After leaving Barcode, I was hosted by Eddie at Mambo's Cuban Restaurant in Union, NJ, and what a fantastic way to end the evening. (I've eaten at the Harrison location multiple times and have always enjoyed my experience there, but this Union location is noticeably larger while delivering the same great food and hospitality. Honestly, you can't go wrong with either location.) The moment you walk in, you're greeted by a colorful, lively atmosphere that immediately sets the tone. The centerpiece of the entryway is a rare 1920s classic blue automobile that commands attention and makes for a memorable first impression. The restaurant buzzes with energy, and despite how busy it can get, the service is friendly, attentive, and incredibly efficient. We started with several appetizers, and every one of them was a hit! The Canoas de Plátano featured sweet plantains stuffed with flavorful Creole ground beef and topped with perfectly caramelized cheese, creating an excellent balance of sweet and savory. The Tostones Montaditos were equally impressive. I tried both the skirt steak and smoked salmon versions, each served on crispy plantains with cilantro crema and fresh cilantro. Both were outstanding, but each offered its own unique flavor profile. The Queso Frito con Salsa de Guayaba was another standout, with the salty, crispy fried cheese pairing beautifully with the sweet guava sauce. For my entrée, I ordered the Ropa Vieja, a classic Cuban dish featuring tender shredded beef simmered in a rich Cuban Creole sauce. The beef was incredibly flavorful and comforting, exactly what you'd hope for from a traditional preparation. Alongside it, I enjoyed maduros, which were perfectly sweet and caramelized, as well as white rice and black beans that tied the entire meal together. From the vibrant atmosphere and impressive décor to the excellent food and top-notch service, Mambo's continues to prove why it's one of my favorite Cuban restaurants in New Jersey. If you're wondering if I'll be back? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! read more

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge - Interior - Cuban Near Me - Union, New Jersey

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RED SNAPPER dish a must. 2 1/2 lbs with Shrimp on tostones and a slice of Avocado. Good for two. Cooked well keeping juice inside. CHORIZO with vino was different, good tasting too Service was kind and could tell trying to please, it worked. Environment was with eye pleasures and a 1920 Vehicle that is parked on restaurant entryway. I will return. read more

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Wowww My Gosh I was very impressed by the quality of the food that is very high with daily fresh ingredients and products on the site of Harrison NJ with delicious Ana bar tender and waitress too. Spacy and cosy atmosphere is a must go and an absolutely green flag. Dish and deserts was up very well served and I liked the kale Caesar salad and the Guacamole y Frijoles + classic Mojito and caramel flan.Alex the manager is also a very warming person and the team is excellent too. I went to discover the Mambo Union too that is very very good with excellent food and juicy & tasty bistec salteado. You can be served with either Vladimir or Junior as well and Evelyne the bar tender si so so lovely. They will really cater to your request. Long Life to this restaurant ..All the stars is deserved read more

Another great experience. Good food , great service and cozy ambiance! The perfect combo! read more

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it's OK. Nothing special the food is regular. That drinks are overpriced and are just regular. Nothing really stands out.

Ended up in the Harrison, NJ area with a family member before a show and randomly found Mambo. Cool Cuban spot with nice vibes and decor. The restaurant was clean and spacious. It was around 5pm on a Friday, starting to fill up but not packed yet. We were first seated at a small table for two, but since there were plenty of open tables, we asked for a bigger one and they happily moved us. Service was solid and everyone was friendly. We had an assigned waiter, but the whole team seemed to pitch in, which was nice to see. They had happy hour, so we tried the mojito (really good) and the sangria (just okay). The food came out fresh and nicely presented. The salmon was delicious, and the Mambo platter was a good option for trying a a few finger-sized specialties. I enjoyed the croquettes which comes in the patter and my cousin the ropa vieja which she said was a good version of the staple cuban cuisine. Convenient location by the NJ PATH train, with paid parking nearby. We later found out they validate parking at the hotel next door, definitely good to know for next time. read more

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One thing we really appreciated was how easy it was to customize our sides. It made ordering feel flexible and convenient, especially with a group where everyone wants something a little different. Overall, the food was flavorful, the serving sizes were generous, and it was a great spot for dinner with friends. They also allowed us to bring some table decor for a celebration for a friend! Very accomadating . Algo que realmente apreciamos fue lo fácil que fue personalizar nuestras guarniciones. Hizo que ordenar se sintiera flexible y conveniente, especialmente en un grupo donde cada quien quiere algo un poco diferente. En general, la comida estaba llena de sabor, las porciones fueron generosas y fue un excelente lugar para cenar con amistades. Además, nos permitieron llevar un poco de decoración para la mesa para celebrar a una amiga, y fueron muy atentos y serviciales read more

Anytime we go everything has been up to par the food, service and ambiance is lively.

