Had the worst time trying to get this to this place no parking…read moreJust to go around like an idiot and see that they're closed If you're closed, update your yelp page so people don't waste their time It says you're open till seven. We arrived at 5:15.

La Cocina is the classic Newark spot for Cuban eats! For lunch, you pick your choice of rice,…read morevegetables, and protein -- and on a recent visit, I had arroz con gandules, steamed broccoli, and beef stew. All delicious, albeit a little salty to my taste. La Cocina is a popular catering spot for Rutgers events, so I have been fortunate to try a wide variety of offerings such as pastelon, pernil, and chicken stew -- and you can't really go wrong with any of them. The empanadas are also a must (make sure to ask for hot sauce), and while difficult, try to save room for dessert! Flan and tres leches are soooo good. Lunch time gets really busy, so you can avoid the rush by coming a little later. However, the staff is good about moving everyone along, so you won't be waiting forever. Definitely give La Cocina a try!

Food was fun and the service was great! Empanadas and skirt steak were perfect! Will for sure…read morereturn!

The details of the restaurant, car, seating picture stop, paintings, music, free parking and best…read moreof all great food, which is not common in all Cuban places and spots as there is a Union, NJ on Rt. 22 location as a 1st location established which does not have the same details, or food quality as I have experienced and glad that I am now living in Harrison and no longer in Union and have been able to experience the difference. Although, staff, lacks the want to be there as I noticed on Mother's Day and facial expressions were noticed. Love the new place and bringing it out to Harrison. Great addition to the town for many. Support staff and workers should be better chosen to create a better experience to return to. Older Spanish people are difficult and younger staff don't always adapt to old folks and I felt my mom was uncomfortable when asking for service on Mother's Day. The food was amazing, no lie and the place was a blessing to have experienced with my mom here in Harrison. Plenty of times in Union on RT. 22 but better in Harrison honestly. Bar table staff and young ladies not as pleasant, and I was with my mom and brother and the guys were nice but the girls by the bar and tables, well one, not all very worthy of having on staff. Mother's Day at 2 pm to 5 pm working the tables closet to the bar and bar was very unpleasant and someone I would review and as an owner of a Great place and establishment. Name not recalled or remembered but definite a downfall for the place. Figure it out. Young, Black hair, spanish, between 2 and 4 pm, mothers day on the bar tables and bar took care of me on the first table by the bathroom area. Blessings to your place. My Birthday is June 12th....would love to come back if you send an invite. vgrovira@gmail.com

Food is made with love clearly, the seasoning is amazing. The ambiance reminds you of old Cuba…read morewhich is amazing and the point they are trying to get across. Lastly the servers and even owner come out regularly to check on you and provide great customer experiences.

Service was great! Very attentive and answered all questions. The food was so good. Would…read moredefinitely come here again. The sangria, delicious

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

After leaving Barcode, I was hosted by Eddie at Mambo's Cuban Restaurant in Union, NJ, and what a…read morefantastic 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!

Every time i come here its such a hit!!! It's definitely one of my favorite hole in the wall places…read morethat I've been coming to for about 8 years. The food is probably the closest you can get to actual Spanish tapas but what i love most about this place is that everythings got flavorrrrr For our table of 4 we got CROQUETAS with their house cured chorizo- very good POLLO FIORENTINA- chicken was so tender and packeddd with flavor! BARRIGUITA- plentiful serving for a tapa, we loved the potatoes it came with too CHICHARRON DE POLLO- flavorful chicken and easier to eat than you think TARTAR- delish but small Chipirones- sooo delicately breaded you can barely tell, was great COSTILLA A LA PLANCHA- plentiful for a tapa, we recommend cooking for longer since its traditionally a tough cut of beef SAUTED VEGETABLES- tastey and not mushy thankfully! MILLIONAIRE CAIPIRINHA for my drink. was soooo good, not too sweet and not quite as sour as a margarita, was perfect for me!

