Authentic Dominican/Caribbean food in Willowbrook. Who knew? I remember this place from a birthday party decades ago. The space was a bit bigger (they've since redesigned it smaller), but the crowds were smaller. Success hasn't tarnished their food. It was a very rainy and soggy afternoons and the place was packed. We managed a table and ordered. Can't go wrong with the delicious shrimp mofongo. I honestly think the sauce is the icing on that cake, made all the more delicious with a squeeze of lemon. Whew! Service was fast and dinner came out at a reasonable pace. The owner is so friendly and stopped by our table to make sure things were good. Better than good! If you're in the Willowbrook area do yourself a favor and stop in for lunch or dinner. Prices are a little steep, but what's isn't these days? read more

Food is very good, they have lunch specials during the week including pernil, pollo guisado, etc for about $12-13. I ordered the pollo guisado and moro, both were good and we have a little left over. My partner ordered the pica pollo and the fried chicken was decent. The food does take some time, and servers did not check in too often so I would recommend ordering ahead of time (unless you have a long lunch break), There are plenty of tables, but it is a little dark inside, 2 bathrooms inside. The juice was on the sweet side so just watered it down (wish they have smoothies), but they get 5 stars overall for the flavor and the price point. Plenty of parking as it's in located along other stores. read more

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This is an unassuming place tucked in a dark strip center of Willowbrook. They get a steady business of regulars coming in and out and also doing takeout. The food is aways delicious and satiate my craving for carribean comfort food. The mixed seafood ceviche is loaded with large chunks of white fish, shrimp and octopus mixed with onions and peppers. The classic pernil (pork) never fails and is especially delicious when topped with some of their amazing mojo (garlic) sauce. The oxtail is a bit salty but full of concentrated flavor. This would have been great with a side of rice to eat up all the yummy sauce but I can never pass up the chance to have fried yuca (a pro move would've been to order both sides, which i will definitely do next time). read more

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Delicious food and great service! Price was good and tons of food. Come hungry and pace yourself. read more

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Service, the people were very nice. My date ordered the empanadas. As soon as the waiter set down the plate a bug climbed out from under the food. He took it back and brought us back a new plate. We should have just paid for our drinks and left. The food was not good. It's the aftermath I want to tell you. I have had food poisoning but never quite like this. This was on a Thursday, next day not hungry, not feeling good an ongoing headache, by that night stomach cramps had my curled up in a ball. I can't even keep antinausea medication down. Now it's Monday and I'm still experiencing it. Had a tele-med appointment this morning... because I'm scared to leave the house. I haven't really anything since Thursday. Just be warned. Nice people but they need to upgrade their cleanness. read more

Don't judge a book by its cover. This restaurant exists in the tired fascia of Willowbrook Malls surrounding strip center, but you step inside the uninspired exterior and are transported to the Caribbean and cheerful island vibe. The staff was friendly and fast and the place has the air of a family run establishment. The menu is full of traditional Dominican Republic recipes, with a whole section dedicated to Mofongos. I had the Patimongo, a delicious gumbo like stew with beef tripe , something I don't usually think of a great protein, but in this flavorful combination it made for a great combo. Served with rice, I'd definitely try again. If you're looking for authentic DR food and find yourself in Houston, take the opportunity to go! read more

Punta Cana Caribbean Restaurant - Restaurant front - Dominican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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If there were 10 stars to choose from, it would be 10/10. This place has been my favorite homemade Spanish food I've tried since living in Houston so far. It reminds me of mom or grandma cooking, no lie. The restaurant itself was on the smaller side but a gem for sure. It was super clean and the music brought memories of my childhood. The server Juan was absolutely great, although it got busy once we got there he did not miss a beat. Food - OMG, it was some of the best if not the best Dominican food I've ever had. The flavor was so homemade and delicious that I did not want it to end. I'm usually a super fast eater but I took the smallest bites since it just got better as time went on. Everything was very fairly priced and I cannot wait to go back and try EVERYTHING on their menu, minus the fish. I don't do seafood lol My gf is known in our families for her tres leches cake and this gave her a run for her money, she was super impressed as well. Overall I'm very happy we gave this place a try and if you're in the mood for some good Spanish cuisine, you have to try them out. 10 out of 10. read more

