obsessed with this spot. brilliant service and food. the roti is a MUST GET!! wow! super unique flavors here i totally recommend

Wow, this place was popping on a Thursday night, but for a good reason. Everything was delicious. Definitely worth the hype. The restaurant was cute inside and all the staff were friendly but busy. Food wise, this place is a family style restaurant, nice so then you can enjoy more things. Also plan a long time for dinner here, the courses come out slowly. Started off with the Albacore Ceviche and Bacalaito. The ceviche was incredible! It was so fresh and light and tangy. The flavors all just blended so well together to pair with the fish, and the Taro Chips that came with it made for the perfect bite. The bacalaito was quite salty but balanced out with the sauce and the cilantro it was much better. Could barely tell I was eating fish. For the mains we got the Grouper which came out with the Guyanese Style Roti. I like that they chose this pairing together because the rum butter from the grouper made for the perfect dipping sauce for the roti. The roti itself was not what I was expecting, not flaky but super airy and bready. It was delicious. The grouper was so soft and fell apart, paired with the sauce and the mango every bite was just amazing. After we finished they brought out the Jerk Chicken and sweet plantains. I also like that they serve these plates one at a time so you can really appreciate each dish - not sure if they do that on purpose or if just the chicken took longer to make, either way I liked it. Not having eaten the chicken, my friend said that it was spicy. But the sauce that came with it paired so well. The sweet plantains were not worth the price in my opinion and definitely something you can make at home. For dessert we got the pineapple upside down cake. It was super tasty paired with the raspberry jam. The coconut sauce on the bottom was very alcohol-y. But all paired together with the sweet pineapple resting on the moist cake, it made for a nice tropical bite. Great restaurant - will keep it in my back pocket for special occasions. read more

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Absolutely excellent! Waitress gave us a great rundown of everything she suggests. The ceviche was phenomenal- it had amberjack in it and fruit. The beef patties and Wagyu skewers were soooo good. We got the wild boar mole which was incredible- loved the pepper fish as well. Best grouper I've had. Would love to go back & I have recommended to all my friends since then! read more

Canje - Pepper fish - Caribbean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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not exactly a sharing plates restaurant- most of the main dishes felt like just enough for 1 maybe 2 people, but the beef patties, roti and haitian griot were standouts!! also great drinks! it is a bit loud i.e. we had 6 people at our table and could only hear the person right next to you so keep that in mind depending on the vibe you are going for. read more

We love spicy food with flavor. We really enjoy the waygu beef. Jerk chicken, and pepper fish. The service was great. We are coming back!

Truly enjoyed this meal that I had while visiting my family in Austin. The flavors are bold and not ones that I get to taste often and the restaurant's vibe is easy going and vibrant. What we enjoyed - Beef Patties: My favorite dish of the night. The dish is very similar to empanadas filled with extremely tender meat. - Ceviche: Bright and bold flavors, would recommend - Pepper fish: would recommend - Pepperpot: I found this dish to be a bit too sweet. I wish we would have ordered the jerk chicken. - Black eyed pea salad: would recommend as a light and acidic side - Roti: soooo good! make sure you order read more

Ambiance at Canje is great. Nice wait staff, pristine building in general. Parking is rough but that's just east Austin in general. Sat at the bar with a few friends and the staff was knowledgeable about the menu, drinks and history of the food. I cannot figure out why Canje thinks it's acceptable to charge $20 for a sweet potato. This item cannot cost more than $3-$4 to make. It's a sweet potato with an aioli and some beans in it. Is $20 really a fair price for patrons who don't want a meat option? There's just no reason for it to be priced so high. Jerk chicken is delicious but if you add rice you're paying $37 for half a chicken and rice. The prices at Canje are just next level, but the influencers keep marking this place up so I anticipate the prices will stay, even though it's not right. read more

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Outstanding, very original food. Unique spices and pairings. Cool Vibe and service is excellent. read more

This place has been hyped up for a while now, and I finally had the chance to come in and try the food. My expectations were too high since so many people have raved about this spot, but I felt underwhelmed by the food. We ordered the following for a group of 4: Ceviche: 5/5 Really enjoyed this ceviche with the taro chips! Loved the blend of flavors. Accra de Morue: 2/5 Very mushy, not much flavor. Grilled Prawns: 5/5 Cooked perfectly, really liked the char on the prawns. Guyanese Style Roti: 4/5 Great flavor, but a bit greasy Fried Sweet Plantains: 4/5 A bit dry, but I enjoyed the flavor West Indian Curry: 1/5 Probably the worst dish we tried. The curry was very thin and watery and didn't have much flavor at all. It needed much more seasoning. The "wagyu beef" that was supposed to be in it, was just dry and almost grainy. Not wagyu beef standards. Haitian Griot: 5/5 This was my favorite main. The pork was juicy and well seasoned. I really liked the crispy pig ears too! Jerk Chicken: 2/5 This was meh. The server warned us saying the chicken would be very spicy, but there was little to no spice. It just tasted very salty. read more

