Fritanga is one of those underrated restaurants in STL. They serve Nicaraguan cuisine and located in the South City / Soulard area. We had: Churrasco Nica ($19.25): Tender, juicy skirt steak, seasoned just right. Skirt steak can be tricky since it's lean, but they nailed it -- cooked perfectly and well-seasoned so it stayed flavorful and not dry. The chimichurri sauce (parsley, citrus, garlic, olive oil) paired beautifully with the meat. Camarones de la Casa ($19.00): Generous amounts of plump, juicy shrimp in a creamy, but not too heavy, jalapeño gravy with mild heat. Each dish comes with two sides. We tried gallo pinto, maduros, tajadas verdes, and yuca frita. All solid, but favorites were the crispy yuca and sweet plantains. read more

Fritanga - Churrasco Nica ($19.25) and Camarones de la Casa ($19.00) - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

The restaurant is amazing and the people are very nice. My favorite food is the Queso Frito and the Carne Asada.

I've been feeling a desire to eat at the restaurants of our Latin American brothers and sisters out of a desire to connect with and support them during this awful time in our national history and because of my own cluelessness over an appropriate and effective way to help. I encourage everyone to consider doing the same. Under any circumstance, Fritanga is a wonderful restaurant with food that I crave to eat more often. My only regret is that Fritanga isn't located close to my home. I will go out of my way to eat here more often. Service is fast and friendly and the owner was happy to make suggestions when I asked. This is a casual, family establishment. You will love this food. read more

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My sister and I made an impulsive stop and were absolutely delighted. I am unable to name the dish i had, but it was sliced beef covered with cheese! We finished with the tre leche dessert and were served complementary coffee. Actually, the best part of the experience was how attentive the owner was. He knew that we were in uncharted territory and did his best to understand the menu. Great resterant!! read more

I just had lunch at Fritanga, this wasn't my first time but it has been a long time since I had a meal here. The food was exceptional, I had the whole fried snapper, boiled yucca and white rice and beans. The food was wonderful, I didnt need any salt or pepper. I can say my snapper wasn't seasoned as much as my sides but the green chimichurri sauce just added the perfect amount of seasoning. I had the tamarind juice and rum drink that was featured on the menu. That was also very good and refreshing. The only thing I want to make sure people understand is that this place is not cheap but the food is really good. read more

Fritanga has been a staple of mine for years! It had been a bit since I've been, and everything was just as remembered- colorful atmosphere, friendly and welcoming service, and amazing food. Get the maduros. TRUST ME. read more

Fritanga - Carne Asada - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I've been coming to Fritanga for about a year now, and it's easily one of my favorite spots in St. Louis. I've tried the churrasco nica, pollo frito, and chancho asado, and every single dish has been beyond spectacular. I'm from Los Angeles, and people told me I'd have a hard time finding great food out here, but Fritanga proves them wrong. It's exactly what you want from a small, family-owned restaurant: excellent service, flavorful food, affordable prices (steak dinner + sides for under 20$ is a steal), a fun atmosphere, and genuinely friendly staff. I even planned a 17-person celebration dinner here (with some of those people from LA) and got to work directly with Orlando, the owner. He was responsive, welcoming, and went out of his way to make the night special, even celebrating with us. Everyone loved it. I'll be leaving St. Louis soon for my career, which makes this a bittersweet review to write. But I hope it encourages more people to check this place out, Fritanga is something special. read more

Fritanga is a definite new favorite of mine! I came in for lunch and was delighted by how quaint and lovely the spot was. They have a patio outside which is perfect for a nice weather day. I got an array of items and each one was absolutely fantastic. I think the number one thing I can say about each item I got was that you can tell it was made with passion and authenticity. The flavors are amazing, and you can tell a lot of care goes into the food. Items ordered - chancho con yuca: marinated pork served with cassava root. The spices on this are unreal. The pork is super tender and the cassava is cooked perfectly. - carne asada: definitely my favorite item I ordered. It comes with fried plantains and gallo pinto (mixed beans and rice). The serving size is generous and the meat is cooked phenomenally. - rum cake: a balance of sweet flavors with a solid base of moist cake. - sweet plantains: I got a side of these, as I've never had them before. I enjoyed them but they could have served as a dessert for me! Fritanga is a must try!! read more

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Truly my favorite lunch spot. They have so many amazing plates but I always rely on the arroz con frijoles negros. It comes with two tortillas and I've never been disappointed getting it. They're consistent with their food preparation. I also got their tres leches. All extremely flavorful! The staff are friendly and informative of their menu. I always come back. read more

