AA’s Caribbean review: Street food made from scratch. Catch it before this food yard is shut down

What’s on offer?

Chestnut Bazaar is a temporary food and wellness space in a former vacant lot off Clanbrassil Street in Dublin. Food trucks, a sauna, and a communal seating area all contribute to the wonderful community vibe here. Trinidad native Eamon de Freitas, who started selling Caribbean food from his apartment during lockdown, then from a food truck in Harold’s Cross, joined the other food trucks in the yard in September. He makes everything from scratch: the dough for his patties and wraps, his own sauces and spice mixes. His Caribbean street food ranges from jerk chicken to roti wraps and spicy vegetarian options.

What did we order?

A beef patty, aloo pie chana and vegetarian roti.

How was the service?

You order and pay at the stall, and are called when your order is ready. The food is suitably packed for takeaway, but there are plenty of pallet tables for eating there.

[ Takeaway review: Chicken burgers loaded with flavour from a food truck with a great set-up ]

Was the food nice?

Layers of spices and a wonderful way with vegetables make this food memorably good. Two of our options happen to be vegan. The crispy aloo pie, made from sweet yeasted dough which has been filled with curried mashed potato and deep-fried, is sliced open before serving and topped with chana (stewed chickpeas) and home-made sauces, bringing wonderful flavours of tamarind, parsley, garlic, ginger, coriander and lime. The vegetarian roti wrap is cooked on the flat top, and filled with potato, pumpkin, chana, sweet tamarind and nice kick of hot sauce. The beef patty, the original Jamaican fast food, is a delicious mix of minced beef, hot peppers, garlic, ginger, onions and spices in a folded pocket of crisp curry pastry.

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What did it cost?

€24.50 for lunch for two people – beef patty €6; aloo pie chana €8; and vegetarian roti €10.50.

Where does it deliver?

Order on Deliveroo for AA’s boxes with chicken, halloumi or chickpeas with rice, pickled cabbage and pineapple salsa. The pepper sauce, frozen patties and jerk rub are available on AA’s new online store.

[ Takeaway review: Tasty Indian street food and plenty of old favourites ]

Would I order it again?

Most definitely. Get here fast as there are moves to shut down the food yard. You can sign a petition to keep it open until development work begins. Open Thursday and Friday 4pm-8pm, Saturday 1pm-8pm, and Sunday noon-5pm (or until the food sells out if earlier).