Being Puerto Rican, I was excited to check out this new place specifically due to the reviews. I walked in at 12:48 pm on a Saturday and they were not prepare to receive customers. No one was at the register to take my order. The owners and employees were scrambly behind the counter and kitchen. Hardly no food was on display. I ordered: Relleno Maduro Side of Arroz con gandules Pernil Kebabs with Guava BBQ sauce Trifongo Results: -Relleno Maduro (maduro wasn't fully ripped but the meat was tasty) -Arroz con Gandules (not flavorful) -Pernil Kebabs 3 out of 4 (tender) -Trifongo 2 out of 4 (not dry but no flavor) If I tasted it blindfold, I would have never guessed that it was a Trifongo). The SERVICE (thumbs down) The FOOD (thumbs down) The AMBIANCE (thumbs up) read more

Konoz Restaurant - Pernil Kebabs with BBQ guava sauce & Trifongo - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

I visited this restaurant three times with my fiancé, and unfortunately, the food was not consistent. The first time we went, I would have easily given it a 5/5. The chicken was tender and delicious, and the pernil was flavorful, juicy, and tasted fresh. You really can't go wrong with pernil at a good Puerto Rican restaurant--it's one of those dishes that never disappoints when it's done right. Unfortunately, the second visit was a completely different experience. The food was much too greasy, and it tasted as though it had been cooked in old oil. By the third visit, the food just didn't have the same flavor or quality as it did the first time. Because of those inconsistent experiences, when my fiancé asked if I wanted to go back, I decided to pass. It's disappointing because our first visit was so good, but I need consistency to want to keep coming back. read more

Konoz Restaurant - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

I absolutely love going to Konoz! Their food is just like in PR - the pernil is so juicy and the tostones are always so good and crispy, plus their parcha is on point. They have a small place but just the perfect size for a quick lunch stop. The service is always great, they're not very quick but that's what it takes for the food to be fresh and good! read more

Konoz Restaurant - Roast Pork (Pernil) Combos - Tostones - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Food was delicious. We had breakfast and that's always a great place to start. Our platters came with tostones for one and madurus for the other. Comes with free small coffee. read more

This place was amazing! The owner is awesome! Food was delicious and it was decorated so cute all I needed was to hear the coqui sound to feel like I was back home in PR. I recommend you coming here for great food!!! The alcapurrias were delicious read more

Konoz Restaurant - Menu with the info - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Alex the owner of the restaurant waited on us and he was absolutely amazing! Food was great, staff was wonderful. Everything was great, highly recommend this place! read more

Konoz Restaurant - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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such a authentic feel, from the music to the food, the "bori" in me felt right at home, & our waitress was so friendly & made us feel very comfortable with conversations throughout the night, such a vibe and such a spot!! read more

Konoz Restaurant - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Delicious food. Large portions. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Fresh and authentic Puerto Rican food with a laid back atmosphere.

Cute little place. Trifongo with Pernil Never had trifongo (plantain, sweet plantain, and yucca) it was good. The pernil was tasty. Cubano This was ok. The pickle wedge ruined the sandwich. It should be slices... Parcha Very good, not too sweet Will definitely stop in for something else on the menu. read more

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The inside looks clean and nice. The prices are amazing and the food is delicious! The only sucky thing was that there was no parking. There's a few street spots right at the front but it gets taken fast. The best option is to do take out. We ordered the: Half chicken, plantains, rice and beans (chicken was dry) 8/10 Mexican omelets 9/10 Beef empanadas 10/10 Overall, I would come back. Big portions, good prices, yummy food. The staff were friendly. There's seating inside. read more

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Food was amazing reminded me of being back home in Puerto Rico. I truly recommend this place

I had such an amazing time visiting Konoz Restaurant in Newark, NJ (my hometown)! My husband googled something along the lines of "best restaurants near me" and this gem popped up. I am Puerto Rican myself, so I was elated at the idea and let me tell you - the experience did not disappoint! The restaurant itself is situated on a side street in downtown Newark. The place had decor embellished with the Puerto Rican flags as well as mirrors on the ceiling which was cool & modern and something I haven't seen before. As soon as we entered, we were greeted warmly by a worker who spoke to me in Spanish & saw I was looking for a mango Snapple, which he did not have, but he let me know they had parcha & other delicious drinks. The parcha was delicious! We ordered apps - an order of the bacalaito & an order of the papa rellena. So glad we did not order two because the servings were huge but it was THE BEST bacalaito I've ever had! And I've had a lot in my child and adult life (lol) Afterwards, my husband ordered the chicken pinchos (shish kabob) combo which came with tostones, fried plantains, which were perfectly crisp! I ordered the pernil mofongo which came with a garlic mojo and delicious stew/soup which was such a smart culinary combo! We didn't stop there - to go we'd got a beef empanada, Buffalo chicken & cheesesteak empanada which were all TO DIE FOR! The cheesesteak one made me wanting more! So good. We also got two pasteles which also did not disappoint which we enjoyed for our dinner the next day. While we waited for our to go order we enjoyed each others company as well as a cafecito con leche. I cannot speak more highly of this place - the workers, the food & the entire experience made me leave feeling valued and seen not as a customer but as familia, un amiga, & I will absolutely be back! read more