I was pleasantly surprised on how good this place was. My cousin is a foodie in Austin and is always looking for the the next best place. However, this was return visit for him. He made reservations 4 week in advance and reminded me to be on time. We got to the restaurant 30 minutes early from our 6 pm reservation and were seated within 10 minutes. We started off Ceviche and Oxtail Patties. The Ceviche was fresh mix of tangy with spice. It was a perfect combination. The Oxtail Patties were also delicious with the dipping sauce. For the main course, we had the Curry Wagyu Beef and Jerk Chicken. We paired the main dishes with the Guyanese Style Roti, Trinidadian Pepper Rice, and Fried Sweet Plantains. They Wagyu Beef was had the perfect mix of spice and heat. It was great for dipping with the Roti or on top of the Rice. You have to get the Jerk Chicken as this is their signature dish. It was marinated for 48 hours and you could tell. The Plantains were a nice mix of sweet with the with the spicy dishes above. We finished our meal with the Ice Cream Sandwich with Cassareep Ice Cream that was off the menu. We tried this since the owner is from Guyana and came to fame as a pastry chef. In terms of Service, I gave them 1/1 stars. Mohammed knew everything about the menu as well as the drinks. In terms of the atmosphere, I gave them 1/1 stars. The place has cool "Austin Hipster" vibe. In terms of the the food, I give them 2/2 stars. It was simply delicious. Finally, I gave them 1/1 stars for the fact that not only would I return, I actully plan to return. This is assuming that I can get reservations far out enough. read more

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Truly one of the best meals and dining experiences I've ever had. We were in Austin for work, and Canje came highly recommended--so we made it our first dinner of the trip. I'll admit, Caribbean-inspired food isn't usually at the top of my list, but every dish was exceptionally executed. The space is vibrant, youthful, and fun. Our server, Alex, immediately elevated the experience. Coming from Napa Valley, we've had great service, but Alex stood out as one of the most passionate servers I've ever encountered--genuinely excited about the food and incredibly hospitable. He shared his personal connection to the restaurant and a dessert that he claimed changed his life - which obviously we then had to order! We were a group of three and shared the Pink Pineapple, Beef Patties, Roti, Grilled Cabbage, Plantain Chips, Smoked Avocado, Wild Boar Pepperpot, and Jerk Chicken--every dish was a hit. The standouts were the Pink Pineapple, Pepperpot, and Roti (a must-order). After Alex's story, we had to try the Cassareep Ice Cream. Unique in both flavor and texture, it was unlike any dessert I've had and we definitely would recommend giving it a try. It's been days and I'm still thinking about this meal. I've already recommended it to five friends--an absolute must if you're in Austin. read more

10/10 recommend! Went for a date night and was very impressed from the ambiance to the customer service to the drinks and of course the star of the show, the food! Very authentic! Very flavorful. Will definitely be back!!! read more

First thing I will say is get a reservation. I was patient enough to wait almost two hours for a seat because we did not have one. Now, on the other hand the wait was well worth it. The food is amazing and has soooo much flavor. Surely this Cusine will take you to the Caribbean. OMG the pepper pot has so many complex flavors that all marry together to create perfection. The rice was so flavorful and well cooked while being fluffy. The oxtail empanadas are soooo damn good... please get these. They went so fast I did not even get a picture. The roti was so fluffy and buttery. Lord have mercy. The jerk chicken please don't have anybody's mama around because she will get slapped! Best jerk chicken I have ever had. Even the left overs where slapping! The drinks were also refreshing and on point! Not disappointed AT ALL! I would travel to Austin just to eat here again. More than likely I probably will. read more

