Got a meal thanks to the too good to go app. Large portion of rice and chicken. The chicken was good. Not too dry. And I really like the plantain. Big. Good for a party or large friend group. The food is excellent. read more

The food was good. If you have tons of time to wait for your food this is the place to go. I guess they make it literally from scratch. The amount of time to get it to the table is at least 45 minutes. The flavor and seasoning is on point. The ambience was ok. I would recommend they decorate the table with glass cups which retain the smell of grease, less. It was so distracting to turn the metal cup around after serving myself water. To be distracted by the smell of grease on the cup. I smelled all the cups on the table and they all smelled the same way. The staff members try to do their best, but it is not a 5 star service if you are expecting that. It is ok.. I would go back with lots of time (not hungry) and ask for bottled water. read more

Great food Very tasty served Hot and elegant GREAT alcoholic drinks Great Fast service and cool decor and clean. read more

At the recommendation of a few friends who recently visited, we made this our first lunch stop to kick off a mini vacation in VB. I'm not usually a piña colada girl, but something about it sounded right--and I'm so glad I went for it. Hands down, it was one of the best piña coladas I've ever had! We started with a spicy beef empanada and a chicken empanada. Both were tasty, but if I had to pick a favorite, the spicy beef wins. The dough was crispy, though I personally would've preferred it a little less so--it leaned more crunchy than flaky, likely from being fried just a touch too long. For our main, we shared the pernil with Spanish rice. The meat was tender and flavorful, and the rice complemented it perfectly. The only downside--and the reason I knocked off a star--was a menu discrepancy. When the bill came, our drinks were $2 more than what was listed. I would've mentioned it, but with a slight language barrier, it felt tricky to explain in the moment. Hopefully the pricing issue gets corrected soon so future guests don't run into the same surprise. Overall, delicious food, great drinks, and a solid spot to kick off our trip! read more

La Yaroa Tropical Restaurant - Pernil w Spanish rice - Puerto Rican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

You'll love this restaurant if you enjoy waiting an hour for cold chicken. Wanted to try some Puerto Rican after hours of traveling.We were all starving, unfortunately La Yaroa left us disappointed. The hostess was very friendly in greeting us, and we were seated right away. However after being seated, it took us nearly 15 minutes to be helped by the server and given water. We put in our orders and waited no joke, 45 minutes, to receive a cold meal. The meats on all 3 of our plates were chilly and both the criollo chicken mofongo and pernill were bland. They sat us in a dingy room that looked as though it were an old church basement. The walls were bare, and the tables had table cloths on them that I'm sure are barely washed. There were fans on, echoing the whole room in a WHHHUURRRing sound, until they turned on music, then we couldn't even hear ourselves think. We suspect they did this to drown out the taste of the food and make you forget you've been waiting 3 business days for your meal. They are bilingual, which is good! They tried decorating the tables, with some fake flowers. The bar was playing diverse options, with women's wrestling and Little House on the Prairie. The price was not worth it for the quality of the food, delayed service, and ambiance. read more

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Had a craving for mofongo so I picked a random spot to order. More expensive than what I'm used to for the serving of chicken but the flavors of the dish and the mofongo were on point and delicious. I'm hoping dining in you get more sauce because the to-go order there wasn't enough sauce. read more

La Yaroa Tropical Restaurant - MOFONGO/Pollo en salsa criolla/ Chicken in criollo sauce - Puerto Rican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

My fiancé and I were looking to try a new spot and found this place. For a late Saturday afternoon it wasn't busy, but people quickly started coming in! We were told it was happy hour so we tried their margaritas which was tasty. We got the chicken and cheese empanadas and they were great!! I got the chicken in garlic sauce mofongo and it was so good!! I got it with the green and sweet plantains. My fiancé got the chicken with Puerto Rican rice. It was really good!! I'll have to try it next time. The service was great, the waitress took her time explaining menu options and making recommendations. read more

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What a fantastic spot for local Puerto Rican food! Started off with a spicy chicken empanada that was crunchy and incredibly flavorful. The chicken had a pleasant kick to it too I also got the pork chop mofongo and absolutely loved it. The pork chop was crispy and had plenty of spices and bold flavors. It was my first time trying mofongo and I really enjoyed the plantain and how well it complemented the pork chops! read more

La Yaroa Tropical Restaurant - MOFONGO/Chuleta/ Pork Chops - Puerto Rican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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La Yaroa Tropical is a great spot for brunch, lunch and dinner. They also have what looks like a festive scene on the weekends with a DJ and club atmosphere, it is on my list to try it out soon! As far as their daytime menu, they have a full bar but are very family friendly and their food is fresh and flavorful. They have Puerto Rican and Caribbean staples on the menu as well as some solid American classics with Latin twists. I am slowly making my way through the menu, everything so far has been tasty and plentiful. Their bar tender is skilled and they offer non alcoholic as well. There really is something for everyone here and it is a great date spot or family dining option. Enjoy! read more

La Yaroa Tropical Restaurant - MOFONGO/ Mix Mariscos a la Criolla/ Mix Seafood in Creole Sauce - Puerto Rican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Food has Delicious flavor! Very nice wait staff. Music makes a nice evening. Will come back.

