Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Latin Effect

    4.8 (13 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    The Latin Effect Photos

    Business Info

    THE LATIN EFFECT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    More like The Latin Effect

    Recommended Reviews - The Latin Effect

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Fried Pork Bites w/yucca fries, pickles onions, jalapeños, homemade slaw, Honduran cheese
    Will R.

    One of the better food trucks I've eaten from in the state. This truck produces great authentic cuisine with the best and most fresh ingredients. I've never had yucca in my life but decided for them. Completely blew it out of the park with how crispy the outside was and fluffy the inside of the yucca fry. Topped with fried pork bites....absolutely amazing. The carne asada loaded fries were full of flavor and some of the best guacamole I've had with it. The owners were very nice and couldn't have been more satisfied with the food.

    Menu. Tacos, enchiladas, baleadas, carne asada fries, taquitos.

    See all

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sam O.
    1
    318
    18

    7 months ago

    Great food, reasonable prices, and attentive service. The chips were hot, crispy, and fresh. I had one chicken and one cheese papusa.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Will R.
    217
    296
    2291

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 0
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - The Latin Effect

    You might also consider

    Luna Rotisserie & Tap Room

    Luna Rotisserie & Tap Room

    4.6
    (147 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Went here on a Saturday for an early-ish dinner. It was not busy when we arrived but got busier as…read morewe ate. The staff was so nice to our kids. We were celebrating a birthday and they added a candle to our dessert. The food was good and we enjoyed our experience. Will be back.

    Came on a Saturday mid day and it was pretty quiet. I've been wanting to try Luna for a while…read morebecause I've heard of it pretty often and I will say it did not disappoint. I got the two empanadas with aside and was able to try both the chicken and the pork. I think I liked the chicken a little bit more, but both of them were very good and the plantains were also very good. Not overly sweet, but also not super dry. I will say the parking is kind of annoying without parking space directly nearby. Had to park in the parking garage across the street. The server was very nice and mindful of waters and when we needed things. I will say almost $20 for a regular dish seemed very expensive but the food was pretty good so I would probably come back - just for the cheaper empanadas as they were pretty filling as it was. The one thing that kind of threw me off was how they set the table with their water cups upside down, touching the table. I wouldn't say that I'm a clean freak, but also that seems kind of gross to me because that's where my mouth is going to be... I'd probably do something different there myself. This definitely is more of a Chapel Hill / Carrboro money type of dining experience $$ but I'd be back on nicer occasions. The pastry on the empanadas were very good. Really liked the yuca Frits as well

    Photos
    Luna Rotisserie & Tap Room
    Luna Rotisserie & Tap Room
    Luna Rotisserie & Tap Room

    See all

    Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas

    Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas

    4.3
    (696 reviews)
    10.8 mi
    $$

    Came here after the Durham Farmers Market with a friend and wow this place was a surprise. …read more I went with the grain bowl and honestly it is one of the best I have had in downtown Durham. It is built on quinoa and rice with black beans and kale, then layered with corn salsa, tomato cortido, guacamole, and a creamy acevichado style sauce that pulls everything together. It is finished with a crunchy mix of pepitas, nuts, and grains. The balance is quite ideal in my view. My friend had the rotisserie chicken with two sides, kale and slaw, and it was just as impressive. Crispy skin, juicy inside, and really clean flavors. Simple food done right and GF friendly. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared. Prices land right where you would expect for the quality, roughly 16 to 21 dollars depending on what you order, and it feels worth it. My bowl plus side of dark chicken was plenty. A few notes. Parking is what you would expect for downtown, so plan accordingly. Service was solid and friendly, but nothing that stood out. The vibe inside is festive and relaxed, bright and open, and just a fun place to hang out for lunch. Porbably not a special occasion. I also suspect it could get loud when full. This is definitely going into my regular rotation. That grain bowl is going to be hard to pass up next time, so instead of replacing it I will probably just add a side or an empanada and start working my way through the rest of the menu.

    I would say the service here was average to poor. The sweet tea had a strong chemical/artificial…read moretaste to it; I recommend they simply take it off the menu. The food is decent!

    Photos
    The main area
    The main area
    Patacón
    Patacón
    Sangria

    See all

    Sangria
    El Chapin

    El Chapin

    4.5
    (173 reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$

    My recommendation, get the 'Plato Típico Chapin'. It offers a mix of various Guatemalan specialties…read morelike Garnachas, pastelitos de papa and a stuffed poblano pepper. I like grabbing it for the stuffed poblano, but the Garnachas are wonderful too. The entire plate is FILLING and it pairs so nicely with what they offer at their salsa bar. Speaking of their salsa bar... The orange sauce is legendary, the grilled jalapeños are delicious and the pickled vegetables are tasty! That was so nice to have! Ambience is a mix between store and restaurant, so you can even take some Guatemalan treats to-go. Service is solid. Definitely worth a stop.