Casa d'Paco is a great spot with a really cool setup. When you first walk in, it feels like a…read moresmaller, quiet place with a nice bar but then you realize they have an additional space on the side which completely changes the vibe in a good way. When I was there, they had a DJ playing, and it added energy without being too loud or overwhelming. The Service was very good, the waiter answered and helped with all our questions. The food was absolutely amazing really flavorful and well done. Just be a little prepared that most dishes come in smaller portions. But the quality definitely makes up for it. I ordered the paella, and it's easily enough for two or even three people and it was well worth it. Really delicious. The drinks were also definitely worth trying while you're there. The only thing I wasn't big on was the desserts they didn't quite live up to the rest of the meal. But overall, great atmosphere, excellent food, and a fun experience. I'd definitely come back.

So I found this place by accident. It was late one night and my parents and I came in after driving…read morefor so long for something to eat. We left COMPLETELY FULL AND SATISFIED!!!! Tonight was our 4th time going. Christian, our waiter, was extremely attentive and patient; all the waiters and staff seemed very focused on all the guests. Great food and ambience!!! FYI, try the guava cheesecake and flan .

I came to Rumba Cubana at 235 Pavonia Avenue, Jersey City on June 26 with my friend Luis. Again, we…read moreloved the tasty food, drinks, and the stellar service. Servers Christian and Alex were the best. I always loved Rumba's delicious meals and their desserts. The atmosphere is lively and patrons seem to enjoy the experience. I highly recommend Rumba Cubana to all comers.

I would give Cha Cha in Kenilworth 2 stars…read more This was my first visit, and while the service was friendly and welcoming, the food itself was very disappointing. I appreciated the complimentary yuca fritters with special sauce, which was a kind gesture. However, the overall quality, freshness, and authenticity of the main dishes did not meet expectations. Parking is very limited street parking. The Cuban breaded steak was the biggest disappointment. A proper Cuban-style breaded steak should be thin, tender, savory, garlicky, slightly citrusy, well-seasoned, evenly breaded, and pan-fried until crisp and golden. The version I received tasted oddly sweet, the breading separated from the meat, and the steak had a gummy texture with an old-looking color. It did not have the freshness or clean savory flavor expected from this classic dish. The red beans were very concerning. They tasted strongly like vinegar, and I had to spit them out. When I looked closer, there appeared to be a white, murky-looking substance in them. Beans should never taste sour or vinegary unless something is wrong. Cuban-style red beans should be creamy, savory, aromatic, and well-seasoned with garlic, onion, peppers, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. The white rice was also not acceptable. It was hard, did not taste fresh, and had a vinegar-like smell and flavor. It appeared as if older rice may have been mixed with newer rice. Proper Cuban white rice should be fluffy, clean-tasting, separated, and neutral in flavor. The moro with black beans and rice was better than the white rice, but still lacked depth. It needed more bay leaf flavor and stronger Cuban seasoning. A good moro should have a rich, savory base from sofrito, garlic, peppers, onions, beans, broth, herbs, and slow cooking so the rice absorbs the flavor. The oxtail was tender and okay, but it did not fully deliver the deep, rich Cuban-style flavor I expected. Traditional Cuban oxtail should be slow-braised with garlic, onions, peppers, tomato sauce, wine, herbs, and spices until the sauce becomes rich and the meat is deeply seasoned. This oxtail tasted acceptable, but it seemed as though it may have been prepared a day or two before and reheated. I understand that many restaurants legally prepare certain foods a day ahead, especially dishes like beans, stews, and oxtail. However, food should still taste fresh and be stored, cooled, reheated, and handled according to food safety standards. Sour or vinegar-like flavors in rice or beans can sometimes indicate fermentation, spoilage, or improper storage, and that should never reach the customer. The best part of the meal was the dessert. The vanilla flan was very good, and the coconut flan was excellent. The coconut flan was rich, creamy, and full of coconut flavor, with shredded coconut pieces that added texture and made it stand out. That dessert showed real potential. The prices were reasonable, but reasonable pricing does not make up for poor freshness and low food quality. It did look like they may do better with sandwiches and empanadas, which I did not try and perhaps should have ordered first. I cook Cuban food, Puerto Rican food, and other traditional dishes myself, and I lived in Miami for over nine years. I also learned from Cuban friends who cook authentic Cuban food at home. Because of that, I know how these dishes should taste. In my opinion, the dishes I tried did not represent Cuban cuisine with the freshness, authenticity, seasoning, or care it deserves. The restaurant may have people who know how to cook, but based on this visit, it seems the kitchen has lost some of the authenticity and discipline needed to serve fresh, properly prepared Cuban food. Food that tastes sour, vinegary, old, or questionable should never be served to customers. The service and desserts were the highlights, but the main dishes need serious improvement in freshness, food handling, seasoning, and respect for authentic Cuban cuisine. There are several areas that need improvement. Freshness and food safety should be the main priority. Rice and beans should never taste sour or vinegary unless intentionally prepared that way, and food that seems old or questionable should not be served. The breaded steak should be freshly breaded, crispy outside, tender inside, and properly seasoned with authentic Cuban flavors like garlic, citrus, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. The rice should be fluffy, the beans creamy, and the oxtail deeply seasoned and fresh-tasting. I believe the restaurant may have cooks who understand Cuban cuisine, but the kitchen needs to reconnect with freshness, consistency, authenticity, and stronger food handling standards. Cuban food is rich in flavor, comfort, and cultural pride, and with improvement this restaurant could better reflect that tradition.

