LA ISLA!!!!! Whenever I'm in Brooklyn, this is one of my favorite spots!!!! The roasted chicken is delicious and seasoned well, the tostones are perfectly cooked to order, rice is flavorful. Hubby also loves the alcapurria! I have never had a bad meal here! It's counter service with only a handful of counter seats if you wanted to stay. Most items are ready to be served...just have to decide on what you want. Thank you La Islas for consistent deliciousness read more

La Isla Restaurant - Fresh hot tostones - Dominican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I came here on a Friday afternoon with my dad and son for lunch. The place is extremely small and right across the street from boricua college. I really wanted jugo de parcha and unfortunately they didn't have it. So I settled for a jugo de coco instead! It was super tasty and was a good substitute but I still wanted my parcha lol. I ordered two chicken empanadas which were pretty good and dad ordered some cuchifritos. The service was incredible and so were the prices. However, we tried to order multiple things that were not available which was really annoying. The location in Bushwick is better. Next time ill go to the Bushwick location which always has very food item! read more

Great! Dominican Chicaharron porky belly is crunch and soft. Dark meat Red bull energy drink read more

So unfortunately the rice was very dry and hard.. the beans were stale and the rest of the food was old. The Dominican lady is also very rude. read more

Never getting take out from another place again! My friend and I went to La Isla on a Saturday night to grab some food to-go. We had the #1 combo (half a chicken, rice, and beans), sweet plantains, one potato croquette stuffed with meat, and pernil. Everything was delicious. The staff were so sweet and patient, and everything was super affordable. Without tip, the total came to about $22, and there was enough food for 3-4 people. I'm sure it won't be long until I'm back again! read more

I don't know how other foods taste there but the morcilla was disgusting. She should be ashamed that she even sold it to me. The minute I put in my mouth, I spit it out. It tasted like it was weeks old, hard and a nasty bad grease taste. Shame on them!! The alcapurria was just bad. Threw that out too. If it wasn't that I jumped on the highway, I would had brought it back and told her to taste what she is selling. First time stopping here and last. Won't take my chances. read more

Portions are really big and good for the price. Everything is priced good. The chicken is really juicy and falls off the bone. Rice and beans are really good. The only complaint I had was in the delivery I ordered the plantains were burnt. Not a good burnt, it was the burnt that made the sweet plantain bitter. The restaurant is small. You can eat on the counter or take out (I've done both) read more

I came here for lunch and got some rice and beans with the pork($10). Pork wasn't bad but could've been a little juicier. A good portion of rice and beans, but that's normal since it's so cheap. The place is clean and service was quick. Pay cash to avoid credit card fees that most places are now adding. read more

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The food is tasteless, I ordered a breaded steak that was tough , chewy and with no seasoning. The tostones should have come with a mojito sauce. At least they were crunchy. read more

I started coming here about ten years ago. I'm in Greenpoint now, and just yesterday came back for the first time in a couple years and, yeah, they still got it. They say you can only pick two out of good, cheap, and fast, but La Isla shatters that law of physics. Its a safest bet for Latin food at this juncture of North Brooklyn with a deceptively extensive menu. Love the bistec encebollada (steak with onions), morcillas (blood sausage), sweet plantain frituras (add hot sauce), yuca fries, roast pork or chicken, mofongo (mashed/fried plantains) with gravy, tripe stew, dominican pasta; they have the classics down. Last night I got the tender costillas (pork ribs) and crispy tostones, the items totalltling a mere $10. It can best be described as a counter service place, light on atmosphere with no alcohol, but with friendly service that will oblige any requests, so don't be afraid to ask for condiments (just ketchup, hot sauce, and gravy), water, onions etc. This location is my favorite, super consistent (though rule of thumb with these places is to check the hot shelves on the way in to see what's looking fresh). There are similarly named cuchifritos restaurants on Myrtle in Bushwick and down on Broadway and Flushing. With the neighborhood "changing" as rapidly as it is, it's paramount to support and treasure places like this one. read more

La Isla Restaurant - Costillas and tostones, $10 together (not including tup), perfect. - Dominican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Sad to say, but La Isla is not what it used to be. Definitely must have been sold to new owners who have ruined the food. I hadn't been there in awhile. So yesterday 8/27/24 I decided to stop in and get some food. Bad mistake. The window case which is usually full with all types of cuchifritos and frituras was bare, but I figured since it was lunchtime maybe the lunch crowd best me. Then I ordered morcilla, 1lb of pernil, alcapureas, and some frituras. Sad to say when I got back to work my friends and I were totally surprised. The pernil had no taste seemed like it was cooked and not seasoned, the alcapureas tasted dry and rubbery not fresh at all, the morcilla was also dry and tasted like sand with rice. Suffice it to say that it was horrible, with the money we spent we could have bought two pizza pies from Cozi Pizza, which we ended up doing. And they tasted great. But La Isla you have definitely lost your style, class and taste for at one time you we're well known for. I guess it's true what they say that things don't always change for the better. Even with the price increase the order didn't seem no where near the $45.00 for a few pieces of unseasoned, dry rubbery, food. Shame on you La Isla. You have been warned, Please stay away from this place. You are better off eating a slice of pizza or hero sandwich from your corner deli. They are just terrible. And the only way they could improve is to get new cooks who have a talent for cooking old style Puerto Rican and Dominican food with taste and seasoning. Definitely would not and do not recommend this place. F +++++ avoid if you are looking for delicious tasting food. read more

