I took my favorite Nuyorican here for her birthday so she could enjoy a taste of home, and Cocotazo…read moredelivered. Even though I arrived an hour late for my reservation, the hostess graciously found a way to seat us. They don't serve alcohol, but there's a liquor store around the corner, and with a $20 corkage fee, our bottle of sangria paired perfectly with dinner. The space is nostalgic, modern, and incredibly welcoming. Hearing La India playing while we enjoyed bacalaitos and pastelillos was the perfect touch. Our entrées: pastelón, blackened salmon, and La Gallina were all outstanding. The birthday celebration was unforgettable, with singing, maracas, and music, followed by delicious bread pudding and tres leches cake. Chef Francis even stopped by our table! My friend realized she had missed the blood sausage on the menu, and they surprised her with a complimentary order to take home. That thoughtful gesture perfectly captured the warmth and hospitality of Cocotazo. The standout dishes for me were the bacalaito and the pastelón, both are must-orders. I also recommend making a reservation in advance on Resy. If you're driving, street parking can be tough, but there's a convenient parking lot just one block away at 409 E. 110th St.

Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and provided excellent service. Unfortunately, the same…read morecouldn't be said for the host and the kitchen staff, who seemed almost annoyed that we had walked in and asked for a table???? Hopefully it was just an off day. The food was okay, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The arroz con gandules was on the dry side, and the meat could have used more seasoning, particularly salt, to bring out the flavor. Overall, it wasn't a bad meal, but it wasn't memorable enough for me to make the trip again. While I'd like to believe this was an off day, based on this experience I probably wouldn't go out of my way to return. Super excited to try the food but did not meet expectations. Restaurant itself is small and cute. Sounds of coqui in the bathroom.

So so good. A top choice for East Harlem. Tiny, family owned and run. Delicious food. So…read morethoughtfully decorated. I just wish they had a bit more space.

Cascalote is one of my trusted go-to places that will not let me down when it comes to delectable…read morefood and drinks. Literally everything is 10/10. The salmon was delicious. It was paired with a kale+corn+sweet plantain concoction that was like a big O in your mouth. The sweet/savory combo was everything. Their chicken nachos are my go to. Every single nacho had the works on it. The drinks (sangria x spicy margarita) were perfect. They tasted great and were just the right amount of strong. The waiter and bartender were attentive and our water was always refilled (which is really important to me. we love a hydrated girly). The brunch vibes music mix was on point. My fav family owned business!

I was standing on the street, minding my own business, when the smell of roasted chicken came my…read moreway. I looked around and didn't even see a restaurant at first. When I finally saw where that smell was coming from, I was drawn inside and found some delicious looking food. To my surprise, they have oxtail today! The woman serving me behind the counter was really nice, didn't rush me, and I'll bet she was an owner. The oxtail was really, really good, and they have really good red beans. If you're on a strict diet, this place might not be the very best choice for you, but a for me, I'm looking to return next time I'm in this hood! The ambience here is great, with love plants galore, a patio... even a clean and functional bathroom! That lunch special was only like $16. Incredible.

El Patio de Fela is, at first glance, unassuming from the outside, but definitely not unremarkable…read morein the sense that trying to find the inside confused me so much I started to feel anxious and want to bail. When I entered and saw the tiny space inside resemble a chinese american takeout place with a small hot food bar, I had already resigned to having the lowest expectations possible. However, after ordering the $11 lunch special I was motioned to an inconspicuous doorway bringing me to a connected greenhouse which I now can see is El Patio de Fela. I sat down to enjoy my plate of pernil and arroz con gandules and right when I took my first bite the staff turned on the christmas lights for me and it was magical. The pernil, rice, beans, and green sauce worked wonderfully together and was so filling for $11. There was beautiful latin american music playing and the best part of the meal was having crispy bits of fried pork skin stuck to my teeth that I can snack on throughout the rest of the day. For 3 whole years my allegiance towards Lechonera La Isla for puerto rican food has been pure and unblemished. Today, for the first time, the innocuous thought appeared: 'Would it hurt to have a taste elsewhere?' Well, I did, and El Patio de Fela has me regretting what I've been missing out on for so long.