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Excellent, well-seasoned food that came out in a timely manner. Highly recommend the potato balls! Mainly a take out place, but the dine in service was also good and all of the staff were very friendly. read more

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Downtown Newark is really coming up! Konoz is no exception to the game. Delicious, savory and lively Puerto Rican food that speaks to my soul. Service is good even when busy. Inside is clean lively. I love their trifongo (yuca, green banana, batata (?) ) option. I love mofongo (mashed green plaintain) so the trifongo was fun to try and I loved it. Not surprisingly, I love yuca and almost anything with yuca. Their pernil is always done right. Well seasoned and Crispy skin. The Konoz cones are really good and have quite a lot in that cone. It's a bit pricier then other places but it's downtown so I was prepared. Definitely worth the money. Steak and onions is delicious and tender. read more

I rarely write reviews while still eating but this was that good that I couldn't wait to share it with everyone. I usually don't go to Puerto Rican restaurants because I'm Puerto rican and well I cook this food and I'm pretty damn good at it. This is the truth, I'm eating pernil with arroz con gandules and tostones. I knew from the first bite of that toston that this was going to be a legit meal. Crunchy on the outside creamy on the inside like a French fry. The arroz con gandules tastes like my grandmother is back there in the kitchen with yall. Stop messing with my grandma let her go! I was in Guavate 2 weeks ago and stopped by 3 restaurants and this food might be better than most of them. Real talk this is delicious and I'll be coming back often. Buen provecho. read more

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The food is simply amazing. My wife and I wanted to experience Dominican food in Newark and Konoz did not disappoint. read more

Konoz Restaurant - Mofungo, steak and vegetables - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Cubano was unrelentingly salty and meaty, really needed some more pickle or sauce. The empanadas were kind of lukewarm, and the fillings only fine... The chicken was the most flavorful of the three. The price was good though and the service very nice! I could see stopping by again if I was near Prudential Center, but it's not worth an out of the way trip. read more

Total MUST!!! We are from AZ and we have never tried Puerto Rican food. It was nice to find this place. Super authentic and the food was delicious. We got to meet Alex the owner and he was super sweet and friendly guy. He told us a little bit about the growth of his restaurant and it made us feel even more lucky to have found this GEM! Alex was nice enough to suggest our meals because we had no idea what to order. He went above and beyond to help us pick and he didn't disappoint. read more

Konoz Restaurant - Shrimp with mofongo in garlic sauce - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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incredible cole slaw + the Tritoneta sandwich I got. It was amazing from the first bite and I highly recommend it!! 1 star off because I ordered ahead on their site and after I put my card info in, the page froze and I was so scared lol. we had to call to confirm my order was in; and all was well. The interior was small and cute and very homey/welcoming! I would come again just to get a bucket of cole slaw to go haha read more

Konoz Restaurant - Tritoneta Sandwich - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

absolutely the best place to eat in the area and when I return from Atlanta I will be back so definitely recommend for anyone who literally wants the best food and service. the place is clean and so is the bathroom. the owner is super cool. the taste of the food was amazing. I literally can not express the enjoyment this place brings me, it was an experience. read more

Very glad we were nearby and found this place. All of the staff seemed very nice and joyful, it's always great to see. We got 2 specialty sandwiches. The Tritoneta sandwich is so delicious, that first bite was everything. The Cubano is a good classic, loved it. If you also like coleslaw, then definitely give it a try here because it's so light and flavorful. Really enjoyed eating it with our sandwiches to balance it out. read more

Great great food so far I had the steak sandwich and Trust me it is not your average sandwich And I had the Konoz breakfast sandwich it's a amazing , I recommend this place 100% read more

Nothing really stood out. It was a safe option for dinner, but the lack of bold flavors and creativity left me wanting more.

