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.

Speaking about Hidden Gems? This has got to make the top list for sure. An amazing Dominican…read morerestaurant hidden in the heart of Chinatown. Who would of guessed? They have a good menu to choose from. What stands out to me is the Dominican Smashburger which I did not get this time but will definitely get that my next time. This time I got the $11.95 All day special. You chose your choice of meat and comes with rice and beans or Spanish rice and soda or water. I got the roasted pork/pernil. It was so delicious. And every order of pork comes with the crunchy skin which they cut off separately. Nearby Transit: Canal Street Subway - J,Z,6 Trains. M9, M22 and M103 Bus

A welcomed inclusion in a sea of Asian lunch spots. Having lived in the Bronx, I expected each dish…read moreto be a slathered mess of greasy comfort but surprisingly they hold together pretty well and have a non-heavy clean taste to them. I appreciate not having to deal with cleanup but I was hoping for more of a savory punch. I ordered the flagship Dominican Smash Burger and yeah I dunno, I wanted that salty melty cheese flavor; it was more subtle.

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.

My dinner at El Rincon De Mi Quisqueya hit all the right comfort notes. The food quality exceeds…read morewhat the prices suggest. Staff members combine productivity with genuine warmth. I like dishes that don't overwhelm with complexity. I have zero negative comments.

Love the food here! My favorite is the chicharrón de pollo. We always order it with tostones. The…read moreseasoning on the chicken is unmatched! Highly recommend Delivery man Luis is the best!

What a hidden gem! Santiago's Garden serves incredible Dominican comfort food. The fried chicken…read morewas perfectly golden, juicy, and flavorful, and the drinks were refreshingly authentic. The garden atmosphere with fairy lights makes it such a fun and unique spot for dinner with friends. Warm service and delicious food. I will definitely be returning!

Music was extremely loud, thought I was walking into a dance club instead of a restaurant;…read moreoverkill. Caught laryngitis the following day from having to talk loud over the music. We did ask to sit outside and was denied because we were told we didn't make reservation, even though there were lots of empty tables. The server mistakenly served red wine and then Champagne instead of Chardonnay when asked for it. Instead of saying "we don't have Chardonnay," she should have simply informed the customer. After our meal, we stacked our plates and placed them aside to signal the server that we were finished. We endured a 30-minute wait for our bill, which was an unpleasant experience. Additionally, we desired to depart promptly due to the excessive loud music, which was getting on our nerves. Definitely not our place to go eat out; very disappointed. Oh, and food was okay, that's all I can say.

One of the best hidden gems for authentic Dominican food. Fresh, homemade meals for breakfast,…read morelunch, and dinner at very reasonable prices. I paid around $13 for a lunch special and it was excellent. Highly recommend if you're looking for authentic food without the fancy atmosphere.

Uno de los pocos restaurantes dominicanos en el área y para ser honestos el más auténtico en…read moresabor.. llevo comprando comida desde que abrieron y siempre delicioso.. gracias por el buen servicio siempre.

The iconic Dominican restaurant is a joyful, loud and welcoming place. The line begins early but…read moremoves quickly. We ordered a lovely red wine and enjoyed our entrees: my friend had the half chicken; I ordered the calamari, which is house made. Although it stayed busy, we didn't feel rushed. We paid and headed across the street to the Imperial Palace to see Dudamel perform. It was a great meal followed by an amazing performance in a breathtaking setting.

11/10 Rotisserie chicken…read more I watched a Tik Tok recently talking about venturing out to find the best rotisserie chicken in NYC, and Malecon came in at 2nd/3rd. I had to try it out for myself since their #1 spot was really underwhelming. This spot really hit the spot and deserved to replace the #1 spot -- the chicken was moist, flavourful, and fresh. I could see why the lines to get in were so busy, so try to get here before noon, especially on a Saturday. The maduros and yucca fries were also special -- fried just enough to caramelise while also being crispy, my favourite. Affordable? Check. Good vibes? Check. Community staple? Check. Only come if you want to be part of the winning team.

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

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!

Great Dominican & Puerto Rican food at good prices and a casual environment. They have a good…read moreloyalty rewards program and two locations.

Theirs something special about this place. Been coming here…read morefor a couple years already. I've had such a great experience here! The restaurant serves amazing dishes everything tastes fresh, flavorful, and made with love. You can tell the chefs be putting love into their food. The service was friendly, the atmosphere was comfortable, and the overall vibe made the meal even better. If you're looking for a spot with great food and a good experience all around, I definitely recommend checking this place out! My go-to is cuban sandwich with fries. Lorddddd!!! The best sandwich in the neighborhood. And when I'm not feeling well their Chicken soup is on pointttt. My remedy I call it. If you order a large they give you a small container with white rice. The perfect combination.