Ordered: 1 Whole Rotisserie Chicken (~$15) with onions…read more Medium Rice (~$6): half Pigeon Pea Rice & half Moro Rice Maduros (~$5) Jupiña Pineapple Soda (~$2) Aya's take: John's Fried Chicken is a Union City classic and I'm glad I finally stopped by. They're known for their incredible Rotisserie Chicken which I can confirm is in fact incredible. It's flavorful, juicy, deliciously roasted, and tender. The chicken skin was crispy and rich in flavor but literally the dark and white parts were equally tasty. Honestly probably some of the best Rotisserie chicken I've ever had. My favorite piece was the thigh, super juicy and delicious. The onions were sweet, crisp, and refreshing - I've never had this with a rotisserie chicken before but it's a game changer. They also serve it with their hot sauce which was both smoky and zesty. The sides I got are a non-negotiable, in my opinion. Both the Pigeon Pea Rice & Moro Rice were well-seasoned, fluffy, and went great with the Rotisserie chicken. The portion is also amazing for the price; it was easily 4 servings! The Maduros were extremely oily but I love the savory-sweet balance you get from them along with the chicken and rice. Super delicious! The Jupiña Pineapple Soda was a good try but could be skipped next time. Note: their menu has cash and credit card prices so you will be paying slightly more per item if you pay with card. All in all, it was an amazing meal that hit the spot and great value! Highly recommend.

I order a 1/4 Chicken leg/thigh and it was so small I even indicated to the server and she totally…read moreignore me, but she knew it was true. This place is over priced and the picture they advertised on their website is fake. So be aware the chicken is very small. NOT WORTH IT I SPEND MY MONEY AND I'M STILL HUNGRY.

Been here since I was born and is still one of the best restaurants I have been to in Union Cityread more

Colombian food? Never had it, so I had to stumble into El Carretero to try it! Bandejo Paisa was…read morethe one recommended to me - nearly $28 now, but I had to do it for the experience! For starters, they speak minimal English here, so make sure to know some Spanish, be ready to point, or have Google Translate on hand. Within the Bandejo Paisa, the grilled skirt steak was thin and tough, a little hard to cut. The skirt steak was well seasoned though a bit too tough. The beans and rice? Oh, they were amazing! Not sure what's in them, but I did not see myself enjoying beans and rice so much. The slice of avocado and a fried egg were also delicious and unexpected, especially in the current times (*ahem* cost). Now for the plantain, it was enjoyable, but the main star of the show, the pork belly tasted candied, sticky, and reminded me of chincharrones. If you enjoy a fatty pork belly, then you'll definitely enjoy this main. Otherwise, you may stray away from it like I did. Overall, I think it was a good experience, but I wish that there was a more descriptive menu for those who don't know as much Spanish.

First visit to this establishment after hearing about it from friends at work. Ate some dark meat…read moreroast chicken with Moro rice, fried yucca and beef Empanadas. Chicken was flavorful, meat was moist, skin was crispy. Definitely ask for the green sauce, which tasted fresh and bright. Rice was a bit dry, beef Empanadas was delicious but the inside was room temperature (it was probably refrigerated and reheated). Can't go wrong with yucca. Definitely going back to try other dishes on the menu. Especially the desserts. If I may suggest, there's definitely opportunity to upsell the dishes on the menu, especially for first timers and people who are not familiar with the cuisine. Place was clean.

The food is amazing--real home-cooked food. The workers are very welcoming. The place is small but…read moreit is very nice. I have ordered the skirt steak, ribs, and chicken. All of them are good and tasty. Boiled yuca and rice with beans are the only sides I have eaten, but next time I'll try one of the others since I have enjoyed everything I have tried so far.

Amazing food and service. I very much enjoyed going here…read more It was awesome. Very good and strongly recommend this place.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. I wish it was closer to me but I…read morestill drive the 30 minutes to go there

I grew up a few blocks away from this place. Back in my day (ok Boomer) we didn't have $8 latte…read morecoffee spots popping up, and we didn't put cute jackets on the dog when taking it out for a walk. The Heights has always kept it real, and places like this are a welcome reminder of the no-nonsense attitude that defines the neighborhood. Location: smack in the middle of the Heights' main thoroughfare, near such classics as Gino's pizza (yay!) and the JC Parking Authority office (ugh). Style: Little more than a lunch counter and a few tables, so don't expect Michelin star treatment. Instead, peruse their daily specials (usually various types of chicken, beef, rice, beans - and don't forget the empanadas!). The food is continuously prepared throughout the day (but if you show up too late in the afternoon, your favorite dish may be sold out for the day). Food: Yum! Home cooked meal goodness. This is not fusion bistro style food. This is authentic Latin cuisine, and pretty much everything I've sampled there is a winner. Value: The dishes come in two sizes. The inappropriately named "Lunch Special" (which is available at all times, not just lunch) is my go-to; it's tough to find many places around that can fill you for just $6 (!!) for a dish of rice beans and chicken. If you're a bit hungrier (or would like to share), the next size up is only a couple of bucks more. Verdict: Easily up there with Pizzamasters as my favorite classic JC Heights eatery. It won't be featured in the NY Times anytime soon (at least I hope not - I wouldn't be able to deal with...nice people waiting on line for 45 mins to get in). But what it lacks in publicity and glamour, it more than makes up for with quick service, tasty food, and superb value.

