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La Isla Cuchifrito

4.2 (41 reviews)
Open • 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

La Isla Cuchifrito Photos

Business Info

LA ISLA CUCHIFRITO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - La Isla Cuchifrito

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Chicken plate
Alexander T.

Got the chicken with red rice. Decent for $8. Fast service. Should've asked for dark meat. They give you massive amounts of rice and beans.

pernil
A W.

Fire as usual. Woman behind the counter went heavy handed with me. Lit. Been coming here for years and still do although I live in Harlem

a variety of food items
Michelle T.

This place aroma is amazing. We figured it must be good if this is the only place on the block that has a line that wraps around. For $8, you get a meat with rice and beans. Amazing prices and delicious choices. The chuchifritos are $2 each. We ordered the permit with rice and beans. Definitely a hefty amount but the only thing was pernil was a bit dry. The chicharron is sooooooo crunchy, savory, and delicious. I was totally in love with that dish.

Chinola/parcha
Marietta C.

24 hour Puerto Rican fast food in the Bronx! Found this super genuine hole in the wall (literally) Puerto Rican hot spot. This place is on and popping and they have fresh food coming out at all times. Small little spot, gets packed, order to go or stay in and dine on the little bar area (sits like 8 people). The food was good (for fast-food-ish), staff was so nice and accommodating. My only concern is not sure how up to health code this place is. Don't mean to bash it because the ladies that work here really stole my heart they're such nice people. However, I don't want to know what happens behind the scenes since the place is very questionable. Like I said, food is delicious and very very cheap. We ordered enough food for two people and drink for only $10! This included rice, beans, sweet plantains, tostones and passion fruit medium size drink. Everything was delicious. This little spot is right by the hospital so this food is definitely worth it if you feel like eating like home away from home. Open 24 hours. Alcapurrias, mofongo, mondongo, arroz con habichuelas and much more!

Alcapurria
Yvette S.

I've been coming here since I was a kid. Is divey but ohh how I love me a good authentic divey home in the wall yummy spot. My all time picks Are always frin the fritura section old the menu. In this order of favorites Morcilla (blood sausage) Relleno de Papa = potato ball with a yummy center filled with ground beef (but if you want to step this up a bit be sure of ask for beef gravy) you can thank me later. Alcapurrias are yummy made of yucca w/ meat center And of course a nice crunchy piece of Chicharron with limes too squeeze directly on top right before every bite full.

Outside storefront at night
Cassandra S.

Decent in a pinch, late night was hungry , ate. Next day while I didn't find it overly impressive, or memorable , or clean the only thing going through my mind was ..... did you die though? Thankfully I didn't so Three stars it is.

Julian P.

The best Puerto Rican food in NYC, delicious and excellent prices! The pernil sandwich was $6!! They have a lunch special (beans, rice and chicken $4). People who work there are very nice, I recommend the pernil sandwich, roast sandwich and empanadaas!!

Pernil Sandwich
Meghan A.

My husband and I were trying to go back to La Morada for Sunday lunch, but sadly, they were closed. As we walked up 3rd Ave., my husband, armed with his yelp app, looked for a Plan B. He asked what I was in the mood for, and my only criteria was "something legit." He stumbled upon La Isla Cuchifrito, with its photos of stews, beans, and rice, and we were off. La Isla Cuchifrito is a semi-hole in the wall Puerto Rican restaurant on the main drag of East 149th St., and a quick walk from the 2/4/5 subway stop. When we walked in, there was a small bunch of locals ordering plates to go, but we chose to eat at the diner counter. The 2 servers were busy, brusque, and I spoke only Spanish. They have a menu of stewed meats with sides, rotisserie chickens glistening in the window, savory pastries, and sandwiches. I, being an unapologetic bread hound, asked for a pernil (pork shoulder) sandwich. Our server asked what else I'd like on it, and after fumbling around in bad Spanish, she loaded me up with a Cuban-type sandwich composed of pernil, ham, tomato, lettuce, provolone, and BUTTER... hold the mustard. My sandwich came out, and I was so excited. This was a SANDWICH. A gut bomb. A meaty two meal's worth extravaganza. As I tasted the juicy stewed pernil, the powerful flavor of garlic hit my tongue. I love garlic, and the pernil was just so garlicky! I wolfed down half of the sandwich, and somehow good judgment kicked in, and I wrapped the other half up to go. My husband ordered a straight pernil plate with beans and rice. This was great too, as the beans had a great depth of flavor, and the server gave him a big hunk of crispy pork skin. My generous husband let me have a bite of the pork skin, and it was awesome. I was pretty satisfied with our lunch here. It's not the most user-friendly spot for a gringuita such as myself, but the food was really great.

