Had a great time at Alamar Dominican Kitchen on grand ave and Valdez. Paul was wonderful and really…read moreenjoyed chatting with him. Fold is incredible and I strongly recommend

Popped in for a lunch business meeting. Made reservations but definitely didn't need it as I…read morearrived after the lunch rush. The server/host for the afternoon, Paul, was absolutely great, friendly, and made me feel at home. While I waited for my guest, I ordered the tostones (twice fried green plantains) and the Island Vibes Rum Punch. Tostones came out crisp, hot, and with an aioli dip. Just delicious. Maybe could have used a touch more salt, but still yummy. The aioli was a great addition. My cocktail was also delicious and I could have easily put a few of those away. But... work. When my guest arrived, we ordered a couple of dishes to share: Dominican "Spaghetti" (Udon noodle, confit garlic, pork longaniza, beef salchichon, tomato sazonado) and the El Barrio Picadera (Chicharron de puerco - crispy pork belly, beef salchichon, pork longaniza, lime, pickled red onion, honey mojo, and a side of tostones). Wasn't sure what to expect from the spaghetti but it was slurpingly delicious. The sauce was savory, not sweet, and the pieces of pork sausage and beef were perfect additions. The Picadera was equally great, almost like a tapas plate of assorted meats. The crispy pork belly had lots of tasty fat to add flavor and moisture. Def enough food for two. Alamar isn't a huge space, but it's cozy inside with a see through to the kitchen. Dinner service has outdoor seating available as well. Will most definitely be back to try the more expansive dinner menu.

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.

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.

Finally came here this morning and it was a great experience! The worker was suuuper friendly, I…read moregot a mocha frappe and the lomo empanada. The empanada was soooo delicious, and their portions will fill you up! I forgot to get sauce like chimichurry to dip my empanada in as I normally do elsewhere at another empanada shop, but the lomo by itself was very tasty! Super clean, lots of parking, and a lot of people dining in on a Friday morning, and there's always someone ordering food, which is telling on their end! Would come back again!!

I'm giving Big E Cafe three stars mainly because they are CONSTANTLY sold out of the sausage and…read moreegg empanadas. This isn't just a one-time thing--almost every time I come here, they're gone. I usually get there about 11am. Big E is much closer to my house than their sister cafe, BAE, which is why I keep trying to come here instead. But if the sausage and egg empanadas are selling out this consistently, they're clearly one of the more popular items. You would think they'd adjust and stock more of them rather than repeatedly running out. I usually end up driving to BAE anyway, where they actually have them in stock and, in my experience, the presentation is better too. I'd much rather support the location closest to me, but it's frustrating to keep making the trip only to find the same popular item sold out again. Hopefully they start stocking according to demand.

I discovered this place back in April, my family and I finally went on June 29th…read more The food was amazing and very delicious. I ordered the Chicharrones De Pollo with Arroz Amarillo, paired with Habichuelas Coloradas, Tostones and a bit of salad. I also ordered the Piña Colada which was amazing, and refreshing. Apparently Zendaya had lunch here a month before my family and I visited?! Crazy! I would definitely visit again!

I love Puerto Rican food and I'm so thankful Parada 22 is in SF…read more Their food is absolutely delicious. There is so much flavor in all their dishes that you know there's love being poured into their food. I had the Pernil Asado and pork is not only flavorful but tender. My friend was interested in the Pastelon and highly enjoyed it. The Tostones were crispy and paired well with the sauce. Portion sizes are generous. The service is hospitable and friendly. They're helpful when you have questions about a dish. The vibe is chill and you settle in nicely once you get seated. I've mainly come by for lunch and both times were chill. Street parking can be difficult since it's in the Haight. Overall, a place you should try if you enjoy Puerto Rican food or want to try it.

I came here on Friday night with a friend. Staff does a good job checking on us. However, one of…read moretheir recommendations was a huge fail. Amongst the items they recommended was the ribs and chicken combo. Ribs were tender but they were just basic bbq sauce ribs. My friend was disappointed since he expected them to lean on Caribbean flavors. I had the chicken and oxtail combo which included rice and beans, and plantains. Decent size portion with a couple of oxtails, two thighs and drumstick. The proteins were moist and tender, but very under-sauced. The collard greens were tender and velvety! I'd suggest that too. It can get loud. But I think that was mostly because people are compensating when one table is loud.

This was my first time having Caribbean food and it did not disappoint. Everything was flavorful…read moreand cooked so well. First, the plantains were so crisp outside and super soft inside. The sweetness from the plantains paired so well with the savory flavors of the meats. The jerk pork was tender, crisp in some spots, and delicious; the jerk chicken was perfectly cooked, well-roasted on the outside, and not at all dry inside; the oxtail was yummy and so tender. My favorite was definitely the jerk chicken. Then, previous to this plate, I've only had red bean rice, which was soggy rice mixed with red beans, so the seasoning on this rice surprised me, and it tasted so good. Besides the yummy food, the staff at this establishment were super welcoming and generally friendly. I haven't been met with such warm service in a while.

This place makes me want to visit San Mateo just to eat here!…read more I am currently on a very difficult journey to try everything on the menu, but the problem is I keep wanting to reorder the same staples, especially their famous Cubanos. Everything I've tried has been delicious, and the sauces are seriously amazing. They make their own chimichurri sauce, a super spicy habanero sauce, and a creamy white sauce that somehow makes every bite even better. The fresh juices are also worth trying. You can tell they're actually fresh. This spot is flavorful, memorable, and absolutely worth going out of your way for.

Went on a hike nearby and found this place for food afterwards…read more It's a small restaurant with some outdoor seating as well, right on El Camino. The place wasn't very busy . They have a variety of options , including salads, bowls, wraps and sandwiches. They also had multiple customizable options for vegetarians or vegans that included impossible patty, broccoli or veggies . I got the Quesawrap with Maduros ( plantains ) and veggies options. It came with a side salad as well. Unfortunately , they made the wrap with some seafood or meat , the 1st time. Luckily ,I checked before eating and notified the staff. They made a new one for me and comped off some amount from the bill. The staff was very friendly. They also have a bunch of interesting sauces . Would try this place again

Haven't been back for ages. Just remembered about this place for my birthday and decided to try it…read moreagain. Everything was delicious! Roasted mussels were tender and plump , super fresh. Empanadas were amazing. Slightly sweet to offset the punchy spice. Shredded skirt steak was very tender and juicy with really nice flavors. Carribean chicken was flavorful and bright with green and other veggies. Will definitely make this a regular place! The wait staff were also very friendly and nice.

Been wanting to do this review for years! La Bodeguita del Medio brings a little slice of Havana…read moreright to Palo Alto. From the lively atmosphere to the warm hospitality, it's the kind of place where you lose track of time because you're too busy enjoying great food and even better company. If it's your first visit, the Seafood Ajiaco is a must. The combination of stewed lobster tails, clams, and shrimp in a rich tomato bisque is packed with flavor and perfect for sharing. The Paella Cubana is another standout, loaded with shrimp, chicken, chorizo, and mussels, comfort food with a Cuban twist. After dinner, head to the back patio. Grab a cigar, pour yourself a Havana Club Añejo Especial (or a dark rum if that's your style), and settle in for good conversations and even better memories. It's one of those rare spots where the experience is just as memorable as the meal. Yelp Elite Tip: Don't rush this one. Come hungry, stay for dessert, then make your way to the patio. The best part of the evening starts after dinner.