Division Cafe is one of my tried and true favorite places that I always find myself coming back to in the area. It has expanded and taken up a bit more space over the years, and the expansion is well-deserved. Featuring a Pura Vida Costa Rican flare you have a number of options available for both breakfast and lunch. I've tried quite a bit of the menu, but they are known for their tried and true empanadas. They have about half a dozen varieties and I end up getting at least one of each every time I visit. They're hot, big, flavorful, and the shell is a perfect consistency. The waitstaff is some of the friendliest around. The outdoor seating is also quite nice in the summertime alongside the pedestrian street. In terms of the menu, it's hard to say there is a standout, because I get something different each time, and I have yet to go wrong. Everything here is absolutely excellent, and I look forward to each return visit to come. read more

Repeat performance: this time I got 2 beef empanadas, 2 chicken empanadas, black bean soup, coffee (lots of coffee), & Tres Leches. I really need to sample the rest of their menu but I was craving the empanadas & tres leche all week. Service was excellent. I took pics of the dining area. Very clean, not noisy which was a pleasant surprise since it filled up with after church families. read more

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Yikes, I've had Division Cafe bookmarked for the longest time but I was highly disappointed. In my opinion, the food lacked flavor and freshness. The nachos were so basic... I throw better ingredients into nachos last second at home. They were so bland and the only saving grace was the *bottled* hot sauces that were on the table. The veggie black bean burger was dare I say worse... after not eating all day, I couldn't even eat it. The homemade "patty" did not even seem cooked - it was mushy. The rice and beans were also lackluster. I was hoping the guava empanada would be the saving grace for this meal, but even that was a let down. The menu is extensive so I would have considered coming back, but the service was impolite from the moment I walked in. read more

Division Cafe - Nachos - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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Having visited this place numerous times, I can always count on a hearty and delicious meal! They serve authentic Costa Rican breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering everything from light snacks like sweet and savory empanadas to more substantial dishes like Bistec Encebollado (Steak & Onions). The staff is friendly, and the owner has a great sense of humor. He enjoys teasing me by suggesting new dishes to try, and he's never steered me wrong. This time, we ordered the following: ~ Almuerzo Campesino: A platter of beans, rice, diced vegetables, a fried egg, and Costa Rican-style sausage, all beautifully wrapped in a banana leaf. 5/5 stars. ~ Gallo Pinto: A mix of stir-fried rice, beans, cilantro, onions, and peppers, served with sweet plantains, a fried egg, fried cheese, and corn tortillas. You can add extra protein like chorizo, Costa Rican sausage, fish, pork chop, or steak for an additional cost. 4.5/5 stars. The restaurant is always clean, and you can tell they take pride in their food. There's plenty of seating, though metered street parking can be challenging on weekends. read more

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I happened to be in the area to check out some other businesses nearby, but I couldn't help but notice a good amount of foot traffic heading into Division Cafe on a late Saturday morning. I looked down and saw a sign outside the restaurant mentioning that they have the best empanadas. Well, that's all I needed to see! I stopped in and grabbed a few. I got two chicken and two beef empanadas. I was going to take them home to share and enjoy with my mom. However, I ate my two empanadas in the car before I left the area. They were so good and flavorful that I didn't bother using any of the hot sauce they gave me. My experience was pretty seamless. They have the empanadas on display when you enter, so it's pretty quick to get them if that's all you came for. I did check out their menu online after visiting and I'd love to go back and try them for a full meal. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a tasty snack or want to make a meal out of empanadas, it's definitely worth a stop in to Division Cafe. read more

Division Cafe - Inside the chicken empanada. Sorry, this is all I have because I absolutely destroyed them. - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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Delicious! Came for lunch on a weekday. Fast and efficient service. There was so much variety on the menu. It is very eclectic and fun inside as well. read more

Division Cafe - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

My go-to meal from here is the steak and onions which comes with white rice, black beans, plantains, and salad. The steak cut is very thin, well-seasoned, and very filling. The plantains are sweet and slightly burnt on the ends which is perfect for me. I have also tried the carne en salsa which is diced beef and vegetables in a tomato base stew. It is served with rice, beans, sweet plantains, and a small side salad. It was so flavorful and the meat was very tender the first time I ordered it. On a later visit, I ordered the same dish but found it lacked the same burst of flavor, but I would absolutely try it again. Ordering in person, online, or over the phone is very simple. Division Cafe is a nice intimate setting but has a good amount of seating both in- and outdoors. Great location on Division Street in Somerville, NJ and worth trying out. read more

