You wouldn't think to find a Caribbean restaurant in the middle of PA. But Callaloo did not disappoint. One of the most satisfying meals I've had in a long time and I frequent major cities and eat great food. The Doubles are a must as a starter. Amazing flavor. Add a little dash of pepper sauce to give it some kick. Also tried the Curry Chicken Buss-up-shut. Shredded chicken was tender and the flavors of the curried chick pea and roasted pumpkin sauce were amazing. Great value and filling at about $15. Place has a cool vibe and solid service. Will return on my next trip. read more

Love this spot. Absolutely amazing. Always cooked right and spicy to my taste. Definitely try the goat. The drinks are out of this world A++

AMAZING! My boyfriend and I just wanted to try a local place to eat since we are from out of town. This place caught our eye because of how unusual it looked. The manager (owner?) sat down at our table and recommended which foods to try with what. It was quick and clean and some of the tastiest food I've had in a while. Now I'm wishing I lived around here! read more

First time eating at Callaloo and it was good. There were only 3 tables in the restaurant, but they were busy with carry out orders. Ordered 4 different entrees and they were all flavorful. Will be back again. read more

I had the Caribbean jerk chicken and my husband had the Rack n Mack. Both were excellent and very generous portions.

A west Caribbean gem in Lancaster, Callaoo is a bright and quaint spot with absolutely delicious foods. A draw back is the hours because you will crave it when you might want it. There's no parking, and it's also small, so reservations would be handy for the evening weekends. The tropical drinks are refreshing but could use some ginger or more ginger to add to the authenticity and spice. There's really not a dish that is not worthy to try, and the bright educational decor helps add to the ambiance and genuine admiration for the Trini cuisine. The deserts are also tasty, but I wish that they would make the lemongrass ginger creme brûlée, traditionally. The owners as staff are also friendly. My west indie friends also vouch for this place. I do hope they have the opportunity to move to a bigger location with more closer parking options. Til then, it's worth the walk. read more

Callaloo is a lovely, tiny, bright, and happy place that is packed on the weekend, so make reservations. They are BYOB with a corkage fee. This review is for the vegan stuff, which we did not think there was too much of at first. But since there were both appetizers and entrees, we went for it because I remembered loving these flavors on trips to the Caribbean. Callaloo is a green leafy dish that you don't see in the US too much, btw. The most amazing thing they have is their *Doubles* which is a street-food taco on their fried bread with chickpeas, cucumber, tamarind sauce, and cilantro sauce. Get two! Or more! We also got the Roti which is curried potatoes, carrots, and chickpeas -- and the Callaloo Rice which is coconut rice with spinach, lentils, and fried onions. Entrees are served in an iron skillet (which you can touch). We did not order the Pineapple Chow which looks to be a pineapple salsa, but we won't miss it next time. These are all the vegan things, and there was also the Trinidadian fried bread (included with the meal) which comes in a big soft coil that you break off and dip on one of 3 sauces. They have their own house habanero sauce. I advise you to try this potent stuff in dabs. It is a wonderful fiery creamy sauce. I should have asked about taking some home. A bustling takeout business was going on while all the tables were full. The owner is beautiful, professional, and very welcoming, impressive in a time of so little attention to customer service. read more

Had a great meal with some different flavors. The soup of the day was a pigeon pea soup - fresh and warms you up. The curry chicken was also delicious and can be jazzed up with the sauces provided. The cassava fries on the next table smelled so good; I'll need to get that next time. Took Home he leftovers for a great breakfast the next morning. read more

This would get a 4.5 half stars if I could give half stars. The food was great. The buss-up-shut and curried chicken was delicious. The only downside was how loud it is. Its difficult to hear anyone at your table talk without leaning halfway across the table. Their Cassava fries are very good as well. read more

LOVE THIS PLACE! This was my first time trying Trinidadian food and it was amazing! They had a good amount of vegan options and the staff was really friendly. I got the curried veggies and buss-up the first time I went. It was so good I went back the next day and got the Callaloo and Coocoo. It was good but the whole time I was eating it, I wish I got the curried veggies. Other winning menu items: yuca fries, doubles and the hot sauce (which they bottle and sell). read more