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Wow wow wow! So happy I to have found this authentic Dominican restaurant in Houston. Located in a strip mall with plenty of parking, this small restaurant has blown me away. It may be small but very welcoming and great vibes. Literally everything on the menu reminded me of home and I can't wait to come back and try other dishes. We started with the chicharron de pollo which was crispy, tender and flavorful. I had the carne de res guisada. The stew was so savory and delicious, paired perfectly with a side of tostones. I was so happy to see them served with ajo which is something I don't see often in this area. By the time we got our main dish, the restaurant started to fill up quickly but service was still on point. For dessert we shared the tres leches. I am very particular about this cake bc it rarely is made to my liking but this cake was better than I have had in any restaurant. read more

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The best Dominican restaurant in Houston Texas. The goat stew is unbelievable! Worth the visit ! Amazing staff as well!

Man I love this place but this one time we ate. My daughter was gonna treat me for the first time. She's 16 so she doesn't know much about tipping. After we ate she took the card machine and I guess skipped the tip part. The girl asked was the service bad because you didn't leave a tip. Honest mistake but as a server don't ask if the service was bad because she didn't leave a tip simply say thank you for coming and have a nice day. I then told my daughter you always tip someone no matter what but the fact she stood there and watched to see if she was getting a tip or not was very rude and unprofessional. I really love this place man I hope it never happens again. read more

Delicious food. nice and small restaurant. Can always add a chicken. Just overall nice place read more

I love restaurants like Punta Cana, as soon as you walk in you feel a happy vibe. I've been here twice and I am for sure returning. The dining area is small but charming, quaint and I really like the decorations. The customer service is excellent! Super friendly, attentive, quick and efficient. The food is delicious, very authentic taste and with a homemade feeling. The portions are huge. I had Cheese Mofongo and we had Yucca Frita and Maduros everything was deli, I do wish they had more vegetarian options for main dishes. I also tried the Original and Coconut Mojito, they were both so refreshing and delicious and decorated with a cute flower and a cherry. There is plenty of parking spots available, since the restaurant is located in a big lot. We had a wonderful time at this restaurant and I highly recommend it. Gracias Punta Cana! read more

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This is a great spot for Cuban food! I'm from FL and the food here was a little slice of home. They have Dominican food as well, but I haven't tried it ... yet. But if it's anything like the Cuban food I've already had it's probably delicious me & some friends meet up here after church once in a while. I highly recommend the oxtails, Ropa Vieja & the Cuban sandwich One of my favorite things about this place is that with your entrée comes with a side and avocado is a side, and as you can see in the picture, they don't skimp out on the avocado! The only thing that can be a bit frustrating is that if you come in with a big group, they will only do two separate checks. Which is why I would say it's not really group friendly plus the place is kind of small. read more

Punta Cana Caribbean Restaurant - Dominican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Small mom & pop restaurant in a strip center in Willowbrook area right off SH249. We visited around 4pm and got seated right away. Restaurant was pretty full. Our server was attentive. Food came out quickly and everything was good. Would recommend checking them out. read more

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The vibe in here is awesome. Kinda small but makes it more inviting and authentic. Music is amazing. Food is SOOO good! I love mofongo and a good one is hard to find, a lot of them are dry but this one is perfect and comes with a lot of garlic sauce . Service in here is AWESOME! Waiters are so friendly and nice. Empanadas were tasty and I love their mayo ketchup! Plenty of parking. This place is a vibe! Prices are affordable. Great lunch or date night spot read more

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Really enjoyed my visit. The menu has a pleasant selection and all that we tried was well-cooked and fresh. The service was also courteous and professional but sluggish during peak hours. In general, a very nice place to go to have either a casual dinner or a special occasion. read more

One of my husband and I's favorite restaurant! We are boricua and doesn't seem to be a big community for us here in H-town so it's been hard to find that bodega-like Spanish food that just hits the spot! We never have a bad food experience here although the servers arent the greatest but the food for sure compensates lol. Doesnt matter what you are in the mood for everything here is absolutely on point! They have a little bit of everything too from mofongo, empanadas, rice and habichuelas and so much more! Plus they have fresh juice too which I love. This is my hubby and I spot we go here almost once a week depending because even though I cook this its always nice to have a meal cooked for you that reminds us of our ancestral home :) Foods amazing! Its fresh, and cooked to perfection. Service could be better, I can't argue with the price, and although it's very small inside we never need reservations and usually just do a walk-in. I highly recommend it. They do have liquor here too! read more

