Food was fun and the service was great! Empanadas and skirt steak were perfect! Will for sure…read morereturn!

Before going to a soccer match at Sports Illustrated Stadium, my friends and I decided to stop in…read morefor a lunch and what a lunch it was. We started with empanadas and the mambo platter. I had a drink served in a coconut and a breaded steak. All of the food was magnificent and filled with good flavor. Eating outside on a nice summer morning was the cherry on top. I will definitely be making a return visit to try out more of the large selection available on their menu.

Food is made with love clearly, the seasoning is amazing. The ambiance reminds you of old Cuba…read morewhich is amazing and the point they are trying to get across. Lastly the servers and even owner come out regularly to check on you and provide great customer experiences.

Service was great! Very attentive and answered all questions. The food was so good. Would…read moredefinitely come here again. The sangria, delicious

After leaving Barcode, I was hosted by Eddie at Mambo's Cuban Restaurant in Union, NJ, and what a…read morefantastic way to end the evening. (I've eaten at the Harrison location multiple times and have always enjoyed my experience there, but this Union location is noticeably larger while delivering the same great food and hospitality. Honestly, you can't go wrong with either location.) The moment you walk in, you're greeted by a colorful, lively atmosphere that immediately sets the tone. The centerpiece of the entryway is a rare 1920s classic blue automobile that commands attention and makes for a memorable first impression. The restaurant buzzes with energy, and despite how busy it can get, the service is friendly, attentive, and incredibly efficient. We started with several appetizers, and every one of them was a hit! The Canoas de Plátano featured sweet plantains stuffed with flavorful Creole ground beef and topped with perfectly caramelized cheese, creating an excellent balance of sweet and savory. The Tostones Montaditos were equally impressive. I tried both the skirt steak and smoked salmon versions, each served on crispy plantains with cilantro crema and fresh cilantro. Both were outstanding, but each offered its own unique flavor profile. The Queso Frito con Salsa de Guayaba was another standout, with the salty, crispy fried cheese pairing beautifully with the sweet guava sauce. For my entrée, I ordered the Ropa Vieja, a classic Cuban dish featuring tender shredded beef simmered in a rich Cuban Creole sauce. The beef was incredibly flavorful and comforting, exactly what you'd hope for from a traditional preparation. Alongside it, I enjoyed maduros, which were perfectly sweet and caramelized, as well as white rice and black beans that tied the entire meal together. From the vibrant atmosphere and impressive décor to the excellent food and top-notch service, Mambo's continues to prove why it's one of my favorite Cuban restaurants in New Jersey. If you're wondering if I'll be back? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!

RED SNAPPER dish a must. 2 1/2 lbs with Shrimp on tostones and a slice of Avocado. Good for two…read more Cooked well keeping juice inside. CHORIZO with vino was different, good tasting too Service was kind and could tell trying to please, it worked. Environment was with eye pleasures and a 1920 Vehicle that is parked on restaurant entryway. I will return.

Every time i come here its such a hit!!! It's definitely one of my favorite hole in the wall places…read morethat I've been coming to for about 8 years. The food is probably the closest you can get to actual Spanish tapas but what i love most about this place is that everythings got flavorrrrr For our table of 4 we got CROQUETAS with their house cured chorizo- very good POLLO FIORENTINA- chicken was so tender and packeddd with flavor! BARRIGUITA- plentiful serving for a tapa, we loved the potatoes it came with too CHICHARRON DE POLLO- flavorful chicken and easier to eat than you think TARTAR- delish but small Chipirones- sooo delicately breaded you can barely tell, was great COSTILLA A LA PLANCHA- plentiful for a tapa, we recommend cooking for longer since its traditionally a tough cut of beef SAUTED VEGETABLES- tastey and not mushy thankfully! MILLIONAIRE CAIPIRINHA for my drink. was soooo good, not too sweet and not quite as sour as a margarita, was perfect for me!

Casa d'Paco is a great spot with a really cool setup. When you first walk in, it feels like a…read moresmaller, quiet place with a nice bar but then you realize they have an additional space on the side which completely changes the vibe in a good way. When I was there, they had a DJ playing, and it added energy without being too loud or overwhelming. The Service was very good, the waiter answered and helped with all our questions. The food was absolutely amazing really flavorful and well done. Just be a little prepared that most dishes come in smaller portions. But the quality definitely makes up for it. I ordered the paella, and it's easily enough for two or even three people and it was well worth it. Really delicious. The drinks were also definitely worth trying while you're there. The only thing I wasn't big on was the desserts they didn't quite live up to the rest of the meal. But overall, great atmosphere, excellent food, and a fun experience. I'd definitely come back.

