Been here since I was born and is still one of the best restaurants I have been to in Union City

Colombian food? Never had it, so I had to stumble into El Carretero to try it! Bandejo Paisa was the one recommended to me - nearly $28 now, but I had to do it for the experience! For starters, they speak minimal English here, so make sure to know some Spanish, be ready to point, or have Google Translate on hand. Within the Bandejo Paisa, the grilled skirt steak was thin and tough, a little hard to cut. The skirt steak was well seasoned though a bit too tough. The beans and rice? Oh, they were amazing! Not sure what's in them, but I did not see myself enjoying beans and rice so much. The slice of avocado and a fried egg were also delicious and unexpected, especially in the current times (*ahem* cost). Now for the plantain, it was enjoyable, but the main star of the show, the pork belly tasted candied, sticky, and reminded me of chincharrones. If you enjoy a fatty pork belly, then you'll definitely enjoy this main. Otherwise, you may stray away from it like I did. Overall, I think it was a good experience, but I wish that there was a more descriptive menu for those who don't know as much Spanish. read more

El Carretero Restaurant - Bandeja Paisa - Sandwiches Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

If I'm being honest all I have to say about this place is "WOW" it has great food and very friendly staff

Just had lunch. Everything was fresh bakery goods. Just had a chicken sandwich I was on the go but will return to have the delicious soups. I'm a soup girl. The staff kind patient and inviting. They even permitted my little dog to sit with me-that was a bonus. Delish!! read more

Excellent price Super clean Great customer service Food was AMAZING!!! And portions are big!!! Great price and pleased with this restaurant. Come visit them read more

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Delicious place! Would return-- very fresh fried seafood and other dishes. Delicious cafe con leche. Very very very leisurely service.. read more

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Thumbs down. Pollo guisado was a no. had no flavor whatsoever. Only color. And was too oily. Not even the liquid had flavor. would never order again read more

El Carretero Restaurant - a bowl of food - Sandwiches Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

I thought they were a Bubble Tea shop, so I was like, "do you Carry Taro?" And they were like "si, si, we are El Carretero!" I never did get my Bubble Tea, but I didn't care. What I did get was literally one of the best empanadas I've ever had in my life. Heavy and filling, but delicious. Reminds me of Venezuelan style, which makes sense since this is a Colombian place. They're neighbours you know. What to get: Empanada What not to get: Empathy For The Devil Why not: The Rolling Stones said so You like them: No Then you are banned from England: No, the Rolling Stones are a band from England They have a lot of great Colombian drinks and breakfast food as well, so you should definitely give it a try. The Chorizo that comes with potatoes is the pick of the breakfast bunch. The drinks include concoctions like Guayaba (Guava) and Maracuja (Passion Fruit) (not Drake). If they sold cereal, they'd be "El Carry-Cheerios", and if they were a Mexican dessert shop, they'd be "El Carry-Churros." If they read fortunes, they'd be "El Carry-Tarot", and if they were Italian, they'd be "El Carry-Torino." If they were stubborn and sexy, they'd be "El Carry-Taurus, and if they were a legendary gay black and white actor, they'd be "El Cary-Grant." This part of Union City is absolutely filled with all kinds of Latin Delights. It reminds me a lot of Elmhurst in Queens. You should come here and explore. I know I will. Many times in the future. Forget Pacino and Robert DE NIRO Forget your Deli, Soul Food and GYRO If you're like Bonnie Tyler and you need a HERO Get yourself straight to EL CARRETERO QUE. read more

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The staff here is very friendly and speaks both Spanish and English. The restaurant is clean, and the menu has many options. My issue was that I did not enjoy the food. The fried seafood is physically hard; it is too fried and doesn't taste good. The French fries were quite bland. Otherwise, it was an okay experience. I don't think I would go back though, especially given the many other options in the area. read more

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Horrible service lived close by for over 20 years . The service gets worse and worse you have.ladies who want to be models behind the counter who look at you and they decide when they gonna help you ! GOOD FOOD but, the service makes you go else where read more

Im not one to be critical of a small mom/pop restaurant but I've lost all respect for this spot. Went in for early dinner around 4pm and the food was stale. The arepas were super tough and not tasty. The chicharrón was dried out and rubbery. When we brought up the concerns with the waitress, with no compassion, she told us yes, they been there since the morning so they aren't fresh. WTF! Like no, that's not right. No offer to deduct it or replace with a fresh plate. They lost out on my business for good. Plenty of better tasting and better service Colombian businesses around. GO ELSEWHERE! read more

