Great little no fuss, no muss place. The people were nice, the food is really good. I love a Spanish place that has a rotating hot food specials which minimize the wait time. They also have the empanadas ready although I would prefer the beef ones not have cheese. The food was so good, I ate it so fast I forgot to take a picture! I def will be back read more

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This is a small restaurant located in New Brunswick. Parking can be a pain but that's with most places in New Brunswick. My first time going there was on a BLAZING HOT day. I walked in and two super nice young ladies were making and serving the food. I appreciated that I was greeted right away and my order taken right away. If Yelp had star options for both the food and the service, I definitely would have given them 4 or 5 stars. I almost always go completely overboard when I try a place the first time. I picked up almost $80 worth of takeout so that I could try a little bit of everything. I really, really wanted to love the food here but I didn't. Unfortunately I didn't really find anything that I ordered that flavorful. The food wasn't bad by any means, it just didn't have the delicious flavors that I normally associate with great Puerto Rican food. As I mentioned it was an unbelievably hot day so maybe the cook was having an off day because of that. If I'm ever driving by there, I'd probably give it another chance since it has such great reviews from other people. read more

La Ponceña Restaurant - Daily menu - Latin American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

I went with my friend who's familiar with authentic homemade Puerto Rican food. The service was excellent and the food was authentic and delicious. I would definitely stop in again or order takeout from here. It's a nice family restaurant with authentic cuisine. Parking might be an issue since it's in middle of New Brunswick. read more

Food very good, although served from temperature when you sit down to eat... not to mention they will start cleaning while you're still in the restaurant with harsh chemicals ... also this oil and vinegar holder needs to go, pretty sure many of these were like this but this was bad... these are not even expensive ugh. read more

La Ponceña Restaurant - Oil and vinegar holder, super rusted , in a food business, this should be allowed - Latin American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

The best and only Puerto Rican food you are going to find in New Brunswick. They have so many options! read more

La Ponceña Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

This New Brunswick staple has been the longest and now the only standing Puerto Rican restaurant in the city. Approaching half a century, I've been coming here all my life. They are a true mom & pop restaurant that cooks the most authentic Puerto Rican food. I highly recommend their Yuca with pickled onions with an extra splash of vinegar. All of their main dishes are made with love and it shows. The bbq ribs, bistec encebollado, baked chicken, empanadas, alcapurrias...honestly you can't go wrong as their food is always fresh, flavorful and never dry! The placed is always packed, which serves as a testament. Lots of regulars and new folks fixing to get a great meal. The staff is always friendly but very, very, busy. They could use more hands during lunch but believe me the food is with the wait. Multiple seating options are available - booths, tables and bar seating. Give them a try and you won't be disappointed! read more

La Ponceña Restaurant - Baked Chicken, Yellow Rice w/ Guandules & Yuca - Latin American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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The beans were amazing, but the pork belly was not crispy enough and had some inedible bits of cartilage and bone. The skin on the roast pork was fatty and jiggly- really not appetizing. About half the pork was cooked perfect, nice a juicy, but the other half was dry and hard to swallow. The yuca was also about half cooked nice and tender, and half still too hard. This place was just ok overall, but man, those beans were amazing. read more

Love this place for years! Great food great workers and great owner. Authentic Puerto Rican food, absolutely Delicious, never disappoints.

Always a 10/10. The food is great, get their early for more selections. I missed out on the empanadas because I came later in the day. The girls at the counter are always really sweet as well! read more

Authentic Pueto Rican food The Service was great So was the music I highly recommend this Restaurant read more

The Boriqua real deal. Peasant food at its finest. All the Puerto Rican classics with ample servings: Pernil, Arroz con Gandules, Acapurria, yuca, Maduros, tostones----ALL GOOD PR comfort food that warms the Latin soul. All young, female wait staff was attentive & a pleasure to engage with. Place is NOT FANCY ---in a good way as their resources are focused on the food & it shows. Enjoy! PS You wont believe the volume of great food you get for what you pay. Fabulous read more

La comida está buena,pero no se puede dusfrutar de un rato de descanso al comer con ése gran revolú de música! Me gusta ir a un restaurante a comer no a escuchar música! Si al menos fuera instrumental,fuera más ético! read more

Food was amazing!! Reminded me of my grandmother's cooking. I highly recommend the alcapurrias! Stew Chicken read more

La Ponceña Restaurant - Chicken stew with white rice - Latin American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

Puerto Rican food at it's FINEST!!! It's small, it's got tables and a bar-top to eat at. A variety of fresh, authentic dishes to choose from are right behind the counter, and the sweet, helpful staff will walk you through what each dish consists of. Honestly, the food will blow your mind. And they offer UberEats! Dooooooo IT! read more

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This is the 4th time I've been here and do not have anything but good opinions about the food. Atmosphere is good, people are friendly. Growing up in the LES of Manhattan, I've missed going over to my friends' houses and eating a home made Puerto Rican meal. This place brings back those memories. I definitely recommend La Poncena! read more

Ordered through Uber Eats and everything was amazing and tasted authentic and homemade! Great portions and pricing. Definitely recommend.

