Hands down my favorite Cuban, outside of Miami. We've never had a bad meal. The Rabo Ensendido…read morenever disappoints, and the congri brings me right back to abuela's kitchen. Great atmosphere, excellent service, and Luis is the best. Your first time there you'll feel like a regular.

Came here for a birthday dinner. Never been before. There is an outdoor area for eating. The…read morestaff was super nice and welcoming. Especially since I was 30mins early to my event. They seated me anyway. I ordered the salmon with veggies and conqui (Cuban rice & beans) It was delicious. Sorry didn't grab a pic of it. Great experience here.

This is a great spot to quickly pick up lunch, or stay awhile and dine at one of their many tables…read more There is a lot of space here and even when there are other customers. It doesn't feel crowded. I've been to El Viejo Fred twice and both times did not disappoint. The first time I accompanied my Dominican friend who ordered for me. The second time I was on my own, but the ladies were very helpful and we made it happen. Most of the food is behind the counter in a covered buffet-style setup. You let them know what you are interested in, beef, chicken etc, and they'll show you the offerings. You can't beat their lunch special at around $12-15. You get a giant portion of rice & meat, add on a bit of salad and you're good to go! The food is so delicious, the flavors are all there. I also had the chicken and cheese empanadas as well as beef and both tasted great, I liked the beef best it was very well seasoned. Another bonus? Tamarind juice!! Not many places have it so I'm always ecstatic when I see it on a menu. Both my friend and I really enjoyed the food we purchased from El Viejo Fred, and the friendly service we received, we will definitely be back!

Unfortunately, the pictures didn't make it because the food was that good. We ordered to go and I…read moreglad we did because the way we tore up that food lol you can only do that in the comforts of your home. The place was extremely clean and the people at the cash register were extremely helpful and kind. We will definitely be back to try different things on the menu but this place so far has the best chicharron de pollo!!!

We sat outsides bc the weather was great. It had a fan kept the breeze going. However in the middle…read moreof meal we started feeling blast of heat. Not sure if we were sitting next to an exhaust or something else. We had pargo frito, fried red snapper, and Bahia salmon. Both were great. The red snapper did come with head and tail just so you know if it's not your thing. I didn't mind. The rice and bean were a tad dry. We got 10% off bc of the New Brunswick restaurant week offer. But the waitress wasn't aware of it, so we had to specifically asked for it.

It has been a while since I've been to Esquina Latina, decided to stop in for happy hour since we…read morewere in the area. We ordered margaritas and two appetizers from the happy hour menu. We got the calamari and the guacamole. I found the calamari to be overly greasy so I probably wouldn't order it again. The guacamole was good. It came with 4 different chips for dipping. It was about 5pm on a Friday and I'm the restaurant was pretty empty. We sat at the bar and bartender was attentive and helpful. The restaurant itself was nice with great Latin inspired decor. I also got a glass of the Cabernet from the happy hour menu and it was not good, so I would not recommend that. Perhaps stick to mixed cocktails. All in all, it was good and I'd return.

Finally found the Puerto Rican spot that's worth my money. Torres Cafe. The Pasteles taste like…read morehome. Arroz con gandules perfect. Had to order take home too. I will be there often.

I decided to give this place a try after seeing a TikToker's review. When we got there, my husband…read morementioned that the food didn't quite look the same as what was shown in the videos, and I have to agree. However, the flavors were definitely there, which is what matters most. I tried the alcapurria, and while it was decent, I've had better. The chicken inside was a little dry and could have used more seasoning and flavor. On the other hand, the chicken empanada was really good. The chicken was tender, flavorful, and had a nice seasoned taste that stood out. That's definitely something I would order again. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of my lunch, but I also ordered pernil with rice and gandules, as well as baked chicken with rice and gandules. As someone who loves pernil, I have to say that Puerto Ricans make some of the best pernil. It's always well-seasoned, flavorful, and tastes clean rather than overly greasy. The pernil here did not disappoint. The rice and gandules were also very good. While it doesn't quite compare to my husband's aunt's homemade version, it was still packed with flavor and complemented the meal perfectly. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and would come back to try more items from the menu. If you're in the area and craving Puerto Rican food, I think it's worth giving this place a try.

Went to Milina for Mother's Day brunch before our Mother's Day dinner. (Lot of eating going on on…read moreMother's Day!) We've been to Milina before but never reviewed them. Started out with coconut lemonade and a blood sausage appetizer that came with 2 mini arepas. It was our first time trying blood sausage and we were happy we did! Casing had a nice char and snap to it. Filling was well seasoned and delicious. Arepitas were light, crispy and had a very good sweet corn taste to them. Coconut lemonade was slightly tart which is how I like it and also had a sweet coconut finish to it. I would definitely order it again. For the entree we shared the Parradilla Milina Marinera which came with grilled steak, chicken, pork loin, shrimp and salted fried plantains. We added rice and beans. Grill taste on everything was terrific! Meats were tender and flavorful. Rice and beans were ok. They had free dessert for Mother's Day so my wife ordered chocolate cake which was delicious. It wasn't our first time at Milina and it definitely won't be our last. Servers were very attentive, courteous and accommodating.

