while yet.
(5)
Andre F.
Coming from a Trinidadian family, I love to eat trini food. So I consider myself an "expert" in the trini restaurants to eat at. Caribbean Palace is definitely one of them. If you're looking for good doubles, roti, buss up shut, or plain ole curry here is where you'll find it best in the DC metropolitan area...apart from granny of course...lol! Trust me, you won't find any better! It's a true carry out atmosphere though. There are a few seats to sit in while you wait, but no tables to eat at. Go to a restaurant if you want to sit and eat...lol! Also, if you decide to check it out, bring cash! Like most other carry outs they only accept cash. If you forget to bring cash, you're safe. It's located in a strip mall/shopping center and there's a chase bank as well as a wachovia in walking distance.
(5)
Maisha H.
Stopped by for lunch the other day. I didnt know this place from jack. Never had heard of it. Dont frequent the area so I had never even seen it. It was simply the first Caribbean spot I saw while looking for some place to satisfy my island food craving. I had some stewed chicken, plantains and red beans and rice. Very flavorful and well seasoned. I really hate to ruin the stellar ratings but I must say my plantains were a bit dry and not as sweet as I would have preferred. Hey, it happens....won't stop me from coming back though.
(4)
Brittany B.
I had the shrimp roti and it was delicious! I also ordered their special of the day which was the stew chicken with rice and red beans, alongside spinach and plantains. The stew chicken was really good also but I wish they gave a larger portion of plantains. They only take cash that is a bit inconveniencing. Overall I would definitely go back!
(4)
Nikki R.
I pass this place a lot from work and thought I would stop this evening. I was especially in the mood for some Caribbean food. I was surprised and happy to hear that they sell curried goat. I specifically asked if it was goat particularly because they advertise their food as Caribbean. These people are damn crooks! How can you be advertising lamb meet as goat meat?!!! And to make matter worse, it tasted like crap. They will not be seeing me again. It's possible the worse tasting food I have ever had.
(1)
Julia B.
Pretty good overall. Definitely not an inviting atmosphere but the staff was sweet. My party ordered all roti- literally tried one of each. They were fine. I'd say the only one I would order again would be the boneless chicken. Think chicken breasts sliced in roti. Salt fish was ok. Veggie good. Beef good. Shrimp not great.
(3)
Wesley T.
How hard is it to listen to me when I order? The one specific thing I asked for was just roti skins and not Dahl puri in the roti. This has happened twice already. I drove 30 minutes there and back and of course I have to eat this at home and open the bag and it's not what I ordered. Stewed chicken contained 5 bony knobs of chicken. Not worth $9. I'm just going to make my own roti from now on. My wife liked her vegetate roti so they got an extra star.
(3)
Mike K.
This was my first time and I was very impressed by how nice they were. I also met the owner and he was really nice too. I got the double which was very delicious. If I lived close by I'd be here every week! Zig Zag the Magic Man funmakers.biz
(5)
Delie H.
Pro: Excellent goat roti and doubles. The goat is flavorful, few bones, curry is not too spicy. Doubles are my go to, I buy a few and freeze them for later. Get the tamarind pepper on the side. Con: No debit or credit, cash only. No seating. I will fight the traffic to dine here! A taste of home away from home!
(4)
Col S.
This unassuming carry out is well worth the hike. And boasts, in my opinion, some of the best roti in the DMV. Don't expect much in the way of ambiance, aside from a floral curtain and a photo of Obama, there is no decor. Food is made away from the eye behind a pane of drywall. And unless you get there early in the day, you'll probably miss out on some of the more popular items, boneless chicken and doubles. This is a family-run joint so you'll most likely be waited on by either the mother or very friendly daughter. My go-to is the goat roti and doubles with extra tamarind sauce. Don't expect to dine-in, there's no seating and make sure to bring cash, this place is cash only.
(5)
Mai S.
I ordered the oxtails. It was accompanied with peas and rice and cabbage. I would love for the oxtails to be seasoned a little more. The rice and cabbage were very good. I tried the plantains that were delicious. Crunchy outside soft center. I would try this restaurant again.
(3)
Santana Ross W.
I ordered the goat roti and was not impressed. The best thing was the tamarind sauce. I loved that. Maybe next time I'll try a different type of roti.
(2)
Melissa D.
As a Trini woman, I was excited to find a place that sold roti, but I ended up feeling disappointed. For most Americans hoping to find good "ethnic food," you'll honestly probably enjoy it. The variety is okay and it doesn't taste bad. However, as someone who grew up eating this, I was disappointed. I know how good it can taste, and that did NOT meet my expectations. The sauce for the pholouri left much to be desired and the goat roti wasn't as good as I'm used to. Also, the lady was rather curt with me and I had to pay with cash.
(2)
Crystal P.
Big up! I traveled all the way from Arlington VA to take in some Trini food! In Brooklyn, these places are a dime a dozen. In the southern state you have to drive mile for it. With that said, if I come to your establishment, you better believe I m going to review you. I recommend this place! It's cash only. Most places with good food are. I was recommended to this place by a police office at my job. I ordered 3 roti. Two chicken and one shrimp. It was absolutely delicious. No I didn't eat all of them myself. I didn't like the trini soda. I m going back for the one of the dishes with the trini fried rice. Good spot!
(4)
Jeanall M.
The first time I ate here I purchased the Roti Chicken. Didn't really like it, it was a little dry. But I gave it another chance and purchased the Roti shrimp. Sooo good. Still a tad bit dry but super delicious.
(4)
Kassie E.
I title my review..."Should my Roti Goati Be THIS Crummy?" First of all let me say that as a woman of Caribbean ancestry I am disappointed. I was expecting to not wait for a really long time and surprise, surprise! I DID! C'mon Jamaicans, Trini, & Haitians....We have GOT to do better!!!! Lets start off with the Ugly... I get to the Caribbean Palace..."What you want?" umm...."o hey HELLO! Im doing great too." Thanks for asking, Trini lady-who-hates-her-job lol. PAUSE that manners lesson for a news-break ***THEY DONT TAKE CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDS*** Ok so I go out to the ATM and withdraw my precious funds, yes they've missed being hit with the what? 2.5% transaction fee Visa charges merchants....but somewhere in Credit Card Hell my bank and Citi Bank are rolling over in their graves, dancing with my $5 ATM Bank fee. Thanks CP! We now bring you back to the topic at hand. Come back with $20 ($5 psuedo) in hand...I tell the Man behind the counter, I would like a goat roti please! Ok. So I wait....and wait....and wait. Alright since I know Im an impatient person I go next door to snack on some french fries. Yes at the pizza place. Takes them all but 3 minutes to get my fries. I go back and wait....and wait some more. 10 minutes go by. I inquire "is my goat roti ready?" Why yes its been sitting on counter but she cant ring me up because she is waiting for the register to relinquish an pending order. Ok. So how long have you guys been doing this? A goat roti is $10 bucks....plus 6% tax...thats 10.60. I do the math drop off the cash plus a dime tip (lol) and grab my roti. DEUCES Open up and its a crummy, boney mess! Ive actually never had a roti before. So Im not quite sure if the roti should be crumbly? But Im guessing it shouldnt be. The curry goat has a bone in it and seriously needs some salt! is that how it should be too? IDK I cant say but it doesnt seem right. Someone back me up? All I know is. Im gonna take my ten bucks elsewhere and get speedy friendly service. PS CP We dont care that Obama ate one of your trashy goat rotis its STILL crummy!
(3)
Nique K.
The food...is amazing. Ok. Maybe not as good as the roti in NYC ..but it's as good as you will ever get here in Maryland. I enjoy coming back here for their Roti or phoulouris. I can also order a huge batch at the drop of a hat and they always have what I need. The only down side is that they take cash only. Cash is not convenient at all - but the food is worth the inconvenience of making a trip to the ATM before.
(5)
Sharon C.
I swear some of the reviews on here are just silly. I grew up in Hyattsville and any true West Indian (especially a Trini) knows Caribbean Palace as a dependable go to for a decent Roti. The alternatives Teddy's Roti shop (Walter Reed), Rita's (Howard/Shaw), and Crown Bakery (Takoma), all on Georgia Ave., are reasonable contenders. In fact, I'll admit Teddy's has the best food over all, but I go to CP because it's closer and more convenient to me. What I don't get is why people are complaining about things like "crumbly" roti. It's Dahl Puri. There are crushed split peas in it, that's what Dahl Puri is. It's Roti. WITH DAHL! If you know anything about roti (as some reviews claim) you'd know that they prepare the dough, stuff it with dahl, roll it out flat , then cook several to have them ready to sell. You cannot walk in and ask for "roti skins" and be upset when you get Dahl Puri. If you want to forgo the split peas, CALL AHEAD and request an order of Buss up or Buss up shut. It's a flaky buttery, torn apart variation, and IT'S AMAZING! Problem solved. That is the only roti you'll get from CP without the dahl. As for having bones in a goat roti, direct me to a place that offers goat roti without bones and I'll stay right where I am. I suppose you like your oxtail boneless too? (Side-eye) Doubles? SLOPPY TO EAT? I won't even address that. People love to yelp about cuisines they know nothing about; and for the record complaining about having to pay with cash at a take-out business in Takoma/Langley is BEYOND pretentious. This ain't Georgetown. Get over yourself.
(4)
Ashley W.
Let me begin with what we all want to glean from a quick glance at a restaurant's page: yes, it was absolutely fantastic. If you're Trini and you're looking for an authentic taste of home, go to Caribbean Palace. Now let's get into the juicy details. Quality Trinidadian food is notoriously difficult to find in the DC metropolitan area. I myself had to bend my rule of never entering the state of Maryland under any circumstances to find this restaurant- this, if nothing else, speaks to the rarity of the cuisine. Caribbean Palace is the best Trinidadian food I've had since the last time I visited the island. There are specific qualities that make Trini food as delicious as it is. The thinness and delicacy of the roti. The unique blend of ingredients which make aloo pie and doubles hot without sacrificing flavour. The juicy pieces of well-seasoned meat wrapped in the roti shell. Caribbean Palace has all of this and more. I was especially impressed with the way they got the flavour of the doubles right (for reference: Teddy's in NW make their doubles too sweet. It's disconcerting in a dish that's supposed to be all about spice and savour). Doubles are basically pieces of fried dough filled with curried chickpeas and can be spicy or mild. You'd usually get them from a street vendor in Trinidad. Caribbean Palace made me remember what it's like to stand outside in the heat of a sweltering day on a crowded street in Penal and take my first bite of that doughy piece of heaven. The more of the food I ate (I ordered a LOT of it- two chicken rotis, two doubles, one order of pholourie, one aloo pie) the happier I became. My best friend, who agreed to make the trek with me, rhapsodized about it too. I'd recommend trying any of the food that we ordered. Quick explanation of terms: roti is the Indian version of Middle Eastern naan. We make ours thinner, much softer, and we stuff it with spices. We usually wrap this around chicken or goat meat and eat it with our hands (be forewarned: we usually leave the bones in so ask for boneless if you prefer it. The portion sizes are really big, so bring a friend!). Aloo pie is a pocket of fried dough stuffed with spicy potatoes. Pholourie is like fried dumplings that come with a sweet and sour tamarind sauce. Now that Caribbean Palace have proven themselves with the basics I trust that the rest of their menu is just as good as what we got - be adventurous with your selections. If you don't know what something is, just ask. The girl who was working there when we went in at around 3:30PM on a Friday was obviously raised here in the states (no accent) but she looked like a Trini. I'm guessing her family runs the restaurant. She had an amazing memory- I rattled off the list of what I wanted and she went right into the kitchen without hesitation. I was impressed. All of the food came out piping hot and smelling like home- my mouth was watering as soon as she put the bag into my hands. About the area and the physical properties of the restaurant itself: Takoma Park may not be the nicest place in the world, but it's not that ghetto. For all of you who are familiar with Manassas, Virginia, it's that level of shady. Bear in mind that this is coming from someone who's well versed in shadiness, but I wouldn't blink at going there by myself during the daylight hours. The parking lot was a little cramped and people were driving like people drive in Maryland, but my car, my best friend, and myself made it back across the border unscathed. Essential things to know about the restaurant: it's the definition of a take out place (no seating) and it's cash only, so be prepared. They get your order ready surprisingly quickly and it's a cheap price for a lot of food. We got our order, we paid, we left. Simplest transaction in the world. Only two complaints from me: for those of you who have had original street vendor doubles, you might be disappointed in the thickness of the dough here. It's thin on the bottom, making it messier than it usually would be. The dough gets soggy, rips, and then the chickpeas fall through the holes. They give you the doubles wrapped in foil but it was a little bit difficult to keep all the curry in the aluminum. Also, the pholourie wasn't as light and fluffy as I expected. This might just be because I'm used to the way my grandma made it, but it was slightly disappointing. However, the tamarind sauce was spot on and the flavour of the pholourie was perfect so I can't complain too much about the texture. Despite these minor shortcomings it passed the ultimate test: my Trini mother tried the food that I brought home and she pronounced it the best Trini food she's had since she moved here. This review is long, I know, but I'm really passionate about Trinidadian cuisine. I'd recommend making the trip to Caribbean Palace whether you're a Trini who needs a fix or someone who's trying their first bite of the islands. Either way, you'll leave equal parts amazed and satisfied.