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This was unexpectedly one of the best places I ate in Austin. I tried things I wouldn't probably at home, The service was excellent, our servers came out with lots of spirit and personality. Described every dish to us before we started, and made this experience such a great dinner. The restaurant itself has a very cool atmosphere, they capture the airy Caribbean vibe. We sat in their covered patio, which was really nice, and busy! Highly recommended reservations here. Our plan was to order multiple courses as there was 3 of us and we love to share. Plus more to try! Started off with drinks! They had a fabulous cocktail menu, the first dance was really good, all drinks had a tropical theme, with either mango, passion fruit, or pineapple in them. Great selection. My friend had a really nice drink too, don't remember which! The food, I can't say enough about the variety, all the different tastes, textures, spices and we had a lot of "what was that " moments! Their ability to create sauces with anything was really impressive. The pink pineapple was the only dish I didn't try as I'm not partial to pineapple. Both my friends loved this and said I should have tried it a# you couldn't really tell it's pineapple. The ceviche was delicious, so much flavor and so light and fresh, the fish just melted in your mouth, the peanuts gave the crunch, peppers also, orange gave it the tang, and the tarro chips that came with it were so unique and different. Loved this. They have us complimentary oxtail beef Patties which was really super nice, this crazy sauce that came with it of course was pineapple, but you would never think it. Such a great zesty bite but not hot, just fresh and perfect with the Patties. Tasted like beef more than anything, but again their use of spices to create unique dishes was amazing. Their sides were a meal in themselves , I could have eaten just those and been entirely happy. The Guyanese roti, Trinidadian peppered rice and the broccoli Choka were amazing, the roti was flaky, buttery and soft yet crispy, a definite must get. I love dipping this in all the sauces. The rice had a wonderful, peppery spicy mix, little like Spanish rice, the broccoli was also full of a mild spice, and crunchy yet fully cooked. The fried sweet plantains also, great, leveled out in sweetness to all the spice. Which by the way wasn't hot, just a unique blend of flavors. Our two mains were the curry wagyu beef which was my fave of the two. The sauce with coconut milk and chili oil didn't taste milky but you could taste it. This was delicious with the roti. The wild boar pepper pot was different. I'm glad to say I tried it. Not at all what I expected. I didn't hate it but didn't love it either. A little chewy with little taste more came from the sauce. Definitely nothing like what I've had before. Pretty full at this point but that tres leche cake was asking to be ordered. I'm glad we did as it was a different take on the classic. With a homemade hibiscus and ginger jam on top of the cake and a coconut whipped topping cream on top of that. The cake wasn't overly wet and moist either which I prefer. Just perfectly right. This is hands down the best one I've ever had. That jam was unbelievable. Provided such a great twist to the classic. But not too sweet. Canje is a foodie haven and a dining experience. You have to sit and just enjoy all the tastes. I enjoyed every minute and bite. read more

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Every time I've eaten here the food has been really tasty and the cocktails are always delicious. While the menu does get some new items every now and then, there are items that they always keep on. Plates are for sharing and a table of 4 usually needs 2-3 apps, 2 entrees and 2 sides. The plaintain chips are a spicy way to start your meal. All the ceviches have good acidity and are balanced. If you're ordering roti, get an extra one for the table. I think the wild boar pepper pot has gotten better every time I've been here. It wasn't my fave the first time I came, but now I thoroughly enjoy it. The jerk chicken is good, but not memorable. Service is good but they do get busy on a Saturday evening, so make sure you get a reservation. read more

Food : 10/10 Portion : 4/10 - definitely your high end restaurant portion Taste : 10/10 would come back. Amazing flavors Ambiance: 10/10 Cocktails: 10/10. We ordered them all and every single on is chef kiss. The most unique one is probably the pina colada w coffee in it ! Parking : they have parking onsite thank god ! For east 6th this is something remarkable lol I would recommend you going in big parties to share and get to taste their menu. Menu is not too big at all read more

Canje - Plaintain - Caribbean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Canje is a charming spot for date night or small gatherings. This was my second visit, drawn back by its fun, eclectic atmosphere. Our server was friendly and gave excellent recommendations. I tried the pepper pot, which was served in a bowl instead of the usual mini pot. For drinks, I had the light and refreshing Just a Crush. My friend enjoyed the strong Frozen Hurricane, served in a cute fishtail cup. Note: you must order your entire meal at once, which can be overwhelming. Canje was packed throughout the night, so making a reservation is a good idea, though walk-ins are welcome at the bar. For a weeknight dinner, it's an excellent choice for both ambiance and food. read more

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Ambiance is amazing. Was disappointed I booked this month to two in advance and I got seated in this back area by the bar and not where the central seating area was. That area looked amazing. The area I sat in was not so great. Service was okay. It's an upscale place so there was a bit of that vibe in the air so I ignored the okay service. Food was amazing. Yes it's expensive but it's quality ingredients you can taste. I got the pepper fish that was amazing and well seasoned and fish just fell apart in a great way. The jerk chicken had a kick which I loved! Most places make so much stuff bland in America and I loved this had a habanero kick. Nothing crazy but you could taste it. That's amazing and perfect. The roti was great as well as the West Indian beef curry. All in all amazing food. Highly recommend for a special event. Make sure you make a reservation!! read more