Great food! Great place to dine in or take out. My order was always correct. The customer service was outstanding every single time. The restaurant is very clean an over due for an upgrade. The ambiance is the 1990s. read more

Chachooooo. Great tasting Puerto Rican food. I highly highly recommend this restaurant for anyone yearning that authentic food from la Isla. Just as good as my Mom's cooking. Gracias. read more

I had to come back and see if they changed for the better or not Honestly my only reason for coming back is that it conveniently close to me But again they disappoint They are cheap with the products and now cutting corners even changing the pastry for the empanadas Food is just terrible... Still I cant believe it 20 yrs ago it was top shelf Food quality diminishes Quality of the food goes down but the only thing that will go up will be the prices Its time to hang it up and close it down RIP read more

I have been in search for the best chicken soup in town and after a couple of yes and no's, i decide to google "chicken soup"...La Poncena popped up. I remembered that my good brother and friend Tony and his family owned it. I call and who do I get after 20+ years...my main man Tony! I walk down and we catch up in the short window we had and head back to work. He and I were in 5th, 6th or 7th grade...lol It is the Holy Month of Ramadan and I look forward to enjoying the amazing and delicious food that I remember from many years ago. May your Mother rest peacefully T! Family owned and Family Loved...go to La Poncena and feel the love. Abdul Karim Campbell aka DJ GrandMaster KC aka Coach Karim read more

La Ponceña Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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Best Puerto Rican food in the area authentic food selection. Grandmother approved. Good service the way it's suppose to be.

Went here for lunch order the stew chicken, with white rice comes with green salad and sweet plantain. The food is pre made food is served from the counter kitchen. Good taste like your Puerto Rican auntie or mom made it. The food has good taste, restaurant has a couple of table to sit, or you can order food to go. I also order alcapuria and empanadas had good taste and food was warm. The staff is friendly and attentive. The average meal cost $12.00. the parking can hassle since street parking, so if near the area is better to walk there. read more

Good food clean good prices Counter where u can order food from Warmed foods Really great Puerto Rican food Empanada rice and beans pork chops Service is good Ambiance is like a small dive with great eats Definitely try Neighborhood is gentrifying But still watch your back lol read more

This place has great authentic Spanish Food that if you shut your eyes and ate it you would think you were overseas in a old-school Spanish restaurant or better yet in grandma's kitchen. Great portions and always fresh. I recommend this place to everybody I know because of how great the food is. I'm getting ready to order right now some beef stew with rice! read more

Shame on me for not knowing that this place existed! And I call myself a Yelper. With it's rave reviews and just looking at the photos, I already knew that this place would be a winner. I am a huge fan of Puerto Rican cuisine. We did take out and the owner was awfully nice and patient to show us all the food by naming each and every one of their menu items. What to choose, what to choose, everything smelled so darn good. Here is what we ordered: - Oxtail Stew w/yellow rice, plantains, salad & beans - Beef Stew w/yellow rice, plantains, salad & beans - Stewed Chicken w/yellow rice, plantains, salad & beans Portions given were huge and plentiful and the price, oh gosh, no complaints. The fluffy yellow rice had bits of carrots and peas, the beans that came with it goes so well with the rice. The salad, I gave it all to my husband, lol, I'm not a salad person. All the meat items are exactly what I expect from authentic Puerto Rican food. Fall-off the meat tender good. Everything was seasoned perfectly. The owner told us that they have excellent weekday lunch specials and on Wednesdays, they serve pig's feet. I'll definitely be visiting here one of these Wednesdays to get that special. They just celebrated their 44th year! Congrats and I wish you continued success! read more

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I sat in there 1/2 hours, it was a little crowded, lunchtime , I waited patiently... Then they skipped me twice. Taking orders from friends, making me wait smh. read more

