The ambience was very lively, and the server was very responsive. The food was incredible; it was definitely some of the best Puerto Rican cuisine I've had on the east coast. The mofongo was off the chain, and the beef empanadas were equally fantabulous. The pasteles were perfectly seasoned. Everything was delicious. read more

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The service here is great. There was only one server taking care of everyone, and he was quick, attentive and very friendly. This spot is adorably decorated to channel those tropical Caribbean vibes, and the sound of the coqui playing in the background was a lovely touch. As for the food, I ordered the grilled pork chops and arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), and a salad. I love the addition of the salad and the slice of avocado. The rice and the pork chops, on the other hand, left me wanting a little more. It was seasoned for sure, but that soulful Puerto Rican flavor wasn't fully there. read more

The Freakin Rican - Puerto Rican Near Me - Astoria, New York

Highly disappointed, I had high hopes for this restaurant, my family and I drove in from Brooklyn to try it. There was a bug in my food, alive! Enough said. I, almost 5 months pregnant, was disgusted and emotional because I just wanted to enjoy a meal with my family. Had it been my husband and I, we would have walked out but I didn't want to disrupt the rest of my family's meal. You make your own judgment. read more

I visited Freakin' Rican on March 20, 2026 during restaurant hopping with my sister, and I really wanted to love this place--but it fell short for me. First, the customer service was excellent--the host was friendly, attentive, and welcoming. The space itself is very small, about 9-10 tables total, but gave you that eating with your family vibe, talking at the table and listening to spanish music. The bathroom was clean but it had a shower, which was definitely... different. Now for the food. I ordered the fried red snapper with yellow rice and pigeon peas, salad and unfortunately it had no flavor at all. The rice was dry and tasted like there was no sofrito or seasoning, which was disappointing for a Puerto Rican spot. My sister's pork chops were actually very good--probably the highlight of the meal. They also don't serve alcohol, so I had a Coco Rico while my sister had water. Overall, while the service was great, the food didn't live up to the hype for me. I expected bold, authentic Puerto Rican flavors, and it just wasn't there. Also, I wish they offered plain Yellow Spanish Rice as well as white rice options. I'm glad I tried it, but I won't be returning. If you go, try the pork chops--that's your best bet. And if you're really looking for authentic Puerto Rican food, you're better off heading to Sofrito in Manhattan or grabbing cuchifritos uptown--they don't miss. read more

The Freakin Rican - Puerto Rican Near Me - Astoria, New York

Ate here today for lunch on a holiday called Eid. This was definitely my first time eating Puerto Rican food that I got the fried fish filets over arroz mamposteao (mixed Puerto Rican fried rice) that comes with pork and beans with Puerto Rican soda. As an overall, it was absolutely delicious and amazing. I couldn't agree more about it and many thanks to my polite and friendliest server named Diego for keeping me company and welcome. Finally, I would definitely eat and come back again next time! :) read more

The Freakin Rican - Puerto Rican Near Me - Astoria, New York

Some friends and I stopped by here for lunch after volunteering nearby. What a vibrant, colorful space with lush green leaves painted on the wall, lifelike mural paintings, and pretty florals hanging from the ceiling. For my drink, I had to get the Guanabana Shake (less than $5) - also known as Soursop, and loved it so much! It was satisfyingly thick, lightly sweet, oh so refreshing tasting like a blend of pineapple and strawberry with hints of citrus and coconut. I couldn't decide what to order between Fried Red Snapper (only $21) or Pork Chops ($19). I finally went with the Fried Red Snapper, served with Arroz Mamposteao and Salad. The Snapper was whole, so a little difficult for me to eat with all the bones, but worth it! Snapper was marinated in tasty seasonings and garlic, and amazingly crispy with tender, succulent meat. The Arroz Mamposteao was rice mixed with salted pork, beans, veggies, as well as sofrito. This was savory, aromatic, and oh so full of flavor. Salad included cucumber, tomatoes, and peppers, adding a fresh element to the dish. Service was solid. Our waiter was welcoming and attentive. We received all our food in a timely manner. Prices were affordable. I would return to try the Bacalaitos, Pernil, or Salmon. read more

