Rasta Pasta in Toronto

61 Kensington Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2K1, Canada

★★★★☆
(1531 reviews)
Categories: Jamaican restaurant Fast food restaurant Italian restaurant

About

Stylish counter serve doling out Jamaican eats such as jerk chicken & pasta with a Caribbean twist.

Website
eatrastapasta.ca
Address
61 Kensington Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2K1, Canada
Plus Code
MH3X+PR Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Monday
Closed
Tuesday
11 AM–7 PM
Wednesday
11 AM–7 PM
Thursday
11 AM–7 PM
Friday
11 AM–7 PM
Saturday
11 AM–7 PM
Sunday
11 AM–6 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Delivery On-site services Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible car park
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Seating
Amenities
Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Paid street parking

Photos

Reviews

4.4
★★★★☆
1531 reviews

Most Mentioned

italian (57) fusion (40) panini (24) linguini (15) meatballs (12) fettuccini (10) market (10) jerk chicken & rice (6) weather (6) tomato sauce (6)
5 stars
1020
4 stars
303
3 stars
94
2 stars
37
1 stars
77
★★★★★
December 12, 2024

When people talk about "made with love," this is exactly what they mean. A hidden gem serving up Caribbean comfort food that'll warm your soul, especially on a cold Toronto Monday. 💫 LUCKY TIMING: Found this spot open on a Monday (only their 2nd time ever!) and it felt like destiny. PRO TIP: Call ahead for Monday availability - you might get lucky! 🍽️ WHAT WE DEVOURED: 1. JERK CHICKEN (5/5) 🔥 Listen up, jerk chicken enthusiasts: • Tenderness level: Falling off the bone • Spice profile: Complex and perfectly balanced • Portion size: Generous • Comfort food rating: 11/10 PRO TIP: The sauce is everything - don't be shy about asking for extra! 2. OXTAILS (5/5) 🏆 HOLD UP. These oxtails are what dreams are made of: • Tenderness: Butter-like texture • Sauce: Rich, deep, complex flavors • Fall-off-the-bone factor: 💯 If you're new to oxtails, this is where you need to start your journey. 3. RICE AND BEANS (4.5/5) • Perfectly cooked • Soaks up all those amazing sauces • Authentic Caribbean-style preparation 4. BONUS VEGGIES & SLAW! When they realized they forgot our veggies, the owner personally brought them out. That's the kind of service that turns first-time visitors into regulars. 👥 SERVICE (5/5): • Family-run excellence • Genuine warmth and hospitality • Attentive to details • Quick to correct any oversights • Made us feel like part of the family 🏠 AMBIANCE (4/5): • Cozy, unpretentious setting • Christmas tree adding holiday cheer • Restaurant side dining available • Clean and welcoming • Perfect for both takeout or dine-in 💭 THE EXPERIENCE: This isn't just about the food (though the food is INCREDIBLE). It's about: • The family warmth that greets you • The pride they take in their cooking • The attention to detail in every dish • The genuine care for customer satisfaction 🎯 WHY YOU NEED TO VISIT: • Authentic Caribbean comfort food • Family-run hospitality • Generous portions • Incredible value for money • Those oxtails (seriously!) 💡 INSIDER TIPS: • Indoor seating available (ask for restaurant side) • Portions are generous - come hungry • Great for cold weather comfort food • Perfect for both lunch and dinner • Call ahead for Monday availability THE VERDICT: In a city full of Caribbean options, Rasta Pasta stands out not just for their incredible food, but for the genuine family atmosphere that makes you feel at home. This is comfort food that actually comforts - from the warm welcome to the last bite.

★★★★★
November 20, 2024

The Jamaican food is delicious! Authentic flavors and selection. Cool setup for to go or dining in. Good service, just a great experience. We wanted to order more food after dining in to take home.

★★★★★
November 11, 2024

Highly recommend! The jerk chicken melted in your mouth and was perfectly cooked with the best jerk sauce! The provisions were also delicious. The service was great- when we got there, the owner took his time to explain that they had 2 shops, an Italian-Jamaican fusion and just a Jamaican resto. Next time in trying the fusion! Thank you!

★★★
October 28, 2024

Average flavours on the meatball dish. The bread was good however because they packaged this anyhow most spilled and didn’t even wrap the dish properly. This made it quick to get cold whilst walking around and poor attitude from counter service.

★★★★★
October 25, 2024

Tried the fried oxtail dumpling. The oxtail flavour was good. A bit too bready for my liking and wish there was a bit more gravy. I think these will be better when fresh but they were just sitting there in the heating oven. Will try the Mutton Curry next time.

