Typical Puertorican food is excellent. Great service. Nice…read moreambiance. Didn't expect to see this little gem in the neighborhood.

Not a good place to eat. I ordered two different meals. One to go and one to eat in. Once I got to…read moremy truck. It was the same meal. They seemed to be prepared the day before. not very warm and dry. Taco Bell has better food. Jessica

Amazing!! Authentic and pure Puerto Rican food. I know because I am boricua and I can tell…read more Delicious and fresh. Is like tasting the island. My new favorite place.

We like to try foods that are unfamiliar to us, so we jumped at the chance to try some Puerto Rican…read moresnacks when we found this restaurant while in Roanoke recently. We were more interested in some snacks, so we concentrated on the "Everyday Menu" rather than the "Daily Specials" (which were complete meals). We were at a disadvantage as that part of the menu was in Spanish, which we don't speak. We were familiar with the Empanadas on the menu, as these stuffed fried pastries are common throughout Latin America, Spain, and Portugal. We ordered one each of the chicken and beef empanadas ($3 each). We also ordered an Alcapurrias ($3.50), which was completely unfamiliar to us. We found online later that these are famous Puerto Rican stuffed fritters that are commonly sold at roadside stands. The dough is made from a starchy vegetable, either green plantains or grated yucca, then stuffed with a savory mixture of ground meat or pork. The filled dough is shaped into a cylinder and deep fried. Overall, we mostly enjoyed the snacks and, if we were to return to Roanoke, we would return to this restaurant to try more Puerto Rican foods. We can't speak to the authenticity of any of the snacks -- but found that both of the empanadas had a generous amount of meat and were fried to crispy golden crusts. For our tastes, they were somewhat dry and we would've liked to have some kind of dipping sauce to balance out the dryness. We enjoyed the Alcapurrias a bit less as there was very little filling and it was overpowered by the dough. It too was quite dry. Service was a bit slow but, that said, the snacks were freshly fried while we waited. They were also well-priced.

The flavor of Cuban cuisine is alive and well at this small restaurant but with a big menu of…read moreexquisite Cuban culinary masterpieces. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Cuban Island Restaurant, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Founded in 2010 by Cuban immigrants, Estela Gonzalez-Perez and Manuel Hidalgo, after three years of owning and running a successful food truck by the same name, today in its 16th year as a physical restaurant, Cuban Island continues to operate as a family business using recipes passed down from Estela's grandmother. Speaking of comfort food, I consider the cuisine of Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, one of the most comforting of them all. And here on Williamson Road, in the Hollins area of Roanoke, Virginia, we have a restaurant that though small in size, has gained a National reputation for autentic, home-cooked Cuban staples. I invite you to read my first review of this restaurant which I consider one of my best reviews ever, and to view my photographs accompanying that review to get a better sense of the place and its food. Today, I decided to do a follow-up review of this restaurant, even though I have continued to dine here and order their food through DoorDash. I arrived on an early Wednesday evening to the place, and it was as sparkling clean as ever. Bright and colorful, with a casual, welcoming, and family-friendly atmosphere. One of the walls of the restaurant is filled with framed articles and well deserved awards that the restaurant has received throughout the years. I was greeted by a friendly gentleman who invited me to take a seat and handed me a copy of their colorful menu with tiny illustrations of their main meals and drinks. To drink I ordered a Batido de Mamey (Mamey Shake). Mamey is one of my favorite tropical fruits, and when ripe it is very sweet and creamy. As appetizer I ordered three Croquetas de Jamon. They were so crispy on the outside and so soft and tasty in the inside. And for my main entrée, I had their Puerco Frito (Fried Pork). These are also called "Masas de Puerco Fritas." They are chunks of pork fried to perfection. Where the outside is crispy and inside is soft with the pork natural juices. For the two sides I had Rice & Beans and Sweet Plantains. The food was served freshly cooked, in generous portions, and with its authentic flavors. What a meal! And to top it off, at very reasonable prices. For dessert I had a traditional flan, which was given to me in the original container where it was made. I would recommend that it be turned around and placed on a plate and served this way. By doing so you get a better look of the flan and can appreciate its taste even better. The food was so much, that I got full and still was able to take home part of it, to heat up and have for a meal on the following day. And that is precisely what I did. I highly recommend this restaurant. Once you try it once, I can assure you it will become one of your favorite restaurants and food.