Very good authentic Puerto Rican food. Not the best neighborhood but the food makes it worth the trip. Not many options in the area, but not many needed with the quality and flavor found here. Will be back read more

Very pleased with my order. Gotten both the oxtail stew and the fried pork chunks. A little but on the salty side and the yellow rice was not the best I've had. But the price is affordable the the portion is good. I would definitely order from here again to try the chicken. read more

I've been coming here for 25 years and counting and the food is just as delicious as the very first time. To get anything nearly as authentic and flavorful, you've got to go to the Bronx. read more

La Ponceña Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

Place has gone down in quality of service and quality of food. Price gauging and canceling orders because they can't rip you off with extra charges. read more

The food is always freshly made and delicious! The staff are very friendly and you get great service. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that's in the mood for authentic Puerto Rican food! read more

La Ponceña Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

It's good, it's cheap, the service is friendly and I will be back. Nothing fancy here, just very good food at a very good price. read more

La Ponceña Restaurant - Stewed chicken lunch special. Flavorful and delicious. - Latin American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

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so sweet! first of all the food was delicious but the service was top tier!! my moms boyfriend accidentally dropped a bracelet that was dear to him and when we called to see if it was there the worker immediately knew and had saved it! sincerely such a good experience with great food and even better service!!!! read more

This place is amazing. Great foos, great prices, and everybody who works here is very friendly. Can't go wrong. I enjoy the pork chops and stewed chicken. Passionfruit juice is also delicious. read more

Friendly staff and amazing food! Great lunch special as well. Very quick service. I will definitely be back. Great Puerto Rican food read more

La Ponceña Restaurant - Lunch special - Latin American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

I was in the area briefly and got hungry. Found this small little spot that helped fulfill the need. Service was really good. Food was good as well. Just takes a long time to get your order. The locals obv had it down pact by ordering ahead. Only complaint I had. Otherwise 5 stars read more

What a great find! Little dive spot... street parking... all the food was delicious! We tried the stew chicken... oxtail... ribs... with the yellow rice and yuca... everything was super flavorful and the staff was all very nice. Definitely coming back soon. read more

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La Ponceña has left me with a great impression. It's not easy to give any business especially a restaurant five stars however due primarily to the outstanding flavors and well made food and Esteban (who is affectionately called Stevie) it certainly earned it. The only negative was that they may be slightly understaffed. When I arrived they had quite a few customers who were getting to go orders so it took them about 15 minutes to get to me but when they got there, WOW. As a first time customer my server (I apologize for not taking her name) clearly explained to me their concept and menu. As she did this she lifted the covers of every menu item from bistec (steak) to pernil (pork) and various others and I tell you what, the food looked outstanding. I ordered a bistec with white rice, beans, maduros and salad. This was one time where the flavor was better than the look. This definitely was authentic PuertoRican food. Super sabrosa!!! I also ordered Tamarindo, a natural juice. It was amazing. Before leaving I spoke with one of the owners Stevie who I mentioned above. He told me the restaurant was the legacy of his mother whom passed recently. He stated that "they believe they've made her proud". You certainly have my friend. In summary, they could use one more server. However, the friendliness and especially the food overshadow that small hiccup. I would gladly recommend La Ponceña to anyone who reads this post. read more

La Ponceña Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

I love this restaurant. I don't know why I have only one check in considering I've eaten here nearly 20 times. When we first starting coming here my husband and I were meat eaters. We would get the stew chicken, yellow rice, salad, beans and plantains. After a while- we went vegetarian but still continued to come here religiously! Now we get everything but the chicken! The food is amazing and for someone who used to visit PR very often- I can say that the food comes close if not is very authentic! I love the feel of the hole in the wall restaurant while having super convos with with peeps who work there! I also did try the mofongo here! It was great but they didn't have it all the time. If that is what you are going for then call ahead and be sure the cook is there to make it. Parking is not always easy since it is street parking- so you make have to walk a little- but I promise it's worth it! Check them out! read more

La Ponceña Restaurant - Super yummy Puerto Rican food! - Latin American Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

This Puerto Rican spot is by far the best Authentic Puerto Rican food I've eaten at and have ordered from. There food is delicious and I would not go anywhere else when I'm in the mood to eat Spanish food. There empanadas are so good and so are there lunches. I recently had there chicken soup and Wow it was delicious reminded me of my grandmother's soup. Definitely recommend this restaurant for some good Spanish Food, only thing I don't like is there is never any parking but being I want the food I will park wherever price is reasonable. read more