Have ordered from there many times. Good comfort food for sure. Just not in the best part of town. The good news is they might still have a delivery service. Give them a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

What a great little hole in the wall. Food is fresh and piping hot! Talk about authentic Dominican Food this is the place to go. Great empanadas, pernil and rice were on point. Husband and wife duo make a great combo for this gem!! read more

Joel's Spanish Food - Menu - Spanish Near Me - Utica, New York

So delicious highly recommended definitely will be returning roasted pork and yellow rice hit different go get it

At 1:30 the other day, I love love, love the potato salad and it was NOT the BEST it was dry, and it looked like it had been sitting there for a couple days‼ I love their bananas, better boiled with onions and yucca, and I got that with some chicken. The chicken was awesome and that you got in the bananas were a little hard. was that very happy this read more

Yes !!! Loved the freshness of this place. We got a few things to try. Pulled pork with rice & beans. Fresh and moist. Chicken with price and beans. Plantains. Needed extra hot sauce but next time I'll bring my own. Very good. Affordable. Big portions. read more

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Dear empanada from Joel's. I love you... I knew this the first time I met you as the succulent flavorful beef juices hit my mouth I wanted to do nothing but to make love and sing to this with this wonderful delicacy that I was blessed enough to taste. I serenaded this empanada with the lovely song " my boo" by usher, as I continued to consume this wonderful masterpiece of a food while at the same time I cherished every moment I had left with it before I ate it . I was down to the last bite and at that time I made a life changing decision that I will forever regret I finished the empanada. I instantly realized my mistake and burst out into tears because i knew I would never get it back. I wish I could spend 1,000 more lifetimes with you I'm a better man because of you I cannot stop thinking about you. My love for you will forever be unconditional and eternal read more

Food here is great. Very authentic Spanish food. The tostones and mofongo are freshly made. Very recommended.

Spoiled chicken empanadas then to offer me another??! Like no please just return my money! This was years ago haven't been back since

Let me start by saying the food is really good. I had the roasted pork with Spanish rice and it really hit the spot. The pork was very juicy and flavorful, and they leave a small portion of the skin on for a tad bit of crunch/chewiness mixed in. The location here, however, is not quite suitable for the safety conscious.... Alright, it appears to be located in the hood. I'm fine with food spots in the hood, but you should be warned in case you're not: ...Crazy guy in the circle in front shouting at traffic... Smoke shops and liquor stores all around... Lots of police activity without anyone batting an eye.... And of course, camouflaged-clad guys with metal teeth.... I recommended you order a head of time. First of all, if you wanted to place a "to-go" order in the restaurant, then know that they told me "10 minutes" when they meant close to thirty. If you wanted to eat in, their are only a handful of uncomfortable booths that you will share with everyone with metal teeth waiting to pick up their food orders. I wish I could have tried the ox tail but they were all out. If you see this and get to try it, let me know how it was. I kind of feel like I missed out. read more

Outstanding food! A great selection of small and large plates and sides. The food is fresh and seems to all be made in-house. I had ordered roast pork with rice and beans. The pork was delicious, flavorful, and tender. The rice was moist and the beans provided a nice balance to the dish. Service was fast and friendly. Highly recommend! read more

Joel's Spanish Food - Roast pork with rice and beans. - Spanish Near Me - Utica, New York

I had the beef stew over yellow rice and beans and my daughter got the roasted chicken over beans and yellow rice. Also we got chicken empanadas as appetizers. The beef stew, rice, and beans was delicious. The beef was very tender while the chicken was too dry. The empanadas could use more stuffings and more flavor. It was a small place so it's more for take outs during busy hours like lunch time. But they do have a few booths in there for you to eat in. Large portions and very cheap. I got all that food and 2 drinks for $19. read more

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The food was really good and so was the service, the chicken and cheese empanadas were my favorite and the sweet plantains we're awesome. I haven't tried everything on the menu but I would definitely go back It is not expensive and it is very good, I recommend for sure!!! read more

Joel's Spanish Food - a variety of foods - Spanish Near Me - Utica, New York

The service was nice. We did not go inside. But a plus is that they have an outside window. The food was good just a little salty for my taste. read more

I have mixed feelings. Real beef, which is rarely found in low price restaurants. Not only real beef but plentiful for the price. Way too much salt. Salt could easily be added by customers but they pour it in during preparation and the result is a stroke bomb. The veggies look really nice, but they are over cooked, very warm and passed to the customer in a styrofoam container which means moisture can't escape. They are kept cooking in the container and the result is the peppers and onions are kind of limp and flavorless. Its a shame. They obviously put care in the preparation but I much prefer a little crunch and natural flavor in my veggies as well as much less salt. Seating is awful if you are overweight. Most people get stuff to go. The door to the dining area was actually blocked with chairs that were bolted to tables and designed for Americans of the fifties. Need a bathroom? Fugedaboutit! They don't have one. read more

This place is a true gem. I feel guilty that I have the same thing everytime I go, but the empanadas are addicting and only 1.50, plus they are made fresh to order. You simply cannot go wrong if you desire flavorful and affordable food. In addition, the place is very consistent. Everything from the food to the staff has remained the same since I first visited Joel's more than 5 years ago. It cannot be stressed enough to support family-owned restaurants like this. read more