Canje - Caribbean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I didn't have any expectations coming here, but wow - this place is insanely delicious for modern Caribbean food. Everything that my party ordered was so good. The jerk chicken, was extremely flavorful and it had the right amount of spices. If you like coconut curry, you must try the tilefish! The coconut curry was amazing and the crispy kale added some texture that made it fun to eat. The wild boar was good and the pieces just melted in my mouth. I would've liked the sauce to be a little thicker so I could dip my roti in it. The ceviche was light and flavorful. I love that they had dragonfruit in it. It was a different flavorful profile and I really enjoyed it. The roti was literally the star of the show. Everyone needs to order their own roti because you're not going to want to share it. The parking situation is a bit rough if you don't want to pay for valet. Street parking in that area in general is hard so good luck! read more

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Canje is the current hot spot in East Austin that serves Caribbean food in a unique, fun and upscale way. The restaurant's interior is warm, tropical, and loud with vibrant colors filled with noises of bustling people. Reservations are difficult to come by, expect to be on a waitlist or to eat at sporadic hours. Canje's portions are tiny and more tapas style. Canje's big winner is the Jerk Chicken, and for a solid reason. You can really taste the spice and smokiness. read more

HOLY MOLY Run, sprint, boat, fly here NOW. My partner made reservations to Canje without my knowing and I almost made him cancel because we had other plans in the evening. I'm so glad he put his foot down and said we were coming. We walked in and I immediately fell in love. The restaurant is beautifully designed. The tables are not too close together, just right. Music was loud-ish but I could hear my partner the entire time. No trouble hearing the server either. Moving on, please know that this is family style eating. You are to order between 4-7 dishes for a party of two. Do not expect to be full with one dish. Next, Andrew was an amazing server and he is to be thanked for our wonderful experience. He recommended everything we ordered and we were so satisfied. We started with the oxtail beef patties. (These are basically empanadas.) The second the meat hits your mouth there's an immediate thought of "woah, I wasn't expecting this." We then moved onto the Curry Wagyu Beef that was an explosion of flavors in our mouth. It was not over powering, it was JUST right. This dish was paired with the Roti. The Roti, perfectly cooked and oh so good for what I expected to "just be bread." This dish was followed by the Jerk Chicken and rice. Andrew said the chicken was a 7/10 on the spicy scale when we ordered. To which I scoffed and internally rolled my eyes. * Beware * the heat from this chicken builds and your server will come back and hold a chuckle in when he/they sees the little beads of sweat on your face start to form. He'll stay professional and ask how it is... you'll respond and say "it's got a kick." We decided to box up what we couldn't finish and have desert. We finished with the Rum Punch Sorbet. The sorbet was flavor packed and just what I needed to finish the meal. I highly recommend Canje. It's an experience packed with flavor. Not to mention top rated in the nation. Overall A TRUE 5/5 stars. read more

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We were so excited to try Canje after all the hype! Overall the meal was fantastic and packed with flavor, although not all entrees were particularly memorable and I had the highest expectations coming in. The restaurant is aesthetic and lively and while we enjoyed the choice of music, it was a little too loud for our liking to hold a conversation. We ordered the following: Ti' punch -- made with rhum agricole (from sugarcane juice), this simple drink was delicious Oxtail beef patties -- these were phenomenal, so tender, and the dipping sauce was *chefs kiss* as were all their dipping sauces! Yellowtail ceviche -- the fish was fresh and we loved the island-twist on classic ceviche with peanuts, sweet peppers, and taro chips to dip Jerk chicken -- packed with flavor! Skin was crisp and meat was juicy. It was too spicy for me to comfortably enjoy but my partner who loves spice, thoroughly enjoyed it. He even asked for hot sauce on the side which is house-made from plantains and phenomenal he says Guyanese roti -- apparently a popular side option but to us, it wasn't anything memorable! As someone who grew up with Indian food, it felt like a thicker paratha and overpriced for one Fried sweet plantains -- I love plantains and these were delicious! However, not much different from what I've had before and soft all-around Tres leches -- unpopular opinion because this one's a crowd favorite at Canje, however I liked (but did not love) this dessert! It was definitely inventive, creamy and fluffy, but I'm partial to traditional tres leches and found the strawberry jam overpowering Service was good for the most part - our waiter was knowledgeable, offered his recommendations and checked in with us often. Only one instance was a bit of a turn-off. My partner asked for hot sauce near the end of our meal when our waiter mentioned they had it. The waiter comes back 10 minutes later when my partner was tired of waiting with his last piece of chicken and so ate it. He barely tried the hot sauce because there wasn't anything left to eat it with. Although a small charge, the $2 for hot sauce should have been communicated or left off the tab at that point. A minor annoyance but when you visit a restaurant you consider exceptional, the customer leaves feeling delighted Overall, a solid 4 star read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Austin! Pepper pot is a must get, it's a thing of dreams. Everything is so flavorful and delicious, bright and fun! read more