(5)
Andre F.
Coming from a Trinidadian family, I love to eat trini food. So I consider myself an "expert" in the trini restaurants to eat at. Caribbean Palace is definitely one of them. If you're looking for good doubles, roti, buss up shut, or plain ole curry here is where you'll find it best in the DC metropolitan area...apart from granny of course...lol! Trust me, you won't find any better! It's a true carry out atmosphere though. There are a few seats to sit in while you wait, but no tables to eat at. Go to a restaurant if you want to sit and eat...lol! Also, if you decide to check it out, bring cash! Like most other carry outs they only accept cash. If you forget to bring cash, you're safe. It's located in a strip mall/shopping center and there's a chase bank as well as a wachovia in walking distance.
(5)
Ricky W.
Tried this place based on the glowing Yelp reviews, I was a bit disappointed. First off, the prices were a bit higher than I expected. Each roti was between $8.50 and $12, for a one dollar sign place, I was thinking more like $6. We ordered a King Fish roti and a Boneless Chicken roti. The chicken roti was good, nothing amazing, but not bad. The King Fish was no good. Very bland, very overcooked. The spices used in both were nothing special, I think they added extra curry powder to make up for a lack of other flavor. The portions were fairly large. There was a good crowd inside, which I took as a good sign. The food was certainly fresh made, and the lady behind the counter was nice enough. The 2 star description of "Meh, I've experienced better" suits this place to a T.
(2)
Jim H.
The food here is unreal. Amazing roti with fish, chicken, goat etc. I've never had anything that was less than stellar here. Just to clarify, it is in Langley Park rather than Takoma, which has a different vibe. If you don't have a problem being around brown people then there are no worries with the neighborhood but I see some UMD kids who seem to think that they're in the middle of an episode of The Wire because everyone's not white and driving 40k car. It is only carry out but the meals are so self contained all you really need is a bench in a park on a nice afternoon for this reasonably priced but top notch stuff.
(5)
Brian R.
I got a chicken roti, which was quite good, kind of like a Caribbean/Indian burrito. Next time, I'll get the boneless chicken options, so I can just bite into it. Oh, and Trinidadian women are as attractive as everyone says, so your server behind the counter may be super fine.
(5)
C C.
LOVE this place. One of my favorites. But first, this is Langley Park, NOT Takoma Park. It might be right on the edge, but this is definitely the Langley Park neighborhood. There's nothing wrong with Langley Park, but it's a different town, and a different county (PG as opposed to Montgomery). The food is really, really good. I enjoy living in the area because of the diversity of inexpensive restaurants, and this is one of the neighborhood gems. Ashley W from Virginia can stay on her homophobic, lily white, gun-toting side of the Potomac. I went to college in Virginia, and was glad to get the heck away from that redneck state. Stay over there, honey. We don't need you over here.
(5)
Rob C.
came here for carry out. haven't had a lot of Trinidadian Roti but had a good one in Miami. got a boneless chicken one here, stuffed with potatoes, moist, soft thin roti, flavor overall was pretty good, a little drier and could use a little more spice. pineapple ginger drink was nice and gingery. also tried the tamarind balls but didn't like them so much.
(4)
Andrew M.
So let me preface this review by stating that I bought into the hype and was expecting a knock you out your socks type of food experience. I was disappointed. Me and my eating partner purposely got way too much food to try to get an accurate sampling of what CP had to offer. So we got: Doubles - pretty decent flavor on the chana, sloppy to eat. Cocoa Bread - had a previously frozen aftertaste, big nono. Beef Patty - different take: mushier contents, less flaky crust than I'm used to, but pretty good and spicy flavor. Best thing they had to offer that I tried, in my opinion. Boneless chicken Roti - basically a curry chicken and potato burrito. Not bad but not great. Goat Roti - OK flavor and texture on the goat. A bit gamier than Caribbean goat I've had elsewhere. Doesn't seem very well thought out to have bones in a wrap-style food though. Picking out the bones transformed the goat roti, or goati as I like to call it, from a portable hand-held edible into a knife and fork, hunt and pick dish. crispy dessert things (forgot the name) - not bad, hint of rosewater and cardamom, but I was done with it after eating a couple. Pineapple Ginger drink - gingery, refreshing, and delicious Plantains - didn't get to try because they ran out. How do you run out of plantains?! A lot of these were at the suggestion of the nice and very helpful young woman behind the counter. She helped to aid our decisions so we could get a good, representative sampling. She alone earned this review an extra star, keeping it from the doldrums of the 1s and 2s. Bottom line: It was worth a try, but don't believe the hype. I wouldn't go back. A couple things to take into consideration if you're going to try it: there is literally no seating, so basically a take-out only joint. And it's cash only.
(3)
Rhonda B.
Love the Roti
(5)
Cici H.
Note: CASH ONLY!!! Stopped in a little after 8pm on Saturday to grab a quick bite to eat before going out. Upon walking in, the young lady behind the counter asked the cook if they had any food left. Big, sigh!!! How do you run out of food?? Anyhoo, I ordered the Channa roti and sorta wanted something else. The lady went over the menu to let me know what was no longer available for the night. Basically the ENTIRE menu. I just stuck with my original order. When it was time to pay, I gave the lady my card and she pointed to the "Cash Only" sign. Grrrr, so I walked through the lot to get cash from the ATM. I returned, grabbed my food to go. The roti wasn't too bad, just a little crumbly. I didn't care much for the Channa filling. It was a little dry. I think I will stick to the other Trini restaurant located on Georgia Ave. This place could definitely use some customer etiquette. The lady preparing the food in the kitchen complained from the time I walked in the door up until the time I left the establishment.
(2)
Roy S.
I went back recently and I was terribly disappointed... I got the boneless chicken roti and while huge it is still $12. The food was sooooo bland... No spices at all, the roti just falls apart so everything spills, and again it had no flavor!!!
(1)
Jim P.
FYI....just wanted to let ya'll know that this place accepts credit cards. Food is solid. Take it to go. Standing room only. Friendly workers. Loud music.
(4)
Erica B.
I'm not West Indian by a long shot but trust me I know good West Indian food when I taste. This is by far the best Caribbean food on MD.... hands down. I had an order of doubles (that was my first time), and the stewed chicken platter with spinach, potatoes, rice and red beans. I cant believe I forgot the bread! This food honestly taste like someone 's West Indian grandmother made it. The best partcis I only paid a total of 10.81. Sweet Mango in DC would have ran me at least $2 more. The only bunker is I wish you had an option of choosing white or dark meat (I prefer white).. sweet mango gives you the option. By as one of my good Trini friends explained to me many yrs ago that Caribbean prefer bone in chicken so must of then only cook with that. *shrugs* This place is about 35-40 mins from my home so its definitely not a hop, skip and jump from me but when I'm on that side of town I promise to only eat there. Give it a try... u wont be disappointed.
(5)
Christine S.
I'm not as familiar with West Indian food as I am with Indian or other ethnicities, but my husband found this place and brought home some DELICIOUS takeout when we first moved in to our place in Takoma Park. The roti is amazing - so far I've only had the chickpea and potato stuffed roti, and it's a great balance of spices and heat. We also enjoyed the jerk chicken, rice with peas, fried dough balls with a tamarind sauce (YUM!), and a chickpea curry on small naan-like circles. We will definitely be going back here again and again - we brought some of this food to my sister and she adored it as well. I'm so excited to find delicious new (to me) cuisine right nearby!
(4)
Lily Z.
Amazing! This is my first experience with Caribbean food and I am way impressed. After gleaning the other Yelp reviews, I went with a roti, a dinner, and an appetizer, which was more than enough to feed my parents and myself. GOAT ROTI: a big delicious packet of meat and potatoes and spices wrapped up in a roti skin. The goat was very tender and came bones-in, but the experience of biting into a wrap and spitting out bones wasn't nearly as awkward as I thought it might be. The flavor and texture were both heavenly. The roti skin was soft and chewy and lightly dusted with flour? This was by far the best part. STEW CHICKEN: nothing spectacular after having had the roti, but quite competently done. I didn't care much for the spinach (kind of clumped together), but the plantains were sweet and chewy and the chicken tender and flavorful. The rice was nothing to write home about but there was quite a bit of it. DOUBLES: I was expecting something a little more crispy and chutney-ish from the wikipedia, but it was quite tasty and cheap. The bread was soft and the filling was well spiced. Seemed to be primarily chickpea. In sum: delicious and fulfilling. Not jaw-droppingly cheap, but great portions for the price. I also know I'll be craving more of that roti for a while yet.
(5)
A R.
I am TOTALLY confused on why this place receives good reviews. I went there for the first time and ordered 3 different dinners so that my family and I could share. I typically go to another place but kept passing this one and wanted to give it a try. EACH ONE was horrible and very poorly seasoned. There was not one good thing on the plate from the main dish to the sides. VERY disappointing. My husband is from Jamaican descent and I waiting for his response before I said anything. He also said the food was lousy and wanted to return it. I thought that we a little much but I will certainly not go back. YUCK.
(1)
Lisa W.