Was in the mood for empanadas and found this spot. When we entered the place, we noticed how it was packed! Thankfully, there was seating for two available so we didn't have to wait long. Restaurant was not too small and not too big. It's also bright so it made it feel like a great lunch spot to go with family, friends, and dates. Food - I'm so happy to have stopped here. We shared 3 empanadas (sweet plantains, Chorizo, and Jalapeños), guac and chips, vegetarian rice dish, tamarind jarrito, and coffee. Empanadas were fantastic. We loved the crunch, flavors and the green sauce it came with. They also had a few sauce bottles on the table for more heat or flavor. Guac and chips were great too. Chips had the perfect crunch, and the guac tasted fresh (not spicy)! The vegetarian rice dish was also tasty! It had bunch of veggies but it was good. It came with plantains that had the perfect texture. I normally dislike plantains because they are usually too squishy. These plantains were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Lastly, my husband is vegetarian so finding an empanada/Hispanic food spot that had more than just cheese as the vegetarian option and still tasted flavorful was a big plus! read more

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Very cute spot downtown with some tasty empanadas. Theres a nice selection of empanadas ready to order for a quick bite. Came here again as the empanadas are served warm making it a perfect food to eat when its so cold out. All empanadas I tried had a crispy outside and fillings that tasted homemade. The chorizo and chipotle chicken & beef empanadas had good flavors. As for the spinach & cheese empanada, I wasn't a fan of the flavor or textures. The restaurant itself is bright and colorful with natural light that comes through and a good amount of a seating. read more

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It's been 5 years since my last review for Division Cafe and my update is *drum roll* it's still a solid 5 star experience! From food to vibe, I always love stopping in here. On my last trip, it was a nice warm day and in early October, I know those are few and far between. So, I sat outside at one of the many patio tables and enjoyed my lunch. Reminder that they are tucked right into the promenade, blocked from cars and the business of Main Street, so it is kind of perfect for an outside lunch (but beware that there are always a few buzzing bees. I ended up ordering the Olla de Carne, which was like a stew with beef and mixed veggies and it was so good. I could only finish about half and took the rest home, but it was such a good dish on slightly cool day. Also just loved how hearty it was. For about $20 it was packed with two big peices of meat, a few different kinds of squash and sweet potatoes, yuca and the broth was delicious as well. I also got two empanadas: the spinach and cheese and a chicken. Both were delicious and piping hot. As always, Division Cafe is fantastic and a great spot to try if you haven't yet. read more

We've stopped in several times for their empanadas to-go. They are good! We finally had the opportunity to dine-in. Upon entering, visually tasteful and colorful decor greats the eat. Seated promptly, we ordered the following: * Almuerzo Campesino. Platter of beans, rice, diced vegetables, fried egg, Costa Rican style sausage, wrapped on a banana leaf. * Gallo Pinto. Stir fried rice, beans, cilantro, onions, and peppers, accompanied by sweet plantains, fried egg, fried cheese, and corn tortillas. Food is good. Service is good. Everything was perfect. Both meals were flavorful, hearty and satisfying. A definite return to explore their Costa Rican menu. read more

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Fun place to come eat. Inside, it is decorated with lots of colors. Services was a bit slow and it took a few minutes to get seated even though our table was ready. The food is delicious though. Their empanadas are great and full of stuffing. I tried their bistec encebollada and it was very flavorful. read more

Division Cafe - Shrimp Mango and Avocado Cocktail - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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My husband and I wanted to eat outside last night to enjoy the last bit of this beautiful weather, we decide on division cafe. They have a very nice outdoor eating area, with planters giving you a bit of privacy from the people walking by. We were seated quickly, for appetizers we chose the chicken chipotle empanadas and for entrees Arroz cantonese and arroz pollo. The empanadas as always were delicious. My husband loved the arroz cantonese, he said it was wonderful. I had arroz pollo, it was ok, could have used some additional flavoring. Even though the food is very good we probably won't be back due to the service. Our waiter (older man with slicked back hair) was very unfriendly, he was just so cold and unwelcoming and made it seem like we were an inconveniencing him, read more

Division Cafe - Arroz cantonese - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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While waiting for yelp event to start across the way, I was lured inside here by the best empanadas in New Jersey sign out front and it was a fact !! they were really busy for a Sunday since it was a sunny warm day in Somerville and at first I thought it was all sit down to the left and then I noticed there's a check out on the right with all the selection of fresh empanadas and pastries where you can order to go my first pick was the chorizo and cheese but the staff at front says that was already claimed by a table so I got the chipotle beef and regular chicken and wasn't disappointed with a side of a cortado espresso shot. It held me for the rest of the day, definitely will be back to sit down and try other dishes. read more