So... where do I begin? I give this place 2 stars for the decor and the guava marmalade fried cheese, which was creative but ok. The Cuban sandwich was subpar...literally no flavor, lacked meat and even the bread was dry and flavorless as well. The side of fried plantains were not fresh at all...who gets that wrong??The place was all glitz but definitely fell way short of the authenticity of a Cuban cuisine. The staff were ok but they lacked realistic recommendations on their menu items. Also, the place is, in my opinion, too cramped for the vibe it's trying to give. Too many tables and chairs to comfortably move around in. Parking is Valet only. Overall, I'm certain that I won't return. read more

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Had another memorable meal at Mambo. When you arrive, don't look anywhere else for parking. Just use their valet service, because the surrounding businesses have even made signs clearly stating, if you park here for Mambo, your car will be towed. Upon entering, you'll take in the high ceilings, the festive lighting, a complete Model-T Ford, and lots of happy staff members. Our Server, Valentina, was outstanding. If she wasn't pleasantly tending to us, she was part of the team, that constantly sang happy birthday wishes to celebrating customers. I started with my ever favorite Mamey Shake. It was served in a tall glass, with milk, and I enjoyed every drop. The other celebrated drinks were a traditional Margarita and a Piña Colada. Both were perfectly crafted and nicely presented. I ordered the Palomilla (Sirloin) Steak, medium, with Congri (dirty rice) and sweet plantains. The steak was juicy, a thin piece of happiness, and the plantains were.....well, just look at the photo. Each and every one was delicious. Mambo also completed their downstairs area, where they can sit other customers, have private functions, and it has a full bar. read more

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This Cuban restaurant has super delicious, very authentic food. Even price-wise, it's definitely worth it. The only downside was the drinks -- they could've been a little stronger. For the drinks, I'd give them a 3/10. Other than that, everything was amazing. The food was absolutely delicious, and the waiters provided excellent service. read more

Great atmosphere, great drinks! The food was amazing. Full of flavor and authentic. Definitely coming back!! read more

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge - Cuban sandwich and mofongo - Cuban Near Me - Union, New Jersey

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Found this place while in town for a concert. It is on a very busy strip of town, with a difficult to navigate parking lot, but they do offer free valet parking (at least on the weekends) which was an unexpected bonus. Inside, the restaurant is lively and dimly lit, but there are lamps on the table to be able to see the menu. The food was good, and they have plenty of options on the menu. The service was a touch slow at times, I think because they do a lot of celebrations and the whole staff gets involved in singing and clapping for guests. Overall, it was a good meal, so I would go back. read more

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It was a busy night, very crowded. We were able to drive up and get a seat at the bar. A bar side table opened up and they offered it to us. My tostones were dry and not flavorful, and a tad bit cold. This is usually my favorite appetizer here. The appetizer platter cost more with lechon. I feel like it could have had a tad bit more lechon on it. The seafood platter - the calamari look dry. So overall an ok experience. I'm hoping this was because it was a Saturday night. read more

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What a great find! New Jersey is loaded with so many great Cuban restaurants especially in the Edgewater area so I was pleasantly surprised that we found this place while staying in the area. My gf found it for us while looking for a place to grab a drink and appetizer. We got there just in time to enjoy their happy hour menu. We ordered: - Mambo Platter 4/5 - Croquetes 4/5 - Mojito 4/5 - Presidente 4/5 I asked the bartender if there was any pork in the platter as the items specifics weren't listed on the happy hour menu and she informed me that three of the items had pork in them and I asked if she could put them on a separate plate since my gf is Muslim and can't eat pork, but she said let me ask the cook and then she informed us that he couldn't because of the presentation. What??? We are eating it not him. That made zero sense to us, but whatever. We made it work. The platter consisted of: - Pork crackling 2/5 - Ham croquets 3/5 - Stuffed potato 5/5 - Corn fritters 5/5 - Beef empanadas 4/5 - Cuban tamale 4/5 - Spicy mambo sauce 5/5 I really like this place. The atmosphere is what makes it so special. It's very open and spacious and the vibes are great. The bartenders were very nice and friendly. They also have valet parking which is free but make sure to tip your valet attendants. I was happy with our decision to come here and we'll definitely stop back in the next time we are in the area. Recommended :) read more

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge - Cuban Near Me - Union, New Jersey

