Absolutely delicious and fresh food. It was Thursday, so the beef stew was available. Tender chunks of meat and gravy over yellow rice with a side of beans. Also had a chicken pastelito. It was fresh and a mix of dark and light meat with the perfect crust. Give this place a try. read more

La Kueva Restaurant - Chicken pastelito - Puerto Rican Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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We love this place! If you drive down Hertel fast you might miss it because it's so small. But if you are looking for a real Puerto Rican food served fresh at reasonable prices, then this is it! Don't be afraid to take out the food and have a picnic in Delaware Park nearby. read more

Had the roasted pork with yellow rice & beans and an order of tostones. Girlfriend had the fried chicken with rice & beans. Both dinners were good, each dinner had a ton of rice. Tostones were good too! Definitely worth a try if you're in the mood for Puerto Rican or looking to try something different. read more

Food was disgusting .. definitely used boxed Goya rice and beans and when ordering the chicken combo I got a drum and a thigh and rest of the container was filled with rice... I would not order from here again read more

Hmm La Kueva is one of my go to spots when I don't feel like cooking and/or want great Hispanic food. I go to La Kueva about 3 or 4 times a month. The service is quick and welcoming. They only have a few staff so they are usually running around but always pause to tend to any needs you may have. In regards to the food, it's hot, delicious, and made with all of the love. There's a reason why I always come back over and over again. I've eaten all of their Pastelillos, Sweet Plantains, Alcapurria, and the roasted pork. It's all perfectly seasoned and cooked as it should. I've never had a single complaint in my experience with them. read more

I prefer this place to Niagara Cafe. I find the food here to be tastier and fresher. I particularly like the friend chicken. Their tostones and pastelitos are delicious, too. You can call ahead (716) 936-4933 and order for pickup. For some reason the phone number isn't on their Yelp or Google Maps info. So there you go. read more

I got turned on to this place while back Pernil started out good with crunchy brown but as I went further loaded with grease The rice and pigeon peas were greasy too I left most of the plate The pastillio was good though So sad too waitress was very attentive The food definitely needed a boost Lackluster to say the least read more

After working a few doors away from this place for the better part of a year, I finally decided to try it for lunch today. A Latino friend of mine had gone there not too long ago and recommended it, so in I went. I was not disappointed. I had a chicken pastelillo, yellow rice and beans, and a bottle of water and the whole shebang came to less than eight dollars. I ate half of it and was stuffed, so I saved the rest for dinner. Can't beat that! The service was friendly - it was just one lady, and when I told her I'd never been there before she said, "Oh, well, we have the good Puerto Rican food for you to try!" and proceeded to tell me all about the different dishes. When I told her I was not familiar with Puerto Rican food in general, her face lit up at the chance to tell me all about it. After I settled on my choice, I told her I'd be eating in and sat at a table. A few minutes later (Seriously, it was like five minutes, if that) my food arrived with a smile. It was delicious!!! The place doesn't look like much from the outside, but don't let that deter you. The inside is quite simple, but it's clean. Fast, friendly, tasty, clean, and cheap. I only get a half hour for lunch, so speed is important, but I don't want to resort to pizza slices and Burger King all the time, so this will be a regular lunch place for me from now on. read more

This is probably the most bland Puerto Rican food that I have ever tasted. The food was fresh but very bland...

Have to have at least 10$ worth to pay with card, but the Pastelitos are wonderful!! 5 minutes for 4 pastelitos and a soda. Highly recommend for north town folks who don't drive south enough for the other Puerto Rican places in the area. read more

I don't recommend this place to no one the beans tastes like water their yellow rice has no flavor it tasted like white rice and they're very rude terrible customer service!! If you're looking for good Puerto Rican food go to La Flor on Niagara read more

Worst Spanish food I've ever had. Pork was dried out, plantains were under cooked. The young girl taking orders was rude, nasty and pathetic!! Don't waste your time nor money!! read more

I know what true authentic and in good taste Puerto Rican food should taste like and this is NOT it! The first time I went, I couldn't eat the food. I decided to give them a second try and nothing had changed. I haven't been back since. Head over to El Encanto instead! read more