Division Cafe - Selection of Empanadas - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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I wish there were more vegetarian options but theres enough selection for plant based diets. The sweet potato quinoa is delicious (sometimes made too spicy) but overall an awesome wholesome dish well seasoned and fresh. The coffee can be hit/miss sometimes (was very burnt flavor twice, but once soooooo incredible), but had to try it given it's classic Costa Rican establishment coffee should be good. I enjoy their empanadas, tostones and plantains - all well made and delicious. The service is friendly and prompt. I really look forward to changing up my routine to eat here. There is plenty of space inside and they do have outdoor seating as well! read more

Division Cafe - Arroz Chaufa - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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Been here twice now and I don't understand why the workers are so damn rude. They're either cold or have an attitude. We just wanted to buy a single empanada to-go, thought the one in a brown bag was ours(just looking at the name not touching it), and the guy behind the counter was saying shit under his breath and side eyeing us. Never coming back here. Their empanadas are not great. Don Oscar's is right down the street and is always wonderful. read more

Very cozy, homey atmosphere. The food was really good, and the staff were all super friendly. We had a baby with us who was making quite a mess, they took it in stride and engaged with her the whole time we were there. We will be back! read more

Seating: They have both outdoor and indoor seating. The outdoor seating used to be more open to dogs, but now they have a sign outside that says no dogs and no strollers. The inside space has a couple tables but would be difficult to do a big group. Service: Everyone was very nice and friendly. Quick to seat us and Take our order. Food: They have both breakfast and lunch menu. The breakfast menu is until 2pm. We ordered the dulce de leche French toast which was delicious and it also came with scramble eggs and 2 strips of bacon if you're trying to order something sweet and savory! The spinach and ham croissant was also delicious. Finally the empanadas burger is a good choice if you like the texture of an empanada and craving a burger! read more

Division Cafe - Dulce de Leche French Toast Breakfast Empanada Burger Spinach and Ham Croissant Breakfast - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

A great spot for authentic Costa Rican dishes. Love the friendly staff and the indoor and outdoor dining right on Division street. They have an extensive menu, but the things that stand out for me have to be the Empanadas and the Casado platters! The steak and onions is always a crowd pleaser! read more

Division Cafe - Steak and Onions Casado Dinner - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Food is great as always if you like a more authentic dish. I often grab their empanadas to go when I pass by if I'm not staying for lunch. My only complaint is sometimes it takes a very long time for food to come out of the kitchen and often times tables who arrived much later will get their food first. I'm not sure how that happens. read more

It's the empanadas for me and the chorizo ones, to be exact. I'm obsessed with their empanadas. We first had them one hot summer Saturday. I ate five that day - no lie. First of all, for the quality, they're cheap AF. Bonus points. Second, they are soooo flavorful. Third, the owner is incredibly nice. Anyway, here are my faves/the ones I've had in preferential order: Chorizo: soooo good. It's not like crumbly chorizo, it's more summer sausage consistency? Anyway, with the cheese and flavors, this one is the star of the show. Chipotle beef: Real MF good. Saucy with a tiny kick and packed with flavor. Very meaty. Chipotle chicken: Yassssssss. Very good. Slightly less flavorful than the beef but chicken does that sometimes. Beef: A little on the dry side but serves its purpose and still packed with meat. Mozzarella and spinach: pretty basic but if you're into that. Ham and cheese: another basic Becky, but if you like sliced ham, this may be for you. My friend said the vegan ones were good, too. Anywho, I love this place. I'd highly recommend. Their rice dishes are good, too, but the empanadas have my heart. read more

Great Costa Rican cafe in downtown Somerville! The dining area can accommodate parties of almost any size. We called ahead for our party of 12 and it wasn't an issue at all. Our server was patient with our big party and kind at every turn. The food was fresh, authentic and delicious. My wife ordered a chickpea sandwich, which meant eat of the "buns" was made from chickpeas. The sauce had a kick, but it was full of flavor. I ordered a the arroz chaufa--rice layered with egg, beef, and shrimp. It was a unique delight. Plus the sweet plantains on the side took it over the top. We also had the beef empanada, which were packed with shredded beef. We were too full for dessert, but it's a good excuse to come back! read more

Division Cafe - Arroz Chaufa - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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it was amazing !! The food here is to die for. Me and my family loved it. The service here was amazing too . I feel so welcomed here they made sure I was really comfortable. 10/10 you would go amazing place read more

