I lived in Toronto for 20 years and had more than a few favorite roti places. When i moved to Winnipeg i was disappointed in lack of authentic West Indian food. No longer. Famena's is the real deal. Excellent food, friendly owners, funky atmosphere. One of the best hole-in-the-wall spots in Winnipeg.
My new favorite place for a roti! Will definitely be back. The owners are wonderful and the food is amazing. My 5y/o wants to go for rotis every day! Absolutely loved it!!
Best Roti I've had in the city of Winnipeg. Also very friendly place to eat in would highly recommend.
Great food, warm hosts!!! Small, friendly lunch counter venue where you feel like family from the time you walk in. Highly recommended!!
Love it every time. Totally worth the heartburn and other symptoms the next day too.
Good food, good sauce, good friends. I can't recommend this place enough!
Loved it! Can't say enough about the quality, quantity and FLAVOR!! Highly recommend.
The meat in the roti is sooo much! They are not cheap with the toppings at all! There is actually no competition! I've tried all places but this place tops it all! Small location but great service!
A beautiful, hardworking couple making the best homemade Roti you'll ever had. Goat, brown gravy and home made hot sauce.
A Winnipeg jewel.
Absolutely the best wow, just terrific. Highly recommended!
Food for the Soul. Experiences for the Mind. Such an amazing little place. The Food is Amazing !!
Delicious rotis! Famena is very hospitable and a fantastic cook.
Ridiculously Delicious
Had a beef mix-it-up roti for lunch today! Can't wait to go back!! Is tomorrow to soon...
I was drawn in by the fragrance of Caribbean spices from down the street. I had a delicious, filling lunch. And there were lots of great veggie options.
I lived off Famena's roti for years. Best thing going.
I was at Famena's last week and had an amazing curry goat roti! I work a few blocks away and will be visiting Famena's again!
The BEST hot sauce in Winnipeg. Only outdone by their delicious roti!
Had a beef roti for dinner 9 out of 12 days here recently. Enough said
Best roti & doubles in the city!!!
Famena’s Famous Roti & Curry is a little counter top restaurant on Garry Street in downtown Winnipeg. It just a couple of blocks over from Holy Trinity. As I mentioned in my Holy Trinity Fall Supper post, there is a strong Caribbean influence at Holy Trinity. This influences is reflected in both the spiritual and culinary character of the parish. It`s through Holy Trinity that I developed by fondness for Caribbean Cuisine
Quaint place, delicious roti with ability to spice it as you need it. Wonderful gentlemen behind the counter and just what you need to warm the belly on a cold day.
This place is amazing only because of food. If you like the food of Caribbean and Indian flavour, this is the place for you. They do not have a lot of items but the items they have are very good. Place is a bit small, not much of seating but it has a friendly environment. All people know each other, they chat, laugh and enjoy. We tried jerk chicken roti with juice and shrimp/vegetables rice with coconut water. Roti is always a better option. They make their own roti, big and tasty. I tried goat chickpea roti but i did not like the combination of chickpea and meat (not a big fan of chickpea). I would prefer a whole meat or whole veggie stuff.
I go here not nearly enough. The location is a bit hard to get to and it's in an odd place. It's definitely the type of place you would find featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, as while its not the prettiest place, they do everything right.The food is pretty unique, and so tasty, and very flavorful. The owners always are extremely friendly, chatty, and hilarious. You can tell they love each other, love the food they make, and love serving it to people. If you like spicy, try their home brewed hot sauce, but go easy on it. It's much hotter than most places would leave on the counter. If you want something hotter, they usually have a few special bottles but its not always available, and you need to ask nicely.
Best place to go for authentic samosa /roti in the city. The owners are very friendly and accomodating. I felt comfortable dining here and enjoyed their food. Parking can be a bit of a challenge but I managed.
I love Famena's, the service and food is 110% - the owners and so friendly and generous. The first time I went there they were cutting up watermelon and slide a huge piece for me to enjoy with my meal, what a way to show you're appreciated. The roti is amazing and if you're lucky, you'll end up there on a Wednesday for oxtail. If you want the best in the city, Famena's is it.
10/10 I'm addicted. Best place to go for food on the entire planet. Haha! Seriously though...
Bring a friend! It's all good to go!
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About 3 years ago my friend and I decided to walk in and try this place out. Now I'm frequently coming here. First and foremost, the owners are very lovely. They strike up a conversation the moment you sit down. The rotis are the best you'll ever have, don't even bother going anywhere else. They are very filling but very flavourful and you get something different with each bite. You get the choice of having chickpeas or potatoes or both! Everything is so good from the roti shells, to the fillings to the hot sauce they offer.
