Trinidad Ali's Roti Shop
Bed-Stuy's Trinidad Ali's Roti Shop, pictured above, apparently isn't affiliated with Brooklyn's other two Ali's Roti Shops (at 337 Utica Ave at at 589 Flatbush Avenue). According to the Pork Chop Express, "This Ali wants to stand alone, because this Ali's Trinidad Roti Shop is a cut above its Brooklyn competition... Ali's roti are a course worthy of the title 'main.' The shells are fresh and spongy, with a thin layer of peas providing solid dahl flavor... Chicken Curry is the most popular amongst regulars, and we certainly appreciated the terrific mix of meat parts (tender boneless chunks, but also moist legs and sumptuous shoulders) slow-stewed in a delicious, mildly seasoned sauce."
This Ali's has been named the Best Trinidadian spot by the Village Voice, with a recommendation for their conch roti, which promises "a plenitude of tender gastropod vying with potato for domination of the brown, thyme-inflected gravy. Or pick from curries of shrimp, goat, oxtail, and beef, any of which can also be poured over peas and rice."
For those who aren't familiar with Trinidadian cuisine, Yelper Erik F. offers a primer: "Roti: Big piece of fried flat bread wrapped around a choice of fillings. Chicken and goat come with bones in." (So, rather than bite into it like a burrito, you'll want to sit down and eat it with a fork to work around the bones.) Erik also defines Ali's "Doubles: A channa (chick pea) curry in an Indian vein between to smaller pieces of a thicker fried flat bread;" "Aloo pie: A potato filled pastry in the tradition of a samosa;" and "Phoolori: Fried dough balls with tamarind sauce." How would you rate this place — and what would you recommend ordering?
Reviews (28)
gemini10 wrote a review on March 10, 2009 12:09 PM
YEAHH!!!! - Love ALI'S!!!
However we thought this one was associated with the one in Flatbush, but still both are solid - if you havent had Trini food - stick with your basic Chicken Roti
Montrose Morris wrote a review on March 10, 2009 12:14 PM
Yum!
Biff Champion wrote a review on March 10, 2009 12:19 PM
I LOVE roti! I wish this was closer. Is there anything like this close to Brooklyn Heights?
Schultz wrote a review on March 10, 2009 12:31 PM
Biff - maybe one can open on Montague St??
Montrose Morris wrote a review on March 10, 2009 12:34 PM
Biff, you need to make a field trip out here this spring.
Biff Champion wrote a review on March 10, 2009 12:38 PM
Schultz, can you get me a deal on the rent? ;-)
MM, I'm be back there again soon, I'm sure. Is this shop anywhere near the Children's Museum/Brower Park (I realize that's Crown Heights and not BS)?
Santa wrote a review on March 10, 2009 12:42 PM
ive only been to the one on flatbush but it was awesome.
also brownstoner, you have some kind of bug that shrinks my screen when I open the restaurant of the day page. It only happens on this page.
lambretta76 wrote a review on March 10, 2009 12:42 PM
A couple of notes:
Ali's sometimes has boneless chicken. Not always, but I've heard people ask for it on occasion, with about a 25% success rate.
The potato and channa roti costs between $3 and $4 (there's no real set pricing on anything here) and is the big value item in my book. Brilliant stuff - chickpeas and potatoes in a mild island curry sauce, tucked inside a roti skin. (And their roti skins are one of the best in the city.) If you want it spicy, as for "peppah", if you want it sweet, ask for "tamarind" (I usually go for "tamarind and peppah").
As for doubles, skip them here - the ones from A&A Bake and Doubles around the corner on Nostrand are far superior.
Pick up a Peardrax, a wonderful pear soda, to wash it down.
And just to help you out, when you enter, order from the right window and speak loudly (the woman taking the order is about 15 feet away behind a steam table). Pick it up on the window to your left. Enjoy.
gemini10 wrote a review on March 10, 2009 12:48 PM
I would also like to add that some of the best Jerk Chicken is from a hole in the wall called Peppas on Flatbush Ave near Parkside. - since we are talking about West indian food - my favorite cuisine :)
Montrose Morris wrote a review on March 10, 2009 1:07 PM
Biff, not all that close, really, but walkable. There are a couple of decent roti places closer to the museum, on Nostrand in Crown Heights, but Ali's really is better.
mopar wrote a review on March 10, 2009 1:21 PM
Never been to Ali's but since we're on the subject, has anyone ever been to Islands somewhere near Prospect Park? That place is fantastic.
superstooper wrote a review on March 10, 2009 2:31 PM
Delicious! Ali's is great!
