Canje is one of my favorite restaurants in Austin to take someone, everything I've tried on the menu is fantastic.
Jenny L.
I didn't have any expectations coming here, but wow - this place is insanely delicious for modern Caribbean food. Everything that my party ordered was so good. The jerk chicken, was extremely flavorful and it had the right amount of spices. If you like coconut curry, you must try the tilefish! The coconut curry was amazing and the crispy kale added some texture that made it fun to eat. The wild boar was good and the pieces just melted in my mouth. I would've liked the sauce to be a little thicker so I could dip my roti in it. The ceviche was light and flavorful. I love that they had dragonfruit in it. It was a different flavorful profile and I really enjoyed it. The roti was literally the star of the show. Everyone needs to order their own roti because you're not going to want to share it. The parking situation is a bit rough if you don't want to pay for valet. Street parking in that area in general is hard so good luck!
Sabrina S.
Amazing decor, amazing staff, and amazing food! Reservations are a must. We had a reservation for 515pm on a weekend. Decor was tastefully done throughout. Our server was fabulous- she answered all of our questions regarding the menu etc. The menu was a modern take on Jamaican food. Our tastebuds were introduced to many new flavors and spices. And if you know me, I love spicy! Per our server, she explained dishes are meant to be shareable. Being a party of 4 - we mostly ordered 2 dishes of an item, since they were considered small plates. Hurricane drink- tropical, fruity, but not too sweet. I could taste the alcohol and it did hit me pretty hard : D Out of all the dishes we ordered, my faves were the Accra de Morue - slightly salty fish fritters with a hint of spice And the Curry Wagyu Beef- delicious! Beef was melt in your mouth goodness, which we paired with the roti. Note: one roti is $6 ! Jerk chicken had a good spicy flavor and was not overcooked or dry. I don't know how they cooked it, but it was perfect. A little pricey though- half chicken $36. Excellent food and service. Slightly pricey for the amount of food. What was really cool- with the bill, they've added a Canje postcard that they will personally mail for you to whomever : )
Eddie B.
After more than a year I was finally able to visit Canje. The service was great and the atmosphere was what you'd expect for a restaurant named as one of the best in Austin. The flavors of the food did not disappoint and you can tell that the kitchen placed a lot of care into the food, that being said, I was very disappointed that most of the dishes that made it to our table (everything except the Jerk) were lukewarm warm. Will visit again, but next time I'll temper my expectations.
Nicolette M.
Canje is undeniably one of Austin's hottest restaurants right now. From the moment you step inside, the ambiance sets the stage for an extraordinary dining experience. The service is amazing, and the food? Fresh and flavorful. Despite its Caribbean flair, Canje's cuisine is some of the best in Austin. Approach your dinner with an open mind, and prepare to be blown away. Once you've tasted the flavors of Canje, you'll find yourself eagerly counting down the days until your next visit, craving their food all the time. Heads up, if you like spicy the chicken has a KICK. I personally can't handle the heat but I've still tried it and it's amazing.
Kristin S.
Service was good and ambience was nice, except where we sat I felt like when it got darker outside didn't have enough light. Drink: Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned had a sweet taste to it which I LOVED! It tasted like a Sazerac, which I prefer over old fashioned. Appetizer: The Albacore Ceviche was my favorite dish of the night! It was citrusy, had some peanuts (so beware of allergies), and it also was sweet. Entree: Curry Waugh Beef was my second favorite dish of the night and highly recommend pairing it with the Roti! The Roti was so good that we ordered two of them. Ok hear me out here.. EVERYONE recommend the Jerk Chicken here so we got it, and while it was cooked well and very moist/tender, it was my least favorite dish. It was just plain, with some kick to it. The other dishes were way better in my opinion. Dessert: Tres Leches was so yummy! It had a fruity taste to it because of the strawberry and I loved it!
Kaylea B.
