Small spot with a welcoming atmosphere and very friendly service. The carne asada plate was packed…read morewith flavor and the portions were generous. Everything tasted fresh and homemade.

A Hondurian cafe that offers vegetarian, meat, and seafood options. My friend raved about this…read moreplace and I love supporting mom and pop restaurants so I had to try it. I tried the popular baleada, which is a home-made flour tortilla filled with a layer of mashed red beans, queso fresco, eggs and with or without meat (I got it with carne asada). The flour tortilla was just as other described - soft, buttery smooth, almost melt in your mouth goodness. The carne asada was dry and hard so I could've gone without. I bet a braised beef like barbacoa would've been perfect for this item. It also came with salsa and I selected mild which gave it a nice bright flavor. I also ordered a chicken tamale (they also offer pork) and I was surprised to find a whole chicken wing (no skin) stuffed into the tamale! I broke into it using a fork and hit something hard which turned out to be the bones. But honestly, this was one of the best tamales I've tried in a long time. Flavorful, moist, and a nice sized portion. It came wrapped in what I think was banana leaf. The service was fast on a Wednesday night and there were a handful of friendly patrons seated nearby. You could tell that they were regulars. The space was intimate with around 10-15 tables seating about 4 people each. Maya's Cafe menu has a wide assortment of dishes to choose from: serving breakfast dishes like chilaquiles, lunch items such as burritos, or soups and full on dinner plates with rice, beans, and choice of protein. There's even more selection and the whole menu is in Spanish so I'll be sure to use Google Translate next time!

It's such a struggle to find things I can eat while traveling for work and maintaining keto…read more I have to say you know you messed up when you order food to go and they provide you with 3 sets of cutlery. This place has no business being buried behind in SoFi Market. The ambiance is pretty quiet and dark since it's a small food court with multiple restaurant stalls. Ordered 3 entree platter with a garden salad. Cannot recommend this enough. That's hands down one of the best meals I've had in ages. 10/10 Lechon Vaca Frita Pechuga de Pollo The sauces set it off to 11/10 Ajo Sauce Habanero Ranch Habana Mayo Mojo Sour Cream Portions were huge, quality was good on every bite and service was quick and easy and I got to stuff my face back in my hotel. Win win win win win. If you want big portions with great flavors hit it

Came here for the Cuban Sandwich and it didn't disappoint. Good, all around flavors and I liked…read morethe pressed/grilled bread. Inside and towards the back of the food hall. No frills ordering from the kiosk and wait for your order.

I have heard about how good Boriqua Kitchen is for as long as they have been around. I live in…read moreSanta Rosa and I haven't been able to catch up with them until today. Boy have I been missing out. We have a couple of options here in Santa Rosa for Puerto Rican food but I have to say making the trip to where they are is so worth it. Chef Darren makes the best Puerto Rican food. Great food and great portions.

There are restaurants with great food, and then there are places with great people behind the food…read more Boriqua Kitchen is both. One afternoon in Hayward, my family and I showed up right at 6 PM, exactly at closing time. We had just left a family party but purposely held our appetite because our favorite Puerto Rican food truck was finally back in town. My wife and I were married in Old San Juan, and Puerto Rico will always hold a special place in our hearts. We even travel back to the island with our kids whenever we can. When Chef Darren saw how disappointed we were that we had missed them, he didn't turn us away. Even though they were already closed, he fired the grill back up and blessed our family with an incredible meal. That level of hospitality, heart, and genuine Puerto Rican warmth is rare. The food was absolutely amazing as always, authentic flavors that instantly take us back to the island, but the kindness and service meant even more to us. We'll always support Boriqua Kitchen. Truly the best Puerto Rican food in the Bay Area, served by people who treat you like family.

You Guava be Kidding Me…read more A bakery and juicery that has been serving up delicious Colombian specialties since 1999 in Colombia, before emigrating to the US and opening up shop here in Cambrian Park in 2014. Milohas (mil hojas) means a thousand layers in Spanish, and one taste of Milohas' pastries will make you understand why they picked that moniker. The Good: * Large shared parking lot * Friendly service * Covered outdoor dining * The crust of the empanadas was buttery, flaky, and delicious. All the fillings were good, but you have to try the Hawaiian filling! It was truly fantastic and had us wishing that's all we'd ordered. * Guava Finger has the same perfect crust and tasty guava jam--I could eat a dozen of these and come back for more. *oink oink* * Carissa really enjoyed their lentil soup. I didn't try it, so I can't comment. The Meh: * I kind of prefer the chunks of meat in Peruvian empanadas to the ground meat in Colombian ones, but that's just a personal preference. It was still delicious, so at the end of the day, it's all academic. The Ugly: * No indoor dining, and outdoor dining is limited to only a handful of seats. Conclusion: We've been on the hunt for the best empanadas in the South Bay, and we finally found them.