I've walked past this place a couple of times and wanted to try it but never too hungry to enter. My colleague said to come here today so why not. If you're going to order half a chicken and rice and beans, make sure you order it together or ask for combo 1. If you order the chicken then ask for rice and beans after, it's considered two items instead of one. In which my colleague did earlier and had to pay extra while getting the same amount of food I had. I believe combo 1 is $8.50 while getting them separately is around $2 more. I also ordered a small coconut drink that was $2.50. Not bad for a whole meal that can feed 2 people. For the price, it's great. However, I did think parts of the chicken was cooked slightly too long and it was dry. Not to the point where it's unpleasant, but it was enough to not want to take more bites than I'd like. The chicken and the rice and beans had a pinch too much salt, so it's not fitting to everyone's tastes. I did however really enjoy the coconut drink, even though I thought it was a little sweet. It did remind me of a Pina colada. Would've been nice to have spiked it tho! Overall, it's a lot of food for one person, but for that price, it's worth it. Definitely come for their drinks even if you're not there for food. It won't be a first choice to come here, but it's still worthy of having. read more

La Isla Restaurant - Combo 1 - half roasted chicken with rice and beans - Dominican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Excellent service and delicious food. I was shocked it wasn't more crowded on a Saturday night but we still enjoyed it. We had the burrata appetizer, vodka rigatoni with shrimp and the quinoa bowl with chicken (my favorite thing but everything was delicious!) We were so hungry, I didn't get a chance to take any pictures! read more

If your in desperate need of greasy food for a quick fix. This is your place, food is tasty and already cooked no waiting. It's my go to whenever I'm on the neighborhood. This time around we found the food a bit bland. Relleno de papa had no flavor just the consistent of potato. The empanadas weren't seasoned the regular way, with sazon or adobo. Anyway at that time, it served its purpose. read more

Really good home cooked, warm "like eating at moms house" vibes. No menu, but you get rice, beans and the option of chicken, beef, or pork stew. There's also large meat portions, and Dominican fried foods. One counter for eating in, very simple but I had a good feeling about it as soon as I met this kind lady running the place. read more

What the heck time was it last night when we stumbled in here after a night of hard drinking at Duff's nearby? 3:30 AM? 4AM? Got me. All I know is that it was still open, had lots of cheap food, and we were drunk and starving. Large-ass crispy beef empanadas, whole roasted chicken cut and quartered, terrific yellow rice and beans, house hot sauce, and a half dozen or so juice and lemonade drinks to choose from. Devoured this meal as if it were my last. Was it any good? I think so. Who knows - we were hammered! But it was a good meal to help soak up all the alcohol in my belly! Saw other patrons of the bar wander in here to eat as we were leaving. Thank goodness for these late night hole in the wall spots open until the wee hours. Right next to the subway stop too which is a bonus! read more

La Isla Restaurant - Cheap tasty meal when drunky drunk! - Dominican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Loved it! Working the polls in Williamsburg I had a strange craving for Puerto Rican food. I got the roasted chicken with rice and beans. So fresh, perfectly cooked, chicken was somehow super crispy. The guys were chill. On pointttt read more

I had the $4.50, $5.50 w/juice, lunch special. Chicken stew, yellow rice and beans. It was delish. The coconut juice is amazing. I also had the Papas Rellena (Fried Stuffed Potatoes) which was very bland. read more

La Isla Restaurant - Lunch special - Dominican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Unfortunately I Found a blue hair in my food and had to throw it all out. Won't be retuning

LOVE LOVE LOVE the empanadas here! I've been to Puerto Rico a few times and none of the empanadas I've had compare. Flaky crust, delicious beef filling and so much of it! Super cheap too. Easier if you speak Spanish, but I was able to get by. The most authentic little hole-in-the wall. read more

Let's see : a giant plate of rice and beans served with a perfectly roasted, juicy half chicken for $6. SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY! Note : only bar seating here... and the staff speaks broken english. But they're nice enough to you and you can order in english. Just be prepared for the fact that no one else in the place will speak much english, if at all. I guess that makes this place mad authentic. read more