Fritanga - Tres leches - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Perfect spot for a Saturday lunch! I've been coming here for well over 10 years and decided I was long overdue for a visit. They've changed the place around quite a bit with brighter colors and a redesign of the menu but the warmth and friendliness of the restaurant are still the same. I decided to get my usual: pollo al chimichurri con arroz y frijoles negros y maduros. I was also in the mood to try something I've never had and went with the queso frito. For drinks, I stick with my favorite, passion fruit nicarita. Pre-Covid there used to be a tower of sauces and a few different peppers. Post Covid, they now give you two sauces in small plastic cups. One is green and the other is red. I didn't try them so I couldn't tell you what flavors they were. It didn't take long before my food was out. Everything looked exactly as I remembered and tasted just as good, if not better. The chicken was still juicy and tender as ever, the black beans and rice were fresh and filling, and the maduros added the perfect amount of sweetness to balance out the meal. Oh, lest we forget the Nicarita, the Nicaraguan version of the margarita but it's made with rum instead of tequila. It's so freshening and perfect for a hot day. As for the queso frito, I have nothing to compare it to since it was my first time trying it but I enjoyed it. It reminded me of fried mozzarella. I savored every bite but knew my stomach could only hold so much. The server then came over with a box, I paid at the table, and was on my way. This place will forever be one of my favorites because no matter how long it's been, I know I can always count on getting a great meal, excellent service, and a level of comfort that most restaurants can't offer. read more

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I've lived near here since they've been open. However, my first time trying was a month ago. WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG???! The space is quaint. Staff were nice and attentive. The food was DELICIOUS! They serve some of the items I love from other cultures cuisines with their spin on them so it was PERFECT for me. I ordered the chimichurri chicken with black beans and rice and sweet plantains. The chicken was super tender and flavorful. I LOVED the pickled sauce that came with it. I PUT THAT ISH ON EVERYTHING LOL except the plantains. The beans and rice were a great accompaniment. I plan on visiting monthly to try other items. I've already been back for carryout once but I ordered the same meal. Can't wait to try the red snapper meal. Until next time... read more

Fritanga - Pollo Al Chimichurri with Arroz Con Frijoles Negros and sweet plantains. - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

SUCH a delicious spot!! Definitely a more lax/ chill vibe but the staff treats you like family and are so kind! read more

Fritanga - Early dinner!! - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

We tried Fritanga when visiting STL and ordered takeout. I had the pabellon, which is a plantain filled with pork and cheese. It was amazing! I also loved the fried cheese app, which is like a giant dried square of cheese with crispy plantain chips. Everything about our meal was perfect! read more

Excellent neighborhood spot with comforting food that is a real value. Felt like I was on a vacation in my city--eating tostones and red beans and rice on weeknight. Highly recommend. read more

Checked this place out on the recommendation of a friend a few years ago. Glad I did. Been back several times since then. I'm not staying in town, so Fritanga is now a staple when I'm in STL city. It's that good. My favorite is the Nicaraguan skirt steak with plantains. Oh, and the fried block of cheese. I also love the Toña beer. Pairs so well with the food. Not my all time favorite (it's pretty light), but I love it when I'm here. I guess it's part of the armosphere. which is also great. read more

Food is incredibly delicious and the staff is always friendly. The pollo al chimichurri was perfectly tender and well flavored. Limited veggie options, but we made a plate of sides (tostones, black beans, rice) and it was still filling and thoughtfully plated! This is a favorite hidden gem of ours. read more

Fritanga - Pollo Al Chimichurri - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

This place is a gem. The food is awesome. The margs are top notch and the service is excellent. I've been coming here for over 10 years and every time I feel like it gets better. read more

Food flavor was good and authentic. Service was excellent by Orlando. Prices were very reasonable. read more

Fritanga - Carne asada, rice and black beans and sweet plantains. - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

This place was pretty good wasn't what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. It's been awhile since I visited I will have to revisit to give a better review. read more

Last night was our first visit to Fritanga and definitely won't be our last. The food was delicious and the service was friendly despite the place being packed and staff dealing with a large party at the same time. Very happy we discovered this gem! read more

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Haven't been in a really long time and it did not disappoint! Friendly staff and fast, delicious food. We watched the World Cup over Churrasco Nica Grilled: skirt steak seasoned with a chimichurri sauce of parsley, citrus, garlic & olive oil with a side of sweet plantains and rice and beans. I also had a Rumtarindo; rum and Tamarind juice. read more

Fritanga - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

My friend who travels extensively in South America was so excited when we took her there. We are definitely going back. She said it was so authentic and the service is amazing.. read more

I'm a big fan of this spot. This is my second time, and it did not dissapoint. It's definitely a neighborhood gem, with a no frills atmosphere inside. The Central American flavors really come through with a menu full of traditional dishes. We loved everything we had, from the margaritas, to the empanadas, and of course the tostones. Definitely recommend this spot! Grab a group and share a spread. read more

Fritanga - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

So tasty and fresh. Have a big variety of dishes. Totally recommend anyone to try this place. It was amazing.