Pernil with yellow rice.

Came here today for the first time after working in this neighborhood for over a year. How did I miss this place? Had the Pernil with yellow rice ($6.50) and it was great! Limited counter seating so it's more of a take-out spot. Super fast lines. The menu is all in Spanish so you better know what you want lol. They speak perfect English, so no worries there. Cash only so be prepared.

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10 years ago

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La Fonda - Avocado Toast w/ Poached eggs, served on Tostones (Plantains - Great for Gluten Free Individuals).

La Fonda

3.2(383 reviews)
2.1 mi•East Harlem
•$$

La Fonda offers authentic Puerto Rican cuisine with the kind of hospitality that makes you feel…read morelike you're being welcomed into a loved one's home. They want to feed you well, make you feel cared for, and create a genuine sense of connection and the portions are big :). The bacalaítos were flavorful and well seasoned. They were a little too oily for my personal taste, but the oil tasted fresh and the flavor was excellent. The fried chicken chunks were a standout...light, flaky, and crispy on the outside, yet moist and succulent on the inside. The red beans were delicious and perfectly seasoned, and the rice had the ideal texture and plenty of flavor. The cocktails were well balanced and made with freshly squeezed lime juice, which made a noticeable difference. The owner is wonderful. He has built genuine relationships with regulars and members of the community and takes the time to check in with every table. They are also pet friendly. I definitely recommend La Fonda to anyone looking for great food, welcoming vibes, and an authentic Puerto Rican experience.

It's been a while since I've had really good Puerto Rican food, and La Fonda did not disappoint…read more We started off with chicken pastellios and my bf got the red sangria while I went for the Puñeta drink(which was sweet, but not overally sweet. Sooooo good). I was craving Mofongo and the pernil Mofongo was definitely the best option. Mofongo can sometimes get dry so the fact that there was a lot of calldito (the soup/sauce) I was livingggggg. They had a really cool back area of the restaurant and it was fairly quiet so you could have a conversation and hear each other. I would bring bug spray in the summer though, I did get bit up a few times. Service was great. The servers were lovely and I will absolutely be coming back! I would check their Instagram, I had no idea when I made reservations that there was an event happening. It was a Friday night and they were teaching/having chess matches! So random, but a lot of people were there! The group is called @Chess_Place on Instagram if you wanna learn more.

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La Fonda - Our Mimosa Towers - flavors available and bottomless options.

Our Mimosa Towers - flavors available and bottomless options.

La Fonda - Shrimp Pinchos served with our serve passion-fruit sauce.

Shrimp Pinchos served with our serve passion-fruit sauce.

La Fonda - $10 virgins piña colada in plastic cups!!! This is unacceptable and should not be allowed

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El Rincón Boricua

El Rincón Boricua

4.2(12 reviews)
0.3 mi•Melrose

I had family coming to visit and they requested for PR food…read more Then It hit me, there's no more puertorican food places left! If you really think about it the Dominican food has taken over the Bx. I searched, and found this place. The moment you step in you are greeted with the warmest blessings. The 2 beautiful people that worked there made our time there so memorable. The food was out of this world let me tell you. Also, I will say it is AFFORDABLE. portion size was huge and the place was so CLEAN. Food: Pernil: 10/10 flavorful and tender Yellow (arroz con gandules) and Black rice with the beans: 10/10 both were good and couldn't even decide which one was better Pulpo 9/10 : fresh and tangy, cut into small pieces so you can top it on your rice Alcapurrias: 8/10 great and made differently then what I'm used to but it was sooo good I'd come again for this alone Juices: Ask them to try the juices and they will let you. We tried it all. Came home with passion fruit (parcha) and guyaba (guanabana) Delicious 10/10 It was so fresh and they don't add too much ice so you get all the juice taste. All in all I'm coming here from now on. A true BX staple for the community and a true essence of the Bori pride resides here. If you miss PR, come here.