This is my second time coming here. It was a yelp event that brought us here first and it was…read moreamazing. I will say parking is street parking or side streets and can get a little crazy on weekends. Service is always great and you feel like you are a part of the family here. Food is always fresh and amazing. Anytime I am near here we stop regardless of being hungry or not. I absolutely am obsessed with their vaca frita and black beans. It's a huge portion so leftovers are always good. My boyfriend always orders their cubano as he said it is the best one he has ever had. Their Maduros are also sweet and crisp and never greasy. We also tried their choripan sandwich and it was awesome. We've never had thinly sliced chorizo which eliminates the usual oil and messiness. Always an amazing meal. We also tried their pineapple Cuban smoothie and ended the meal with their delicious flan.

Horrible reviews seem to be the standard in today's world. Every part of a persons dining…read moreexperience is microscopically reviewed, mentally checked off and compared to Michelin service or getting freebies as if they have a rewards system. Of course, restaurants are going to have bad days with service, food, and the atmosphere can be "off"; it's normal. I can only attest to how many times I have dined here over the past 20 years which I can only compare it to a person going to Starbucks/DD on a daily basis. The food was always good (Stuffed Filet of Sole is my favorite), the soup of the day is always fresh (The garlic one is great). The drinks are drinks; they're regular bartenders not Brooklyn Mixologists. The bar is loud and vibrant as it should be and the dining room is quiet for a more serene dining experience. The staff is as friendly and any other place. I've had more than my fair share of rude service at other places and I just don't return. Running a food establishment is not an easy task. It is dedication, grit, and long hours that take a toll on you mentally, and physically. Many places don't survive their first year and for any restaurant to be around for almost 50 years, it says something.

If I can give 0 stars here, I definitely would. Extremely rude and racist staff. They are basically…read moreracist against anyone who are not Spanish. We came in with a group of six and ordered paella to share together. Everything was fine in the beginning, and they even served soup and bread to us. Then our group was quite surprised when we looked at the bill and found out we were charged $20 for the soup. I mean it would be totally fine if they didn't serve us the soup. But they didn't notify us about the charge for the soup and gave us the option to opt-out. Basically, they imposed an extra order of the soup on us without our permission. Then when we split the bill among our group, the staff gave us a nasty attitude with rolling eyes. I mean. How our group handled the bill and split the payments among our members is none of your fucking business. Save your money and avoid this at all costs. Don't even want to call them a restaurant since they are not even qualified to be one. There are so many better places with much friendlier services in the area.

