I am still dreaming about them beans! I had the pleasure of trying Mama Roc's at the Salsa Festival…read morein Downtown SJ. And when I say pleasure -- I mean it!! The line was long but thankfully my boyfriend waited in line, so I could go dance. Hehe. But the food came out fast and it was deeeeliicccious. It was so good half way through we had to see where we could find her food again. So we looked her up! The way I would follow this cute lil trailer just for her food. If you have the chance to find Mama Roc's, definitely stop. Definitely get a plate.

Best Puerto Rican Food in the Bay Area!!…read more We ordered some Pernil with Arroz con Gandules , Pasteles and Yuca! Amazing We are definitely ordering more soon!

Small spot with a welcoming atmosphere and very friendly service. The carne asada plate was packed…read morewith flavor and the portions were generous. Everything tasted fresh and homemade.

A Hondurian cafe that offers vegetarian, meat, and seafood options. My friend raved about this…read moreplace and I love supporting mom and pop restaurants so I had to try it. I tried the popular baleada, which is a home-made flour tortilla filled with a layer of mashed red beans, queso fresco, eggs and with or without meat (I got it with carne asada). The flour tortilla was just as other described - soft, buttery smooth, almost melt in your mouth goodness. The carne asada was dry and hard so I could've gone without. I bet a braised beef like barbacoa would've been perfect for this item. It also came with salsa and I selected mild which gave it a nice bright flavor. I also ordered a chicken tamale (they also offer pork) and I was surprised to find a whole chicken wing (no skin) stuffed into the tamale! I broke into it using a fork and hit something hard which turned out to be the bones. But honestly, this was one of the best tamales I've tried in a long time. Flavorful, moist, and a nice sized portion. It came wrapped in what I think was banana leaf. The service was fast on a Wednesday night and there were a handful of friendly patrons seated nearby. You could tell that they were regulars. The space was intimate with around 10-15 tables seating about 4 people each. Maya's Cafe menu has a wide assortment of dishes to choose from: serving breakfast dishes like chilaquiles, lunch items such as burritos, or soups and full on dinner plates with rice, beans, and choice of protein. There's even more selection and the whole menu is in Spanish so I'll be sure to use Google Translate next time!

It's such a struggle to find things I can eat while traveling for work and maintaining keto…read more I have to say you know you messed up when you order food to go and they provide you with 3 sets of cutlery. This place has no business being buried behind in SoFi Market. The ambiance is pretty quiet and dark since it's a small food court with multiple restaurant stalls. Ordered 3 entree platter with a garden salad. Cannot recommend this enough. That's hands down one of the best meals I've had in ages. 10/10 Lechon Vaca Frita Pechuga de Pollo The sauces set it off to 11/10 Ajo Sauce Habanero Ranch Habana Mayo Mojo Sour Cream Portions were huge, quality was good on every bite and service was quick and easy and I got to stuff my face back in my hotel. Win win win win win. If you want big portions with great flavors hit it

Place the order on the kiosk and once it was ready they texted me to pick it up ; they gave me my…read moreCuban sandwich with a side of fried plantains a fork & napkins! The sandwich was delicious and although I didn't interact much the service was very good.

There are restaurants with great food, and then there are places with great people behind the food…read more Boriqua Kitchen is both. One afternoon in Hayward, my family and I showed up right at 6 PM, exactly at closing time. We had just left a family party but purposely held our appetite because our favorite Puerto Rican food truck was finally back in town. My wife and I were married in Old San Juan, and Puerto Rico will always hold a special place in our hearts. We even travel back to the island with our kids whenever we can. When Chef Darren saw how disappointed we were that we had missed them, he didn't turn us away. Even though they were already closed, he fired the grill back up and blessed our family with an incredible meal. That level of hospitality, heart, and genuine Puerto Rican warmth is rare. The food was absolutely amazing as always, authentic flavors that instantly take us back to the island, but the kindness and service meant even more to us. We'll always support Boriqua Kitchen. Truly the best Puerto Rican food in the Bay Area, served by people who treat you like family.

We came across Boriqua Kitchen outside of the Lucky's parking lot when we were about to do our…read moregrocery shopping.  I am always up for Puerto Rican food so even though we already had dinner, I had to at least try a couple of sides like their empanadas and garlic tostones.  Both were full of flavor and the garlic tostone had the perfect crunch that is offset by their addictive dipping sauce.  I definitely need to follow them on IG to see when they will be back so I can try those entrees too.