★★★★
October 14, 2024

Where else in the world can you find Jamaican-Italian fusion cuisine? Yet, here it is - in Toronto, at Rasta Pasta. Discovered during an evening walk through Kensington Market, I returned on a sunny Friday afternoon. I loved the sign in the interior that read, "The Jamaican and Italian cultures are similar in their love of food and desire to share it with others." Words of truth. Pushing my own boundaries, I decided to try a dish that I never had the courage to try before: Ox tail. And it wasn't scary, it was delicious. The meat was tender, and it was "fall off the tail" good. The sauce had a nice tangy edge to it. For a first-timer with ox tail, I could not have been happier. The rice and beans which accompanied the ox tail had good texture, but was a little bland in taste - I was hoping for something with a bit more of a spicy, flavourful kick. Next time, I hope to try more of the fusion offerings - Rasta Pasta gnocchi with ackee and saltfish. The atmosphere on the patio, on Kensington Avenue near Baldwin was bustling - people, cars and carts all over the street. Shop keepers and customers all mingling and doing business in every direction. Rasta Pasta gave a front seat to it all - where else would you want to be on a sunny Friday afternoon? (Patio space is limited, so try to get in there and mix with it.)

★★★★
August 27, 2024

We liked Kensington Market's Restaurants Rasta Pasta's authentic Jamaican food -ackee n saltfish dumplings -jerk chicken on rice & peas -red snapper fish on rice & peas w/yam, plus the friendly service, and the sidewalk tables to eat and people watch. When we arrived, we were surprised to discover that Rasta Pasta wasn't just one restaurant but 3 small ones- 2 takeouts, 1 dine in- plus sidewalk seatings-, each location offering either authentic Jamaican , or Fusion Italian/Jamaican, or Italian dishes. Though the locations were small, the food was good and reasonably priced! In terms of vegetarian or vegan dishes, we didn't find any in any of the locations. In terms of disability care, unfortunately each of the locations is small, so there may be issues for individuals with mobility concerns and wheelchairs accessibility appears limited. The street the restaurant is on is narrow and it's difficult to find parking on the street much less any handicapped parking.

★★★★★
August 7, 2024

Rasta Pasta with jerk chicken has a great taste. A mixture of the jerk flavors and Italian creamy Parmesan pasta. The outside seating/dinning was a bit sunny and noisy (it's inside the market, soo...). It's also tight and not very comfy. The Jamaican soft drinks are non-alcoholic and very tasty 😋 Service was good. Some menu items were not available though.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 8, 2024

Was very good jerk with fair prices. Was it the best? No

★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Not sure why this store has such high reviews....I bought 4 jerk chicken dumplings because everybody was raving about them in the reviews...I tried the jerk chicken dumplings and they were terrible first off its to a dumplings its a BUN, the jerk chicken barely has any flavor and on top of that I think the pil used to fry the bread is old the bum gave a weird taste....I also got the spicy beef patty and it was terrible has a flavor I have never had in a spicy beef patty Im not sure how to explain but it was thr worst tasting patty I have had... Im sorry but this place has disappointed me..

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Best jerk chicken in the city! Rice and peas are always cooked perfectly. Jerk chicken uses high quality ingredients and has the distinctive smoke taste that you cannot find elsewhere. Coleslaw is creamy with a hint of vanilla. Delicious!

★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Oxtail with Rice was delicious They were out of coleslaw salad so the lady said she is going to ask the kitchen to add a little more stew We were there when the kitchen was almost closed so we could not order exactly what we wanted. But the food was delicious anytime Im around here is one of my options

★★
November 22, 2024

At first, I said I would dine in, but then I immediately changed my mind and said I would take it to go. I reiterated that I wanted it to go when I paid. When another staff member was about to serve my food on a dine-in plate, I reminded them again that I was taking it to go. However, after giving the customer in front of me their takeout order, they served mine on a dine-in plate. I had to repeat that I wanted it to go. The male staff member then said something along the lines of, You said you were dining in, and now youre changing your mind. He was quite rude. The food was also burnt to the point that I was shocked. Although I managed to peel off the burnt parts and eat the rest, I will not be returning.

★★★
October 22, 2024

Ten watermelon margarita was delicious! the king fish was so overcooked it was dry and hard to chew. Pass on that. The gnocchi with jerk chicken (not on menu) was just okay. Service was very slow and side dishes and the bill did not arrive. We had to ask the bartender for the bill.

October 22, 2024

this is not Jamaican food. This is some kind of weird fusion and I took my friends here for dinner and all of us ended up getting sick when I first pay you up my food, not smelling or tasting. The only thing they offered was a replacement which did not help our situation but I just want to say one more time this is not Jamaican food. I ve had Jamaican food in this area and others and this is not a place I would ever recommend to anybody.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Went there on a weekend. The were grilling chicken and whole street smell like bbq. We ordered Jerk Chicken with Rice. Its was Epic. Highly recommended. Owner was very kind and super involved. Great Food. Keep it up.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Best jerk pork and jerk chicken in Toronto.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Crazy delicious food. For the price, really good portion. Highly recommend. Ill come again. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

I had a stomach ache when I arrived. My friends were hungry. And this looked better than the rest. She made me a special sandwich with chicken and something else. And that was really delicious. At least once not greasy and made perfectly. Abdominal pain gone. And stayed away. This one really deserves praise Dietary restrictions: Sandwich on request at your own discretion. Recommended.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

It was a very friendly warm welcoming. Food was delicious the chicken was moist and juicy. Wonderful flavoring very mild spice. The oxtails were good and nice sizes small to medium. Will definitely be back.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Ask for Ackee and Salt fish dumplings. Their jerk chicken is authentic, rice n peas great, coleslaw nice!