I seriously think these are the best empanadas I've ever had. The carne is tender, flavorful, and stuffed as full as you can get. They don't skimp on the filling. The pastry is Colombian style, which means a denser cornmeal instead of a crispy flour crust, so don't expect those, which seem to be more common. I prefer this style anyway, they're more flavorful and decadent. The hot sauce has a perfect balance of vinegar and spice. I've only had the empanadas as takeout, so I can't speak to the other food or service, but I will definitely try eating in next time. Stay tuned for an update. read more

El Carretero Restaurant - Carne Empanadas - Sandwiches Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

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My husband and I stopped in for a late lunch while we were in the area and were so glad we found this place. We ordered one beef and chicken empanadas, and ended up having to order another one for each of us because they were so good. The empanada shell was nice and crispy and they were stuffed with meat - it also helped that we got ones from a fresh batch they'd just brought out. The red sauce they give you to put on the empanadas is delicious (it's a little spicy, but not overdone). We also shared a grilled chicken sandwich and it was simple, but yummy. They bring you a bottle of mayo-ketchup, which is the perfect mixture of tangy and creamy. The service was great and while we didn't stay long, they made us feel comfortable and were very friendly. read more

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This place is one of the oldest Colombian restaurants in Union city, the food has always been good, the bandeja paisa is one of my favorite dishes there and for cold days I have rib soup with corn on the cob and yuca, its the best read more

El Carretero Restaurant - Sancocho de costillas, beef rib soup - Sandwiches Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

OMG!! This place is by faaaaaarrr the most amazing Colombian food EVER!!! Staff is friendly, food is fresh and amazing and INEXPENSIVE!!!! I read the other comments from other helpers saying the prices went up and the quality of the food is mediocre but with all due respect to everyone else.. I DIDNT think so, I do not where you can find an AMAZING well made beef empanada for less than $1.25. My chicharrón was $5 and it was HUGE, my juice mix of oranges and carrots (all natural from extractor made in front of you, not the bottled shit) was $5.50, my sancocho de costilla was $8 and my pechuga the pollo with rice, salad and beans was $11. I thought everything was cheap in you keep in mind the huge portions and the quality, this place is a NO brainer!! So my order went like this 2 empanadas de queso, q empanada de carne, Orange and carrot juice, portion of chicharrón, pechuga de pollo (4 huge pieces) grilled with salad, rice and beans and sancocho... grand TOTAL : $34 I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! read more

El servicio al cliente es súper pésimo la camarera prefirio tomarse una selfie que atenderme y tampoco la comida es una maravilla por esos precios tan caros e comido en mejores lugar por más atención y mejor comida almenos precio o igual no lo recomi para nada read more

I would give them more stars because the food is good. Their Issue is some of the staff. I understand everyone needs to work but if you don't like your job find something else. I went in to pick up some empanadas and order a dozen. One of the servers went to the kitchen to place the order and forgot about them. After waiting and seeing other orders going out. I asked what was going on and she ignored me. The other lady apologized and reordered them. There are many Colombian restaurants in the vicinity so they should take care of their clientele. read more

We enjoyed the fast service, the delicious food music and music videos. We give them 4 1/2 stars Half a star off because we were not greeted with "mi amor" or "mi corazon." Besides food, we need love too. read more

El Carretero Restaurant - Sandwiches Near Me - Union City, New Jersey

My husband and I ordered a bunch of beef empanadas and they were delicious! I would give the empanadas 4.5 stars. The reason why they are only getting three stars is because the customer service was lacking and they were a bit disorganized. Also, their coffee wasn't very good; I tasted more milk than the actual coffee. When we arrived, we waited for a long time for someone to not only tend to us but even to *acknowledge* that we were there. Meanwhile, there were like two women workers right in front of us (hard to miss us). When we finally got our empanadas, it was a bit tricky making the payment. We had to go through a couple of women to finally have someone take our payment. No clear direction on their part. All in all, delicious empanadas but poor experience, so I write disappointedly. read more

Ordered a churrasquito and menu price was $16.50. Was charged $23. Supposedly prices are subject to change- not fair. Would ask for price before buying. read more

This place is a gem. The food was true Colombian and delicious . The bandeja paisa was just how I remembered my Colombians friends mom made it. The price was perfect , food came out in 10 minutes will be back for sure, also the waitresses were very nice not rude like other places I been to around the area. read more

There are so many options on the menu. I got the oxtail soup; it was huge and absolutely delicious. The portions are HUGE, especially the bandeja paisa. I would definitely come again when I'm in the area read more

