the Guyanese roti caravan on Brixton Station Road

[thriller]

Well tried it myself finally today.

Eating these type of foods practically all my life, must say, it tasted nice, but really no biggie.

Wouldn't spend £2.50 every lunch day on it.

Not sure of the hygiene of the place either. She didn't wash her hands and just grabbed the roti and at the end, started to roll it up with both her hands.

I'll give it a pass.

 

[telbert]

Here's the new, much-acclaimed roti concept restaurant by the way - Moolis.

In Frith Street only currently, but they're talking up the potential of a roll-out. Haven't been admittedly, but it sure looks tempting

I went here today (on the back of this thread).I had the Punjabi goat mooli &a drink for a fiver.It was fucking excellent.One of the best things i've ever eaten.Icant wait 'till tomorrow.

 

[tarannau]

Glad you enjoyed Telbert - I must bleeding go and visit myself now. Sounds aces

I'm a bit bemused by Twister's post tbh. £2.50 for a skillfully made roti, rolled around decent homemade curry or stew and prepared to order in front of you? I'd bite your hand off to have that meal option near me at work for lunch tbh. I'm not going to make any more grandiose claims for it than that really - it's meant to be an everyday food after all. I'm not sure I'd make a pilgrimage to the place, but it's on my doorstep, that woman makes good roti.... and I could happily eat dal puri roti till the cows come home.

As for hygiene - she's largely restricted to the innards of a caravan and I'm not convinced it's necessary for her to be washing her hands between every customer. I'm sure she's not exemplary, but I can't say that her food hygiene standards have raised any concerns with me. I feel a little obliged to defend her tbh

 

[Rushy]

When is the aforementioned Roti Caravan open? Having read this thread I arranged to meet a friend there to get lunch on Wednesday (1-1.30) but there was no sign of life.

 

[tarannau]

I'm out of Brixton during the days, but I would assume market hours most of the time. Wednesday's a bit of a half day I suppose, but it's a bit of a one woman shop most of the time. On the plus side, there are decent cheap eats nearby too - Colombian down Popes, Middle Eastern, Portuguese cafe etc

Thankfully it seems to be open at the most important times (ie early evenings when I return back from work, and Sats)

 

[gaijingirl]

There's also a nice Eritrean Cafe opp - under the Rec. I'm a particular fan of Eritrean food and back to the Rec having ditched my lido membership due to lack of creche so this is a plus for me.

 

[tarannau]

Use these places people - they're great. I'm envious of the Brixton lunch choices every time I have to go into some overpriced, uninspiring corporate eatery in the legoland shithole that is Canary Wharf. Thankfully I work in Old St some of the time, but that's only mildly better.

 

[Rushy]

Went to Bamboulaloolawhatsit instead. You know the one I mean. Near Lloyds on Acre Lane. Very tasty - although a little pricey for a regular lunch option. Might try the roti place again this afternoon.

Wasn't there an Eritrean opposite the Dog* on Coldharbour Lane? Or was that Ethiopian? Or something else beginning with E? Ordered tripe by mistake once and couldn't bring myself to go back - just the memory of the smell...

 

[Fedayn]

Fuck sake, i'm drooling at the sound of this roti caravan......

 

[tarannau]

Went to Bamboulaloolawhatsit instead. You know the one I mean. Near Lloyds on Acre Lane. Very tasty - although a little pricey for a regular lunch option. Might try the roti place again this afternoon.

Wasn't there an Eritrean opposite the Dog* on Coldharbour Lane? Or was that Ethiopian? Or something else beginning with E? Ordered tripe by mistake once and couldn't bring myself to go back - just the memory of the smell...

Bamboullawotsit's alright and a decent sit down option, but the food's not upto the standard of Judy's Divine, Healthy Eaters or a whole host of other options. It's a slightly safe choice, as you'd expect by an eatery that's linked to a sauce and condiments company, but pleasant and tasty. Not a bad choice by any means

Asmara's the Eritrean opposite the Dogstar. Haven't been for years tbh, but it's always been welcoming ime.

And whilst we're here, a shout to the Satay bar. Good lunch deals, decent food - you could quibble with having all those oriental options on one menu, but they have some consistent skills in the kitchen - and nice surroundings. Judging by the heaving crowds in there, even in the week, it's a bit of a Brixton success story. I doff my hat to what they've done to the place - it's a step above Fuyijama and the other noodle competitors nearby imo

 

[uk benzo]

I've always found Bamboula to be a poor eating experience. The service is consistently bad + food is expensive + portions not great. All in all, you pay a lot for a little.

As mentioned earlier, there are better places to get similar food in Brixton, such as Healthy Eaters on Electric Avenue.

 

[matt m]

Well tried it myself finally today.

Eating these type of foods practically all my life, must say, it tasted nice, but really no biggie.

Wouldn't spend £2.50 every lunch day on it.

well I suppose I should have couched my initial "mmmmmmmmm" in the context of the fact that roti is what it is: very simple food.

We're not talking Michelin starred 500-different-flavours-sophisticatedly-reacting-with-each-other-to-produce-an-as-yet-unknown-culinary-sensation here.

We're talking spicy food wrapped in dough (or whatever it is).

But very nice with it.

 

[thriller]

well I suppose I should have couched my initial "mmmmmmmmm" in the context of the fact that roti is what it is: very simple food.

We're not talking Michelin starred 500-different-flavours-sophisticatedly-reacting-with-each-other-to-produce-an-as-yet-unknown-culinary-sensation here.

We're talking spicy food wrapped in dough (or whatever it is).

But very nice with it.

Yeah guess so....

