This Restaurant is a great place for lunch and dinner they cook with love and passion for customers…read moreand their family and friends to enjoy the area as well as you come patience !

food is great when you get it. i made an order today - richard beans with pernil. the beans never…read morearrived. i called back 2x, he told me the beans were on their way. the beans never arrived. will not order from here again, you do not get what youu ordered. not first time . 1 time sent me totally wrong order. shouldn't have forgotten about it , first red flag !!!! Really fucking mad !! I spoke to the same guy 5x when I called. He kept SAYING YOUR BEANS ARE ON THE WAY, I WILL EVEN MAKE IT A LARGE BEANS". STILL FUCKING WAITING 95 MINUTES LATER. I AM ON DISABILITY THIS IS WHY I USE DELIVERY SERVICE.

I've been going to La Isla since I was a child, and it honestly warms my heart to see this place…read morestill standing strong. To survive the sands of time and continue feeding the community the way they do says everything. La Isla is more than a restaurant--it's family. It's home. It's el barrio. I have my all-time favorites that I've been ordering since childhood, and this visit was no different. I wanted pasteles with rice and a coco drink, and that's exactly what I got. No disappointments, just comfort food done right. The food is always good, the atmosphere feels familiar and welcoming, and the service is fast and solid. Walking into La Isla feels like being back home, like being surrounded by family, even if you're just stopping in for a quick meal. If you know, you know. And if you don't--this is your sign to go experience it.

Their cuchifritos are good. Alcapurria, bacalitos, relleno de papa. Food? Nope. It tastes like…read morethere wasn't no love put into it. El Nuevo Caribeno over on 105th & Lex is the better bet. just order or get there at noon. Go to these places at NOON. Throughout the day the food ain't as good at most of these places.

Alright. So this is my official review for La Fonda -- the restaurant I told y'all is connected to…read moreAbuelita's Desserts. Same location, same love, same culture. First of all, sometimes I don't even realize how Puerto Rican I am until it's time to eat. And then it hits me. Heavy. If you know, you know. My mom and I had been low-key grieving this old Chinito Spanish spot on 116th that we grew up on. That place was a staple. Birthdays, celebrations, random Sundays -- we were there. And the chuletas? Elite. The Spanish food was honestly better than the Chinese food, and it was that beautiful cultural fusion that only East Harlem really understands. Asian families who lived in Puerto Rico, speaking Spanish, cooking with that blend of spices -- it was magic. When it closed, it felt like we lost a piece of home. So ever since, we've been like... where are we getting our chuletas now? And let me explain something very clearly: when it comes to a Rican and her chuletas, we do not play games. Don't tell me you make a good pork chop and then serve me something dry or bland. No ma'am. I'm looking for: * That crisp but tender edge. * The smell that hits you before the plate even lands. * The cebolla on top. * The juices already doing what they need to do so I don't have to add a single thing. * That perfect bite when the rice and chuleta meet on the fork. So when we saw La Fonda attached to Abuelita's, we were curious. A guy inside was recommending dishes, saying he comes all the time for lunch. My mom spots "chuletas" on the menu and immediately says, "Let's try it." And I'm nervous. Because what if it's not right? What if it's breaded? I didn't want breaded. I just wanted it fried. Simple. Classic. Done correctly. Baby. When I tell you I was NOT disappointed? I have found my new chuleta spot. Perfectly fried. Flavorful. Juicy. That bite with the rice? Exactly what I've been missing. You can choose your rice. My mom got yellow rice with red beans. I asked for the rice of the day -- and listen, that rice of the day was a moment. Yellow rice mixed with little pieces of chicharrón, some plátano in there, beans -- just layered with flavor. That's the kind of rice you don't leave behind. My mom also ordered the corn fritters. Did I taste them? No. Because she tore them down before I could blink. And when my mom goes quiet and just wolfs her plate? I already know it's good. The ambiance? Beautiful. The bar area feels very Puerto Rican -- colorful, warm, nostalgic. On the other side, there's spacious seating if you want to dine in properly. It's quaint but roomy. Comfortable. It feels like somewhere you can celebrate something or just come in on a random Tuesday because you need good food. And the food? Delicious. Period. If you're looking for authentic Puerto Rican food in East Harlem that actually hits the way it's supposed to hit, go to La Fonda. Try it. Get the chuletas (trust me). And then come back and tell me what you think. Because these spots? They have my heart.