Took an hour to receive burnt to a crisp alcapuria. Absolutely the worst representation of puerto…read morerican food. Run away!

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El Rincón Boricua - Background

Background

El Rincón Boricua - Arroz con gandules and plantains

Arroz con gandules and plantains

El Rincón Boricua - Dine in or take out

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Cuchifritos - Bacalaito

Cuchifritos

3.5(253 reviews)
1.6 mi•East Harlem
•$

When you visit Cuchifritos, expect a constant line and no air conditioning. The staff isn't super…read morefriendly, but they are highly efficient and keep the crowd moving quickly so you get your food fast. We ordered a lot to try. The arroz con gandules was a solid, well-seasoned base for the meal and came in a generous portion. We also grabbed a couple of pastelillos. The pastelillos con carne and the pastelillo con queso both had a great crunch and were packed with filling. The alcapurria was fried well with a solid exterior, and the inside was full of seasoned meat. To finish it off, we had the bacalaitos, which were huge, savory codfish fritters with crispy edges. It gets hot inside and you will have to wait, but the efficient service and excellent food make it a strong 4 star spot.

Cuchifritos 168 E. 116th. St…read more New York, NY 10029 Coca Drink Alcapurria Pasteles En Hoja Blood Sausage My curiosity has led me to East Harlem to explore traditional Puerto Rican cuisine. The prices are very reasonable and the taste of the food was pretty decent. However, the attraction was lacking. Coca drink: The coconut beverage was cool and refreshing. It was definitely the next best thing to slurping from an actual coconut. Alcapurria: The Alcapurria had equal ratio of meat and fritter filling. Pasteles En Hoja: I have to admit that the artistic look of this meal was not eye catching. The pasteles reminded me of vomit, but tasted like a tamale. Blood Sausage: The blood sausage has a physical resemblance of feces. Identifying one of the meats as "blood" is not the best idea. In the end, it was a sausage link. Surprisingly, all the dishes still tasted decent. Whenever I come across plates that don't look attractive I'll always keep an open mind and will definitely try everything. #alcapurria #pasteles #bloodsausage #cuchifritos #cocodrink

Photos
Cuchifritos
Cuchifritos - Arroz con gandules

Arroz con gandules

Cuchifritos - Pastelillo de queso

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Pastelillo de queso

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

Cocotazo

4.0(113 reviews)
1.9 mi•East Harlem

I stopped into Cocotazo after a long start to my workday and happened to arrive right as they…read moreopened. From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed: everyone said hello, and my waiter was genuinely kind, speaking with me in English or Spanish, whichever I preferred. The atmosphere: Honestly, I felt like I was sitting in a restaurant in Puerto Rico. The decor, the little casita on top, Kola Champagne in the fridge, the right coffee. Every detail feels intentional and full of love. The food: * Drink: The Chi ChinRodriguez, tamarindo mixed with parcha. Refreshing and delicious. * Appetizer: The bacalaíto was a standout, crispy, very flavorful, not greasy at all, and topped with an amazing sauce. * Main: Roasted chicken with perfect skin, a side salad with a wonderful dressing, white rice made exactly the way it should be (it tasted just like my grandmother's), and beans. * Dessert: Café con leche and a slice of their cake. The frosting was awesome. The star of the show: The chef came out to say hello and talk with me. She was so warm and welcoming, and I was amazed to learn she's still the one behind the stove doing all the cooking. That kind of care shows up on every plate. I'd absolutely come back, and I can't wait to bring my family. ¡Gracias, Cocotazo!

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.

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Cocotazo - Paintings for sale.

Paintings for sale.

Cocotazo - Rican Sandwich

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La Isla Cuchifrito - puertorican - Updated October 2026

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