A welcomed inclusion in a sea of Asian lunch spots. Having lived in the Bronx, I expected each dish to be a slathered mess of greasy comfort but surprisingly they hold together pretty well and have a non-heavy clean taste to them. I appreciate not having to deal with cleanup but I was hoping for more of a savory punch. I ordered the flagship Dominican Smash Burger and yeah I dunno, I wanted that salty melty cheese flavor; it was more subtle. read more

I stopped by this restaurant for the first time this past weekend because I was already in the area with my husband. We both had the smash burger (his was a double) + I ordered fries so we could share them. The burgers were SOOO GOOD! The order of fries was huge. Highly recommended. Know before you go - They have very limited seating. ...I think, 4 seats. We ate our lunches in the park nearby since it was a nice day out. read more

Yes, get the fried queso on the smash burger! I was doing jury duty, and during my lunch break I did a search for "burgers." When a Dominican joint came up, I was curious. A smash burger? With queso tropical?? Okay. Color me curious. So I ordered the double smash with fried cheese (highly recommended by staff and customers). There is a spicy sauce on it, and I cannot put into words how delicious this freaking thing was. Got a side of sweet plantains too. I think if you mess those up, you lose your Dominican cred (lol). I'm actually thinking of going back for breakfast! Gotta get my mangu fix. I'm so happy I wanted a burger, and this was my choice. read more

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Tiny little place in Chinatown that packs a lot of authentic DR flavor! I came with a group of friends and we tried a lot of different menu items and were very happy! The smash burger is a must get and it comes with queso frito, grilled onions, cilantro, and chimi sauce. It was a little oily (as smash burgers usually are) but so good! Another must get is the loaded fries which are fries, queso frito, salami, chimi sauce (which is a ketchup-mayo sauce), and fresh cilantro. While I was there I saw the staff packing plates for other orders and the portions are VERY generous, would love to try one of their plates next (and could definitely split it with a friend!) They also had different fruit juices and unique sodas. It's a bit difficult to get a table (there's only 7 seats total), but if you wait a bit, it's definitely possible. The staff was also lovely. read more

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This place blew me out of the water. We had just come from seventh Street burger, which I would argue is one of the best places for a Smashburger. But this new place has great additions to the smash burger. I love the size of the huge pickles. And in general this Smashburger is a lot juicier and more saucy. The fried cheese is such a nice soft spongy taste to it all. I'd absolutely come back here. read more

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Double cheeseburger was really good loved the fried cheese also got the loaded fries and they were loaded sauce,salami,fried cheese and cilantro loved it read more

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Stumbled upon this authentic colombian spot in the chinatown neighborhood. Their smash burger and tostone was fire. I really wanted to order their other rice speciality dishes but they ran out when we came but we ordered their burger and it was delicious!! I can't wait to come back and try their sandwiches along with their rice dishes! The space inside isn't too big, it's more of a small shop that's kind of grab and go. They have about 5 seats inside with high chair/table. read more

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Love this place. The food is so fresh and full of flavor. The Mofongo is delicious and my favorite thing to get from here along with their morir sonando. They are so friendly and the food is made quick. They have a ready made buffet and lunch specials as well. Limited seating but they deliver as well. Highly recommend. read more

I would recommend the sandwich bc my mofongo is good however the pernil had a extra porky taste that u wish I dont have to taste on the skin. The sauce was good I poured it over the mofongo in the photo i took but it was very garlicky and i would say the portions are very generous and I'll go back again for the sandwich! The pernil I'll pass sadly, and i also got a cheese empanada with the ketchupmayo on the side actually pairs well with the sandwich too. Lets get into sandwich R.D! I got pork and got skeptical after eating the mofongo first, but its a chuleta so im happily surprised and happyy. The sweet plantain and queso frito yumyum, the onions is just a lil bit so i picked it out easy. Yay. read more

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Small shop that sells the rice platters. I got the peril rice platter and they give a good amount. They also do smash burgers which I might actually prefer more than the platters! Smash burgers were really good here and it's very small inside so I took it to go! read more

El Sazon R D - Peril platter - Dominican Near Me - New York, New York

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A perfect spot for a quick lunch while on jury duty. Great Dominican food: empanadas, mofongos, platters, smash burgers. Ordered 2 empanadas which were stuffed with their fillings: one cheese, one beef... plus their pink sauce (mayo/ketchup) for dipping. Note credit card fees applied... or pay with cash. read more

