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    Palmas Cafe

    4.3 (37 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

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    Recommended Reviews - Palmas Cafe

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    Prudence M.

    Went in here because my usual coffee spot across the street that I drove 25 minutes for is closed for New Year's Day. Shout out to Palmas Cafe for being open! I ordered three fried empanadas (two chicken and one beef). they were okay - the crust is a bit different than I'm used to, but maybe the empanadas I typically have are baked. Also seemed to be more potato than meat in the beef one. The Americano coffee is awful. It gives mostly hot water with a hint of coffee flavor. I tossed it and didn't complain. Granted it's a cafe and not a coffee shop, but it's coffee! They have a plethora of other drinks that may be worth trying, but i will never order coffee here again. The decor inside is nice Also note, this is mostly a beverage and snack place. Very little food on the menu.

    Inside
    Patricia L.

    Super cutie in here and the Vanilla Chia and Chicken Empanada was delicious! Parking is free on weekend here which is lovely. The only thing I wish was better- the menu was pretty hard to read. Just a little small

    Dulce de Leche Latte
    Kimberly G.

    Palmas is a fairly recent addition to downtown Cranford, but I had heard about it on TikTok. I loved walking into the Salvadoran-owned cafe as it felt very warm and inviting. The staff was friendly and offered great suggestions. Although it was very busy on Saturday afternoon, I was happy to find a few seats available with the background music at the perfect, conversational volume. I only came in to order coffee, but seeing all those delicious pastries and baked goods made me almost change my mind. There were several winter specials available, so I decided to try the dulce de leche latte. I really enjoyed it since it was bold and strong, but had a smooth, sweet finish. There were many tasty-sounding latte choices such as horchata, tiramisu, and the golden palms latte, which is made of turmeric. I look forward to trying one of those the next time that I return.

    Flat White
    Roxanne O.

    Super cute, small space. We ordered coffees and a baked good, which was perfect after a long flight.

    Pistachio Croissant Nutella
    Veronica M.

    5 Stars!!! Simply. Amazing. If you are looking for an even better coffee spot in downtown Cranford- look no further than Palmas Cafe. I've done 3 times already and each time it is amazing. The space is amazingly designed and spacious. The coffee is the best in town - I tried the horchata latte and the rose petal cold brew. Would easily recommend either. Get there early, there is usually a long line.

    Pastry display
    Hannah C.

    Stopped by for breakfast with a friend and it did not disappoint. The Philly cheesesteak empenada was the perfect savory to go with my pumpkin pie matcha, which is an incredible combination. You get the rich earthiness of the matcha and the sweetness of the pumpkin pie. And we couldn't resist some of their other treats when I saw them in the pastry case, so we also got the pistachio scone, which was divine. It has that nice crumbly texture without being too dry and has a delicious pistachio frosting on top. The surprise superstar was their Nutella cruffin. It's like a mini cinnamon roll and it's fantastic. All the baristas were super friendly, and you can tell they take care of their regulars. Plus the vibe is so good with people doing work, others talking with friends, and overall very chill. Highly recommend!

    Cold Brew with cold foam
    Ritesh S.

    beautiful oasis-themed decor, great coffee and seasonal drinks, delicious latin bakery items, friendly staff with a neighborhood vibe. Located in cranford downtown- it's a self-serve cafe(order at counter, pick and sit anywhere) with ample seating. Went on a Saturday morning - cafe was pretty busy but we were able to order in few minutes and grab a table. We ordered a skim latte and a cold brew with cold foam, both of which were perfectly brewed and refreshing. For snacks, the banana-walnut muffin was soft and fresh, but the real star was the pan de bono--it was warm, cheesy, and had that perfect chewy texture. Its a bit overpriced compared to other cafes in the area but overall a nice place to hangout and chit-chat.

    Baked goods
    Jacqueline V.

    Visited this location with my two friends to grab coffee. The ambiance was great, vibrant , on a Sunday morning! I got a shaken espresso with a pupusa that was amazing! Would definitely come here again for coffee n a quick snack.

    Selena Y.