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Punta Cana was walking distance from my Willowbrook hotel. It's small yet charming. The staff was very friendly! The service was quick and efficient! I decided to order multiple things on the menu to be greedy! Best decision because everything was good! I ordered fries, red beans and rice, plantains, cheese empanada, guava empanada and a mojito. I was very impressed with the empanadas. They were so flaky and flavorful. The red beans and rice did not disappoint. After eating I went back to my hotel to brag to the staff about all I ate and how good it was! read more

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The food was true authentic Caribbean flavor. Dominican Republic ambiance. Great, friendly service delivered with a smile. Must try Country Club drink and the maduros!!!! OH MY GOSH!!!! read more

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This restaurant is located just behind Willowbrook mall in a strip plaza. We came in with our little kids and ordered chicharrón and beef empanadas. I also ordered a fried fish that was delicious. The food and service were top notch! Can't wait to be back! read more

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Almost feels redundant to review this place after having so many stellar reviews, what could I possibly have to say about this little north side that hasn't already been said? Well, since it is or was recently Latin-X month, I'll give it a shot. This is one of my favorite little kept secrets around town that always hits the mark. From the quaint ambiance and friendly service, you could be fooled into thinking you would walk outside to find yourself on a white sand beach with azure waters, to the freshly made dishes and drinks that will satisfy any appetite, this restaurant has earned its reputation. Today we stopped in for an early dinner. To start we shared the ceviche mixto; fresh fish, octopus and shrimp garnished with vegetables and cooked in lime juice, served on tortilla chips. A fantastic ceviche, if you know good ceviche, lots of fresh fish with a good amount of onions and cilantro. Next was a small, warm and crispy empanada stuffed with seasoned ground beef; their empanadas here are also hard to beat....proper amount of tasty filling, great crisp and warm texture...they just hit right. For my main dish I went with a personal favorite, the Mofongo Chicharron de pollo; chunks of perfectly fried chicken with crispy skin and warm, tender, dark meat inside, accompanied by a hefty serving of mofongo - a staple dish of mashed plantain with crispy pork skin peppered throughout, topped with the most delicious garlic and oil, with a small side salad topped with oil and vinegar to cleanse the pallet. The wife had Mofongo Pernil - similar to my dish only with slow cooked pork shoulder that falls apart and nearly melts in your mouth. On a whim I decided to try one of the Dominican cake desserts before leaving. We don't know what exactly this consisted of other than it being a some what dense cake, topped with toasted cream, layers of buttery caramel between the cake and what tasted like amaretto throughout. A delicious little treat that sent me from satisfied to stuffed, although it was still worth it. If you haven't been here yet, you owe it to yourself...you don't even have to take my word for it, there are 500+ other reviews that should convince you if I can't. read more

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I've been coming here for years. 5 stars. Nothing less of the best. I am speechless when it comes to this place. Amazing menu with various options from chicken to pork and seafood. Lunch menu is on point with prices and portions. The food is cooked to order and the beer is cold. You must try a Presidente when you visit as it is the local beer of Dominican Republic. Love love love everything about Punta Cana. Keep up the great work! read more

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The food is good, it has a good flavor and the staff is very nice, the restaurant is cozy and atmosphere is pretty cool

Ordered takeout and all the portion sizes are huge! I got the kids pernil with fries, the chicharron de cerdo mofongo, and Maduro (fried plantains). Everything was well-seasoned and fresh. It's enough food for 2 meals per entree, yes, even the kids entrée. I need to try more dishes! read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants because they're the only ones who sell Pastelon (basically plantain lasagna) in Houston that tastes homemade. Ive had their Pastelon with sweet plantains and another order of it with Tostones and they both taste great, I highly recommend them. They seem to have a lot of other great dishes as well. The service is pretty good no complaints there. The restaurant is little small so keep that in mind if you go with a lot of people. For how much food you get I feel that it's reasonably priced. read more

