So after seeing all the posts flooding my Facebook about Puerto Rico Cafe, in Manassas, VA., we…read moredecided to make the one-hour drive to Manassas, yesterday, to see what all the hype was about. If you're even thinking about indulging in amazing Puerto Rican food, you need to make the drive to Puerto Rico Cafe in Manassas, VA. I'm serious, it's absolutely worth it. My Scottish fiancé and I (I'm Panamanian) literally drove from Frederick, MD, to Manassas, VA, just to eat there, and I would 100% do it again without hesitation. From the very first bite, I felt like I was back in Puerto Rico during my short but unforgettable year living there. The smells, the flavors, the warmth it hit me right in the soul. The carne frita...Perfect. Crispy edges, juicy pork, seasoned exactly how it should be flavorful and comforting in that "this tastes like home" kind of way. You can't fake that kind of flavor. It reminded me of my mom's cooking and even the food from my beautiful Panama. The pollo en crema de ajo was incredible. The sauce was creamy and full of real garlic flavor, but not overpowering, just perfectly balanced. My husband, who grew up eating completely different British/Scottish food, would not stop talking about it. That says a lot. The pollo en salsa criolla was just as delicious tender chicken with peppers and onions in that classic criollo sauce that tastes like it's been simmering all afternoon. The arroz blanco and arroz con guandules were cooked to perfection not mushy or sticky, but fluffy just like well-cooked rice should be. The yucca wasn't oily; they were crispy, nicely golden brown, and the tostones (patacones in my country) were crispy and lightly salted. And the desserts... listen. The quesitos con guayaba were flaky and buttery, filled with perfectly sweet guava. The pastelillos de guayaba were crispy on the outside, sweet and slightly tangy on the inside. We should have ordered more, I'm not even joking. Now we also ordered parcha and guava homemade juices to go. Nothing completes a meal without a sweet pucker of juice. This wasn't just lunch or dinner. It was an experience. If you're craving authentic Puerto Rican food made with love, this is it. We didn't just find a café we found a little piece of the island right here in Virginia. Thank you for the amazing experience, from a Panamanian and Scotsman. We will definitely be returning.

Fantastic! I'm Puerto Rican and this is the best Puerto Rican food in the DMV. We got multiple…read moreempanadillas peril, ensalada de papa, and some tostones. It was great! I just got back from San Juan last week and this was better than some of the restaurants there.

I've been coming to La Famosa for years and realized I've never left a review, easily 20+ visits…read more My apologies, because this place has earned one many times over. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the service is always top notch. It's rare to find a restaurant that delivers this level of consistency, but La Famosa does it every time. The best part is your favorites are always on the menu. If you have the chance, grab a seat at the bar and ask for Brandon. He's an outstanding bartender who is friendly and very attentive. One recommendation you absolutely should not skip is the pastelillos. They are incredible and have become a must order every time I visit. If you're in the Navy Yard area and looking for a restaurant that gets everything right, La Famosa is an easy five star choice.

Puerto Rican cuisine in Navy Yard. This place was opened 3 or 4 yrs ago directly across from Vida…read morefitness. They have a great selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages and the food is amazing. I often get tripleta with plantain. Try it out!

Had a lovely light dinner at Pikoteo last night. It was fantastic. Sat on the patio and enjoyed a…read morelovely cool evening. We had the chicharrones and the ribs, both were absolutely fantastic! Good drink prices, we also had the fries in beef tallow, which were crispy and delicious. They had a special lasagna made with Brisket and plantains, that we will be back to try it looked Amazing! Worth a try!!

4.12.25 I came for…read morelunch with a friend to celebrate her birthday. Upon entering, there was only one table of patrons. When those patrons left, while we were there, only one additional table was occupied. They aren't very busy even on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with a mural, colorful string lights, and decorative pillows. There is limited parking in front of the restaurant. They also have patio seating. Our server was wonderful - friendly, attentive and helpful answering questions and accommodating my friend with requests for her food. Although I love the ambience and service, I have mixed reviews on the food. The beef empanadas and flan were delicious, however, my smoked brisket mashed potatoes and potato wedges were just average. Although our server said that the brisket is popular and highly recommended, I thought it was chewy, hard, and the barbecue sauce wasn't anything memorable. It didn't really stand out and I have definitely had better brisket at Mission BBQ. My friend or mofongo, brussel sprouts, and Ropa Vieja. She she said of the three, the Mofongo was her favorite and really good. She also liked the brussels sprouts. Final thoughts: beautiful ambience, great service, but mixed reviews on the food.