By far the best Colombian restaurant in the NYC area. I have been coming here for over 10'yrs. Yes, my opinion might be a little bias, but considering that I have had Colombian food everywhere, including Colombia, I say it's worth considering. Service is great and good is delicious. My plate of choice is Pechuga a la parrilla as well as bandeja paisa. I have had them in Colombia as well and have to say Carretero is on top. The beans from this place are amazing, nothing quite like it. The only con is that it's prices have been slowly climbing. Understandable since their competition, Noche de Colombia, has been charging outrages prices in comparison. I guess it was smart to raise their prices as well... Give Carretero a try, you won't regret it! read more

I Can't even express how much I love this restaurant. I have been coming here since I moved into the area (20 years) and it has been since the first day I tried it, until present, my favorite restaurant off all time. Their food is extremely good, they are not expensive at all, and the portion is truly enough for two people because I love this place so much I NEVER share. This is my first suggestion when asked if I want to get something to eat, my first suggestion for any event, and I have literally taken almost all of my friends to this location and EVERYONE has loved. I can't express how good the food is to the point my mouth is getting watery thinking about it. I'll end it off on I promise you will not regret it read more

*400th Review* So I was on a date and I was hungry like the wolf. Our prior plans of eating in Hoboken went downhill,(thanks to the MTA),But anyhow,I decided to eat here. El Carretero restaurant, is Colombian,and knowing Colombian food, it always fills you. Therefore,I restrained from the traditional Bandeja Paisa,and opted for a grilled steak sandwich instead. The sandwich is your typical latin sandwich,it came in ironed pressed slices of bread with savory onions,lettuce, and tomatoes. The steak was a bit dry,but it was not too tough nor rubbery. My friend ordered a carrot with orange juice,100 percent natural,it was fresh just wished they added a couple of ice cubes. But the juice was healthy. My friend also ordered the mondongo,(beef tripe soup),real good,a medley of chick peas,potatoes,chopped cilantros,green peas,it was real good,it came with rice and macaroni salad,the mac salad was bland though. So this spot in Jersey,is great for those who want good food,fast and friendly service. read more

One of the greatest, if not the greatest Colombian food on bergenline. Been coming here since I was a kid and every time the food amazes me more and more. Carne Asada con una postobon de uva all day baby! read more

Typically do take out and it never disappoints. Food is fresh, tasty and at a great price point. The portions are large enough to share, or for left overs the next day. The black beans are amazing- and this is coming from someone that lived in Miami all her life and been around some good ass black beans. Their empanadas are delicious, they are little pockets of meaty goodness. And let's not talk about their homemade spicy red sauce, you can just about put that on ANYTHING. A great local Latin food spot. Two thumbs up. read more

Absolutely love the sancocho!! My Brother is sick on a liquid diet and he enjoyed having a great soup. It sure made him feel better.

I have been going to this place for a long time. They never disappoint. The Bandeja Paisa is good. The empanadas are good, soups are awesome. Everything I've had here is good. The prices are low as well. read more

Really good food! Nice quiet place, reminds me of a truck stop, but it's very clean. The food is very affordable and comes in large portions! Their fried chicken, fried plantains, seafood platter, and fresh salads are great! The waitress was very nice, tho she only spoke Spanish, so I'm glad I was there with friends who did. I'll definitely be going back for more! read more

Great Colombian food the bandeja paisa is delicious their empanasdas Omg. No liquor great prices and ok service.. One of my favorite Colombian spots.. read more

From all the area this place will FEED you. I mean the plates are big the meat everything, they don't hold back. The service is fast but good, I go 2, 3 times a week for meetings or just my self. The prices are cheap as it can get, try the bandeja paisa if you are really hungry lol u will remember this comment. read more

This place is not bad. The food I ordered tasted good. The portions are huge and the prices are low. The staff is exclusively Spanish-speaking so I felt a bit like a tourist there. Don't get upset if your order gets lost in translation just repeat it to the waiter. They are friendly and quick to fix things. Cons - I saw a couple flies roaming around food. read more

Yummy empanadas and milk shake!!!!! Recommend this place for quick yet delicious service.

Great food. I've been coming here for years however these pass few months there has been some type of gas leak smell inside the restaurant. Please be cautious eating inside but if you order to go you should truly enjoy some good Colombian food. read more

Humble restaurant, good prices, very good food. Don't hesitate. Servers are Spanish speaking but they have picture menus. We've eaten there three times, always reliable. read more