My wife had the chicken roti and I had the lamb roti. Both were amazing. Did the mixed with potatoes and chic peas. Fantastic. Hole in the wall kind of place. We sat down and ate. It was an experience on its own chatting with the husband and wife. Food was excellent, would recommend to anyone. Service was quick and friendly. I will be eating here again when I am in Winnipeg.
Whoa, I walk by this place all the time and today I decided to pop in. The aroma from outside was a huge drawing factor! The restaurant itself is teeny tiny, but super friendly service and I was in and out in a few minutes with my chick pea roti. It's huge! Flavourful as well, and VEGAN. LOVE when there are easy and fulfilling vegan options close to my office. Wish I had found this place a lot sooner. I love spice, and the hot sauce is a 9/10 on my heat factor, but absolutely delicious. Yum!
This restaurant is tucked under a parkade, the establishment itself isn't easy on the eyes but it makes some of the best roti I've eaten. I've Been countless times and Hands down the best roti in town. Large, Authentic and fresh. Nice owners as well.
Best food in town. Great if you like spicey food! I would recommend this place to anyone. Bring an appetite and a friend. The roti is amazing! Also try the ox tail. It's wonderful. I've been here many times and will continue coming lots!
Congrats on being the #1 restaurant in wpg based on reviews. Best resaurant in the city!!!!
Perhaps the best Caribbean roti in the city. Absolutely recommend! It's a small restaurant but provides a bigger city feel than you would typically get in Winnipeg. The hot sauce is prepared there and is insanely hot. Beware.
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Update: I went back for a regular chicken roti, and it was much better than the Jerk Chicken, so much so, that it is now my fav roti to date. Although once again ordered to go, no utensils or napkins provided. This place is kind of hard to see if you're walking by, it's across from "The Pint" on Garry but it's at the bottom of a Parkade ramp, so I almost walked right by it. I went during the week at lunch, the owner's seem nice, but more focused on their regulars then me e.g. Had to ask for a menu, had to ask to order, didn't start my food till after conversations were had with the regulars already done eating. If you are crunched for time I would use the takeout option. Tip though, if you are going to order to go or take out, ask for napkins and utensils if you need them, because they didn't provide me anything but a roti when I ordered to go. I wasn't impressed because my other favorite Roti place is $4 less per Roti and they included everything when I got it to go. I ordered the Jerk Chicken Roti, it wasn't overly spicy, but the flavor was really good. They even included the base of the broccoli stem in the roti, I like that but if you aren't a fan be advised. They had mini baby corn in it (I'm not a fan of corn) and it was okay. I won't order the Jerk Chicken again, next time if I go, it would be to try just the regular Roti! A lot of people who were there ordered the special which was Ox Tail. I am concerned about the cleanliness of the place, but that probably won't stop me from eating there.
Went to grab a quick bite while staying in downtown Winnipeg. Excellent lamb roti- well seasoned and super tender. Portions are quite large. The owners are lovely people and it is worth a visit just to have a chat. I will definitely be back next time I'm in town!
I can't believe I haven't been to this place. Its hard to find a good carribean restaurant in the city, or one that stays open. I ordered the jerk chicken and it was massive and delicious. My friend ordered the chicken roti and she loved it. The owners are really nice and fun to talk to . I highly recommend this place .
Finally got to eat here after saying I was going to for aaaages. I walked in and it was pretty quiet, but the round bar-style counter was quite dirty, like they just had a rush and hadn't wiped it down yet. That didn't bother me too much, but just something I noticed. The owners are SO sweet, wonderful people. Famena even prewarned us that the hot sauce was *much* hotter this time than it was last time so to just taste a little little bit before putting it on our food. Holy crap she was right. I love spicy food but I actually didn't end up using the hot sauce at all because even just dipping the tips of my fork in it and licking it was pretty overwhelming.
Overall it hit the spot for my chickpea/curry craving, and was SO FILLING. I'd definitely like to go back, the only complaint I have is the roti bread itself had a kind of off smell to it.... Just a little bit off-putting. But I'm willing to give it a second go.
Small food join in the heart of downtown . The owner and his wife works there . The food is tasty but besides that the owner is super amazing and talking to him was fun . Shared alot of jokes and stories .
He even opened extra half hour as we were late for food .
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A very pleasant experience with Famena's. Tuck in a parking lot building. The place is diner styled, no individual tables just a long one with tall chairs. The food here is amazing. Famena serves Guyana styled curry similar to Indian Curry. The curry had little difference to the ones I ate in South Asia.
I ordered Mutton/Lamb Curry with Roti. There was plenty of curry and a large piece of roti. The dish is served with the curry wrapped by the roti. For those who want it the typical style of having the curry and roti separated I suggest to mention it on order.