    Bright and inviting cafe serving coffees, teas, and food with a Latin American twist. Their front display is filled with colorful, homemade pastries and there's also fun seasonal menu to order from. I enjoyed the pumpkin spice horchata latte, whereas the pumpkin spice chai latte was too sweet for my preferences. I'd probably stick to coffee based drinks next time. I also tried the spinach & cheese and philly cheesesteak empanadas, which were both alright. Cute spot overall though!

    Spinach and Baked Cheese Empanada
    Chelsea N.

    Palmas cafe is a great new addition to downtown Cranford. Today there was a long line (the social media hype is strong!!!) but the line moved quickly. We got our items within 10 minutes of ordering and found a seat inside. Their tiramisu latte is amazing - just as good as it looks! It was quite filling with a delicious mascarpone cream foam on top. I wanted to try their pupusas, but they were sold out for the day. I really enjoyed the spinach and cheese empanada instead. They have a great selection of coffees, refreshers, and pastries. Can't wait to come again!

    Rosaly S.

    This place was sooo cute! The sweet treats were delicious, and the coffee wasn't just tasty--it also had such a fun aesthetic. I went on a Sunday around 11 a.m., and it was PACKED! That's the only downside--you basically have to scope out people who look like they're almost done and hope they leave soon. But honestly, with a spot this cute, I kind of expected the crowd. My friend and I split up: she ordered while I tracked down seats.

    Collagen latte special
    Eva Z.

    Came here early on a Saturday morning for breakfast . The inside of the cafe is bright , modern and inviting . The presentation of their food / dessert items is attractive as well . They offer a lot of unique items . I ordered the Dubai Chocolate scone and the protein iced latte . I loved the scone it had that classic buttery, homemade taste . The latte packed a punch and I love anything that has a collagen or protein option . Every time I pass by after 8 am it's always busy up until they close at 6 pm .

    Iced Latte, Avocado Toast with Egg, blueberry danish

    Such a cute place with lots of sweet treats! I wish I lived close by to visit more often!

    Pupusa Bean and Cheese

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    2 months ago

    Amazing vibes, great food, and great coffee! love it here and love seeing Bad Bunny's face

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    11 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Cozy coffee spot. Great coffee and treats. A comfortable meeting place in the center of town. Huge variety of pastries for everyone.

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    11 months ago

    Service was quick, everything we tried was good there's something for everyone here from sweet to savory they got it

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    11 months ago

    They are crazy almost $6.00 for a pupusa elsewhere is half that price. They aren't even that big to justify the price.

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    Ask the Community - Palmas Cafe

    Review Highlights - Palmas Cafe

    Finally went today and got a raspberry matcha latte, horchata latte, and a cheese pupusa and WOW!

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    Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe

    Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe

    4.5
    (420 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    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.

    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.

    Photos
    Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe
    Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe
    Outside

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    Rio de la Plata Empanadas and Bakery

    Rio de la Plata Empanadas and Bakery

    4.0
    (2 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    amazing food and incredible service. The closest flavors to uruguayan food. Really happy to have…read morethis place, because is a way to have home a little bit close.

    In between the Brazilian bakeries and restaurants on Liberty Ave, you'll now find Rio de la Plata…read more Referring to the river between Uruguay and Argentina, Rio de la Plata, rightfully so is a newly opened Uruguayan/Argentinian style empanada shop and bakery. Owned by Ruben's Empandas, whom has multiple locations found throughout NYC, Rio de la Plata is a wonderful addition to the area, replacing a previous Brazilian luncheonette. Upon walking in, you'll find dozens of empanadas encased in glass with a ton different filling options such as beef, sausage, chicken, fish, and vegeterian, and even dessert ones. Empanadas are what they're most known for, and often I've found are the best option to order. In addition to empanadas, they serve typical Uruguayan dishes such as the chivito sandwich and bizcochos. The chivito in Uruguay is often called the heart attack on a plate. It is a sandwich topped with steak, ham, cheese, eggs, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, and olives, with fries on the side. Bizcochos are popular savory and sweet croissant, donut-like snacks found throughout Uruguay. I've tried their empanadas, bizcochos, and once the chivito. The empanada is a giant, puff-pastry, stuffed with the filling of your choice and is well-seasoned. At $2.50 an empanada, it's well worth it. Unfortunately, I've left here with a bit to be desired when it came to the bizcochos as well as the chivito. The bizcochos are sold on discount in the afternoon, and there are daily specials on a blackboard.