The first experience there was amazing, The pork chop was seasoned just right and the rice was cooked all the way, And the customer service was good, And now let me say this I phone in a order the same food as last time and it was not the same looks or taste, and the rice was under cooked to the point of me throwing it away I am so disgusted with the food I'll never have a taste bud for that restaurant again and the customer service when I picked up my food was not good at all read more

My favorite place for a pastelillos and their rice is always perfect. I wish the rice wasn't so much but it is worth it. The dinners there are excellent and everyone is always friendly. read more

Good Puerto Rican food on Hertel. Friendly staff. There are different schools of pastelillo making. Theirs have potatoes inside. read more

Whatever you order is delicious. They use fresh ingredients and cook everything from scratch. La comida está hecha con amor.

I was very excited to see this place open up close by to home. I just move here to Buffalo from NYC. Being Puerto Rican, was very excited to taste some "home" food. and I was not disappointed! It very tasty and yummy. My husband ordered the roast pork with rice and beans. My son and I had the steak with onions. The steak was very tender and tasty. I loved the rice and beans, not super salty like some Spanish restaurants. Yup I would definitely come back to this place. read more

This place has delicious, authentic Puerto Rican food. There nothing to fancy about it. It's a small restaurant. You grab your drink out of the mini fridge. You order food, they bring it to you. This is a no frills kind of place. The portions are big. The only thing I didn't like was that I was cold the whole time I ate. It was a colder night. I had to keep my jacket on while eating. Other than that, everything was great! read more

Yesterday I got a to go order from here! For 9.79 I ordered the pork (with skin which is a-m-a-z-I-n-g), yellow rice and beans. The pork was outstanding. The beans and rice in my opinion could use a little more seasoning- but that could just be me. Welcome to hertle La Kueva and I look forward to trying more of the menu. read more

Food was very very good: I had the fried pork with Beans and Yellow Rice. Equal rave reviews for the steak and onions. Tostada side was excellent - not too greasy. Restaurant was very clean and ambiance much improved over previous tenant. Cashier / Waitress could not have been kinder / sweeter or happier read more

The lady that works in here is very sweet. You order at the counter, and then leave the dishes at your table. I ordered your regular beans and rice with an awesome pina colada drink. The restaurant is a little pricey considering it is not your typical sit down restaurant. The hot sauce is conveniently on every table. I loved the Puerto rican music in the background. It is a small place, but had a calm vibe. I like Café Niagara also, but I thought the people who work here were more friendly. Nice place. read more

I am originally from Puerto Rico. Lived most of my life there so when it comes to puertorrican food i am spoiled. The service was great, but the food was okay. We ordered sorullitos (it tasted like boxed sorullitos and cooked in old or used oil); bacalaitos (we're good), biftec encebollado (excellent), pernil (excellent), mofongo (good); tostones (needed More cooking): amarillos (were boxed) and arroz guisado (tasteless). read more

I recommend trying this place! I walked in at 1245pm to a smiling woman behind the counter. I told her I had never eaten there before and she recommended pork, beans, and rice. GREAT choice! I asked for it to go and it was only $7! Got home and took one bite and I am hooked. The beans are tasty and done right, the rice was not a clump, just great separated, tasty yellow rice and the pork was salty and moist and all the things you want it to be. I'm happy this is at the end of my street so I can visit often!!! read more

The pastelitos were tasty but everything else my group ordered was bland and overpriced. I will give them another shot and try different items but tonight's visit was a little disappointing. We ordered the pork dinner and the steak dinner. The pork was overcooked and the steak was tasteless. The yellow rice was fine but also needed seasoning. The beans were soupy but tasty. I would definitely recommend the pastelitos. The beef and cheese was fantastic. read more

I thought this restaurant was wonderful. The waitress did a great job. The food was good and the price low.