BLAST-FROM-THY-PAST GANGSTER PARADISE*KITCHEN*CUCHIFRITOS…read moreTruth be told this flagship SAVOURY EATERY dating back into greater than fifty years will forever be pricelessly MISSED eternally! On many memorable cuisine days of the freshly specially CUCHIFRITOS menu dishes (using: Achiote Oil, Sofrito, Adobo, Aceite Oliva, Lard, Butter) truly having that unique Cuchifritos aroma fragrance, delicacy taste, unbelievable texture of Puerto Rican & Cuban hints of grandmas aboriginal TAINO secret recipe covert ingredients! Between the Mofongo marisco o puerco, Pollo or Steak with Rice and Cubano & Chicken-Steak Sandwiches, and warmth of Pollo stew, Sancocho, Sopon de Patidas de Cerdo, Fricassee de Pollo, Asopao de Camarones, Sopa Pollo de fideos, Chuleta de Jardinera, and the bizarre saucy marinated favorites of PIG'S ears, tongue, stomach, morsillas (blood pudding), Chicharrones, pasteles, yucca-plátanos con pescado! Yet didn't serve another two favorite El Jibarito o Tripleta? FRITURAS: Tostones, Alcapurria, Bacalaitos, Empanadillas, Pastelillos, Croqueta, relleno Papá, Pastellon, Pernil, Arepas de Coco, Ensalada de Bacalao & Pulpo o Ceviche, Bistec "beefsteak" encebollado and también los lo Potres de Flan, Tembleque, Flancocho, Queso, Arroz Dulce, Mallorca, pebidas de Coco, Guava con crema, tamarindo. People often came to this business regardless of the community deterioration of police statistics because of the reminiscent 1970-1970s blends of "comida" preparations hard to literally find that older no frills mixed combinations of methodology to "cosinando" dexterity not prevelant anymore as past Chefs either AGED or DIED with their extraordinary TAINO style Caribbean Island RITUALS like Caldo Santo (Holy Good Friday FISH Stew)! The older Misses working at this establishment had no choice but to be sarcastic strong Spanish women given the recidivism of Rift-Raft in this neighborhood of mix populace, especially a zip code of delinquents, criminals, and dastardly venomous attitudes of gypsy homeless, gang bangers, anger management loud-mouths entering the restaurant to cause arguments, disturbances, beggars pleading for tasty Latino Spanish's food of mamma's familiar morsels. These were the cheap eats of tasty MEALS of separated or divorce, and broken family authentic tasting home cuisine missed from mamma, wifey, side-Biscuit girlfriend,and death of homestyle cooker, and missed Holidays foods of those gone & remembered!

It was a busy Thursday afternoon visiting an old favorite. We sat at the counter space and…read morepatiently waited for 1 of the women to serve us. It was very busy, but they can keep up well. Very pleasant we ordered from the variety of pre made food and one order from the kitchen only menu. We tried the roasted chicken with rice and red beans, 2 chicken Empanadas, and 1 order of fried pork chops with green plaintain (chuleta frita con tostones). Took about 10 minutes to come out, and it was very fresh and delicious. The chops were well seasoned and crispy. The tostones were freshly made and crispy. I put a ton of their homemade mojito (garlic) sauce all over everything, and my son proceeded to follow me with his meal. Their chicken was roasted perfectly. Moist and tender with flavors. They have a huge rotisserie pit behind the wall and out the way to save space. Genius. The Rice and beans were standard yet authentic. The Empanadas were a little dry, but I had to show my eldest about ketchu-mayo lol iykyk, then he liked it. He's a bit inexperienced in the cuchifrito area and almost got a brand drink. I had to cut him off and direct him to the fountain drinks because ,uh-uh, we drink from the house in a great cuchifrito spot son! I got him the passion fruit, and I got my usual sesame seed. He looked at me crazy y'all lmao I let him try my sesame drink, and he was somewhat impressed with it. But he loved his passion fruit already. The service was attentive, and I honestly don't know how the ladies balance it all. He was pleasantly surprised at the bill $32. 2 full large meals, 2 drinks, 2 Empanadas, and 1 alcapurria because I had to grab one when I saw the cook dump a fresh batch. I went home thinking damn I should have grabbed 3 more. They were loading fresh cuchifritos and I shouldn't have held back. Later always comes and left overs are always welcomed. Overall, we both loved it. Even taught him a few things in there. For the culture and the price point he loved it even more. I know for sure we will be back.

