Need Halal Caribbean food in Miami, then I got the spot for you. North Miami has a Guyanese Halal spot that will serve all your West-Indies foodie needs. Located in the Pembroke Pines area near Ryan Airfield, Sheik’s Bakery and Roti Cafe has been serving up goat curry and fresh roti for almost 14 years. I came across this spot over 10 years ago when I first visited Miami and have been returning ever since.
The Halal spots in Miami are spread out across the county, although Pembroke Pines seems to have several Halal restaurants in proximity, like Quickies Burger and Wings. If you’re further south, check out Shahs of Kabob or if you are near the beaches, Juicy Gyro is the spot to go.
The Food
This spot offers an array of authentic Caribbean foods from goat curry to daal roti. They make all their bread and roti fresh. All the menu items are pre-cooked and your order is put together in front of you at the counter. The menu is located behind the counter and can be divided into three categories, roti wraps, rice and curry or noodles.
Just a tip: foods are prepared each day, so go earlier if you are looking for specific items or baked goods as they may run out as the day goes on.
While the food looks like traditional desi food, the spice profile is very different. If you haven’t tried it before it may come as a shock for the palate, but once you get started, you can’t stop. On previous visits, I ordered the goat curry, a classic west-indies dish. I enjoyed it, but Mrs Halal Food Guru didn’t, primarily because the food looked the same as her traditional Desi dishes but the spice profile was so different. On this visit, I ordered the roti with the chicken filling and a Jamaican patty, basically a hot pocket with vegetable and minced beef. Both I and Mrs Halal Food Guru enjoyed it, especially because she knew what to expect when she took a bite this time.
The Service
This is a counter quick service spot. There is less emphasis on the “quick” portion as orders are made at a relaxed pace. Ordering ahead doesn’t seem to speed things up as noted in many online reviews. Given the value and yummy food, I’m willing to wait, but it can be frustrating if you are in a rush. You wait in line and then place your order from the menu on the back wall. They then assemble and prepare the items from the pre-cooked fillings and curry. For me, getting extra fresh roti or “skins” as they call them, packed on the side is the way to go.
The Area
The restaurant is in a large plaza with other retailers like Lowes and Party City. There is ample free parking, something not available in downtown Miami or near the beaches. Walking in the restaurant, you can see it is divided into two parts. One side is the grocery market where you can get all the brands and items from “back home”. The other side is bakery and food prep stations.
The menu is displayed behind the food stations counters. You can mix and match the food to your heart and tummy’s content. There is excellent value for the portions.
Leave A Comment