Authentic Hispanic restaurant if you're looking for Dominican / Puerto Rican food, you need to stop in. Service is amazing. My Wife always gets pollo guisado arroz con gandules. Never fails. Maduros are always amazing. They have a variety of empanadas. Every option is delicious. Just stop in for delicious authentic meal. You won't be disappointed. read more

La Yaroa Tropical Restaurant - Puerto Rican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

The food? Excellent. Flavor? On point -- no complaints there. However, customer service from our waitress not impressed lack of customer service IQ and it took 55 minutes for our food to be served. As well, the restaurant can't run on taste alone. Unfortunately, management lacks a solid sense of customer service, and the front-of-house team shows very little customer service IQ. When the kitchen falls behind -- and it does -- the entire operation crumbles. No communication. No accountability. Just long waits and frustrated customers. Let's be real: the restaurant business is a balanced recipe of food quality, customer service, and strong management. Miss one, and it all falls flat. Word of advice? Don't come here on a Friday or Saturday after 6 PM -- it's simply not worth the headache, no matter how good the food is. Management you did not show up to face is for your lack of customer service IQ. Must improve. You lost our business next time we are in town. read more

So many friends have told me about this Puerto Rican/Dominican restaurant and I was finally able to visit with a friend. Service by Brian was fantastic. He was super friendly and patient with all our questions. The food came out in a respectable amount of time in a very pleasing visual arrangement my friend had the mofongo with the grilled chicken breast. He loved the flavor and how moist it was. My pernil was juicy and full of flavor. The rice was slightly dry. Be wary of the upselling. The "Assumptive close" was in full effect. Don't assume the different types of rice they are offering are included in the main you ordered. I wasn't mad at them but at myself for not asking "does that cost extra?" Definitely coming back to try their other dishes. read more

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5 yrs ago when I was first introduced to this restaurant, the food was amazing and the service was not so great. 5yrs later, service is great and the food is soooo salty. Not sure who is the cook, but they have to ease up on the adobo. I ordered chicharron de pollo with moro de gandules and a side of beans..I also ordered my 14month son pechurina, which is breaded chicken strips with white rice and beans... I tasted his food first and did not feel safe giving him those salty chicken strips. i then tasted my chicken chunks and they were salty too. Prices are getting higher, food getting saltier, but service is getting better. Idk what happened to this place, but it will most likely be my last time coming to this restaurant, sad to say. read more

I popped in for a quick stop for some lunch. La Yaroa Tropical Restaurant (LYTR) is quite large with 2 connecting spaces. From what I have observed on social media, I think they use one of the spaces as a lounge in darker hours. - Parking- Private lot, but spaces are very limited. - Noms- My dining partner and I opted to get an app and one main to share, as I have found that typically, Puerto Rican food, tends to be generous portions, served with a lot of the starches which are very heavy and filling. The lady who took care of us was super sweet and made some great recommendations. Alcapurria - this is a stuffed yuca fritter. It comes in a long shape, tasted deep fried and had a very flavorful ground meat stuffing inside. I could have had another one, but then I think I would not have made it to the mofongo. Camarones en salsa criolla with mofongo - the shrimps were delicious, I just wish they were slightly a bit bigger with more bite. The sauce was flavorful and added some moisture to the mofongo. The presentation transported me back to the island with the orchid flower on top! LYTR had been on my list for awhile, so I'm really glad I got to check it off the list! Enjoy, Friends and go out and support! #LatinXOwned read more

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We walked in and asked for a table for 5. The man at the door became a bit stressed and walked away, got up hr table ready and came back and said "let's go". I guess that means "your table is right this way". Then we sat down and ordered drinks and food. The he drinks came in 5 min. The food came in 40 minutes. Our waitress seemed new and inexperienced which is fine but I was explaining basic preferences to her and had to repeat things multiple times. The rest room was clean. There were other patrons there that had arrived before us and were still waiting for food. The food was a 5 out of 10. I ordered the pollo guisado mofongo and she asked me what side I wanted and I said white rice and beans. The sides never came. They charged my 7 year old $15 for a virgin daiquiri from the kids menu. Once I was able to find the waitress and ask her to fix it, she fixed it. She disappeared a lot throughout the meal. We did not get ketchup or basic condiments to go with our $100 meal. We will not even pass through again. read more