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Got takeout from here and really enjoyed the delicious food! Absolutely love their $11.95 all day specials! Each order is a ton of food that can easily be split into two meals so definitely worth it. I had a hard time deciding what to get since I wanted to try their entire menu but ended up getting the Beef stew with rice and beans and Roasted pork (pernil) with Spanish rice and both were delectable. The beef stew was perfectly seasoned, not too dry and was served with delicious potatoes, carrots and gravy. I thought the pernil was going too be too dry but it wasn't. The fatty pieces were actually a bit moist. Got a piece of the pernil skin and it was still crispy!! Really enjoyed both the rice and beans and Spanish rice. Can't wait to come back and try their smashburger, roasted chicken and ribs!! read more

El Sazon R D - Roasted pork over Spanish rice - Dominican Near Me - New York, New York

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I'm generally a smashburger hater, as I'd honestly just rather have a burger, but these Dominican Smash burgers from El Sazon are CERTIFIED. What really sets these burgers apart from a standard smash burger are the queso frito, which is just fried cheese, and the chimi sauce. It's a Dominican twist on a smashburger, and I always respect this kind of creativity and innovation. They actually won Bobby Flay's triple threat competition back in October for these burgers, and while I really don't know what that is or how many people enter that, its still gotta be a flex. I also love that it's in the heart of chinatown. Where else but NY are you getting an authentic dominican spot in the heart of chinatown? I walked into El Sazon, a Dominican hole in the wall restaurant in the heart of Chinatown hungrier than a 2006 Kobe Bryant, as I didn't eat all day in preparation for this feast. I got the double smash burger, loaded fries, and the shrimp mofongo. This burger was like nothing else I've ever consumed, as the queso frito really violated my taste buds in the most beautiful way possible. It was like a super saiyan In-N-Out burger. The loaded fries were also fantastic, as they were made up of fries, salami, fried cheese, chimi sauce, and cilantro. Just straight gluttony. The Shrimp Mofongo also was great, but I can't sit here and act like I'm the mofongo expert or anything. I'd just be lying to you. A lot of flavor in this mofongo though I can tell you that. It's nice to know that I no longer have to go to Washington Heights to get some A1 Dominican food. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__ read more

El Sazon R D - Dominican Near Me - New York, New York

El Sazon has been on my radar for literal YEARS and I finally got the opportunity to try their burger recently! The meat was incredibly juicy and perfectly smashed. The cheese added a great flavor and the bun complimented the beef and cheese nicely. The sauce and grilled onions elevated the burger even further. It was SO GOOD. Will absolutely be back!!! read more

El Sazon R D - Double smashburger with fried cheese - Dominican Near Me - New York, New York

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El Sazón 83 Baxter St. Smash Burger This Dominican smash burger may not have the best appearance, but the taste was spot on. The patty was topped with pickles, American cheese, and chimi aioli on a Martin's potato roll. read more

El Sazon R D - Dominican Smash Burger - Dominican Near Me - New York, New York

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Decent beef stew lunch special $11.95. Lunch special comes with soda or water. The beef is just a little dry but overall flavor is good. Includes a few pieces of carrot and potatoes. Too much rice. Would I get again? No. It's nothing special. I might come back and try their Dominican smashburger though. read more

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We recently ordered takeout via UberEats from El Sazon. The concept of a Dominican restaurant in the heart of Chinatown was surprising to me, but my guess is that they get a fair number of patrons working in or passing through the nearby Civic Center area. We ordered the shrimp mofongo and the smash burger. The rich broth was extremely oily, but was flavorful and much needed to pair with the otherwise dense mofongo. The order did come with a good quantity of shrimp. I was delighted to see that my kids did quite enjoy the mofongo. The double smash burger was also very good, though not particularly noteworthy. Perhaps it would have been enhanced with the addition of cheese. My kids liked this as well. read more

This place is a hole in the wall but such a gem in chinatown. they serve authentic food that is reasonably priced and so delicious. Service was quick and everything tasted like it was just prepared. We tried their baked chicken speciality sandwich which was amazing and definitely on the lighter end which I liked! Their signature sandwich was heavenly and we definitely understand why they won an award for it. The fried cheese and plantain really made this sandwich stand out. We definitely will be coming back for more! read more