Must-visit spot in Austin. The food, drinks, and service were unmatched, we enjoyed every moment at Canje. This restaurant encourages each table to order several plates and share everything. My favorite course was the appetizers. The plantain chips were so good that we got a second order. The ceviche was the star of the show and we also loved the fish fritters. For The main course we got the jerk chicken, curry, and pepper pot. All were amazing and we got a side of bread to dip the sauces in (a MUST). The TA punch cocktail was everyone's favorite and highly recommended by our server. Be sure to book a reservation as this place is very popular! read more

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I had the pleasure of dining at Canje for my mother's birthday this past Saturday. Our family is Guyanese so we are very familiar with the cuisine. You don't see many Guyanese influenced place outside of New York and Miami so coming to Austin to get a little taste of home was a treat. The service was exceptional. Our waiter Javier was on point but the stand out was Chef Sho. He was so kind and attentive. Even added some delicious treats to our meal. The music played were some of my favorite tunes from Buju and other classics. The food was a great modern spin on Caribbean classics. The flavor hit. My favorite of the night was the beef patty, fish balls, and the pepper pot and roti. If you're GT you know we mainly eat pepper pot during the holidays so this was a real treat. If you're in Austin please stop by and give it a try. I will definitely be back! read more

late to review, but we had dinner here during their valentine's day special menu and were severely disappointed, after hearing so many praises about canje for so long. and boy do i have a laundry list of complaints: - we'd be left waiting for some dishes to come out for 20 minutes, while some dishes came too early - we had dirty plates at our table that weren't picked up so we'd be eating a new dish while surrounded by dirty plates - each dish was given to us by different people every single time who did not explain any dish. just did not seem like there was any cohesion food-wise, everything was extremely mid. low-lights: - the shrimp (2 pcs) that came out was so incredibly spicy that it was painful. weirdly, the other shrimp on the plate had a different flavor and was not as spicy. - the fish was so ungodly salty that the exterior was unpalatable. i'm not the type to call a dish back to the kitchen, but this would've been the only time i would've done it. - the only thing i truly enjoyed on the menu was the squash chokah. hoping that this was just because the difficulties that come with a prix fixe menu on a holiday, but this my largest restaurant disappointment of 20256 read more

Oh Canje! You lived up to the hype and we are so glad we finally got the chance to partake in such a delicious meal. We went all out - of course! Drinks, appetizers, entrees and desserts. Appetizers/Wah Gwaan (in order of my favorite) Beef Patties - get 2 of these, the pastry OH MY, the butter on it wow and the beef ?! what a beautiful bite. Oh and that sauce, sure it was nice but without it was perfect. I'd swap the sauce for another pattie, that's just me! Avocado Escabeche - this one was a surprise, at a first glance I wasn't too sure about it, but don't judge a book by its cover yall! It needs some chips (the chips that came with the ceviche or something) Ceviche - fresh and enough to share! I hoped it had a kick though, the pepper aroma was such a tease Main dishes/Suppa (in order of my favorite) Jerk Chicken - Star of the show! The jerk is present, the juiciness of the chicken as well. Heads up on the paste, it has the kick for sure! Made sense why maybe it was the last dish that they served us.. Mahi Mahi - maybe a bit overcooked? It didn't matter though because that sauce made me forget about that completely. Wagyu Beef Curry - heard a lot about this one, not my favorite. The beef was tender and the broth was tasty, but it fell flat compared to the others. The restaurant was a bit warm, so eating this just made me even more hot. Also - it's not as easy to share. Sides/Tryating (in order of my favorite) Roti+Trini Corn+Fried Sweet Plantain YUP, 3 way tie. Wow the TOTI, just wow, I'd like to order a dozen of these to go please?! I thought maybe they were smaller but they're a good size, buttery, not too thin, no too thick. The corn with that butternut squash sauce was the texture and balance I was looking for, such a delight! Chef's kiss on the sweet plantain, beautifully cooked, a bit crunchy, not burnt, just lovely! And last but not least Dessert/Linkkle Moure Chocolate Flan - more mousse like than the "flan" I'm used to. Rich not overpowering. Rice Krispie - underwhelming, nope not marshmallow-ey (which I didn't know what to expect, but I mean the blue commercial wrapper Rice Krispie is all I know, sorry!) BUT I was excited to see how they were going to prepare it, but it was bland and flat. Oh, the drinks! I got the First Dance and the Juxtaposition First Dance is sweet and refreshing Juxtaposition is boozy and I couldn't find the flavor so it wasn't my favorite The ambiance is beautiful, perfect for small and large groups. Make sure to make reservations! At the beginning it did feel like we were being rushed to place our orders, but the service got better and more relaxed as our experience went on. Loved how the servers would explain what was on the dish and it was something like they enjoyed doing. Last comment- not sure if it was the jerk on the chicken, or just because of the Texas heat, but it felt really warm at some point. Overall it was an awesome time and would definitely come back and try other dishes! read more