This place seems to be a restaurant that converts to a nightclub. For me, what was a damper was the sticky tables, noisy music and the wait to get served. Once service came along it was ok. I get it, hire those who seem to have a yearning to work, but at least train the servers/waitresses properly. I asked if the meal was accompanied by a side salad and was told yes. What I got was a huge salad and charged for it. Also, If I order appetizers, don't bring them out after you have brought me the main course. Food was ok, beans were Luke warm. But the oil that fried the patty was dirty. Zoom in on the pic I posted and you can see a piece of something on it. Sorry, but not impressed at all. Would still give them another shot, just to be fair. Very ok to me read more

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Very flavorful food great customer service. We will definitely be back. The pork is soo good!! read more

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It was my first time checking out La Yaroa Tropical and honestly it made me very happy. Being Puerto Rican myself, I love finding a place that can represent my culture right! The atmosphere, the music, and most importantly the FOOD! There was a lot on the menu that sounded amazing but I decided to get the Tripleta sandwich with a side of maduros. (I simply can't pass up maduros) Tripleta means triple which simply means 3 meats (Pernil, Pastrami and Virginia ham). For dessert, I got Tres Leche (meaning 3 milks) a spongy sweet cake. The waitress was nice and attentive. She also mentioned that Fridays and Saturdays it turns into a club where they have a DJ and that's it's a really good time so maybe one day I will have to check it. I will definitely be back. read more

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So much food, but not enough room in my belly. Overall, I had a great dining experience for lunch at La Yaroa. Upon walking into the restaurant, I saw that about 90% of the customers were Latino, which suggested that the food was going to be legit and authentic. For my dining pleasure, I ordered the pernil with a chicken empanada. Since I was in starvation mode, I considered ordering another side to go with my entree, but I was glad that I did not because the pernil and Puerto Rican rice portions were HUGE. I mean, the plate had a mountain of rice (with beans embedded). While the pernil did not disappoint, I wish that I requested a bit of skin to go with the dish. I really wanted to try a dessert (in particular the tres leches), but I was far too full to even think about eating anything else. *I was still pretty full 3.5 hrs after eating my meal.* My waiter (tall, skinny guy) was very friendly and did not leave me waiting for anything. The prices are a bit above average for the area, but I guess that is fine considering the amount of food that you'll receive. The only downside to my meal was the restaurant did not have mojitos, which I thought was kind of strange for a Caribbean restaurant. But hey, these things tend to happen from time to time. I definitely plan to return and try out some other things on their menu. read more

La Yaroa Tropical Restaurant - Pernil and Puerto Rican Rice. - Puerto Rican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Disappointed to say the least Quality and taste wasn't there and the service was terrible read more

With expansion and growth comes more great food, drinks, and fun times !!!! Yes, now in the evenings you can also enjoy some dancing music by various DJ's playing Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Reggeton, Tropical, Cumbia's, and top hits. While your taking a breather they have hookahs available in certain seating areas which can be reserved for regular seating and VIP. Do call to enquire on pricing for group specials. Alejandra and Orlando have come so far in getting their authentic Puerto Rican and Dominican restaurant ready for everyone's enjoyment and pleasure. If your not familiar with some of their dishes available, do not hesitate to ask for they will gladly explain them to you and suggest some meals to your likings. With great dishes like the Petacon, Pernil, Arroz con Gandules, Arroz Blanco, Frijoles, Mofongo, Chicharron, Chuletas, Tostones, Sancocho, Empanadas, Pollo Guisado, Carne Frita, Alcapurrias, Yuca, Trifongo, Costillas, Sweet and Green Plantains, Churrasco, Costillas, El Paisa, Tortas, Yaroa Hot Dogs, fresh made bread daily, desserts such as Pastel Tres Leches, Flancocho, and Quesito to name a few. Do check their Facebook for updates on their daily specials and for the evening activities. read more

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Everything was Delicoups. very timely. nice ambiance. friendly service! Brought me back to my childhood I tell all my friends about this little hidden gem!!! read more

I ordered to go and cannot comment on the ambiance or the servers. However the food...meh. Listen I grew up on Spanish food. I've eaten at every cuchifrito in NYC and all over PR...the food here was expensive with small portions. I ordered pernil and had to ask for cuero (usually that's standard...everyone wants cuero if you know you know) anyways. It was a little dry and had no.,...sabor no flavor just meh, and the cuero was rubbery no crisp nothing and again no flavor. Usually for pernil you make these deep pockets and stuff them with garlic and oregano and sazon and salt and all the good stuff...seems like they skipped all that. I will say I also offered the yuca and that was delicious! But not with the typical pickled onions...this was different. Almost like Spain Spanish food instead of el caribe? Idk. Would I come back again...maybeeeee I would like to taste the mofongo to see if it's up to par but other than that...nah I'll just cook my Spanish food at home. read more

