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    La Isla Cuchifrito

    4.2 (41 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

    La Isla Cuchifrito Photos

    Business Info

    LA ISLA CUCHIFRITO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Chicken plate
    Alexander T.

    Got the chicken with red rice. Decent for $8. Fast service. Should've asked for dark meat. They give you massive amounts of rice and beans.

    pernil
    A W.

    Fire as usual. Woman behind the counter went heavy handed with me. Lit. Been coming here for years and still do although I live in Harlem

    a variety of food items
    Michelle T.

    This place aroma is amazing. We figured it must be good if this is the only place on the block that has a line that wraps around. For $8, you get a meat with rice and beans. Amazing prices and delicious choices. The chuchifritos are $2 each. We ordered the permit with rice and beans. Definitely a hefty amount but the only thing was pernil was a bit dry. The chicharron is sooooooo crunchy, savory, and delicious. I was totally in love with that dish.

    Chinola/parcha
    Marietta C.

    24 hour Puerto Rican fast food in the Bronx! Found this super genuine hole in the wall (literally) Puerto Rican hot spot. This place is on and popping and they have fresh food coming out at all times. Small little spot, gets packed, order to go or stay in and dine on the little bar area (sits like 8 people). The food was good (for fast-food-ish), staff was so nice and accommodating. My only concern is not sure how up to health code this place is. Don't mean to bash it because the ladies that work here really stole my heart they're such nice people. However, I don't want to know what happens behind the scenes since the place is very questionable. Like I said, food is delicious and very very cheap. We ordered enough food for two people and drink for only $10! This included rice, beans, sweet plantains, tostones and passion fruit medium size drink. Everything was delicious. This little spot is right by the hospital so this food is definitely worth it if you feel like eating like home away from home. Open 24 hours. Alcapurrias, mofongo, mondongo, arroz con habichuelas and much more!

    Alcapurria
    Yvette S.

    I've been coming here since I was a kid. Is divey but ohh how I love me a good authentic divey home in the wall yummy spot. My all time picks Are always frin the fritura section old the menu. In this order of favorites Morcilla (blood sausage) Relleno de Papa = potato ball with a yummy center filled with ground beef (but if you want to step this up a bit be sure of ask for beef gravy) you can thank me later. Alcapurrias are yummy made of yucca w/ meat center And of course a nice crunchy piece of Chicharron with limes too squeeze directly on top right before every bite full.

    Outside storefront at night
    Cassandra S.

    Decent in a pinch, late night was hungry , ate. Next day while I didn't find it overly impressive, or memorable , or clean the only thing going through my mind was ..... did you die though? Thankfully I didn't so Three stars it is.

    Julian P.

    The best Puerto Rican food in NYC, delicious and excellent prices! The pernil sandwich was $6!! They have a lunch special (beans, rice and chicken $4). People who work there are very nice, I recommend the pernil sandwich, roast sandwich and empanadaas!!

    Pernil Sandwich
    Meghan A.

    My husband and I were trying to go back to La Morada for Sunday lunch, but sadly, they were closed. As we walked up 3rd Ave., my husband, armed with his yelp app, looked for a Plan B. He asked what I was in the mood for, and my only criteria was "something legit." He stumbled upon La Isla Cuchifrito, with its photos of stews, beans, and rice, and we were off. La Isla Cuchifrito is a semi-hole in the wall Puerto Rican restaurant on the main drag of East 149th St., and a quick walk from the 2/4/5 subway stop. When we walked in, there was a small bunch of locals ordering plates to go, but we chose to eat at the diner counter. The 2 servers were busy, brusque, and I spoke only Spanish. They have a menu of stewed meats with sides, rotisserie chickens glistening in the window, savory pastries, and sandwiches. I, being an unapologetic bread hound, asked for a pernil (pork shoulder) sandwich. Our server asked what else I'd like on it, and after fumbling around in bad Spanish, she loaded me up with a Cuban-type sandwich composed of pernil, ham, tomato, lettuce, provolone, and BUTTER... hold the mustard. My sandwich came out, and I was so excited. This was a SANDWICH. A gut bomb. A meaty two meal's worth extravaganza. As I tasted the juicy stewed pernil, the powerful flavor of garlic hit my tongue. I love garlic, and the pernil was just so garlicky! I wolfed down half of the sandwich, and somehow good judgment kicked in, and I wrapped the other half up to go. My husband ordered a straight pernil plate with beans and rice. This was great too, as the beans had a great depth of flavor, and the server gave him a big hunk of crispy pork skin. My generous husband let me have a bite of the pork skin, and it was awesome. I was pretty satisfied with our lunch here. It's not the most user-friendly spot for a gringuita such as myself, but the food was really great.