This restaurant *does not have seating.* We drove an hour to satisfy our Trini food craving, planning to have an informal dinner and found that it is only take-out. There is not a single table or chair, and nowhere close by to eat outside. Somehow in my reading of the Yelp information & many of the reviews, I was unaware of this fact prior to our arrival, and I want to alert those who may come looking to have a sit-down meal. That being said, the food was really tasty (once we got back home to eat it!). My husband and his parents, who are all from Trinidad, agreed. We ordered goat roti & chicken roti, both of which were excellent. The goat had a surprisingly large amount of meat and few bones, more so than any other Trini curried goat I have had in the past. The curries were a little on the salty side, and the reviewer who said that they are oily is right - but I did not find that the oiliness took away from the tastiness of the dishes. The roti skin was exceptional - delicate and fresh. We were disappointed, though, to find that they only make buss-up-shut (paratha) with 24 hours advance notice, so if you are looking for that be sure to call in advance. We were excited to see that they serve doubles every day, even at dinner time. The barra for the doubles was soft and thin, the best I have had in the states. However, the curry in the doubles was also very salty & lacked the tanginess of tamarind sauce - it was a basic chickpea curry with a nice flavor but nothing amazing. They do have available tamarind sauce, which they did not ask if we wanted added but I am sure could have been added without difficulty. They only had 2 doubles left when we arrived in the evening, so you also might want to call ahead to order doubles if you will be bummed if they run out. Overall, a great meal. We will definitely be eating here (oh wait, getting take-out from here) again even though we live 40 miles away. We have not found any Trini food as delicious outside of the New York area, or of course Trinidad. As a side note, Islander Caribbean on U Street is not even close to the quality of Caribbean Palace & does not serve doubles or pholourie.
(4)
Sakima R.
I LOVE this place. I ordered doubles and they were hot and fresh! This is authentic good Trini food. I go every chance I am in the city. The only problem is it is cash and carry. Thank God there is an ATM next door.
(4)
Maisha H.
Stopped by for lunch the other day. I didnt know this place from jack. Never had heard of it. Dont frequent the area so I had never even seen it. It was simply the first Caribbean spot I saw while looking for some place to satisfy my island food craving. I had some stewed chicken, plantains and red beans and rice. Very flavorful and well seasoned. I really hate to ruin the stellar ratings but I must say my plantains were a bit dry and not as sweet as I would have preferred. Hey, it happens....won't stop me from coming back though.
(4)
Michelle T.
Not bad of a place. The roti skin is much better then the Negril one. Pretty good. I just didn't like how I paid for my order, then the cashier went back and made it..no gloves! Eww!
(3)
Daniel L.
I'm not sure whether the review below is correctly attributed to the Caribbean Palace in the shopping center at the corner of University and New Hampshire. Caribbean Palace is strictly take-out and cash only. My Caribbean friends tell me this is as close to Trinidad and Tobago as you can get in the DC area. Their rotis, doubles, and curries are amazing. I am partial to their goat roti, chicken stew, as well as their vegetarian offerings. Understand, this is a no-nonsense take-out counter, but do not let this prevent you from getting some absolutely positively delicious food with the best flavor. Service is very friendly and very fast. I only wish they had some seating so I could eat their food fresh out of the kitchen.
(5)
Jeremy M.
My girlfriend turned me on to this place. I always get the roti with half spinach/ half chickpeas. I'm too into that to try anything else. I can barely eat it all in one sitting, but I almost always do.
(5)
Barry E.
I'm sitting in the parking lot outside Caribbean Palace as I write this, having once again enjoyed one of their amazing rotis. Seriously folks, we're talking roti perfection here: fresh, soft, roti, sprinkled with chickpea flour on the inside, with delicious, flavor-packed fillings on the inside. I only have the veggie ones, which I absolutely love, but I have to think the meat ones are at least as good. Like the previous reviewer said, it's completely no-frills, cash only, but strictly delicious! P.S. Be sure to ask for their hot sauce in your roti. It's got a serious kick.
(5)
Karla W.
great trini fare!!! Doubles doubles doubles
(4)
iona p.
Greetings everyone out there in YELP/internet land and those looking for a beyond mediocre quality of food & service providing authentic tasting "Trinidadian" style caribbean food, "ALL YUH FIND DE RIGHT PLACE"!!! Just this evening, i was on the internet/google looking for another place/option, outside of Rita's carryout (off of Georgia Ave near the Howard University area), for my roti "fix"..and i stumbled across this particular listing. I saw that the ratings blew Rita's out of the water in damn near EVERY category/aspect..from quality of food/flavor to quality of customer service. I called Caribbean Palace around 7p (they close at 8p) and ordered 6 of the PLAIN Roti skins (that's the term used for PLAIN ROTI w/o ANYTHING...no curry, chana, vegetables, meat...etc.), so i could have to use with MY OWN homemade curry chicken/goat..etc.(most caribbean restaurants in my opinion try so hard "cut corners" that their curry's quality of flavor suffers, so i make my own. By the way, "we" refer to the different dishes offered as CURRY CHICKEN/CURRIED CHICKEN, CURRY GOAT/CURRIED GOAT, STEWED CHICKEN..etc. NOT "chicken curry", "goat curry" or "chicken stew"...that is not the way Trinidadians and Tobagonians say it. That is the correct way to say/order it, just so no one has to look or sound "silly" needlessly) I was coming from quite in Woodbridge, VA and i arrived about 8:10p-8:15p and i called them as soon as i got RIGHT ON NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE. and they WAITED for ME!!! (that kind of service & KINDNESS is a TRUE RARITY in this day and age!! and that kind of service warrants unwavering loyalty and a handsome tip this evening!! But DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE GOOD PEOPLE, if you haven't showed up without any phone call to tell them where you're at/what happened, THEY WILL PACK UP & CLOSE FOR THE DAY WITHOUT YOU...hell, we're Trinis, we does have lives and family outside of WORK too, ya know!)...LOL!!!! The best part WAS that while i was still sitting in my car in front of the store, i decided to take a "quick bite" (with my gluttonous shameless @ss! LOL!!!)..to see if it was worth the drive and law shattering speed to bust it up there..AND IT WAS WORTH IT!!!!! and then SOME!!! The roti's flavor was ON POINT (having the right amount of ground split peas, geerah and a pleasantly surprising mild lingering heat on the back end of the roti's flavor. The dough is also rolled out to the best thickness and circumference making the size of the Roti Skin FIERCE!!! and nice & LARGE for those of us out there with a cosmic "black hole" for a stomach/appetite!!). After my "quick sampling", I flew back out of my car and ordered 4 MORE Roti Skins, making my grand total 10! (I wasn't going to be coming back up to MD from VA for a good while, i decided to "stock up"..lol!), so you can bet all yuh sweet backsides you WILL be filled and fiercely satisfied...me, myself hasn't any qualms paying a decent buck or several for QUALITY! Let's face it everyone MOST of the time "cheap food" tastes just LIKE THAT, "CHEAP"!!!! You ALWAYS get what you pay for..and in all honesty the prices aren't bad AT ALL considering potion size, quality, FLAVOR & quality of service!! Your tastebuds are worth the "investment"---admits that with unwavering GUSTO!!! I am a product of a DIE HARD, West Indian "Ol' School", Countryside Tobagonian mother & Malik Trinidadian native father..and i grew up my WHOLE entire life going back & forth from the DC Metro Area to BOTH Trinidad AND Tobago at least 2 times a year, many many times spending a whole "summer vacation" between BOTH islands since I was a TODDLER...I am now in my LATE LATE 20s, so let's just say that I'm not a novice in the flavors, culture & heritage of the twin island nation, BUT don't get me wrong i won't get too overzealous & claim (lacking humility), that i'm a so-called "expert"... So i hope that the Trinidadians & Tobagonians, as well as any of our fellow Caribbean brethren/sistren, & last but definitely never least all the "non-west indian/caribbean" decent/ethnicity fans of all our culture and cuisine, looking for some legit, real deal holyfield, fierce & authentic as it gets for being outside of Trinidad/NYC/Miami FOOD (specifically TRINIDADIAN styled), you all have came to the right yelp listing/review(s)!!! So once again, i do apologize for the NOVEL of a review I left you all out there. All i hope is to genuinely be of some help/service, slight entertainment & to share an unbridled, honest, truthful and eternally helpful comment/review... BE LIKE NIKE ANYONE READING THIS, AND "JUST DO IT!!"...go to Caribbean Palace and go for the gusto, you only live once!!! and please take it from a young woman with undiluted Trinidadian AND Tobagonian upbringing, raising and instilling...the roti offered at THIS VENUE is the closest you'll get to the real proper tasting thing outside of NYC, Miami AND Sweet Sweet T N T!!!! Bless up, ALL!! LIVE, LOVE and EAT through LIFE!!! P.E.A.C.E.
(5)
Sonal P.
I've been eating here for over a decade now and the food is just AWESOME! It's the best West-Indian food I've ever had & would recommend it to everyone!
(5)
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Address :7680 New Hampshire Ave
Takoma Park, MD, 20912
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Nikki R.
I pass this place a lot from work and thought I would stop this evening. I was especially in the mood for some Caribbean food. I was surprised and happy to hear that they sell curried goat. I specifically asked if it was goat particularly because they advertise their food as Caribbean. These people are damn crooks! How can you be advertising lamb meet as goat meat?!!! And to make matter worse, it tasted like crap. They will not be seeing me again. It's possible the worse tasting food I have ever had.
(1)Julia B.
Pretty good overall. Definitely not an inviting atmosphere but the staff was sweet. My party ordered all roti- literally tried one of each. They were fine. I'd say the only one I would order again would be the boneless chicken. Think chicken breasts sliced in roti. Salt fish was ok. Veggie good. Beef good. Shrimp not great.
(3)Col S.
This unassuming carry out is well worth the hike. And boasts, in my opinion, some of the best roti in the DMV. Don't expect much in the way of ambiance, aside from a floral curtain and a photo of Obama, there is no decor. Food is made away from the eye behind a pane of drywall. And unless you get there early in the day, you'll probably miss out on some of the more popular items, boneless chicken and doubles. This is a family-run joint so you'll most likely be waited on by either the mother or very friendly daughter. My go-to is the goat roti and doubles with extra tamarind sauce. Don't expect to dine-in, there's no seating and make sure to bring cash, this place is cash only.
(5)Mai S.
I ordered the oxtails. It was accompanied with peas and rice and cabbage. I would love for the oxtails to be seasoned a little more. The rice and cabbage were very good. I tried the plantains that were delicious. Crunchy outside soft center. I would try this restaurant again.
(3)Brittany B.
I had the shrimp roti and it was delicious! I also ordered their special of the day which was the stew chicken with rice and red beans, alongside spinach and plantains. The stew chicken was really good also but I wish they gave a larger portion of plantains. They only take cash that is a bit inconveniencing. Overall I would definitely go back!
(4)Santana Ross W.
I ordered the goat roti and was not impressed. The best thing was the tamarind sauce. I loved that. Maybe next time I'll try a different type of roti.
(2)Melissa D.
As a Trini woman, I was excited to find a place that sold roti, but I ended up feeling disappointed. For most Americans hoping to find good "ethnic food," you'll honestly probably enjoy it. The variety is okay and it doesn't taste bad. However, as someone who grew up eating this, I was disappointed. I know how good it can taste, and that did NOT meet my expectations. The sauce for the pholouri left much to be desired and the goat roti wasn't as good as I'm used to. Also, the lady was rather curt with me and I had to pay with cash.
(2)Crystal P.
Big up! I traveled all the way from Arlington VA to take in some Trini food! In Brooklyn, these places are a dime a dozen. In the southern state you have to drive mile for it. With that said, if I come to your establishment, you better believe I m going to review you. I recommend this place! It's cash only. Most places with good food are. I was recommended to this place by a police office at my job. I ordered 3 roti. Two chicken and one shrimp. It was absolutely delicious. No I didn't eat all of them myself. I didn't like the trini soda. I m going back for the one of the dishes with the trini fried rice. Good spot!