We visited this restaurant and had an interesting experience…read more The seats were soft and comfortable. The drinks were good--both the Coke and passion fruit drink were enjoyable. The chicken empanada was also good. However, the CANASTICAS (3) DE TOSTONES RELLENOS appetizer was disappointing. It was $10 for three tiny cups, which was not what we expected. It wasn't worth the price, and we could barely taste any plantain. I accepted the conclusion. We also ordered a side of FRIED PLANTIANS (tostones). We received only three pieces, and they were extremely thin--so thin they could bend like taco shells. They were not the traditional thick, crispy tostones we expected. My husband's BANDEJA PAISA was also disappointing. The chicharrón was thin, hard, and difficult to chew. The steak was thin but good. The beans- good. Sausage-ok. A lot of rice on the plate. Then the receipt came with an automatic 18% gratuity. We don't recall seeing this noted on the menu, although it may have been listed somewhere. We were only a party of two, so we were surprised to see an automatic gratuity added. Be sure to check your bill carefully so you don't accidentally leave an extra tip. Overall, the food and value did not meet our expectations. It's simply not for us, though it may match other people's expectations, and that's okay.

Cubanu is always great. The food, the energy and everything hits. But I have to give a special…read moreshoutout to Julian... this man makes the best margaritas, hands down. Perfect balance, always consistent, and always with great service. The skirt steak was so good too. Chimichurri sauce is fire!! If you're in the area, grab a seat at the bar and let Julian take care of you -- you won't regret

There is barely anything a vegetarian can have here. The food is decent quality, but you should…read morelike pork or seafood to fully enjoy the fare. The ambience is cool and appealing, the music was a little loud, especially during the DJ party. The furnishing is warm. The place has been redone by new ownership (2026). The service was inconsistent at best. Be prepared, they don't serve tap water, just expensive fancy bottled water. The food came out to us with deffering amonts of delay, and they entirely forgot about one of the people's order twice, even after reminding them. On the 3rd time the waiter completely washed their hands of it and claimed ignorance about the placed order, then informed us they did not have the ordered item. When we wanted to replace the order they told us the kitchen was now closed. The person remained hungry since they couldn't eat any of the other foods people ordered. Normally I would give a place the benefit of the doubt, and write it of to being busy, but this was not good!

No need to waste my United miles booking a flight to Miami to get my Cuban food fix. Just drove to…read moreKenilworth New Jersey and I must say it was better than most places in Miami. Great food and staff.

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.

amazing food i loved the empanadas and the workers were great i would so recommend this placeread more

The vibe of the restaurant is nice but this restaurant is not good for casual dates since they're…read morealways celebrating someone's birthday. The music was too loud to hear the person in front of me. The food and drinks are decent.

I really wanted to like Mamajuana. The place is decorated beautifully in a tropical style, and our…read morewaiter was genuinely amazing.He was super kind and attentive. We ordered a bunch of food, and everything was just okay. Same for the drinks decent, nothing special. I was actually going to rate it higher... until I saw roaches. That instantly changed everything and made me question the entire sanitation of the restaurant. I've been nauseous just thinking about it. Once you see one roach, you already know there are more and if you bring even one into your home, it becomes a nightmare to get rid of. Because of that, I cannot recommend this place to anyone. Cleanliness is the bare minimum, and this totally ruined the experience.

My fiancée and I came here for breakfast. We ordered tres leches French toast, Cuban sandwich, and…read morecarne asada omelette. The service was friendly and quick. He made sure to let us know about the specials of the day. The restaurant is on the smaller side with maybe room for about 10 small groups. This place is BYOB, as with most restaurants in this area. We enjoyed everything we had! It was flavored to the T! It was fresh! Piping hot and just excellent. The total came out to be about $120 including tax and tip, which is average for this area but is pretty pricey, Inflation hits hard. Nonetheless we would be back again!! It was that good!

We walked in and were greeted with a Latin flourish. The restaurant is clearly Latin inspired, and…read morevery kid friendly as most patrons did have their kids with them. Looking at the menu, things seemed to be priced a lot higher than you would expect for the breakfast, lunch, or brunch. $20 appetizer in the morning is a bit wild to me still, even considering current trends in prices. We unfortunately opted out of apps for this reason. I did surge on an apple cider cinnamon drink though, which was quite nice (though again, $12 for a non-alcoholic drink feels steep). For my main meal I had a meat lovers omelette with toast, and that was also $25. The flavor itself was quite nice and the toast complimented well. There was also an option for home fries instead. It was two eggs and satisfied. I enjoyed my experience, but I still feel that there is better value to be had even in Somerville 's downtown. Pricing alone compells me to look into those alternatives instead.