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

I had an amazing experience at this restaurant. The service was exceptional - the staff member was very patient and helpful, despite me being in a rush. The food was incredible, tasting just like homemade or even better. The BBQ chicken, rice and peas, and ackee and salt fish dumplings were all delicious. I was so excited to eat that I forgot to take a picture but trust me, the food was a perfect 10/10. The ackee and dumplings were especially outstanding - Im not sure how they did it, but it was the best of both worlds in one dish. Thank you so much!

★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Not the best jerk in the city. Enjoyed the atmosphere, and excellent service

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Great customer service food was excellent.

★★★★
September 22, 2024

It tastes good for a simple meal Curry pasta is a familiar taste

Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Not Smashing IT Looks good, but its really bad chicken. Really wanted this place to be a hit, but it wasnt. The rice and peas were uneventful. Lacked seasoning and salt. The jerk chicken didnt have any jerk spice on it. My chicken was still pink in the centre and near the bone. I informed the employee stated its the spice. Im not completely sure thats the case here. I had to throw out half of the chicken that was pink on the inside because i didnt want to take any chances. The coleslaw was so bland and boring. Also, what the heck is with that gravey they pour over the rice & chicken? It was brown and bland. Ew & YUCK! Rice & Peas D- Jerk Chicken F Coleslaw F- Brown Grave F-

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Food is soo delicious and staff is jolly and friendly Justine, my brother is so kind and respectful person. Liked the service They got very good hot sauce Food : 5/5

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

I love their alfredo jerk chicken!! So good! One of my favorites!

★★★★
September 22, 2024

Amazing food for a decent price!

★★★
September 22, 2024

Incredibly slow service just to place a take out order (10+ mins waiting in a stuffy, no A/C establishment). They were out of 2 things I overheard from the people in line in front of me, and it was only shortly after noon. After placing my order, I waited outside, where they were barbecuing meat and I ended up smelling like charred food the rest of the day. Panini was decent, but nothing exceptional. Overall, not a great experience for such a well-known Toronto spot.

★★
August 22, 2024

If you want to wait for super slow service and attitude then come here. Even when there is one person in front you be prepared to wait for 10 minutes. Food is okay

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Great food, great service. I got the jerk chicken with peas and rice and oxtail gravy, and it was the perfect meal after a long afternoon. Would absolutely recommend.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Mhmm mhmm mhmm! My husband and I ate this so quickly that we forgot to take a picture. Hands down, the best shrimp pasta I think Ive ever had! The coconut curry shrimp scampi is nothing like Ive ever eaten before... it was savory, creamy, and delicious! And dont get me started on the jerk chicken - AUTHENTIC and must have been made on a grill. The chicken is juicy, flavourful, and fall off the bone. Our new favourite spot! Staff are jokes too, good vibes all around.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

One of my go to places when Im in Toronto...

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Never imagined Jamaican Italian fusion...it worked. The actual Rasta Pasta gnocchi was delicious, as was their more traditional Jamaican food.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

JERK CHICKEN DUMPLING

Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Just another guy trying to sell half made food to the foreigners of this food. It s not authentic. It s made to service non islanders. It s bland. It s uneventful. Tasteless I don t recommend this amateur that calls this Rasta pasta more like trasha pasta.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Oxtail is great, that sauce is rice killer

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Best jerk chicken and rice!!

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Fettuccine Alfredo is good. Jerk chicken is good. Mix them together and you get something beautiful. Eat here.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Very warm and cordial welcome. Staff is very friendly and courteous. We would be happy to return...

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Got the jerk chicken and it was super tender and flavorful. The sauce was great and I loved the coleslaw. Great value very filling.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Highly recommend. Best jamaican food Ive had

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

loved it

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Great surprise! I had a Jerk Curry goat dumpling and that was it because they are huge and filling and great. Will be back for some of the pasta

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Oxtail is sooo good

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

My favorite restaurant in Toronto. I dont have the privilege of going to the Kensington area often, but whenever I do I have to eat here and bring another round home. In spite of the varied menu Ive only ever ordered their signature jerk chicken because ITS SO DARN GOOD! Im sure one day Ill try the other items but I just cant resist that wonderful slightly spicy jerk seasoning. And in spite of my health conscious ways this is the only place Ill eat all the skin as well because that seasoning is, once again, SO DARN GOOD. Wife and kids love it as well whenever I bring it back home for them. All the sides are great, the portions are generous, the price is fair, and the people there are wonderful.