(4)Jeanall M.
The first time I ate here I purchased the Roti Chicken. Didn't really like it, it was a little dry. But I gave it another chance and purchased the Roti shrimp. Sooo good. Still a tad bit dry but super delicious.
(4)Kassie E.
I title my review..."Should my Roti Goati Be THIS Crummy?" First of all let me say that as a woman of Caribbean ancestry I am disappointed. I was expecting to not wait for a really long time and surprise, surprise! I DID! C'mon Jamaicans, Trini, & Haitians....We have GOT to do better!!!! Lets start off with the Ugly... I get to the Caribbean Palace..."What you want?" umm...."o hey HELLO! Im doing great too." Thanks for asking, Trini lady-who-hates-her-job lol. PAUSE that manners lesson for a news-break ***THEY DONT TAKE CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDS*** Ok so I go out to the ATM and withdraw my precious funds, yes they've missed being hit with the what? 2.5% transaction fee Visa charges merchants....but somewhere in Credit Card Hell my bank and Citi Bank are rolling over in their graves, dancing with my $5 ATM Bank fee. Thanks CP! We now bring you back to the topic at hand. Come back with $20 ($5 psuedo) in hand...I tell the Man behind the counter, I would like a goat roti please! Ok. So I wait....and wait....and wait. Alright since I know Im an impatient person I go next door to snack on some french fries. Yes at the pizza place. Takes them all but 3 minutes to get my fries. I go back and wait....and wait some more. 10 minutes go by. I inquire "is my goat roti ready?" Why yes its been sitting on counter but she cant ring me up because she is waiting for the register to relinquish an pending order. Ok. So how long have you guys been doing this? A goat roti is $10 bucks....plus 6% tax...thats 10.60. I do the math drop off the cash plus a dime tip (lol) and grab my roti. DEUCES Open up and its a crummy, boney mess! Ive actually never had a roti before. So Im not quite sure if the roti should be crumbly? But Im guessing it shouldnt be. The curry goat has a bone in it and seriously needs some salt! is that how it should be too? IDK I cant say but it doesnt seem right. Someone back me up? All I know is. Im gonna take my ten bucks elsewhere and get speedy friendly service. PS CP We dont care that Obama ate one of your trashy goat rotis its STILL crummy!
(3)Nique K.
The food...is amazing. Ok. Maybe not as good as the roti in NYC ..but it's as good as you will ever get here in Maryland. I enjoy coming back here for their Roti or phoulouris. I can also order a huge batch at the drop of a hat and they always have what I need. The only down side is that they take cash only. Cash is not convenient at all - but the food is worth the inconvenience of making a trip to the ATM before.
(5)Wesley T.
How hard is it to listen to me when I order? The one specific thing I asked for was just roti skins and not Dahl puri in the roti. This has happened twice already. I drove 30 minutes there and back and of course I have to eat this at home and open the bag and it's not what I ordered. Stewed chicken contained 5 bony knobs of chicken. Not worth $9. I'm just going to make my own roti from now on. My wife liked her vegetate roti so they got an extra star.
(3)Mike K.
This was my first time and I was very impressed by how nice they were. I also met the owner and he was really nice too. I got the double which was very delicious. If I lived close by I'd be here every week! Zig Zag the Magic Man funmakers.biz
(5)Delie H.
Pro: Excellent goat roti and doubles. The goat is flavorful, few bones, curry is not too spicy. Doubles are my go to, I buy a few and freeze them for later. Get the tamarind pepper on the side. Con: No debit or credit, cash only. No seating. I will fight the traffic to dine here! A taste of home away from home!
(4)Andrew M.
So let me preface this review by stating that I bought into the hype and was expecting a knock you out your socks type of food experience. I was disappointed. Me and my eating partner purposely got way too much food to try to get an accurate sampling of what CP had to offer. So we got: Doubles - pretty decent flavor on the chana, sloppy to eat. Cocoa Bread - had a previously frozen aftertaste, big nono. Beef Patty - different take: mushier contents, less flaky crust than I'm used to, but pretty good and spicy flavor. Best thing they had to offer that I tried, in my opinion. Boneless chicken Roti - basically a curry chicken and potato burrito. Not bad but not great. Goat Roti - OK flavor and texture on the goat. A bit gamier than Caribbean goat I've had elsewhere. Doesn't seem very well thought out to have bones in a wrap-style food though. Picking out the bones transformed the goat roti, or goati as I like to call it, from a portable hand-held edible into a knife and fork, hunt and pick dish. crispy dessert things (forgot the name) - not bad, hint of rosewater and cardamom, but I was done with it after eating a couple. Pineapple Ginger drink - gingery, refreshing, and delicious Plantains - didn't get to try because they ran out. How do you run out of plantains?! A lot of these were at the suggestion of the nice and very helpful young woman behind the counter. She helped to aid our decisions so we could get a good, representative sampling. She alone earned this review an extra star, keeping it from the doldrums of the 1s and 2s. Bottom line: It was worth a try, but don't believe the hype. I wouldn't go back. A couple things to take into consideration if you're going to try it: there is literally no seating, so basically a take-out only joint. And it's cash only.
(3)Rhonda B.
Love the Roti
(5)Cici H.
Note: CASH ONLY!!! Stopped in a little after 8pm on Saturday to grab a quick bite to eat before going out. Upon walking in, the young lady behind the counter asked the cook if they had any food left. Big, sigh!!! How do you run out of food?? Anyhoo, I ordered the Channa roti and sorta wanted something else. The lady went over the menu to let me know what was no longer available for the night. Basically the ENTIRE menu. I just stuck with my original order. When it was time to pay, I gave the lady my card and she pointed to the "Cash Only" sign. Grrrr, so I walked through the lot to get cash from the ATM. I returned, grabbed my food to go. The roti wasn't too bad, just a little crumbly. I didn't care much for the Channa filling. It was a little dry. I think I will stick to the other Trini restaurant located on Georgia Ave. This place could definitely use some customer etiquette. The lady preparing the food in the kitchen complained from the time I walked in the door up until the time I left the establishment.
(2)Roy S.
I went back recently and I was terribly disappointed... I got the boneless chicken roti and while huge it is still $12. The food was sooooo bland... No spices at all, the roti just falls apart so everything spills, and again it had no flavor!!!
(1)Jim P.
FYI....just wanted to let ya'll know that this place accepts credit cards. Food is solid. Take it to go. Standing room only. Friendly workers. Loud music.
(4)Sharon C.
I swear some of the reviews on here are just silly. I grew up in Hyattsville and any true West Indian (especially a Trini) knows Caribbean Palace as a dependable go to for a decent Roti. The alternatives Teddy's Roti shop (Walter Reed), Rita's (Howard/Shaw), and Crown Bakery (Takoma), all on Georgia Ave., are reasonable contenders. In fact, I'll admit Teddy's has the best food over all, but I go to CP because it's closer and more convenient to me. What I don't get is why people are complaining about things like "crumbly" roti. It's Dahl Puri. There are crushed split peas in it, that's what Dahl Puri is. It's Roti. WITH DAHL! If you know anything about roti (as some reviews claim) you'd know that they prepare the dough, stuff it with dahl, roll it out flat , then cook several to have them ready to sell. You cannot walk in and ask for "roti skins" and be upset when you get Dahl Puri. If you want to forgo the split peas, CALL AHEAD and request an order of Buss up or Buss up shut. It's a flaky buttery, torn apart variation, and IT'S AMAZING! Problem solved. That is the only roti you'll get from CP without the dahl. As for having bones in a goat roti, direct me to a place that offers goat roti without bones and I'll stay right where I am. I suppose you like your oxtail boneless too? (Side-eye) Doubles? SLOPPY TO EAT? I won't even address that. People love to yelp about cuisines they know nothing about; and for the record complaining about having to pay with cash at a take-out business in Takoma/Langley is BEYOND pretentious. This ain't Georgetown. Get over yourself.
(4)Christine S.
I'm not as familiar with West Indian food as I am with Indian or other ethnicities, but my husband found this place and brought home some DELICIOUS takeout when we first moved in to our place in Takoma Park. The roti is amazing - so far I've only had the chickpea and potato stuffed roti, and it's a great balance of spices and heat. We also enjoyed the jerk chicken, rice with peas, fried dough balls with a tamarind sauce (YUM!), and a chickpea curry on small naan-like circles. We will definitely be going back here again and again - we brought some of this food to my sister and she adored it as well. I'm so excited to find delicious new (to me) cuisine right nearby!
(4)Michelle T.
Not bad of a place. The roti skin is much better then the Negril one. Pretty good. I just didn't like how I paid for my order, then the cashier went back and made it..no gloves! Eww!
(3)Ashley W.
Let me begin with what we all want to glean from a quick glance at a restaurant's page: yes, it was absolutely fantastic. If you're Trini and you're looking for an authentic taste of home, go to Caribbean Palace. Now let's get into the juicy details. Quality Trinidadian food is notoriously difficult to find in the DC metropolitan area. I myself had to bend my rule of never entering the state of Maryland under any circumstances to find this restaurant- this, if nothing else, speaks to the rarity of the cuisine. Caribbean Palace is the best Trinidadian food I've had since the last time I visited the island. There are specific qualities that make Trini food as delicious as it is. The thinness and delicacy of the roti. The unique blend of ingredients which make aloo pie and doubles hot without sacrificing flavour. The juicy pieces of well-seasoned meat wrapped in the roti shell. Caribbean Palace has all of this and more. I was especially impressed with the way they got the flavour of the doubles right (for reference: Teddy's in NW make their doubles too sweet. It's disconcerting in a dish that's supposed to be all about spice and savour). Doubles are basically pieces of fried dough filled with curried chickpeas and can be spicy or mild. You'd usually get them from a street vendor in Trinidad. Caribbean Palace made me remember what it's like to stand outside in the heat of a sweltering day on a crowded street in Penal and take my first bite of that doughy piece of heaven. The more of the food I ate (I ordered a LOT of it- two chicken rotis, two doubles, one order of pholourie, one aloo pie) the happier I became. My best friend, who agreed to make the trek with me, rhapsodized about it too. I'd recommend trying any of the food that we ordered. Quick explanation of terms: roti is the Indian version of Middle Eastern naan. We make ours thinner, much softer, and we stuff it with spices. We usually wrap this around chicken or goat meat and eat it with our hands (be forewarned: we usually leave the bones in so ask for boneless if you prefer it. The portion sizes are really big, so bring a friend!). Aloo pie is a pocket of fried dough stuffed with spicy potatoes. Pholourie is like fried dumplings that come with a sweet and sour tamarind sauce. Now that Caribbean Palace have proven themselves with the basics I trust that the rest of their menu is just as good as what we got - be adventurous with your selections. If you don't know what something is, just ask. The girl who was working there when we went in at around 3:30PM on a Friday was obviously raised here in the states (no accent) but she looked like a Trini. I'm guessing her family runs the restaurant. She had an amazing memory- I rattled off the list of what I wanted and she went right into the kitchen without hesitation. I was impressed. All of the food came out piping hot and smelling like home- my mouth was watering as soon as she put the bag into my hands. About the area and the physical properties of the restaurant itself: Takoma Park may not be the nicest place in the world, but it's not that ghetto. For all of you who are familiar with Manassas, Virginia, it's that level of shady. Bear in mind that this is coming from someone who's well versed in shadiness, but I wouldn't blink at going there by myself during the daylight hours. The parking lot was a little cramped and people were driving like people drive in Maryland, but my car, my best friend, and myself made it back across the border unscathed. Essential things to know about the restaurant: it's the definition of a take out place (no seating) and it's cash only, so be prepared. They get your order ready surprisingly quickly and it's a cheap price for a lot of food. We got our order, we paid, we left. Simplest transaction in the world. Only two complaints from me: for those of you who have had original street vendor doubles, you might be disappointed in the thickness of the dough here. It's thin on the bottom, making it messier than it usually would be. The dough gets soggy, rips, and then the chickpeas fall through the holes. They give you the doubles wrapped in foil but it was a little bit difficult to keep all the curry in the aluminum. Also, the pholourie wasn't as light and fluffy as I expected. This might just be because I'm used to the way my grandma made it, but it was slightly disappointing. However, the tamarind sauce was spot on and the flavour of the pholourie was perfect so I can't complain too much about the texture. Despite these minor shortcomings it passed the ultimate test: my Trini mother tried the food that I brought home and she pronounced it the best Trini food she's had since she moved here. This review is long, I know, but I'm really passionate about Trinidadian cuisine. I'd recommend making the trip to Caribbean Palace whether you're a Trini who needs a fix or someone who's trying their first bite of the islands. Either way, you'll leave equal parts amazed and satisfied.