The curry had rich flavours, the mutton meat was just so soft. It had little difference with the curry I'm familiar with. It was just incredible. Chilli sauce was readily available for those who want the touch of spice with their curry like I do.
The price was in the affordable range. The diner was just simple and clean. Famena was very friendly and was very welcoming.
I recommend trying the place out. I might try their Caribbean food next time.
Absolutely fantastic. Famena is the friendliest person in town and the rotis are fabulous. Great folks like this deserve all the business they can get. Bless 'em.
Oh my god! This is the best place for a roti! The flavour is amazing. The couple that work there is great they like to get to know their customers. This place is must try. Worth the money. It's a small place but it's the food and the friendly people. I recommend this place to everyone. I won't be going anywhere else.
This is a great place. Aside from the awesome and unique food, you always leave there happy. Such nice people. They never forget a face!
The food is rich and flavourful and the meat is tender!
The hot sauce is steamy, yet fruity, love it!
The atmosphere seals the deal!
Great food!!. Someone told me this was a great place to eat. I went there on lunch with a couple coworkers, when I walked in the place looked a bit run down so I was a bit skepitcal. 5 minutes later, after talking to the owners and understanding how prideful they are in their home cooking techniques I had to try the Roti. I have tried Roti's from other restaurants but I got to say, nothing compared to Femena's. I ordered the Chicken Roti, they only use high quality chicken breast, white meat, very delicious and the owners are very comforting and interesting, they love to engage their customers and have alot of pride in the food that they make.
I would definitely go again.
Small place, but great service. Wonderful food, roti was on point. Owners are warm and welcoming, fantastic stories from both Mohammed and Famena. Real mom and pop shop.
Great laughter and atmosphere.
THE BEST!!! I love the food.... THE BEST!!!
I love the food at Famena's. I travel to the city a few times a week for work and stay downtown at the Radisson. This restaurant is my home away from home, I eat there a couple time a week sometimes. Food is amazing! All made by hand, even the spice is a custom blend (no filler). Owners are super friendly and always introducing me to new tastes. You have to eat here! Simple, genuine, amazing food!
Yumm! On Tuesday, I stopped in for the chicken with potato and chick pea mix-it up. I tried it over rice this time, rather than in a roti, and it was delicious! It was a nice change to the roti, but still packs the same punch of flavor! With a bit of hot sauce, this is an awesome, spicy, plentiful meal. Love it every time!!
-----11 Apr, 2014-----
Fabulous Roti!. We stopped in for lunch today. One of us had the beef roti, the other ordered the chicken roti. One word: OUTSTANDING! They were absolutely delicious. The folks at this restaurant were warm and friendly. It's definitely worth checking out. We'll be back, that's for sure!!
Best damn Roti in WPG!. If you have never tried there Roti or Double's or anything in fact you have no idea what your missing.
This is the best Roti I have ever had and without insulting any other places in Winnipeg I will just say you need to try this place.
The Decor is outdated and in need of replacement but the owner and his wife are a pleasure to chat with and always have a good story to go with your meal.
Back to the Food: The Beef (and Jerk Chicken)Roti was mouth watering (great now I am drooling thinking about it) but be warned the **"Hot sauce"** is exactly that damn hot - be warned! If you add the hot sauce (That you do yourself) drip it on like water drops not pouring it on or you will be sorry!
They also have a very tasty as they call it Sweet and sour sauce which is very yummy and not hot like the hot sauce but sweet and tangy.
Great.. I am out of here and now I need to go there and get a beef roti and a pea soup mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Went for the first time last week and loved the roti! It was awesome, and the owner was super nice as well. I will definitely be back! Rotis are huge so bring your appetite!
Awsome food. If you are looking for roti,i mean the real roti you need to go to famena in winnipeg the best you can find, do not let anyone tell you otherwise, because i tried a lot of places and they are not even close. so for real roti try this pace
Another downtown secret. Things to love about Famena's: the fantastic hot sauce made in-house, the casual atmosphere, and the friendly conversations with the owners. Oh yeah, and the roti... the delicious, delicious roti. I recommend the goat roti with both chickpeas and potatoes, but be careful with the hot sauce - I love love love me my spicy food, but that sauce is bleedin' hot!
Great food & great service. I really love coming here. The rotis are delicious and the service is so awesome. The owners are super friendly and make you feel like a longtime customer. I've told them that my boyfriend and I were going to share a roti and they made an extra large roti for us to share! Another time, I met my boyfriend here, and the owner gave me soup while I waited! Always such wonderful service. And the rotis never disappoint. My absolute favourite is the shrimp curry roti. Delicious! And highly recommended!!
