Wonderful experience at Cayenne Bistro & Grill. The food was great, but the real highlight was the hospitality. The owner sat with us, kindly shared the story behind the recipes, and treated guests with real care. Very kind people and a place worth returning to.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Penny Rusty Sophie
Cayenne Bistro and Grill is a newish African/Indian fusion restaurant that opened up recently along 6th Street in New Westminster, taking over the space by the former Malaysian eatery known as Makan Place.
The renovations done to the interior is a nice upgrade from the prior looks. On my visit, the host was quite friendly and made an effort to explain the different types of dishes (probably because he assumed because of my Asian background that I had no experience with African or Indian cuisine).
I decided on the Zanzibar Kuku Paka ($14.95) which comes with naan and he up-sold me on a bowl of rice ($2.75) which was a good idea since this dish is very saucy. I also paired it with a Rubicon Passion Fruit Sparking Soda ($2.25) which is a canned soft drink.
This dish includes bone-in chicken cooked in a creamy yellow curry milk base with East African spices and includes a hard-boiled egg with large chunks of potatoes. I really enjoyed the curry sauce in this dish. Served with a medium-heat, the intensity of the heat grows over time in your mouth.
I returned about a week later and ordered their Beef Ribs with Salad and Naan ($16.95) which was served with a tangy tamarind sauce and hot sauce to customize your dish. I found the “medium” level of spiciness had a good kick and the plentiful amount of ribs were tender and juicy.
A couple of weeks later, I tried their Cayenne Sheekh Kebabs ($14.95). As with my other visits, the food does take a while to come out (this dish took about 20 minutes even though the place was relatively quiet). The marinated ground beef in these kebabs was a bit dry on the inside but the dish did come with some dipping sauce which made it better. I also noticed that the naan here is a bit chewier than I’m used to (with a bit more browning on one side) but it’s not a deal breaker.
A few things to note if you decide to visit… the specials for the day are written on a small board hanging on the wall near the front door (unless you’re seated near there, it’s difficult to see), tables have individual cayenne pepper shakers (as well as salt shakers) if you want to customize your dish, and the food does take a while to come out (especially if they’re busy).
UPDATE - November 2025: Hard to believe it's been 6 years since I last visited Cayenne Bistro. Used to come here often when I worked in the area. Had the Chicken Rafiki ($22) which highlights the African flavors and spices. Also had the Appy Platter ($18) with beef kebabs, samosas and nylon bhajia (thin potatoes coated in chickpea flour). The kebabs had a nicely encrusted exterior while still being soft inside. The veggies in the Tawa Veggie Curry ($18) were quite tender and the Garlic Naan was soft and pillowy. Busy as I recall from my prior visits, it is a bit slow for the food to come out.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Yvon T.
Food was amazing, and we highly appreciated the accommodating and friendly service. Definitely a gem in the South Burnaby community!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Monique Painchaud
I had dinner with a group of friends last night at Cayenne. This is the second time I’ve had the pleasure of eating at this wonderful restaurant. The quality and the flavour of the food here is amazing. The staff is top notch and genuine. I will keep coming back in future and highly recommend it.
Hector Wong
As a repeat customer, the food and service is consistently good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Azeem ALi
Nazir along with his staff provided our group of 5 with an amazing experience. From the recommendation of dishes to the education of the delicious Tusker beverage, Nazir and his staff did not disappoint. Overall 10/10 experience from the moment you walk in through the door. Our group ordered 6 dishes, all of which were wiped clean upon returning to the kitchen, which I hope shows just how great and flavourful the food is, though 4 dishes really became immediate favourites of mine. Patra Bhajia (appy), Choma Platter (main), Lamb Curry + Naan (main) and the Kashmiri Chicken + Naan. If you’re ever in New West with friends or are looking to have a fun family dinner at a great restaurant, I highly recommend Cayenne Bistro and Grill. Not only do they have great owners, wonderful staff/chefs and amazingly delicious food, but it also comes at a great price. Thank you Nazir and staff for such great hospitality. I look forward to dinning again soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Robby Banga
Great service! They provided excellent recommendations for both food and drinks. And the food was very, very delicious. Would highly recommend this place to everyone!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
baquay ahmed
Great experience and delicious food!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lauren Matthias
Such friendly service and delicious food, particularly the naan! Enjoyed the patio. Will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Azmina Kermalli
Cayenne Bistro catered our son’s wedding event and they were absolutely amazing! From their impeccable service to a variety of delicious food both Zeimina and her husband put their heart and soul in ensuring the host and guests have a wonderful experience. Would highly recommend them for all your catering needs.
I went to this restaurant for my birthday dinner. Ordered an appetizer of fried beef kebab and upon server recommendation ordered Choma Platter which Beef Ribs, Mishkaki and pili pili or Serena Chicken, asked them to make it spicy. On the side I ordered masala fries. The food is very tasty, all the meat was tender, well cooked and spiced up. Owner and staff is very nice and friendly and they make sure you have a good experience.
Shannon Rzucidlo
Best fish masala I’ve ever had!
Autaena D
Owner and all the staff were so friendly! Food was amazing!
Ismael Gomez Gonzalez
Please do yourself a favor and try this place. Perfectly cooked and very flavorful.
Kathleen Farrell
While in Vancouver for a girlfriends (rainy) getaway, we ended up in Burnaby after a Spa day in the area. We were starving and Cayenne was an option nearby. What a great surprise it was ! Delicious, very tasty food & super friendly service (though just a little bit slow)! I totally recommend it to discover Indian/African fusion flavors.