A wonderful evening at Rumba Cubana in Jersey City. We are outdoors and the vibe was super calm…read more Our group decided to order a whole bunch of appetizers and we couldn't have been more happier. Everything was delicious, portions were perfect and their drinks were excellent. The staff was extremely attentive and kind. Highly recommend if you're in the area and enjoy cuban cuisine.

this review is from last friday as i forgot to check in!…read more wanted to try this place for the longest as my coworkers always talked how great this location is. so why not? it is about a 16 minute walk from the path station (newport) it's really not that bad of a walk (for those who don't mind walking that is) okay got to the restaurant and it was picking up as this was the start of the dinner hour. No live music but they were playing spanish music which sets the mood greatly. now if you wanted a quieter setting i'd advice eating outside, from the music playing and the groups of people having loud conversations it was a bit hard of hearing when i was asking the waiter questions. so we order the Tamal En Hoja (one) and no i completely forgot to take photos :( very soft and not too dense and i do enjoy pickle onions on top! okay for each of us: one had Vaca Frita, one had Masitas De Puerco, and our child had Camarones Ajillo. i have the Vaca Frita which came in the cup made of crispy plantain chips. Meat was not salty (thank the stars i'm on a low sodium diet because of my Bp so i was enjoying this) with the arroz moro and the side of lime was amazing. the family did enjoy their meal as we did not wait to long for the food to come. the nose level increased and it was definitely harder to hear what the waiter was asking us. but that's okay we all enjoyed ourselves. what i DID get a pic of was the desserts: Tres Leches and Flan con coco Tres Leches was good (not too sweet and the added chocolate balls made it good too) Flan con coco kind dens but flavor was there and i love coconut (it's coconut flakes on top) I will come back and try a different dish and maybe eat outside. for those who can't handle loud noises best to have earplugs (loop) or eat outside i guess. the staff treated us nicely and my son and i do look for that in places i go to make sure everyone is treated well and respected.

This is my second time coming here. It was a yelp event that brought us here first and it was…read moreamazing. I will say parking is street parking or side streets and can get a little crazy on weekends. Service is always great and you feel like you are a part of the family here. Food is always fresh and amazing. Anytime I am near here we stop regardless of being hungry or not. I absolutely am obsessed with their vaca frita and black beans. It's a huge portion so leftovers are always good. My boyfriend always orders their cubano as he said it is the best one he has ever had. Their Maduros are also sweet and crisp and never greasy. We also tried their choripan sandwich and it was awesome. We've never had thinly sliced chorizo which eliminates the usual oil and messiness. Always an amazing meal. We also tried their pineapple Cuban smoothie and ended the meal with their delicious flan.