La Isla Restaurant - Pollo entero - Dominican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I don't normally write reviews but I've ordered here enough to warrant a review. I really want to like this place but it's been disappointing over and over again. The chicken, pork chops, etc look great on display and the price for a platter of rice and beans with your choice of protein for $8.50 is not bad. However, I've tried the "fried" pork chops and they were soggy and bland. I've tried the roast chicken multiple times and they were DRY. I order the chicken many times hoping it would be better than last because sometimes things happen but so far it has been DRY every time. If I didn't work in the area and have exhausted every lunch option on Broadway, I would not be ordering from them. read more

Do you want a couple of lbs of hot, fresh, amazing tasting food for $8.00? If yes, this is your spot. I got the roasted chicken with rice and beans and this fed me for the entire day! read more

Unsanitary... wiping the cut board with a cloth they toss everywhere .. disgusting. Food serving's extremely over priced and small . Never again read more

Always a great late night spot to get fried food after a long night of drinking ! Their food will soak it all up and it's delicious. I've had the papas rellenas, empanadas, rice and beans with chicken stew. Everything has seasoning so nothing is bland. Meat is always so tender. Also great prices ! read more

Love coming here, come all the way from Manhattan just to go here. There is a taste and flavor here that I just can't seem to find anywhere else. Fried pork chops are so crispy, alcapurria is always good, rice is fresh, limonada and parcha are the best! The chicken and pernil are a must to get. Love the late night hours and right below the J train station. I suggest browsing the menu to see the many different options to choose from. Getting hungry just thinking about it! read more

This place hasn't changed in the 8 years I've been eating here. I wince at the one star reviewer who called and got hung up on: never having to get up from her couch, concluding her investigation and giving them one star all from the comfort of her castle, trying to put the REAL places out of business so Starbucks can take over and she can order a frickin' sandwich on Seamless. Uggg. I rely on my Spanish when I visit, and I've always found that the bigger the language barrier, the more authentic the food. If you are angry and uppity when you aren't understood right away, or maybe have to point to the menu to order, best stay inside and order on Seamless. Luckily for me, they understand "chicken stew" since I haven't figured out how to say that: One bowl of chicken stew usually contains more than half a chicken, carrots and potatoes and an occasional green olive and costs about as much as a toasted bagel on Bedford. Delicious. The food can be salty and that's not usually my thing, but it works here for me. In fact the ice water always tastes better here for that reason. "Agua por favor". I think they are open 24 hours on Friday and Saturday. You can tell they have seen it all, right under the JMZ tracks. I've shown up at 4am and not been allowed in by police, peeked in and it looked like a shootout in a saloon from a Western movie: barstools overturned, blood everywhere. So if you want Snow White to greet you and Fabio to bring you your sandwich, go to Time Square. I hear a lot of up and coming Broadway stars start there! Don't worry if the guy sitting next to you at the counter is nodding off: before his face hits his soup and he drowns, they'll crank up the music to wake him up. There is a lot of love under those tracks. It can also be packed and busy, in which case might take a while to order. And don't be afraid to speak up when you are ready to pay: "La cuenta por favor". It may take three visits but you'll get a smile and it feels so much better than that fake smile from Snow White. After just a couple visits they treat me like family, and I always bring my family there when they visit. When I ate there with my parents (I'm 6'6" 205 lbs and my dad could crush me) the bill was $17. Unbelievable. Time machine!!! I love real people, I love good inexpensive food: I love it here. read more

Se Venden Cuchifritos! Before the gentrification of the lower east side, places like these were lined up everywhere! Its definitely not healthy. But its really really cheap. The show case with hot lamps feature goodies like Morcilla (Blood sausage), pastelillos (like an empanada), Relleno de Papa (fried ball of potato with ground beef), alcapurria (fried yuca and plantains stuffed with beef), bacalaitos (cod fish fritters) and SO.MUCH.MORE. The cuchifritos are a steal at $1.25 a piece but if fried food doesnt sound good to you, they also have rotisserie chicken and pernil (roast pork) with rice and beans. Its open at all hours of the day and night. In the wintery mornings, i come in here for a large steaming cup of cafe con leche for the bargain price of $1.25. Also, if you are a party animal, stumble in here drunk for the perfect drunk munchies. Its cash only so save $5 for a substantial meal. This is not a place for ambiance. Its kinda dumpy. But i could give two shits about the chipped tiles so long as my food is fresh and delicious. Best to eat the food on site. I brought back an alcapurria to the office. 20 minutes in the bag made it gummy and soggy. The pastelillo travels really well- so crispy! read more

I want to rub myself in the fat globules dripping from your pernil into your aluminum take-out pan after I've gently shredded the pork gladiator's flesh with my jaws and slowly dragged it across my tongue into the pit of a starving lion. I will proceed to get shot outside on Broadway. read more