Finally tried Milohas as they've been on my list for a while and have a lot of great reviews. Oh…read moreman, was I disappointed. Ordered two empanadas: Spinach & Cheese and a Chicken & Potato. I wanted to get some desert items but they seemed to have very few things to choose from. I would have asked questions but inside the store was strangely loud and the woman who helped me was a low talker so I couldn't understand anything she was saying to me as it was. The empanadas are pretty large, as are the prices. $17 for the two. At this price point I was glad I decided not to buy more. Each comes with a tiny side of aji green sauce. They could have been more generous here. I found the spinach to be very salty and more breading than filling. The chicken one was a letdown. Chicken was lacking any flavor. For both the pastry was dry. Was only able to eat half of each and threw the rest away. Not really the kind of place you dine in for. You order at the counter and there is limited seating inside (in a way that makes you not want to dine in), and a few seats outside. Plenty of parking in the shopping center lot. This visit and subsequent review makes me feel sad. I want to support these unique, independent eateries but they make it difficult when the quality doesn't meet the high cost. Improvements would be to reevaluate their recipes, make the pastries less dry and dense, and maybe don't be so skimpy on the fillings.

spectacular service!!! a joy from start to finish! the food…read morewas incredible! I've had Peruvian food before but nothing quite like this! the combination of food and service really blew me away a cute and lovely restaurant where the people take time to get to know you, couldn't ask for better ambiance either!!! spectacular!!! 5 stars!!

Parking is very easy, staff are super friendly. We went on a…read morerainy weekday afternoon and the food was the perfect comfort. Presentation was gorgeous, and the flavors were there. We will be back to Inka's very soon!

I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Erick to discuss his management approach and culinary…read morephilosophy. We also discussed his upbringing in NYC and his long history in the Bay Area's challenging culinary scene. This conversation happened before I had the opportunity to taste the succulent Puerto Rican dishes on his menu. Chef Erick is a truly humble and professional culinary artist. He lets his cooking do the talking, allowing his ingredients and timely combinations to showcase his superb culinary skills. From our conversation, I learned that he genuinely cares about the quality of his ingredients. While we talked about his experiences cooking for all kinds of tables in the Bay Area, from VIPs and celebrities to daily blue-collar San Franciscans seeking standout meals, Chef Erick answered at least five phone calls. He diligently coordinated with his local suppliers to ensure he, and in turn his customers, would have access to nothing but the best ingredients during the upcoming weekend rush. Most Puerto Ricans, including those adopted (see Chef Anthony Bourdain's memoirs), know a Puerto Rican restaurant is truly judged by the quality and flavor of its Pernil. This slow-roasted pork shoulder or leg is marinated in a robust herb paste. Many Puerto Rican families guard their herb paste recipes as closely as The Coca-Cola Company guards its Coca-Cola recipe. Pernil is the centerpiece of holiday feasts and family celebrations. That's why I chose this menu to celebrate meeting Chef Erick. Without hesitation, he prepared for me--someone born and raised in Puerto Rico--his masterfully concocted pernil with arroz con gandules and a side of maduros fritos. I have to say, this was the best Puerto Rican food I have tasted in all of California, from Santa Rosa to San Diego. I have visited all the restaurants in the Bay Area: El Coqui, both Sol Foods locations, Parada 22, and Lola's Lounge in Sacramento. I admit, this is the best and most authentic plate of Puerto Rican cuisine I have enjoyed in 16 years exploring Latin Cuisine Restaurants in Northern California. If you like Puerto Rican cuisine and have not tried Puerto Rican Street Cuisine, you must add this restaurant to your "must-visit" places in California. Thank you to Ceci, all the cooks, and Chef Erick for helping me relive the experience of proper, authentic pernil y arroz con gandules like my abuelita used to make for us on "la lomita" in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico!

This has the best Puerto Rican food I have had- including in Puerto Rico! The carne was wonderfully…read morespiced, perfectly medium, and full grain meat through each chunk. The amazingly sweet and ripe plantains finish out a very generously portioned meal.

I ate my food so fast I didn't take a picture. Music, bustling energy, good vibes…read more I ordered the pork belly combo (comes with side of plantains, salad, and arroz con grandules). Cook time was about 20 minutes but I didn't mind because that means the chefs took their time to make it tasty. The first bite of the pork belly was an epic burst of flavor. The owner brought over sauces to try with the plate, and the dressing on the plantains worked for some reason. I was hitting the table because the food was so good!

The food was authentic and delicious. Served hot and fresh. The flavors were perfect for my wife…read morewho is not accustomed to Latin / Caribbean cuisine or any cuisine that has peppers involved . I was able to ask for some special spices and sauces that made it bring the heat the way i like ;)) The service was on point, everyone was friendly and offered suggestions based on our questions. The ambiance was great! You order at the counter and can sit anywhere. We chose to sit on the balcony overlooking the marketplace allowing us a great vantage point to enjoy some people watching. The plates were large so we were ready for a nap after we finished. We will definitely come again!

Nice Cuban restaurant in Palo Alto. Location is really good and ample parking is there at the back…read moreof the restaurant. The service was pretty good too with friendly host and servers. For food we ordered potato croquettes which were good and main course we had a grilled snapper with mashed potatoes and Caribbean curry which was delicious. The cocktail nacional #1 cocktail was pretty smooth as well. Recommend if you are in the area.

This place is classic and serves up some of the best authentic Cuban food in the bay. I've been…read morecoming to this restaurant for over 6 years and the staff is top notch. I'm always at the bar, checking out the unique rums and bartenders know their stuff. The great music and cigar lounge in the back add to the allure. The cigar lounge is closed off and no scent enters the restaurant but the ventilation in the lounge is great. Have some paella and stay for a Nationale. 10 out of 10 every time.