Callaloo - Doubles - Caribbean Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Love this place! Just moved to Lancaster and was told how awesome this place was, so of course we had to try it out. We were not disappointed, and as food snobs with food allergies, we set the bar kind of high on quality of food/service! The portions were great for the price, the food was satiating and delicious, and the order was ready for pick up on time! Can't ask for more than that! read more

So good tried beef and jerk chicken. Buss up shut is awesome. Tried double which was interesting and the pepper sauce is delicious

Almost gave up when passing and saw how busy. Stuck with it and so glad I did. Doubles are amazing! Bus up shut with chicken and Roti was like an island chicken Pot pie. Will defiantly be back. For the first timer. Take a seat then order at the counter. I waited around until someone finally told me that read more

Callaloo - Caribbean Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

This place was my first introduction to Trinidadian cuisine, and it was truly delicious. We have been there a few times and have ordered them in as well. We have had the doubles, roti, curry chicken with chickpeas and rice, beef with rice. The place is small so it might not be the best place for big groups. The atmosphere is somewhat hipster and the staff are nice and pretty professional. read more

Incredible. Wait staff beyond welcoming and helpful in navigating the menu. Each course was better than the next. Atmosphere was warm and inviting. I could eat this everyday. Out. Of. This. World. Best birthday dinner ever. Oh and it's BOYOB so... What I got: cassava fries (try all the sauces) to share. Heritage pork with Asian noodles. Husband had the Buss up shut and ermergersh we had no room for desert but the people next to us had some and it looked Devine. read more

Super tiny joint right down the street from my apartment. I opted to check it out their first day and have been going back ever since. The buss-up shut curried chicken and the stewed beef are phenomenal, as well as the doubles, the pineapple chow, and the guava BBQ chicken thighs. The staff is relatively attentive and the owners are super friendly. It is a *super* tiny place, maybe max seating 30 at max capacity, which is extremely tight. That is, honestly, the only drawback that I can think of. The prices are reasonable, the serving sizes are generous, and the food has been consistently good across my numerous visits. read more

Callaloo Trinidadian is a "must return" restaurant. The service is great. The servers take time to explain the various dishes and specials and they are friendly and professional. They give the restaurant a laid back atmosphere that is so inviting. The food is exceptional! It tastes fresh and has many levels of flavors. I want to try all the dishes!! Another nice aside, it's a BYOB with a $5 corking fee....well worth it. read more

Cannot say enough good things about the food. It is exceptional for Lancaster, PA! We both had the Butternut Squash Soup, and tried all the favorites: the doubles are good, nothing spectacular, but the bread (buss-up-shut, I believe they call it) and the dishes it comes with are fabulous. The service needs a little work, and the hours should expand (perhaps the restaurant will too - as it's very, very small) but nothing takes away from the flavorful food. Bravo Callaloo! Glad you are here. read more

I haven't written a review in years but went out of my way to write about this place. This place is everything I ever wanted. We got the doubles, curried chicken, and pepper steak. I am not sure which one I loved more. read more

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If I could give this restaurant 10 stars, I would. The ambience was great, the service was amazing, and the food was delicious. If you like wholesome nutritional food with robust flavors, I highly recommend this restaurant. Icing on the cake: it's BYOB! We brought some brut champagne and mixed it with the LLB drink and it was to die for. They also have great vegetarian and gluten free options (clearly marked on the menu). If you like spicy food, they also have a pepper sauce made with Habaneros that has a great kick. My only negative comment: we had a reservation for 8 pm and there were no tables available at that time so we ended up having to sit at the bar. The hostess was very apologetic. read more

Found this place through yelp while on a trip to Dutch Wonderland with my family. Being from Trinidad, I had to visit this place. Upon entering the restaurant, we were pleasantly surprised with the authentic decor and atmosphere. The staff was very friendly. The food was amazing. I felt I was back in Trinidad. We even met the chef and owner to let them know how wonderful the food tasted. This will be a definite visit the next time we venture into PA from NY. read more

The food here is amazing! There's nothing I can say that hasn't been said before, repeatedly! Our server, Scott, was great! You just have to go and find out for your self. read more

I have now gone 2 times and I'm liking it better each time. The bus up shut is amazing and why I went back. I haven't loved my main courses a stewed beef dish and then a rice & lentil dish w/ shrimp but the bread!!!! And I did love what my hubby ordered the curry chicken and would get that next time. Pineapple app and the doubles are yummy and you've gotta have the peanut punch! Oh, also loved the jalapeño sorbet!! Need that with ice cream. read more