If you're anywhere close to downtown, be certain to stop into Famena's. A large vegetarian & vegan friendly menu with the nicest, kindest most personable owners I've EVER met. I've been coming here for over ten years and never once have I left dissatisfied. They've moved a few times but have settled into this retro looking nook near a parkade on Gary street. Portions are HUGE and incredibly affordable! Quality ingredients and great homemade condiments aplenty. Street parking. Along most major bus routes (at the Portage & Gary stop, with a bus shelter at said stop)
Great hours and diverse menu. Extremely friendly owners and super quick service!
Great food and conversation. I stopped by on my way to an appointment and ordered doubles and a Jamaican patty to go. On my short stay in the diner, the ambience leaves a lot to be desired, but the company of the customers and the owner made it comfortable and charming. There were 2 different homemade hot sauces, both of them really spicy (and I can usually handle a lot of heat). The doubles I ordered are very over sized for the price ($3.50) and very delicious. The Jamaican patty was similar to a pizza pop crust but with roasted curried beef that was a little bland, but much better with hot sauce. It was a really pleasant, fun experience stopping in and I'll be back soon for the roti.
The food was great and the owners are awesome as well. Simple conversations going a long way when it is genuine. Honestly, the food could have been horrible (and it wasn't at all)...and we still would come back just for the healthy social interaction.
Keisha Jieying Huang
+4.5
Excellent!. Me and my husband were going to a building on portage ave, and we parked our car at Garry st. Then we smelled some very good curry. We looked around and found out where the smell came from. We couldn't help ourselves to go in and pick up some food . We had beef curry roti and chicken curry roti, they are just amazing! Best roti that I've ever had! And the people ( I guess they are the owner) are so nice and friendly!
Awesome & Delicious. I have always loved Caribbean food, and Winnipeg has always had some really good options. I lived in Trinidad for a time, so I know from good roti!
We ordered the boneless chicken roti, doubles, a patty and an order of jerk chicken rice. I have to give everything an enthusiastic thumbs up. The portions were huge and the everything was very tasty. The roti shell was not quite as good as some, but the filling was very good. The doubles were a bit more doughy (bara) than I'm used to. It's certainly not like the stuff you get on the street in Trinidad, but then again, you can't get anything like that in Winnipeg. Everything was very mildly spiced, so I would up the pepper sauce request next time. The jerk chicken rice was a very nice surprise.
All in all, we will definitely order again, but ask for extra pepper sauce.
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We went to Famena's tonight for dinner and were very happy with the warm welcome, bubbling personalities, spice laden aromas, delicious food, and friendly banter.
We ordered doubles to start and were told they were too big to have one each. They arrived open faced on two plates for us to split, and was still a large appetizer. The chickpeas were moist, not at all chalky, and the doughy patty was nicely seasoned and chewy.
I ordered the chicken curry roti and my partner ordered the jerk chicken and vegetables roti. Both dishes had very warm, moist, well flavored chicken and delicious sauces. The shells are clearly a labour of love and the quality is obvious. The rotis themselves were enormous (about 7" square and several inches thick) and came with a small garden salad on the side with a vinaigrette dressing. There is a mighty potent hot sauce on the counter, which is tasty when used sparingly. Behind the counter is another even spicier sauce which even my hot sauce loving partner thought was too much for him.
All told, we left with a great impression of this restaurant, as well as a very heavy bag of leftovers. We will certainly be back for a visit.
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Love the roti!. For over a month I had been craving some roti. Finally I was able to satisfy that craving at Famena's. I had previously tried their samosas which were very good (this was a while ago at their old location) but after hearing about the rotis I had to try it.
I ordered the chicken roti and was surprised by how gigantic it is. It's probably the biggest roti I've ever seen in Winnipeg, or ever, in fact. I also ordered some Jamaican patties on the side to share. The patties were OK, they weren't especially flavourful and the patties weren't sealed properly, so they were opening up a lot. I've had better but for a quick meal $3.50 for a patty can't go wrong especially since they're huge. The roti however is the star of the show. It's well spiced and they are generous with the filling, just the right amount of chicken and chickpeas + potatoes. The chicken chunks are huge, in fact.
You could easily split the roti into two and share it with someone. Considering the size the food is good value for the money. Delicious!
Also the owners were very nice, polite, and talkative! I went during a non-rush hour. I appreciate also that the establishment has A/C because it's boiling hot outside right now.
Best Roti in Winnipeg. All ingredients are homemade. Even the curry spice, maybe that's their secret. Super warm and friendly. Diner is small so go early if you want a seat at lunch on weekdays.
Must have. My husband and I enjoy a great variety of ethnic foods all around Winnipeg, and were very pleasantly surprised by this place. Friendly staff, great portions, not an extensive menu, but what they have tastes good. Have vegetarian and non-vegetarian menu items at a reasonable price. Doesn't have a lot of room, but barely any rush for dinner, mainly a lunch place. Amazing hot sauce.