I was super excited to try this authentic Cuban restaurant, especially after seeing all the amazing…read morereviews and seeing that it was marked as one of the top best Cuban restaurants in the USA. I added it to my trip itinerary months ago. After driving for 5hrs on my route, I stopped in. I arrived around 12PM and there were 2 people sitting inside the restaurant. My greeting was lukewarm and I was seated in a cold corner and provided with a menu. After about 7 minutes, no water, no check in. Seeing the staff talking to each other and joking during that time period, I decided to take my service elsewhere. They did not seem like they cared, and I definitely did not want to be eating anyones food who is not genuinely present. It was a nice try. Yall, please implement the Southern hospitality.

Was very pleased with my find today The customer service…read morewas amazing and one thing for sure I will be coming back for more Ordered empanadas 1 Pizza (Mozzarella cheese, Homemade red sauce, seasonings)....$3.50 9 out 10 1 Carne (ground beef)...$3.50 Also 9 out 10 4 of the Alcapurrias de Carne..... 9 out of 10 (Green banana fritter stuffed with ground beef) 1 Bacalaitos...10 out 10 (Cod Fish Fritter - flour, cod fish, cilantro and spices) Very crispy and delicious Mofongo y Carne Frita ....10 out 10 (MOFONGO consist of fried plantains, mashed and mixed with garlic paste and pork cracklings) Choose (1) pork tips, chicken tips or grilled chicken (grilled chicken upon availability) Make sure to give them a try if u want to try some very good Puerto Rican style food. They are at the compare food supermarket Thursday through Saturday and are open from 12 PM to 6 PM

While at an event at Bailey Park, this food truck was present. I stopped by around 5:05pm and…read moreplaced my order at 5:08pm. They had a special menu for the event. I got wings and fries ($12) for myself. I got pizza empanadas for my sons. I also goy a kola champagne soda. This is a drink from Puerto Rico. After ordering, I was given a buzzer to be notified when it was ready. The staff person were very friendly. The buzzer went off at 5:23pm. The food was hot and fresh. However, the fries and chicken was unseasoned. Ketchup made the fries taste better. I had to eat the chicken how it was, lol. Overall, it was a good deal. My kids enjoyed their empanadas. The kola drink was interesting. It wasn't nasty but I can't say it'll be something I'd crave or be my first option. They are normally open Thursday-Saturday from 12pm-7pm at Compare Foods.

A friend recommended and did not disappoint! Hidden gem with big flavor. I grabbed the empanada…read morecombo with the spicy chicken empanada. It was crispy, flavorful, and had just the right kick. The rice and beans were comforting and well/seasoned and the plantains were sweet and caramelized to perfection. I'm also Cuban for what it's worth and had my fair share of rice, beans, and plantains! The tres leche coffee was a little sweet for me but still fantastic. I typically drink black coffee and just felt like trying something different. The inside is super cozy! Makes you feel like you're in someone's home (in the best way). Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. Nothing has survived long in this building...hoping this one stays!