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They had a commercial running in upstate New York probably about a year ago and ever since then I've been really wanting to go here. I have friends in Queens so I swore on one of my visits I would get there and I finally made it! It did not disappoint! The service was just amazing! They took time to explain dishes and checked on us often. They were happy to suggest dishes and we wanted the full experience! We got the codfish fritter and cornmeal fritters for appetizers. Delicious! I got the salmon. It comes with a salad with a nice sized slice of fresh avocado and your choice of side. I got the yellow rice with peas and it was generous! The salmon was a nice size and perfectly cooked. Fun Spanish music playing and bright lights and colorful decorations, this place is just joyful and delicious!! We purchased their honey mango hot sauce to take home as we used almost the entire bottle that was on the table. We put it on just about everything, it was so good! read more

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DELICIOUS!!!! I highly recommend this place and I will be back. The food is AUTHENTIC boricua food and it was amazing. The alcapurrias tasted straight from the island!!! Their mofongo, tostones, pernil, rice, everything... you name it & it was DELICIOUS!! Even heating up the leftovers, they tasted amazing. The place has amazing ambiance, service is great, and the prices are great. Nice date or family night. And the coqui sounds!? Really brings me home to the island. read more

Order food on line . Went to the restaurant which was so small and when I went in the gentleman that was at the counter paid no mind to me for a few minutes He was to busy taking care of the people that were in the restaurant. He said it would be a few minutes more Not a half hour!!! The food was disappointing the chicken chunks were salty and the rice had no flavor! The Cuban sandwich was so flat had one piece of ham and a little pork They had no shakes because their blender was broken they had no sofrito . I always wanted to try this restaurant but I was so disappointed Don't waste your time or money over priced . read more

The food was amazing & great customer service. The food didn't take long either for the wait .

very cute puerto rican place in astoria. the restaurant itself is pretty small but very well decorated, it gets very busy around dinner time so plan to get there a little early if you're not getting takeout. the staff is very nice and there were no issues. we had the fried calamari, cod fritters, pernil, and alcapurrias. everything was 10/10, the place has been around for a while now but i think it deserves more credit, it's a real gem. very worth a visit. read more

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I trekked across Queens to try this spot out with my friend. I ordered a mango shake, Mofongo with shrimp, and extra garlic sauce. My friend ordered the trifongo, rice (Arroz Con Gandules), with sweet plantains. The food was delicious. I do not like plantain but I LOVE mofongo and the shrimp were juicy and flavorful. We both cleaned our plates and wanted more. The only way to make it better would be eating it on the beach in PR and maybe no tails on the shrimp. The shake was sweet and creamy.. delicious. The spot is small but its clear people love it. It was crowded. The employees were friendly and patient as we always take a little extra time when ordering but everything was to our liking and delicious. The meal really felt like a little vacation, especially with it being on the other side of Queens for me. I read more

This place has earned many awards for best Puerto Rican restaurant in NYC. I can definitely see why and can confidently vouch for it. Tricky thing about this place is the limited open hours if you're craving for a bite here, takeout and dine-in. Pricing is decent for the food and the quality. What I ordered was the codfish fritters, the tamales, and Puerto Rican rice to start my first visit. My boyfriend's recommendations were spot on and the food did the job to exceed my expectations. I've never had codfish fritters at a Puerto Rican eatery. Always went for the classic mofongo and sweet plantains. The flavors and rich rice smooth texture was there just as I've remembered my childhood of living in the Bronx. There was much more items I wanted to order learning from my childhood but wanted to savor everything on my first try. There's always more opportunities to try more since this is a personal favorite of my boyfriend's and mine now too. Definitely next order will be the mofongo, yuca, and sofrito rich dishes. read more

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Small little place but so cute inside ! The sound of the Coqui when you walk in was a sweet surprise. It was extremely busy and yet the Service remained excellent! The pasteles were amazing!!! Food was delicious. Definitely going to make this a regular spot for me . read more

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Peril was juicy but no skin. Expected a more criollo recao sofrito taste. Maduro great. Rice with gandules lacked the pure sofrito! ..some in the next table Victor askin read more