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    Beef empanada

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    Beef empanada
    Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen

    Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen

    4.0
    (3.2k reviews)
    18.2 mi
    $$

    Went there for dinner before watching a play at Broadway. The place was very busy and we didn't…read morehave a reservation but they had a table for us right away for 6 people. I would say that this was lucky cause the place was packed. Generally loud but you can still talk with people on your party. One of the first things I look for is if a restaurant serves you water when you sit and here they do and the waitress would often make sure we were topped off. That is something that is always appreciated and noticed by me. The food was generally good and service was fast. I tried various dishes and while great tasting nothing really stood out like lots of the reviews said and I tried a bit of everything that was recommended in the reviews. (Even ox tail empanadas which sounds weird but weren't bad). I think the biggest appeal here is that it's 24 hours so you know you always have a quality place to go to that is great. I would recommend it to anyone in the area but I don't know if I would go out of my way for it. I know that if I'm watching another play, it is a great stop for either before or after.

    Love, love, love Empanada Mama!!! Anytime I'm in the area, I stop by for my go-to empanadas: Bombay…read more& Viagra. The restaurant is open 24 hours and is the perfect place to go for those late-night cravings. One can sit at the full bar, in the dining area, or get items to go. The restaurant is always lively and patrons get seated quickly. The most I have ever waited for a seat is 5 minutes. There are more than 40 empanadas in corn or wheat shells to order. The menu celebrates diversity through its' empanada pairings. Greek - spinach pie, Cuban - ham, pork, and cheese, Americana - cheeseburger, Bombay - Curried chicken, Brasil - traditional ground beef, Hawaiian - ham, pineapple & mozzarella cheese and many more. Besides empanadas, there is a full menu of Colombian delights to eat including arepas, salads, sandwiches, soups, tacos and tapas. They have dessert empanadas as well. Love the USA empanada, which is apples & cinnamon baked and the Nutella & banana one. You can get it topped with ice cream as well. Really looking forward to my next visit.

    Photos
    Bar (empty where we were told we cannot sit with takeaway orders)
    Bar (empty where we were told we cannot sit with takeaway orders)
    Appetizers- guacamole,  plantain chips and potatoes
    Appetizers- guacamole, plantain chips and potatoes
    Cerveza Águila!! The best!

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    Cerveza Águila!! The best!
    Patria Station Café

    Patria Station Café

    4.8
    (54 reviews)
    7.5 mi

    We stopped by Patria Station Café in Berkeley Heights, NJ on a quiet Tuesday afternoon, hoping to…read moreenjoy a relaxed lunch--and it turned out to be a great choice. The owner, Carolina, was warm and charming as was the waitress, Amira, who provided great service. We started with Argentine beef empanadas as a starter. For lunch I ordered the beef milanesa platter with French fries, while my wife had the chicken milanesa sandwich. Both dishes were generous in portion and full of flavor, just the kind of hearty, home-style fare I love from Argentine cafés. We also picked up a sandwich de miga to take home--a crustless ham and cheese sandwich that was simple, delicate, and satisfying. I'd rate both the meal and the sandwich an easy 8 out of 10. The café itself has a welcoming, local feel, and visiting on a weekday kept things peaceful. I learned they offer fresh Argentine pastries on weekends, which sounds like a perfect reason for a return visit soon. Patria Station Café is a great spot for authentic flavors, big portions, and a pleasant, laid-back experience.

    We stopped on our way home from a wedding .. My husband is from Argentina so anytime we can have a…read moretaste of home for him we stop ! The owner was so welcoming ! The place was decorated so nice and different but beautiful! I had the toasted sandwich de miga delicious!!!!!! My kids demolished the kids French toast ! We brought home some empanadas and they were delicious! Can't wait to visit again ..

    Photos
    Here we see some Argentine products they sell.
    Here we see some Argentine products they sell.
    Portobello sandwich
    Portobello sandwich
    Cappuccino with oat milk

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    Cappuccino with oat milk

    Palmas Cafe - desserts - Updated August 2026

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