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    El Trancazo

    3.8 (18 reviews)
    Open • 5:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Al pastor tacos.
    Alex Y.

    I was craving some tacos and found this little joint thanks to Yelp! Food here was fantastic! Ordered al pastor and they were so flavorful. The tortilla was a bit thicker than normal corn tortillas at other places, but you can definitely tell that they were homemade. The tamales here was the best tamales I've had in a long time. It was loaded with chicken and the portion was really big. Also order the special platter and that thing was huge as well. It came with a big piece of steak, chorizo, and was loaded with rice. Looking at the menu options and seeing how the food came out, I would say it may be Guatemalan. Food was really good though regardless. Will definitely be back here again really soon!

    Tacos on tacos on tacos
    Stephanie M.

    This place was my saving grace on cinco de mayo! After realizing there was no chance we were getting a table at Viva Margarita, we decided to pick up tacos and head home for tequila shots and coronas instead. We stopped by El Trancazo which is located right around the corner from White Castle. The menu doesn't even pretend like it's trying to cater to non-Hispanics. It's all in Spanish and isn't Americanized at all. Muy auténtico. My friends needed me to come translate for them. Girl behind the counter speaks minimal ingles. We ordered steak tacos, al pastor tacos, chicken tacos and chicken corn tamales. The highlights for me were the steak tacos (so flavorful) and the chicken tamales which only cost about $2.50 and were huge!! Most delicious, cost efficient meal around. However, the delicious braised chicken thighs in the middle of these tamales have bones. The first one only had one big bone but the second one had lots of little bones which are always very upsetting to bite into. It can really ruin a meal. The corn tortillas seem homemade. Chicken tacos were very dry. Definitely skip. Not sure why they're using dry breast meat instead of thigh. Will definitely be back though. Awesome little spot.

    a plate of mexican food
    Christian J.

    I was invited here for breakfast and boy was I happy I accepted. My roomate decided to wake me up while recovering from a hang over. I almost declined the invitation, but I put my big boy pants on, took an advil and drank some water (no sun glasses) and was on my way. My roomate ordered for me, I'm not a picky eater so I didn't mind. My "big" breakfast included eggs, steak, bean cream, sour cream, and rice. At first it seemed like alot of food, but it was all so good. About half way through my plate my hangover was non excistant. Now I'm not saying this place is the cure for the common hang over, but I will say if u are looking for some great central American food this is ur place. I saw thier menu and I have to come back and try different items in their menu.

    Especial Trancazo
    Ashley X.

    The restaurant is small with limited seating. The cashier taking orders speak minimal English. Be prepared to describe with some movement. The food portions, however, were huge. You are getting your money's worth and the taste is very authentic. We were able to order the special Trancazo and it is very delicious and feeds a whole family (literally). The beef tacos are very good and you are able to add extra salsa and green sauce. I wouldn't recommend dining in for a romantic date but if you are looking for homey comfort cheap take out Mexican food that is also yummy, then this is the place.

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    5 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

    This place serves really good food specially the tacos and beef meat is great, I really like coming here !

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    8 years ago

    Best breakfast "desayuno" ! The rise and the eggs are cooked perfectly! It tastes was too good

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    8 years ago

    This place does not have a single menu laying around and it's not a good place if you don't speak Spanish.

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    9 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    11 years ago

    My family is from Belize, Central America so eating their tamales and chuchitos Fritos is a delicious reminder of food back home.

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    Bodega 88 - Chicken Sandwich Cuban Sandwich

    Bodega 88

    4.3(277 reviews)
    2.2 mi•Upper West Side
    •$$

    Awesome hospitality delicious lemon drop drink! fabulous bartender, Jose and Jorge . Delicious…read moreCuban sandwich and the chimichurri fries were to die for. Will be back soon again pronto! Thank you for an awesome first time visit!

    If you're a sports fan.. whatever.. Baseball , Basketball , Football , Soccer…read more This place is your go to spot on the Upper Westside! They have a great menu with plenty of options for everyone. Empanadas, Tacos, Sliders, Burgers, Hotdogs and more.. They also have a great happy hour from opening till 7pm with some great specials! The staff are super nice, attentive and accommodating. Very nice people. The owner, who's a super cool guy, is usually there making sure everything and everyone is taken care of and things are running smoothly.. As far as the atmosphere, it's definitely a vibe! Great energy, cool people, lotta people from the neighborhood as well as tourists.. They have outdoor seating and they recently acquired the space next door so now there even more seating and space! I also like that they open the windows when the weather's nice.. They always have good music playing in the background that brings a fun, vibrant feeling. They play current top 40 as well as 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s throwbacks so it's definitely rockin. Altogether Bodega 88 is the spot to be at if you wanna have a great time for any games! Have a good one yall! -Ray

    Photos
    Bodega 88 - Comida Familiar ($24.25) with Ropa Vieja(+$1.25)

    Comida Familiar ($24.25) with Ropa Vieja(+$1.25)

    Bodega 88 - Happy hour

    Happy hour

    Bodega 88 - Lunch Comida Familiar Bodega Salad

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    Lunch Comida Familiar Bodega Salad

    Don Coqui - Coconut Shrimp appetizer

    Don Coqui

    3.4(199 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    •$$$

    What an excellent spot!…read more I've been here a few times - both for just drinks and most recently for dinner. The vibes here are excellent - the space is beautifully decorated, clean, and the outdoor patio is gorgeous, especially in the summertime. The cocktails are all extremely creative and delicious (although I do think a little on the weak side). The last time I was here was for a birthday dinner. We were a large party of 8 women, and all the staff was very accommodating towards us. The food/drinks came out quickly, and they even gave my friend a big ol' birthday celebration complete with a firework candle and a light-up sign. The food is pretty decent - Spanish and Hispanic mostly, with a Caribbean flair. Standouts were the coconut shrimp (which came on a clothes hanger), the steak and tostones, and the ropa vieja. The only real downside of Don Coqui is the price of everything. The bill (with a 20% tip added for a large party) was just shy of 600 dollars, and this was for a table of appetizers and cocktails. Also, the valet parking for 15 dollars is wild, especially when there is a free lot available mere steps away. if you're feeling a little bougie, this is a great spot to grab a drink and get some great photos!

    Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly regarding Don Conqui. First, the location is spectacular…read morewith stunning views of upper Manhattan and the Hudson River. While there is valet parking at $15, we opted to park right outside the entrance in the Target parking lot. The location is truly special In the distance you can see the George Washington bridge and one feels like on vacation. When making reservations you can request an outdoor seat which is highly recommended if the weather is good. The only downside were the occasional jet skis buzzing close by. Also, the music outside was not as loud as inside and one can have a conversation without yelling. Enzo our server was very polite and attentive. Jay the manager came around to check on us a couple of times. The food ranged from ok to vey good. The rice in both entrees was a little dry and in need of a bit of seasoning. The dessert (coconut flan) was awesome in terms of presentation and taste. Despite the awesome location, good service, and generally good food, the bill was a little pricey for what we had. I would have given it another star. Even though it's located poor of the way, we will be back and recommend it.

    Photos
    Don Coqui - Interior

    Interior

    Don Coqui
    Don Coqui - Beautiful view

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    Beautiful view

    Havana Central - $25 Girl Dinner, available every Tuesday featuring a Classic Mojito, Avocado Salad & Yuca Fries

    Havana Central

    3.9(3.3k reviews)
    3.7 mi•Theater District, Midtown West
    •$$

    I've must of passed Havana Central so many times and never realized it was there I have to say,…read morecolor me impressed. Arriving for our reservation the place was packed. It's a loud and vibrant atmosphere. They have a pre-theater prefix menu which we decided on. Empanada app was 3 large empanadas and each one was flavored and yummy. Also opted for the guac and chips app just to have something a little lighter. Entrees are served with rice and beans. The pernil was excellent. Super tender and garlicky. The ropa vieja was also very good, with deep flavors. Dessert was the course that was disappointing, which was such a bummer after a great meal. The flan was definitely overcooked, so the texture was off. The cafe con keche was decent. The prefix is a great deal which included a drink and it was a lot of food All in all, Havana Central offers some wonderful Cuban flavors and a great choice for a pre-theater dinner. Bonus, if you are seeing Buena Vista Social Club, show your tickets and you get 15% off the bill.

    The food was great! I got the maple glazed pork ribs, which was juicy and delicious! The ends of…read morethe ribs were crunchy too! The empanadas (beef and chilly cheesesteak) were great too! The fried pork appetizer was really dry. The sample plate was really good! The plantains were great. Plantain chips were very hard.

    Photos
    Havana Central - Interior of the restaurant

    Interior of the restaurant

    Havana Central - Lightly dusted, crispy Calamari

    Lightly dusted, crispy Calamari

    Havana Central - Blackberry mojito

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    Blackberry mojito

    Cocotazo - Arroz con gandules peril maduros green salad and potato salad

    Cocotazo

    4.0(107 reviews)
    3.5 mi•East Harlem

    I took my favorite Nuyorican here for her birthday so she could enjoy a taste of home, and Cocotazo…read moredelivered. Even though I arrived an hour late for my reservation, the hostess graciously found a way to seat us. They don't serve alcohol, but there's a liquor store around the corner, and with a $20 corkage fee, our bottle of sangria paired perfectly with dinner. The space is nostalgic, modern, and incredibly welcoming. Hearing La India playing while we enjoyed bacalaitos and pastelillos was the perfect touch. Our entrées: pastelón, blackened salmon, and La Gallina were all outstanding. The birthday celebration was unforgettable, with singing, maracas, and music, followed by delicious bread pudding and tres leches cake. Chef Francis even stopped by our table! My friend realized she had missed the blood sausage on the menu, and they surprised her with a complimentary order to take home. That thoughtful gesture perfectly captured the warmth and hospitality of Cocotazo. The standout dishes for me were the bacalaito and the pastelón, both are must-orders. I also recommend making a reservation in advance on Resy. If you're driving, street parking can be tough, but there's a convenient parking lot just one block away at 409 E. 110th St.

    Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and provided excellent service. Unfortunately, the same…read morecouldn't be said for the host and the kitchen staff, who seemed almost annoyed that we had walked in and asked for a table???? Hopefully it was just an off day. The food was okay, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The arroz con gandules was on the dry side, and the meat could have used more seasoning, particularly salt, to bring out the flavor. Overall, it wasn't a bad meal, but it wasn't memorable enough for me to make the trip again. While I'd like to believe this was an off day, based on this experience I probably wouldn't go out of my way to return. Super excited to try the food but did not meet expectations. Restaurant itself is small and cute. Sounds of coqui in the bathroom.

    Photos
    Cocotazo - Paintings for sale.

    Paintings for sale.

    Cocotazo - Rican Sandwich

    Rican Sandwich

    Cocotazo - View of Spanish Harlem

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    View of Spanish Harlem

    El Trancazo - mexican - Updated October 2026

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