Local Guide
July 22, 2024

The staff is soooo stank. They don t even greet their customers and act super annoyed at you just walking in.

July 22, 2024

I had the very unfortunate experience of having to meet the owner and please let me detail my experience . I am flabbergasted at the level of attitude and how rude this individual was . I ordered a Too good to go bag that was to have been ready for pick up by 6pm. Apparently the owner has been wanting to cancel his partnership with too good to go for some time ( even though the service does wonders for the community it s a business decision). This is completely fine . What is not fine was how I was treated as a customer. First of all , I walked 40 minutes to get there . When I got there and I asked to speak to him , he took out his frustrations out on me . When I nodded in agreement with him , he looked at me and said I don t think you understand . I found this incredibly insulting . I own a business . While I was communicating with him , he walked away from me and proceeded to take orders leaving me wondering what would happen to my order and didn t bother to take my concern seriously . I turned to the individual working there and she was like call the third party provider . I looked at her and said this has nothing to do with me , this is between the two companies , I am simply here to pick up my order . At this point , it was a stand off . It was clear the owner could care less about me as a customer and would not give me food ( or even me as a future customer which was extremely bizarre ). There was nothing to do but to walk out the door , he completely ignored me . 1. He didn t bother to come up with a solution that was mutually beneficial 2. He just kept muttering under his breath 3. The staff around him looked scared , tense and frazzled around him which I think spoke to not only the dining atmosphere but also the work environment 4. They didn t bother calling the third party vendor There are plenty of great Jamaican and Pasta places in Kensington , like the Jerk Spot . Don t waste your time with this place that doesn t care or value its customers , or their time in any kind of capacity at all . Poor business practices all around. No customer should have to take on the owners frustrations . I have always supported local businesses. This is one I will not be supporting anytime in the future. I ended up leaving paying for my food , without any food (hungry ) , and without a refund and needing to deal with a mess that was theirs to deal with . This also comes at a time when Torontionians are experiencing a cost of living crisis . In my 43 years , I have never experienced something like this . Shame on you

★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Its ok but too spicy

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Their scampi linguini was amazing!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Real Kensington ty 4 your kind service

★★★★
July 22, 2024

Delicious jerk chicken fettuccine! Owner s son was very courteous & accommodating and allowed me to eat on the patio by leaving a table/seat behind for me to eat. I arrived hust prior to closing. He was even nice enough to suggest a gelato spot in the vicinity. Picking up from the main location was a pleasant experience and tge cashier was very friendly & informative, despite being the end of the shift. Considering it was my first visit, I wasn t aware that the business is separated into two adjoining units. I believe one side serves a partial menu. FYI, Not everyone who enters the establishment is aware. I will return to try the highly recommended saltfish & jerk chicken dumplings

★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

I ordered the Jerk Chicken Alfredo, it was so delicious and flavourful. The pasta was al dente, the spice was there on each bite and the portion of chicken was good. When I ordered, I felt very rushed by the cashier and she looked a bit annoyed for me asking questions about the food, which is kinda stressful when is your first time trying a restaurant. I really recommend this pasta, I want to go again and try more dishes, hoping that the staff will be nicer the next time.

★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

A great option to eat when visiting the most bohemian area of Toronto. Food in good quantity, well seasoned and very spicy. Meets expectations for the price.

★★★
July 22, 2024

The food is great, but the service definitely needs improvement. Case and point, the waitresses need to pay attention to detail on what the client is asking for, instead of walking away. Besides that, it was a decent experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Fantastic jerk chicken. rice and peas.....coleslaw....all are delicious!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Our first time having beef patty and jerk chicken and it was AMAZING

★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Well what a disappointment Went in for food, wanted a to do a mix of meat. Was told it had to be a large, no prob. Ordered jerk pork and fried chicken with rice and peas. Was told I would also have to pay extra, again no prob. Asked for both jerk gravy and oxtail gravy, thank god I did, it barely saved the meal. Chicken was lacking flavor and the jerk seasoning on the pork was practically non existent Thank goodness for the coleslaw and the rice and peas, at least they good. $25 wasted

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

We got two pastas, the Rasta pasta w Alfredo sauce and the jerk chicken lasagna. The Rasta pasta was great, the lasagna was alright. We didn t have a chance to try the rice&peas/oxtail/etc. Staff was very friendly Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

We spent all day walking around the market and eating. This is a great place 7 17.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Stopped here while walking through Kensington market. Excellent food and unique combination of Jamaican jerk and Italian food. Definitely would recommend.