I felt super excited the other day headed to this place in the rain. It was two stops from my office and I deserved a treat. Referred by a social media post claiming this place had thee best Dominican food you know I had to investigate. Fall off the bone ribs, a beef empanada that made me want to call my granny and the amazing refreshing passion fruit bev were amazing but you know WHAT?! The people the staff the atmosphere and the feeling when you walk in peeking over shoulders to see what is left of the lunch spread coming thru the steaming glass of the food serving area. Those people were like come inside, how can I help you- heart eyes - and then a chefs kiss. I didn't taste the flan that they are apparently famous for bc it was sold out. And took the menu to the office where mayhem and bombastic side eyes ensued lol. Everyone wanted to try and the even have catering. I cannot believe I said no to the pernil or the pat la freida burger with the fried cheese like what. And lastly I actually came for the Mofongo but the lunch special was calling my name. Thank you so much for showing me love, wonderful food. No parking, parking lot 2 doors down, no bathroom. Not cash only 5/5 I highly recommend and cannot wait to return for the mofongo and flan. read more

El Sazon R D - Dominican Near Me - New York, New York

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We visited EL Sazon, a Domican eatery in Chinatown, to try the Domican smash burger...absolutely delicious! All of the other dishes looked and smelled incredible. We will be back to try some of these, including the beef stew dip sandwich. That stew looked so rich and flavorful with a beautiful colored broth and tender meat with vegetables. The place is small and very limited eat in, but the take out orders kept coming while we were there. Service was super friendly and quick, prices reasonable and the servings sizes were generous. No restroom. read more

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Excellent food with affordable prices. The mofongo was perfectly made and not too dense. The smash burger was flavorful and the queso blanco added another layer of deliciousness. My friend got the maduros and they too were perfectly fried. This restaurant is super tiny it's really a take out spot with a wall counter and a few seats. My friend and I sat on the closed shop's stoop next door to eat our food. The service was friendly and speedy. Will definitely come back here again to try other menu items. read more

El Sazon R D - Mofongo - Dominican Near Me - New York, New York

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You don't expect to find a Dominican joint tucked within Chinatown, but this place is worth coming by and ordering over and over during lunch hours. Came here with a buddy of mine after seeing this spot on IG. We ordered a variety of items to try and they are all hits. When you order the Dominican Smashburger (single for $7, double for $10), adding the fried cheese (+$2) is a must and it's a game changer. Another fantastic option, which is more of a sandwich is the El Sazon Rd w Pulled Chicken ($13). This consists of fried salami, fried plantain, fried cheese, with chimi sauce. One dish I've never tried, but am a fan now is the Shrimp Mofongo ($18). Never had mofongo before and was quite surprised with the mashed green plantains with pork skin, which I thought was rice initially. Soaking it in the sauce is heavenly. If you're looking for an affordable, but super filling meal, they gotchu. They have a $12 all day special where you choose one of the five select proteins, choice of rice and beans or spanish rice, and a drink. I got Beef Stew w Spanish Rice and also added Plantains. This is a meal and a half by itself and it's freakin delicious. read more

The portions are GREAT. The service was fine, staff was friendly and place was clean. All the good things. Only drawback was I got the yellow rice and peas with the pork and some beef stew gravy. The gravy saved the dish, the rice was neutral but the pork was pretty dry and stiff for about 80% of the portion I got. read more

Small spot, always crowded but the service & food is always good! Make sure to try their smash burger with fried cheese you won't regret it!!! read more

If you love Dominican food, this is the place for you. @elsazon_rd83 serves authentic Dominican food like Chicken Stew / Beef Stew / Ribs / Roasted Chicken with rice and beans on the side. You can get all these for $11.95 All Day Lunch Specials. The plantains are really amazing (both Tostones and Maduros) and also their Dominican Smash Burger (Pat Lafrieda patty) served on a potato bun is a hit. You have to get it. Mofongos (not featured here) are mashed green plantains with pork skin seasoned with fresh garlic and salt is another dish you got to try. read more