They put my food in a microwave in front of me. And the food was disgusting. I took 1 bite and leftread more

Kiki @ Kikiriki…read more Kikiriki is one of those rare spots that never misses. Every visit is consistently good-- the food is always fresh, tasty, and perfectly tender. The portions are generous and satisfying, so you always leave full and happy. The staff is friendly, chill, and genuinely cool -- they make the experience even better. Even when parking can be a bit tricky, it's never a dealbreaker because they also offer delivery (a total lifesaver!). One of the best parts? They always include plenty of condiments, utensils, and napkins without you even having to ask -- it's the little things that show how much they care about their customers.

I had always wanted to try this place, it always smells great when you pass by, and the workers…read moreinside always look like they are working hard and sacrificing for the quest of great meat. Because they only take cash, I would brush it off and keep it moving, promising to go back some other time. I'm a dummy. The meat here is AWESOME. I ordered on GrubHub and went to pick it up. There's no dine-in now, but the place seems a decent size. The counter reminds me of the old school takeout places in Chinatown NYC, protecting roast duck and heat from the masses. Pickup was a breeze. Got it home and whoa! The ribs, (small order) was not only heavenly scented with BBQ goodnissniss, but chopped, which I had never experienced, and each piece succulent with crispy edges, most pieces with a big bone in tact. Not greasy, not tough, not even sauced, but it truly didn't need it. The Peruvian sauce that came with it is some orange-colored heavenly spiced, perfect consistency, secret recipe loveliness. I poured it on top after I tasted the ribs, and the ribs just absorbed it and welcomed the extra flavor. (can you tell I loved it yet? lol) I also ordered a half roasted chicken. One look and you wanna rip it apart like a modern caveman. Smells heavenly, seasoning on point, texture perfect, skin has a nice crisp. Again I poured the sauce on and I almost heard it whisper thank you. I got no sides, because I already had my own, so I can't comment on that. I almost forgot to take pics, I went in on that food quickly, but I managed to take a few, in case no one believed me. I'm gonna keep cash in my wallet for this place from now on, its the perfect spot to go when you want some good bbq meeeeeeat. Don't believe me? Go!

Las Americas is definitely the best Spanish restaurant in the neighborhood. But they can be hit or…read moremiss. The plus side is that they have a wide range of great Spanish food selections, with taste on par with restaurants in the Bronx. And that's a big compliment. While the food is excellent, they are not consistent with the portions. For example, I recently ordered a plate with pork ribs, and they gave me one rib and a half. And this cost 10 bucks! The person who usually gives the small portions is the pretty Latina that wears makeup. The rest tend to be much more generous. Generally, the best deals are dinner combos. And note that they do charge a fee + taxes when you lay by credit card, which they don't mention. So, as long as you get the right person, you should be happy.

I had an issue with my payment, my card locked and I was trying to pay. As I was going in for a 3rd…read moretime cause I was in a rush they denied me and a helpful gentleman which happened to be Hispanic helped out to sort the issue, not sure if it was a race thing but the worker was completely compliant with him. The worker pretty much ignored me while I was pleading to pay the amount after my card unlocked but wasn't given a chance to. I've been a customer there for a while and now I'm done, like because of this ONE time they didn't give an ounce of help, understanding, or respect. FUCK THIS PLACE the food is mediocre anyway and you can get something for better bang for your buck rather than standing in a sauna waiting for food.

Came here after a bit of a hiatus because I have been away, busy , etc . So glad I cam by, I really…read moremissed this place. The pizza al trancio or por metro is as great as ever, the faina and empanadas hit the spot. The service was very friendly and efficient but not overbearing. The prices are as reasonable as always. They have chaja for dessert but I was so stuffed because I missed their pizza and faina I didnt have room. They owner also has an autographed autobiography by famous Uruguayan international player Antonio Alzamendi of Durazno, Uruguay.

Had the pizza from here a few times prior to this trip and it's very good. I don't know if I'd…read morecall it traditional pizza but maybe more of a flatbread pizza. The restaurant is very nice, located in Union City. Parking is of course horrendous but that's par for the course here. The service was very good and the pizza was done quickly. I would never have imagined that Uruguayans would be good at making pizza but they do a good job. We went with pepperoni and onions and you could tell they use fresh ingredients. The pizza is even good cold. If you're looking for a different kind of pizza this is a good spot.