Loved these empanadas. This was my first place to eat in San Jose being there recently on a work…read moretrip. I had the chicken empanada combo with a little salad, and a guanabana juice. Loved everything and loved how recharged I felt after my flight. I immediately made plans to come back here before leaving town to bring empanadas to enjoy with my husband. I stopped here again on my way to the airport, got 6 empanadas to go and told the ladies I was flying with them, they were so sweet and wrote what empanada was in the paper bags for each so I could identify them easily. They also wrote heating instructions for me, and went as far as packing them nicely in plastic wrap, and they made it home safe. I had saved space in my carry-on backback to make sure I had space for these, it paid off. My favorite empanadas were the beef, chicken and the ham and cheese (omg what cheese was that?! So yummy!!!), I took some other flavors, we loved them all but honestly when I go back these are the repeats for me. The size of the large empanadas is very generous, and the protein with potato empanadas are worth the try and even though they are smaller, they are still super worth it. Loved it all

Friendly staff. It's not exactly a restaurant like you might expect from the listing/reviews…read more There's no inside seating and very limited outside. It's basically a bakery-like store that has a wonderful selection of Colombian style empanadas and colclos (so?). They also have some delicious looking flans and a few other items. Need to go back and try more. The chicken large empanada and Hawaiian empanada I had were both amazing. Limited beverage selection, unfortunately. Friendly staff and reasonable prices.

The food and the service were great. The restaurant needs more patrons. I'm not sure why there's…read morenot many people there. It's possible that it's Peruvian food and they don't know what to order. The waitstaff helps you walk through the menu, and I suggest ordering the ice cream that's made from a fruit but taste like caramel or butterscotch. That's the highlight of the meal really. They have to import it. I've been there at least four times, loved it each time

Parking is very easy, staff are super friendly. We went on a…read morerainy weekday afternoon and the food was the perfect comfort. Presentation was gorgeous, and the flavors were there. We will be back to Inka's very soon!

I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Erick to discuss his management approach and culinary…read morephilosophy. We also discussed his upbringing in NYC and his long history in the Bay Area's challenging culinary scene. This conversation happened before I had the opportunity to taste the succulent Puerto Rican dishes on his menu. Chef Erick is a truly humble and professional culinary artist. He lets his cooking do the talking, allowing his ingredients and timely combinations to showcase his superb culinary skills. From our conversation, I learned that he genuinely cares about the quality of his ingredients. While we talked about his experiences cooking for all kinds of tables in the Bay Area, from VIPs and celebrities to daily blue-collar San Franciscans seeking standout meals, Chef Erick answered at least five phone calls. He diligently coordinated with his local suppliers to ensure he, and in turn his customers, would have access to nothing but the best ingredients during the upcoming weekend rush. Most Puerto Ricans, including those adopted (see Chef Anthony Bourdain's memoirs), know a Puerto Rican restaurant is truly judged by the quality and flavor of its Pernil. This slow-roasted pork shoulder or leg is marinated in a robust herb paste. Many Puerto Rican families guard their herb paste recipes as closely as The Coca-Cola Company guards its Coca-Cola recipe. Pernil is the centerpiece of holiday feasts and family celebrations. That's why I chose this menu to celebrate meeting Chef Erick. Without hesitation, he prepared for me--someone born and raised in Puerto Rico--his masterfully concocted pernil with arroz con gandules and a side of maduros fritos. I have to say, this was the best Puerto Rican food I have tasted in all of California, from Santa Rosa to San Diego. I have visited all the restaurants in the Bay Area: El Coqui, both Sol Foods locations, Parada 22, and Lola's Lounge in Sacramento. I admit, this is the best and most authentic plate of Puerto Rican cuisine I have enjoyed in 16 years exploring Latin Cuisine Restaurants in Northern California. If you like Puerto Rican cuisine and have not tried Puerto Rican Street Cuisine, you must add this restaurant to your "must-visit" places in California. Thank you to Ceci, all the cooks, and Chef Erick for helping me relive the experience of proper, authentic pernil y arroz con gandules like my abuelita used to make for us on "la lomita" in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico!

This has the best Puerto Rican food I have had- including in Puerto Rico! The carne was wonderfully…read morespiced, perfectly medium, and full grain meat through each chunk. The amazingly sweet and ripe plantains finish out a very generously portioned meal.

I ate my food so fast I didn't take a picture. Music, bustling energy, good vibes…read more I ordered the pork belly combo (comes with side of plantains, salad, and arroz con grandules). Cook time was about 20 minutes but I didn't mind because that means the chefs took their time to make it tasty. The first bite of the pork belly was an epic burst of flavor. The owner brought over sauces to try with the plate, and the dressing on the plantains worked for some reason. I was hitting the table because the food was so good!