I also love that place on Nostrand close to Eastern Pkwy for currant roll fresh from the oven at 1:00 daily.
Roti "shells"? Skins.
PC wrote a review on March 10, 2009 2:31 PM
Well,I usually eat my roti's at Gloria's there's one at Nostrand Ave near I think Prospect Pl and one on Empire Blvd excellent also the buss up shot is excellent for those who know what I'm talking about. I'm going to try Ali's in Bedstuy....I love a good Roti...
gemini10 wrote a review on March 10, 2009 2:37 PM
OMG - Glorias - we go there too on Nostrand
haha - they serve Bussup Shut there? - I didn't know that
I usually stick to their stew chicken and pumpkin - they have a good roti at Glorias as well
Heather wrote a review on March 10, 2009 2:58 PM
What's the cross street on Fulton?
I realize bones are traditional in roti, but they drive me nuts. However, conch or shrimp... yum.
lambretta76 wrote a review on March 10, 2009 3:04 PM
Oh, Biff - there's a place in Downtown Brooklyn - Justin's - that does a decent (though not amazing) Guyanese version of roti. It's at 144 Lawrence St., between Fulton and Willoughby.
I don't know the difference really between Guyanese and T&T, I just know that Ali's is better.
Biff Champion wrote a review on March 10, 2009 3:20 PM
Thanks lambretta76! I'll look for it.
bedstuy11216 wrote a review on March 10, 2009 3:28 PM
We would trek all the way over there for a good roti even when we lived on Washington
Montrose Morris wrote a review on March 10, 2009 3:31 PM
Hmm, Guyanese and Trini food should be pretty similar, as the mix of peoples and cultures is similar. I guess a big difference might be that Trinidad is an island and Guyana is on the South American mainland, so the foods available might be different. Sad that I don't really know, as my father's side of the family is from Guyana, but we assimilated out of traditional foods, alas, as my father can't boil water, let alone cook.
dirty_hipster wrote a review on March 10, 2009 4:36 PM
This place rules.
babs wrote a review on March 10, 2009 4:55 PM
Hammond's on Nostrand and Sterling has better jerk chicken than Peppa's IMO.
Ali's doubles (and I only know the one on Flatbush) are so-so. Best ever were Lenny's Roti, formerly on Washington between Lincoln Rd and Lefferts Ave. There's a recently re-opened restaurant there (Da Hot Pot); they say they have roti but I don't know about doubles.
gemini10 wrote a review on March 10, 2009 5:21 PM
oh babs - i will have to try Hammonds
Sure - Lenny's was unreal so was Mike's across the street from Lenny's
however - We tried Da Hot pot and it was awful awful awful - it was like "trin fast food" just thrown together
Guyana has more of a spanish/latin american flavor whereas trindad has more of a black african (post slavery) mix - both islands however are populated by East Indian people
ticcthesoulrebel wrote a review on March 10, 2009 8:09 PM
I Just Bought A House in Bed-Stuy and this one of the best buy's in bed-stuy. If you're a vegetarian like me it is the best buy in Brooklyn. It is not the best looking spot but it is authentic looking spot just like Trini. For 7 bucks you can get a filling meal try it out !!
ticcthesoulrebel wrote a review on March 10, 2009 8:10 PM
I Just Bought A House in Bed-Stuy and this one of the best buy's in bed-stuy. If you're a vegetarian like me it is the best buy in Brooklyn. It is not the best looking spot but it is authentic looking spot just like Trini. For 7 bucks you can get a filling meal try it out !!
lilaclily wrote a review on March 11, 2009 10:12 AM
I'd like to clear up the recommendation by the Yelp poster--roti is NOT meant to be eaten with utensils. The roti skin (dhalpuri or paratha) is what you use to gather up the contents. And the "roti dust" he thinks is cornmeal actually comes from yellow split peas. Was it really that difficult to find a Trinidadian in Brooklyn to ask about this?
shourec wrote a review on March 11, 2009 11:20 AM
Ali's is the bomb!
Bed-Stuy is coming up for sure!
5 more years....
marymatt wrote a review on March 11, 2009 12:32 PM
Shourec,
Ali's is definitely the bomb and he's been there for more than 10 years. A term like "up & coming" falls way short of describing historic Bed-Stuy. I'm glad you "discovered" it though.
superstooper wrote a review on March 11, 2009 2:02 PM
coming up ≠ up and coming
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