Pili Pili

Oh Scarborough I love it when you remind me why I think you’re the best foodie scene in the GTA!
Dear Pili Pili,
Your cassava chips was wonderfully light and flaky to munch on. When it was drizzled with the tamarind chutney and then dipped into with the hot sauce eating it became an experience!
Your poutine has left a lasting impression in my taste buds. The tang in the gravy and chopped beef mishkaki was a great surprise. I love how I didn’t have to chew the beef several times because it was deliciously tender. The medium spice gave a kick that didn’t overwhelm the taste of the gravy and the meat.
Usually i love my samosas all pastry and the stuffing is usually just meh! But your chicken samosa… what a yummy jam packed meaty goodness. I really tasted the seasoning of the ground chicken and onions. The chicken was the star here. I really enjoyed dipping/​drizzling/​pouring the coconut chutney all over it since it really brought out all the flavours in the samosa!
Thanks for a great time! I will definitely call you and plan on seeing you again!

Great take-​out place for the good old Indian ‘finger food’ like samosas, kabobs, mogo.
Samosas filled generously with meat, not a big pile of grease like other places I’ve experienced. Mogo is a tad bit too salty, but I think a request can be made to rectify that. Beef kabobs were the best and a must try!

If you have never tried Tanzanian food, you have not yet lived! The flavours are like nothing you have ever tried before! I tried the mogo (fried cassava/​yuca), kebabs (they look like meatballs, but aren’t like anything you have ever eaten before), and the chicken and beef mishkaki. The coconut mayo sauce that came with the mishkaki is to die for!!! Everything was super delicious! The owners were super friendly and gave us free fries for taking longer than expected.
AMBIANCE
It is a take out joint, not a restaurant. For a take-​away place, it was very clean.
SEATING
Enough seating for about 2 – 4 people indoors and 2 outdoors.
SERVICE
The service was slow, but polite. He even gave us free fries for having to wait so long.
FOOD
The food is AMAZING! Tanzanian food is one of the best cuisines out there and few know about it.
PRICE
Average prices.
OTHER
Recommend calling ahead with your order.

Came in around 6:30pm on Saturday. The man at the counter (the owner?) was super friendly. I told him it was my first time here, and he explained all the difference sauces for me (coconut coriander didn’t have a coconut taste, but was quite fresh. Tamarind was good — sweet and slightly tart. Hot sauce was very clean tasting and quite delightful. Not too hot. The coleslaw was slightly tangy, and doesn’t have a mayo base. Carrots and cabbage). Had the short ribs and the chicken mishkaki. I can see why the short ribs are their bestseller. They’re quite tender. The chicken wasn’t as tender as it could have been, but it wasn’t super dry either. Nothing particularly distinct about the seasoning. Tasted like standard charcoal BBQ. That being said, THE MOGO. Cassava fries. Fairly chunky fries. I was a tad concerned when I first saw them, but they’re super crispy on the outside, and fluffier than fries on the inside. They also don’t have a nasty aftertaste like you get sometimes when you eat fries. They’re also fresh. They’re seasoned with something slightly spicy and slightly addictive. Yeah. The mogo I’ll be back for… now if only their their hours were slightly later at night…

Just wanted to try something new and different for dinner one night and im glad we came to pili-​pili. The beef and chicken mishkakis were tender, juicy and well marinated. The corn masala was tangy and sweet! Awesome combinations indeed! :)

The ONLY place you should try for the best BBQ chicken and beef in toronto. Quality food and friendly service. Came here for lunch last week with a friend and both of us went back today for more. Very addictive! Try the short ribs, mogo and mishkaki!

Went there today with a friend for our first time. We ordered their donair and mishkaki roll. Both were good. Looking forward to going back!
Ps try the Mogo. Good stuff!

Came here on Friday night, ordered the mixed grill and the snack pack. Just under $ 60 and we had too much food for 4 people.
+ mogo– these cassava wedges are so good, we couldn’t stop eating them
+ short ribs– very flavorful and cooked nicely
+ beef samosas– filled to the brim, thin pastry layer
+ kebabs– deep fried! these look like falafels, the meat inside is nicely seasoned and soft
— chicken legs– very underwhelming, definitely was not marinated long enough
— mishkaki– so mushy! sitting in an acidic marinade for too long perhaps
— our biggest gripe was that everything seemed to have the same seasoning sprinkled over top
Extra star for friendliness– will be back if we are in the area.