Highly recommend Joel's Spanish Restaurant for good food with large portions and a good price. Chicken is moist and crispy skin, large portion of rice and beans and plaintains. Brought home left overs for 2 more meals! Yum! read more

Great food especially for this area. If you're looking for Dominican and Puerto Rican type of Hispanic food then this is definitely the place to check out. read more

Joel's Spanish Food - Stewed chicken with yellow rice and beans with a side order of sweet plantains. - Spanish Near Me - Utica, New York

The rotisserie chicken is very tasty very affordable Spanish food love the penne pork lots of options too

This is a busy restaurant, with some amazing soul food! We love to get the pork, and the plantains which are freshly cut up in front of you! The dining room is small, and filled with life and joy! We have never been disappointed by the service or food at this place, and we've been back many many times! read more

I would give this place five stars if they started making spinach and cheese empanadas. Otherwise this place is pretty good. Located in the hood round about in Utica. Small Spanish place but the family that works there is friendly and know how to cook their dishes. The rice and beans are awesome. Mostly take out but you can sit down in one of their three or four booths. read more

I had a problem with my food tried to make it right but owners refused to refund or replace,I ordered a half chicken with rice and beans,meat was so dry it was impossible to eat!!! My only suggestion is you sample your food before you leave this establishment!!! I will never patronize this establishment again!!!! Never read more

Joel's is a local gem. The people who run it are really nice, the food is great, and the price is right. As other reviewers note, the food is Spanish Caribbean (Dominican/Puerto Rican), not Spanish (you won't find tapas or paella here). Being vegan, I'm a bit limited in what I can order, but the beans and rice are fantastic (and vegetarian). Whatever you order as a main dish, I highly recommend ordering both maduros (sweet plantains) and tostones (smashed and fried green plantains in a garlic sauce). The plantains keep my wife and I craving Joel's at least a couple times a week. read more

Horrible dry day old chicken rice taste re cook from left over ,not consistence with taste from the past , I don't visit anymore the owner do everything in his uniform apron , drive , cook , cut grass , whatever read more

The food is as good as the looks of the place, inside and out are not. A large sign announces TAKEOUT and one might see why takeouts are perhaps a primary part of the business. The food is actually Dominican - and what a treat it is. My son lived for years in a hispanic section of Chicago. Thought Joels was a match the best of the eateries there. Anther day we visited the Tropicana some distance away in Utica. I thought the food there was similar and quite good but my son's take was that it was about average for what he was used to.. My advise is to add sweet plantain to whatever else you order. If you don't like sweet plantain, try McDonald's. :-) Best, Terry read more

First time I went here and I could say that the food was delicious. I enjoyed my meal overall. Their menu has lots to offer, come and give it a try. These people are hardworking individuals who take pride in what they're doing. read more

Its a hole in the wall with a couple seats but everyone comes here for pickup. Their meats are great. Plantains are always good. Rice is dry. Obviously it's Dominican food, not Spanish to non-ethnic visitors, but I don't think anyone is going to drive by this place and say "OOH Tapas!" (pronounced with a lisp). This place is a neighborhood stand-by. They're fast and cheap and good and no-frills. read more

Sooooo good . I can't even tell you how often I crave the garlic tostones. Definitely great rice and beans and from the main dishes I have had (oxtails and cube steak) the owners know their way around a spice cabinet. Especially for a town where Spanish food places of quality come few and far between this place is a gem. I wouldn't go as far as to call myself a regular but, I do live near by and when I get a taste for Spanish food I know exactly where to head. The food is ready fast and always hot and fresh. Do not leave without getting a shrimp Empadilla the taste of curry shrimp and potatoes in a perfectly fried shell is to die for. read more

This is a great place to eat. The food is 100% authentic. The appearance of the place is not the greatest but I'm from NYC so I'm used to getting great food at whole in the wall restaurants. They got good pastelillos and alcapurias. read more

The food is great and cheap. The people are nice and I really enjoyed watching Mexican Family Feud on the TV with them. The fried plantains are delicious. It's utterly unpretentious with a divey atmosphere. If that's not your thing, they do take out. Big fan! read more

I love this place! Authentic Mofongo, platanos, stew. REAL rice and beans. Amazing. Tons of food for a small price. Friendly service, and a few spots to eat. Good for take out too! read more

We were in Utica last weekend for a college visit, and rather than stay at the Red Roof Inn we stayed at the Hotel Utica for about the same price. It was after dinner time and we took off down the street to see what we could find for take out, and saw the sign for Joel's. We both love ethnic food especially Hispanic food so it looked interesting and we went in. Am I ever glad we did! I had the most delicious non-Mexican Hispanic dinner of my life! My dish was the Beef Stew, the counterperson asked me if I wanted a Large or Small, I ordered the Large because it was only $9 or so. For $9 this was the bargain of the year! It came with delicious beef, potatoes, rice and beans. Everything was wonderful and fresh and full of flavor. In retrospect I could have ordered the Small and had more than enough, I was unable to finish my meal. If you are in Utica and looking for take out, Joel's receives my highest recommendation! I will seek it out purposefully when I am back in the area. read more