(5)Lisa W.
This restaurant *does not have seating.* We drove an hour to satisfy our Trini food craving, planning to have an informal dinner and found that it is only take-out. There is not a single table or chair, and nowhere close by to eat outside. Somehow in my reading of the Yelp information & many of the reviews, I was unaware of this fact prior to our arrival, and I want to alert those who may come looking to have a sit-down meal. That being said, the food was really tasty (once we got back home to eat it!). My husband and his parents, who are all from Trinidad, agreed. We ordered goat roti & chicken roti, both of which were excellent. The goat had a surprisingly large amount of meat and few bones, more so than any other Trini curried goat I have had in the past. The curries were a little on the salty side, and the reviewer who said that they are oily is right - but I did not find that the oiliness took away from the tastiness of the dishes. The roti skin was exceptional - delicate and fresh. We were disappointed, though, to find that they only make buss-up-shut (paratha) with 24 hours advance notice, so if you are looking for that be sure to call in advance. We were excited to see that they serve doubles every day, even at dinner time. The barra for the doubles was soft and thin, the best I have had in the states. However, the curry in the doubles was also very salty & lacked the tanginess of tamarind sauce - it was a basic chickpea curry with a nice flavor but nothing amazing. They do have available tamarind sauce, which they did not ask if we wanted added but I am sure could have been added without difficulty. They only had 2 doubles left when we arrived in the evening, so you also might want to call ahead to order doubles if you will be bummed if they run out. Overall, a great meal. We will definitely be eating here (oh wait, getting take-out from here) again even though we live 40 miles away. We have not found any Trini food as delicious outside of the New York area, or of course Trinidad. As a side note, Islander Caribbean on U Street is not even close to the quality of Caribbean Palace & does not serve doubles or pholourie.
(4)Sakima R.
I LOVE this place. I ordered doubles and they were hot and fresh! This is authentic good Trini food. I go every chance I am in the city. The only problem is it is cash and carry. Thank God there is an ATM next door.
(4)Ricky W.
Tried this place based on the glowing Yelp reviews, I was a bit disappointed. First off, the prices were a bit higher than I expected. Each roti was between $8.50 and $12, for a one dollar sign place, I was thinking more like $6. We ordered a King Fish roti and a Boneless Chicken roti. The chicken roti was good, nothing amazing, but not bad. The King Fish was no good. Very bland, very overcooked. The spices used in both were nothing special, I think they added extra curry powder to make up for a lack of other flavor. The portions were fairly large. There was a good crowd inside, which I took as a good sign. The food was certainly fresh made, and the lady behind the counter was nice enough. The 2 star description of "Meh, I've experienced better" suits this place to a T.
(2)Jim H.
The food here is unreal. Amazing roti with fish, chicken, goat etc. I've never had anything that was less than stellar here. Just to clarify, it is in Langley Park rather than Takoma, which has a different vibe. If you don't have a problem being around brown people then there are no worries with the neighborhood but I see some UMD kids who seem to think that they're in the middle of an episode of The Wire because everyone's not white and driving 40k car. It is only carry out but the meals are so self contained all you really need is a bench in a park on a nice afternoon for this reasonably priced but top notch stuff.
(5)Brian R.
I got a chicken roti, which was quite good, kind of like a Caribbean/Indian burrito. Next time, I'll get the boneless chicken options, so I can just bite into it. Oh, and Trinidadian women are as attractive as everyone says, so your server behind the counter may be super fine.
(5)C C.
LOVE this place. One of my favorites. But first, this is Langley Park, NOT Takoma Park. It might be right on the edge, but this is definitely the Langley Park neighborhood. There's nothing wrong with Langley Park, but it's a different town, and a different county (PG as opposed to Montgomery). The food is really, really good. I enjoy living in the area because of the diversity of inexpensive restaurants, and this is one of the neighborhood gems. Ashley W from Virginia can stay on her homophobic, lily white, gun-toting side of the Potomac. I went to college in Virginia, and was glad to get the heck away from that redneck state. Stay over there, honey. We don't need you over here.
(5)Rob C.
came here for carry out. haven't had a lot of Trinidadian Roti but had a good one in Miami. got a boneless chicken one here, stuffed with potatoes, moist, soft thin roti, flavor overall was pretty good, a little drier and could use a little more spice. pineapple ginger drink was nice and gingery. also tried the tamarind balls but didn't like them so much.
(4)Erica B.
I'm not West Indian by a long shot but trust me I know good West Indian food when I taste. This is by far the best Caribbean food on MD.... hands down. I had an order of doubles (that was my first time), and the stewed chicken platter with spinach, potatoes, rice and red beans. I cant believe I forgot the bread! This food honestly taste like someone 's West Indian grandmother made it. The best partcis I only paid a total of 10.81. Sweet Mango in DC would have ran me at least $2 more. The only bunker is I wish you had an option of choosing white or dark meat (I prefer white).. sweet mango gives you the option. By as one of my good Trini friends explained to me many yrs ago that Caribbean prefer bone in chicken so must of then only cook with that. *shrugs* This place is about 35-40 mins from my home so its definitely not a hop, skip and jump from me but when I'm on that side of town I promise to only eat there. Give it a try... u wont be disappointed.
(5)Barry E.
I'm sitting in the parking lot outside Caribbean Palace as I write this, having once again enjoyed one of their amazing rotis. Seriously folks, we're talking roti perfection here: fresh, soft, roti, sprinkled with chickpea flour on the inside, with delicious, flavor-packed fillings on the inside. I only have the veggie ones, which I absolutely love, but I have to think the meat ones are at least as good. Like the previous reviewer said, it's completely no-frills, cash only, but strictly delicious! P.S. Be sure to ask for their hot sauce in your roti. It's got a serious kick.
(5)Karla W.
great trini fare!!! Doubles doubles doubles
(4)iona p.
Greetings everyone out there in YELP/internet land and those looking for a beyond mediocre quality of food & service providing authentic tasting "Trinidadian" style caribbean food, "ALL YUH FIND DE RIGHT PLACE"!!! Just this evening, i was on the internet/google looking for another place/option, outside of Rita's carryout (off of Georgia Ave near the Howard University area), for my roti "fix"..and i stumbled across this particular listing. I saw that the ratings blew Rita's out of the water in damn near EVERY category/aspect..from quality of food/flavor to quality of customer service. I called Caribbean Palace around 7p (they close at 8p) and ordered 6 of the PLAIN Roti skins (that's the term used for PLAIN ROTI w/o ANYTHING...no curry, chana, vegetables, meat...etc.), so i could have to use with MY OWN homemade curry chicken/goat..etc.(most caribbean restaurants in my opinion try so hard "cut corners" that their curry's quality of flavor suffers, so i make my own. By the way, "we" refer to the different dishes offered as CURRY CHICKEN/CURRIED CHICKEN, CURRY GOAT/CURRIED GOAT, STEWED CHICKEN..etc. NOT "chicken curry", "goat curry" or "chicken stew"...that is not the way Trinidadians and Tobagonians say it. That is the correct way to say/order it, just so no one has to look or sound "silly" needlessly) I was coming from quite in Woodbridge, VA and i arrived about 8:10p-8:15p and i called them as soon as i got RIGHT ON NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE. and they WAITED for ME!!! (that kind of service & KINDNESS is a TRUE RARITY in this day and age!! and that kind of service warrants unwavering loyalty and a handsome tip this evening!! But DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE GOOD PEOPLE, if you haven't showed up without any phone call to tell them where you're at/what happened, THEY WILL PACK UP & CLOSE FOR THE DAY WITHOUT YOU...hell, we're Trinis, we does have lives and family outside of WORK too, ya know!)...LOL!!!! The best part WAS that while i was still sitting in my car in front of the store, i decided to take a "quick bite" (with my gluttonous shameless @ss! LOL!!!)..to see if it was worth the drive and law shattering speed to bust it up there..AND IT WAS WORTH IT!!!!! and then SOME!!! The roti's flavor was ON POINT (having the right amount of ground split peas, geerah and a pleasantly surprising mild lingering heat on the back end of the roti's flavor. The dough is also rolled out to the best thickness and circumference making the size of the Roti Skin FIERCE!!! and nice & LARGE for those of us out there with a cosmic "black hole" for a stomach/appetite!!). After my "quick sampling", I flew back out of my car and ordered 4 MORE Roti Skins, making my grand total 10! (I wasn't going to be coming back up to MD from VA for a good while, i decided to "stock up"..lol!), so you can bet all yuh sweet backsides you WILL be filled and fiercely satisfied...me, myself hasn't any qualms paying a decent buck or several for QUALITY! Let's face it everyone MOST of the time "cheap food" tastes just LIKE THAT, "CHEAP"!!!! You ALWAYS get what you pay for..and in all honesty the prices aren't bad AT ALL considering potion size, quality, FLAVOR & quality of service!! Your tastebuds are worth the "investment"---admits that with unwavering GUSTO!!! I am a product of a DIE HARD, West Indian "Ol' School", Countryside Tobagonian mother & Malik Trinidadian native father..and i grew up my WHOLE entire life going back & forth from the DC Metro Area to BOTH Trinidad AND Tobago at least 2 times a year, many many times spending a whole "summer vacation" between BOTH islands since I was a TODDLER...I am now in my LATE LATE 20s, so let's just say that I'm not a novice in the flavors, culture & heritage of the twin island nation, BUT don't get me wrong i won't get too overzealous & claim (lacking humility), that i'm a so-called "expert"... So i hope that the Trinidadians & Tobagonians, as well as any of our fellow Caribbean brethren/sistren, & last but definitely never least all the "non-west indian/caribbean" decent/ethnicity fans of all our culture and cuisine, looking for some legit, real deal holyfield, fierce & authentic as it gets for being outside of Trinidad/NYC/Miami FOOD (specifically TRINIDADIAN styled), you all have came to the right yelp listing/review(s)!!! So once again, i do apologize for the NOVEL of a review I left you all out there. All i hope is to genuinely be of some help/service, slight entertainment & to share an unbridled, honest, truthful and eternally helpful comment/review... BE LIKE NIKE ANYONE READING THIS, AND "JUST DO IT!!"...go to Caribbean Palace and go for the gusto, you only live once!!! and please take it from a young woman with undiluted Trinidadian AND Tobagonian upbringing, raising and instilling...the roti offered at THIS VENUE is the closest you'll get to the real proper tasting thing outside of NYC, Miami AND Sweet Sweet T N T!!!! Bless up, ALL!! LIVE, LOVE and EAT through LIFE!!! P.E.A.C.E.
