Although this spot is a little out of my way, it's quickly becoming one of my favorite Trini places in South Florida. Like... worth the drive every time. Service is always fast and friendly, and you can either dine in or take it to go. When you walk in, you order at the counter. They've got the hot food station right there with options displayed behind the counter so you can see exactly what you're getting (dangerous in the best way lol). Some items -- like the rotis and fry bakes -- are cooked fresh when you order. Then there's the fresh doubles station, where they assemble your doubles right in front of you. I've stopped in plenty of times before, but these past two weeks I was deep in my Trini breakfast cravings, so I went twice and tried two different classics. First visit: I got a fry bake with all the things -- baigan choka (grilled, mashed, seasoned/spiced eggplant), tomato choka (grilled, mashed, seasoned/spiced tomatoes, fried aloo (potatoes), buljol (shredded saltfish with tomatoes, onion, peppers done the Trini way), and smoked herring sautéed with Trini herbs. The breakfast usually comes with the fry bake or sada roti and 2-3 sides... but listen! Everything looked too good, so I ordered extra sides. And I'm glad I did. It was flavorful, comforting, and honestly reminded me of my mom's home cooking. A real-deal Trini breakfast. Second visit: I went back for the bake and shark -- because if it's on the menu, I'm ordering it. Another iconic Trini classic street food, cooked fresh when you order. The fry bake was soft and fluffy, stuffed with perfectly fried shark, and topped with a nicely seasoned lettuce/coleslaw-style mix. Great size, super satisfying, and absolutely hit the spot. And yes -- I always ask for their in-house hot pepper sauce. They make it fresh daily and it has a serious spicy kick (the kind Trinis appreciate). Even though I went for breakfast, everything in the hot food station looked so good that I couldn't leave without grabbing boneless curry chicken with paratha roti to take home for later. They also have a bone-in chicken option, because some of us Trinis need the bone for full flavor, okay lol but I got boneless. I've had their paratha before -- soft, fluffy, and perfect for soaking up curry. Their curries are always well-seasoned and full of flavor. By the register, they sell traditional Trini snacks and sweets -- things like kurma, chocolates, and fudge. I grabbed the fudge this time and whew... it was rich, creamy, and dangerously good. Like "why did I not buy two?" good. You do get 4 fudge squares in the pack. All in all, I honestly can't say enough good things about this place. I've never had a bad meal here, and I'll absolutely keep making the drive whenever my Trini cravings hit again. Tabanka stays delivering read more

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Holy smokes, what's up with the bad attitudes? I wanted to like this place but upon my return it was day and night, eye rolling? lol Now you know this is utter disrespect. I witnessed customers asking questions and the cashier and servers were highly bothered. Then my bake and shark was stale. Doubles oily. Treat your customers with respect. read more

A very homey and feel good restaurant that serves authentic Trini cuisine. I love the happy inclusive vibes of Tabanka. They have a variety of stewed meats for roti meals and sides like mashed pumpkin, potatoes, spinach and other veggies. Everything is uniquely seasoned and spiced. If you're not good with spicy foods, ask for anything with peppers to not include them. My husband ordered the stewed boneless chicken with paratha roti and pumpkin plus potatoes as sides. The roti was fresh and hot. The pumpkin was my favorite. The chicken was easy to eat and tasted good, not dry. The potatoes were soft. I got a double and it was amazing. Lots of tamarind flavor and some curry and cumin tastes. I love chickpeas and there were plenty of it stuffed inside. Gotta eat it quick or else the shell becomes soggy. I also ordered a bake and shark. First time trying it. The crispy texture of the fried fish plus the soft outer shell along with the lettuce and tomato all tasted delicious together. However, the fish was way too salty for me. After the first few bites, I couldn't eat anymore of it. My husband who has a much stronger taste palette even agreed it was on the salty side. Will definitely come back to try more items! read more

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If you're West Indian, you know a good doubles or aloo pie just by the looks of it. The bara was so soft and fluffy, kind of a melt in your mouth feeling. My friend says the doubles is even better than joys roti shop! I am a big fan of the aloo pie. I add shrimp curry to mine and with some medium pepper, it really hits the spot! We also tried their bake and saltfish. The bake was delicious however we weren't fans of the salt fish. It was a little bland and those sweet peppers was a big no no..lol could've also used some more sauce. The decor of this little restaurant also reminds me so much of home. Over all, a great place for authentic West Indian food! read more