    Pernil with yellow rice.

    Came here today for the first time after working in this neighborhood for over a year. How did I miss this place? Had the Pernil with yellow rice ($6.50) and it was great! Limited counter seating so it's more of a take-out spot. Super fast lines. The menu is all in Spanish so you better know what you want lol. They speak perfect English, so no worries there. Cash only so be prepared.

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    9 years ago

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    La Fonda - Avocado Toast w/ Poached eggs, served on Tostones (Plantains - Great for Gluten Free Individuals).

    La Fonda

    3.2(380 reviews)
    2.1 miEast Harlem
    $$

    It's been a while since I've had really good Puerto Rican food, and La Fonda did not disappoint…read more We started off with chicken pastellios and my bf got the red sangria while I went for the Puñeta drink(which was sweet, but not overally sweet. Sooooo good). I was craving Mofongo and the pernil Mofongo was definitely the best option. Mofongo can sometimes get dry so the fact that there was a lot of calldito (the soup/sauce) I was livingggggg. They had a really cool back area of the restaurant and it was fairly quiet so you could have a conversation and hear each other. I would bring bug spray in the summer though, I did get bit up a few times. Service was great. The servers were lovely and I will absolutely be coming back! I would check their Instagram, I had no idea when I made reservations that there was an event happening. It was a Friday night and they were teaching/having chess matches! So random, but a lot of people were there! The group is called @Chess_Place on Instagram if you wanna learn more.

    Alright. So this is my official review for La Fonda -- the restaurant I told y'all is connected to…read moreAbuelita's Desserts. Same location, same love, same culture. First of all, sometimes I don't even realize how Puerto Rican I am until it's time to eat. And then it hits me. Heavy. If you know, you know. My mom and I had been low-key grieving this old Chinito Spanish spot on 116th that we grew up on. That place was a staple. Birthdays, celebrations, random Sundays -- we were there. And the chuletas? Elite. The Spanish food was honestly better than the Chinese food, and it was that beautiful cultural fusion that only East Harlem really understands. Asian families who lived in Puerto Rico, speaking Spanish, cooking with that blend of spices -- it was magic. When it closed, it felt like we lost a piece of home. So ever since, we've been like... where are we getting our chuletas now? And let me explain something very clearly: when it comes to a Rican and her chuletas, we do not play games. Don't tell me you make a good pork chop and then serve me something dry or bland. No ma'am. I'm looking for: * That crisp but tender edge. * The smell that hits you before the plate even lands. * The cebolla on top. * The juices already doing what they need to do so I don't have to add a single thing. * That perfect bite when the rice and chuleta meet on the fork. So when we saw La Fonda attached to Abuelita's, we were curious. A guy inside was recommending dishes, saying he comes all the time for lunch. My mom spots "chuletas" on the menu and immediately says, "Let's try it." And I'm nervous. Because what if it's not right? What if it's breaded? I didn't want breaded. I just wanted it fried. Simple. Classic. Done correctly. Baby. When I tell you I was NOT disappointed? I have found my new chuleta spot. Perfectly fried. Flavorful. Juicy. That bite with the rice? Exactly what I've been missing. You can choose your rice. My mom got yellow rice with red beans. I asked for the rice of the day -- and listen, that rice of the day was a moment. Yellow rice mixed with little pieces of chicharrón, some plátano in there, beans -- just layered with flavor. That's the kind of rice you don't leave behind. My mom also ordered the corn fritters. Did I taste them? No. Because she tore them down before I could blink. And when my mom goes quiet and just wolfs her plate? I already know it's good. The ambiance? Beautiful. The bar area feels very Puerto Rican -- colorful, warm, nostalgic. On the other side, there's spacious seating if you want to dine in properly. It's quaint but roomy. Comfortable. It feels like somewhere you can celebrate something or just come in on a random Tuesday because you need good food. And the food? Delicious. Period. If you're looking for authentic Puerto Rican food in East Harlem that actually hits the way it's supposed to hit, go to La Fonda. Try it. Get the chuletas (trust me). And then come back and tell me what you think. Because these spots? They have my heart.

    Photos
    La Fonda - Our Mimosa Towers - flavors available and bottomless options.

    Our Mimosa Towers - flavors available and bottomless options.

    La Fonda - Shrimp Pinchos served with our serve passion-fruit sauce.

    Shrimp Pinchos served with our serve passion-fruit sauce.

    La Fonda - $10 virgins piña colada in plastic cups!!! This is unacceptable and should not be allowed

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    $10 virgins piña colada in plastic cups!!! This is unacceptable and should not be allowed

    La Isla Cuchifrito - puertorican - Updated September 2026

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