We had the best experience at Canje last night! Everything from the food to the service was impeccable. Every dish we tried was so thoughtfully created, from appetizers to desserts. We tried several things but the Jerk Chicken, Albacore Ceviche, Guyanese Roti, and Fried Sweet Plantains are not to be missed! The Chocolate Flan was the best of the two desserts we shared but it's relative because the Tres Leches was also delicious. You truly can't go wrong with anything on the menu here! Thank you for making my husband's birthday so special and yummy, Canje team!!
Laura G.
I'm still reeling from our incredible experiences. We were so impressed that we ended up visiting twice in one week. The menu offered a diverse range of dishes, and we couldn't resist trying a variety - beef patties, ceviche, guacamole, roti, jerk chicken, and more. Each dish was a masterpiece, with mouthwatering flavors that left us craving for more. The quality of the food was exceptional, and the presentation was visually stunning. The drinks were also delicious and refreshing. The restaurant itself had a warm and inviting atmosphere, with super nice staff who made us feel welcome. We can't wait to go back and indulge in more of their culinary delights. If you're looking for a truly memorable dining experience, look no further. 5 stars and highly recommended!"
Kari L.
Many people recommended I dine here and finally I did. Loved the overall ambiance of Canje. At 5:00, there was a decent number of people, music was in full swing, and the servers buzzed around. I enjoyed the warm, bohemian decor as well. Service was amazing! I unfortunately do not know the name of our waitress but she was the best. She had deep knowledge of the menu, offered recommendations based on our preferences, and was just a ball of sunshine. Love her! Funny story: when I was trying to beat my dad to the bill, she swooped in and took my dad's card LOL. Now for the food. We ordered the ceviche, sweet potato, jerk chicken, and guyanese roti. It was a lot! To be honest, I would not order this much if I come back again but I had to ball out in honor of the solar eclipse and my dad visiting. The ceviche was light, refreshing, and not fishy at all. Lots of citrus notes. Sweet potato was an unexpected heavy hitter. Not the biggest fan of orange sweet potatoes but this hit because of the many contradictions. There was sweetness and softness from the potato, yet acidic, savory, and crunchy from the aioli, beans, and green onions. For all my vegans, I recommend getting this dish. Canje is notorious for their jerk chicken so I was HYPED. The skin was nicely charred and marinated in flavor for sure. I also appreciated the tenderness of the meat -- which is hard to do for white meat -- and the subtle flavor it imparted from the marinade. I will say it does pack quite a punch in terms of spice. I am Thai and used to my fair share of heat, so this was unexpected lol. The accompanying sauce does help in subsiding the spice. But... something about the chicken just did not impress me? Perhaps I was full from all the other dishes or just had super lofty expectations. Not sure. I liked the Guyanese roti though! Always a fiend for a starch of any sort :). Overall I recommend coming here to bring family or friends visiting, a girl's night out, or a date! Ambiance and service won't leave you disappointed. Food quality is pretty top notch too.
John H.
I used to love Canje...it's gone down a bit in quality and experience for me. The food, somehow, isn't as good as when they began. Be it menu changes, or just the volume of customers, it's starting to suffer a bit, and that's a shame. Also, it's LOUD in that room. The music on weekends, is a bit overbearing, and that's likely because the room is generally loud due to the patrons. Overcoming it with blasting music isn't a great solve.
With vibes as cool as a Caribbean breeze, this place nails the fusion game. The service was exceptional! They practically serenade you with descriptions of their dishes. Now, let's talk food. The albacore ceviche? Sweet peppers and crushed peanuts? It's like a flavor explosion in your mouth! And those oxtail empanadas? So tender, they practically melt in your mouth. For mains, we went wild with the Wild Boar Pepperpot. Very aromatic and that puppy melts on your tongue (it's a common theme of melting in your mouth lol.) And the Tilefish served with crispy kale was something I've never had that was quite the pairing. Paired with roti, peppered rice, and salted plantains? It's a match made for a perfect death row meal. But dessert, ah, the "Tres Leche." With strawberry compote, salted foam and white chocolate shavings, it's a very interesting flavor combination. Not my favorite, but hey, can't win them all. Overall, Canje is a must-visit for foodies.