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

I really liked the food! I definitely recommend the place. I wish if there are more tables outside since the weather is nice.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Because the Jerk Chicken with rice and peas is so good I havent tried the other dishes that sound equally good. A definitely delicious fusion of Jamaican and Italian cuisine. Very friendly service, it s a treat to eat here.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Some good jerk chicken

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Jerk Dumplings?? Damn, That was good! As always, I ordered the Jerk with Rice and Peas. Solid meal. Tender, juicy and flavorful. Since Im always on go its hard to stop here because of the lack of parking but if you re on foot you gotta stop here!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Food was delicious

★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

I got the Vatican Panini. The first bite was a bit too salty, but once I got into it more, it worked for me! The creaminess of the coleslaw worked well with the jerk chicken, but I guess thats already true without the fusion element lol Beware though, the website isnt quite updated so the prices are higher than advertised.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Excellent 5 star food. Excellent pasta: $20+tax includes fettuccine Alfredo and jerk chicken. Only 4-5 tables. Tiny but terrific.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

I love Jamaican, I love Italian, so when I heard about this place on a food tour with my boyfriend, we vowed to go back! Rasta Pasta did not disappoint! Food is soooo good!!! Magnus is an extremely nice gentleman, knows good customer service, and has the best fusion of Italian and Jamaican cuisine! Best patties I ve ever tasted, Rasta Pasta is so yummy, dumplings are delicious, and so is the Jerk Chickem Lasagna!! Must try!!!

★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Got the rasta pasta with jerk chicken and it was okay

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Its Rasta Pasta. Everything is amazing. The Dreadlock pasta Ive been having since they opened and is still fantastic. Sauce is amazing. Jerked Meatballs fantabulous. So glad they dont seem to run out anymore god bless. All the love the Mary, Magnus and the Crew! Will always recommend their Jerk Chicken as Torontos number 1. The Italian-fusion side is just its own kind kf heavenly and its own world.

May 22, 2024

Ordered the Jerk Chicken Alfred and it was horrible. I went back and asked for a refund, there was barely any jerk chicken on it. There was the smallest amount of sauce too and it cost me $22.75. Would not recommend this place, they are just in it for the money and do not care about the food at all. My friend got a meatball pasta and it tasted like something out of a can. chef boyardee would have been better and half the price!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Jamaican Italian food is the best fusion ever! their jerk chicken and jerk pork plus their Irie Fettuccini is out of this world! Jerk Chicken mixed with creamy pasta oh the goodness! best Jamaican Italian in North America!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Great food, nice and friendly staff

★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Highly recommend the ackee and saltfish pasta. The primavera spaghetti was decent. The roti was quite large, but didn t have enough filling. The staff is very friendly, and the 90 s music created a great vibe

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

10/10. Try it out PLUS it has halal chicken (not too sure of the protein/meat options tho)! Been going here for YEARS now. Their Jerk Chicken Dumpling is amazing, and I crave it now and then. They have a fusion of Italian and Jamaican cuisine which is so unique and flavourful. Honestly, come try this place out. The owner is kind and they have exceptional customer service. Hoping that they get more halal options soon and they sell their chicken dumplings more frequently! Dietary restrictions: Chicken is halal only (includes jerk chicken dumpling). Parking: Not much parking unless you want to park on the streets, which is super hard to do in Kensington market.

Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Really wanted to like this place as I ve seen it online, unfortunately experience was very subpar. Extremely rude service at the cashier, having customers skip the line and curt with customers. Food was very overrated and not great value, much better places in the surrounding area!

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Great place to relax in Kensington Market buy some fresh well seasoned jerk chicken have a juice and watch the sites and the sounds in peace inside dinning or outside seats. Great customer service! One love

April 22, 2024

I get that oxtail is expensive but $20 for 4 pieces of oxtail is insane. At that point youre just eating very expensive rice. Im sure the other food was good but dont get the oxtail. Youll get bigger portions from food court carribean food

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Dumplings are my favorite thing to eat rn

★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

I love Rasta pasta. The food is a little on the expensive side, but the portions are large and flavorful. I feel as if the recipe on the jerk meatball spaghetti may have been changed to something I dont quite like as much, but I cant be sure.

★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

the place i come to for jerk chicken on the grill!! never oven baked jerk!

Local Guide
April 22, 2024

The oxtail is salty and not worthy for $17!!!!!! I got 5 pieces of oxtail and 2 bones with no meat on it.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Jerk Pasta is delicious! Seasoned perfectly!

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Might be the best chicken Ive ever had.

★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Cant really say about atmosphere.. its not like a place you can sit and eat... this is in the heart of Kensington and you only have so much room..plus rhey use the other half for the fusion of Italian and Jamaican food. I havent tried the Italian and jamaican mix but I will the next time. I just tried the reg jamaican food as it was my first time and was happy ! They seem to be busy from the time they opened and Ive gone thru the area and notice it gets busy. Its a check itnout place when your down there :) Yum yum !!!!