First off, pardon the lighting as we were at the table just below their neon sign so everything has a bit of redness to it. Anyway, I went to this place a good while ago with one of my groups (you can see Andie's review for similar details) and we shared a bunch of dishes. They're quite small but we were able to get packed in there and the staff were friendly. Slightly loud but not that bad especially for the size of the spot. They have a nicely spiced hot sauce on each of their tables which adds a slight kick when you need it. To drink I had one of their shakes/batidos; specifically the parcha i.e. maracuyá/ passion fruit with water which was tasty. From the appetizers, we got their famous Pasteles as well as the Chicharron which is either made with fried pork or fried chicken (we got the pork.) The pasteles ($5.50) were excellent with a good texture and plenty of tender tasty meat inside. Would recommend and I can see why they were written up for that. While the chicharron was worse, it was still very good as well and in case it got a bit fatty, the hot sauce there helped reduce the richness. Our favorite of the main dishes was the Mofongo or mashed fried plantains which ranges in price depending on which meat you get with it. We went with the camarones (or rather Camarones Al Ajillo) or shrimp in garlic sauce for $20.50 which was an excellent choice. Usually mofongos can be a bit dry unless some type of sauce or gravy is added and the garlic sauce made it moist. Good texture otherwise and plenty of plump shrimp. This came with a small salad which was a bit more varied than your typical side salad which was appreciated as well as some rice and beans on the side. Probably the only place I've had a better one was in Washington Heights but this was very close if not neck and neck so basically no complaints. Also very good was our other main dish; the Puerto Rican Pernil; which is also served with similar accompaniments for $17. The roast pork was very well flavored and was less dry than many other places though were was a tad bit of that. It was a good mix of fat and meat and I would still recommend it but the mofongo was much better. We got two sides; Maduros and Boiled Yuca which were both good. The maduros ($4.50) or sweet plantains were solid though I prefer places which slightly burn/caramelize the ends to add more texture and flavor but it just depends heavily on which country you're getting your maduros. The boiled yuca ($6.25) or boiled green plantains were particularly good. The garlic sauce/mojo in there was very well flavored and the yuca was super soft. I usually prefer sweet plantains heavily over yuca but in this case, the yuca was just outstanding. I don't have many complaints for this place. The food was solid with most dishes exceeding expectations and the prices were reasonable for the quality. I would definitely go back. Mid 4 read more

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I was here last weekend my 1st. I always see it on Instagram and looks delicious. As soon as you enter the restaurant, at the door entrance you hear the coqui and I LOVE THAT! The place is small and not huge so if you want to sit, come early have your dinner or lunch. You can take out too! The service was good no complaint. I have the chicharron de pollo with habichuelas Rosados and white rice. It was alll delicious and tasty. I asked for some garlic dip cause I wanted a little flavor to the chicken but it wasn't too great. I also had the alcapurria. That was really good. Of course I had to have my kola Champagne! Overall, the ambiance with salsa and/or freestyle music was nice. Love the location. I would come back and try other stuff on the menu. read more

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We visited NYC and my wife wanted to try Puerto Rican food at least once during our stay. We were able to fit it in our itinerary and when I did a search on my map, Freakin Rican popped up and the food looked pretty good so we chose this place to try. We took the subway from Times Square to Astoria which was around 20-25 minutes. The walk from the subway to the restaurant was pretty close, around 3-4 blocks away. The restaurant is pretty small but it made the place more intimate. The staffs were very helpful. They checked up on us and wanted to make sure we enjoyed our food. Everyone was smiling and happy which made the experience that much special. We ordered the beef and chicken empanadas, bacalaitos, and pasteles as our appetizers. My older son ate both of the empanadas and really liked it. He said the chicken empanada was his favorite. The bacalaito was delicious. I thought it would be like fish sticks but it was not like that at all. If it wasn't for the cod taste, I would not have known there was fish mixed into the breading. This reminds me of a similar asian appetizer but it contained shrimp instead but this was a lot better. The pasteles were flavorful. The meat was very tender. There was olive which was a pretty interesting twist. Order these 3 appetizers if you come here to visit. For our main course, we ordered the camarones and bistec encebollado which the 4 of us shared. It came with white rice or their special rice. We did one of each. After tasting the rice, the special rice was the way to go. There was so much flavor in their special rice and it was soft. The garlic shrimps were cooked to perfection with the right amount of garlic. I like my steak a little red so to me, the steak was too cooked for me. It was still good but I think it would contain more flavor and juice if it was cooked a little less time. The staff asked if we wanted dessert but since we were panning to go walk around Coney Island, I didn't want to risk trying the tres leches. I was hoping my wife would order it so I can get a taste but she was too full. We were definitely bummed not trying to the dessert after we paid our bill and left but we really enjoyed our meal. Oh yah, my son ordered the shake but went with the water instead of the milk. I think adding the milk would have been a better option to make the shake much more thicker. He only got it mixed with water since I wanted to try and can't drink milk. Their homemade mango hot sauce went so well with the food that I had to buy one to go. If you never had Puerto Rican food and want to try their dishes, The Freakin Rican is a good place to go and try. I didn't go in with a lot of expectation since I didn't know any dishes but I was definitely impressed not just by the food, but how friendly the staffs were also. read more

