** Updating previous review with more tapas rankings **…read more Yuca Frita (9.5/10): These are so freaking delicious, wow. The cilantro aioli was an amazing dipping sauce. They really are fried to perfection. Frituras de Maiz: (10/10): Wow, these fritters are also amazing. They come with such a rich sauce. The fritters are exploding with flavor. Cazuela de Coliflor Asada (9/10): Insanely good dish. The cauliflower has perfect texture, complemented by the pistachios. The sauce is SO good. The cauliflower soaks it up so well. Chicharrones (9/10): Melt in your mouth pork belly. The pork skin crust was perfect. The sauces really make most of the dishes here. This dish is no different - I loved the sauce. Ropa Vieja (9/10): Perfectly slow cooked meat. One thing that really stood out to me was actually the white rice. The rice was VERY high quality, and I appreciated it so much. It's rare to come by rice this good. It had the perfect texture, chew, and fragrance. Ropa Vieja de Hongos (9/10): Pretty much the same as Ropa Vieja above. The mushrooms are delicious, and the dish is just as good whether your order the mushroom or steak version. Empanada del Carne (9/10): Oh man, the crusts are so good. This is pretty on par with the ones I just had in Puerto Rico. Chuletas de Cordero (8/10): The seasoning is heavenly. I was licking the lamb chops clean. Croquetas (8/10): Very solid croquetas. Wouldn't say it's a must-order, but you can't go wrong with them. Costillas a la Guayaba (6/10): The first time I had this it was really nicely marinated, and the rib meat is so tender that it almost falls off the bone. The second time, the meat was dry. Maduros con Tocino (6.5/10): This dish was pretty good, but got overshadowed by the other ones. Pulpo (6.5/10): Octopus was tender and savory. The potatoes were too salty. Camarones a la Plancha (6.5/10): Solid dish, but I enjoyed some other ones even more. Ensalada de Aguacate y Pina (6/10): The salad was a bit too sour, and that sourness overpowered the dish. It was a great blend of ingredients, though. *** and one dessert *** Churros con Chocolate (8.5/10): Big crunchy fluffy churros!! The chocolate sauce is amazing (not really spicy at all). You have to get this for dessert!!

Had a great dinner. 4 stars instead of 5 only because the service was a bit slow. They had plenty…read moreof runners but not enough folks taking orders. The sliders, which were not on the menu, were fantastic. The beef empanadas were good. The beet salad was excellent. The mushroom balls were good. Tres leches very good. I'd recommend. Nice place inside. Parking close by.

Came here as a recommendation from an aunt and did not disappoint…read more As soon as you walk in you can feel the energy and vibes, the music mixes playing in the background a real honey vibe our waitress was very attentive and super kind The churrasco was perfectly seasoned and cooked pretty well. I've been on the hunt for a banging churrasco dish since coming from PR and had yet to find one but this place did just that! The pulpofongo was soooo good and the pieces of chicharrón adentro muah My son loved the rice and beans and so did I Definitely can't wait to come back

If you're looking for bold Dominican flavors and a warm, welcoming vibe, Mofongo Factory absolutely…read moredelivers. We started with an oxtail dish served over mashed plantains, layered with pork, onions, and a blend of seasonings, all brought together with a rich, flavorful sauce. Every bite was tender, savory, and perfectly balanced, you can tell this is comfort food done right. We also ordered a side of crispy pork with yellow rice and beans, and it did not disappoint. The pork had that perfect crisp on the outside while staying juicy inside, and everything paired beautifully with the fresh vegetables on the side. Service really made the experience even better. Melissa, our waitress, was sweet, professional, and incredibly accommodating, she made sure we had everything we needed without ever feeling rushed. The ambiance ties it all together. The decor gives you that authentic island, Dominican feel, making it a great spot to relax and enjoy a meal. Just a quick note: they serve beer and wine only, which still pairs nicely with the food. Overall, this was an amazing experience from start to finish. I'll definitely be back!

Faros Restaurant opened recently next to the Second Street Market behind Aztec Restaurant. This…read moreDominican restaurant offers takeout and full service dining in a cozy and clean dining room. I stopped by here mid afternoon for an early dinner. The place was not busy and the staff was in the kitchen. It did take a while for someone to come out as I was looking over the menu offerings and I decided to eat here and took a seat at a table. I placed my order for the Empanadas Trio ($9 plus tax) and the Spaghetti with House Cream Sauce ($14 plus tax) and chicken (add $2). I was brought over some cold water and complementary plate of homemade fried crisp tortilla chips and fresh tomato salsa. The Empanadas Trio came out first, very hot, 3 good sized deep fried empanadas, 1 filled with cheese, 1 filled with shredded chicken & cheese, and 1 filled with ground beef. The shell was light and crisp and ketchup and tangy orange dipping sauces were provided. I would say their empanadas are some of the best I've had in the area! Next, the Spaghetti entree came out, a modest portion served in a bowl. The spaghetti was cooked soft with a light cream sauce not too rich and pieces of boneless pulled chicken, some pieces were chewy. After I was finished, I requested the check, but the total was initially incorrect since they charged me an additional $6 for shrimp instead of $2 for chicken. I saw the staff try to fix my check on the computer, but there was no pollo chicken option. I already knew the total with tax should be $26 and change and I paid cash with tip rounded up. Overall, I pretty good meal here and I would definitely order the empanadas again and try some other things next time. They also have a tres leches cake too.