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Delicious fusion fare. I highly recommend the curried shrimp linguini. The staff and the owner visited and joked with us at our sidewalk table. We were very thankful for a great experience in the colourful Kensington Market.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Can t believe it s taken me this long to go to Rasta Pasta but it did not disappoint! The patty was flaky and the filling was so flavourful! What took the cake for me was the Jerk Chicken Dumpling - SO well seasoned and tasty! I gotta come back for the regular jerk chicken plate, the oxtail, and the curry goat

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

$7 w tax but so worth it. Oxtail dumpling!!! Also got rice and peas with jerk chicken, portion is great for $11 & it tasted heavenly. I ve never been to a Caribbean restaurant that had such fresh food and tender meat. It s truly worth the hype !!! Great quality and price ! Recommended dishes

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Incredibly nice staff

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Mary and Magnus are dedicated owners that consistently make sure they are doing their best to serve quality food with amazing service. Rasta Pasta has grown over the years because they have fined tuned their dishes and the community recognizes that. The jerk chicken is out standing! The flavour is on point. Magnus is often found tending the classic barrel bbq/smoker. Mary is always smiling and serving up beautiful & tasty beverages. The one item that is a sure-shot are the stuffed dumplings. Wow! The Jerk Dumpling is the best dumpling I have ever tasted. Amazing. Anyhow, with so many spots to choose from in Kensington Market, Rasta Pasta is a MUST! You will not regret it!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

A solid restaurant with an interesting interesting choice of fusion cuisine. The fusion flavours might not be for everyones taste but theyre especially unique and worth a try! Regardless of the fusion stuff, they serve up nice portions of straight up Jamaican food as well as pasta dishes. The jerk chicken roti was large enough to feed two people! I didnt get to try their dumplings when I went but I will definitely be back for an oxtail dumpling when I get the chance.

★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

I have only tried 3 different Caribbean places so far in my entire life as I did not grow up here, so take my review with a grain of salt. I tried their goat curry roti and will say it was one of the better ones Ive had so far, the ingredients were very fresh and curry is sharp. It was 2 meals worth of food for me, a modest eater. I will update my review once I grow more of a palate!

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

We went to the Jamaican side and got chicken curry and jerk chicken. We were almost licking the plates clean it was so good. Even the coleslaw was better than the ones I ve had before. Will be back.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Best jerk chicken in the city, must try if you re in Kensington Market.

February 22, 2024

This restaurant denies access to disabled individuals with service animals, this goes against the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

February 22, 2024

I have a traumatic brain injury and I have a service dog who accompanies me everywhere I go to help me with day-to-day tasks. I walked into Rasta Pasta yesterday on a Sunday afternoon with my service dog and was immediately met with a rude tone and horrible comments from the woman working there. She made me feel like I was wrong for walking in there with a SERVICE ANIMAL and continued to berate me. She asked me to show her a certificate for the service dog, when I took out my phone to show her the certification letters, she refused to read it or look at it and told me to get out because dogs shake and there s food in here and I don t need hair in the food . In Ontario, the AODA rules are very real and if ANY business owner throws out a person with a genuine disability and a certified service animal they are going against real legislation and they deserve to be reported. They were rude and judgmental and honestly the food isn t worth being put down so I will never ever recommend spending your money at this establishment. 0/10.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Top notch customer service. Food is always hot and fresh and most importantly delicious. Thank you Magnus for your consistency in your services. I would highly recommend to everyone

February 22, 2024

My friend was kicked out of the restaurant because she had a support dog with her. The dog was wearing its support vest on and my friend showed the appropriate certification but she was just yelled out of the shop. To deny this service is illegal and they have been reported to the AODA

February 22, 2024

You kicked my friend and her service dog out of your restaurant Shame. Don t go here .

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

The food is good! Good portion size too. I had the meatballs and they were great

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Ive been to Rasta Pasta a few times now and I am a huge fan of the ackee and saltfish dumplings and the jerk chicken dumplings. They are the best-tasting stuffed dumplings Ive had. Recently, I stopped by near closing and got the oxtail and white rice. It was very good! I am very happy with the service here as well.

★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Bonne surprise au marché Kensington de Toronto. La nourriture y est excellente. On y déplore seulement l organisation puisqu il faut comprendre qu il y a trois partis différentes : deux restaurants et un bar/endroit où manger. Il faut commander et payer dans l un des deux coins nourritures avant d aller s assoir dans la partie pour manger. Hormis ce détails, ca en valait le coup!

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Best jerk in the city! Great prices too.

★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

This place is only good for people who ARENT Caribbean lol. The food is mediocre at best, the ackee and salt fish dumplings and the rum punch are the only things worth visiting for. If youre Caribbean, youre better off finding a good jerk spot (or making your own) and adding the food to Alfredo from an Italian spot. No flavour in the food here

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

The food is authentic and the service is professional. love the jerk chicken

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Great food and great service, would definitely come again!

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

The food is always on point and the owner gives amazing customer service. Im there atleast twice a month and I enjoy Kensington Market experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

The food was fantastic! The flavor of the jerk pork was amazing and so juicy! The rice and peas were great as well! The jerk pork dumpling was massive and so good and incredibly filling!