Jonathan W.
Make a reservation as it's pretty popular. Free parking in their lot on the east side of the restaurant so can avoid valet. Take credit card The music inside is super loud, too loud to have a conversation. So we Sat outside cause it wasn't too hot. Great service. Pepper pot wild boar ($26)- the pepper pot flavor very interesting. The sauce was salty. The wild boar was a little tough. It's interesting to try. Oxtail beef patties ($14)- get this! The best dish I had. The meat is super soft and great flavor. Ceviche albacore ($18)- super good. Has orange flavor which is interesting. I think it's better than typical Mexican ceviche with lemon, this isn't sour. Octopus and shrimp ($21)- Octopus super soft. Good sauce on the bottom. Roti $5- well baked. Great texture outside. Fluffy outside. Great to eat with any other dish with sauce
Melissa Moon
The whole place is a vibe and the food was unexpectedly phenomenal. Definitely would go back, hands down. I just wish that I did better with spice because I was eyeing that jerk ?. I'm sure it tasted as good as it looked.
Wow such good food and drink PLUS amazing staff! Molly was beyond great and the rest of the staff were so great as well with recommendations and knowledge
Chloe Johnson
Lovely food and lovely service. We got a couple of apps, a few sides, and two mains for two people. It was a lot but a great way to sample a little of everything on the menu. We ordered everything upfront and they did a great job with the pacing of the food. The roti, ceviche, and wagyu beef were definitely the highlights. The folks working there were all extremely attentive and kind. The only downside was the atmosphere - super cute but very loud. I’m hard of hearing and I had a bit of a difficult time. It wasn’t as bad as some places in Austin though!! I would 100% go back and just not talk LOL. Very yummy.
Canje is one of my favorite restaurants in Austin to take someone, everything I've tried on the menu is fantastic.
I didn't have any expectations coming here, but wow - this place is insanely delicious for modern Caribbean food. Everything that my party ordered was so good. The jerk chicken, was extremely flavorful and it had the right amount of spices. If you like coconut curry, you must try the tilefish! The coconut curry was amazing and the crispy kale added some texture that made it fun to eat. The wild boar was good and the pieces just melted in my mouth. I would've liked the sauce to be a little thicker so I could dip my roti in it. The ceviche was light and flavorful. I love that they had dragonfruit in it. It was a different flavorful profile and I really enjoyed it. The roti was literally the star of the show. Everyone needs to order their own roti because you're not going to want to share it. The parking situation is a bit rough if you don't want to pay for valet. Street parking in that area in general is hard so good luck!
Amazing decor, amazing staff, and amazing food! Reservations are a must. We had a reservation for 515pm on a weekend. Decor was tastefully done throughout. Our server was fabulous- she answered all of our questions regarding the menu etc. The menu was a modern take on Jamaican food. Our tastebuds were introduced to many new flavors and spices. And if you know me, I love spicy! Per our server, she explained dishes are meant to be shareable. Being a party of 4 - we mostly ordered 2 dishes of an item, since they were considered small plates. Hurricane drink- tropical, fruity, but not too sweet. I could taste the alcohol and it did hit me pretty hard : D Out of all the dishes we ordered, my faves were the Accra de Morue - slightly salty fish fritters with a hint of spice And the Curry Wagyu Beef- delicious! Beef was melt in your mouth goodness, which we paired with the roti. Note: one roti is $6 ! Jerk chicken had a good spicy flavor and was not overcooked or dry. I don't know how they cooked it, but it was perfect. A little pricey though- half chicken $36. Excellent food and service. Slightly pricey for the amount of food. What was really cool- with the bill, they've added a Canje postcard that they will personally mail for you to whomever : )
After more than a year I was finally able to visit Canje. The service was great and the atmosphere was what you'd expect for a restaurant named as one of the best in Austin. The flavors of the food did not disappoint and you can tell that the kitchen placed a lot of care into the food, that being said, I was very disappointed that most of the dishes that made it to our table (everything except the Jerk) were lukewarm warm. Will visit again, but next time I'll temper my expectations.