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This was the best meal I've had in a long time! The title of best new restaurant is well deserved. We were able to get a reservation pretty easily for 5 pm on a Friday, but it definitely got busy later. The space is beautifully decorated and well thought out. The music is fun too. There's a nice bar area as well as patio seating. There's a small parking lot, getting a spot wasn't a problem early on but if you come later you might have to look elsewhere. They recommend you order several dishes and do family style, and also recommend you order everything at once so the kitchen can start prepping everything. Service was fantastic. The waiters are friendly, they always explain the food, and they are frequently coming around to refill water. They also clear out your plates/utensils and swap them out for clean ones. Ok on to the food: - Albacore Ceviche: very interesting combination of flavors. There's some pieces of orange, dragonfruit, nuts, and peppers. The whole dish is very bright and light. Comes with taro chips to eat it on. Not my favorite thing we ordered, but very unique. - Avocado Escabeche: I have never had avocado like this. Topped with several things, including pomegranate, it almost has a smoky flavor. Also can go on the taro chips. So creamy and I could have eaten a whole bowl of this myself. - Oxtail patties: my favorite app, could have downed so many of these. Very crispy, light even though it was fried, and so savory. The sauce really sent it over the edge, the sauce was a little sweet and so delicious we kept it at the table to keep dipping other things. - Roti: very buttery and flaky! I saw a lot of people say to get one per person, but I split it with my friend and I thought it was plenty. It's the size of a plate. Dipped it in the oxtail sauce and also ate it with the chicken - Jerk chicken: this was 1/2 chicken and it was very filling, a large portion of meat. Marinated in spices for 2 days and wow does it show! It has quite the kick, so beware if you don't have a spice tolerance, but it is so flavorful and tender. Even the white meat was so moist. The flavor profile is not what I thought it would be, it's quite different from jerk dishes I've had in the past, but I prefer this. I am very impressed by this place and highly recommend it! Excellent job, Canje! read more

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Parking lot is complimentary valet. Service was really nice. Music is upbeat and lively - loud but not overbearing. Yucatini - crisp, clean refreshing gin drink with a little pickled pepper Frozen pina colada- think pina colada with dark rum and an earthy coffee undertone. Fresh pineapple juice gives it bright acidity. Pan daiquiri- slightly tart with herbal notes Plantain Chips - coconut lime aioli and a mango habanero sauce (surprisingly very little heat) Bacalaito - fried fish patty with a fairly spicy sauce topped with onions and cilantro. Guyanese style Roti - light crisp fluffy with olive oil. This one was a crowd pleaser - we had two Tilefish - light curry sauce (dip your roti in that deliciousness) Wild boar Pepperpot - cassava reduction cinnamon notes. Tender like a pot roast. Slightly on the salty side. Tres leches - moist sweet with a serious berry tang underneath. Pucker up buttercup. read more

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The server helped us curate a delicious order and shared each dish family style. Everything was absolutely amazing. Each dish from the apps to dessert was flavorful. The place is super cute. I even ordered a tshirt that read Culture Over Fear. read more

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Canje is amazing! The food, atmosphere, and service are all top notch. Tip: order a lot and share -- everything is so flavorful and unique, you'll want to try it all! We especially loved the jerk chicken -- it's tender, perfectly seasoned, and has a real kick to it (in the best way!). Can't wait to go back and try even more dishes next time. read more

Canje has been on my list of restaurants to try for over a year now, and I finally made it out for dinner one weekend with a friend for an early birthday celebration! We managed to snag a reservation for 2 on a Saturday right when they opened at 5pm. Overall, we had a 5/5 experience and this was the first restaurant in a long time that blew me away with flavor, and we left full for under $100 (before tip)! Can't wait to revisit! QUICK FACTS: - Parking? Valet is available Thurs.-Sun., but there is plenty of free/regular parking around the side and back of the restaurant daily! - Reservations? Yes, recommended, especially for weekends or larger groups. - Happy hour? No, just dinner service. FOOD RATINGS: - Smoked avocado escabeche (5/5): You might wonder why paying $13 for avocado is worth it, but the smoky flavors in the sauce paired with the pomegranate and onion is just so unique. Enjoyed this more than I thought I would! - Roti (5/5): Is it pricy for $6 apiece? Yes. But is it worth it? 100%. I recommend each person gets their own. - Tilefish (5/5): This was a beautiful fish dish! The sauce was so bright and colorful and tasty, and the turmeric dumplings were fun. Everything was perfectly cooked. The crispy kale didn't really do anything for me, I would have preferred another veggie, but it was good nonetheless and added nice texture. - Curry wagyu beef (4/5): Rich with flavor and had a little bit of a kick to it. The meat was incredibly tender and all around so hearty! - Chocolate flan (4/5): Pretty solid if you love chocolate. Almost like a fancy, thick chocolate pudding. Great ending to our night! read more