Amazing atmosphere and good was delicious! Cant express how tasty and delicious the Pina colata in the coconut is!! A bit on the expensive side but definitely a must try!! It's all worth it! Staff were very attentive and friendly!! Parking was very convenient and reservations are a must! read more

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Best Cuban food I've had in the states! Came here to celebrate my dad's birthday with a party of 5 and it was an absolutely fantastic experience! When we first pulled up, I was worried because the parking lot was packed, but don't let that fool you--the restaurant is incredibly spacious inside, and we had no wait at all. Parking: they offer free valet (just remember to tip the drivers, they work hard and it was freezing outside!). The atmosphere is gorgeous--loved the inside decor, it really sets the mood. Now for the food... sooo good. Authentic, flavorful, and arguably the best Cuban food I've had in the states. The portions are huge, allowing for plenty of food to take home for leftovers. We had such a great time celebrating, and I will definitely come back in the future. If you are looking for authentic, delicious Cuban food in a great atmosphere, this is the place! read more

A great ambiance for celebrating a birthday. And it was simple to make reservations with plenty of timing options. Additionally, the indoor design is beautiful! I love all the palm trees. The drinks were also good & strong. I wasn't a fan of a few things 1) Valet is mandatory, which means a cash grab 1 for unsuspecting patrons ( it's "Free" but Tips are somewhat mandatory) 2) My family got their pictures taken automatically when they entered the restaurant, and the photographer while nice, was very pushy in trying to get us to purchase multiple pictures ( they were very pricey ! ) 3) One of the salmon dishes were overly sweet 4) The food took a while to come out and when it did, it was cold. All in all I can see why some folks might love this place, but my experience left a lot to be desired. read more

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I like Mambo. The place is always packed and the food is consistent. They have a huge space but because it is so popular, there is still almost always a wait. They offer valet parking which perhaps is the worst idea ever. Route 22 is already packed and the added traffic of waiting in line to park is absolutely ridiculous. That being said, the food is good, the happy hour is great and the mojitos and sangrias alone are worth the visit. Because it is so busy and crowded, the music is always loud so not a place I would recommend for a romantic date read more

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge - Cuban Near Me - Union, New Jersey

Food is just ok, service was quick for a super busy night. I love the decor and the music, but they close early. Not sure to return.

This was the first time my wife and I tried this place. We were with a group of friends hanging out before the holidays. What can I say? The place was great! It had a very lounge-like vibe, yet it maintained the restaurant motiff. We hung out at the bar while waiting for our friends and ordered a couple of drinks. They were spot on! My wife had two piña coladas and I had two daiquiris. The bartenders were very friendly and they knew what they were doing. When our friends arrived, we did have to wait awhile because our table was still being occupied by a previous party. So, we had a few empanadas as appetizers. They were so good! We finally got seated and ordered dinner. The food came in promptly. They were absolutely scrumptious! I had the the grilled pork chops with pineapple sauce. My wife had the roasted pork belly. Every pound I gained from this dinner was well worth it! The desserts were very good, too! Their Tres Leches was not too sweet, just right. I would definitely go back to this spot. read more

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This place was super fun. Decor brought you back to Cuba with a literal car and bongo drums in the restaurant. Some of our drinks came out out with smoke boxes. The snapper had a great presentation and was quite good. We also had the sampler appetizer. The pork belly was good. Too bad I'll no likely be in this area again. I would go back. One thing it seemed we were u redressed for the place. Or everyone just dresses nicer in this area‍ read more

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First time here and wowww; it was an incredible experience! Great decor right as you walk up the steps and into a lively foyer and dining space. The service was impeccable and for a Saturday night, that's saying something. Drinks were great! Shared the white wine sangria pitcher and some got mojitos of course. We shared the Mambo platter for an app, and honestly could have gotten 2 for the 6 people sharing but we didn't want to go overboard. The main courses were super yummy. The seafood paella was soooo good! Everyone enjoyed their choice and the portions sizes were big enough for leftovers. We saved room for dessert, and how fun is the staff doing a birthday song?! It's just a fun, lively vibe in there all night long. The flan was awesome, not too sweet. I liked the tres leches but it wasn't my fav. This was the perfect spot for a celebration. We all had a fun time and enjoyed ourselves! Remember to save cash to tip the valet on the way out too. read more

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The food was so good. I had a Mango Margarita and Shredded Beef Ropa Vieja and Congri. So dang flavorful!!! Loved the design, very beautiful inside. The service was great, the servers dod a great job. Very prompt with our drinks and bringing our food which was served hot and fresh. Will definitely be back. read more