Canje is undeniably one of Austin's hottest restaurants right now. From the moment you step inside, the ambiance sets the stage for an extraordinary dining experience. The service is amazing, and the food? Fresh and flavorful. Despite its Caribbean flair, Canje's cuisine is some of the best in Austin. Approach your dinner with an open mind, and prepare to be blown away. Once you've tasted the flavors of Canje, you'll find yourself eagerly counting down the days until your next visit, craving their food all the time. Heads up, if you like spicy the chicken has a KICK. I personally can't handle the heat but I've still tried it and it's amazing.
Service was good and ambience was nice, except where we sat I felt like when it got darker outside didn't have enough light. Drink: Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned had a sweet taste to it which I LOVED! It tasted like a Sazerac, which I prefer over old fashioned. Appetizer: The Albacore Ceviche was my favorite dish of the night! It was citrusy, had some peanuts (so beware of allergies), and it also was sweet. Entree: Curry Waugh Beef was my second favorite dish of the night and highly recommend pairing it with the Roti! The Roti was so good that we ordered two of them. Ok hear me out here.. EVERYONE recommend the Jerk Chicken here so we got it, and while it was cooked well and very moist/tender, it was my least favorite dish. It was just plain, with some kick to it. The other dishes were way better in my opinion. Dessert: Tres Leches was so yummy! It had a fruity taste to it because of the strawberry and I loved it!
We had the best experience at Canje last night! Everything from the food to the service was impeccable. Every dish we tried was so thoughtfully created, from appetizers to desserts. We tried several things but the Jerk Chicken, Albacore Ceviche, Guyanese Roti, and Fried Sweet Plantains are not to be missed! The Chocolate Flan was the best of the two desserts we shared but it's relative because the Tres Leches was also delicious. You truly can't go wrong with anything on the menu here! Thank you for making my husband's birthday so special and yummy, Canje team!!
I'm still reeling from our incredible experiences. We were so impressed that we ended up visiting twice in one week. The menu offered a diverse range of dishes, and we couldn't resist trying a variety - beef patties, ceviche, guacamole, roti, jerk chicken, and more. Each dish was a masterpiece, with mouthwatering flavors that left us craving for more. The quality of the food was exceptional, and the presentation was visually stunning. The drinks were also delicious and refreshing. The restaurant itself had a warm and inviting atmosphere, with super nice staff who made us feel welcome. We can't wait to go back and indulge in more of their culinary delights. If you're looking for a truly memorable dining experience, look no further. 5 stars and highly recommended!"
Many people recommended I dine here and finally I did. Loved the overall ambiance of Canje. At 5:00, there was a decent number of people, music was in full swing, and the servers buzzed around. I enjoyed the warm, bohemian decor as well. Service was amazing! I unfortunately do not know the name of our waitress but she was the best. She had deep knowledge of the menu, offered recommendations based on our preferences, and was just a ball of sunshine. Love her! Funny story: when I was trying to beat my dad to the bill, she swooped in and took my dad's card LOL. Now for the food. We ordered the ceviche, sweet potato, jerk chicken, and guyanese roti. It was a lot! To be honest, I would not order this much if I come back again but I had to ball out in honor of the solar eclipse and my dad visiting. The ceviche was light, refreshing, and not fishy at all. Lots of citrus notes. Sweet potato was an unexpected heavy hitter. Not the biggest fan of orange sweet potatoes but this hit because of the many contradictions. There was sweetness and softness from the potato, yet acidic, savory, and crunchy from the aioli, beans, and green onions. For all my vegans, I recommend getting this dish. Canje is notorious for their jerk chicken so I was HYPED. The skin was nicely charred and marinated in flavor for sure. I also appreciated the tenderness of the meat -- which is hard to do for white meat -- and the subtle flavor it imparted from the marinade. I will say it does pack quite a punch in terms of spice. I am Thai and used to my fair share of heat, so this was unexpected lol. The accompanying sauce does help in subsiding the spice. But... something about the chicken just did not impress me? Perhaps I was full from all the other dishes or just had super lofty expectations. Not sure. I liked the Guyanese roti though! Always a fiend for a starch of any sort :). Overall I recommend coming here to bring family or friends visiting, a girl's night out, or a date! Ambiance and service won't leave you disappointed. Food quality is pretty top notch too.