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What i enjoyed most is the ambiance. This was my second time at this establishment and the service was just as the first time. I tried some new items on the menu but I must say the veggie roti is still my favorite dish with the buss up shut. I tried some doubles from under the umbrella with slight pepper and it made me feel like I was back home. I also had the Saltfish and fried bake. And it was very flavorful. Even tried tumeric latte and it was amazing. Can't wait to see what I try next read more

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I was in the neighborhood looking for something quick to eat, and my palette decided to take a trip to Trinidad. This spot was a great find. They had a decent crowd around 1pm with a steady flow. Great tunes playing and a comfortable chill environment. I ordered the shark bake. It was made fresh to order with about a 15-minute wait time. I also got a peanut punch and Sorrell. Though it was a bit pricey, I did enjoy my meal. The service was decent. It was a bit confusing where to go after placing my order because they had multiple lines with no directions. This caused a slight confusion when I was standing in front of the doubles prep station. With that being said, I would return to try other menu items, but I'm happy with my win today. read more

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The decor and the ambience is great with authentic design and music playing in the background, this place takes you to Trinidad. The food is really really good and the service was amazing. Definitely a good spot for a group event. The owner came over to make sure everything was going well with our group, which I loved. We were a group of 16 and everyone had an amazing time and loved the food. Will definitely visit again. read more

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Best in town! Authentic, friendly and quick service! I like how they have the option to create your own meal with choosing a base, protein, and toppings! I also love their saheenas when they have them available and you can never go wrong with their doubles! Tabanka can really transport you back to the island! read more

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My first impression was the limited meat options for the roti. I had my mind really set on a beef roti only to find out that they don't carry beef. So we got a boneless chicken dhalpourie roti, a goat dhalpourie roti, and two doubles to go. Food is decent, price was nice. I'm hearing that the aloo pie is good. Maybe next time I'll try it. read more

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Heard so much about tabanka, and was in the mood for bake and shark so I dropped in to finally check em out. Upon entering I noticed the place was bustling with diners as well as employees. Good energy and smelled great. I ordered for pick up and pick up was efficient and went smoothly. They were also very friendly and efficient. The bake and shark was very good , filling, and fresh. I look forward to returning to try their doubles, aloo pie, and roti. And also do the dine in experience as opposed to take out. read more

Tabanka - a Trini Kitchen - Bake n shark - Trinidadian Near Me - North Lauderdale, Florida

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Sassy rude little attitudes. Customer service will depended on your complexion/ethnicity. My wife who is Caribbean walks in the day before orders and raves about the service. I (dark skin African) go in a few days later, dont get a "hello" and nothing but eye-rolls and attitude. My family will be spending our money elsewhere. read more

This place while I love it is always hot or miss. The doubles were excellent but the name and shark was drenched in tamarind sauce and totally killed the flavor experience. Service is generally good but you order at the counter and pay at the register. Most employees are friendly some to not listen to your instructions. Will continue to go for doubles. read more

Very cool and welcoming ambiance! I ordered pickup, but I wish I had dined in instead. The young lady on the phone was very nice and helpful with my order. I ordered doubles and a roti burrito. The cashier was also very nice. The doubles I ordered was scrumptious, although I did taste a bit of cilantro (or coriander?) which turned me off, having the dang cilantro-hating gene. It would be an A++++ for someone who loves cilantro though! I made a mistake and ordered the roti too spicy. I could only take a couple of bites, but the flavors were good. I would highly recommend this restaurant and suggest you eat in for the great vibes! read more

In a word: fantastic! I loved everything about this place -- from the ambiance to the food. It's located on the west side of the street. There's easy parking right out front as the shopping center/strip was not very busy when we came for lunch. Inside, you are transported to an island restaurant. Maybe a little shack on the beach or on the side of a mountain. It's dark and cool inside. You order and pay at the counter. The menu is on the wall behind the counter. You can see some of the food displayed cafeteria style from which to choose. I asked about the daily special (you should too). It was stewed chicken, and it came with two sides. We both got the special. It came with mac n cheese and choice of beans and rice. We added a side of callaloo. They put it all one plate and we got an extra plate to share. The chicken was delicious. Rich and covered in yummy brown sauce. The pieces have bones so there's no other way than to eat than with a bit of finger licking. The mac 'n cheese was a large square of baked pasta and cheese. No runny mayo here. It too was very good. The red beans were slightly sweet and went perfectly with the rice and the rest of the meal. My husband really liked his side of callaloo, as well. He said it reminded him of creamed spinach. We felt it was one of the best island meals we have ever had -- and we have been to a lot of Caribbean islands and stateside Caribbean restaurants although never to Trinidad. The portion was quite large, and we ate every bit with no leftovers. They sell a lot of doubles and we would have gotten some to try -- if we'd have room. May be next time. And I hope it's soon. There are a lot of other items on the menu that I'd like to try. read more