I don't know why it took me so long to come here. But I am so glad that I finally made it out to…read moreEmpanada Grill. This meal warmed my soul and eased my evening. On the edge of the Greensboro and Summerfield border, near the PTI airport, lies a small restaurant with big flavor and big heart. This location has been many things in the past, but I am hopeful that Empanada Grill will last forever. The menu is very simple , but nobody needs to make complicated empanadas. I would rather a place do a few things well than have a wide variety of things and be mediocre. Empanada Grill is as far from mediocre as you can get. I opted for their empanadas undressed in the traditional chicken style. It came with a side of rice and beans. You got to choose between red or black beans, and white, yellow, or traditional rice. I went with the black beans and traditional rice. This was enough food for two meals. I received my food to go, as I had a practice to get to, but there is a variety of seating areas within to accommodate groups of all sizes. The black beans deserve a picture of their own because they are basically a full meal themselves. I ate half before I remembered to take a picture because they were so good. I would definitely bring the family back to this restaurant, as we all love empanadas. I would love to try the traditional beef next time. The worst part about this trip? My car smelled like empanada the next day and I had no more empanada to eat. But that's a problem that can easily be solved with a trip back to my new favorite empanada place.

The food was very good! The drinks were just as good. The waitstaff were very attentive and the…read moreatmosphere is great. Would definitely recommend!

We hit up Pangaea in downtown Greensboro last night with another couple, and it delivered a strong…read more4-star experience--with just enough personality to keep things interesting. I kicked things off with the "Alex Old Fashioned," which I enjoyed. Brittani, however, took one sip and looked at me like I had just ordered dessert in a glass--so, your mileage may vary depending on your sweet tooth and relationship dynamics. Instead of going full tapa chaos, we opted for the $60 three-course route. The tomato soup was a solid opener--comforting, no notes. The burrata was... fine. It felt like it was one good drizzle of something sweet away from being memorable, but it never quite got there. Then the mains showed up and completely changed the tone of the evening. The burger and the gnocchi? Unreal. Like "briefly stop talking to your friends mid-sentence" good. Easily the highlight. Dessert was an empanada that landed squarely in the "we're already full but let's be polite" category. It did its job, but the stars had already been earned earlier. Shoutout to our server, Amanda--absolute legend. Cool, knowledgeable, and casually working on a full tattoo bodysuit, which somehow made me feel like I showed up to dinner wildly underachieving. She was fantastic. Bonus points: parking downtown was easy, and it wasn't packed, which felt like winning twice. All in all, Pangaea is a great spot--just a few tweaks away from 5 stars, but definitely worth the visit (and the gnocchi alone is reason enough to go back).

Wanted something comforting and filling on this cold day.... Got the pabellon to go and it was…read morepacked nicely and was still piping hot when I got home. Friendly and fast service, they even graciously subbed out the sweet plantains for savory when I asked. Everything was flavorful, fresh and came with choice of sauces. I will def be back to try some of the speciality dishes that looked amazing ...and I'm posting their lunch specials for anyone that is on the lookout for a great lunch out. This is going to sound silly but they have a really good burger on the menu too! Go check them out!

We came to the physical store front around noon on a Thursday. I appreciated that one of the staff…read moremembers gave us physical menus to look at versus using the large digital screens to determine what we wanted. My husband ordered Carne Mechada Arepa and said it was absolutely delicious, very savory and tender beef. He had added on avocado for 2 dollars which itself was very reasonably priced based on the amount of avocado gave however, this item overall is smaller than he would have anticipated. I ordered Arroz Con Carne Mechada with a side of their cilantro sauce. I was very satisfied with the whole meal as the meat was flavorful, there was plenty of cheese, and the cilantro sauce just put everything over the top. I will say pricing wise, I was given a much bigger portion that matched a bit more the price point compared to my husband. I am aware with small business it may be hard pricing wise, but I do think with my husband's meal, it could have at least come with a side of rice included to round out the dish. Overall the food was great quality and the staff were nice and helpful. I would come back to try additional menu items.

Iykyk..in case you don't..out for dinner and it was an enjoyable one with delicious food. This was…read morea repeat visit as I wanted to share experience with visiting family member. I enjoyed chicken with salad and fries, empanadas was the appetizer. Ember is always a good vibe. First dining on patio which was nice. Ty was our amazing server and he was friendly and ensured we were well taken care of.

Good Food!! Service Good…read moreAmbiance setting is great if you are cold natured you may want to take a little shall or light jacket I always get the half chicken with the house rice delicious