What happened??!! Just got there and it's closed!! Signs off!! This hurts my soulll!! Hands down…read morethe best Puerto Rican food in south Florida

In short : Come for the authentic Puerto Rican comida and stay for the beautiful atmosphere…read more It was my father's birthday and I wanted to take him for Puerto Rican food. He is Puerto Rican :) and we do cook some but not all of it . Anyway... Backstory: Chef Iram Ayala was born and raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico. This is considered Jibaro territory and they are known to be great cooks ! He has worked in many high end hotels such at The Breakers, Ritz Carlton etc. He started in the Hollywood farmers market and his comida became so popular that he opened this restaurant in honor of his grandmother Sara. Wela is short for Abuela which means grandmother in Spanish . Atmosphere: it's a tiny space located directly off Hollywood blvd but hard to miss because of the colorful storefront. Inside it feels as if you are stepping in Puerto Rico. Taino artwork is all over the walls ( Taínos are the indigenous people that all Puerto Ricans descended from). It's breathtaking. Appetizer: We ordered beef empanadillas (what Ricans call empanadas ) , Alcapurrias, and croquetas de mofongo. The empanadillas were fresh and came with a mayo ketchup sauce. Alcapurrias are specific to PR cuisine and they are a plantain fritter stuffed with whatever meat you desire . We had beef and they disappeared instantly . The croquetas stole the show in my opinion. They are unique in that they are made out of mofongo, stuffed with cheese (or whatever you want ) and served with a guava salsa. They were fire! Get these! Dinner: My father had the chuletas with arroz con gondules , my son and nephew both had steak and I had a pernil mofongo. Let me just take a moment to say this mofongo was probably one of the best I've had in a looonnngggg time . It wasn't dry.. it was so flavorful and the pernil was amazing. I had to stop myself for eating it all. Everyone liked their meats but the arroz con gondules was a bit lacking . It could've had more gondules and some green olives and/or pork. I'm used to My dad and Abuelita making it so flavorful so my standards are high on that side dish. For dessert we had the homemade tres leches . It was light , almost too light . Service was good.. our waitress was very nice. Overall I would definitely come back again.. Especially when they have their live music .

Authentic unpretentious Puerto Rican food! I have the shrimp mofongo and absolutely loved it! My…read morego-to going forward!

Hidden Gem Alert!! This spot might not be on everyone's radar yet, but it definitely should be! I…read morestopped by with my mom and was blown away by how good everything was. I ordered the Pechuga a la Criolla mofongo, and wow--what a dish! The portion was super generous, packed with tender, flavorful chicken all the way to the bottom of the bowl. Every bite was delicious! My mom ordered the carne frita mofongo but I loved mine more!! Lol. Her's was good too if you prefer that type of meat. I also got a side of alcapurria, and it was piping hot, clearly made fresh. Crispy on the outside, perfectly seasoned on the inside... Absolutely hit the spot! The lady at the counter was kind and patient, answering all my questions since I wasn't familiar with a few of the menu items. Her helpfulness made the experience even better. This place feels like one of those underrated treasures you're lucky to stumble upon, and I can't wait to go back! Very authentic vibes inside... Loved it!

The worst mofongo ever. We got sick off of this food. They never explained that it had yucca and…read moreplantain in it. Now I know why it looked strangely white. The family in front of me got two of the exact same orders right away. They made me wait 20 minutes while they filled orders for other people. I wouldn't take another bite if you paid me to. They are the first food stall when you enter the food station.

Such awesome service and delicious food today! Very flavorful rice, mofongo, and pork! I'm going to…read morebe craving it

El Tamarindo Café -- Fort Lauderdale's Best-Kept Latin Secret…read moreIf you haven't been to El Tamarindo Café on State Road 84, you're missing one of Fort Lauderdale's true hidden gems. This place is the real deal -- a family-owned Latin American restaurant that covers all the bases, from Cuban and Argentine classics to Salvadoran, Honduran, and Mexican-inspired dishes, all under one roof. The menu is a love letter to Latin cuisine. The churrasco is cooked to perfection, the ceviche is bright and fresh, and the palomilla steak is everything you'd want it to be -- tender, well-seasoned, and surprisingly affordable. The seafood is a standout too; they name their fish dishes by the actual fish, which tells you everything about the care and honesty they bring to the kitchen. What really sets El Tamarindo apart is the atmosphere. White tablecloths, warm service, and a dining room that feels like someone actually put thought into making you comfortable. The drinks are reasonably priced and happy hour is a great way to start the evening. Owner Alex runs a tight ship, and it shows in every plate that comes out of that kitchen. Whether you're dropping in for a casual lunch or settling in for a full dinner with the family, this spot delivers every time. Highly recommend. Fort Lauderdale is lucky to have it.

