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    El Cantito Cafe

    4.1 (103 reviews)

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    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Rico como Puerto Rico!

    Nostalgia! You know when grandma served you that plate of super steamy food and then you would hug the plate and finish every grain of rice. Jesus that was the feeling I got today. I had the Macita with the trifongo and Carne guisada with trifongo. It was just WOW. Another customer shared her feelings "This a very inviting place where you don't mind coming alone". She wasn't wrong... Debbie makes you feel just at HOME.

    Sampler appetizer
    Noney G.

    I will definitely be telling everyone in the world about this gem. We watched an episode of Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsay and El Cantito Cafe was the most memorable and heartwarming episode I've ever watched. So we visited and had an amazing meal. Even better, we got to meet the most humble and appreciative people ever, Debbie and Julio Santana are charming. I urge everyone I know to take a trip and have a great meal while supporting a deserving family owned business.

    #LoveWins
    Mercedes C.

    We no longer have to go to the Bronx for Puerto Rican food because it's all here. This brother and sister duo cook like they're back in the homeland making their mama's down-home Puerto Rican meals- but still keeping up with the different Vegan and Vegetarian eating lifestyles. Amidst a pub, animal hospital, smoke shop and a few other storefronts, is El Cantito Cafe on Central Ave in Yonkers. No reservations, just walk in. But the lady on the phone said to come right away and grab the only 2-seater available. Bet. Tito Rojas, Victor Manuelle and other Salseros were blasting up in this joint when we came on a Friday night. Debbie as it turns out, is the sister in this duo and greeted us like we've been long-time friends- and our table was in fact waiting for us. Large framed photographs of Puerto Rico and Vejigantes decorate Cantito's dark grey walls. Our Mojito and Lemonade Spiked with Coconut something had strength but had too much ice. Service was excellent and so friendly. Our server was a sweetheart and the brother in this partnership, greeted us. My Creole Shrimp with a side of white rice/red beans was good. Hubs liked his fried pork chunks and remembers that particular taste and seasoning growing up. Typical Puerto Rican mofongo calls for chicharrón in it- but Cantito doesn't include any which is a great, creative-thinking Vegan move for a classic dish like this one. I'm not sure what else I can say about this Puerto Rican spot, except for the fact that the food is tasty, you're greeted like family (hubs felt right at home) and the music is banging.

    Bacalaitos
    Jani M.

    I am so happy that this restaurant opened up in Yonkers, NY. The food is amazing and fresh. It's authentic Puerto Rican food that reminded me of my grandparents. The service was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant if you love Puerto Rican food. My family and I loved it!

    a man standing outside
    Hector F.

    Food was expensive and tasty, service was fast and The staff was attentive. Nice casual Place

    Bistec Encebollado con Arroz Blanco Y Habichuela negra
    Jordain J.

    I would've never thought a restaurant like this is just laying in the Bronxville area and has such a delicious taste in touch. It was truly a pleasure to come here. The gentleman who owns the restaurant along with his sister are truly nice folks that Ensure that their customers are enjoying the experience. Also for a business that just got up and going during the pandemic I'm actually happy to see that they have made it this far. The food is authentic, made with love, and definitely taste good. I recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area. It's definitely very flavorful and made with love. If I'm in New York anytime soon I'm definitely coming back

    Pernil DRENCHED in oil.
    Ritz B.

    What in the flying saucer???? I saw this place for the first time today on Grubhub and since it said "PUERTO RICAN" cuisine, I was happy! There are not a lot of Puerto Rican spots anywhere. I mean GENUINE spots. So I decided to order for my family and I. Tell me why the pernil, white rice and beans was $22 and I expected it to be a family combo. Now go look at the picture and tell me how that is a family combo. A minimum family combo one would think is for a family of 4: which is what we are in this household. This amount of food is for 2 people maybe. How disappointing. To top it off further, the pernil was immensely drowning in OIL!!! What the heck! It has good flavor but I'm not understanding this. Where's the cuero? Anyway, now the empanada are OKAY. They are white cheese inside and obviously on the smaller side. And FINALLY, here comes the yuca fries. Yuca fries are my ultimate fave! I usually have them when I travel to Puerto Rico or whatever Hispanic restaurants have them. But these are the worst I've ever had! They are dry, burnt and flat. Ew. Dipping it in the bean sauce helps some. I'm not one to waste food so I'll eat them. The rice is good and the beans were very flavorful and I like that it has cilantro in it. A lot of restaurants don't do that. It definitely was disappointing completely. Maybe in person is a better experience?