Had the mixed (w/ chickpeas, potatoes) chicken roti. Had to take some home because the portions were too large. Few people even use it as a take out place.
Due to charges by debit machines, it's best to pay with cash (but they, of course, willingly accept debit as well).
Delicious roti and wonderful owners. Goat chick pea mix up was wicked. Very lean tender meat. Home made hot sauce is killer too. Don't get put off by the setting. This is seriously tasty roti and curry.
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Good Roti Experience. Prior to visiting this place I had never tried roti before. Now I am kicking myself for not having tried this place sooner.
The location has housed a variety of restaurants over the years. They have run the gamut from burger joints to a place specializing in sauerkraut. For the past three years it is now a Caribbean style place. The place is small and very basic. It is a curved counter with stools dotted along the perimeter. It seats about 15 people. There were about eight other customers when I arrived for lunch. There were two people working behind the counter.
The staff are very friendly and engaging. They know their food and are more than helpful. The menu isn't very extensive. A few types of roti (chicken, lamb, goat, beef), doubles, Jamaican patties and jerk chicken. I tried a chicken roti. The first thing that struck me was the size of the portions. You won't be disappointed with the size. I found the chicken to be tender and the sauce they cooked it in is very savoury. Slightly spiced and quite flavourful. The chunks of chicken in the roti are quite large. There are squeeze bottles of hot sauce. We were cautioned about how hot it is and to try a small amount before dousing your food with it. Very good advice. I found the hot sauce to be a bit too hot for my liking.
I had my food within five minutes of ordering it. There is a soft drink cooler across from the counter and one helps themselves to get a drink. You pay your bill on the way out. The two staff members checked on us a few times to make sure we were enjoying our meal. They gave all of the customers free slices of watermelon. This proved to be a nice complement to the savoury roti. I don't know if this is something they do regularly or if we were just there at the right time.
Prices were fairly reasonable. My all chicken roti is one of the more expensive items on the menu at $13.99 and a can of pop was $1.
I wouldn't hesitate to come back.
Tasty. The roti is tasty and the best that I've had in Winnipeg so far. The owners are super friendly and service was fast. I would highly recommend it if you're in the area for lunch. If you like spicy food, then ask them for their hot sauce...it is hot!
Had I known.... ...the roti was this good here I wouldn't have taken my sweet time checking this place out !! I ordered a chickpea and potato roti hoping it wouldn't be too full of potatoes and I was delighted to find it was the perfect balance. I ordered it to go and was a little dismayed over the small amount of 'hot sauce' I was given but oh boy did that sauce pack a big amount of heat !! The owner was extremely friendly and with tax my roti was a mere $7.56. Seriously this is excellent food and I will be back again very soon !
Ever since Caribbean Spice closed down years ago, I've had a hole in my heart. Years later I discover Famena's and now my sorrow has ended. The food is awesome. Love all the food.
When she says the hot sauce is hot, she means it.
Great service. Delicious chicken roti. The hot sauce is very hot...so believe her when she says it's hot.
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Good, but Skimpy on the Flavor. Came here for lunch recently with my dad due to all the great reviews. The single gentleman working was overly friendly and talkative. I ordered the Potato/chickpea/vegetable Roti and my dad ordered the Jerk Chicken & Vegetable Roti.
In less than 10 minutes we received our food. The portions are huge and all rotis come alongside a simple, but good salad.
My vegetarian roti was overloaded and very filling. However, flavorwise I could only taste cumin and found myself adding hot sauce to compensate for the missing flavor. I guess I had expected that I would taste a whole array of different spices, not just cumin. My dad on the other hand said the Jerk Chicken was super flavorful and stuffed with tender, spicy chicken and vegetables in a nice sauce. So perhaps it is just the vegetarian option that is on the bland side.
Both my dad and I could barely eat half of our rotis and had to get the remainder to go. For the price you pay the portions are huge and definitely worth it.
And make sure you try the Solo brand Ginger Beer they sell. It is a combination of sweet, spicy, carbonated gingerness and super delicious!
Great place. Authentic Roti. Extremely friendly customer service. The only thing that sucks it the parking.
MMM mmm good. Myself and an associate of mine came to Winnipeg today from Toronto on business. We finished working in a nearby building and I instantly followed the smell of jerk chicken in the air outside. Then I found this restaurant. Very nice couple running the place, we chit-chatted for a good while - very nice people.
I ordered jerk chicken vegetable roti and a beef patty. The roti had great traditional flavours and the beef patty tasted amazing...nothing like the packed patties you find in the frozen section of your local grocery store. Really Good. Will return to this place on my next trip to try out more items on the menu.