The food was authentic and delicious. Served hot and fresh. The flavors were perfect for my wife…read morewho is not accustomed to Latin / Caribbean cuisine or any cuisine that has peppers involved . I was able to ask for some special spices and sauces that made it bring the heat the way i like ;)) The service was on point, everyone was friendly and offered suggestions based on our questions. The ambiance was great! You order at the counter and can sit anywhere. We chose to sit on the balcony overlooking the marketplace allowing us a great vantage point to enjoy some people watching. The plates were large so we were ready for a nap after we finished. We will definitely come again!

Well - the last review I wrote for this place was in 2012 and consistency is key with this place!!…read more We brought friends here for lunch and they really loved the food and I suspect they will be back with their family! :) Hubby and I started our meal sharing the Plantain Crusted Goat Cheese Salad - AMAZING and DELICIOUS!! Two disks of goat cheese is coated with this crunchy plantain crust - so when you cut into it the goat cheese melts out gooey - then you take a piece and eat it with the salad greens which are PERFECTLY dressed (cause I HATE over dressed salads) - it was creamy, crunchy, and AMAZING. This is definitely a great way to start our food adventure!! I just HAD to get my Arzzo con Pollo and I'm SO GLAD I did - it did not disappoint - exactly as I remembered it over a decade. Definitely need to come back here more often! Chicken so tender, rice so flavorful - with the sweet baked plantains and that delicious sauce. Flavor bomb in the mouth for SURE!!! I know other dishes here are good too but I honestly crave this one.... Hubby and GF had the Tierra y Mar. I snuck some of the sofrito mashed potatoes off hubby's plate - it's SO GOOD... i could eat a whole bowl of just that!! And then there's the delicious tender and perfectly cooked marinated skirt steak! YUM... The coconut crusted shrimp was delicious as well but I feel like it was a bit over cooked - I mostly tasted the coconut crust. Hubby LOVED the asparagus - just the perfect accompaniment to the overall dish! Hubby and GF both LOVED this dish!! GF hubby got the lunch appetizer specials - he got the CdP Snack (Chicharrones de Pollo - appetizer side of their popcorn chicken with Cuban spices), the Camerones Pequenos (fried shrimp) and their side Coleslaw. He devoured everything and loved it. We ended our meal with their Key Lime Tart and it was delicious. Not too tart, not too sweet - a perfect bite! Overall we had an amazing time. The only thing that struck me was at lunch they aren't as careful about things - like for some reason we had to eat our main course meals with a salad/dessert fork and butter knife. Hubby wasn't pleased with the fork so he got a regular fork - and then when we got our steak and chicken we couldn't cut them with the butter knife and had to chase down our waiter for steak knives. I remember when we used to go for dinner - they automatically gave us the right utensils with the meal. That did take away a bit from the overall experience when you can't cut your meat and have to chase down the waiter... But overall the staff cleared plates, made sure our water was filled at all times and was overall courteous. Am definitely coming back and THANK YOU again for making sure my cravings were fulfilled and the food was EXACTLY as I remembered it!

I want to start by saying this review is specifically about my experience with Lara -- not the…read morerestaurant as a whole. Everyone else we interacted with was fantastic, and the food itself was delicious. I've been here countless times as I work across the street and I've never had any issues. Setting that aside, here's what happened. My group was meeting another company for a lunch they had organized, and going in, we didn't know who we were meeting, who the reservation might be under, or if there even was one -- think of it like a corporate blind date. When we approached the host stand, we gave a few names we thought a reservation might be under and were upfront and apologetic that we weren't sure, but were trying to figure it out together. Lara's response was to ask, in an unbelievably condescending tone, if this was our "first time at a restaurant." She then pointed to a corporate group on the patio and said, "why don't you ask them? You're adults." Once we found our group, we came back inside to ask about getting a larger table for six. The person who'd organized the lunch apologized and explained he hadn't realized he needed a reservation as he didn't know how many would attend the lunch. Lara told him that was "restaurant 101" and that they had no tables available for a party of six (despite the interior being completely empty from what we could see). A few minutes later, other staff pushed two tables together -- clearly we were not the first party of six to ever eat here. After scanning other Yelp reviews, there are some going back over a decade (!) talking about how rude and condescending Lara is. I'm sorry to report things haven't changed.

Amazing food, even better customer service. Came in for lunch and ordered the jerk chicken pieces…read more The staff were super nice and even brought out the food for me! The jerk chicken tasted so flavorful as usual. 100% coming back again. 10/10 food 10/10 service

I got the chicken plate after working out and wow that hit the spot! Make sure to dip your chicken…read morewith that jerk sauce! Very delicious and affordable chicken meal! I suggest try to take the plantain out of the plate or away from the combo so the jerk sauce doesn't mix with it ... it makes the plantain taste kinda weird if it touches the sauce! The sangria here is really good but also is really sweet like punch, but still delicious!