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Food is most consistent and authentic! Every bite feels like a taste of the island! Service with a smile. If you're coming for the first time, there is a patience that is calming. If it's your second time, you're family! Ambiance: an immersing sensation! Come in and find every corner decorated with the land. Close your eyes and smell and hear tabanka. The music volume probably needs to be lowered but that would just mess up the vibes! read more

My new favorite spot in Broward. I start off with the doubles which is just a burst of flavor from curry to sweet to spicy. I get the hottest one. Literally can't get anything like it elsewhere. I've gotten their roti platter of curry goat, curry potatoes and sweet potato which gave me great leftovers. Top it with their hot sauce and tamarind sauce and I'm in heaving. I love their selection of juices - limeade, mauby and I typically get a bottle of coconut water. They have some nice ice cream selection too Soursap, Rum & Raisin to end your meal or take home. Plus everything is reasonably priced and everyone is really nice. Love it here. read more

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The "Bake & Shark," was fabulous! I also had the home made Coconut Ice Cream! The staff was cortemos and the restaurant was very clean. I will be back soon. read more

Love love love Tabanka! Closest thing to Trinidad in Florida! I could eat their doubles for days!! Their pepper sauce is so good too!! All of the food we got tasted so good- the shrimp roti, bake & shark & coconut ice cream are all so yummy too! The ambiance was so nice too with decor matching the theme and Trini vibes. I loved that soca is playing the minute you walk in! Living in Chicago, we don't have any Trini roti shops or restaurants so it felt so nice to come and check Tabanka out when visiting our family back where we grew up. Everyone there was super friendly too! I'd definitely recommend Tabanka to anyone in the FLL area and I'll definitely be returning! read more

Tabanka - a Trini Kitchen - Trinidadian Near Me - North Lauderdale, Florida

Nice little cozy Trinidadian place to stop by for lunch. It's a little bit of a drive coming from Fort Lauderdale beach. The workers are so kind and nice. The doubles were excellent!! Lots of flavor and price was very affordable. The decor is beautiful, good old days in the Caribbean. read more

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Must say top tier doubles is south Florida. Roti is also a must try and is cooked to order.Be prepared the portion sizes are big and packed with flavor. Quick and fast service always. Definitely will recommend. You will also love the unique old school Trinidadian decor.we will definitely be back to try other menu items. read more

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On a rainy day nothing hit better than some doubles and a shark and bake. The food was great the people are also great. Very homey feel. I love their decor. Restaurant is very clean. Everyone is super friendly. One of the best doubles I've had. I got the bake and shark, if you don't mind waiting you get it hot hot. The bake just come for the Tawa and the fish just fried. Can't get better than that. Delicious. read more

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Real authentic home made trini food. This place is so cute really feels like you're in Trinidad, the doubles was amazing and probably the best I've had honestly. The staff was actually very friendly and inviting which was great. Love the decor and the authentic "doubles stand " feel. This was my second visit and I tried their Sunday lunch basically. Macaroni pie was sooooo good and flavorful. Callaloo was good and they give a good portion amount of stew chicken. Love that they have fudge and kurmar made in house. read more

Tabanka - a Trini Kitchen - Trinidadian Near Me - North Lauderdale, Florida

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Today was the first day I am disappointed in the doubles the chana had no seasoning the doubles was different from when I first started eating there as usual the stew chicken was to sweet read more

I love Trinidadian food and had the pleasure of visiting the island a few years ago. So when I saw this spot I knew I wanted to stop in. I had the buss up shut with boneless chicken and pumpkin. As I walked to the register after ordering I found out they had a doubles station, I knew I had to try as I had been craving a double for some time. The double came out and was delicious- I had a couple of employees with me and ordered for them and they both enjoyed. The buss up shut came out next. The serving was very large and everything was fresh and delicious. The restaurant had decor that transports the guests back to the islands. I will definitely stop by next time I am in the area! read more