We loved our lunch of two appetizers from @fritanganica.stl! Maduros con queso - sweet plantains were perfectly cooked, and this fantastic hunk of cheese was crispy on the outside and smooth on the inside. Chichiarron de pollo - crispy, deep-fried little chicken drumsticks that came with an herb sauce and a tangy, spicy citrus sauce. Oh, and fried green plantains, too! They were both so good! That being said, even though there was only one other couple in the restaurant, it took about 40 minutes to get our food. Seemed kind of long to me! But, yes, I will be back! read more

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We stopped in on a Friday night after searching for Caribbean cuisine. It was a beautiful night for dinner on the patio. We ordered Rumtarindo and a Nicarita for alcoholic beverages. For dinner I had the Pollo Frito with a side of red beans and rice and tostones. Generous servings and everything was fresh and delicious. My daughter enjoyed the Pargo a la Tipitapa. (Personally I'm not a fan of a whole fish, but she is. ) I have passed by this location but never noticed it. Find it and give them a shot. read more

Fritanga - Drinks! Nicarita and Rumtarindo - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Everything extremely dry. All kinds of meat feel greasy shortly after eating, and I get a headache that lasts for three hours. The dishes look great though, and the service is nice--I really wish the food tasted good so I could leave a positive review. read more

Kind of hidden away on Jefferson is this wonderful Nicaraguan gem. It's very unassuming and the ambience is very casual. There was one server for the whole place, but there's only maybe eight or six tables and he was very attentive to everyone. But what this place might lack in ambience (if that matters to you), it 100% makes up for in flavor. We started with the chicken empanadas and they were stuffed with delicious, moist shredded chicken. It was seasoned well and came with a wonderful white dipping sauce. I ordered the Chuleta De Cerdo Asado, which is essentially a Nicaraguan flavored and seasoned pork steak with the side of Maduros (sweet plantains) and both were incredible. I am a sucker for plantains. My friend got the national dish of Nicaragua, which was Carne Asada and it was cooked really well and was really good when dipped in the chimichurri sauce.. Definitely check this place out! read more

My husband and I visited today and such a great lunch. He had the carne asada which was delicious and I had the chicken taquitos and a mango margarita. The margarita was STRONG but delicious and the wait staff couldn't have been friendlier. The place was busy and service was fast but we didn't feel rushed at all. We were able to sit, enjoy our meal and visit. We drove out from St. Charles to try something new and we are so glad we did! We will be back. read more

Fritanga - Taquitos Nicas and mango margarita - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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I have driven by this place countless times and finally stopped in - all I can say is: I SHOULD HAVE COME IN SOONER!! We came in for lunch on a Friday and were seated immediately. There are 8 or so tables inside and I believe they have a few outdoor tables available when the weather is better. Service was very friendly and our server was happy to provide recommendations. The yucca was cooked to perfection and the gallo pinto had SO much flavor! The carne asada was so tender and just delicious. It was a lot for lunch, but I was happy to take my leftovers home for later. I can't wait to come back - maybe to try something new, but probably to order the exact same meal again. read more

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I came in at 6 pm. on a Monday. The server had to clear some tables before seating us. This was my first time here, so I wasn't sure if the server normally does the service, but it seemed kind of weird the whole time. No greeting, he didn't let us know when the table was ready. We just assumed he was done and sat down when he walked away. When he came for our orders, he only took one appetizer order from me without asking my friend if they wanted one before walking away. We had to speak up to get his attention. I tried to order empanadas, but they were out, so I got the chanco con yuca instead. It was served with chimichurri sauce and what tasted like thousand island sauce on the side. The flavors in the app were good but everything was pretty mild. The pork was soft and good to eat, but I couldn't taste much of the marinade. For my main, I ordered the Churrasco Nica. I asked for the jalapeño sauce, but again, they were out and said it's only served with the chimichurri sauce. The steak came out pretty thin, so I maybe got 6-8oz of steak. It again was pretty mild in flavor. I got rice and beans on the side, and the beans tasted like they came out of a can. I think I'm being generous with giving 4 stars because not only was the service bad, but the furniture seemed pretty basic. They have live plants in the window, and all of the croton petras looked pretty young, and some didn't look that healthy. The place is small with a back room for event reservations, I guess. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that our server isn't their regular server because it's a Monday. The food, however, was pretty solid. Priced right, definitely not cheap, but it's low cost for what you get. Two apps and an entree cost $40. They didn't ask if we wanted separate checks, either. read more

