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Introduction
Located on the border of Toronto and Scarborough, Wicked Carib is where flavour, family, and culture come together. Run by the Trinidadian couple Chef Asif and Chef Annie, who first met in middle school, this family-owned restaurant has quickly grown into one of the GTA’s most beloved Caribbean gems.
From bold island spices to comforting home-style cooking, the chefs blend authentic Caribbean flavours with warm hospitality, creating a dining experience that feels like a hug from their home with a unique “Wicked” twist.
What does efosa recommend at Wicked Carib?
Doubles – I tried this for the first time, and it is so so good. It is spicy curried chickpeas served on two fried flatbreads. For those not familiar with Doubles, think of a tasty wrap. It is a common breakfast food in Trinidad and Tobago, bursting with flavour.
Chicken Pelau – A hearty one pot Caribbean classic made with stew chicken, rice, pigeon peas, carrots, and coconut milk. Rich, savoury, and comforting.
Curry Chicken and Goat with Rice – No introduction needed, a classic and tasty dish served with rice.
Q&A
I sat down with the duo to learn more about their inspiration, their journey, and the story behind Wicked Carib. Here is our Q&A with the founders (Chef Asif and Annie)
The Story Behind Wicked Carib
Q: What inspired you to open your restaurant?
A (Chef Annie): My inspiration comes from my grandmother. I grew up watching my grandmother cook. Every morning, she started with a cup of tea, which in the Caribbean means coffee, and then she’d move slowly through the kitchen, measuring spices by heart. Watching her cook was like watching a symphony. Those memories come back every time I step into the kitchen.
A (Chef Asif): My inspiration came from my mom. I was always her helper, and as I grew older, I realized that cooking was therapeutic for me; it made me relax. Whenever I was in the kitchen, I was in my element.
Q: How did you choose the name and location?
A: Wicked Carib is a play on our personalities. “Wicked” means cool or bold, in today’s Gen-Z term, “Aura”. *laughs* and “Carib” is short for Caribbean, our forever home. In terms of location, we chose Scarborough because it is a diverse culinary destination. You can find anything you want to eat in the city of Scarborough. The people are very loving, welcoming, and, of course, brutally honest. We saw it as an opportunity to share our story through food with the community
The Wicked Carib Experience
Q: What do you love most about working here – the people, the food, or the atmosphere?
A: The people. We love hearing real customer stories, connecting with them daily, and listening to what our food means to them. We often hear, “Your food reminds me of home,” or “This tastes like my mom’s cooking.”
One story that really touched us was from a senior customer who made a two-hour trip during the middle of winter just to enjoy a taste of home after trying our food. When we heard his story, we decided to cover his delivery expenses and make sure he received his weekly meals. Serving quality food that brings joy and happiness to our customers is what drives us.
Q: Which dish on the menu do you feel best represents the restaurant?
A(Annie): We are also well known for our Doubles and Chicken Pelau. I am like a police officer when it comes to our doubles laughs. I take it very seriously.
Chicken Pelau is an Indo-African Caribbean one-pot meal made with stew chicken, rice, pumpkin, peas, and coconut milk. It’s comfort food through and through. And our chutneys — mango, tamarind, chadon beni, and pepper sauce — are all made in-house. To a Trinidadian, Doubles isn’t just food, it’s culture.
Q: What are your top 3 must-try dishes?
A: Doubles, Curry Chicken and Curry Goat, Handmade Patties, and Chicken Pelau (That is four laughs)
Traditions, Culture, and Family
Q: Are there family recipes or cultural traditions that influence your menu?
A(Chef Annie): Everything we create comes from family and cultural traditions. It was like a Sunday ritual, making roti and cooking food with the family. It was hard to fill in the roti properly as a kid, but over time, I crafted my own method of filling. It’s a staple dish in my home. I also learned about spices and their aromas growing up. My family has its own curry-masala mix, a tradition. Spices have always fascinated me, even from childhood. Over time, I developed an intuition for spices, much like I observed my grandmother preparing them for her dishes. Now I have the pleasure of teaching my kids.
Traditions inspire our dishes, and we honour those traditions with our flair, adding our own “Wicked” twist.
Q: What has been your proudest moment since working at Wicked Carib?
A: Being chosen out of 18 Caribbean restaurants in Toronto to bring our food to the national stage. We’ve served Doubles and Rotis at Scotiabank Arena and BMO Field for the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs.
We also cater to private events for major organizations and a select group of celebrities. It’s surreal, but we’re deeply grateful for every opportunity that comes our way.
Community, Culture, and Connection
Q: How does the restaurant impact the surrounding communities?
A: Our patrons and customers are happy to get the cultural dishes of Trinidad in the city. We spare no expense and cut no corners when it comes to our ingredients. Each dish is crafted just as our grandmothers would in their own kitchens.
We believe in giving back to the community as we are part of organizations that provide donations and participate in community initiatives such as food drives.
Q: What do you hope guests learn about the culture or story behind the food when they visit?
A(Chef Asif): We want people to feel connected — to remember where they come from or discover something new. The way I like to bring the culture back is I ensure people eat Doubles the right way, with their hands, not a fork and knife.
Trinidad is so diverse and multifaceted in the cultures that have come together to share our authentic culture and food, which is what makes our food so memorable. That mix of cultures is what makes our cuisine so special, and we’re proud to share it with everyone who walks through our doors.
Q: What do you want people to feel when they dine here?
A: We are the home comfort food, without the hustle at home. We view every dish as if it were what we are serving to our kids and parents. And we treat every single customer and patron who walks in, treating them with the utmost respect. We want people to feel the warmth, love, culture, tradition, and experiences and stories our food brings forth. Listening to their stories, watching the smiles on their faces, and the happiness our food brings our customers, is the greatest reward of what we do as Chefs. We want people to feel at home.
The People Behind the Kitchen
Q: Who would be your dream guest to serve or cook for, and why?
A(Chef Asif): We can name some big names, but ideally, anyone who allows us to be part of their meal is a big name. It is a privilege to be part of the experience.
Q: Tell us one fun fact about Wicked Carib?
A: We met in middle school, dated in high school, and married after university. We have this yin and yang relationship, and it works beautifully in the kitchen.
Looking Ahead
Q: Where do you see the restaurant in 5 years?
A: We would like to grow and create a network of restaurants and grow nationwide. Our goal is to ensure our brand is recognized while delivering the same unique experience to our customers. We want to be the Caribbean staple for the North End of Scarborough. We have been here for 5 years and hopefully for many years to come
We would also like to give back to our community, and supporting orphans has always been a driving factor for us. We aim to establish our own charity dedicated to helping orphans, providing them with a bright future, because they are our future.
Conclusion
Wicked Carib is more than a family-owned restaurant; it’s a true reflection of the constantly growing Trinidadian food scene in the city. Its food fuses traditional homemade cooking with a “Wicked” twist.
Every dish carries a memory, and every customer becomes part of that story.
Visit Wicked Carib
Name and Website: Wicked Carib
Socials:
Locations:
2573 Victoria Park Ave., Toronto
As always, you can keep up with all the foodie happenings in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area on efosa.