I came to try the Coquito hot chocolate. Along with it a ham and cheese sandwich with powdered…read moresugar on top and received a complimentary brownie with guava. When I tell you everything from the service to the food was five star, I mean I just felt like I knew the people in there for years. The restaurant had Christmas music playing and it was very early in the day so I got to see the whole space of the restaurant. This place feels like home. I would bring my family and friends here for a group gathering, breakfast, dinner, drinks whatever. It's was such a pleasure to visit a restaurant with that kind of atmosphere. I will say this, RUN! Don't walk to get that hot chocolate. It's gonna be around for a limited time and I ask the creator of the drink to keep it around all winter, but he wouldn't guaranteed it. I know for a fact I will have another before the new year arrives. It was so sweet and creamy and the chocolate goes so well with the coconut flavor and spices I'm drooling just writing about it. The sandwich was go to. Who knew powdered sugar would add a sweetness to go along with the salty taste of the ham and cheese. It also had a nice crunch to it that I personally loved because it added texture to it. Just go I can't explain anything further you have to check it out yourself! Two thumbs up and Happy Yelping!

Good location, staff speaks Spanish, Food is very good. Nice, low lights, wooden tables. Has a bar…read moreand the service is fast. It's now one of my regular spot. Just a few blocks from the 6 train at 103 station. Food portions are a bit small but it does fill you up.

The food is always really good here and if you order through yelp, the delivery is exceptionally…read morepunctual

I had family coming to visit and they requested for PR food…read more Then It hit me, there's no more puertorican food places left! If you really think about it the Dominican food has taken over the Bx. I searched, and found this place. The moment you step in you are greeted with the warmest blessings. The 2 beautiful people that worked there made our time there so memorable. The food was out of this world let me tell you. Also, I will say it is AFFORDABLE. portion size was huge and the place was so CLEAN. Food: Pernil: 10/10 flavorful and tender Yellow (arroz con gandules) and Black rice with the beans: 10/10 both were good and couldn't even decide which one was better Pulpo 9/10 : fresh and tangy, cut into small pieces so you can top it on your rice Alcapurrias: 8/10 great and made differently then what I'm used to but it was sooo good I'd come again for this alone Juices: Ask them to try the juices and they will let you. We tried it all. Came home with passion fruit (parcha) and guyaba (guanabana) Delicious 10/10 It was so fresh and they don't add too much ice so you get all the juice taste. All in all I'm coming here from now on. A true BX staple for the community and a true essence of the Bori pride resides here. If you miss PR, come here.

One of the few real PR restaurants left...food is delicious, workers are very nice. I had the…read moremeatballs (albondigas) with arroz con gandules. Tasted homemade, well seasoned, tender. Rice was the way I like it - soft, not too oily, flavorful. I will go back with my bf who was born and raised in PR to see what he thinks, but I'm already a fan. They also have a lot of variety so I plan on trying something new next time. The lady working there said that sometimes they make guanimes (some people call them guanimos) which I have never been able to find outside of PR. I hope I get to try them at this place. So glad I found this spot and recommend you all check it out.

This place is historic for thier food. I've been coming to this place since the early 60's. I happy…read morethat thier food has not changed. The food is typical puertorican dishes and they are exceptional. The service is excellent and the price depends on what you choose from thier extensive menu. They also have 6 fountain drink machines dispensing a variety of tropical fruit drinks. I highly recommend this place. The parking is challenging but not bad at all. I.was able to park across the street from the place.

Never go here. If you do end up visiting this less‑than‑stellar establishment, avoid the bistec…read moreencebollado at all costs. I'm not even sure what kind of meat they used, but it definitely wasn't cubed steak. The pork chops were fried far too hard, the rice started off promising but quickly fell flat, and the beans were just okay--they serve white beans, and I'm used to pink. The alcapurria was passable, but the masa was mediocre and the filling wasn't beef; it tasted more like chicken or turkey. Honestly, disregard this entire review and save yourself the trouble--don't even bother coming to the 116th St. cuchifritos.