    Masitas de Cerdo Pernil Pernil Asado Arroz con Gandules
    Peter J.

    How do I start ,Amazing food,great customer service,my favorite drink is the passion fruit lemonade drink! Chef Julio Santana is super talented About time we have agood Puertorican restaurant In Yonkers Habichuelas blancas Arroz con gandules Mofongo con masitas de cerdo Alcapurrias de carne I highly recommend it. Everything is good

    You can scan for the menu
    Robert M.

    Excellent home style genuine Puerto Rican food! Nice drinks and bar area Very nice and friendly staff. You will leave full and very satisfied! The place feels very homey like you are going for dinner at someone house. A must stop for this hidden gem in Yonkers.

    Bill
    Sam P.

    4.5 Stars - went there for take out on Thursday evening. I called my order in at 740pm and even though they closed at 8 PM, they were accommodating and waited for me to get there. I ordered Trifongo with steak, mofongo, pollo en fricase, White beans and rice and Camarrones Criollo. When I got home, I found that the pollo en fricase was not in the takeout bag. They were extremely accommodating and drove the missing food over to me in about 20 minutes! Talk about great customer service! And for the trouble, they also included a coconut Flan for us to try. The Mofongo was delicious and really enjoyed all of the food. Extremely happy with their thoughtful Customerservice. I'll be back again to try other items on the menu.

    The food is amazing and the staff are super friendly. I am recommending this place to all my friends and family.
    Pedro V.

    I had the Trifongo with pernil and it was delicious. The staff is super nice and provided excellent service. I will be recommending this o all family and friends.

    Coco tini

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    2 years ago

    Great food and great people, variety of selections. It's hard to find a home-cooked meal filled with love.

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    4 years ago

    The food is OK if your hungry! But the Spanish white rice is not cleaned enough looks grey. They fry the pernil instead of baking it!

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    Page 1 of 3

    El Cantito Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

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    El Rincón Boricua

    El Rincón Boricua

    4.4(10 reviews)
    10.0 miMelrose

    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.

    Photos
    El Rincón Boricua - Background

    Background

    El Rincón Boricua - Arroz con gandules and plantains

    Arroz con gandules and plantains

    El Rincón Boricua - Dine in or take out

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    Dine in or take out

    Mis Raices Restaurant - pernil, yellow rice, black beans

    Mis Raices Restaurant

    4.4(346 reviews)
    9.2 mi
    $$

    As always I got a great meal from this places. Most Puerto Ricans say it's not as good as…read morehomemade, but this place comes as close as you can get to homemade food. And they give you a plentiful amount of food for the price. Call them directly for delivery in the area, you won't be disappointed, especially the Alcapuria de yuca, it was so good!

    Cocina criolla is the cuisine created by the European (mostly Spanish) colonists using their…read moretraditional recipes made with native Caribbean foods and cooking styles. Sofrito is a versatile, aromatic purée of tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, onions, and garlic, which is the foundation of just about every Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican soup, stew, or sauce. Located on busy Teaneck Road in Teaneck, this husband/wife duo, with the husband being Cuban and the wife Puerto Rican, operates the hidden gem that translates from the Spanish meaning "my roots." The reservation was easily made by Google Assistant for Saturday dinner. Upon arrival at Mis Raices, a bigger location after 3 years for some of us, my partner, our friends, and I got a table by the window immediately inside a cozy island vibe filled with the wonderful smell of the home-style food, the beautiful souvenirs of Puerto Rico and Cuba, and the vibrant salsa music. The menu has been expanded since our last visit, so come hungry! For appetizers, we decided on the Croqueta De Jamón, Croqueta De Pollo, and Guava Empanada. As a main meal, we opted for Arroz Con Pollo (Chicken with Rice), Pechuga De Pollo (Chicken Breast) A La Plancha with Salad, Ropa Vieja (Shredded Beef) with Arroz Amarillo y Frijoles Negroes, and Oxtail/Rabo Encendido with Arroz con Gandules. Complimentary toasted garlic bread started our meal. The meal was beautifully presented. The flavors were tastefully delicious and pretty consistent, being rich and authentic. The portion was just right with the price very reasonable, and it's a BYOB. The owners, Ana and Eddie, and their staff make us feel welcome and are accommodating. We can continue to recommend this place.