Fritanga - Churrasco Nica - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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I never knew how much I loved Nicaraguan food until I came to Fritanga. Love tostones? You absolutely must eat them here: crispy exterior and chewy interior (not dry or greasy)...it's the Golidilocks of tostones! You can get them with your meal but we elected to order an additional side (they're that good). Our group tried the pork empanadas (yum!) and the Chancho con yucca to start. Both were great apps and our group of 5 were good with just those two starters (we split the 3 empanadas in half) as they provided a few bites per person and we weren't super hungry. For entrees, I had the chancho asado which is a thinner pork steak like cut, dry rub, and no toppings/sauce though you have sauces available on the side. I really enjoyed it and was also shocked at just how good the white rice & beans side was (can't say rice & beans have ever really stood out to me but these do)! My boyfriend had the beef Canao de maduro. Highly recommend! The plantain it came on was meaty and the cheese topping was delicious...kind of an enchilada type dish but much tastier. We didn't get any pictures as we just devoured everything. I had only planned on taking a few bites (had eaten soup before coming down to this area - wasn't planning on dinner), but it was so yummy I couldn't stop eating lol. We will definitely be back! read more

Absolutely delicious no matter what I order from the menu. A great find in St Louis downtown area. Highly recommend. My favorite is the Churrasco Nica!!! YUM read more

The service was fast and friendly, the food was flavorful. I got the Churrasco Nica which is skirt steak with chimichurri and it was cooked perfectly. The fried plantains were also delicious. We sat on the patio which was lovely! I'll definitely be returning. read more

Fritanga - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Our first of many visits. It is a family run restaurant that has wonderfully tasty items. We tried the Chuleta de cerdo asado and the Bistec encebollado. For an appetizer we selected the queso frito. The chimichurri sauce was a welcome addition I had not experienced prior to this. We thoroughly enjoyed everything! We are looking forward to returning and trying more options! read more

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Fritanga has Nicaraguan food, made very accessible. Located on Jefferson near I-44. There is just street parking, but it's easy to come by. The server was friendly and attentive. They were willing to give suggestions to the "newbies" in the group. Start with a cocktail. My favorite is not listed on the menu, but it is a must order. You can get the Nicarita (similar to a margarita but with rum) with mango puree instead of lime, served with a sugar rim. Super sweet, but very strong. I also ordered the banana soda because "why not" and it was delicious. Tasted like I was drinking a banana Laffy Taffy. The table is given a tray with 3 sauces: a spicy sauce, a chimichurri sauce, and another sauce that could go on anything. They are perfect for pouring on your meat dishes or even your rice/beans. My favorite entree is the Canoa de Maduro: sweet plantain with meat of your choice topped with mozzarella cheese. Very saucy! Comes with one side. My choice was the Gallo Pinto (Nicaraguan dish of mixed red beans and rice) which was perfect to mix in the sauce of the plantains. If you aren't into sweet plantains, they have a similar dish made with green plantains instead. The Carne Asada (national dish of Nicaragua) is a good leaping off point for someone new to Nicaraguan food (or plantains). With this dish and most of the other entrees, you can choose two sides. The Pollo al Chimichurri is another "safe" starter dish. Only downside of some of the meat dishes, they are overcooked and dry. You'll be happy they provide you with the 3 sauces at the start of the meal (unsure if they will give you more if you request). The staff was wiping down every table and chair with Clorox wipes when the tables were turned over. The tables all were given a fresh sheet of while paper as a "table cloth" when a new group was seated. I was very impressed with their cleanliness. read more

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Still amazing food and still rum by the bottle but they've redecorated and it's not pretty. At least, not yet. It's very modern inside - gray, bright white, etc. Where's the warmth?! To make it worse, they installed very cool bulbs (i.e., daylight bulbs) and have them on in the evening. It feels like a doctor's office. I really hope they get their vibe back, hang the art back up and warm the lighting. At least crank down the brightness a bit in the evening. Service was mediocre on my last visit. The food still knocks all negatives out of the park, though. read more

The empanadas were absolutely delicious. The staff recommended the Pollo al chimichurri, I'm glad I got the entrée. The chicken was tender and succulent. I went with the fried plantains and gallo pinto. Nice atmosphere, staff is friendly and they have a decent menu options. read more

Fritanga - Empanadas - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Had a birthday dinner here for a family member and had a great experience. Have been before, but was worried about a bigger table. They were so accommodating with reservation and it felt very homey and the owner came out and talked to us about all the food choices on the menu. Food was great. Highly recommend. read more

I've been here several times and this one did not disappoint. The beef was delicious and the fried plantains were firm and delicious. This is a great food spot in the city with personality. I tried the rumalind and it was delicious!! This location is clean, nice and captures the small restaurant feel. The staff were helpful as always with recommendations. Keep up the good work!! read more

Fritanga - Carne Desmenuzada, Arroz con Frijoles Negros, Maduros - Latin American Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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