I would give Cha Cha in Kenilworth 2 stars…read more This was my first visit, and while the service was friendly and welcoming, the food itself was very disappointing. I appreciated the complimentary yuca fritters with special sauce, which was a kind gesture. However, the overall quality, freshness, and authenticity of the main dishes did not meet expectations. Parking is very limited street parking. The Cuban breaded steak was the biggest disappointment. A proper Cuban-style breaded steak should be thin, tender, savory, garlicky, slightly citrusy, well-seasoned, evenly breaded, and pan-fried until crisp and golden. The version I received tasted oddly sweet, the breading separated from the meat, and the steak had a gummy texture with an old-looking color. It did not have the freshness or clean savory flavor expected from this classic dish. The red beans were very concerning. They tasted strongly like vinegar, and I had to spit them out. When I looked closer, there appeared to be a white, murky-looking substance in them. Beans should never taste sour or vinegary unless something is wrong. Cuban-style red beans should be creamy, savory, aromatic, and well-seasoned with garlic, onion, peppers, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. The white rice was also not acceptable. It was hard, did not taste fresh, and had a vinegar-like smell and flavor. It appeared as if older rice may have been mixed with newer rice. Proper Cuban white rice should be fluffy, clean-tasting, separated, and neutral in flavor. The moro with black beans and rice was better than the white rice, but still lacked depth. It needed more bay leaf flavor and stronger Cuban seasoning. A good moro should have a rich, savory base from sofrito, garlic, peppers, onions, beans, broth, herbs, and slow cooking so the rice absorbs the flavor. The oxtail was tender and okay, but it did not fully deliver the deep, rich Cuban-style flavor I expected. Traditional Cuban oxtail should be slow-braised with garlic, onions, peppers, tomato sauce, wine, herbs, and spices until the sauce becomes rich and the meat is deeply seasoned. This oxtail tasted acceptable, but it seemed as though it may have been prepared a day or two before and reheated. I understand that many restaurants legally prepare certain foods a day ahead, especially dishes like beans, stews, and oxtail. However, food should still taste fresh and be stored, cooled, reheated, and handled according to food safety standards. Sour or vinegar-like flavors in rice or beans can sometimes indicate fermentation, spoilage, or improper storage, and that should never reach the customer. The best part of the meal was the dessert. The vanilla flan was very good, and the coconut flan was excellent. The coconut flan was rich, creamy, and full of coconut flavor, with shredded coconut pieces that added texture and made it stand out. That dessert showed real potential. The prices were reasonable, but reasonable pricing does not make up for poor freshness and low food quality. It did look like they may do better with sandwiches and empanadas, which I did not try and perhaps should have ordered first. I cook Cuban food, Puerto Rican food, and other traditional dishes myself, and I lived in Miami for over nine years. I also learned from Cuban friends who cook authentic Cuban food at home. Because of that, I know how these dishes should taste. In my opinion, the dishes I tried did not represent Cuban cuisine with the freshness, authenticity, seasoning, or care it deserves. The restaurant may have people who know how to cook, but based on this visit, it seems the kitchen has lost some of the authenticity and discipline needed to serve fresh, properly prepared Cuban food. Food that tastes sour, vinegary, old, or questionable should never be served to customers. The service and desserts were the highlights, but the main dishes need serious improvement in freshness, food handling, seasoning, and respect for authentic Cuban cuisine. There are several areas that need improvement. Freshness and food safety should be the main priority. Rice and beans should never taste sour or vinegary unless intentionally prepared that way, and food that seems old or questionable should not be served. The breaded steak should be freshly breaded, crispy outside, tender inside, and properly seasoned with authentic Cuban flavors like garlic, citrus, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. The rice should be fluffy, the beans creamy, and the oxtail deeply seasoned and fresh-tasting. I believe the restaurant may have cooks who understand Cuban cuisine, but the kitchen needs to reconnect with freshness, consistency, authenticity, and stronger food handling standards. Cuban food is rich in flavor, comfort, and cultural pride, and with improvement this restaurant could better reflect that tradition.

If you want a great meal, served with a smile in a welcoming family oriented restaurant...Casa…read moreVasca is the place for you! From the moment you walk in you are treated like family. Something that is a rarity in 2026! The first thing you are offered is soup. Along with fresh baked bread. My favorite dish is the shrimp in garlic (camarones al ajillo), simple but delicious. Served with yellow rice & spanish potatoes. Dont forget to dip the bread in the garlicky sauce! Finish your meal with an espresso & a flan catalan (if you have room). I have enjoyed many, many meals at Casa Vasca & have always been treated like a member of the family. Never a rude server. A+ service. Casa Vasca is not just a restaurant, for some of us who grew up in the area, its home! And you know what they say, "theres no place like home"!

If I can give 0 stars here, I definitely would. Extremely rude and racist staff. They are basically…read moreracist against anyone who are not Spanish. We came in with a group of six and ordered paella to share together. Everything was fine in the beginning, and they even served soup and bread to us. Then our group was quite surprised when we looked at the bill and found out we were charged $20 for the soup. I mean it would be totally fine if they didn't serve us the soup. But they didn't notify us about the charge for the soup and gave us the option to opt-out. Basically, they imposed an extra order of the soup on us without our permission. Then when we split the bill among our group, the staff gave us a nasty attitude with rolling eyes. I mean. How our group handled the bill and split the payments among our members is none of your fucking business. Save your money and avoid this at all costs. Don't even want to call them a restaurant since they are not even qualified to be one. There are so many better places with much friendlier services in the area.

Love the setup and the people are friendly. The Cuban sandwich was so so. Too little meat, couldn't…read moretaste anything but the bread and a way too big slice of pickle. Cuban sandwiches are made from a traditional roasted pork shoulder (pernil). Pulled pork. They had pork but sliced like a cold cut. Odd texture. No flavor. . One slice of ham and Swiss. You're supposed to taste the roast pork (pernil). The bread should be pressed & toasted with garlic butter. C'mon guys bring the flavor.

Just didn't have the Cuban sandwich taste. We were both disappointed and were expecting something…read moremore.