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All went well, food, ambiance, service. Very clean, efficient. Loved everything, and tried lots. Started with doubles. Also had chicken roti, bake and shark. Peanut butter ice cream- just like home, currants roll. Fudge- only mistake was I only bought one pack, get a few, as you can eat entire pack in one sitting. Tried the bake and buljol- not my fav. Bakes are large, can be shared. Best Trini spot- authentic. Can't wait to go ba read more

We went on a Sunday at noon and had a great experience. We had the doubles and an aloo pie. Amazing! They prepare the doubles right in front of you. I had the pepper sauce and it is hot! My lips were burning. They have a variety of food to make a plate if you want more of an entree meal. They play lively Caribbean music. The decor is very eclectic. There is plenty of parking in the attached lot. It is a very clean place and the staff very friendly. read more

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A Trini Lunch is what lures you inside. The island aromas and friendly hospitality serving up some wonderful dishes is what keeps you. The only thing missing was some open verandas exposing you to the island greenery and cooling breezes as you enjoyed your feast! The inside is decorated to make you feel like you are in Trinidad and soaking it all in. My wife asked about the daily lunch special, and we decided to have a dish for each of us. Our special was a very generous serving of stewed chicken, with sides of Mac and cheese, rice and beans. We went with the red beans, and I chose a side of Callaloo which was like a special creamed spinach but with a funky delicious island vibe. I had asked for some scotch bonnet sauce for my beans and rice and cooled it down with an Island Cream Soda which was also very good. We both have travelled extensively throughout the Caribbean Islands, (courtesy of my wife's birthday gifts to me), and both agree this was one of the best meals we have ever had! They left our tab open in case we wanted to add anything else to try. We were pleasantly satiated with our meal and had no room, (no leftovers to take home either). More food to try on our next trip back! read more

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Pulled into parking at nondescript plaza at Broadview and SR441 and went into dim eatery for an awesome lunch! We had bone-in dhalpouri roti, bake and shark, and poulourie, washed down w Carib beer and ginger ale. Flavours and textures were spot-on: poulourie like from the Savannah, and Maracas-worthy bake and shark. Orders made up fresh with superior results. This place and its sassy, helpful staff bring it home! read more

I'm a very amateur home cook, who's cooked her fair share of curry. My favorite Social Media cooks are Trinadian and Guyanese. While I've experienced Guyanese Chicken Curry, I've not had the opportunity to taste Trinadian curry. I jumped at the opportunity to do so. With all that being said, I can only relay what I liked which may not be from an authentic perspective. We ordered a curry chicken plate, a goat plate, and doubles. The doubles were the star of the show. The roti was also very tasty! Perhaps the goat could have been cooked a little longer. While not what we were expecting, all in all not bad at all. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures but if I had to try to describe the interior I would say it reminded me of a tiki hut. It feel's very Caribbean, which is a good thing. The service was good. If i visit the area again perhaps I'd try the roti sandwich. Trinadian - Caribbean: 3.4 read more

I absolutely love the ambiance here--the music is always great, and the throwback Trini artwork brings back such good memories. The food never disappoints; it's delicious every time I visit. The fry bake and smoke herring are my favorites, and the doubles are pretty amazing! You have to try the roasted pepper in yours the next time you're here. Service is also pretty awesome.. super friendly; not what you see at a lot of Caribbean restaurants. Can't wait to go back. read more

Let me say I think I'm levitating after eating doubles and drinking coffee. I ordered 2 but could eat 1. Then Hongwing coffee was super delicious and strong. The 2 together is sending me to an early nap time. The woman behind the counter was very pleasant. The feel is comfortable and intimate. I love it here. read more

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This place is legit! I love curry goat and have friends who are from Trinidad who spoil me with homemade roti and goat. This was spot on and everything tasted great. The goat was soft and the roti was fresh and tasty. The star for me was the hot doubles!! So good! I will definitely be back. The place was reasonably priced. Very nice inside. read more