I used to love Canje...it's gone down a bit in quality and experience for me. The food, somehow, isn't as good as when they began. Be it menu changes, or just the volume of customers, it's starting to suffer a bit, and that's a shame. Also, it's LOUD in that room. The music on weekends, is a bit overbearing, and that's likely because the room is generally loud due to the patrons. Overcoming it with blasting music isn't a great solve.
Restaurantji Recommends
With vibes as cool as a Caribbean breeze, this place nails the fusion game. The service was exceptional! They practically serenade you with descriptions of their dishes. Now, let's talk food. The albacore ceviche? Sweet peppers and crushed peanuts? It's like a flavor explosion in your mouth! And those oxtail empanadas? So tender, they practically melt in your mouth. For mains, we went wild with the Wild Boar Pepperpot. Very aromatic and that puppy melts on your tongue (it's a common theme of melting in your mouth lol.) And the Tilefish served with crispy kale was something I've never had that was quite the pairing. Paired with roti, peppered rice, and salted plantains? It's a match made for a perfect death row meal. But dessert, ah, the "Tres Leche." With strawberry compote, salted foam and white chocolate shavings, it's a very interesting flavor combination. Not my favorite, but hey, can't win them all. Overall, Canje is a must-visit for foodies.
Make a reservation as it's pretty popular. Free parking in their lot on the east side of the restaurant so can avoid valet. Take credit card The music inside is super loud, too loud to have a conversation. So we Sat outside cause it wasn't too hot. Great service. Pepper pot wild boar ($26)- the pepper pot flavor very interesting. The sauce was salty. The wild boar was a little tough. It's interesting to try. Oxtail beef patties ($14)- get this! The best dish I had. The meat is super soft and great flavor. Ceviche albacore ($18)- super good. Has orange flavor which is interesting. I think it's better than typical Mexican ceviche with lemon, this isn't sour. Octopus and shrimp ($21)- Octopus super soft. Good sauce on the bottom. Roti $5- well baked. Great texture outside. Fluffy outside. Great to eat with any other dish with sauce
The whole place is a vibe and the food was unexpectedly phenomenal. Definitely would go back, hands down. I just wish that I did better with spice because I was eyeing that jerk ?. I'm sure it tasted as good as it looked.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Guyanese Style Roti, Oxtail Beef Patties, Tilefish
Wow such good food and drink PLUS amazing staff! Molly was beyond great and the rest of the staff were so great as well with recommendations and knowledge
Lovely food and lovely service. We got a couple of apps, a few sides, and two mains for two people. It was a lot but a great way to sample a little of everything on the menu. We ordered everything upfront and they did a great job with the pacing of the food. The roti, ceviche, and wagyu beef were definitely the highlights. The folks working there were all extremely attentive and kind. The only downside was the atmosphere - super cute but very loud. I’m hard of hearing and I had a bit of a difficult time. It wasn’t as bad as some places in Austin though!! I would 100% go back and just not talk LOL. Very yummy.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Sweet Plantains, Guyanese Style Roti, Wild Boar Pepperpot