FF fab curry. I recently visited my long time fave west indian restaurant and found myself disappointed, so I decided to check out Famena's based on the comments of friends, and of course urbanspoon. Took out doubles and the lamb roti. No danger of ending up hungry here. Although their prices may be slightly higher than the competition, the portions were huge and the quality was very good. If I had to take issue with anything, I found the doubles to be a little heavy on the dense fritter component and a little light on the chickpea curry, but the chickpeas were delicious with a bit of a sweet component (tamarind?) not found in the roti filling. The roti was great, and probably weighed two pounds. The couple running the place were friendly and funny too. Watch out for Famena's hot sauce: they will warn you, but it is pretty smokin. Not a bad thing, though. Definitely returning. If you plan on eating in, get there before peak hours - probably only a dozen seats in the place.
Excellent!!. I just had the Beef Roti with Chick pea and potato mix up. Wow!! What a portion. The beef was tender and flavorful throughout, as well the curry was bang on. Oh, and the hot sauce(1000 times hotter than Tabasco) with the Roti was excellent!! Definitely going back.
Was told by my manager to try Famenas because their roti is like no other. Trekked from st vital for it. Its seriously a hole in the wall, little seating but its an awesome diner feel. The couple are absolutely hilarious, very friendly, genuinely interested in you and love what they do.
I got the lamb roti and my girlfriend got the chicken. Absolutely blown away. Amazing portion for such a cheap price, no being cheap with the meat, i was super excited. We were both more than satisfied, and we stayed after talking to them. Two rotis, two drinks for $26... I would have expected upwards of $40 for that. I WILL be back, there is seriously nothing i dont enjoy there. Very happy.
Awesome!. Great roti, and the couple that runs it are awesome. It's a tiny space, but that just adds to the charm.
Love it.. Hands down, Famena's is the best place for roti in the city. Their home made roti shells melt in your mouth, the curries are amazing, and their delicious hot sauce has such a unique flavour (and also has some serious heat to it!). Famena and her husband are very friendly, and it feels more like your at their house for dinner, while there.
ps. You will not leave hungry.. i can't finish a roti in one sitting. And it's not from lack of trying.
Yummers and Friendly. Who would have thought that a parkade could house an urban diner that serves great Roti's? Me. That's why I walked in and enjoyed warm service, great Roti's with an option of potato to chickpea ratio and lovely Famena herself. Step in when downtown if only for the fun counter-top dining set up and then stay for the truly good and filling grub.
Delish!. Got here late last night, and even though the owner was closing soon, he stayed open to accomodate us :) He was super friendly to chat with while he cooked. We ordered the chickpea/potato and shrimp and chickpea rotis and they were both huge and tasted great! I will be back again to try more items on the menu, everything looks and smells delish!
Will be going again soon!. A wonderful place to eat! The food was amazing! Had the Jerk Chicken Roti w veggies, came with a nice salad on the side! Best jerk chicken I've had in ages. Hands down. Huge portions at a great price. Incredibly friendly atmosphere, other customers chat with you as well as the owners! Will be telling friends and family about this gem of a restaurant in the heart of downtown Winnipeg! Very happy with my experience and will be going back again and again. If you haven't already been make sure to check it out. Can't say enough about the fantastic owners and amazing food!
Fantastic food, fantastic people. Had a jerk chicken and vegetable roti. Honestly not a bad thing I can say about the place. Well priced food, big portions, and delicious recipes. The owners are very friendly and the lay out of the place allows you to talk and mingle with other patrons.
Will be going back, and so should you.
Awesome Roti. I'm not a Roti or Caribbean food expert but I thoroughly enjoyed my beef Roti at Famena's. It was substantial (I took home half of it), delicious, moist and packed with beef. I will definitely eat here again. Update Aug 9/02 - just had a beef Roti from Bindy's and it's not nearly as good as Famena's; although very juicy - the beef lacked substantial flavor.
I can't imagine there's anywhere else in Winnipeg where two people can eat so deliciously and satisfyingly for 15.00. We both had the potato and chickpea roti and I, a notoriously big eater, had to put the rest of mine away for later. Sooo tasty and flakey on the outside, spicy and hearty on the inside. Great for vegetarians! Awesome, friendly service and banter as well. Will definitely be going back and taking my Mom too.
This is the place you want to eat if you want realllll caribbean food
My wife and I stopped in for a bite before attending a Jets game the other week. The perfect place for a great meal before the game and a much better value than anything the MTS Centre has to offer. Very friendly service and huge portions, in fact, one roti was enough for both of us (though I could have finished it myself).