Best place for a quick lunch, friendly fast and good. I got yellow rice and beans with Pork simply and good @provencharly read more

Wonderful CHEAP Dominican place to grab a whole roasted chicken, cut and quartered for you, and a mess of yummy Cuchifritos and sides to drag home to your cave to eat while watching mindless TV. OR, if you are out and about bar hopping, La Isla is also open late. Right under the train tressle near the Marcy Avenue stop on the J,M,Z Love the Jibaro On Canao (sweet plantain canoe filled with meat), the Yuca Frita, and the Morcillas (blood sausages). Great hot sauce. I love that this place exists just a stone's throw from the pricey hip part of town. read more

Have you looked at the pics for this restaurant? That ____ is real!!! You literally get a half chicken and a full place of rice and the most delicious beans (of my life). Those beans were so good, I, one of the greatest carnivore I know, neglected the chicken almost completely. Seriously, I ate ALL the beans and took more than a quarter of the chicken with me to go. Oh, did I mention it was for the low price of $ 5 - $1.50 beans/rice and $3.50 chicken. Oh, oh, I almost forgot. To complement my wonderful proteins and starch (no veggies), pina and coconut juice (I had it mixed 'cause I'm awesome). If I could have dumped it directly in my mouth, my New York trip would have been perfected! Did I mention all this good ingesting came at 2 in the morning? For about 30 minutes my husband and I sat alone, then boom, 25 people were served. When we left, at about 3, there were still 10 people there. What a wonderful find! Thanks to you, Yelp Nation! read more

¡Mi favorito! Mofongo and chicken are where it's at. Don't get me wrong, it's all good. Just have my personal favorites that when I walk in I ask for a plate of each. Good prices. Good neighborhood. You can't ask for better than this. read more

Perfect for carnivores. True whole in the wall. They serve mostly meats, rice and beans. I recommend the pork chop and black sausages. Cheap and delicious. I started the order in English and finished in Spanish. read more

I have a love/hate relationship with this place. The pernil is off the hook, top 3 pernil I've ever had. But I've had more communication difficulty here than at any other Latin place I've ever been to. Maybe it's the same if you order in Spanish and they're just really not good at taking orders, who knows, but every time I try to order what I want, I'll end up with something a bit different from that, unlike most other Latin places I've been to where I've had no problem. Be prepared to have really good pernil but don't order in English if you can help it. read more

This spot is directly below the JZ stop at Marcy Ave. Very tiny restaurant with about 10 seats at the counter and no tables. Two lovely ladies serving up some amazing Dominican comfort food. Very no frills and seemed super authentic, like something you'd be coming home to after your mom has been cooking all day. I was drawn in by the crispy, crunchy fried meats that were visible from the window out front. I had the pork chicharrones with white rice and beans. It was a pretty healthy serving for about $8.50 after tax! I believe there was a $7 minimum for credit cards. I got a full dinner plate of rice and beans, plus a bowl of crispy, fatty, flavorful fried pork bits that can only be described as PERFECTION. The lady who served me offered me some lime wedges and hot sauce, because that's how she prefers them. She was right! It really put those pork pieces over the edge and gave me a meal that I truly appreciated as some amazing comfort food. I would come back again, without question. I did wait a little while and had to flag them down to get my bill, but maybe this may have just been a cultural thing of not rushing the customer. Either way, the meal was great, and I'm excited to go back to try some other dishes. read more

I love everything from here. It's a hole in the wall kind of place but, don't let that fool you. The food tastes authentic with the feel of that "homemade" flavor. You have to try it to know what I'm talking about. Check it out. You won't regret it. Five quality. read more

A bit disappointed after ordering stewed chicken and white rice. The chicken was tasteless and the rice also had no flavor. There were some carrots and potatoes but no taste at all. I normally order pernil and i was here just 1 day ago boasting about how great and reliable the pernil is. UNMfortunate for me that my food was tasteless and at $8.25, it is even more expensive than my normal pernil, rice and beans. Go figure? Maybe i need to find me another restaurant that has spanish food and its open this late. read more

Remember when Madonna sang la Isla bonita??? I think she was talking about this little gem.. Last night, after 2 weeks of hype, my friend finally took me here after a night drinking at Duff's around the corner. We ordered 3 empanadas to share between the 2 of us. They were huge and well filled. We devoured them crossing the Williamsburg headed to another dive bar in the east village. Were they good? I think so, as far as I can recall. This morning in my quasi hungover state I found a half of a chicken one in my purse and promptly ate it. It was fantastic, so I'm gonna guess it was really delish last night! read more

Great prices and huge portions. All of the staples of a good Cuchifrito. The only glaring problem is that all the a la carte stuff is over seasoned. Waaaaay way too much Sazon. read more