El Sazon R D - Dominican Near Me - New York, New York

El Sazón Is A Hidden Gem In The Heart Of Chinatown Serving Up Dominican Food Like No Other. They're Bringing A Piece Of Dominican Republic From The Decor To Dishes Served. Their Dominican Smash Burger Is A Certified Hit. Making An American Smash Burger With A Dominican Twist. This Burger Is Unique. The New Loaded Fries Are Amazing. Crispy Fries, Chimi Sauce, Fried Salami And Queso. How Could You Go Wrong? Their Passion Fruit Juice And Morir Sonando Are Sweet & Refreshing. Then Lastly I Got The El Sazón RD Sandwich A Staple On The Menú. That Dominican Twist Never Fails. El Sazón Has Something For Everybody And The Service Is On Point Love This Spot As A Proud Dominican. read more

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Food was fresh and delicious. When we walked in we were greeted and welcomed with open arms. We got the Double Dominican smash burger, beef empanada and chicken empanada. We devoured every last bite. The place was small with just two tables and a couple of chairs but it's perfect for a stop and go if you want something filling on the move. Since we came in near closing one of the owners gave us a couple of chimi empanadas for the road which were also fire and innovative. Would recommend to everyone and would definitely come back again! read more

El Sazon R D - Double Dominican Double Smashburger - Dominican Near Me - New York, New York

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El Sazón R.D. 83 Baxter St, New York, NY 10013 @elsazon_rd83Cute quick eats dominican restaurant located in the heart of China town. We started off with the refreshing passionfruit jugo. So tasty. We got morir sonado. An oj milk drink too. Light. Perfect for the spring abd summer months coming. This restaurant is known for its sandwiches and burgers. I ordered the El sazon rd. Pernil, pickles. Fried dominican cheese on a fresh baguette with chimi sauce. I salivate and levitate. The pernil is soft and flavorful. 10 star. Bomb. Megan got the smash burger. Potato bun, pickles and chimi sauce with a smashed pat leftida burger. Dripping in goodness. Do not forget the loaded fries. Dominican poutine. The salami and fried cheese and chimi sauce hit. They were packed out the door all night and for good reason. All the food looked great. Rosa was amazing. read more

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I went to the heart of Chinatown to find this spot that serves good Dominican comfort food and burgers. The place had gotten popular due to their burgers with a Spanish twist. Decided to order the single smash burger and with the first bite it was pretty good. Service was nice and straightforward as well. The ambiance can get pretty lively around lunch hours but other than that not bad. Only thing I would say was the price point. Paid little over $10 for a single smash which can view to some as pretty steep. But overall not bad for a burger. Will come back to try their classic comfort food. read more

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THEY GOT IT! 9.5/10 And They Only Lost Half A Point Because They Coulda Gave More Chicken And Less Rice But The Chicken Was Juicy And Tender (Which Can Be Rare To Find), Just Whole Meal Was Good! It Was $13 Including Tip For The Lunch Special And They Are Not Cheap With The Food....10/10 Recommend! If I'm Ever Down There Before Lunch I'm Definitely Going Back For Their Mangu!! The Gentleman In The Picture Was Giving Owner Vibes But Either Way His Customer Service Was Great And He Was Very Nice And Not Only To Me But To All The Customers I Heard Him Speak To! read more

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Pretty darn good considering it is a buffet style to go in Chinatown lol. Got the Perina (pulled pork) which was moist and tender and tasty, platanos maduros which were sweet and cooked perfect, arroz con gandules, and they put a little guisado juice on top and added frijoles rojo on top. No place to sit inside only outside. Easy to walk to, easy to eat quickly, parking is basically a big no lol, service was fast, really nice ppl and they give great recos on what to eat! Let's go RD! read more

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I ordered their Pernil over yellow rice and beef stew over yellow rice from their all day lunch special for $11.95. For the lunch special, you have a choice of protein (roasted chicken/pollo el horno, chicken stew/ pollo guisado, beef stew/carne guisada and roasted pork/pernil), white or yellow rice and soda (coke, ginger ale) or water. The portions were generous for the price. Avoid going around lunch time (go earlier or later) to avoid long lines. Note: Bring cash, they charge you an extra 3% if you use credit card. This was not disclosed when i was paying. read more