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Just an excellent dinner. Agree with others that getting the 'doubles' is the small plate of choice. Pineapple chow was good too but the texture & taste of the doubles was superior. Didn't try the roti dishes for dinner. Instead shared the callaloo rice with shrimp and a local beef special with snap sugar peas. Beef was phenomenal. Too bad it was only a special. Callaloo rice had a great texture and taste. Only downside was the shrimp were just a bit overcooked and not jumbo shrimp. For dessert, we had the coconut bread pudding. It could have used some coconut ice cream or something else paired with it though. Service was attentive and professional. Little disjointed at times but that seemed to be due to one of the waitresses arriving a bit later. Even including 3 drinks, the total was $61. In Philly, a meal like this would have easily been $90-$100.b read more

The food is amazing. We were here for lunch and it did get crowded around noon. They don't have too much seating, so get there early. read more

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I am obsessed with this place! Seriously. If only I didn't live a couple thousand miles away But any time I am in town, it is my go-to... sometimes two nights in a row! Their hot sauces are in the best way. As a vegan, I am always stoked to find a place with a designated vegan option on their menu (and bonus points if there's more than one!) The curried vegetable buss-up-shut is the ultimate comfort food, particularly in the middle of a Pennsylvanian winter. It's a small space, but light and airy and the service is great. Already dreaming of my next visit to Lancaster just to come back here! read more

When I found out there was a Trinidadian restaurant in Lancaster, I knew that's where I wanted to go. I expected this to be a mom and pop establishment with family members as servers speaking with an island accent. But that was far far reality. It feels more American and trendy. Flavors: Drinks - The lemon-lime bitters drink was really good. I didn't want to fill up with liquid but at the same time I couldn't stop guzzling it. The sorrel drink was nice as well; more bitter and a strong flavor of hibiscus. Ceviche - It was fresh and good quality but not amazing. I'm used to South American ceviche from Ecuador and Peru and that wasn't the flavor profile I got. I expected more citrus but it turned out to be more bland. Perhaps the South American and Trinidadian styles are different. Buss-up-shut and Curried Beef - My husband got this and it reminded me a bit of Indian food but not as pungent. The buss-up-shut was new to me and I really liked its flaky pastry like texture and flavor. It was perfect for sopping the curry sauce. Very good. Some type of roasted vegetables entree (that I can't find on their menu anymore) - I liked it but it was a bit too sweet. I packed up the leftovers and the next day this dish was amazing. Maybe the flavors needed to mellow a bit or maybe I just wasn't as into the dish the night before. But, the day after, it was perfect. Service: We sat at the bar because the restaurant was packed and we didn't have reservations. The staff was very attentive and very friendly. Ambience: Nicely decorated and cozy with table seating along one wall and bar seating. I came on a cold, blustery evening and imagined that the seating by the door was less than comfortable. There's no alcohol served in this establishment. But, it does allow for bringing your own beer or wine with a corkage fee. If you're a Pennsylvania resident then this is no surprise. read more

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First of all, Ive never seen a Trinidadian restaurant in ALL of my travels. Finding this place was an absolute gem. I am celiac and they had lots of options for me. Besides, I love a good dive into some food culture state side. Its extremely boring eating all of the same old food and cuisines all the time, so finding this we all jumped on the opportunity. Needless to say, our party of 4 couldnt shut up about how delicious the food was, or how great the service is. We didnt have a reservation, and luckily we were able to be seated around 530pm on a Wednesday. I didnt know you could make a res off google, they didnt have on their website or listed anywhere on Yelp, so-Yes you can make a reservation through google or call and leave a message (although the v.m. never picked up for me) The portions are HUGE, plan on sharing them, and the price is right. What a wonderful experience. Its also a BYOB alcohol place, which it seems most PA places are. Come here if you want a taste of something a little different, and support this awesome local business. Nice jobs Callaloo! Thanks so much! read more

Culturally Insensative.... Food is disgusting nothing like Trinidadian Cuisine. Chef claimed to have lived in Trinidad for 3 years and specializes in Trinidadian foods but the food was completely terrible, the curry chicken looked like soup! I asked for extra GRAVY and she said it was BROTH ! completely watered down, I could've made this dish with rotisserie chicken and water at Walmart. My sister then ordered the Coconut jerk chicken dish and well from that name we know how that went - NASTY NASTY NASTY ! I was raised in Trinindad and was excited to have a taste of home but this was NOTHING like it. read more

