What's not to like in this unpretentious Columbian restaurant that serves food with superb quality,…read morebreads and pastries that are mouth-watering, and service was impeccable. Our lady server was so personable and always answered our questions with a big smile. We met the owner who was as friendly as his staff! Excellent service is always a plus! The food was well-cooked down to its bananas and arepas! This restaurant is highly recommended and they close at 10 pm most days, so if you're still out and about at a later time, this is definitely a good place to get some delicious food! Order the platters! It's like getting the best of the varieties. Get the ham and cheese roll or the buñuelos and the pastrSo good!

First time at a Colombian restaurant with a couple friends who like to explore a different foods…read more We tried empanadas, chorizo, and then got a large meat platter, which had steak, chicken, pork and chorizo along with french fries and baked ground potatoes, it was four people, and the three of us could not finish it, and would feed5. Overall, the food was OK, the presentation of the fish at another table looked very nice, but the style of food is not really seasoned and so it's a relatively non-gastronomic meal but you leave feeling full. Maybe I expected more because I like Mexican and Thai food, but went into it with an open mind. It was clear that a lot of local Latinas went there, and that is a good sign that it fits the cultural expectation. So if you are Latina and know what to expect it is a good restaurant to try

This spot is casual, and cool. The food is delicious and the service was really nice. Very…read morewelcoming and attentive.

Should be 2 stars. But the food was absolutely fantastic, couldn't put it down…read more My problem was that when we went to pick it up, it took 45 minutes to get there with traffic (which is fine), but when I went in the owner or manager said "it will be another 15 or 20 minutes". When I said "are you serious?" He said "if you have a problem with that cancel, it doesn't matter to me." I'm sure there were mobile orders I could not see, but on that particular night there were 13 people in the restaurant by my pickup. All said and done, food was great but they forgot their signature green sauce across the board, even though we had asked for it specifically (outside of what came with it). So about 65 minutes to get great food, with a manager who could care less.

This was our third visit to El Familiar. Today was Father's Day 2026…read more First, my daughter had made reservations for 15. They didn't hesitate. We showed up at 12:30 pm. We were seated almost immediately. The restaurant had just a few tables occupied. The restaurant was clean, quiet and our seating was spacious. We were promptly attended to. Second, we were given a Father's Day menu which was a very abbreviated version of their usual menu. Our server was quick to point out that if there was anything we wanted that was on the normal menu that we remembered, all we had to do was ask. We were delighted. We placed our drink orders. We were given plenty of time to review the menu and discuss what else we might want from the regular menu. We placed our orders. The wait for our meals was commensurate with the number of people. The food arrived piping hot. Everyone was served within minutes. The food was absolutely delicious and the portions enormous. I ordered 2 appetizers thinking they were going to be reasonable. I fed most of the table while still having enough for myself. Needless to say, to-go containers were necessary. Last, I want to say again that this was my and my wife's third visit. Each time we were served and attended to by Danna (?). I can't say enough positive things about her. She was attentive, friendly, warm, patient and very happy and helpful. She was very accepting even though I was doing my best with my high school Spanish. For my wife and me, I will ask for Danna to be our server and will be as much of a regular patron as possible. I would highly recommend El Familiar. You can't beat the ambiance, food quality and service.

Visited this restaurant with my family and we all loved the food. There were so many options on the…read moremenu and all were delicious. They even have a drink menu with fruit juices that are a must try. The service was great, waitress was very kind and patient especially with my newborn being there. The ambiance was nice, families were present. I'd definitely come back.

Great food, Especially the skirt steak, rice and beans. Service was really great and the place was…read moredecorated extremely well. Wasn't a fan of my drink which was a limeade but that's personal preference! Will definitely be back again!

Fyi they automatically add an 18% gratuity whether u get takeout or eat inside. In this…read moreeconomy......yea no. U can't force customers to leave 18% gratuity. Also I added up getting a fruit juice that had a rotten taste to it & I told the waitress I can't drink it so she got me a lemonade instead, when I got the bill she still charged me for both drinks & the waitress reason was it's not their fault I did not like the drink & she's got to charge me regardless. Never been to a restaurant that makes u pay for something that could have gone rotten. Never coming back.