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Famena's Famous Roti is by far one of my favourite restaurants in Winnipeg. I have known Famena and her husband for a number of years when they were flipping and filling Rotis in the Garrick Hotel! Before I knew how good Rotis were, I would order a burger and fries (something they now do not serve) in their former restaurant. If only I knew what I was missing out on! One day I gathered up the courage to try out a Potato Chicken Roti and it was absolutely delicious! From that day on, whenever I went to Famena's, I would always have a Roti!
I have come to their current location at 295 Garry street a number of times now, and although some people may find it small, I find it cozy and welcoming! When you open the door, the mouth watering scent of Roti filling and whatever else has been cooking that day hits you. I find myself walking to my seat a bit quicker after that just so that I can order!
During Winnipeg's cold winters, there is nothing better than being served some of their delicious complementary soup. If it's a -40 degree day, it sure doesn't hurt to add some of Famena's famous (and delicious) hot sauce into the soup. After a couple spoon fulls, you'll be warmed up in no time! The soup and hot sauce compliment each other very well, but the hot sauce can certainly be put in or on anything!
Every time I come, I will have a Potato & Chickpea Roti. I love this Roti first and foremost because it is delicious. The filling is always perfectly warm, and that Roti shell (I believe it is called Dhalpuri) is always light and flaky. I would recommend this roti if you are coming for your first time and are unsure of what to get. It is an automatic guarantee that it will be wonderful! The other thing that I love about it is the price! I can only eat half of a roti at one sitting, and am paying under $10.00 for the roti and soup! So really, I'm getting two meals and a bowl of soup for under $10.00! This is something that you CANNOT beat!
Of course, any good restaurant has to have friendly and speedy service, both of which are fulfilled at Famena's. Famena and her husband are more than happy to have a conversation with you, and even make suggestions if you don't know what to have.
The reason I've titled this review "Caution: VERY addictive!" is because it truly is! You have Roti once and you find yourself coming back for it more and more (well, at least I do!). I could honestly have Roti everyday/week, it is just that delicious (but only from Famena's).
Famena is always looking for ways to broaden her menu of traditional Caribbean favorites and has recently added Ox Tail to the menu. The Ox Tail is served with either pita bread or beans and rice. The Ox Tail is always delicious, and the meat always comes off the bone with ease. Ox Tail is only served on Fridays (what better way is there to finish off your week than have Ox Tail for dinner?) for only $14.99!
Famena's is a truly wonderful Winnipeg establishment and jewel that rightfully is cherished by the many Winnipeggers who frequent this restaurant.
For you Jets fans (and let's face it,..every Winnipegger is one) Famena's is only two blocks from the MTS Centre! You can (and SHOULD) come here for dinner before heading down to the Jets game! And if it's packed, take-out options are available too!
Perfect for a cold day. My sister and I went to Famena's one of the really cold January days (a rarity this year) and found the perfect way to warm up. Famena and her husband were there and another diner came in shortly after but I guess most people were staying inside. That's a shame because the food was great and the atmosphere was warm. I had the lamb roti with chickpeas and my sister had the chicken roti with chickpeas. Before the roti was served we got a steaming hot bowl of soup and Famena told us that every diner got soup in the cold weather and salad in the warm weather. I tried their hot sauce with my roti. Famena and her husband warned me it was hot, really hot, and it was. I like hot sauces but I only needed a little bit of this sauce. If you're not used to really hot sauces you might want to give it a pass. I'll be back to try out some of the other specialties.
Best Roties in Winnipeg!. Fantastic Roti, I had the Lamb Roti, and it was big and flavorful! I would recommend this place to anyone.
Awesome lunch.. Had lunch at Famena's today. I had the shrimp curry roti. LOVED it!! Now, I wouldn't call myself a roti afficionado like some of the other reviewers on this site however I really loved the flavour. It wasn't so spicy that the heat overpowered the flavour. The homemade hot sauce DOES creep up on you but still really good.
Service was friendly and I'll definitely go back......often.
One think I loved was that I sat down and was instantly served a bowl of soup (which I hadn't ordered). I love restaurants that just bring you stuff - with that attitude, "Why wouldn't you want it? It's good!"
Jerk Beef. I was somewhat disappointed with this dish. The vegetables were soggy after cooking confirming other reports that they are frozen , how sad. The flavor of the Jerk was also disappointing, though I was told it was specific to a different region than most of us are used to.
All that being said, my girlfriend ordered the curried chicken Roti and It was truly outstanding. It was disappointing to see such a difference in the taste and quality of those two items. I will definitely go back, but just for the curry dishes
Lovely People, Good Roti. If they're so famous, as the title says, how come I've never heard of them before? They've been around since September of 2010 and I discovered them just the other day, walking past them. I had to look them up and found them on this here website. I felt like I was being served by friends, like I'd been there before. I hope that their roti and curry does make them not just Winnipeg famous, but world-renown.