★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Did not have panini bread at open time. Service was slow but food was decent. Fusion food was not prepared properly. It does not work as well. Jerk lasagna had the chicken under the pasta. Lasagna is a balanced sandwich of meat/ chicken sauce and pasta . There were supposed to have several lawyers of chicken there was only one. Dish was lazy.

★★★★
January 22, 2024

Food is great

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

visited from philadelphia & went for casual saturday brunch. the owner and female bartender were so patient and kind, they both went above and beyond to help us with our food order and to get us a table. they told our group all about toronto and the differences vs the states, the convo was great. the rum punch was exactly like youd get in jamaica, and the food was all amazing!! great music, great conversation, great vibes! cannot wait to come back again

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Pizza wasn t that good but service and atmosphere was fantastic.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Outstanding. The dumplings are amazing. Get here EARLY. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO SAY Oh we will go later in the day. ITSGONNABESOLDOUT worth the drive fore sure. Big ups to all the chefs

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The chicken, the pasta and the Vatican Panini were very good. We are going to repeat because the area where it is is also great.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Ordered jerk chicken. Great quality in an affordable price!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I was visiting Toronto from the States and I got the small oxtail plate and it was very good! Oxtails were very small but good.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The best dumplings in the entire city.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Tried the jerk chicken lasagne (Alfredo). Did not like it despite the hype to the extent that I did not finish the dish. At the end of the day, the taste of the food is what really matters to me and this just didn t work for me.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Gnocchi with jerk chicken in rose was super scrumptious. The chicken panini was also superb.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Get the oxtail and the curry goat. Its so good, I could have gone back for seconds. Dont forget the Ting juice man!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I had the signature jerk chicken with rice and peas and coleslaw. Sooooo good. I got med size and glad I was very hungry.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Magnus, proprietor of Rasta Pasta, provided a warm welcome today. My buddy and I tried fresh jerk chicken Sunday morning off the grill accented with fabulous in-house hot sauce, flavourful and robust. Can t wait to try the jerk chicken lasagna. It s where Italy meets Jamaica! Highly recommend to stop by when in Kensington market next.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great food, kinda expensive but worth it !

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I had the classic jerk chicken plate with rice and peas and colslaw. Home cooked, hearty and delicious. I love the choice of small, medium or large sizes. The only issue is seating is very limited so you may have to get your food to go.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A tad expensive for the portion size in comparison to nearby jerk chicken spots, but delicious and tender otherwise

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Stopped by while shopping at the market. A little confusing. But the staff and signs are helpful. As mentioned in other reviews, there are two sides to order from: authentic Caribbean and Italian Caribbean Fusion. Overall, Id give it a 3/5. Med Oxtail, rice & peas and coleslaw. The oxtails were fatty, not much meat. But good flavor. Rice and peas were a good consistency and decent flavor. Cabbage was good. Beef patty- didnt like it at all. Hardly any filling, dry and crust undercooked. Jerk chicken dumpling- great flavor, a bit doughy but definitely my favorite bite. Id love a sauce to go with it. Plantain- really good.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Wheres the jerk? Because its definitely not here. The food quality is quite good overall . There just wasnt any jerk flavour. At all. Was very disappointed. Food

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food was edible but definitely over hyped. Ive had better jerk chicken in Scarborough both in terms of texture and taste. When I went at dinner time on a Wednesday most of the pasta fusion dishes were sold out. Also the rose sauce doesnt exist- its all marinara. Keep your expectations low, come during lunch and youll be happy

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

My favorite jerk spot ever!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The food was great and the service was quick. I went with 2 friends and we all had our food in 5-10min. The coconut curry shrimp linguini was delicious and so was the lamb dumpling. Ill be back.

★★
December 22, 2023

You guys need too fix your menu Please don t give wrong info it say vegetarian if without cheese and dairy which is incorrect vegan food is nothing to do with animals including MILK & DAIRY I m a vegan we don t touch dairy products either vegetarian still eat eggs milk n dairy so please fix your menu

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The Jamaica chicken (their specialty) is so good!!! Enjoy Kensington Market along the way

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Bring your appetite and an extra one for home! My go to place in Kensington Market for signature jerk chicken roti and mouth watering oxtail meals. The quality of the food and the pleasant vibe all around makes this place THE PLACE to get your Jamaican / Caribbean food! Dont miss the best BBQ jerk cooked on the outdoor BBQ!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Love this place! Friendly and serviceable staff. Great cuisine choice and tasty food. What I ordered wasnt available anymore so they suggested another dish and added what I wanted. Small place but totally worth it! The concierge at our hotel suggested this place.

★★★
December 22, 2023

I ordered Rasta pasta with jerk chicken and received this, maybe that s their take on it but not what I was expecting. Great customer service nonetheless

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Classic Kenso spot. Used to work in Kensington and this was one of my go to spots. Got a medium half jerk/ half bbq chicken dinner with steamed cabbage on a nice summer day and just ate on the side of the road. Definitely have to make another trip back for that BBQ chicken.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Love this place! I ordered their signature jerk chicken and pork and it was soo tasty! Service was great - will come back again when Im in the area!

