By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
After nearly two decades of serving up warm smiles, doubles, and perfectly seasoned roti in Burlington, D Hot Shoppe Restaurant has officially passed the torch. On March 28, 2025, the beloved Caribbean eatery changed hands — but its story remains rooted in community, culture, and an unforgettable legacy.
For co-owners Gabe and Simone Lou Hing, the journey began in 2005 when, after immigrating to Canada and struggling to find work in his field, Gabe — whose customers know him by his first name — found himself helping at his aunt’s roti shop in Oakville. That job would unknowingly spark a conversation that changed everything.
“Simone’s mother suggested we should do something on our own, which I never thought of,” Gabe recalled. “She was like the catalyst for us going in this direction…Simone is an outgoing person, and I had the cooking experience, so we said, ‘Okay, we’ll give it a shot.’”
What followed was a labour of love rooted in authenticity and teamwork. Simone greeted guests and built relationships with customers while Gabe made magic in the kitchen. The duo built D Hot Shoppe on two things that never wavered: consistency and quality.
“It was a combination of the good food, the quality of the food, and the consistency,” Gabe said. “That, and Simone being out front making friends with customers…that’s what brought us to where we were.”
Over the years, D Hot Shoppe became more than just a restaurant — it became a cultural hub. At a time when Caribbean cuisine was a rarity in Burlington, the Shoppe introduced the community to rich, vibrant flavours from Trinidad and Tobago. It also attracted notable fans, including members of the Burlington indie pop band Walk Off the Earth and Canadian actor Julian Richings. “One of the band members came in every week before he passed away,” Gabe said fondly.
But after almost 20 years, the physical toll of the business began to mount. “I’ve been on my feet since 18 [years old] in restaurants and hotels…my body started wearing down,” he said, citing sciatica and knee pain as growing concerns. A trip to Costa Rica in 2023 became the turning point. “I bent over to pick something up, and my back just gave out. I was on the floor for 15 minutes. That was when I really started to think — ‘I can’t keep doing this.’”
Their decision to sell aligned with another dream: retiring in the Caribbean. While scouting properties in Antigua, they came across a house near an international school, perfect for their youngest son. “Everything just started to line up,” Gabe said. “We came back in September 2024 and started looking for a buyer.”
That buyer turned out to be a familiar face in the Caribbean food scene — Lena’s Roti, a Trinidadian-owned chain with five restaurants across the region. “They’ve kept the name D Hot Shoppe and said they’re going to continue with the recipes,” Gabe said. “They kept on the staff too, and I trained the cooks for the last four or five years — so the food shouldn’t change.”
What has changed is the bittersweet sense of finality for the couple who poured their hearts into building the restaurant from scratch. As Burlington grows and evolves, so too does the legacy of D Hot Shoppe — a testament to risk, resilience, and representation.
“I think we had a good impact,” Gabe said. “We gave people good quality food, at a good price…and we brought something international to Burlington at a time when it didn’t exist here.”
As the aroma of jerk chicken and curry goat continues to waft through the doors of D Hot Shoppe, it carries with it the good vibes of the couple who started it all — and the unmistakable flavour of home cooking.