5 stars for excellent food and hospitality. The blend of Indian and African spices speaks for itself. It’s a true homage to the rich political history of East Africa. Chutneys come alongside the beautifully grilled meats. Cassava chips are a unique alternative to fries. Toronto is, already, an ethnically diverse culinary city, but this food still manages to stand out. It’s not a sit down, just a grab and go. I would love to see it grow into a full blown restaurant.
To the owner, keep doing what you’re doing. All the best to you.

First time I tried their food was at a wedding that they had catered. We had their beef ribs and cassava which were absolutely fantastic.
There is a ton of flavor on the take-​out menu. I recommend you call in your order to save time because they make everything fresh.
This place is my favorite take-​out in all of Toronto.

Best $ 7 I have ever spent on lunch! Chicken Mishkaki Roll was so flavourful that I don’t want the taste to go away from my mouth. The portion they serve is also good to fill you up for lunch. I am coming back here again and again and again.
The food takes a little time but that’s good because I know it’s being made fresh.

Another great experience from Pili Pili! Wonderful lunch for our family birthday lunch. Classics did not disappoint — Chicken, ribs, kebabs, mogo, fries, daal!
Tried new creations too — cheeseburger samosas were an interesting invention and mixed reviews amongst the older generation but I thought they were great. Pili pili poussin poutine with chicken was ridiculous! So spicy, so cheesy, so saucy, so delicious. Would recommend and would order again for sure. The new chicken pakora was also really tasty and a great starter.
Everything is really good and it’s hard not to order too much food. Great for lunch leftovers though!

Great service!!! Rating 5* for sure. It was my first time here and had ordered their grill special. Really like the potatoes & beef short ribs. The chicken was good & same with the rice but there are better places around the same block. Food overall rating 3.5*. The amount of food feeds about 2 people $ 45.00.
I will however, go back for service.

I’ve been here a few times. The food is absolutely amazing. Turkey samosas when available are one of the greatest things I’ve ever eaten. The ribs are just incredible. I live in the west end and am more than willing to make the drive for these ribs. Highly recommended to anyone who likes to bbq ribs. Get the basting sauce and powder. Takes the ribs to another level. I could keep going but I’m still eating. Took a break to write this review. Great place and great food!

Great little spot in Scarborough!
The service is great and they take accountability for any mistakes (forgot to start an order once because they were swamped, understandable).
The food is made with great care and quality consistently — hard to come across these days.
Here are the items I’ve had so far…
Snacks:
Chicken and jerk chicken samosas: made very well, fresh and tender meat.
** they have random samosa promotions, try them out!
Mogo: the best fries I’ve ever had. It also comes with their home made spicy sauce.
Take-​out Menu:
AAA Beef Ribs: the best ribs I’ve had in the city. I was skeptical at first but one of the owners encouraged me to try it and now I’m hooked. The meat is soft and it’s cooked perfectly. The seasoning is bang on too.
Chicken breast/​chicken leg quarter: I’m not a huge fan of the burnt style of cooking. The meat is tender and juicy inside but the skin is usually over-​done but I think that’s the style of cooking. My colleagues love it, I’d give it ⁴⁄₅.
Marinated Meats:
AAA Beef Ribs: A smaller quantity compared to the take-​out menu but same quality ribs. It really is cooked to perfection.
In terms of seating, there’s only two tables. It’s more of a take-​out/​catering type business.

Best African style ribs in Toronto! Fresh, tender and excellent marination. Also plan on trying the tiffin service as well where food can be delivered /​ordered for dinner (all fresh!). Great service and like the staff! Will be back for sure and often :)

The menu is perfectly suited for anyone who loves BBQ, East African style, with their unique tang of pili pili sauce and well/​evenly marinated, soft, juicy meats… you will keep coming back and convince others to come as well, the way I do!