As a Salvadoran, the spot opening up was a blessing! Very few spots through Monmouth/ocean county…read moreso this is a gem for sure! The service was great, went around 12 so they had a small lunch rush but nonetheless, they delivered. The servers checked on us throughout the whole time. I believe the owner also stopped by our table and was very attentive as well. The decor is nice and they have a nice set up for sitting. Overall, the food was great. The drinkers were a little on the sweeter side. Definitely would like to try more dishes in the future.

A Salvadorian restaurant in town? How did I miss this place for so long?…read more Pupusas are the name of the game here, which is no surprise since it's El Salvador's #1 favorite food. Essentially a masa (corn) flour "pancake", filled with various meats, veggies, or cheese, then griddled. The ones here are served with a side of curtido (a mildly fermented slaw) and salsa roja. I've had three varieties since first coming here, and I'd have a hard time picking a favorite - they're all delicious! Prices are incredibly fair at ~$8.50-10 for a set of 3 pupusas at the time of this review, and are more than enough food to fill an average person up for a hearty lunch or dinner. For those uninterested in pupusas, the menu also boasts a wide range of dishes, soups, tortas (sandwiches), and tamals, as well as a hot bar of what I assume are daily specials. Of these, I've had the chicken tamal, which was moist and well filled. The owners are really friendly, and the restaurant itself is kept really clean, with tons of seating for large parties. Nothing too fancy, I'd call the ambiance very 'casual', like your average Chinese takeout dining room. They do spruce things up a bit with festive wall art, flags, and a video of the streets & sights of El Salvador, which I found a nice touch. Very good, very affordable, and a real hidden gem. Absolutely worth a try, and a place I'll be back to for sure.

Have no idea how we never tried La Casona in the years my spouse worked nearby or how we missed it…read morein Yelp searches. Well we fixed that as of last night and wow did we have a tasty experience. Bryan, our server, made sure we were ordering in the best way possible to ensure our return trip. So many tasty dishes to choose from and we had both narrowed down to two which Bryan explained and guided us on. Ironically my dish per a Google AI search was the most enjoyed dish. Funny, AI can now even help summarize all the Google reviews and to distill it down for us in seconds. So on this Friday evening after work, here's what we ordered... we start off with a mango margarita which we shared and this was over ice not frozen in a properly salted glass and boy did it taste awesome. We started off with an appetizer of the.Pastelillos Boricuas (3 pieces), it was for us cooked to perfection. It was not over fried. The meat was tender. It was tasty. It was. The crust was soft, even though it had some crispness to it, and I would absolutely start with these again. For our mains, my wife had the Ropa Vienna Platter and she absolutely loved it and reminded her of her time down in Miami for school and getting local Cuban or Caribbean or Puerto Rican food and this just hit it for her. For me I followed my Google AI search... The standout, highly-rated dish at La Casona Restaurante & Bar in Hamilton is their Trifongo. Customers rave about this signature item, often ordered with Churrasco A La Criolla (skirt steak in a flavorful Creole sauce). This came in a wooden round bowl at first I thought it was a coconut shell. It was absolutely delicious moist tender tasty. Our whole dinner experience met exactly with what I was looking for when I told my wife I'm tired of our usual restaurants. I wanna try something different. I don't know what it is but it's a food group that we don't eat or don't eat often and that's how we found La Casona. They have a bar. There's a huge parking lot outback indoor outdoor dining. It's perfect for romantic night out for two as well as large groups. Note they have different pricing for cash paying versus credit card. Staff super friendly courteous the place is immaculately clean, and the food was scrumptious.

I believe we've ordered from here for office events, and we went for dinner one night as a group,…read moreand all of it has been great experience - the food and the service. It's a relatively unassuming space; we went during the week, so it wasn't super crowded, but we had a good time there together. I can't recall exactly what I ordered, but the shared items and drinks and food were all delicious, and I would be down to return! Hope to order again from them in the future, or to visit again!

Every time we go there, we are more than happy. It is excellent gives you plenty more than enough…read moreeven makes good BLT sandwiches for lunch good fajitas, tacos and bananas mini rice. She has lots of seafood. Also chef is wonderful. Good service very clean nice waitresses Margret and Margot and David have been there many times we continue to go. You must try it if there's something special you want and she can accommodate she'll be more than glad to must try it.!