The six of us arrived at Faros for a late Sunday afternoon lunch in mid-June. It is a small but…read morecute restaurant located on a small side street off Waverly Street (Route 135). There is a big parking lot conveniently across the street. We were greeted by Yudi (pronounced Judy), the co-owner, who explained what some of the items are and made recommendations. We started our meal with some cold drinks. Maracuya (Passion Fruit), Morir Sonando (Milk with Orange), and Mango. All were very delicious and refreshing. We ordered several appetizers. Empanaditas Trio - three flaky pastries one each filled with cheese, chicken and cheese, beef and cheese. Who doesn't like deep fried goodness stuffed with tasty fillings. Mofonguito Trio - three mini mofongos (mashed fried plantains) one each stuffed with chicken, shrimp and fried pork belly. Order this if you want to sample what mofongo is like. The best appetizer was the Picalonga, which is a sampler platter consisting of pork belly, cheese, pork sausage, salami, and fried plantains. It was so good that someone in our party ordered it for their meal. This platter is highly recommended and people will be fighting over who will get the last piece of the crispy pork belly. For the main course, we ordered the Pernil (roasted pork) and Chicharron (fried pork belly) lunches. This can come with either white rice and beans or pigeon peas, or rice with beans or pigeon peas and a salad. We are also ordered mofongo de pollo (chicken) with white garlic sauce. I had the mofongo de chicharrones with red tomato sauce and white sauce on the side. My mofongo was better than what I had in San Juan, Puerto Rico! One person did not order a main dish and just wanted to share with someone else. Everything was delicious and boy did we really love the crispy chicharrón. Also, ordered Yuka fries on the side. Yummy! If you're craving good Latin cuisine, this restaurant is a must-visit. The warm, inviting atmosphere with great service makes it an ideal spot for a delicious meal. Highly recommended!

I've always heard about this place but I've never been until now, and I'm so upset I've been…read moremissing out all of these years. I will say the line and wait was a bit much, but I did go at lunch time on a Friday so that's to be expected. Also, there's a bit of a language barrier with some people so it takes a little longer 1/2 chicken with extra onions 10/10 It was so juicy and flavorful, wish I would've got a whole one Bolitos de papa 7/10 Not bad in taste but should be a little cheaper Chicharron with yellow rice n tostones 7/10 Rice was flavorful and tostones were fresh Chicharron was mainly fat, so I'd opt to pick my piece next time Maduros 10/10 They give the whole plantain and it was cooked to perfection Fried pork & yellow rice 3/10 Wasn't a fan of the way it was cooked, almost like it was boiled They give good portions for the price, but just pay attention to the pieces of meat you get. Inside was clean, and I like that you can see them chop your meat.

Alex Chimi's is a true neighborhood gem in JP. It's a pickup-only spot, but don't let that fool you…read more-- they load you up with a tray of delicious Dominican food that seriously delivers. The pollo a la brasa was juicy and flavorful, and the chicharrónes were crispy and satisfying. Pro tip: ask for the sautéed onions on top -- they take everything to another level. The portions are generous and the prices are great. Easily enough food to stretch into two meals, which makes this place an incredible value. Simple setup, amazing food, and absolutely worth a stop.

I ordered catering from merengue and it was a hit! All of my friends and family commented on how…read moregood the food was. 10/10 for flavor, quality, and quantity. Unfortunately the catering was slightly late vs my pickup time but they let me sit while I waited and checked on me while they were packing my order. The staff was so nice and updated me as my order was being packed up. I got to observe the ambiance and music which were both great. I'll have to come back and eat at the restaurant for dinner (I've done so but that was like 10 years ago).

Wow, what a fantastic restaurant!…read more We came in with a birthday party of five last night. We were seated right away at a comfy table in the middle of a colorful and lovely dining room. We all studied the menu for a long time, it was hard to pick. Eventually, here is what we settled on: One order of chicken and one order of beef pastellitos Two orders of sweet plantains One appetizer of chicharrones 1 frozen mango margarita A whole fried red snapper with rice and beans A large fish soup Beef stew Beef with onions and peppers Our server was completely fantastic and patient. This place is amazing! 100% reccomend!

I love the stew chicken plate, they have insane birria tacos and the ambiance there is great…read more Food generally travels well from the items I've ordered and they have homemade juices and horchata, plus the Jarrito's plug is always a plus Service is great, they'll walk you through the menu should you have any questions Definition of a neighborhood essential

Finally made my way back to try again. This time the chimichuri steak tacos were spot on. Also…read moretried the carnitas quesadillas which were awesome! Love the taste and cheese. Overall, a much different experience than before although they still have the think tortillas. Would definitely come back!

Tasty cocktails and mocktails and a good selection of Caribbean and South American dishes. Correct…read moreme if I miscategorized this, but that's what I go based on the menu. Of course there are some burgers and wings in there to keep it "American". Celebrated my birthday dinner here and had fun vibes all around. Thanks to the Top Mix staff and team for making it lively and exciting! Chill and friendly service, the layout is a little narrow except the front bar section. And I heard there is a speakeasy bar, which I haven't been able to try out yet. Hope to visit that bar soon next time.

I loved the vibes here! Between the DJ and decor, it was such a cute space…read more I think there's a few kinks that need to be worked out, but 100% worth trying again. Maybe they were understaffed? Our food took a while - me and my sister got the same thing and mine wasn't cooked correctly. Eggs were overcooked and sausage was sliced super thick and undercooked. I could tell the cook was rushing trying to get the food out. I feel for them! Our waiter was super kind and I 100% will give them another try.