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This was the best burger I have had when dining out. The patties were cooked to perfection with the outside having that crisp and tender in the middle. The fried cheese is such a great addition and is worth the extra charge. The pickles and sauce compliment the patties and cheese so well. The real deal is the potato roll. Wish all places that serve burgers used this roll, they are the best and absorb all the flavorful juices and sauce beautifully. I will definitely be back to feast on this burger. read more

El Sazon R D - Double dominican smash burger with fried cheese. Amazing! - Dominican Near Me - New York, New York

I love that there's SOLID Dominican food right in the heart of Chinatown! Their Lunch Special price ($11.95) is probably one of the most affordable ones I've seen around the city AND it comes with a beverage. How can you beat that!? My favorite of what we got was the Pernil (Roast Pork) with Spanish Rice - I really enjoyed the flavor and the meat was nice and tender! Their Beef Stew isn't anything you haven't tried, but still good. Their Smashburger was tasty, but a bit heavy because of the thick slice of fried cheese. Lastly, it was my first time having Mofongo (smashed plantains) and it was alright. A bit on the denser/drier end, but it definitely depends on the protein you choose to pair with it. The drinks are super refreshing! Their Morir Sonando is basically an Orange Creamsicle drink, if you're open to it - would recommend! Overall, would absolutely recommend everyone to check this spot out! You can't beat the price + everything is delicious!! read more

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I loved this place and would definitely come back. First the staff was so friendly and inviting. Next there is not a lot of space to eat in but we were able to make it work. Thirdly the food was really good; fresh and delicious. We ordered the sandwich and mangu with a juice. My sandwich was so good and the mangu was also good. The sandwich had a nice combination of flavors. The food was hot which I love. read more

El Sazon R D - Rd El Sazon R.D. Sandwich - Dominican Near Me - New York, New York

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Who knew this spot even existed?! Tucked away in Chinatown, small and easy to miss -- but serving solid Dominican food. I had the yellow rice with pernil, which was a little dry but packed with flavor. I also got rice and beans with roasted chicken, and the chicken was a huge piece. It's affordable too! So worth it! Overall, very satisfying. I'd definitely come back to try an empanada or maybe the beef stew next time! read more

Firstly all these empanadas are all perfectly crispy and flakey but not too flakey that the structural intergriety is not compromised after one bite. I also liked the pink sauce it tasted fresh and zesty. I did like the cheese that was used it was creamy and milder then mozz. The beef empanada had well cooked well seasoned beef as a filling but I was expecting maybe potatoes or onions to add something to compliment the beef. My personal favorite was the chicken empanda because it was not just regular ground chicken filling as I was expecting but stewed chicken which was so well cooked and seasoned with a spicy kick. Overall all empandas were so well cooked with tasty filling but I do wish they had more filling in general. Also I wish they gave more sauce all containers were like 40%filled. There is only one table inside but there is outdoor seating for nice days outside. read more

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Since moving back to New York, my Facebook feed has been filled with suggestions for new restaurants to try. As someone who was once married to a Dominican woman, Dominican food will always hold a special place in my heart. So when I saw this spot located in Chinatown, I knew I had to check it out. El Sazon is a cozy, no-frills spot where you can grab a seat or stand and enjoy your meal. The atmosphere is lively, with Dominican music playing loud and proud, instantly transporting you to the island. I tried the smash burger, and it was absolute perfection. The workers are very attentive and welcoming as well. If you find yourself in Chinatown, do yourself a favor and stop by El Sazon. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

Everything!!! Service was excellent, the other customers were so nice and pleasant, and off course the food hands down Excellent! Small Dominican spot but big bold flavors. I wanted to try everything... looks so good. It's alll theeee way downtown but we'll be back! read more

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I really wanted to love this spot and was super excited for the smash burgers with fried cheese. I'm not sure how the cheese is packaged but I definitely got a bite of something plastic in it. I was very disappointed. Aside from the plastic, it was an ok burger. I wouldn't say it was worth the $15-$16. It was extremely over-sauced and almost soggy. When asked if I wanted additions - onions, tomato, lettuce - I wasn't told there'd be an extra charge. I later saw the onion charge posted but I don't think I've ever been charged for tomato and lettuce before. Fries were also disappointing - straight from the freezer type and not fried to crisp. It might've been a one off experience but I'm Not sure I'd come again, just be aware you will be charged for all extras, individually, and also charged extra for paying with a card. read more