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    Lechonera El Barrio

    3.6 (86 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Lechonera El Barrio Photos

    LECHONERA EL BARRIO ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Lechonera El Barrio

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    One of my favorites Dominican spots, but I dislike the neighborhood.
    Wilkie J.

    The food is excellent here. They never disappoint me at all. Now look here, I am going to educate you a bit. When you go to any Dominican restaurant, you must drink either Country Club or Red Rock (my fave is red). Next, for some people, you must eat your meal before going to the gym, because your booty will grow grande. Now if you are a lady, you are allowed to go for seconds. Please, do not act like a gringo here. Keep it simple, rice-beans-chicken, move forward. Cannot speak SPANISH, just speak normal English or just point to your desire selection. Everything is good here! Trust me! After you finish your meal, use the bathroom. Yes, sit and hold onto the bathroom sink and clear your whatever. Day dream about that meal. Wash your hands. Walk with your partner a least 10 to 15 blocks romantically. If she or he complains, tell them you are just following instructions. What we doing is preventing the atis. That is when we tend to get sleepy. Yup, girls you will love the meal and these tips. Now, the booty comment is just a joke, but if you ate 5 plates and rear have no growth, is ok. We love you anyway. 5 stars; that includes great customer service.

    Seating
    Christian D.

    Delicious! Reminded me of the food of Cuba and the price is very well worth it and they don't skimp on portions! They also have an ATM inside in case their card reader isn't working.

    oxtail stew
    Eva G.

    Many locals coming here. There was too much work for the ladies here to get your order in fast. We mistakenly decided to sit down for table service, but learned that it would've been a LOT faster to wait in the cafeteria-style line, get food, sit and chow down, and get up and go. We got the oxtail stew with yellow rice, $10 (they gave us white rice but it would've taken forever to report the mistake and get it switched, so we sucked it up. It came with beans anyway. The meat was tender and the stew gravy is so savory), mofongo with roast pork, $6 (it was rather dry, and not riddled with as much lechon asada as I'd hoped. The gravy was the same as the one in the oxtail stew), and a papaya milkshake, $3 (very creamy). We asked for water, assuming they'd give us the iced tap in the pitchers right next to our table, but they gave us bottled instead. Rather than argue for what we wanted, we accepted whatever we got because we just wanted to finish fast and leave. The food was nice and hearty. If only service were more efficient, I wouldn't mind making the trek there again.

    Jose A.

    This place i go even if there is a storm and is open. Is one of the best spot in Harlem. I highly recommend anyone who is around to try their food. They have delicious empanadas. A lot of people come here so spect a line of 1-5 minutes because they are fast taking your order.

    Cassie D.

    Rude and slow. This one particular employee had a bad attitude was too busy talking to everyone around her instead of paying attention to my order. She than had the nerve to get upset with me because she got the order wrong, thank God I checked before I left. This place is so much different since the owner and his daughter aren't there anymore

    Chicken stew over rice!

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    9 months ago

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    5 years ago

    I love their food!!!!! Absolutely amazing!!!!! This is a 5 star restaurant. Great ribs, rice, oatmeal etc.

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    7 years ago

    Food is ok, good flavor. Combos are not as advertised (you don't get all what they say) and somehow you get little rocks in your meal.

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    Zoralie Restaurant - Two delicious lunch specials

    Zoralie Restaurant

    4.3(344 reviews)
    2.8 miHell's Kitchen, Midtown West
    $

    As a tourist, this is a great local spot. I came here for breakfast and had a plate of mangu…read more(mashed plantains) with dominican sausage, fried cheese, an egg and pickled onions. It was incredible, hearty, savory and simple. I didn't have cash so I zelled them. It's super cheap, delicious, and I love seeing all the locals popping in. Very authentic.

    This place is a hole-in-the-wall in Hell's Kitchen, on a quiet street. There is limited seating…read moreboth indoor & outdoor. The staff are very friendly, despite the limited English skills (and we don't speak Spanish). The restaurant takes cash and Zelle. Both of the below entrees came with rice and (a very small portion of) plantain. *Roast Pork: I assume this was pernil. It had a nice balanced seasoning that was gently savory and went well with the rice. Not a particularly "wet" dish, don't expect a lot of sauce. *Chicken Stew: They gave us two large drumsticks of chicken stew. The marinade / sauce is VERY lightly flavored and I wish the seasoning could be stronger / more interesting. This is not the best Dominican food I ever had but I did appreciate the homey charm and the very low prices. For two servings of roast pork and one serving of chicken stew we paid $40 flat!! It was enough to serve our group of four. I don't know how many other places in Hell's Kitchen or other well-visited parts of Manhattan would be this affordable.