(5)Sonal P.
I've been eating here for over a decade now and the food is just AWESOME! It's the best West-Indian food I've ever had & would recommend it to everyone!
(5)Daniel L.
I'm not sure whether the review below is correctly attributed to the Caribbean Palace in the shopping center at the corner of University and New Hampshire. Caribbean Palace is strictly take-out and cash only. My Caribbean friends tell me this is as close to Trinidad and Tobago as you can get in the DC area. Their rotis, doubles, and curries are amazing. I am partial to their goat roti, chicken stew, as well as their vegetarian offerings. Understand, this is a no-nonsense take-out counter, but do not let this prevent you from getting some absolutely positively delicious food with the best flavor. Service is very friendly and very fast. I only wish they had some seating so I could eat their food fresh out of the kitchen.
(5)Jeremy M.
My girlfriend turned me on to this place. I always get the roti with half spinach/ half chickpeas. I'm too into that to try anything else. I can barely eat it all in one sitting, but I almost always do.
(5)A R.
I am TOTALLY confused on why this place receives good reviews. I went there for the first time and ordered 3 different dinners so that my family and I could share. I typically go to another place but kept passing this one and wanted to give it a try. EACH ONE was horrible and very poorly seasoned. There was not one good thing on the plate from the main dish to the sides. VERY disappointing. My husband is from Jamaican descent and I waiting for his response before I said anything. He also said the food was lousy and wanted to return it. I thought that we a little much but I will certainly not go back. YUCK.
(1)Lily Z.
Amazing! This is my first experience with Caribbean food and I am way impressed. After gleaning the other Yelp reviews, I went with a roti, a dinner, and an appetizer, which was more than enough to feed my parents and myself. GOAT ROTI: a big delicious packet of meat and potatoes and spices wrapped up in a roti skin. The goat was very tender and came bones-in, but the experience of biting into a wrap and spitting out bones wasn't nearly as awkward as I thought it might be. The flavor and texture were both heavenly. The roti skin was soft and chewy and lightly dusted with flour? This was by far the best part. STEW CHICKEN: nothing spectacular after having had the roti, but quite competently done. I didn't care much for the spinach (kind of clumped together), but the plantains were sweet and chewy and the chicken tender and flavorful. The rice was nothing to write home about but there was quite a bit of it. DOUBLES: I was expecting something a little more crispy and chutney-ish from the wikipedia, but it was quite tasty and cheap. The bread was soft and the filling was well spiced. Seemed to be primarily chickpea. In sum: delicious and fulfilling. Not jaw-droppingly cheap, but great portions for the price. I also know I'll be craving more of that roti for a while yet.
(5)Andre F.
Coming from a Trinidadian family, I love to eat trini food. So I consider myself an "expert" in the trini restaurants to eat at. Caribbean Palace is definitely one of them. If you're looking for good doubles, roti, buss up shut, or plain ole curry here is where you'll find it best in the DC metropolitan area...apart from granny of course...lol! Trust me, you won't find any better! It's a true carry out atmosphere though. There are a few seats to sit in while you wait, but no tables to eat at. Go to a restaurant if you want to sit and eat...lol! Also, if you decide to check it out, bring cash! Like most other carry outs they only accept cash. If you forget to bring cash, you're safe. It's located in a strip mall/shopping center and there's a chase bank as well as a wachovia in walking distance.
(5)Maisha H.
Stopped by for lunch the other day. I didnt know this place from jack. Never had heard of it. Dont frequent the area so I had never even seen it. It was simply the first Caribbean spot I saw while looking for some place to satisfy my island food craving. I had some stewed chicken, plantains and red beans and rice. Very flavorful and well seasoned. I really hate to ruin the stellar ratings but I must say my plantains were a bit dry and not as sweet as I would have preferred. Hey, it happens....won't stop me from coming back though.
(4)Brittany B.
I had the shrimp roti and it was delicious! I also ordered their special of the day which was the stew chicken with rice and red beans, alongside spinach and plantains. The stew chicken was really good also but I wish they gave a larger portion of plantains. They only take cash that is a bit inconveniencing. Overall I would definitely go back!
(4)Nikki R.
I pass this place a lot from work and thought I would stop this evening. I was especially in the mood for some Caribbean food. I was surprised and happy to hear that they sell curried goat. I specifically asked if it was goat particularly because they advertise their food as Caribbean. These people are damn crooks! How can you be advertising lamb meet as goat meat?!!! And to make matter worse, it tasted like crap. They will not be seeing me again. It's possible the worse tasting food I have ever had.
(1)Julia B.
Pretty good overall. Definitely not an inviting atmosphere but the staff was sweet. My party ordered all roti- literally tried one of each. They were fine. I'd say the only one I would order again would be the boneless chicken. Think chicken breasts sliced in roti. Salt fish was ok. Veggie good. Beef good. Shrimp not great.
(3)Wesley T.
How hard is it to listen to me when I order? The one specific thing I asked for was just roti skins and not Dahl puri in the roti. This has happened twice already. I drove 30 minutes there and back and of course I have to eat this at home and open the bag and it's not what I ordered. Stewed chicken contained 5 bony knobs of chicken. Not worth $9. I'm just going to make my own roti from now on. My wife liked her vegetate roti so they got an extra star.
(3)Mike K.
This was my first time and I was very impressed by how nice they were. I also met the owner and he was really nice too. I got the double which was very delicious. If I lived close by I'd be here every week! Zig Zag the Magic Man funmakers.biz
(5)Delie H.
Pro: Excellent goat roti and doubles. The goat is flavorful, few bones, curry is not too spicy. Doubles are my go to, I buy a few and freeze them for later. Get the tamarind pepper on the side. Con: No debit or credit, cash only. No seating. I will fight the traffic to dine here! A taste of home away from home!
(4)Col S.
This unassuming carry out is well worth the hike. And boasts, in my opinion, some of the best roti in the DMV. Don't expect much in the way of ambiance, aside from a floral curtain and a photo of Obama, there is no decor. Food is made away from the eye behind a pane of drywall. And unless you get there early in the day, you'll probably miss out on some of the more popular items, boneless chicken and doubles. This is a family-run joint so you'll most likely be waited on by either the mother or very friendly daughter. My go-to is the goat roti and doubles with extra tamarind sauce. Don't expect to dine-in, there's no seating and make sure to bring cash, this place is cash only.
(5)Mai S.
I ordered the oxtails. It was accompanied with peas and rice and cabbage. I would love for the oxtails to be seasoned a little more. The rice and cabbage were very good. I tried the plantains that were delicious. Crunchy outside soft center. I would try this restaurant again.
(3)Santana Ross W.
I ordered the goat roti and was not impressed. The best thing was the tamarind sauce. I loved that. Maybe next time I'll try a different type of roti.
(2)Melissa D.
As a Trini woman, I was excited to find a place that sold roti, but I ended up feeling disappointed. For most Americans hoping to find good "ethnic food," you'll honestly probably enjoy it. The variety is okay and it doesn't taste bad. However, as someone who grew up eating this, I was disappointed. I know how good it can taste, and that did NOT meet my expectations. The sauce for the pholouri left much to be desired and the goat roti wasn't as good as I'm used to. Also, the lady was rather curt with me and I had to pay with cash.
(2)Crystal P.
Big up! I traveled all the way from Arlington VA to take in some Trini food! In Brooklyn, these places are a dime a dozen. In the southern state you have to drive mile for it. With that said, if I come to your establishment, you better believe I m going to review you. I recommend this place! It's cash only. Most places with good food are. I was recommended to this place by a police office at my job. I ordered 3 roti. Two chicken and one shrimp. It was absolutely delicious. No I didn't eat all of them myself. I didn't like the trini soda. I m going back for the one of the dishes with the trini fried rice. Good spot!
(4)Jeanall M.
The first time I ate here I purchased the Roti Chicken. Didn't really like it, it was a little dry. But I gave it another chance and purchased the Roti shrimp. Sooo good. Still a tad bit dry but super delicious.
(4)Kassie E.
I title my review..."Should my Roti Goati Be THIS Crummy?" First of all let me say that as a woman of Caribbean ancestry I am disappointed. I was expecting to not wait for a really long time and surprise, surprise! I DID! C'mon Jamaicans, Trini, & Haitians....We have GOT to do better!!!! Lets start off with the Ugly... I get to the Caribbean Palace..."What you want?" umm...."o hey HELLO! Im doing great too." Thanks for asking, Trini lady-who-hates-her-job lol. PAUSE that manners lesson for a news-break ***THEY DONT TAKE CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDS*** Ok so I go out to the ATM and withdraw my precious funds, yes they've missed being hit with the what? 2.5% transaction fee Visa charges merchants....but somewhere in Credit Card Hell my bank and Citi Bank are rolling over in their graves, dancing with my $5 ATM Bank fee. Thanks CP! We now bring you back to the topic at hand. Come back with $20 ($5 psuedo) in hand...I tell the Man behind the counter, I would like a goat roti please! Ok. So I wait....and wait....and wait. Alright since I know Im an impatient person I go next door to snack on some french fries. Yes at the pizza place. Takes them all but 3 minutes to get my fries. I go back and wait....and wait some more. 10 minutes go by. I inquire "is my goat roti ready?" Why yes its been sitting on counter but she cant ring me up because she is waiting for the register to relinquish an pending order. Ok. So how long have you guys been doing this? A goat roti is $10 bucks....plus 6% tax...thats 10.60. I do the math drop off the cash plus a dime tip (lol) and grab my roti. DEUCES Open up and its a crummy, boney mess! Ive actually never had a roti before. So Im not quite sure if the roti should be crumbly? But Im guessing it shouldnt be. The curry goat has a bone in it and seriously needs some salt! is that how it should be too? IDK I cant say but it doesnt seem right. Someone back me up? All I know is. Im gonna take my ten bucks elsewhere and get speedy friendly service. PS CP We dont care that Obama ate one of your trashy goat rotis its STILL crummy!
(3)Nique K.
The food...is amazing. Ok. Maybe not as good as the roti in NYC ..but it's as good as you will ever get here in Maryland. I enjoy coming back here for their Roti or phoulouris. I can also order a huge batch at the drop of a hat and they always have what I need. The only down side is that they take cash only. Cash is not convenient at all - but the food is worth the inconvenience of making a trip to the ATM before.
(5)Sharon C.