Punta Cana Caribbean Restaurant - Dominican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Great place!!!! A REAL Dominican restaurant!!! So hard to find outside of NYC or Miami. Parking: super easy, in a huge lot in the suburbs. Service/Seating: sweet people and love the authenticity! Fast, fresh food, good for Covid social distancing, small place but good for groups of 4 or dates. Ambience: typical Caribbean, music, casual, bright, chill Food: had the pollo guisado which is not in a lot of red sauce more dry with some brownish guisado type seasoning/flavor, chicken fell off the bone. Arroz con Gandules was a little dry but good. Plantanos Maduros was perfect!!! Empanadas de carne was good. Guananabana was excellent! Price: Cost effective! Will be back. No reservations needed. read more

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Great food. Wonderful staff! Empanadas were so delicious. Should've ordered so many more.

Food was amazing & service was excellent! will definitely come back! Everything was so delicious we ordered more to take home!! This is a must try! read more

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The Service and food is awesome highly recommend going to this restaurant. It I lived closer I would go daily

Food was amazing, Seasoned well, hot and the customer service was splendid! 9/10 I recommend this Dominican restaurant. read more

An authentic Caribbean restaurant focused on Dominican and Puerto Rican dishes. No matter who I bring, picky eaters or adventurous eaters, everyone leaves full and enjoys their meal. Ropa vieja is my favorite but I haven't had a bad meal yet; mofongo, stew chicken, ox tails . The service can fill slow at times but it's because most everything is cooked to order and we're on island time. The interior matches the hole in the whole location and it can feel tight when it's crowded. read more

I love their Cuban sandwich!!! Is delicious! They do take a little to bring your food out but it's because it's all made from scratch. read more

The food here is delicious and authentic! Happy hour drinks are delicious! Pineapple mojitos are our favorites. My go to favorite entree is their fried snapper. It's always fresh fish cooked to perfection. Crispy on the outside soft on the inside. Side of yuca fried, beans and rice and sweet plantains (madudos) go so well together! But they have several great choices like empanadas and an item similar to empanadas but using plantains for the dough. Also for a great main is the braised oxtail Moist and fall of the bone! Get rice with it and soak up the juices. Yum!!! You have to end with coconut flan. So good i ate it before a photo. We always bring one home for later. Best flan in the area!! You can't go wrong. The service is always super friendly and attentive. They're always happy and take good care of their customers. Its a nice casual place and you can feel good in yoga pants. It's a homey place, like family. It's a must try if you haven't and love latin Caribbean food. Even if you aren't familiar with it, you'll like it. You can't go wrong with crispy fish and excellent price! Under $30 for whole fish. Also with dessert get a dominican coffee with sugar and cream and make it extra good with a shot of liquor 43. Enjoy!! I promise you won't be disappointed! read more

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Wow! I was not expecting to enjoy this so much! Highly recommend. Excellent service and AMAZING food. You must try it. You'll thank me. You're welcome. read more

Punta Cana Caribbean Restaurant - Dominican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Me and my Dominican husband's favorite restaurant. Food tastes completely authentic. Short wait times to be seated. Good music. Fair prices. We love eating here at least once a month. read more

Punta Cana Caribbean Restaurant - Pastelón de plátano maduro and ropa vieja con moro de gandules - Dominican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Love this place !!! Very very authentic and service is fast! Highly recommend the ceviche & oxtails. read more

Punta Cana Caribbean Restaurant - Dominican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Excellent food, and the service was great. I had the mofongo with garlic shrimp, was really good. The mofongo was not dry but very tasty. The octopus ceviche was awesome, reminded me of home. read more

The taste was great, the services was on point . Everything look was perfect. I am definitely coming back.

Went for lunch. Ordered the chicken wings as an appetizer and they were tasty. Entrees were Rios Vieja and Chicken stew with a side of sweet plantains. Rosa Vieja was really good, husband didn't love the chicken stew. Both were served with rice and beans. Beans needed a little more seasoning in my opinion. Plantains were excellent. We split the coconut flan and it was amazing. Will be back next time we visit to try other items. read more

Punta Cana Caribbean Restaurant - Ropa Vieja Pollo Guisado - Dominican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Truly authentic Caribbean food, meat falls off the bone, reminds me of abuela... What more can I ask for, a must try.