Tried Konoz on resent trip to Newark/NYC. Alex and Mackenzie were fantastic. The roasted pork/ tostones and shrimp/ plantains were delicious. Appetizers of beef empanadas were nice as well. Great service, we went back the next morning for breakfast and it was delicious too. Highly recommend! read more

Absolutely delicious Puerto Rican food! This is the most authentic Puerto Rican restaurant I've been to in the states! Where can you find bacalaito and alcapuria?! Here at Konoz! I had the trifongo with shrimp and my husband had the chicken Mofongo. Both mofongos came with a side and we chose tostones. Definitely an overload of plantains but it was amazing! I'm surprised it was so empty being that it's right by Prudential and there was a concert. It was decorated for Christmas which was nice and the bathroom was clean. I was pleasantly surprised to see a picture of Crash Boat Beach, a place I've been to numerous times, in the bathroom! I wish this restaurant were closer! My husband ordered medallas, the Puerto Rican beer and felt like we were back on the island. We were surprised when we got the check that said each beer was $7! In Puerto Rico they're about $3 each but we didn't see the price on the menu. Also, there is a credit card fee but we weren't aware of it until after we paid. All in all, if you want authentic Puerto Rican cuisine, come to Konoz! read more

Konoz Restaurant - Bacalaito - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Everything was excellent! Can't wait to come back and try their Mofongo! They make delicious mango and passion fruit juices. We also had a chicken empanada, but it was so good that there was no time for a picture. The chicken was super flavorful. read more

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Delicious! I was a bit skeptical since it was empty. A guy came in and said everything is delicious and he lives nearby and always comes by. It was my first time ever having trifongo. It was soft and the cassava gave it a bit more texture. The garlic sauce was the icing on top. It wasn't too heavy but they did give a lot of it with the skirt steak. The steak was easy to chew and the chimichurri sauce was flavorful. I love garlic and there was plenty of that in the sauce as well. My friend had the chicken monfongo. It smelled so good! He devoured that dish. He has had more Dominican food than I have so he knows what is good. Both our dishes came with a salad. The mango sauce was tart but in a good way. The whole staff were so attentive and friendly. read more

Konoz Restaurant - Churrasco de mi Tierra (My land skirt steak) Pollo en salsa Criolla (Chicken in Criollo sauce) - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Great food ! ! Great baked chicken Spanish style i recommend for any one in Newark area and they deliver to the halfway house

The food at Konoz is wonderful. At great find for awesome service and super Puerto Rican food. Friendly staff and owner, Alex, understands the value of customer service. Also went next day for breakfast and did not disappoint. read more

Konoz Restaurant - With owner, Alex. - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Konoz takes me back to PR with every bite. I was looking for a restaurant that makes trifongo like PR and once I found Konoz, I have taken several family and friends. Their food is authentic and delicious, but their service is impeccable. Alex, the owner, genuinely cares for each of his customers. He ensures that one is comfortable and enjoying themselves. I highly recommend everything but my go to are the Alcapurria, the trifongo, skirt steak, arroz con gandueles, flan and Tembleque. read more

Amazing! I had the Cuban sandwich with tostones and a beef empanada. The food was amazing and everyone there was very friendly. My food was ready quick and it was amazing. I will definitely be coming back for this sandwich! One of the best I've ever had!! read more

This is the best PR food you will have. Chef Alex and his family put their heart and soul into every dish. You won't be disappointed!

I saw a couple mouthwatering pics for Konoz on my instagram timeline and decided to give them a try. I got a papa rellena (potato ball stuffed with beef) and a buffalo chicken empanada. Both were great! They came with a spicy chipotle dip as well. I came close to closing and they obviously didn't have too many finger foods left and the woman at the front even offered to make and fry fresh empanadas for me which I thought was great service. I'll be back to try their dinner and lunch options. read more

Konoz Restaurant - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Stopped in before a show at NJPAC for yummy Puerto Rican food. Very friendly staff. Highly recommend the chicken wings appetizer and getting some of those fresh pressed juices with your meal -- the mango and passion fruit ones were delicious but I'm sure others would be good too. We got two trifongo entrees (pernil and camarones tainos) that were both good, next time we'll try some of that roasted chicken! Space is smaller, about 8 tables, so getting there earlier before a show or game is better to make sure you get a seat. Only downside was music was on the louder side so it could be a bit challenging to hear conversation. read more

Konoz Restaurant - Camarones tainos, pernil trifongo, house salads, and a mango juice - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Wonderful food and ambiance. The manager/owner is very atentative. I was visiting while out of town with a friend and look forward to stopping in next time. read more

Puertorican n food that tastes like it. The service is great. In a nice little hiding spot in Newark.

The food was great. My husband had the pork dish and the meat was tender. We didnt know how to order and the server was very kind explained the menu. There was a draf when opening the door so the server sat us elsewhere so our baby wouldn't get cold Really nice place and incredible food. read more

Excellent food and service. Good place to go before/after an event at the Pru. Very short walk, good kids menu.

Best Latin/Hispanic food I've had in years. Very authentic and you can tell they make things as if they're making this for their own family. Service was amazing and very personable. They play great Latin music, throwbacks and new age stuff as well. Interior is small but cozy. I highly recommend coming here before any and all Prudential Center events. read more

Konoz Restaurant - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

A beautiful, friendly, family run business. The chicken and tostones were delicious and made to order. I will go back again and again. read more

Konoz Restaurant - a plate of food - Empanadas Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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