    Photos
    Zoralie Restaurant - Inside

    Inside

    Zoralie Restaurant
    Zoralie Restaurant

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    Margon - Cuban sandwich

    Margon

    4.2(909 reviews)
    2.9 miTheater District, Midtown West
    $$

    Sometimes you don't need a fancy reservation... you just need a tiny spot, loud kitchen, and food…read morethat hits like a heavyweight champ. Walked into Margon Restaurant in Midtown and instantly felt like I found one of NYC's secret cheat codes. Small space, big flavors, zero nonsense. The kind of place where you're elbow-to-elbow with strangers but everyone's united by one thing... serious hunger. Ordered the Cuban sandwich -- pressed, crispy, loaded with roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss, pickles, and mustard. One bite in and I stopped talking... which never happens. This thing didn't just deliver... it showed up early and over-prepared. Then came La Bandera Dominicana Braised beef swimming in savory gravy, yellow rice piled like a mountain, black beans doing their thing, and sweet maduros sitting on top like the victory flag. Simple. Comforting. Dangerous... because now I want it every week. Place gets busy, gets loud, gets chaotic... but it moves like a well-oiled machine. Years of experience and zero attitude. Just good people making great food. In a neighborhood full of tourist traps, this hole-in-the-wall is throwing haymakers. Sometimes the best escape in NYC isn't a rooftop... It's a Cuban sandwich and a plastic tray. And honestly... I'd pick that every time. #nycfood #hiddennyc #midtowneats

    The Food is pretty good overall. The beef stew falls apart nicely. The rice and beans are pretty…read moregood fillers too. Plantain is always good. My main complaint is that they are really stingy on portions. They always give 1 plantain and when I ask for more, the lady gives me a dirty look and says 1 is the limit. Took 1 star off since the meal is not filling enough for me, but I keep coming back because of the flavor.

    Photos
    Margon - People lining up to get their food

    People lining up to get their food

    Margon - Maybe mold on corner piece of Flan. Something go me ill an hour later.

    Maybe mold on corner piece of Flan. Something go me ill an hour later.

    Margon - Closeup of the Cuban Sandwich.

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    Closeup of the Cuban Sandwich.

    Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar - Customers at the table trying our new Spanish dishes

    Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar

    4.6(497 reviews)
    3.3 miMidtown West, Hell's Kitchen, Theater District
    $$$

    Stopped by here with my other half to get a quick bite. It's a cute little spot that was around the…read morecorner from the hotel. We got the fries and the beet salad. Both were great to snack on. Our server was friendly and attentive. Will have to make another visit to check out more of the menu next trip to NYC.

    What a delightful evening!!!! We came here by chance, as we checked in to our hotel and were a…read morebit hungry. Everyone agreed with my suggestion to eat Latin American food and we made a reservation at Buena Vista, not far away from our hotel and also not far from the theater. We came over a bit early, around 5:15 and were immediately seated. We were immediately impressed by the business model. It is a melange of Latin American and Iberian faire with exquisite curation. Their cocktails were absolutely delightful, I had a Pantalones en Fuego, others had an exquisite margarita with passion fruit flavor and a Daiquirí de Fresa, just amazing. Then we ordered interminable Hors d'oeuvres. Their ham croquetas and mushroom croquetas were the rage, as well as the tostoncillos ibéricos and ceviche limeño, The main courses followed, a paella valenciana for two, the magret de pato, a delicious duck dish, and a grilled Argentine parrilla. Not bad for four people. Dessert included churros and tres leches. And of course, a bottle of a great Verdejo. Service was just flawless. We had several staff members all contributing to making our Father's Day evening special. All around us it was festive, with plenty of well dressed Spanish speakers in several tables, and the accents of a half a dozen Spanish speaking countries. Plenty of gringoes too. A beautiful collection of diversity. We left happy, ready to see "Oh Mary" and wanting to return

    Photos
    Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar - Looking toward front

    Looking toward front

    Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar - Plantains were delicious!

    Plantains were delicious!

    Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar - Empanadas

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    Empanadas

    Que Rico - Chicken stew and pernil lunch specials

    Que Rico

    4.6(14 reviews)
    4.0 miKips Bay

    I was craving Dominican food but didn't want to travel all the way uptown, so I was genuinely…read moreshocked to find this gem so close to my hotel. The food was absolutely amazing so good that I came back three days in a row! I ordered the baked chicken with rice and beans, and everything was phenomenal. The chicken was flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the rice and beans were just as delicious. The customer service was also incredible; she was so warm, welcoming, and kind every time I visited. I highly recommend this place. Please support this wonderful local gem.. you will not be disappointed! sorry the food photo isn't perfect. i was hungry!

    $10 lunch special?! In THIS economy?!?! From 12pm-3pm, this…read moreunassuming establishment right by SVA has a hearty lunch waiting for you! I was walking by and the sign noting their lunch special caught my eye- the lunch special consists of rice, beans, some plantains and a protein. They were offering pernil, baked chicken, chicken stew the day I went in. I got the pernil (roast pork) with yellow rice and black beans, and also chicken stew with yellow rice and black beans. Both the pork and chicken were so tender and flavorful, the chicken meat was basically falling off the bone. Extra points for adding some juicy pork skin along with the meat! Very satisfying food, you can easily get 2 meals out of it (they are very generous when packing the food!) Will definitely be back to check out their other offerings, especially the mofongo!

    Photos
    Que Rico
    Que Rico - White rice with red beans, pork shoulder and some yellow plantains.

    White rice with red beans, pork shoulder and some yellow plantains.

    Que Rico

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    Lechonera El Barrio - dominican - Updated September 2026

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