I had the Bistec al Porbe. It was absolutely delicious. I would definately come back. We sat…read moreinside and it was great. Thank you.

This is a cute, unassuming restaurant. Although it's on a busy street, it was pretty quiet on a…read moreSaturday evening. They have three outdoor tables and a bar in the front of the restaurant. The owners are Peruvian. To drink, I had the house red sangria. I loved that you could specify sweet, semi-sweet, or tart. I went for semi-sweet. It was nice and fruity and you could taste the wine. My husband enjoyed the strawberry pineapple wine punch, which had a bold pineapple flavor. They have several vegan entrees. I got the vegan chaufa with tofu. It was full of veggies and the fried rice was rich and well prepared. The tofu was nice and firm. I asked for hot sauce and they provided a red and a green option. The latter had cream in it. Our waitress warned that the red was quite spicy. It did have a kick, but it wasn't crazy and gave the dish the added flavor I was looking for. Their sweet plantains were satisfyingly charred for a crisp bite. Service was fast.

So sorry to hear that you're closed. Tried to support you during and after Covid. Good music and…read moredelicious food in the neighborhood. This place was an oasis in a sea of fast food spots.

It was a long, eventful rollercoaster of day... desperately in need of some sustenance, we looked…read morefor a spot in route to our final destination. With one of my favs, we decided to visit Amor Cubano, based on a found memory of their champagne mojitos. It was a cold Saturday night in January and all the stars aligned. We pulled and found parking right outside the door. We entered and was seated immediately without reservation even though it was crowded and the first week of NY restaurant week. We perused both the regular and restaurant week menu. In an attempt to keep it simple we went the regular menu and ordered everything at once. Of course two champagne mojitos and empanadas to start. For entrées, we went with Arroz Con Pollo (for me) and Churrasco- grilled skirt steak (for my partner in crime). Customer service was good, food came quick and hit the spot. We enjoyed it all while listing to the live band. This was a nice ending to an eventful day. Just A Note: A tag on IG... gets you a spin of the bonus wheel. I snagged a gift card for my next visit.

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.

La Fonda, Puerto Rican Restaurant is located in East Spanish Harlem on East 106 St. between…read moreLexington & 3rd Ave's., closer to 3rd Ave. La Fonda looks small but when you walk inside they have a nice big long bar, in the back there's a small stage where performers play & sing Spanish music on certain days. Then you have the long dining area with many tables along both walls. The place is well lit, clean & tastefully decorated with its PuertoRican theme. The staff is bilingual, friendly & quick. The traditional Puerto Rican food is delicious, especially the tender Pernil (Roast Sliced Pork) & Arroz con Gandules (Rice & Pigeon Peas). The Cocktails are good as well. They also cater to private events. So if you're visiting Spanish Harlem go in & enjoy. Good for an intimate dinner for 2, families & groups.

Do not bother with this place. Really EXPENSIVE; Yellow rice, Black beans, Tail with 3 BBQ ribs =…read more$25 "Lunch special" according to the hostess. So it's not even a FULL SERVING. Not worth it. I think as a Dominican since they cater to other people they charge whatever they want and expect no complaints. For one person it's too much MOVE ALONG, GO FURTHER UPTOWN AND SAVE SOME MONEY.

The food was super good man and my fiancé loved it they were super chill and the service was nice…read moreall I can say is I 100% recommend this to anyone