But still. Aint worth the "damn, why didn't I notice this before. My lunch days will now never be the same" kinda reaction.

And the hygiene issue coupled with the fact that these roti's are cooked in oil make it a not very healthy food to eat every day or too often.

 

[Hungryman]

Been to the roti van in Brixton a couple of times now. The first time was great, the second was nice but not as good as the first time. But maybe thats because in between my 2 visits i have been going to the new Guyanese takeaway in Herne Hill, just by the bridge. It's called Umana Yana (previously called the Trini Shack and still has that name up outside) and the food is well worth a 40 min drive for. They are very friendly too.

 

[Hungryman]

Yeah guess so....

But still. Aint worth the "damn, why didn't I notice this before. My lunch days will now never be the same" kinda reaction.

And the hygiene issue coupled with the fact that these roti's are cooked in oil make it a not very healthy food to eat every day or too often.

Yeah guess so....

But still. Aint worth the "damn, why didn't I notice this before. My lunch days will now never be the same" kinda reaction.

And the hygiene issue coupled with the fact that these roti's are cooked in oil make it a not very healthy food to eat every day or too often.

Perhaps a Guyanese curry and roti is not something you appreciate. I grew up with it and crave it if I go too long without it. She does it very well. As for the hygiene issue, at least you can see what is going on. I don't think you'd appreciate a lot of restaurants and takeaways if you saw what went on behind closed doors.

 

[tarannau]

Blimey, you're a determined traveller - fairplay indeed. But if you're in the area, try out the Kaiteur Kitchen in the open bit of E&C shopping centre. There's also Roti Joupa on Clapham High Street, plus there was another good, home cooked style Trini place (from roti to chow mein and pholourie) down Falcon Road in Clap Junction, towards the Winstanley Est. Not sure if it's still there - been about 4/5 years since I went! And there's always the Guyanese eateries in both Tooting and Brixton covered markets

Good to hear about Umana - must pay it a visit, especially now it's changed hands. I'm clearly getting lazy and you're putting me to shame with your travelling efforts.

 

[Hungryman]

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll surely be checking them all out! At this rate I'm now thinking of diarising my visits and putting up a web page for others. It took a long time to find any Guyanese eateries in London. Guess I'll have to start thinking about moving to Brixton!

 

[han]

Fuck sake, i'm drooling at the sound of this roti caravan......

I tried it last week - chickpea and spinach roti. GORGEOUS. Lovely woman running it too, had an laugh with her and a mate of hers and ended up chinwagging for about half an hour. Deffo going back there again.

 

[uk benzo]

Umana Yana

Went to Herne Hill's Umana Yana today for a roti. I bought a goat roti + 2 saltfish fritters + drink for 7 squid.

The roti was amazing! I've had goat rotis elsewhere but this has to be the best! It was filled with tender pieces of non-fatty/gristly meat and perfectly cooked potatoes. The curry sauce had the perfect kick to it. The roti itself was perfectly made- not oily greasy. And they are definitely not stingy when comes to quantity because that roti stuffed me silly!

 

[netbob]

Roti van in the snow:

 

[thriller]

And the purpose of the pic is?

 

[Biddlybee]

erm, the title of the thread?

 

[catriona]

Finally got round to trying this place & the mixed veg roti (mostly chickpeas spinach & ?sweet potato) was one of the tastiest things I've eaten in weeks, including posh restaurant food. Thanks for the recommendation guys

 

[stuff_it]

Interesting. I'm a burrito fan and thought that Mexican food would have taken off over here but alas two decades of horrible sub-sub-El Paso fare served in "cantinas" that are only there to flog you more tequila shots and bottles of Corona has put paid to that idea.

Go roti!!

I will assume you have since found a Las Iguanas? It's a chain but the food is very much authentic compared to most 'Mexican' food that you get in the uk. The cocktails are banging as well. I think the chain make their own cachaça as well just for them to make banging cocktails out of.

Is the roti wagon something that should be in the 'real Brixtonite' quiz?

 

[editor]

Here's the thread about the impending eviction:
http://www.urban75.net/forums/threa...-21-days-to-go-petition-started.302884/unread

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I've always found Bamboula to be a poor eating experience. The service is consistently bad + food is expensive + portions not great. All in all, you pay a lot for a little.

I've only been once and it was a grim experience so there's no 'always' for me.

 

[teddave]

guyanese roti lady with her beautiful blue caravan is now trading sans caravan in the snicket that cuts through from atlantic road to brixton stn. rd, the cut through youd use to get to the south bound line of the train service.

roti still as good as ever

 

[mccliche]

The Roti shack lady is back up and running again, albeit now serving up at 1 Brixton Station Road (leading to the sports centre) in a chicken shop called Chicksey's...It's as good as ever though, I was so overjoyed to see her food that I had 2 last night, 1 upon arrival and 1 before I got back on the tube. Saltfish and Spinach is the one.

Makes me wish I still lived in Brixton, best food in London I have ever had, especially as it's only £3.50.

 

[lefteri]

yeah she's quite chuffed with the new shop as she didn't get on with the woman she shared the stall in the station underpass with - good spot there I think, if people can deal with the potential confusion of two different food businesses in one smallish unit

 

[Rushy]

The Roti shack lady is back up and running again, albeit now serving up at 1 Brixton Station Road (leading to the sports centre) in a chicken shop called Chicksey's...It's as good as ever though, I was so overjoyed to see her food that I had 2 last night, 1 upon arrival and 1 before I got back on the tube. Saltfish and Spinach is the one.

Makes me wish I still lived in Brixton, best food in London I have ever had, especially as it's only £3.50.

You fatty. Those rotis are huge!