This was a good place to go for a family gathering. The ambiance took you back to the era in Cuba before communism. There was nice cars from the 50s that you could take pictures with. We were seated quickly and drink orders taken within five minutes. I ordered the plantain chips which were different from what I remember. I found the spice was lacking in what entree I ordered (picadillo). I then remembered that spice isn't a big feature in Puerto Rican/Cuban cuisine. The food was still good. All in all, I'd return here for another visit if I lived in the area. read more

I loved this restaurant! I love the decor and ambiance! And the music and the vibe. Very fun place. We came here early on a Sunday for my birthday brunch and they allowed us to sit in the private area when you first come in. The food is delicious and so are the drinks. Valet parking which is annoying but I was able to park my own car since they had just opened. read more

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge - Cuban Near Me - Union, New Jersey

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Mambo is a beautiful restaurant. The service was excellent. Most of all the food was delicious. We will definitely go there again.

Back to one of my favorite cuban spots. Amazing food, amazing staff and ambiance. You can't go wrong with this place. Happy birthday to me. read more

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We went for the first time for my FIL birthday it the drinks and food was great. The vibe was awesome as well we loved the waiters and all the people there. read more

I'm still trying to find my replacement Cuban restaurant in NJ (my beloved small Cuban restaurant in Bayonne has been replaced by a building). So I tried this spot. Here are my thoughts. Service: No complaints. 5/5 Drinks: Mambos Passion 5/5 GF got a Snapple Iced Tea Food: Churrasco with Black Rice and Tostones: This meal was mid. There wasn't anything special about it. Rice was okay. Steak was okay. Tostones are well..Tostones! The chimichurri sauce was good. 3/5 Fried Calamari: Bland and unseasoned. The dipping sauce was it's saving grace. 2/5 Breaded Fried Chicken Cutlet with Black Rice, Maduros and Shrimp: My GF ordered this and thought it would be something else. However, to be fair, the description on the menu was accurate. I'm not sure what she was expecting. The chicken was okay. Nothing special. Dry (the waitress did ask if we wanted any condiments). Shrimp was just regular. Literally, nothing interesting in this meal. 3/5 Tres Leches Cake: Very Milky. Great taste. 5/5 I wouldn't return to this location. I may give the Harrison location a chance. Overall score: 3/5 Bill: $109 (charged for paying with card) read more

Came to visit on a Monday after work. The parking situation is not ideal. The valet is mandatory and the lot is blocked off. There are signs next door at the pet shop that warn people about getting towed if they are parked on their side of the lot. My friends and I shared a Mambo Platter (fried marinated pork belly, stuffed potato, corn fritters, tamale and spicy Mambo sauce). It was really good although small for three people. I would definitely recommend this though to get a little of a bunch of stuff. I think it would be better suited for two. My friends both ordered alcoholic beverages and I asked about a mocktail and was given a weird look. Finally I asked if I could have a virgin pina colada, no alcohol. Which took him a second to process. Not sure if that's something usual here or not but I wasn't sure why there was a pause both times. My friends ordered the Camarones al Ajillo (shrimp in garlic sauce) and Ropa Vieja (shredded beef in a Cuban Creole sauce). Both of them said that it was good. I ordered the Pargo Frito (whole fried snapper) that comes with a side so I got white rice and I ordered some maduros (sweet plantains) additional as well. Honestly the fish was cooked ok but it was lackluster and pretty bland. I love snapper and order it out every chance I get and this is probably the worst one I ever had. Before ordering I asked what sauce or spices goes on the fish and he didn't know so he paused and then said "Cuban spices" -- Which doesn't really answer the question. I think it's fair that the server might not know these questions but it'll be better if he checked in with the back of house and confirm in case there are allergies. Something unusual is that they have someone come around asking to take pictures of each of the tables and halfway into your meal they print out the pictures and put them in frames to try to push them on you for $20. The whole situation is pretty awkward and not explained very well when they take the picture. The worst part is we felt really rushed. The server would come by and just give us an "are you done?" vibe. Not sure if it's because it was going to start getting busy since we came at 5:30 for early dinner or that they were starting their salsa lesson. Felt like we had to wrap up even though we were friends meeting trying to catch up. We ended up at another place just sitting at the bar because we didn't want the night to end up clearly did not feel welcomed to stay at Mambos much longer. read more

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge - Cuban Near Me - Union, New Jersey

Recently moved to Union and was awaiting a special occasion to visit. Anniversary weekend so this was one stop planned. The servers were nice. Ambiance was perfect. I was so excited until the second bite of food. Sooooooo dry. Like I mean DRY. So dry I drank a whole cup of water after the second bite and just couldn't anymore. How can rice and steak be so dry. Highly disappointing way to start off my wedding anniversary weekend. Almost forgot, this place has valet and you can't park your own car. The driver asked for a tip and was holding onto my car key as he asked for one! We were in and out the restaurant for 30 minutes! read more