I swear some of the reviews on here are just silly. I grew up in Hyattsville and any true West Indian (especially a Trini) knows Caribbean Palace as a dependable go to for a decent Roti. The alternatives Teddy's Roti shop (Walter Reed), Rita's (Howard/Shaw), and Crown Bakery (Takoma), all on Georgia Ave., are reasonable contenders. In fact, I'll admit Teddy's has the best food over all, but I go to CP because it's closer and more convenient to me. What I don't get is why people are complaining about things like "crumbly" roti. It's Dahl Puri. There are crushed split peas in it, that's what Dahl Puri is. It's Roti. WITH DAHL! If you know anything about roti (as some reviews claim) you'd know that they prepare the dough, stuff it with dahl, roll it out flat , then cook several to have them ready to sell. You cannot walk in and ask for "roti skins" and be upset when you get Dahl Puri. If you want to forgo the split peas, CALL AHEAD and request an order of Buss up or Buss up shut. It's a flaky buttery, torn apart variation, and IT'S AMAZING! Problem solved. That is the only roti you'll get from CP without the dahl. As for having bones in a goat roti, direct me to a place that offers goat roti without bones and I'll stay right where I am. I suppose you like your oxtail boneless too? (Side-eye) Doubles? SLOPPY TO EAT? I won't even address that. People love to yelp about cuisines they know nothing about; and for the record complaining about having to pay with cash at a take-out business in Takoma/Langley is BEYOND pretentious. This ain't Georgetown. Get over yourself.
(4)Ashley W.
Let me begin with what we all want to glean from a quick glance at a restaurant's page: yes, it was absolutely fantastic. If you're Trini and you're looking for an authentic taste of home, go to Caribbean Palace. Now let's get into the juicy details. Quality Trinidadian food is notoriously difficult to find in the DC metropolitan area. I myself had to bend my rule of never entering the state of Maryland under any circumstances to find this restaurant- this, if nothing else, speaks to the rarity of the cuisine. Caribbean Palace is the best Trinidadian food I've had since the last time I visited the island. There are specific qualities that make Trini food as delicious as it is. The thinness and delicacy of the roti. The unique blend of ingredients which make aloo pie and doubles hot without sacrificing flavour. The juicy pieces of well-seasoned meat wrapped in the roti shell. Caribbean Palace has all of this and more. I was especially impressed with the way they got the flavour of the doubles right (for reference: Teddy's in NW make their doubles too sweet. It's disconcerting in a dish that's supposed to be all about spice and savour). Doubles are basically pieces of fried dough filled with curried chickpeas and can be spicy or mild. You'd usually get them from a street vendor in Trinidad. Caribbean Palace made me remember what it's like to stand outside in the heat of a sweltering day on a crowded street in Penal and take my first bite of that doughy piece of heaven. The more of the food I ate (I ordered a LOT of it- two chicken rotis, two doubles, one order of pholourie, one aloo pie) the happier I became. My best friend, who agreed to make the trek with me, rhapsodized about it too. I'd recommend trying any of the food that we ordered. Quick explanation of terms: roti is the Indian version of Middle Eastern naan. We make ours thinner, much softer, and we stuff it with spices. We usually wrap this around chicken or goat meat and eat it with our hands (be forewarned: we usually leave the bones in so ask for boneless if you prefer it. The portion sizes are really big, so bring a friend!). Aloo pie is a pocket of fried dough stuffed with spicy potatoes. Pholourie is like fried dumplings that come with a sweet and sour tamarind sauce. Now that Caribbean Palace have proven themselves with the basics I trust that the rest of their menu is just as good as what we got - be adventurous with your selections. If you don't know what something is, just ask. The girl who was working there when we went in at around 3:30PM on a Friday was obviously raised here in the states (no accent) but she looked like a Trini. I'm guessing her family runs the restaurant. She had an amazing memory- I rattled off the list of what I wanted and she went right into the kitchen without hesitation. I was impressed. All of the food came out piping hot and smelling like home- my mouth was watering as soon as she put the bag into my hands. About the area and the physical properties of the restaurant itself: Takoma Park may not be the nicest place in the world, but it's not that ghetto. For all of you who are familiar with Manassas, Virginia, it's that level of shady. Bear in mind that this is coming from someone who's well versed in shadiness, but I wouldn't blink at going there by myself during the daylight hours. The parking lot was a little cramped and people were driving like people drive in Maryland, but my car, my best friend, and myself made it back across the border unscathed. Essential things to know about the restaurant: it's the definition of a take out place (no seating) and it's cash only, so be prepared. They get your order ready surprisingly quickly and it's a cheap price for a lot of food. We got our order, we paid, we left. Simplest transaction in the world. Only two complaints from me: for those of you who have had original street vendor doubles, you might be disappointed in the thickness of the dough here. It's thin on the bottom, making it messier than it usually would be. The dough gets soggy, rips, and then the chickpeas fall through the holes. They give you the doubles wrapped in foil but it was a little bit difficult to keep all the curry in the aluminum. Also, the pholourie wasn't as light and fluffy as I expected. This might just be because I'm used to the way my grandma made it, but it was slightly disappointing. However, the tamarind sauce was spot on and the flavour of the pholourie was perfect so I can't complain too much about the texture. Despite these minor shortcomings it passed the ultimate test: my Trini mother tried the food that I brought home and she pronounced it the best Trini food she's had since she moved here. This review is long, I know, but I'm really passionate about Trinidadian cuisine. I'd recommend making the trip to Caribbean Palace whether you're a Trini who needs a fix or someone who's trying their first bite of the islands. Either way, you'll leave equal parts amazed and satisfied.
(5)Andre F.
Coming from a Trinidadian family, I love to eat trini food. So I consider myself an "expert" in the trini restaurants to eat at. Caribbean Palace is definitely one of them. If you're looking for good doubles, roti, buss up shut, or plain ole curry here is where you'll find it best in the DC metropolitan area...apart from granny of course...lol! Trust me, you won't find any better! It's a true carry out atmosphere though. There are a few seats to sit in while you wait, but no tables to eat at. Go to a restaurant if you want to sit and eat...lol! Also, if you decide to check it out, bring cash! Like most other carry outs they only accept cash. If you forget to bring cash, you're safe. It's located in a strip mall/shopping center and there's a chase bank as well as a wachovia in walking distance.
(5)Ricky W.
Tried this place based on the glowing Yelp reviews, I was a bit disappointed. First off, the prices were a bit higher than I expected. Each roti was between $8.50 and $12, for a one dollar sign place, I was thinking more like $6. We ordered a King Fish roti and a Boneless Chicken roti. The chicken roti was good, nothing amazing, but not bad. The King Fish was no good. Very bland, very overcooked. The spices used in both were nothing special, I think they added extra curry powder to make up for a lack of other flavor. The portions were fairly large. There was a good crowd inside, which I took as a good sign. The food was certainly fresh made, and the lady behind the counter was nice enough. The 2 star description of "Meh, I've experienced better" suits this place to a T.
(2)Jim H.
The food here is unreal. Amazing roti with fish, chicken, goat etc. I've never had anything that was less than stellar here. Just to clarify, it is in Langley Park rather than Takoma, which has a different vibe. If you don't have a problem being around brown people then there are no worries with the neighborhood but I see some UMD kids who seem to think that they're in the middle of an episode of The Wire because everyone's not white and driving 40k car. It is only carry out but the meals are so self contained all you really need is a bench in a park on a nice afternoon for this reasonably priced but top notch stuff.
(5)Brian R.
I got a chicken roti, which was quite good, kind of like a Caribbean/Indian burrito. Next time, I'll get the boneless chicken options, so I can just bite into it. Oh, and Trinidadian women are as attractive as everyone says, so your server behind the counter may be super fine.
(5)C C.
LOVE this place. One of my favorites. But first, this is Langley Park, NOT Takoma Park. It might be right on the edge, but this is definitely the Langley Park neighborhood. There's nothing wrong with Langley Park, but it's a different town, and a different county (PG as opposed to Montgomery). The food is really, really good. I enjoy living in the area because of the diversity of inexpensive restaurants, and this is one of the neighborhood gems. Ashley W from Virginia can stay on her homophobic, lily white, gun-toting side of the Potomac. I went to college in Virginia, and was glad to get the heck away from that redneck state. Stay over there, honey. We don't need you over here.
(5)Rob C.
came here for carry out. haven't had a lot of Trinidadian Roti but had a good one in Miami. got a boneless chicken one here, stuffed with potatoes, moist, soft thin roti, flavor overall was pretty good, a little drier and could use a little more spice. pineapple ginger drink was nice and gingery. also tried the tamarind balls but didn't like them so much.
(4)Andrew M.
So let me preface this review by stating that I bought into the hype and was expecting a knock you out your socks type of food experience. I was disappointed. Me and my eating partner purposely got way too much food to try to get an accurate sampling of what CP had to offer. So we got: Doubles - pretty decent flavor on the chana, sloppy to eat. Cocoa Bread - had a previously frozen aftertaste, big nono. Beef Patty - different take: mushier contents, less flaky crust than I'm used to, but pretty good and spicy flavor. Best thing they had to offer that I tried, in my opinion. Boneless chicken Roti - basically a curry chicken and potato burrito. Not bad but not great. Goat Roti - OK flavor and texture on the goat. A bit gamier than Caribbean goat I've had elsewhere. Doesn't seem very well thought out to have bones in a wrap-style food though. Picking out the bones transformed the goat roti, or goati as I like to call it, from a portable hand-held edible into a knife and fork, hunt and pick dish. crispy dessert things (forgot the name) - not bad, hint of rosewater and cardamom, but I was done with it after eating a couple. Pineapple Ginger drink - gingery, refreshing, and delicious Plantains - didn't get to try because they ran out. How do you run out of plantains?! A lot of these were at the suggestion of the nice and very helpful young woman behind the counter. She helped to aid our decisions so we could get a good, representative sampling. She alone earned this review an extra star, keeping it from the doldrums of the 1s and 2s. Bottom line: It was worth a try, but don't believe the hype. I wouldn't go back. A couple things to take into consideration if you're going to try it: there is literally no seating, so basically a take-out only joint. And it's cash only.
(3)Rhonda B.
Love the Roti
(5)Cici H.
Note: CASH ONLY!!! Stopped in a little after 8pm on Saturday to grab a quick bite to eat before going out. Upon walking in, the young lady behind the counter asked the cook if they had any food left. Big, sigh!!! How do you run out of food?? Anyhoo, I ordered the Channa roti and sorta wanted something else. The lady went over the menu to let me know what was no longer available for the night. Basically the ENTIRE menu. I just stuck with my original order. When it was time to pay, I gave the lady my card and she pointed to the "Cash Only" sign. Grrrr, so I walked through the lot to get cash from the ATM. I returned, grabbed my food to go. The roti wasn't too bad, just a little crumbly. I didn't care much for the Channa filling. It was a little dry. I think I will stick to the other Trini restaurant located on Georgia Ave. This place could definitely use some customer etiquette. The lady preparing the food in the kitchen complained from the time I walked in the door up until the time I left the establishment.
(2)Roy S.
I went back recently and I was terribly disappointed... I got the boneless chicken roti and while huge it is still $12. The food was sooooo bland... No spices at all, the roti just falls apart so everything spills, and again it had no flavor!!!
(1)Jim P.
FYI....just wanted to let ya'll know that this place accepts credit cards. Food is solid. Take it to go. Standing room only. Friendly workers. Loud music.
(4)Erica B.
I'm not West Indian by a long shot but trust me I know good West Indian food when I taste. This is by far the best Caribbean food on MD.... hands down. I had an order of doubles (that was my first time), and the stewed chicken platter with spinach, potatoes, rice and red beans. I cant believe I forgot the bread! This food honestly taste like someone 's West Indian grandmother made it. The best partcis I only paid a total of 10.81. Sweet Mango in DC would have ran me at least $2 more. The only bunker is I wish you had an option of choosing white or dark meat (I prefer white).. sweet mango gives you the option. By as one of my good Trini friends explained to me many yrs ago that Caribbean prefer bone in chicken so must of then only cook with that. *shrugs* This place is about 35-40 mins from my home so its definitely not a hop, skip and jump from me but when I'm on that side of town I promise to only eat there. Give it a try... u wont be disappointed.