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I came here for a date night and really loved the ambiance even at 9 pm on a weekday! Good: - It isn't in the dirty sixth region so it's super easy to get to - The plantain chips were amazing - The roti was out of this world - so buttery! - Dessert was incredible too - got the dulce dish - The ambiance is very date-like, it's dark and dim - Nice servers Bad: - Wasn't a huge fan of their curry dish - it just was a little too salty - A bit pricier of a place and the food took a while to come out Overall really enjoyed this place and think it's a great spot for a date. read more

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THE BIG: Located in East Austin right next to Lazarus brewing co. Valet parking in front, open parking in the back. Make reservations ahead of time! THE BLACK AND WHITE: I asked the waitress how to pronounce the restaurant. Since it's Caribbean I thought it would be "kan + hay" but to my surprise, she pronounced it "kan + gee". Interesting but I guess that's what makes Austin weird. I came here for my wife's bday and the place was packed...on a Wednesday! We were seated at the bar and ordered drinks. I got a red stripe (hooray beer) and my wife got a glass of Cinsault. Service is friendly and fast. For our mains, we ordered the wagyu beef curry and the jerk chicken. The jerk chicken was dry for me and the beef curry was very salty. I was also questioning why they would mask the wagyu beef flavor in a curry. The sides were on point. We got the squash and the roti. Minimal and flavors matched harmoniously. THE FINAL BAMBOO: The damage done here was ~$120 for 2 mains, 2 sides, and 2 drinks. Some items were executed flawlessly, some were overseasoned or dry. A place to try out nonetheless read more

Canje - Caribbean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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As a foodie, there is good food and really good food, but every now and then you come across a food experience that sets itself apart and is truly phenomenal...the food at Canje is one of those experiences. Canje is not only one of the best restaurants in Austin, or in Texas, but it's also one of the best the USA. The food, the flavors, the service, and the team are phenomenal. It's truly deserving of the accolades it has received. Now let's get down to the food...we tried the Smoked Advocado Escabeche, Salt Fish Accra, Oxtail Beef Patties, Tilefish, Curry Wagyu Beef, and Jerk Chicken, Roti, Pepper Rice, Callaloo, Plaintains, Cauliflower Choka, and Black Cake. LITERALLY, everything was delicious and equally enjoyable!!! The food comes out as it is ready, which adds to the overall experience and I really like because it allows you to really focus and enjoy the flavors of each dish...and there are a lot flavors to enjoy at Canje. Also note, each plate is sort of family style and made for sharing so don't be greedy lol! The service was really good and the service team had great energy. It clearly stood out that everyone on the team seems to really enjoy working there and really enjoy the food. We had the good fortune of meeting Chef Harvard and the rest of the kitchen crew. He needs to be on Chopped or one of the Food Network shows!!! The atmosphere of the restaurant was bustling and lively, especially inside. Opt for the patio if you want a more calm and chill experience. Reservations are a must...I made my reservations weeks in advance and the options were limited. This restaurant is a must especially if you are a foodie; otherwise, you will miss some of the best food ever!!! Definitely check it out! read more

Celebrated my 30th birthday dinner at Canje and it was pretty good! I loved the modern, tropical decor inside. It made me feel like I was in a romantic spot by the beach. My husband and I were able to snag a reservation at the bar a few days in advance and it was delightful. The staff is super knowledgeable and the food comes out quick. We ordered the roti, squash, jerk chicken, and curry. My favorites were the roti and squash. Both had alot of great flavor and freshness. I was surprised how spicy the jerk chicken was. It was absolutely delicious, but I think I got heartburn after. The curry was filled with meat, but too spicy for my liking. As a special treat, the bartender made my husband and I a special pineapple shot. It was a great way to end the night. Overall, Canje is a great spot to blow you taste buds out of the park! read more

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Canje is undeniably one of Austin's hottest restaurants right now. From the moment you step inside, the ambiance sets the stage for an extraordinary dining experience. The service is amazing, and the food? Fresh and flavorful. Despite its Caribbean flair, Canje's cuisine is some of the best in Austin. Approach your dinner with an open mind, and prepare to be blown away. Once you've tasted the flavors of Canje, you'll find yourself eagerly counting down the days until your next visit, craving their food all the time. Heads up, if you like spicy the chicken has a KICK. I personally can't handle the heat but I've still tried it and it's amazing. read more