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I must say I love the decorations in this restaurant. Really made you feel like you stepped out of Broward into the Caribbean. It was my first visit and I was greeted by the owners who were very kind and explained the order process. There is a quick line for doubles and another for the rest of the menu items. I ordered the veggie paratha roti and doubles with extra pepper. The roti was soft, buttery and delicious. You can literally eat it by itself. I also enjoyed their doubles which had a nice sweet flavor to them along with the spicy pepper. I finished it all with my favorite banana solo and even had enough food for the next day. Can't wait to stop by again. read more

Tabanka - a Trini Kitchen - Paratha roti - Trinidadian Near Me - North Lauderdale, Florida

Absolutely and undoubtedly amazing Trini food the flavors were on point !!! The food was tasty and authentic I'm so happy I found this amazing place . The staff is friendly and attentive . read more

I tend to go to the Caribbean restaurants with 4+ ratings. I didn't like the rice which tastes like Uncle Ben's. I would have preferred plain white rice instead. They forget to add the desert I ordered as well as provide the advertised sauces for the sides I ordered. I will give them another chance since any restaurant can have an off day. read more

There are few places that make you feel like you're in another country. There are fewer that make you feel like you've been transported in time. And even fewer that can do both. Welcome to Tabanka - a Trini Kitchen, a place that does both amazingly well. Tabanca in Trini slang, means a deep feeling of longing, loss, and sadness, usually associated with the end of relationships, but as the Mighty Trini taught us, it can also apply to food. And Tabanka looks to fill that void in the hearts of many Trinis, by taking them on a nostalgic trip down memory lane to a simpler time. This experience is by no means reserved for people from Trinidad and Tobago, as the food, the service, and the ambiance are sure to appeal to people from all cultures and backgrounds. We went for breakfast, shortly after they opened on Sunday, which was extremely lucky for us because they filled up like a bake and shark at Maracas, which they also have on the menu. We ordered doubles (fried dough filled with curried garbanzo beans) and alloo pies (dough pies filled with seasoned potato and curried channa aka garbanzo beans). We also ordered roti to go as well for later. The doubles area was set up like a vendor you would see on the side of the road in Trinidad. And the food was hot, delicious, and well made. The ambiance reminded you a of small corner shop, with all the snacks, crunchy, sweet, sour, salty, and tart in so many different ways, which were prevalent everywhere growing up. The barra (fried dough for the doubles) was light and fluffy and the channa was well seasoned. They have flavorful and hot pepper sauce that you can add separately. The roti was light, not greasy, and filled with split peas. The bhaji (spinach) was smooth and flavorful, with hints of coconut milk. And the pumpkin was cooked to perfection. The place is decorated with corrugated aluminum, commonly used for roofing in Trinidad, making rainy nights heavenly for sleeping. The lighting is reminiscent of pitch oil torches. So while not romantic, it definitely changes the mood. And the stereo plays Soca, Calypso, Chutney, and the like, creating a festive atmosphere. I can't go in to a full cultural breakdown of Trinidad's history and culinary greatness and uniqueness as compared with the rest of the Caribbean and the world, but maybe one day we will meet up at Tabanka, and I can explain it all. Tabanka took me back to being home in so many ways. I truly appreciate having this as an option now. Whatever you're in the mood for, or if your feeling a little adventurous and want to step outside your comfort zone, you should check out Tabanka for some great Trinidadian cuisine and old school vibes. You can thank me later read more

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I stopped in for a quick lunch and something to wet the whistle. It's in a strip mall with plenty of parking. The service was fast and the Doubles tasted almost as good as Trinidad's. The chickpea sauce was a bit wet. Beer was cold though. I will be returning to try the bake and shark! read more

Tabanka - a Trini Kitchen - Doubles and beer - Trinidadian Near Me - North Lauderdale, Florida

Nice view in the restaurant very comfortable .. delicious food. Fast service . Thank you read more

I got the goat roti wrap extra spicy and really enjoyed it. Their hot sauce was amazing too. It was so big I had enough for 3 meals. Service was prompt and friendly. The drive was a bit out of the way but well worth it. I definitely recommend You give this spot a try when by Fort Lauderdale. read more

Tabanka - a Trini Kitchen - Goat roti - Trinidadian Near Me - North Lauderdale, Florida

So good to have Trinbago food in a time answering place where it can be hard to come by. Really amazing decor with the galvanized ceiling decor and booths reminiscent of road side food stalls. Very quick service and great food! read more

Tabanka - a Trini Kitchen - Trinidadian Near Me - North Lauderdale, Florida