I tried this restaurant for the first time via DoorDash. It was delicious. I got the stewed chicken, the beef empanada, the yellow rice with pigeon peas, and the plantains. I will definitely be ordering from here again! read more

Plenty of delicious food at a reasonable price. Spanish rice, carnitas, chicken. Their lemonade was delicious. The restaurant was clean. Nothing fancy. It was cafeteria style so it was mostly self serve but the server did help with the tray which was nice. I think most people take out. read more

I ordered food to go. Everything was packaged nicely. Staff was super friendly and the food was amazing (see pic). The servings were very generous. You can feed 3 for the price of 1! read more

La Diferencia Restaurant - Tostones (fried green plantains), yellow rice, maduros (fried sweet plantains). Pernil (roasted pork), beans, chicharrón (fried pork) - Dominican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

I ordered from them on DoorDash and was extremely disappointed. I feel like I wasted my money. I ordered 2 Empanada de pollo/ Chicken empanadas. They were pretty big, but both of them were only half full. The left side of each had no filling at all. The chicken was nasty though. I didn't like those at all. I ordered a medium of the Arroz con Gandules / Rice with Pigeon Peas and it was a pretty big portion, but the rice didn't have much flavor. It was just okay. I did enjoy the Maduro / Sweet Plantains. I ordered a Jugo de Limón / Limonade, but I didn't even receive it so I can't comment on that. I won't be ordering from here again. read more

La Diferencia Restaurant - Empanada Pollo & Arroz Con Gandules - Dominican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

Found this place one afternoon, when my wife and I were kind of hungry and looking for some kind of snack food. We went in and saw these potato balls that the guy behind the counter told us were stuffed with meat. The description sounded very similar a street-food I loved back in Bangladesh. So we ordered two of them and sat down, and lo' and behold, it's home! So far I've gone there several times and only had the stuffed potato balls (papas rellenas). They remind me of home. However, I don't know what their business strategy is. Every time I went there (this would be between 5pm and 7pm), the food trays at the counter are almost empty or with little food. Today I sat there for about 20 minutes to get some potato balls that I ordered earlier on phone for pickup. I feel they lack enthusiasm. Or it might be the place is more lively before afternoon or so. read more

Before you go, just be aware that this is a local joint with no menu on the wall - but, if you love supporting local businesses that make authentic homemade food at a great price, you should stop by. I went today for takeout at around 10:30am and, from the outside, I thought they were closed - but turns out I was just lucky with my timing b/c the ala carte items in the warming trays were all full and when I left, there was a line. I told them it was my first time and they were really patient with me as I ordered a combo of rice and beans with a stewed chicken. I wanted to get a feel for their entire menu, so I also ordered a 5 diff fried food (empanadas the size of my hand, potato balls, cassava, etc), some fried pork and the mashed plantains with pickled onions that everyone seemed to be getting. I just tried most everything and wow, it was really good - and just under $20 makes it even better. Well seasoned rice, chicken was moist, fried pork was amazingly juicy and crispy. The mashed plantains were reminiscent of a chunky mashed potatoes with a great flavor and consistency - def get the pickled onions with it. I haven't tried the fried items yet, but guessing they'll be great too. You need to be comfortable feeling a smidge out of place if you are not a native speaker, but I felt welcomed. Before I ordered, I asked other customers some questions and they were helpful too. Construction in the area when I went, so I parked on a side street and paid the meter (cash/credit card accepted). Totally worth it and I would definitely go again. Also, FYI - this restaurant is listed as Mexican - I would say it's more Puerto Rican/Dominican. Bring cash if you can, but they take credit/debit too. read more

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I love this place. The girl behind the counter is sweet and helpful, the food is delicious and she remembered me when I came back a second time. Yes, there's a transitional living center across the street but come on, it's Lowell and the restaurant has no control over that. I'll definitely keep coming back here and recommending it! read more

DO NOT GO HERE. I cannot begin to describe the horrible experience I had at this restaurant. I went with my family and we waited for 40 minutes to receive our DRINKS. Then we received our food, which the majority of came from under a heat lamp, and it was AWFUL. I mean like the Cuban sandwich was a pressed hamburger bun and Kraft cheese slices awful. The service was retched. And to top it all off it is not cheap at all. The plates run from $10-$20. Oh and lastly it is across the street from a homeless shelter where the majority of the inhabitants like to hang outside when the weather is nice. Enjoy! read more

Food was below-average, availability of items was almost non-existent. Bani's in downtown kicks its ass 10 times over. So much potential, yet no drive to make things happen. Meh. read more

Sometimes, I get in these craving moods where I HAVE to have rice and beans- and yesterday was one of those days where my fiancé and I wanted rice, beans, chicken and pork. And this hit home! We walked in, and I think, due to the storm and windy weather it was quiet and no one else was there. We were greeted by warm smiles behind the counter, and a very friendly atmosphere . The food, in my opinion, was perfecto, the customer service was non-intrusive and kind, and it was exactly the type of meal we were in the mood for. I consider this to be a hidden gem, and we'll be back. read more

They have AMAZING food!! Also, great for catering for events! The did such a great job on the food for my reception. Highly Recommend!

first things first...i am not scared of a sketchy ethnic restaurant...i heart them. in pulling up to la diferencia, i was not nervous when i saw the homeless shelter across the street. when i felt it necessary to hover in the ladies room, i still was down to try the food...even though the focal point of the restaurant was the gigantic tray of food sitting under heat lamps... then we sit down, and get our order taken. and wait. and wait. and wait. then a family comes in. orders. we wait. they get their food. we still wait. did i mention we were still drinkless? so we wait more, and more, and more. then about 45 minutes later we get our food, which is awful, and for the most part, lukewarm. i could have gotten better food, and service, from taco bell. read more