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The food is tasty but it's hit or miss. Not always fresh. Chef, you should consider packaging food for pick up in non plastic containers. They are full of toxic chemicals. ‍ People are not aware or just don't care. I am sure alternatives are expensive. Look in to these or not. Aluminum Foil Containers: Best for high-heat retention and preventing leaks for beans, sauces, and stews. Bagasse (Sugarcane) Bowls/Containers: Sturdy, heat-resistant and leakproof, making them suitable for soups. Aqueous-Coated Paper/Cardboard: Offers a, compostable alternative to plastic lining for holding wet foods. read more

Okay I was dame hungry una hambre...I ate la tripleta. Try it for yourself it's delicious steak, pernil, and ham. 3 meats the flavor is there and the for the price cash 18 and some change and it comes worth fires and sauce like ketchup and other sauces you can ask for. Service was nice and sweet. The place is nice all to eat with a couple or with fam or just alone nothing wrong with that. When the weather gets better I'm at that spot for sure thank you for the sandwich. Enjoy be safe and treat yourself once in a while. Ps forgot to take the photo but will the next time for real for the non believers oh you can also cater for any event enjoy read more

Be forewarned that this is a small joint, walkins only no rezies. But on a cold rainy windy night, this was the island of brightness that was visible from blocks away, and the wait wasn't too bad for a full house. The flavors are right for the Puerto Rican root in my family - and pretty on with the food flavors we had in PR - so that tells me it's right. Coco soda is a local fave so that was a fantastic find as well. We had trouble deciding what to order and landed on a couple appetizers we can't find closer to home (alcapurrias, pasteles), some tostones to see how this family does it, and pernil because, well, pernil. Alongside some arroz con gandules, this meal was the right medicine for our cold night. And the space was so pretty! Next time, mofongo on my radar. read more

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Came here while somewhat close to the area. But wanted authentic Caribbean food. Ordered pick up as the restaurant was nearing closing time. But walked out with a treasure of delicious cuisine. The pernil and rice and beans were decent and delicious. I would love to come back to dine at this restaurant to really engage with its service. read more

I have been coming here since it first opened in 2014, but this is my first time writing a review. This is the only Puerto Rican restaurant in NY that is worth going to, my opinion. Derick, the owner, is always there, making culinary magic in the kitchen. TIP: Come here on weekends when they first open at noon so you'll be seated right away. There is also plenty of street parking at that time. Everything is prepared in good time. All food and drink are delicious. The pasteles and the passionfruit batida are my favorite food and drink. I drive out all the way from Eastern Long Island at least once a month to eat here. Follow Freakin Rican on Instagram #thefreakinricanrestaurant. You can also catch Derick on YouTube, doing live cooking demos. read more

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Puerto Rican food is known for its bold flavors and freshness. Unfortunately our meal didn't bear this out. We were disappointed, but hope this restaurant improves over time. Details: Alcapurrias: Over-fried and slightly undercooked on the inside; little Piccadillo. Tasted just okay. Bacalao: NO DISCERNIBLE PIECES OF COD FISH! Modest cod flavor. My campo (country) raised mother would not have approved. Pasteles: Although fresh, the lean, cubed pork wasn't tender and had little salsa. The "masa" had a slightly pickled/vinegary finish as though too much olive brine was put in (?) Puerto Rican Pernil: The main item on most Puerto Rican plates was underwhelming. Shredded, gray-colored, NO contrasting crispy edges or crackling skin. Small portion. Tasted just okay. Trifongo: Expensive item! My friend ordered this with Red Snapper fish. Major disappointment! The fish was whole (bones!), over-fried and served on the side, not stuffed in the mofongo (Trifongo)! The Trifongo itself was small portioned and tasted just okay. Arroz & Gandules (pigeon peas): Again, just okay. End read more

The restaurant is cute, with the coqui chirping in the background. Server sat us and took our order promptly. The white rice was a bit humao. The chicharron de pollo was a bit greasy. May need the oil to drip off a bit more. Tres leches was a good treat read more

Everything is absolutely wonderful.The atmosphere, food,service was fantastic.The best time with friends to enjoy such a great meal.