Love the setup and the people are friendly. The Cuban sandwich was so so. Too little meat, couldn't…read moretaste anything but the bread and a way too big slice of pickle. Cuban sandwiches are made from a traditional roasted pork shoulder (pernil). Pulled pork. They had pork but sliced like a cold cut. Odd texture. No flavor. . One slice of ham and Swiss. You're supposed to taste the roast pork (pernil). The bread should be pressed & toasted with garlic butter. C'mon guys bring the flavor.

Just didn't have the Cuban sandwich taste. We were both disappointed and were expecting something…read moremore.

For being a Monday night, I think I picked out the perfect spot while in Hoboken! The Cuban…read morerestaurant is certainly more spacious than meets the eye from street view. It has a very long bar with a half floor in the back for additional booth like seating and also a mezzanine for additional seating above. We were very attracted to the restaurant from the outside with their fun music playing from the speakers. We proceeded to have dinner and a couple drinks to end the first Monday of the year. My coworker and I shared the garlic shrimp with toast and the trio of empanadas (spinach, pork, chicken). We'd rate both dishes, a 9 out of 10 each. One point knocked off because the garlic shrimp was a bit oily and one point knocked off because the sauces were a bit too sweet. For dinner we ended up sharing Churrasco plate which is grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, yucca fries, and a watercress salad. We ordered additional side of rice and black beans to share. In addition to the appetizers, this was the perfect meal to feed us two. The steak was pretty good and the server even asked if we wanted the hot sauce which was so spicy but very delicious. I highly recommend getting some of it to pair with your steak. We did order a Mojito since the server said they make fresh in-househouse. It was in fact, so delicious and would highly recommend especially the guava flavor. For dessert, we decided to give the chocolate filled churros a try. It appeared with a raspberry sauce. That was a 7 out of 10 for us so I'd say skip on that. Romeo came out to about $140 for two including the Mojitos and dessert. I feel like it's pretty fair pricing. Otherwise, service throughout the night was amazing, staff was very attentive and server very polite to recommend a couple of dishes. We certainly appreciated being in an awesome booth in the back. Would likely return again for dinner!

I don't take leaving negative reviews lightly. I would much rather support a local business than…read morebash one. However, after attempting to address this directly with management multiple times and being met with zero follow-up and continued avoidance of responsibility, I feel obligated to share our experience. What we dealt with went far beyond poor service. It was unsanitary, chaotic, and frankly a potential health hazard that warrants review by the health department. We arranged for a private loft space on Valentine's Day to host a surprise birthday dinner for 25 guests with a prepaid prix fixe menu. From start to finish, the night was a disaster: * We were promised a private loft space, yet two other couples were seated upstairs with us, leaving some of our guests without proper seating and creating an awkward, cramped setup. * From the moment we arrived, buckets were placed in the middle of the party area due to a leaking ceiling caused by overflowing toilet water from the bathroom above. Water dripped into the dining area all night -- onto guests, tables, and plates. There was one bucket gathering brown water from the ceiling when we arrived and at least three by the time we left. Food and drinks were carried directly beneath it and the floor was soaked. This is a serious health code concern, and notably, two guests became sick after the party. * We appeared to have one single server for 25 people, resulting in extremely slow service. For a 6:30 reservation, appetizers began arriving 90 minutes later -- one plate at a time -- some cold by the time others were served. * Dinner was not served until 9:30pm. After nearly three hours of waiting for entrees, some guests had to leave without ever receiving food. * The included coffee, tea, and dessert -- part of the prepaid package -- were never offered or served. * After requesting to speak with a manager about the experience and a possible partial refund, we were told we would receive a call. That call never came. This was not a matter of a busy holiday or a minor delay. It was a complete breakdown in cleanliness, staffing, communication, and accountability -- compounded by management's lack of professionalism and refusal to take responsibility afterward. I attached photos from the moment our guest of honor arrived at the surprise party, and an additional photo of what the additional buckets looked like at 8:43 PM while we were still waiting for our food to arrive. I genuinely hope ownership takes this seriously before anyone else books a party or chooses to dine here, because no one should have to experience what we did.