Sorry to say that it wasn't as good as previous visits. My food wasn't hot, and the restaurant was…read morenot busy. My paella was supposed to be with shrimp, scallops, calamari & sausage but it had mostly a fish that was a terrible consistency. Avocado fries were still awesome.

Tried this for the first time last night. Shared blackened shrimp tacos and a side of sweet…read moreplantains. All was very good! Tacos were served on blue corn soft taco rounds. The jalapeño cream gave it a nice little kick. Shrimp was cooked perfectly, Plantains were delish. Sautéed so they had a little sweet catnelization on the edges. Will definitely go back to try some of the other interesting things in the menu.

This place is excellent! The food was fantastic and the owner was so lovely…read more favorite dishes: -ceviche mixto -sweet plantains -pork belly bao buns -fried flounder -spicy tuna crispy rice All really really yummy. We had two kids with us who are pretty picky, but the fried flounder was well-received. If I went again I might make other arrangements for the kids, but that's on my kids, not the restaurant. Oh, and get the tres leches cake. It's not optional. It was PHENOMENAL. Light and delicious!!

There should be long lines to eat here... although part of me wants to keep this gem a secret!…read moreAbsolutely delicious from start to finish, with an explosion of flavors in every bite. You can truly taste the freshness and care in every dish and sauce, all made in-house. The owner is incredibly kind and welcoming, greeting everyone with the warmest smile and making the whole experience feel special from the moment you walk in. We chose to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather, but the spacious indoor dining room was just as inviting, filled with incredible aromas that instantly set the stage for a memorable meal. We started with Dominican appetizers and fresh juices, then shared Ethiopian platters that were packed with flavor and perfect for the table. Everything was outstanding, unique, and clearly made with love. We're already looking forward to coming back!

First time here for dinner, the service could have been better. My order was not explained to me…read moreclearly by the server. I ordered the 3 vegetable combination. , which for $25 was a bit pricey, each portion of the vegetable mixture seemed like a bit larger than a spoonful or 2, with a bit of lettuce provided as a salad, no additional injera bread provided with an added cost. The added fee on the bill with no explanation, when we asked, our server did not know, but we all paid with cash, assuming it is the credit card fee places now feel they can charge, in addition to overcharging for food. In spite of my comments here, the food was tasty and healthy, earning it's overly generous 3 stars here by me. 4 of us for dinner, we asked for 3 separate checks, and the server did comply, but just put them down together, leaving it up to us to sort them out. As there were only 4 of us, and only 3 separate checks, the server could have put in the extra effort there.

I'm Colombian and my girl works nearby and she said they have the best Pandebonos .. and they sell…read moreout quickly Omg.. she was right.. esos pandebonos son riquísimos But dont even bother going at 12pm-- they're all gone All the warehouses nearby buy them in bulk

**NOTE: For me, Apple Maps has led me to the wrong location when I navigate. When in doubt, you can…read morenavigate to Nanami Sushi & Asian Cuisine in Jamesburg, NJ since it is to the left of Fogon Latino.** Had to provide an update because YEARS later it is still delicious and remains one of my favorite spots! I will weep if they ever close down. Their food is divine. Even their rice is somehow incredible. Their meat bursts with flavor and is tender. I don't order off of their menu; they just have a bunch of hot food buffet style and I just request what I want. I always get their rice with black beans on top. Menu items vary by day but these are common items and some of my favorites: chicken leg, beef ribs, yuka fries, and pork ribs. When I introduced this place to my boyfriend, he fell in love too. When I asked what he would do if it ever shut down, he said he would kidnap the ladies working there (joking, of course). But he did say seriously if he knew ahead of time he would be willing to pay for their recipes. The friendliness of service depends on who's serving you, but no one is rude. They're just straight to the point. The inside is always clean - I just never eat in there since I just pile a bunch of food in a takeout container and bring it home for several meals. My boyfriend can finish it in one go if he's starving though. I always get a takeout box to go, and tbh the only downside is I don't know how much it is until they check out. They don't weigh it either, but I'm sure they have some type of formula? A box is usually around $22 BUT that's with A LOT of food stashed in there that I ask for. It's worth it. Another thing is that their soups, while delicious, are overly salted like crazy! So I usually skip that. Or if you really want to try it, you can dilute it with water and reheat it. A hidden gem overall - Must try! Who would've knew a quiet strip mall can hold some of the best food I've ever had.