It's quite rare to see a sit-down Puerto Rican spot around here (I've mostly only had food truck…read moreversions across the country). I'm happy to have found Sofrito! The place is nicely decorated and spotless, and the staff were friendly throughout. While I don't claim to be an expert in Puerto Rican food, overall the flavors were excellent. We started with the empanadillas, which were crispy and hot. The canoas were also delicious. The plantains were perfectly ripe and sweet, and the meat filling was flavorful and provided a nice savory balance. For entrees, we all went with combo plates. Each comes with pickled onions and a small side salad (kind of like a pico de gallo), plus your choice of rice, like white rice, tostones, maduros, or seasoned rice like arroz mamposteao or arroz con gandules. The pollo was moist with a really nice aromatic seasoning on top. The pernil asado was tender with crispy skin. The bistec encebollado was my favorite. The beef was very tender, tangy from the vinegar marinade (it actually reminded me a bit of Filipino adobo), and full of flavor. Both seasoned rice options were yummy, though we all slightly preferred the arroz mamposteao as it was a bit more flavorful. We finished with flan de queso, which tasted fresh and wasn't overly sweet. Street parking was easy even on a Saturday evening. I'd go there all the time if I lived nearby!

Came here for lunch a few weeks ago, since I was in the area. Didn't know what to expect because I…read morewas the only patron in the restaurant. The decor of the restaurant was cute. I had the mofongo (with the garlic sauce) with the carne frita (fried beef). I'm Puerto Rican and the carne frita was probably the best I've ever had. It was crispy but not hard and it was very tender and tasty. And the garlic sauce ... OMG, so delicious. I also got chicken and pizza empanadas and a plantain soup to go. Both were pretty good too. The waiter was nice and attentive and made good suggestions. My only complaints are that I had to pay for parking and I thought the food was a little pricey for PR food/lunch. But considering the portions were decent, that there aren't a ton of PR restaurants in MD and that it was delicious, I would go back there if in the area again.

Saw this on a YouTube vlog. Plentiful food & good prices. Not the most dazzling place inside, but…read moreit gets the job done. Was disappointed that they didn't have oxtails when we went. But overall it was a good experience.

They always have good food and they don't skimp. Lots of seating!…read more Is buffet style so the food is precooked but definitely fresh! Service is fast and they are always kind.

I was super stoked to find out that this truck was run by Puerto Ricans. It was my first experience…read morewith PR food since I moved down here and was really looking forward to it. Empanadas: I got the sausage and peppers and the chorizo Mac. The chorizo Mac, to me, was not worth jt. The Mac was flavorless and so was the chorizo. And there wasn't that much meat. The sausage and peppers though was delicious. Although neither are typical PR fillings it was nice to have that fried shell in my hands again. Smothered Tostones: I don't know what to think of these. It was ok but not great. Tostones we're not crispy but it could be because they were covered with an absolute mass of food and pasted together with some melted cheese. The cheese caught me off guard, not sure if I missed it on the description of the meal or if it wasn't there. The rice and beans could have used a bit of seasoning but was ok. The meat was actually seasoned decently and there was a good amount of it on there for the price. I would get these again and ask for the tostones to be on the side. If possible I would want them to be a bit thinner too cause I don't care for chunky plantains that are that thick. Service was amazing, they were nice, quick, efficient and willing to work with what you needed and offered alternatives to what they didn't have. Ambiance is just a food truck, so not sure what you expect with that. Overall, I look forward to trying these guys again and trying some of the more authentic flavors to remind myself of home.

The food here is great I definitely recommend it, the service is fast because it comes out of a…read more food truck.

Some of the best PR food I've ever had! Everything was…read moreflavorful. From the drinks to the food My favorites: Drinks - Ten Cuidado & Crashboat Food - carne Frita. Ensalada de Pulpo Can't wait to come back! Salsa dancing on first FRIDAY of every month!

Visited Qui Qui DC for a friend's birthday dinner and I was pleasantly surprised by how well they…read moreturned this venue around to place their new beautiful restaurant. After moving the location, this place is now where they can proudly call home and boy did they make it look beautiful. The location is a bit small so incoming crowds had to wait outside until their time arrived, not the best in the cold weather. However, service was fantastic, very pleasant and lively staff. Shoutout to our waitress Jaime! Drinks: I didn't get any of their cocktails but instead enjoyed my traditional vodka soda. Appetizer: there were several appetizers on the table but I only had the Bacalaitos (not pictured) which was a little too salty for me. Main Dish: it's safe to say that I'm not the best judge when it comes to what makes a great Mofongo. But, having indulged in Mofongo from a local spot in Puerto Rico, I have a little understanding of which flavor profiles must be in the dish. This dish, had those profiles!!!!! It was so delicious and too good to not finish off-ate all of it LOL. The shrimp on top was also a winner, perfectly prepared and well seasoned. No dessert at the end just lots of laughs and good vibes. But overall everyone thoroughly enjoyed their dishes and the variety of options on the menu. It was safe for vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, and the meat eaters. We all enjoyed! Note that they are good at keeping groups on time with table use so FYI in case you want to support but have late folks who like to stroll in at odd hours. Best to keep your party on time!!! Overall, I will be back to try another dish and simply support.