I normally don't even take pictures after I've started eating. It ruins the look of the photo right? Nothing (and I mean nothing) can ruin the way I felt about this meal. The Mofongo with shrimp sauted in criollo sauce/Mofongo de Camarones en Salsa Criolla. If you are religious, it's heavenly. If you're atheist, it's damn good. If you're anywhere in between, go try it. read more

La Yaroa Tropical Restaurant - Mofongo with shrimp sauted in criollo sauce/Mofongo de Camarones en Salsa Criolla - Puerto Rican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Last time I ordered it was good all around. This time ordered everything was good ....until they gave me burnt alcapurrias...... Cmon noone checked it before it was sent out? It was like biting into charcoal. Yelp app wont let me post a photo. Ill do it later...but cmon now read more

This place will surprise you! Outside looking in - you would never think to stop here for food! Let me tell you... the food was TOP TIER!! If you're looking for tasty authentic Puerto Rican food, this is by far one of the best places to go. read more

Nothing like being seated in a near empty restaurant. Except for numerous, antsy behaving bar patrons, over-waiting for drink & food, the place is struggling. I get a drink of water 15 minutes later. I order 10 more minutes later. At :35 of waiting for what I'm now Knowing will be subpar food, otherwise it'd be packed, I see my server sneaking in some food as she exits the kitchen, laughing with her other co-workers, who also are delivering infinitude's of indifference. The ambiance is quite simply "we don't give a flying crap whether this place shuts down forever or not. Don't bother. read more

Very interesting place! But would go back to try their food during lunch or definetly before 7 pm. Want it to experience some salsa dancing as per some reviews.! Saturday... no salsa music. All reggaeton, which is fine if you want that kinda music but! For a place so small. The club wanna be feeling does not work. $20 cover charge. End up leaving after ordering some food. Music was so loud that could not stand to be a minute longer. Our server, appeared to be in a rush. Nd up ordering a picada from the apps menu. Food arrived and was asked to pay ion the spot. I would not recommend this place after 9 pm. read more

Outstanding service and super delicious food. Pricing was more than fair. Lunch specials is where it's at. Highly recommended this place if you're in the area and looking for a good Hispanic atmosphere along with authentic Dominican and Puerto Rican food! read more

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Their cooking is authentic and reminds me of food I eat at home, I've never had a bad experience with taste; however, they have a tendency to forget DoorDash items so pick it up yourself or dine in if you can read more

Met some friends for lunch here today. Seating was quick. Waitress made some great recommendations. I will definitely be back. read more

La Yaroa Tropical Restaurant - Mofongo with our chicken in criollo sauce - Puerto Rican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Tried this place yesterday and it felt like the old Puerto Rican spot back home in Connecticut. Very welcoming staff and the place is cute inside(full bar). We ordered the arroz con gandules with pernil and a side of beans. Beef empanadas and the pollo Yaroa. Everything was great, great taste and portions. Will definitely come back to try more items or to get the same thing. ha! read more

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Sticky tables and slow service. Food did not make up for it. Go somewhere else for Puerto Rican food.

Love this place and love the service. They are always friendly, happy and welcomin. Drinks and food are amazing it reminds me of home so much. 10/10 recommend read more

My daughter and I came out to VA to visit my son and h took us out to this restaurant. From when we walked in I new it was going to be good. I got the Mofongo with chicken and garlic sauce and the stuffed yuca ball with chicken. Wow. It was delicious and the portions were huge. Definitely coming back next time we are in the city. read more

La Yaroa Tropical Restaurant - Mofongo wirh chicken in garlic sauce - Puerto Rican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Good service, nice ambiance for a Sunday lunch. Bryean was our server and he was great. Spouse and I stopped by. He got the Tripleta sandwich and I had the Patacón sandwich. Tripleta was delicious. 4.6/5 (per said spouse). I had a bite and would get it for myself next time. The Patacon was steak, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes sandwiched between sweet fried plantain. Oily, yes, but so filling and so tasty. Would come back again when we are in the area. read more

They never have a complete menu. When they first opened they were good although it has always taken a long time for the food preparation but it was worth it. Now it feels like short cuts are being taken in the kitchen and not as authentic as it could be. read more

The food was amazing, the service was good but not great it seemed like they were short staffed but the food makes up for it and great food presentation. I well highly recommend this place. read more

It was my first time here trying this place out. The inside looks very nice and they even have a cute little outdoor seating area. I was a little disappointed that the menu had various drink items but only had water, coke, and sprite. Service was slow but the workers were friendly and helpful. The food was delicious and very fulling! However, I thought the meat portions were small. I would recommend this place to anybody who is looking for great authentic puerto rican food. Menu had alot of food options to pick from and the prices were average restaraunt food prices ranging from about $18-30 per person. read more

La Yaroa Tropical Restaurant - Puerto Rican Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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