December 22, 2023

I don t think they would stay in business if they were located in an area were Caribbean people live.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I was expecting a Jamaican environment. In reality it looks like a total white cocktail bar. Disappointment. Good food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Best je4k chicken in TO.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Really good authentic Jamaican food. Gotta try their rum punch too.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Best jerk chicken in the city everything they have there is absolutely delicious and amazing. I have to visit this place at least once a week.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Dietary restrictions: Halal Food

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Only had a little taste but will be back. Rum punch and jerk pork dumplings worth going back for. Very kind service.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food was absolutely amazing. The slight spice and zing of jerk cooking in a wonderful soft meatball with perfectly cooked spaghetti was impressive. I will say that as someone who hasnt been here before it was a little confusing where to order and wait for the food. Jerk side to the right, pasta in the middle and bar/seating area on the far left?? Strange but it worked and it was delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Came twice already!! Super tasty jerk chicken meal, $10 for a super satisfying portion. Second time had their jerk chicken pasta! Creamy and delicious. Also the owners were so sweet allowed me to stay half an hour later than they close just for me to finish my pasta on my birthday XD

December 22, 2023

The food was very salty. The rice was drowned in gravy. There was no option beforehand as to how much gravy you were getting. Tried the jerk pork, chicken and stew chicken. All of them were not great. The best thing I had was the coleslaw.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Some of the best pasta and jerk chicken i ve ever expirenced. If you go to the Kensington market, this is a restaurant you cannot miss. Had the opportunity of trying to gnocchi and wow. So soft and the sauce is mouth watering. The jerk chicken is nothing short of a dream.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I really enjoy the Jerk chicken from here, I definitely recommend it. I have yet to try other dishes. Food : 4/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Good jerk chicken.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fantastic food in a very colorful neighborhood. Parking: There is no parking in that area of Kensington market, but there are paid parking garages and street parking one block over in any direction. Wheelchair accessibility: Tight sidewalks in Kensington market, but you can get in with a wheelchair although the order to go spot is a bit tight, but the dine in option can be much better suited for wheelchair accessibility.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

that jerk chicken be falling off the bone like kawhi leonard ACL

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Long standing joint in the heart of Kensington. Run by husband and wife duo who are friendly and kind. Jerk Chicken is one of the best in the city. Food

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I have always loved Kensigton and deep in the heart is Rasta Pasta An amazing Jamaican Fusion resturant. Food was good and I would recommend getting both the pasta and the jerk chicken Only thing I would say is ordering. I would really have loved to order the meal from both Jamaican and Italian from the same place but its just a min walk aside. At least I can walk to the next store to thrift All in all I enjoyed their food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great food n vibe

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I ordered jerk Chicken fettuccine with rose sauce. and 2 stuffed dumpling to go. jerk pork stuffed dumpling and ackee and saltfish . the portions are generous and pricing is very reasonable for the quality.

December 22, 2023

It would be nice if they d answer their phone once in a while.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Oh my God. Best goat roti ever. Great service, very friendly staff, excellent value for your food. I m still eating it the next day it s so much food. Will definitely be back again and again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This place I simply don t have enough words for. My friends and I were craving jerk chicken yesterday made the long trip to Kensington to get the jerk chicken. It was just so good, best jerk chicken we have ever had in Canada. This spot is our very go to, we won t go anywhere else it just isn t the same at all. The chicken just falls off the bone, the skin has perfect char, the spice is so flavourful, right amount of heat. We did order jerk sauce with the jerk and it s sweet but not too sweat, it compliments the chicken very well. The lady who always serves us has attitude but the right amount, we feel that if the person serving you jerk chicken has attitude, then the food will be great. She isn t rude or anything she s just quick, just doing her job. We never have had any complaints at all. We paid each around $7 for each piece (1 thigh and 1 leg). I will definitely call my friends and myself a regular.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great food and friendly staff. The owner is a great person to talk with. Highly recommended

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I ordered the Jerk Chicken with rice and beans to take away. I had the Medium size, but the small one would have been enough for one person. The chicken was perfectly cooked and the sauce was excellent. Definitely going back when visiting Toronto again.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I ordered the Jerk chicken, rice and peas with coleslaw for a holiday party, the food was delicious and fresh my guests and I enjoyed it very much, definitely recommend this place for any functions or take out.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Never thought to put jerk chicken on fettuccine Alfredo? Of course you didnt, but these folks did and its . Theres two ordering points depending on what youre after and you can bring it all over together to their north end storefront where theres tables and chairs to sit and eat.

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

They are people with a lack of education, since I didnt know English, they told me to cancel the order since I dont speak English, five people and none of them treated me like a person, as if one were asking for food or money, how bad