Trader Joe's Roti with Thai Red Curry Review: Flatbread & Fire

You know that moment when you spot something new in the freezer section, and your brain goes oooh before your wallet can catch up? That was me when I saw Trader Joe's Roti with Thai Red Curry. Roti? Yes. Thai curry? Double yes. Together? Let's go. But once I actually tried it, it turned out to be one of those "looks better than it tastes" situations.

Review

Trader Joe's Roti with Thai Red Curry is a frozen entrée featuring three flaky roti and a portion of spicy Thai red curry. It clocks in at over 800 calories for the whole thing, which is a lot for what feels like a small plate.

Let's start with the good news: the roti is fantastic. Flaky, chewy, buttery, and the kind of thing I would happily eat by itself with a dipping sauce or just plain. If Trader Joe's sold these on their own, I'd stockpile them like toilet paper in 2020.

Now, the curry. It's got solid Thai flavor but comes in hot like "surprise, you'll need water" hot. I like spice, but this didn't feel like a balanced heat. It just felt aggressive. While the flavors weren't bad, the portion was small and oddly unsatisfying. There's not much in terms of substance. You get some sauce, some slivers of vegetables, and… that's kind of it.

When paired with the roti, the idea makes sense: dunk the bread, soak up the curry, but the result was underwhelming. After finishing it, I was still hungry and wondering how something with so many calories managed to leave me wanting more.

Would I buy it again? No. But would I buy the roti alone in a heartbeat? Absolutely. Trader Joe's, please take notes. And yes, the pantry staple Thai Red Curry Sauce was smoother than this without the hot heat.

How to Serve

• Heat in the microwave or on the stovetop
• Serve with extra steamed veggies or tofu to bulk it up
• Skip the curry and use the roti with your own dips or curries

Creative Uses

• Roti tacos - Fold them up and stuff with scrambled eggs or grilled chicken
• Dippers - Tear and dip into hummus, tikka masala, or a fried egg yolk
• DIY wrap - Fill with leftover curry or anything savory

FAQs about Trader Joe's Roti with Thai Red Curry

Below is a list of frequently asked questions about this product:

Final Summary

Trader Joe's Roti with Thai Red Curry is a bit of a bait-and-switch. The roti is genuinely great and worth raving about, but the curry is fiery, thin, and far from satisfying. Combine that with a high calorie count and a small portion, and it just doesn't add up. If the roti ever makes a solo debut, I'll be the first in line. Until then, this one's a pass for me. It had me wishing for some old discontinued classics back in its place, like the Thai Eggplant.