I came here for my birthday dinner with my husband and mother, and overall the food was decent but the experience left me feeling disappointed. My husband mentioned to our server, Juan C., that it was my birthday and asked if they do anything special. Juan just said "Oh it's your birthday? Happy birthday." and walked away, so we assumed they didn't. Dinner itself was fine -- the paella was pretty mid (lots of shells with barely any clam/mussel meat), but otherwise the food was good. The part that stung was as we were leaving, a big group at another table had the staff come out singing happy birthday with a whole celebration. It was really embarrassing and honestly made me feel brushed aside on my own birthday. As a "sales professional" Juan C. could've handled that situation better. Also, the valet felt unnecessary. Mambo isn't upscale or fine dining -- it's more on par with a Cheesecake Factory, except I'd say the food at Cheesecake Factory is better. Not the worst meal, but definitely not somewhere we'd return. read more

Food was good! Went on a Tuesday evening and they had a band and the service was great! read more

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge - Snapper! - Cuban Near Me - Union, New Jersey

Wow wow wow I did a quick google search of where I wanted to eat following a doctors appointment and wow...the random places NEVER disappoint. I'm brining my mother here for Mother's Day! This is it Cristian and his team, including Pablo, were amazing. I ordered the camarones ajillo and I told him to surprise me with whatever entree he chose. He did an amazing job. Pablo checked in a few times and was very friendly. Great service. Haven't had GREAT service in a long time. The old fashion is a masterpiece. Would return a million times. This place is really good. read more

Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge - Cuban Near Me - Union, New Jersey

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My friend works in the area and told us we have to stop and try this restaurant one day. So we all set a date and stopped by on a Saturday night. Seemed very busy, we had to wait in line for valet parking outside. We walked in and it was about a 50 minute wait for three. We made the best of our time waiting at the bar with a couple of drinks, which were really good and reasonably priced. We received a text from the hostess when our table was ready. We were greeted by our server Natalia, her service and attentiveness was top-notch. We started off with the sampler that they offered everything that was included was phenomenal. We all got different entrées Mofongo, Ropa, Vieja, and Lechon. The quality of each entrée was so well put together that I'm still talking about it the next day. I will definitely come here again. Shout out Daniel for being the best busboy we have ever had. read more

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Food and service was outstanding and reasonably priced. We would definitely recommend.

Went here last night for date night with my wife. Place does get busy and they were lined up for valet parking when we got there. Checked in and went to bar for a drink. Great Cuban atmosphere. Bartenders were great and made an excellent drink. We were seated shortly after that. Our server Christian was terrific as was the rest of the staff. For appetizers we shared a house salad and garlic shrimp. Very good and big enough to share. For mains my wife had the marinaded chicken breast with sautéd onions and I had the stuffed sea bass, which is stuffed with crabmeat and served with shrimp on top. Both were very good, but could have used some more seasoning. For dessert had the flan ( delicious) and it was my birthday so staff sang to us. There were a lot of birthdays there last night. Prices are very reasonable. Overall a great experience and we will return. read more

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Came here on a Friday afternoon after passing by this spot a while ago. Upon entry, I was pretty impressed by the ambiance and how large this venue was. It seemed to have a large room with a bar on the right side and large dining room upon entrance. If I am not mistakenly, they may have an area down the stairs as well. This place was very decorative with a classic car seating area, Christmas tree and Cuban flag and other items. We were greeted and seated pretty quickly by the lovely hostesses. For our drinks, we ordered passionfruit margarita and guava mojito. DELICOUS!! I would came back for drinks alone. Right amount of flavor, right amount of alcohol. I appreciate non-watered down drinks from a restaurant For food, we ordered: tostones mantaditos (green plaintain with skirt steak) - the steak was ordered medium but did come out medium well to well done and was a tad tough. Camarones al ajillo- shrimp with thin fried plaintains- shrimp was seasoned pretty good and the thin plaintains were good Chicharron Monfongos - My friend really enjoyed it and had no complaints. she enjoyed how well the pork was fried and seasoned Masitas de puerco (fried pork chunks) the pork was fried too hard but the black rice and beans were good. Overall, really good experience. Would definitely come back for a happy hour special and to try other foods later in the evening read more

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The vibes in here were amazing, my friend and I were seated near the bar and it was a lot of fun! The margaritas are delish, and the food was reasonably priced and came out fast. The service was good as well, no waiting around and friendly servers. read more