ACR Hot Rotis and Doubles
2680 Lawrence Avenue East
Toronto, ON
(generic photo of doubles borrowed from Always Hungry)
Growing up I always wished I was half Trinidadian. Sure, being Jamaican is great (we’re the best Caribbean island, obviously) — we have great food, great music, are attractive etc. but Trinidadians have a lot going for them as well. I mean, rotis, doubles, Carnival… not to shabby Trinidad. I figured being half Jamaican and half Trinidadian would make me some sort of Caribbean superpower… but I digress.
I grew up eating rotis whether they were chicken, potato, channa… doesn’t matter. I don’t remember ever NOT eating rotis. Recently I was introduced to doubles. And by introduced I mean I got tired of HEARING about them all the time and decided to finally try one. My usual source for doubles is Island Foods and they have a very good product. I’ve tried the doubles from Patty King (the WORST, pre-made and just sitting there) and Caribbean Bistro which is good but expensive (I think they are $2.50 EACH!).
I heard about ACR through Chowhound and have been meaning to go there for months. It’s accessible by TTC but it’s a trek (Lawrence and Midland) but with the help of my Zipcar it’s an easy trip! This is strictly a takeout spot! The people that work there all seem really sweet in a no nonsense kind of way. The menu consists of a variety of roti (standard offerings), Trinidadian specialties such as Saheena, Phoulorie and other fried goodies and of course DOUBLES.
I ordered two doubles with pepper. At $1.25 each it would be a cheap meal for sure. It took a few minutes for my order to ready and a few seconds for me to consume my first double. MAN OH MAN was it delicious. The Barra (bread) was so fresh, light and hot. The channa filling was perfect spiced and not too runny. And the pepper! The pepper sauce was hot but it had a great depth of flavour. I think they sell it at the shop… I may have to pick some up next time I go.
Will I be back? Most definitely. However, to make this an economical habit I will have to figure out how to get there by TTC. Oops… I just checked it out. Turns out there’s a bus from the subway station by my house that stops RIGHT in front of the place. Dangerous.
Here’s what others have to say about ACR…
Eye Weekly
Chowhound
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When i used to live in scarborough, ACR used to be where I would go for roti and doubles, no arguments. Since being downtown, I have to settle for island foods since its so close, but occasionally I manage to head up town when seeing the folks. You triggered some memories with this post!
i love doubles
A good friend of mine (who happens to be Trinidadian) first told me about this place. So many people recommend it, I can’t wait to try it now! Thanks for the recommendation, I can’t wait to try the saheena and of course, the doubles!
I was born in Jamaica and I am also Indian Jamaican too. Jamaica is lacking some of the Indian snacks that they have in Trinidad. I like buying my Doubles, Saheena, Biganee, all with chick peas & some Laddu too. I like them so much that I would buy 12 of them each. When i have the money for it then I would buy a whole lot of it. I wish I was born in Trinidad & Tobago then I would be Indian Trinidad and know a lot more about the Indian sweets too.
I grew up in South Scarborough but never had any Trini friends in my youth. I was first introduced to ACR by a Trini colleague of mine about 10 years ago and have been hooked ever since. I would pick up a few doubles at least 2-3 times a week on my way home (you have to get them with extra pepper… for those who are true doubles connoisseurs… you’ll know what I’m saying).
I now live in Ajax where there are a few decent places that sell doubles… but nowhere as good as ACR!!! I regularly make the trek all the way back to Scarborough just to pick up a dozen of them. Whatever I don’t eat I just stick in the fridge and reheat in the microwave. Not as good as the fresh ones… but still waaaaay better than anything I can find in Durham! I can’t praise their doubles enough and always highly recommend them to anyone who brings up Trini Doubles in convo.
IF YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TO ACR… GO!!!