Cozy, unique environment with excellent food! My family and I enjoyed everything that we ordered. Plus as an added bonus, there were plenty of gluten free options for me that were clearly marked on the menu. We will definitely be eating here a lot (and will probably grab some take-out too). I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

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This is a great addition to the Lancaster food scene. Lunch was counter service so we just grabbed a seat and they brought it right out. They did bring out our drinks and refilled throughout the meal. The food was just as delicious as I was hoping it would be. I look forward to coming back and trying other items on the menu! read more

Callaloo - Caribbean Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

MUST get Coconut Jerk Chicken (comes with rice) with additional order of buss-up-shut (Trinidadian flatbread)!!! The meat was soooooo tender and the sauce was so good! Use the buss-up-shut to soak up the curry as you eat. We also ordered Curried Beef & Buss-up-shut, also good but the beef was a bit dry. It was a very filling dish as it came with potatoes, pumpkin and chickpeas in the curry sauce. For shared plates, Cassava Fries and Fried Chicken Bao Buns were both delicious. Great experience for first time trying Trinidadian food and this restaurant will make me searching for more Trinidadian places to try. Highly recommend! read more

Tried this place out during a July 4th outing. Small, but not cramped, and nicely lit in both indoor and natural light. The food is in small plates, but don't let that fool you, as it will do the job in filling you up. Flavor is well balanced and bold, but not overpowering. A definite must try if you're looking for something fresh and new. read more

Callaloo - Chicken curry with roti. - Caribbean Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Welcoming staff, nice decor, verrry cozy and small. They take reservations, so definitely get one. The food was fantastic. We had the shrimp souse, and a Trinidadian fries appetizer, then chicken and veggie curries, the BBQ half chicken, and a rice and beef dish. All were excellent and the paratha is great, too. The pepper sauce has a nice kick. We also had the lemon lime bitters (llb), sorrel, and the peanut punch drinks. All were excellent. Service was very friendly and prompt. It was an awesome meal. read more

Excellent food and service! Had the jerk chicken which was absolutely delicious but is EXTREMELY Spicy. BYOB which is always nice but they also have a selection of none alcoholic beverages on their menu. read more

Was passing through Lancaster and was looking for a place for lunch. Found this interesting place on Yelp. My family has never had Trinidad cuisine, so we were eager to try it out. And we were glad we did! Found out it was like a little cafe place on a street corner. The ambience was simple yet welcoming. The staff were really friendly. There wasn't a whole lot of choices on the menu but they were all new to us. The paintings on the wall describe some of the food, so that was interesting and helpful. I can't remember exactly what we ordered but I'm sure we had the shrimp and fish curry and some buss-up-shut, among other dishes. But I remember we all loved what we ordered. The paratha from the buss-up-shut was great! It was so soft and tastes just as good whether you eat it with the curry or on its own. We probably won't be passing through Lancaster again for a while, but I'm glad we chanced upon it and was pleasantly surprised by this little gem. read more

Spent the day in Lancaster at the Tanger Outlets and decided to do a quick yelp search to find some place to eat. What a great find! This was me and my boyfriend's first time eating Trinidadian food and it left us both satisfied. We decided to try share various plates, as the server recommended, to get a taste for the cuisine. We tried the doubles, bbq guava chicken, cassava fries and chicken curry. Everything was absolutely delicious! The chicken is served with a special type of bread used in place of utensils. Definitely would recommend giving this place a try! read more

Callaloo - Caribbean Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Callaloo has amazing food! Their Curried Chicken had the most delicious flavors of yellow curry, chickpeas, pumpkin and fresh cilantro. I also loved their Buss-up-Shut (bread that looks similar to a flaky Croissant, and had a soft tortilla texture) and the Tamarind and Cilantro sauces that came with them. I cannot wait to go back!! read more

One of my favorite spots in Lancaster! The pork bells and spice beef are my favorite. You can taste the love and passion that goes into the food. read more

My husband's fried fish sandwich was delicious. I had the vegan chickpea/potato/pumpkin curry and it was a little bland. I dont know if people around here have more mellow palates and they are afraid to make it too flavorful but it was just underwhelming to me. read more

Callaloo - Caribbean Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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