This place has amazing Puerto Rican food as far as I can tell (I'm not an expert on the subject). I've had the fried chicken and the marinated chicken and they're addicting. If this place was closer I'd come here several times a week. Unfortunately it's quite a long way and they don't deliver. I've been meaning to try the chicken stew, which is only on Tuesdays, but last time they ran out by 7pm, which means it must be popular. Maybe next time! read more

This was our 3rd time at this place and this had to be by far my least favorite visit out of the 3. My party and I asked for tamarind juice and the waitress told us "I don't have any juices except for what's in the case." Then a party came in right after us and ordered juice with no problem. Of course we were upset because we had just been lied to. We confronted the waitress about the lie she had just told us and of course she then proceeded to make us the juice. The food was good but our server was not the nicest nor most honest person I've met. read more

I'm not an expert on Puerto Rican cuisine, but I grew up in a family that cooked and enjoyed meals from all around the world on a weekly basis. So, I can't guarantee the "authenticity" of La Kueva's flavors, but the wonderful chefs there have real Latin heritage and it shows in their food. It's absolutely delicious. Go there now. read more

PASTELES: Anyone who is authentic PR remembers when our Families made PASTELES and the amount of work that goes in to make them taste good... We ordered a dozen and they were MORE than FANTASTIC! Authentic and delicious and generous with the pork inside! ANYONE who loves pasteles has GOT to try them here! I actually picked them up right after they were made. They are wrapped like gramma used do in PR, with the banana leaf! DELICIOUS and well worth the money and definitely worth the trip! read more

I went here with my roomates to try some local food. The service wasnt bad but the food was not good at all. The food was served to me cold and was not fresh. I would avoid this place unless you really like P.R food. read more

Phe-nomenal. My new spot for pastilillos, tostones and rellenos. Also the Cubano sandwich was out of this world. The two women working were delightful and made our experience entirely worthwhile. read more

I've never had Puerto Rican food so have been wanting to go to La Kueva and it's right around the corner. My boyfriend and I had the chicken & beef pastelitos to start, which were amazing. We then ordered the marinated chicken and fried pork, both were served with either white or yellow rice and beans. The chicken was fantastic, the pork was a little tough for our liking, but we aren't huge pork eaters. Our server was very friendly and attentive, highliy recommend coming here! read more

My 1st time here and I really enjoyed the beef and cheese pastelitos and yellow rice. I only ordered two pastelitos and seriously I should have ordered more. I do like the taste of La Kueva's pastelitos better than Niagara Cafe's. Only thing is they didn't offer rotisserie chicken which disappointed me, so I didn't order what they had. But for all I know it could have been 10x better. I definitely WILL be returning, this place has already been bookmarked for round 2! read more

this is a fantastic find for PR natives and PR fans alike!!!! very friendly bi-lingual servers.... one of a kind! read more

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It is not Thanks Giving with out Pasteles. I ordered 2 dozen with meat and a dozen with out. Every one was Happy. I will be ordering for Christmas also. Pure Puerto Rican Food! read more

I was excited to see that there are quite a few Latino places to eat here in Buffalo. I decided to try Kueva since It is less than a mile away from my job. I'm originally from queens and there, it is not hard to find any type of cuisine your heart desires. I love my Colombian empanadas. So I was willing to try their Pastelillos. BIG MISTAKE. The meat was dry and chewy, without any hint of Sofrito or olives. The dough was even worst. They handed me a small cup of cheap hot sauce when I requested salsa roja. I am glad that I chose to try a cheap item on their menu because I would of definitely asked for a full refund for anything more than $2.00 from this restaurant. Now to venture to Niagra Cafe where their reviews seem to be more positive. read more

I live down the street and eat here frequently! My parents, who live near South Campus, make a special trip and eat here every Wednesday day for the Wednesday Dinner for 2 special. Every time I have ever gotten food here my order is hot and correct, which I always appreciate. The food is great, the staff is friendly, and there are so many options on the menu. Love the pastellios and the roasted pork! read more

Reasonably priced. North Buffalo's Hidden Gem. Great, authentic Puerto Rican food. Definitely worth a visit. Beef and cheese pastellios are a must have. read more

Great food. Stopped by the other day. Had the roast pork dinner with the yellow rice. Can't wait to go back and try something else.