I had the opportunity & privilege to dine at Canje recently. Canje is a New-age Caribbean restaurant, nestled in the heart of Austin TX Upon stepping in. I was immediately greeted by the hosts. I'm not sure if it's a busy Friday night and they have the A-team on deck, or if it's just Austin in general. But everyone was really friendly and accommodating. I had my backpack with me and they even volunteered to keep it tucked away at the host stand. The ambiance was romantic and dimly lit with Caribbean decor, artwork on the walls, natural foliage chandeliers. With artists like KAYTRANADA, Greentea Peng, some hipster/library house. Meets the hustle and bustle of Austin TX. If you're from a small quiet town it could be either a little overwhelming, or just the right amount of different that you'd fit right in. Of course I had my seat at the bar, and was immediately approached by Andrew, extremely friendly, knowledgeable on the menu, quick to offer recommendations as well. Nice touch. Another thing I noticed was one of the first questions they had asked was if I had any allergies. So for our dietary restricted friends. That's definitely a plus. I wasn't in a huge rush so I took my time looking over the menu. Round 1 Was the Pink Dolphin Sunset. Garnished with a dehydrated lime slice. You get a small tickle in the throat from the pepper. But the strawberry guava is the dominant flavor on the tongue. Tarte, sweet, but not too sweet. But not to mention dangerous. You don't taste the tequila at all. Almost like a tarte strawberry punch. If you will. A drink that I HAD to try was the Who Am I?....needless to say that's for round 2. - Appetizer I'm a lover of seafood so the Ceviche was the way to go for me. Dragonfruit, pickled peppers, toasted peanuts, amberjack, swimming in a sour orange broth. Needless to say served cold, very refreshing, the pickled peppers add a festive look to the dish and a small welcomed crunch also accompanied by the peanuts. Delicious. The amberjack was subtle but with all the ingredients in the bowl make for an exciting bite. Served with Taro chips. LOVE THE CRUNCH. Tarte, a slight sweetness from the sour orange, the acidity of the peppers, the triple layer of crunch from the peanuts, and taro chips. There's something about chilled seafood on a hot Texas day that just a resounding YES feeling. - Entree the Wild Boar Pepper Pot I saw a Bon Appetite video of On The Line. Focused on Canje. ONE thing the chef du cuisine stated that made me have to try this was. It's like "Caribbean Mole"....and he was absolutely right. You get a slight smokey/spicyness from the sauce, with a sweetness as well. The boar was tender but didn't melt in the mouth. There was a nice bite to it as well. Hearty, and Filling. Definitely a must try. Shout out Bon Appetit! The one regret I had was that I was so over eager to try it....I didn't get a photo. But very pretty and pleasing to the eye. The broth being a midnight brown, with a hint of burgundy. That could just be my years of color swatches at QVC speaking. Round 2 - Who Am I? I've never had Jamaican Rum...so why not? A definite small kick from the rum. But wash it down with the red stripe...and you'll be fine. My bartender Molly broke it down nicely. A slight tropical hint of banana, mixed with gasoline. An exhale was definitely necessary after taking the shot. - Dessert Spiced Ginger Cake. I love the art of Gastronomy. When food meets art. Each plate has been so pleasing to the eye, with a flavor to match. This is none different. You get a rich bite of chocolate from the cake at the bottom. Hints of Mango, Pineapple, you never see much of fruit and chocolate...but it works so well. A pleasant sweetness, and crunch from the dehydrated pineapple chip on top. Complimented by the creamy texture of the tropical cremeux, adding to the fruityness of the dish. Very nice end to a delicious meal. Every runner and server know each dish by ingredient, and describe them as they drop off the dish. Very nice. OVERALL if I lived in Austin, this could be a 2nd home for me. Spicy/sweet drinks, dimly lit ambient lighting, hipster music, gorgeous dishes that ignite a symphony in your mouth. It could be a little pricey but it definitely doesn't have to be. Perfect for Date night, or even in my case a stranger in an active city. Sit at the bar, have a conversation with a stranger, make a new friend, ask the bartender questions, and it's a promising experience. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Wow! Flavors. I've never tried before. And the combinations. That are super unique. The boar pepper pot was amazing and so is the duck and this is coming from someone that doesn't even like duck it was superb definitely coming back to try more things. read more

Canje - Duck - Caribbean Near Me - Austin, Texas

The atmosphere and overall vibe is one that is relaxing yet upbeat with its dimly lit dining area and great soundtrack in the background. The food is flavorful and creatively inspired by key island staples however please be aware that the food portions are very small despite being called sharable by the establishment and the food and cocktail prices are high. While I was initially excited to find this place I was somewhat disappointed upon my visit. read more