Wonderful experience at Cayenne Bistro & Grill. The food was great, but the real highlight was the hospitality. The owner sat with us, kindly shared the story behind the recipes, and treated guests with real care. Very kind people and a place worth returning to.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cayenne Bistro and Grill is a newish African/Indian fusion restaurant that opened up recently along 6th Street in New Westminster, taking over the space by the former Malaysian eatery known as Makan Place.
The renovations done to the interior is a nice upgrade from the prior looks. On my visit, the host was quite friendly and made an effort to explain the different types of dishes (probably because he assumed because of my Asian background that I had no experience with African or Indian cuisine).
I decided on the Zanzibar Kuku Paka ($14.95) which comes with naan and he up-sold me on a bowl of rice ($2.75) which was a good idea since this dish is very saucy. I also paired it with a Rubicon Passion Fruit Sparking Soda ($2.25) which is a canned soft drink.
This dish includes bone-in chicken cooked in a creamy yellow curry milk base with East African spices and includes a hard-boiled egg with large chunks of potatoes. I really enjoyed the curry sauce in this dish. Served with a medium-heat, the intensity of the heat grows over time in your mouth.
I returned about a week later and ordered their Beef Ribs with Salad and Naan ($16.95) which was served with a tangy tamarind sauce and hot sauce to customize your dish. I found the “medium” level of spiciness had a good kick and the plentiful amount of ribs were tender and juicy.
A couple of weeks later, I tried their Cayenne Sheekh Kebabs ($14.95). As with my other visits, the food does take a while to come out (this dish took about 20 minutes even though the place was relatively quiet). The marinated ground beef in these kebabs was a bit dry on the inside but the dish did come with some dipping sauce which made it better. I also noticed that the naan here is a bit chewier than I’m used to (with a bit more browning on one side) but it’s not a deal breaker.
A few things to note if you decide to visit… the specials for the day are written on a small board hanging on the wall near the front door (unless you’re seated near there, it’s difficult to see), tables have individual cayenne pepper shakers (as well as salt shakers) if you want to customize your dish, and the food does take a while to come out (especially if they’re busy).
UPDATE - November 2025: Hard to believe it's been 6 years since I last visited Cayenne Bistro. Used to come here often when I worked in the area. Had the Chicken Rafiki ($22) which highlights the African flavors and spices. Also had the Appy Platter ($18) with beef kebabs, samosas and nylon bhajia (thin potatoes coated in chickpea flour). The kebabs had a nicely encrusted exterior while still being soft inside. The veggies in the Tawa Veggie Curry ($18) were quite tender and the
Garlic Naan was soft and pillowy. Busy as I recall from my prior visits, it is a bit slow for the food to come out.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Food was amazing, and we highly appreciated the accommodating and friendly service. Definitely a gem in the South Burnaby community!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had dinner with a group of friends last night at Cayenne. This is the second time I’ve had the pleasure of eating at this wonderful restaurant. The quality and the flavour of the food here is amazing. The staff is top notch and genuine. I will keep coming back in future and highly recommend it.
As a repeat customer, the food and service is consistently good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nazir along with his staff provided our group of 5 with an amazing experience. From the recommendation of dishes to the education of the delicious Tusker beverage, Nazir and his staff did not disappoint. Overall 10/10 experience from the moment you walk in through the door. Our group ordered 6 dishes, all of which were wiped clean upon returning to the kitchen, which I hope shows just how great and flavourful the food is, though 4 dishes really became immediate favourites of mine. Patra Bhajia (appy), Choma Platter (main), Lamb Curry + Naan (main) and the Kashmiri Chicken + Naan. If you’re ever in New West with friends or are looking to have a fun family dinner at a great restaurant, I highly recommend Cayenne Bistro and Grill. Not only do they have great owners, wonderful staff/chefs and amazingly delicious food, but it also comes at a great price. Thank you Nazir and staff for such great hospitality. I look forward to dinning again soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great service! They provided excellent recommendations for both food and drinks. And the food was very, very delicious. Would highly recommend this place to everyone!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great experience and delicious food!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Such friendly service and delicious food, particularly the naan! Enjoyed the patio. Will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cayenne Bistro catered our son’s wedding event and they were absolutely amazing! From their impeccable service to a variety of delicious food both Zeimina and her husband put their heart and soul in ensuring the host and guests have a wonderful experience. Would highly recommend them for all your catering needs.
Restaurantji Recommends
I went to this restaurant for my birthday dinner. Ordered an appetizer of fried beef kebab and upon server recommendation ordered Choma Platter which Beef Ribs, Mishkaki and pili pili or Serena Chicken, asked them to make it spicy. On the side I ordered masala fries. The food is very tasty, all the meat was tender, well cooked and spiced up. Owner and staff is very nice and friendly and they make sure you have a good experience.
Best fish masala I’ve ever had!
Owner and all the staff were so friendly! Food was amazing!
Please do yourself a favor and try this place. Perfectly cooked and very flavorful.
While in Vancouver for a girlfriends (rainy) getaway, we ended up in Burnaby after a Spa day in the area. We were starving and Cayenne was an option nearby. What a great surprise it was ! Delicious, very tasty food & super friendly service (though just a little bit slow)! I totally recommend it to discover Indian/African fusion flavors.
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