Canje

We've heard about Canje forever and finally got up off our lazy butts and made a reservation! Because you should do that. The vibe is a lot of fun and our server was friendly, attentive, and very helpful when we had questions. When we told him we were vegetarian, he said that several of the dishes could be made veggie, which is always nice. In general, the food is really incredible and the atmosphere is lively and very fun. Some of the dishes we found were just ok, while others were insane show-stoppers. Here's what we ate: Avocado Choka - insaaaaanely good. It's similar to a ceviche and is so fresh and flavourful. I would have ordered more of these. Cucumber chow - this wasn't ordered by us but we also didn't say anything - it was fine We ordered roti and rice to accompany the below items: Grilled Cabbage - holy moly this cabbage was so fantastic. We both thought that it should have been a main. The char from the grill gave it a fantastic smokey flavor and they had other ingredients in there too (like some sort of nut butter??) that added to everything. It was truly a fantastic dish. Sweet potato - this was good, but it didn't wow us. Vegetarian curry - this wasn't on the menu - they offered to make the curry vegetarian, which we appreciated. I didn't love this curry. It sort of lacked a depth and richness and just felt more spice heavy. It wasn't bad but wasn't my favorite We finished our meal with the Coquito Soft serve which was one of the more unique ice creams we've ever had. My husband isn't an ice cream guy but he kept saying how insanely good it was every bite he took. It was very delicious. Overall we really enjoyed our time there and would come back again!

The food at Canje was incredible. Everything uniquely packed with so much flavor and the meats were so tender. Top pick: the pork shoulders- a flavor bomb and melt in your mouth experience you're not ready for. The curry was exquisite. The wild boar had this delicious sauce. Tres leches cake has this small but mighty punch of mango and even if you don't normally like coconut it is just so moist, well balanced and yummy. We really enjoyed the roti, cabbage. And the BEEF PATTIES! We wanted another order of the patties before dessert but resisted. They maybe were number 1 actually- idk they were so perfect 😍. Thank you to the servers and chefs for making our night so enjoyable.

On our trip to Austin, we really wanted to try one of the restaurants from the Emmer & Rye Group. Was so glad to have picked Canje - the food was well-seasoned & well-cooked (all the meats were incredibly tender & the fried foods were not greasy. We loved trying new flavors & ingredient combos as we don't often eat Caribbean food). Hope to come back and try other menu items. Service was attentive, and things were well-explained during ordering and while receiving the food. Special shoutout to the front of house team & general manager (Erika, I believe), who all showed incredible grace & kindness to our party throughout the meal and when we were leaving. Thank you, Canje team!!

What an amazing experience! I am Jamaican and I have been craving delicious Caribbean cuisine in Austin. And I am happy to say, I finally found my go to spot. First, the food is absolutely delicious. The plates are small to medium sized so they are great for sharing. My wife and I tried the ceviche, beef patties, pepper shrimp, West Indian curry, jerk chicken, roti and cucumber pineapple chow. The jerk chicken is huge and flavorful. I love the sauce on the side to add some flavor to it. By far, my favorite item on the menu. The West Indian Curry is savory and pairs perfectly with the Roti. The ceviche is absolutely delicious and has a mix of different flavors that I wasn’t expecting. The beef patties are different than what I am accustomed to in Jamaica, but I enjoyed the taste and the twist they put on the dish. The cucumber pineapple chow was light and appetizing. The pepper shrimp was savory as well. All of the dishes we tried were exceptional. We also enjoyed the ambiance. The establishment has free valet parking, which you do not find often in Austin. There are nice seating options indoors and outdoors. We loved the aesthetics inside from the decor to the paintings on the walls to the lighting. The music had me in a great mood all night. They played a mix of reggae and Afrobeats. The service was phenomenal. We only drank water and didn’t order any beverages. But it seemed as though every time our waters were low, someone would show up immediately and refill them without us having to ask. The food came out reasonable fast. We couldn’t have asked for more. We will absolutely be returning here again!

What an incredible dining experience at Canje — honestly even better than we hoped for. Planning a Friday night dinner date in Austin can sometimes feel impossible with how busy the city gets, especially at some of the more popular restaurants. My wife and I decided to take the chance anyway, and from the moment we arrived, everything about the evening exceeded expectations. First of all, we were—surprisingly, able to get a table right away. The atmosphere was vibrant, colorful, welcoming, and incredibly LGBTQ+ friendly and inclusive, which immediately made us feel comfortable and excited to settle in for the evening. The décor itself is such an experience — energetic, artistic, and thoughtfully designed without feeling overwhelming. The service was absolutely phenomenal. Huge thank you to Steph for making our night feel special from start to finish with attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable service. The food was unforgettable. Every dish was layered with bold flavor combinations, vibrant spices, and textures that felt unique and thoughtfully crafted. We ordered the coconut rice, coconut rolls, avocado appetizer, wild boar pepper pot, and the roti — and the roti is an absolute must-order. It was buttery, flaky, rich, and easily one of the most memorable flatbreads I’ve had in Austin. Note: This amount of food was more than enough for the two of us and we ended up with leftovers—remember, you can always add more. One helpful tip for anyone visiting: the dedicated parking lot is very small and fills up quickly, especially on weekends and Friday evenings, but there are several nearby paid parking options within walking distance that make it manageable. There’s also a valet if you don’t want to mess with finding a space. This was one of those restaurant experiences where the food, atmosphere, and service all aligned perfectly. Canje absolutely lives up to the hype, and we’re already looking forward to returning to explore more of the menu.