    Photos
    Mis Raices Restaurant - Dining room

    Dining room

    Mis Raices Restaurant - Ropa Vieja (Shredded beef) with Yellow Rice and Black Beans

    Ropa Vieja (Shredded beef) with Yellow Rice and Black Beans

    Mis Raices Restaurant - Wall art

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    Wall art

    Donjito - El Mofonguito

    Donjito

    4.3(250 reviews)
    5.8 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Speaks Spanish

    Went there last night with friends and enjoyed their seafood specials…read more Lobster and seafood paella. Both were plentiful and delicious. Service, including the martinis were top notch ! A very pleasant dining experience with lovely mosaics and pictures on the walls. One of our favorite neighborhood go to spots for lunch or dinner. We will be back but don't take our word for it.. try it yourself and bring a friend

    My husband and I love fusion restaurants so we decided to check this place out. I made a…read morereservation for 2 on a Thursday night. The bar in the front was busy but the dining room was pretty empty so we were able to choose our table. First thing that stood out to me was the cute vibes of the place. The art work on the walls and different backdrops- great for a photo session. We were given two paper menus and an iPad with photos of the food. That was pretty cool, especially for someone like me who likes to see photos of the food I'm eating before I even choose a restaurant. Service was fine and staff were friendly however the wait time for our food especially in an empty dining room took a while. Now, the food was AMAZING. We ordered Cuba Tabaco y Ron (Latino eggrolls) as an app - SO good. We got a Lomo Sushi Roll to share, which was tasty. I got the Roasted Pernil and my husband got the Honey Glazed Salmon. Both were delicious and filling. Would definitely check this place out if you enjoy Latin fusion food. It's such a cute and romantic place. I will say I got a headache from the red lights above us, I wish there would have been more clear lighting at the table but regardless this is a place to check out.

    Photos
    Donjito - El Dragon Rojo Roll

    El Dragon Rojo Roll

    Donjito - Aguadilla

    Aguadilla

    Donjito - The Donjito Box

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    The Donjito Box

    Made In Puerto Rico - Seasoned. Doughy. Warm. And Good.

    Made In Puerto Rico

    3.3(554 reviews)
    8.2 miSchuylerville
    $$

    Love this spot! Order the Alcapurias, I stay away from the Coconut Shrimp. Fun, Music level is…read moremoderate and staff is on point. I wish they would redesign the "Back Bar" in the middle of the floor to create an open layout... just me.

    I came here for a team get-together that also lined up with my birthday month, so it was the…read moreperfect chance to celebrate -- and I'm really glad we did. The vibes were amazing from start to finish: great music (major shoutout to the DJ), perfect lighting, and a lively, fun atmosphere that made the night feel special. The food was fantastic and the portions were huge -- seriously, two or three people could've eaten from my plate alone. I ordered the pernil with rice and beans, plus a variety appetizer platter. The pork was juicy (though I do wish the skin was a little crispier), the beans were flavorful, and both the garlic and chimichurri sauces were top-notch. The potato salad was okay, but overall, the meal delivered big flavor and big portions. Since it was my birthday, the team surprised me with a birthday flan and tres leches dessert plate that the restaurant provided. It was the perfect ending -- sweet, creamy, and delicious. The birthday celebration itself was incredible; you truly feel like a superstar. Between the LED signs, the DJ shoutouts, and your name flashing across the booth screen, the energy was unmatched. The drinks were just okay, nothing to write home about, but they got the job done. The only other downsides were the limited parking (especially at night) and the two-hour time limit for our party of ten. Still, it was a fantastic night overall. Great food, great vibes, and a truly fun experience. I'd highly recommend Made in Puerto Rico for birthdays, team outings, or anyone looking for flavorful food and an energetic atmosphere.

    Photos
    Made In Puerto Rico - Bar

    Bar

    Made In Puerto Rico - Ropa vieja n tostones

    Ropa vieja n tostones

    Made In Puerto Rico

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    El Cantito Cafe - latin - Updated May 2026

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