I went to Famena's for the first time today and had a decent experience. I ordered the curry chicken roti and my wife ordered the same. We also shared a doubles. Although the portion size is massive we both felt the flavor of the roti filling wasn't mind blowing like it should have been. The doubles channa (filling) was delicious, but the barra (flat bread) was microwaved from frozen and was was chewy and slightly hard. It should be soft and hold up well to the chickpea filling. I'd say it's a good place to go for a big lunch but not for the best roti in town.
AWESOME!. They make the best Jerk sauce I have tried. The Jerk Chicken Roti is great. The hot sauce the guy makes is really good too. Very friendly people.
Good food, and awesome service. I've been to Famena's three or four times since it opened.
Every single time, I've been greeted with a smile, and even complimentary chick pea soup on a couple of cold November days (which sadly is not on the menu, as far as I can tell).
The food has been pretty consistent. While it is true that they use frozen vegetables, that does not bother me, as so does my mom. The hot sauce is home made, and it is delicious. Ask Famena how she makes it!
Famena and her husband will talk to you as much as you let them, so it's probably not the place to go have a romantic dinner. But, if you're interested in having a conversation in a true mom and pop joint, this is the place to be.
I'll definitely recommend the beef roti, and a nap afterwards.
The Best. This is, hands down, the absolute best roti I have ever eaten! I am so happy she is back up and running! I'll be there this week and next week and the week after that! Famena and her husband are fabulous people who serve amazing food.
Overall Famena's fulfilled my need for yummy Jamaican cuisine. Perhaps I had missed the boat in Edmonton, but it is amazing to see such diversity of culture and ethnicity in Winnipeg. After dining here I stand by their namesake: these guys make a mean roti.
Great little spot, I see why they get great reviews. Owners are fun and friendly. We came for the oxtail and it did not disappoint. Huuuuuge portions and so much flavour! The guys beside ordered some rotis that were about as big as their heads. Come hungry if you’re looking for a great place full of flavour and good company. Great job Famenas!
And the All Time Achievement Award for Best Roti in Winnipeg/Manitoba...goes to Famena’s Famous Roti & Curry...d’uh *smile*
Bring your appetite to Famena’s on Garry Street, you will not be disappointed and ya...you’ll thank me!
With Covid issues, it had been some time since I’ve treated myself to a roti. And. Today as with every other visit over the years - this fare never disappoints! Consistently delicious. Always savoury.
This 1 roti is 2 meals for this gal. And next day the taste & flavour remain just as yummo as when served fresh! I always get the chicken & veg roti, as in picture.
Bring a friend & dine in or order take out! Find this tiny little gem of a restaurant - it has a NY neighborhood vibe that I love...these two good people make really good food!!!
I can see why people were raving about this place. We ordered a Jerk Chicken Roti with potatoes and a Lamb Roti with potatoes and chickpeas. Delicious! The Jerk Chicken was succulent and the Lamb tender. I like a bit of spice with my meals so I tried the hot sauce that was sitting at the counter but be careful as it is really really spicy.
The cleanliness of the place could be better but with the friendly and funny couple chatting you up while you eat makes the atmosphere pleasant. Also, just a heads up, the couple told us that the covid19 pandemic has caused some difficulties with their business so they've decided to charge $1-2 for using debit/credit cards but no charge for paying with cash. Having said that, it is still worth it to check this place out!
Super delicious! An unassuming hole-in-the-wall with home style charm. The owner was super friendly and chatted us up while he prepared out rotis - the jerk chicken is super flavourful and the hot sauce adds the perfect extra kick.
Shared a chicken roti with my sweet pretty-pretty at lunch today. I haven't been here in a few years but I'm making a point of eating local post-pandemic. Mo was still at the helm and we had our meal (chicken roti) in under two minutes. I mentioned we shared a meal, that's because the portions here are very generous. The meal was fresh, savoury, and authentic Caribbean cuisine. It's an odd location being at the base of the parkade but it's truly one of the most authentic dining experiences in the city. The plexiglass shields are still up which takes some of the charm away. Granted it was a rough two years. Glad this place is still on it's feet.
I stumbled upon this gem on my last trip and I'm dying to go back! Owned and operated by an amazing couple, and aptly named after the wife, Famena's is a must visit if you're in downtown Winnipeg. I spent an hour getting to know them and had the goat curry roti. I cannot begin to describe how succulent and flavorful the meal was. Get there however you can and experience this delight asap!!!
Delicious delicious delicious. Jerk chicken Roti is awesome. We also had the oxtail which was quite tender. The seasoning on everything was perfectly spiced. The hot sauce on the side was quite hot in the way you would expect from the Caribbean. The location is tucked into the front of the parking garage.
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