I have been to Division Café a bunch of times as it is close to one of the places I work and this place doesn't disappoint. The worst thing about this place is that you have to find street parking but I have rarely had trouble with that. They have a pretty good reputations for their empanadas and they live up to the hype. I think I have had all of them except the Bean and Cheese and vegan empanadas and I have liked all of them. There were times I have stopped here ordered a bunch and just taken them back to work for people and it has always been a hit. I have also come here with my wife and sat down to eat. The experience was great and the inside is pretty nice. We liked the food we have gotten and the service has always been pretty good. I am definitely coming here again when I am in the area next and if your local you should try this place out if you haven't already. read more

Ordered the empanada delight (beef chipotle and spinach/cheese) with a side of yucca fries. The yucca fries were my favorite for sure! They were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The waitress recommended the beef chipotle and that was definitely the most flavorful (I took a bite of a few other empanadas from my friend's plate). We both agreed beef chipotle was the winner. The spinach/ cheese one was just ok. It lacked flavor so I would not order that again. read more

Division Cafe - Empanadas Delight Chimichurri Lunch - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Food was subpar with high prices. Wait was far too long before we got our food. The milanesa was not milanesa, just pre packaged breaded chicken. Empanadas were underwhelming. Nothing authentic was eaten. I usually don't write reviews and this experience compelled me to share my thoughts. read more

I was walking along Division Street and saw a sign for the best empanadas in New Jersey. It's been a hot minute since I had a good empanada, so I figured why not! I loved the culture that was incorporated in the decor. There was a lot of things I wanted to stop and admire within the restaurant. It was the perfect background for great empanadas! I ordered the beef chipotle and chicken chipotle empanadas. I liked the chicken version a little more due to the flavor and juiciness. I also enjoyed how big these empanadas were! They were well worth the price of around 4.70 each. I probably should have ordered just 2 or 3, but I was able to pull through and finish my meal. The crust was nicely thick and balanced the meaty taste of the inside. There was a great dough to meat ratio. Overall, I have not eaten enough empanadas in New Jersey to advocate that these were the best ones, but I can say that they are a favorite of mine! read more

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I absolutely LOVE their empanadas. Staff are friendly and extremely helpful when asked about the menu.

As if this place wasn't already great, they renovated the dining room and it is so bright and welcoming. The renovation and makeover really enhances the experience and makes me want to sit and stay a while. When we're in the mood for quick and delicious food this place is a must. There is always a daily variety of fresh empanadas on display at the counter for a crispy and warm hand held lunch or snack. The new dining room is so inviting that it's difficult to pass it up. We will also come here for lunch, still order empanadas to the table, but also order a generous serving of the most delicious classic Costa Rican dishes. We love Division Cafe and hope you will add it to your breakfast or lunch rotation! read more

Division Cafe - Visiting the recently renovated restaurant! - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Cute little café We came for lunch and ordered: - Fried Tortilla Bowl w/ Chicken - Vanilla Chai Latte - Beans & Rice - Yuca Fried Our food was excellent. I wasn't sure what to expect from the bowl but it was delicious and filling - I didn't even eat the tortilla bowl My mom is vegan and always gets beans and rice, plantains or yuca fries. Prices were pretty normal and so was the service. The place was exceptionally clean. Ive been coming here for years and haven't been disappointed yet. read more

Division Cafe - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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My friend has been raving about their empanadas for a while now so I knew I needed to stop by while I was in Somerville! I got the chipotle chicken and chorizo cheese ones along with the chimichurri sauce. The empanadas were nice and warm which was perfect for such a cold day. They were well fried and the shell was very crunchy. I loved them both but I'd say that out of the two, the chorizo one was slightly better! The chimichurri sauce was amazing and added so much extra flavor to the empanadas. I definitely know that I'll be back (hopefully soon)! read more

Division Cafe - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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Great little local joint on Division Street in Somerville. Have been numerous times for both breakfast, which they serve with a Costa Rican twist and lunch, lots of options. I'll admit though it's my go to place when I'm going for a haircut or shopping and I just want a quick empanada or two to go to curb my hunger. They serve the best empanadas around, always different kinds, beef, chicken, bean cheese & chipotle, spinach & cheese, chorizo, they always seem to have daily special ones and depending when I get there, always are sold out of the one I really want. They are all delicious. It's forever busy, which is a good sign. Has great outdoor seating, weather permitting and staff is friendly. read more

Division Cafe - Bean, Bean and Cheese Empanada - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