If you're reading this and wondering if you should choose The Freakin Rican for your next lunch or dinner, the answer is a resounding YES! For the last 10 years or so, I've been learning cooking online from The Freakin Rican (owner and chef Derick L) for years via Youtube so when my girl invited me to his restaurant, I was beyond excited. As soon as you walk in, it feels like you're transported to PR. I don't want to ruin any surprises but just know.. it's a vibe! I ordered the Pernil with white rice and beans, as well as a pastelles for an appetizer. The meat was tender, the rice was 5-stars through and through, and the beans tasted like my grandmas. I mean, c'mon! They really know what they're doing back there in the kitchen. I also had a cafe con leche, which was absolutely delicious and helped me from slipping into a food coma, since the portions are pretty darn big! Like spicy? Be sure to try their hotsauce, which they sell in big bottles for only $8. read more

The Freakin Rican - Cafe con Leche - Puerto Rican Near Me - Astoria, New York

Always looking for good , authentic Puerto Rican food and and found it ..In Freaking Rican..As soon you walk,you hear the native coqui from Puerto Rico.. The place is a bit small ,but they make it work.. I ordered the pastele as the appetizer ,which was very good , it was moist and not dry which some cooks tend to do ,make it dry.. The service was good and quick.. I ordered the arroz con Bistec .. The steak had some fat to it ,but it was still good ..And the rice con gandules was very good .. My favorite had to be the natural juice ,guanabana .This probably one of the best tasting guanabana juices.. Wasnt too sweet or watered down..It was just right .. read more

The Freakin Rican - This is the Bistec con arroz con gandules.. And the natural juice guanabana .. - Puerto Rican Near Me - Astoria, New York

You walk in and already you know it's going g to be good! It smells amazing and good background music (Latin OG) We had pernil and arroz con gandules, and shrimp with garlic sauce with rice and beans, shared surrolitos and maduros, for dessert we shared the bread pudding, everything was authentic and delicious! We will comeback for sure! Great options on the menu! Service was fast and very nice! read more

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The food and service were excellent, and I especially appreciated the wonderful Puerto Rican decor and music. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. read more

The Freakin Rican - Restaurant seating and decorative plant images and decor reminiscent of Puerto Rico. - Puerto Rican Near Me - Astoria, New York

The Trifongo with Pork Chicharron was incredibly delicious and authentic to the Puerto Rico culture. The service received was welcoming and genuinely enjoyable. The Ambiance was true to culture down to the sound of the coqui the moment you walk into the establishment. Highly recommend for anyone seeking authentic Puerto Rican food. read more

The Freakin Rican - Ambiance - Puerto Rican Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Went to visit New York for the first time in August 2025 and I went hunting for fresh pastele. I am not Puerto Rican, but was born and raised in Hawaii where we eat Puerto Rican food; go figure! I had their glandules and of course pasteles. I do not eat pork ever, but that day in New York I had pork because they only have pork pasteles. lol... I hope they make chicken soon. read more

Food is always great here, never fails.. it was packed due to it being Father's Day.. but I was in the mood so we waited lol.. music takes you to PR only wish that they had drinks but overall great meal.. read more

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Universal staff ! On point very fast very attending food is excellent the best thing is they cook with jus the right seasoning! The pasteles are out of this world the best I ever had!! The Octopus salad great the cod fish fritters THE BEST read more

Tip: bring cash to avoid a 4% surcharge The music isn't awfully loud but still a little hard to hear the other person, and a bird noise comes up every time someone enters the place, which became annoying over time. I like the restaurant aesthetic and the symbolic nature of the sound, but I wish it was much quieter since it was quite loud along with the music. Two of us shared one pasteles, which reminded me somewhat of tamales. The meat inside was tender, but don't think it's a must get. Chicharron De Pollo: fried chicken essentially. It was crispy and had some flavor to it. It comes with salad and your choice of rice/bean or arroz con gandules (yellow rice with beans), which we opted for the latter. Mofongo with pernil (comes with salad): This was clearly the standout. I never had mofongo before, and the texture and flavor of this dish was great for someone who appreciates crispy things. It makes me want to try the trifongo. The pernil (pulled pork) was fairly dry, and they have mango hot sauce that I added to help with the texture, but it wasn't my favorite meat. read more

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Ok so only the alcapuria and the bacalito where amazing my arroz mampo the beans way to much cumin killed the flavor I heard it was better before read more

The food was amazing, especially the mofongo and the steak. Also would reccomend the tres leches.

It's a small cute restaurant. Play nice Latin music. The servers are very friendly. I order the Trifongo with steak and the pork chicharron. read more

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This place is the definition of perfection. The service was great. The food was amazing. It felt like you're in Puerto Rico.

The flavors here complement each other perfectly. Their meals represent culinary excellence. The food maintains standards, portions exceed expectations, and prices make sense. Service was attentive and on point. This restaurant offers a homey feeling. read more