If you want authentic, homemade Puerto Rican food - this is the place to be! I felt like I was at…read moremy tia's house, waiting for food to be prepared. Some of the dishes are named after family members, which I thought was lovely, and there are family portraits all over the restaurant. It really felt like we were transported to someone's living room! I was chatting with a fellow diner at the table next to me, and we were raving about how comfortable and at home we felt. The chef Frances Roman also took the time to check in on each table and the people waiting outside the restaurant to see how they were enjoying the food and if they had any questions. The hospitality here is top tier! I ordered the bacalitos to start, which are cod fish fritters. They were nice and crispy. The sauce it came with really enhanced the flavor! I also ordered the guava and cheese pastelillos. Both pastelillos were also crisped to perfection. For my main dish, I had The Rican sandwich, which is a nice twist on the Cuban sandwich. The sandwich is made with pernil, Swiss, pickled onions, and the chef's own special garlic mayo sauce. It was absolutely delicious!! Cocotazo also has freshly, homemade juices. I recommend the Chi Chi Rodriguez, which is a mix of tamarind and passion fruit. It's not overly sweet. If you'd like to try the main dishes, I do recommend arriving hungry! The portions are super generous, and you will leave with happy and full bellies.

I love having Cocotazo in the neighborhood. They were great when they were at La Marqueta, but…read moresomehow it's even better now in their own space. We've tried a variety of items on the menu and honestly you can't really go wrong. We've had la gallina many times and it's always excellent. My kids love the rice and beans, and the pastelón and the coki are both standouts as well. Everything feels flavorful, comforting, and well made. The vibe is also great. There's salsa music playing and the whole place has a warm, welcoming energy. It's the kind of environment where you can just relax, bop your head to the music, and maybe even do a little step while you wait for your food. Really happy to have a place like this in the neighborhood.

OK for a quick bite but lacking flavor. Was in the area so…read moreit was quick and easy, but wouldn't recommend coming here

Don't eat here, I ask for an order of chicken stew and rice , in separate containers and she has…read morethe nerve to ask me only put 2 pieces of chicken and I'm like what I want an order a plate so proceeded to give me with no carrots , potatoes sauce like bro I'm not new here do you know what chicken stew omg lol been eating in this neighbor for over 30 years never I get charge $15 for 2 pieces of chicken and rice like lady was buggin looking at me saying the sign says bro no where sign says 2 pieces of chicken this ain't. KFC I had to walk out what a disgrace to Spanish Harlem the old owners were way down to earth lol sorry guys the only cuchifritos left is 104 th and 3rd la isla and 116 between 3 rd and lex the originals spot .

Great food and service for a girls dinner. They also had live music on Saturday nights. Great vibes…read moreand decor was pretty. Would def return

It was a long, eventful rollercoaster of day... desperately in need of some sustenance, we looked…read morefor a spot in route to our final destination. With one of my favs, we decided to visit Amor Cubano, based on a found memory of their champagne mojitos. It was a cold Saturday night in January and all the stars aligned. We pulled and found parking right outside the door. We entered and was seated immediately without reservation even though it was crowded and the first week of NY restaurant week. We perused both the regular and restaurant week menu. In an attempt to keep it simple we went the regular menu and ordered everything at once. Of course two champagne mojitos and empanadas to start. For entrées, we went with Arroz Con Pollo (for me) and Churrasco- grilled skirt steak (for my partner in crime). Customer service was good, food came quick and hit the spot. We enjoyed it all while listing to the live band. This was a nice ending to an eventful day. Just A Note: A tag on IG... gets you a spin of the bonus wheel. I snagged a gift card for my next visit.

DELICIOUS!!!! I highly recommend this place and I will be back. The food is AUTHENTIC boricua food…read moreand 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.

I visited Freakin' Rican on March 20, 2026 during restaurant hopping with my sister, and I really…read morewanted 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.