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This was ordered through a 3rd party app. The food arrived in a timely manner and the order was correct. The menu had lots of intriguing options ranging from empanadas to Costa Rican favorites. There was a lot to ponder over. 4 different types of empanadas were ordered ($3.20 each). The beef, chicken, bean and cheese, and chorizo cheddar were tried. All except the bean and cheese ones had the same base consisting of potato, minced onions, cilantro, and bell peppers with the protein ordered. The enchiladas as a whole were large with crunch on the outside and plenty of filling on the inside. My favorite was definitely the beef while the chorizo cheddar being my least favorite. I just did not think I was a fan of the diced chorizo present. Regarding the bean and cheese, that was filled with mozzarella cheese, refried black beans, and diced jalapenos. I thought the mozzarella was an odd choice here. Overall, it was just too wet of a filling for me. The tostones sliders ($9.50), chicken wings ($7.50), and the arroz con chorizo Argentino ($15.95) was also ordered. The sliders consisted of a choice of protein with lettuce, tomato, and American cheese. The chicken was chosen as the meat and it did the job. There was 2 to an order. There was a slight kick to the chicken too. The tostones buns were too hard for me. The wings were ordered mild and they just seemed to be naked. There were 5 wings present and they were alright, good quality chicken it appeared. They also came with fries, which were appetizing. The arroz con chorizo had Argentinian sausage with rice, peas, bell peppers, corn, onions, cilantro, and carrots. They also had a side of plantains, black beans, and salad. I was expecting to see a little more sausage present, but they really compensated well with the amount of rice. The sausage was cooked ideally, but the rice was some of the best Spanish rice I ever had. It was flavored nicely and cooked to perfection. I really enjoyed the rice but was just disappointed overall with the amount of sausage. Will I go back? Probably. read more

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The empanadas are great here! Love the authenticity of the place. The staff was friendly and helpful. I got 2 chicken empanadas! read more

Division Cafe - Chicken Empanada - Latin American Near Me - Somerville, New Jersey

Cute cozy cafe in the heart of Downtown Somerville. Today we tried sopa negra and yucados. Smaller plates were our choice. Had a dulce de leche almond latte to pair with my soup. Sopa Negra is delicious. Beans with egg drop, diced onion, tomato and some spice paired with white rice. My mom liked the yuca dish. Fried yuca stuffed with beef and cole slaw. We also tried the bean and chorizo empanadas, they were delicious. Extremely happy with our last minute service since it was close to closing. Waiter was pleasant and gave us prompt service. Totally recommend this cute cafe. read more

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Stopped by on a Saturday evening to enjoy some dinner on the patio. They have a lovely outdoor seating area and on this evening they also had a live band performing on Division Street. I have been wanting to come here to try the spectacular empanadas that everyone raves about. For appetizers I ordered 2 of the most popular empanadas 1 chipotle chicken, and 1 beef. They were both perfect. Delicious flaky crust baked to a perfect golden brown and each had a delicious filling. My fiancé had the shrimp and mango ceviche and he said it was delicious... one of the best he's had. For entrees we had the Arroz con pollo and the Bistec Encebollado (Steak & Onions) They are served with a side salad, sweet plantains, and a side of beans. The Steak also had white rice. I really enjoyed the chicken dish. Everything was fresh and very flavorful. It was a very large portion so I brought most of it home. The steak was also great. Our server was very friendly and personable and I can't wait to go back and try some of their other empanadas... Highly recommend! read more

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Cute little cafe with amazing empanadas. We always order from work their empanadas and then decided to try them for brunch. I love their corn pancakes. read more

We've heard nothing but wonderful things about this place and we were so overdue to finally try it. We only regret waiting this long! We got the half tray of empanadas. We ordered online and you can pick which ones you want. The half tray comes with 10 and they are $2.50 a piece this way . After feeding our family (two little kids and two adults) we had 2.5 leftover for the next day. FYI, our kids loved them! Our one year old pounded down a bean and cheese one like it was her job. My favorite empanadas were the chipotle beef and chipotle chicken. My husband loved the chorizo. It's packed full of flavor, and the dough is so great. We got a side of tostones, they weren't our favorite. A little dry and hard, but maybe if hadn't done take out they would be better fresh. For now, we will definitely be back for empanadas! read more

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We had an excellent lunch here. Good for vegetarians and omnivores. Nice ambience and good service.

Division Street Cafe in Somerville is a hidden gem that I wish I'd discovered sooner because I love Costa Rica and their food - came here on a tip from my Costa Rican friend. The Gallo Pinto was savory and delicious, everything was really tasty and well prepared making the reasonable prices feel like an added bonus. Will definitely come back to eat here again! read more