Amazing food service wonderful staff very clean restaurant just a amazing place come in an stop byread more

DELICIOUS!! I stopped here and picked up white rice, beans and police and also ordered carne asada…read more everything was soooo good! Well seasoned!! Definitely pleased!

This is a nice little spot that has more towards to go food, as the name implies. There are tables…read moreon the side to eat at though but this is mostly a cafeteria setup. This place is a perfect spot to grab some quick food to go. The portions are huge for the price they charge. They have different items depending on the day and they offer both breakfast and lunch items. The also have some coffee that is great for a little pick me up in the afternoon. The food was all pretty good but a little on the saltier side for my taste. But overall, a great spot to grab a quick bite.

This quaint shack is very cute and small. The staff is nice and welcoming. The food is delicious…read more The pizza is definitely something to fill up on. I dont come to Hollywood but this is one place to bring you to Hollywood.

Amazing food, party atmosphere, great location in downtown Hollywood!…read more Great Food: This was my first experience having Dominican food and I am glad it was. The food was authentic and had EXCELLENT flavor! The presentation was also pleasantly surprising. - Steak Mofongo- Mofongo (Fried green plantain mashed) wrapped with tender steak and topped with a creamy garlic sauce. Out of this world. The flavors were authentic, robust, and the presentation was beautiful. You can tell they really enjoy cooking and plating their dishes. - Creamy Shrimp and Lobster Mofongo- Mofongo served with a creamy garlic shrimp and lobster sauce. This dish was bursting with flavor. The savory, creamy, garlic shrimp and lobster sauce was absolutely delicious. I enjoyed every bite. - Fried snapper- Whole Fried snapper served with tostones (Fried green plaintain). The fish was well seasoned, crunchy on the outside, and tender and flaky on the inside. Seating: -  Large restaurant with lots of tables, large bar, and a big dance floor. This place is definitely meant to be a party atmosphere. Since they are new to this location they are currently trying to pick up a vibe so it wasn't overly packed with people. The music is a mix of hip hop, reggaeton, dancehall, and soca. Fun atmosphere with great Latin and Caribbean vibes. Parking: - Street meter parking or there is a nearby parking garage. Staff: - Friendly and accomodating. The only downfall for me is that they do not speak English. If you do not have someone dining with you that speaks Spanish it is very hard to communicate your needs and order food. Nevertheless, they are very friendly and helpful. COVID 19 Regulations: - Some staff members wear masks. They clean and sanitize after each customer. Overall: - Great experience. Excellent food. Fun party vibes and great music. They definitely have my business.

I stopped by Mama's Latin Cafe for a quick bite to break up my day and really loved it. The…read moreatmosphere was cozy and refreshing, especially in a time where every place feels overly "aesthetic." This spot felt original and welcoming exactly as it is. No fuss, just good energy. The cafecito was amazing, and I loved that she stirred it at the table, right before pouring it into the little cup. The ham croquetas were EXACTLY how I like them: flavorful, crispy, and not bland or greasy at all. I also got a guava y queso pastelito and it was delicious too. I honestly didn't even really look through the rest of the menu, but I loved the place and will definitely be back to try more quick bites every time I'm in the area.

This place was really nice. Great service. But I felt the portions were a bit small. It's a very…read morecute place mom and pop. I ordered the ropa vieja with rice, beans and salad tomato and lettuce. My son had the soup. I might try this place for the sandwiches.

Stopped by here before we went to the airport to try some Cuban food in the area. This place did…read morenot disappoint! The service was quick, and we got seated quickly. With 4 servers, they got our orders pretty quickly. The location was nice and had a great ambiance, with locals enjoying a nice Monday lunch. We ordered the Breaded Ham Paste, and I got the Roast Pork for lunch, while she got the Fish Fillet. The pork was tender, the rice was delicious, and the appetizers were spot on. I tried some of her fish, and it was quite tender and good as well. Overall, this place was great; I definitely will come back in the future and try more options!

I WISH I would have taken a picture but we immediately dug in. SOOOOOOO good…read more I ordered ropa vieja and my mom ordered the tamale de lechon. The food was amazing and the service was even better. We got complimentary garlic bread. I'm sad I'm visiting from out of town and not able to get this more often.

Food was delicious! I definitely recommend and we'll go again. I got the beef and chicken…read moreempanadas. Both were good.

La Guajira is a quaint little neighborhood place. There atmosphere/vibe is very folksy and the…read morestaff friendly. The food is delicious, authentic Cuban kitchen. The prices while not super cheap, are better than most Latin places in Broward County.

Cruise Terminal 25 was where our cruise ship, Celebrity Ascent departed from. I must say it is an…read moreexcellent cruise terminal and is very organized and well run. I recommend you arrive early to avoid the crowds and to enjoy the boarding experience to the fullest. Ambiance is excellent and security is quick and efficient. Your photo is taken prior to you boarding which will be your ID when your card is scanned so come looking presentable for the optimal appearance. 5 stars and a thank you to Cruise Terminal 25!