‘The flavours are always there:’ This roti shop has been a Scarborough institution for 25 years

Doubles being made fresh to order at Mona's Roti. (CP24)

Editor’s note: CP24’s Bill Coulter has been visiting some of Toronto’s most notable restaurants as part of our recurring ‘On the Menu’ series. Stay tuned for more features on CP24.com and CTVNewsToronto.ca taking a look inside some of these hidden gems.

For Mona Khan, the name behind Mona’s Roti in Scarborough, the key to her success is treating the customer right.

For the past 25 years, the Trinidadian restaurant has garnered a passionate clientele, thanks to it its rotis and doubles. The savoury meals are packed with different kinds of curried meats, like goat, beef and shrimp.

Khan said that everyone who comes through the door gets treated the same way.

“The service is very, very nice,” she said. “I tell all my workers: ‘You’ve got to feed everybody, no matter who comes in,” she said.

Another big part of the restaurant’s appeal is the open-concept kitchen, where customers can see their meals being made to order.

“You’ll come in and see all the ladies drilling away, making all the rotis for you fresh, all the curries, all the doubles, being made right before your eyes,” said Reesa Khan, Mona’s daughter.

Mona’s Roti has a lot of repeat customers, who not only value the delicious food, but also the welcoming service.

“Since we’re opened, we have been getting these steady customers, steady coming in all the time,” said Khan. “They went and tried it all over, right? And they said, ‘Nope, we’re coming back.’”

Reesa added that her mother’s dedication is a big part of their success, and their excellent product.

“The flavours are always there, every day, because she’s in there every day,” Reesa said. “She’s taste-testing everything because she needs it to be up to a certain standard. I think that’s what people like. They come in and know what to expect.”

Mona’s Roti is located at 4810 Sheppard Avenue East