(5)Christine S.
I'm not as familiar with West Indian food as I am with Indian or other ethnicities, but my husband found this place and brought home some DELICIOUS takeout when we first moved in to our place in Takoma Park. The roti is amazing - so far I've only had the chickpea and potato stuffed roti, and it's a great balance of spices and heat. We also enjoyed the jerk chicken, rice with peas, fried dough balls with a tamarind sauce (YUM!), and a chickpea curry on small naan-like circles. We will definitely be going back here again and again - we brought some of this food to my sister and she adored it as well. I'm so excited to find delicious new (to me) cuisine right nearby!
(4)Lily Z.
Amazing! This is my first experience with Caribbean food and I am way impressed. After gleaning the other Yelp reviews, I went with a roti, a dinner, and an appetizer, which was more than enough to feed my parents and myself. GOAT ROTI: a big delicious packet of meat and potatoes and spices wrapped up in a roti skin. The goat was very tender and came bones-in, but the experience of biting into a wrap and spitting out bones wasn't nearly as awkward as I thought it might be. The flavor and texture were both heavenly. The roti skin was soft and chewy and lightly dusted with flour? This was by far the best part. STEW CHICKEN: nothing spectacular after having had the roti, but quite competently done. I didn't care much for the spinach (kind of clumped together), but the plantains were sweet and chewy and the chicken tender and flavorful. The rice was nothing to write home about but there was quite a bit of it. DOUBLES: I was expecting something a little more crispy and chutney-ish from the wikipedia, but it was quite tasty and cheap. The bread was soft and the filling was well spiced. Seemed to be primarily chickpea. In sum: delicious and fulfilling. Not jaw-droppingly cheap, but great portions for the price. I also know I'll be craving more of that roti for a while yet.
(5)A R.
I am TOTALLY confused on why this place receives good reviews. I went there for the first time and ordered 3 different dinners so that my family and I could share. I typically go to another place but kept passing this one and wanted to give it a try. EACH ONE was horrible and very poorly seasoned. There was not one good thing on the plate from the main dish to the sides. VERY disappointing. My husband is from Jamaican descent and I waiting for his response before I said anything. He also said the food was lousy and wanted to return it. I thought that we a little much but I will certainly not go back. YUCK.
(1)Lisa W.
This restaurant *does not have seating.* We drove an hour to satisfy our Trini food craving, planning to have an informal dinner and found that it is only take-out. There is not a single table or chair, and nowhere close by to eat outside. Somehow in my reading of the Yelp information & many of the reviews, I was unaware of this fact prior to our arrival, and I want to alert those who may come looking to have a sit-down meal. That being said, the food was really tasty (once we got back home to eat it!). My husband and his parents, who are all from Trinidad, agreed. We ordered goat roti & chicken roti, both of which were excellent. The goat had a surprisingly large amount of meat and few bones, more so than any other Trini curried goat I have had in the past. The curries were a little on the salty side, and the reviewer who said that they are oily is right - but I did not find that the oiliness took away from the tastiness of the dishes. The roti skin was exceptional - delicate and fresh. We were disappointed, though, to find that they only make buss-up-shut (paratha) with 24 hours advance notice, so if you are looking for that be sure to call in advance. We were excited to see that they serve doubles every day, even at dinner time. The barra for the doubles was soft and thin, the best I have had in the states. However, the curry in the doubles was also very salty & lacked the tanginess of tamarind sauce - it was a basic chickpea curry with a nice flavor but nothing amazing. They do have available tamarind sauce, which they did not ask if we wanted added but I am sure could have been added without difficulty. They only had 2 doubles left when we arrived in the evening, so you also might want to call ahead to order doubles if you will be bummed if they run out. Overall, a great meal. We will definitely be eating here (oh wait, getting take-out from here) again even though we live 40 miles away. We have not found any Trini food as delicious outside of the New York area, or of course Trinidad. As a side note, Islander Caribbean on U Street is not even close to the quality of Caribbean Palace & does not serve doubles or pholourie.
(4)Sakima R.
I LOVE this place. I ordered doubles and they were hot and fresh! This is authentic good Trini food. I go every chance I am in the city. The only problem is it is cash and carry. Thank God there is an ATM next door.
(4)Maisha H.
Stopped by for lunch the other day. I didnt know this place from jack. Never had heard of it. Dont frequent the area so I had never even seen it. It was simply the first Caribbean spot I saw while looking for some place to satisfy my island food craving. I had some stewed chicken, plantains and red beans and rice. Very flavorful and well seasoned. I really hate to ruin the stellar ratings but I must say my plantains were a bit dry and not as sweet as I would have preferred. Hey, it happens....won't stop me from coming back though.
(4)Michelle T.
Not bad of a place. The roti skin is much better then the Negril one. Pretty good. I just didn't like how I paid for my order, then the cashier went back and made it..no gloves! Eww!
(3)Daniel L.
I'm not sure whether the review below is correctly attributed to the Caribbean Palace in the shopping center at the corner of University and New Hampshire. Caribbean Palace is strictly take-out and cash only. My Caribbean friends tell me this is as close to Trinidad and Tobago as you can get in the DC area. Their rotis, doubles, and curries are amazing. I am partial to their goat roti, chicken stew, as well as their vegetarian offerings. Understand, this is a no-nonsense take-out counter, but do not let this prevent you from getting some absolutely positively delicious food with the best flavor. Service is very friendly and very fast. I only wish they had some seating so I could eat their food fresh out of the kitchen.
(5)Jeremy M.
My girlfriend turned me on to this place. I always get the roti with half spinach/ half chickpeas. I'm too into that to try anything else. I can barely eat it all in one sitting, but I almost always do.
(5)Barry E.
I'm sitting in the parking lot outside Caribbean Palace as I write this, having once again enjoyed one of their amazing rotis. Seriously folks, we're talking roti perfection here: fresh, soft, roti, sprinkled with chickpea flour on the inside, with delicious, flavor-packed fillings on the inside. I only have the veggie ones, which I absolutely love, but I have to think the meat ones are at least as good. Like the previous reviewer said, it's completely no-frills, cash only, but strictly delicious! P.S. Be sure to ask for their hot sauce in your roti. It's got a serious kick.
(5)Karla W.
great trini fare!!! Doubles doubles doubles
(4)iona p.
Greetings everyone out there in YELP/internet land and those looking for a beyond mediocre quality of food & service providing authentic tasting "Trinidadian" style caribbean food, "ALL YUH FIND DE RIGHT PLACE"!!! Just this evening, i was on the internet/google looking for another place/option, outside of Rita's carryout (off of Georgia Ave near the Howard University area), for my roti "fix"..and i stumbled across this particular listing. I saw that the ratings blew Rita's out of the water in damn near EVERY category/aspect..from quality of food/flavor to quality of customer service. I called Caribbean Palace around 7p (they close at 8p) and ordered 6 of the PLAIN Roti skins (that's the term used for PLAIN ROTI w/o ANYTHING...no curry, chana, vegetables, meat...etc.), so i could have to use with MY OWN homemade curry chicken/goat..etc.(most caribbean restaurants in my opinion try so hard "cut corners" that their curry's quality of flavor suffers, so i make my own. By the way, "we" refer to the different dishes offered as CURRY CHICKEN/CURRIED CHICKEN, CURRY GOAT/CURRIED GOAT, STEWED CHICKEN..etc. NOT "chicken curry", "goat curry" or "chicken stew"...that is not the way Trinidadians and Tobagonians say it. That is the correct way to say/order it, just so no one has to look or sound "silly" needlessly) I was coming from quite in Woodbridge, VA and i arrived about 8:10p-8:15p and i called them as soon as i got RIGHT ON NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE. and they WAITED for ME!!! (that kind of service & KINDNESS is a TRUE RARITY in this day and age!! and that kind of service warrants unwavering loyalty and a handsome tip this evening!! But DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE GOOD PEOPLE, if you haven't showed up without any phone call to tell them where you're at/what happened, THEY WILL PACK UP & CLOSE FOR THE DAY WITHOUT YOU...hell, we're Trinis, we does have lives and family outside of WORK too, ya know!)...LOL!!!! The best part WAS that while i was still sitting in my car in front of the store, i decided to take a "quick bite" (with my gluttonous shameless @ss! LOL!!!)..to see if it was worth the drive and law shattering speed to bust it up there..AND IT WAS WORTH IT!!!!! and then SOME!!! The roti's flavor was ON POINT (having the right amount of ground split peas, geerah and a pleasantly surprising mild lingering heat on the back end of the roti's flavor. The dough is also rolled out to the best thickness and circumference making the size of the Roti Skin FIERCE!!! and nice & LARGE for those of us out there with a cosmic "black hole" for a stomach/appetite!!). After my "quick sampling", I flew back out of my car and ordered 4 MORE Roti Skins, making my grand total 10! (I wasn't going to be coming back up to MD from VA for a good while, i decided to "stock up"..lol!), so you can bet all yuh sweet backsides you WILL be filled and fiercely satisfied...me, myself hasn't any qualms paying a decent buck or several for QUALITY! Let's face it everyone MOST of the time "cheap food" tastes just LIKE THAT, "CHEAP"!!!! You ALWAYS get what you pay for..and in all honesty the prices aren't bad AT ALL considering potion size, quality, FLAVOR & quality of service!! Your tastebuds are worth the "investment"---admits that with unwavering GUSTO!!! I am a product of a DIE HARD, West Indian "Ol' School", Countryside Tobagonian mother & Malik Trinidadian native father..and i grew up my WHOLE entire life going back & forth from the DC Metro Area to BOTH Trinidad AND Tobago at least 2 times a year, many many times spending a whole "summer vacation" between BOTH islands since I was a TODDLER...I am now in my LATE LATE 20s, so let's just say that I'm not a novice in the flavors, culture & heritage of the twin island nation, BUT don't get me wrong i won't get too overzealous & claim (lacking humility), that i'm a so-called "expert"... So i hope that the Trinidadians & Tobagonians, as well as any of our fellow Caribbean brethren/sistren, & last but definitely never least all the "non-west indian/caribbean" decent/ethnicity fans of all our culture and cuisine, looking for some legit, real deal holyfield, fierce & authentic as it gets for being outside of Trinidad/NYC/Miami FOOD (specifically TRINIDADIAN styled), you all have came to the right yelp listing/review(s)!!! So once again, i do apologize for the NOVEL of a review I left you all out there. All i hope is to genuinely be of some help/service, slight entertainment & to share an unbridled, honest, truthful and eternally helpful comment/review... BE LIKE NIKE ANYONE READING THIS, AND "JUST DO IT!!"...go to Caribbean Palace and go for the gusto, you only live once!!! and please take it from a young woman with undiluted Trinidadian AND Tobagonian upbringing, raising and instilling...the roti offered at THIS VENUE is the closest you'll get to the real proper tasting thing outside of NYC, Miami AND Sweet Sweet T N T!!!! Bless up, ALL!! LIVE, LOVE and EAT through LIFE!!! P.E.A.C.E.
(5)Sonal P.
I've been eating here for over a decade now and the food is just AWESOME! It's the best West-Indian food I've ever had & would recommend it to everyone!
(5)