    We live near by and have never tried so we stopped by today at lunch time and grabbed a few…read moredifferent dishes mostly appetizers. My favorite was the garnaches, the tortillas were so crispy and the ground sirloin was juicy and flavorful. All the veggies were super fresh and amazing. Some of the best taquitos I've had in a while. The Ceviche was our overall favorite just full of flavor and tastes very fresh. The inside is like a mini bodega and there is a dinning room with seating. They have a sauce and toppings bar. So many drink options as well. A hidden gem must try for sure. Our cashier said they have been here over 10 years and told us to come back to dine in for dinner one night and we most definitely will be.

    Photos
    It is a mini bodega
    It is a mini bodega
    Taquitos Dorados de Pollo
    Taquitos Dorados de Pollo
    Exterior

    See all

    Exterior
    Boricua Soul

    Boricua Soul

    4.5
    (242 reviews)
    10.5 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Catering service

    I'm from Charlotte and my friend was in the southeast visiting so we met up in Durham. ChatGPT…read moresuggested Boricua Soul as a part of our girls day. First stop. We never made it anywhere else lol! I'm so excited to write this review!! We chose it because when I reviewed the Yelp reviews they were stellar. But mostly I was super intrigued by the sweet potato cheesecake empanada and y'all it was everything I hoped it would be. It's small, you can maybe get 4 or 5 bites. The filling is sweet but not overpowering, good balance. The crust, crunchy and delicious. Came with a side of whipped cream. Drizzled in caramel sauce. I had the restraint to save it for last. We opted to split the shrimp sandwich and house made chips because we weren't too hungry and wanted to save room for the empanadas. Perfect plan. The sandwich can be ordered with a garlic, jerk or buffalo sauce. We were given a sample of the jerk to determine spicyness. Super spicy (which I loved) but my friend doesn't so we went with buffalo which wasn't spicy at all. The shrimp were a nice size, coated and seasoned well. The restaurant itself is small with about five tables but there is an abundance of outdoor seating shared with other businesses. We knew we planned to relax and catch up so we opted to eat outside. Despite the 90 degree weather, the entire area was shaded with a little wind so perfect. We got a number and our food and drinks were served to us. (Peach passion froze----yum!) Now. Boricua Soul is a great example of why I love seeking out and patroning local restaurants. The founders, Serena and Tori Fredericks, were both present, Serena managing the front, Tori managing the kitchen and both in and out of the restaurant serving people outside as well as inside. They were all over! Very welcoming. We were there for four hours and Serena's smile never left her face. She personally checked on us throughout. It felt like hanging out at your family's for the day. When we came in just a few people there, no line. Serena was at the register. I told her I came from Charlotte and she graciously gave us samples of the mac and cheese and collard greens as she described the menu. Both by the way, amazing! I don't think I've ever been able to find delicious perfectly seasoned greens with no meat. Before we knew it the line was to the door. By then I had the chance to experience her love for what she does and her heart for the community. Clean restaurant, beautiful and personable decor. Clean gender neutral private bathrooms. I took pics of the article on the wall about them, well worth the read. You too will drive miles to experience this Caribbean and Southern inspired restaurant! Im coming back and bringing people. There's so much more for me to try.

    We visited for lunch on a beautiful spring weekday. The place was hopping, both inside and out. The…read moremusic was great, the ambience was fast-casual. I love how they had a lot of drink options, including fountain drinks, and special lemonades. We got here on the late side for lunch, and found there to be several different options for ordering. You could wait in line and order with a cashier, you could do a self service kiosk, or you could order from a QR code at a table. We ended up grabbing a table and opting to do it with a QR code. Everything was very clear, and I like that they showed what was popular immediately. I opted for a Boricua Soul Bowl, which I'd sampled during a food tour a few years back- then I tried it with chicken, so today I opted for shrimp. I feel like you really should go with pork since that's the default, and a mainstay of Puerto Rican cuisine and soul food, but alas I have an aversion to pork so I can't. I was also intrigued by the jackfruit option- there's something for everyone! My husband went for a platter with pork, which he said was delicious and rich. The Mac and cheese was amazing, and the collards were to DIE FOR! They have four house made sauces, which were a very fun way to add different flavors (I doused mine in Guava!). Since I've now been, I understand that there are many different methods of ordering, but I'm not sure I understand if there's a benefit or staff preference to one over another. I think one thing I might do in the future is order online (if you're using Toast Tab anyway, might as well order in advance) and then sit outside after I arrive. It took about 30 minutes to get our food, which probably means everything is made to order and fresh (as opposed to sitting around) so that's great, but I was STARVING by the time we got our food. Will definitely be back!

    Photos
    Boricua Soul
    Entrance, and outdoor seating.
    Entrance, and outdoor seating.
    Coquito French toast, pimento cheese deviled eggs, sweet plantain chicken and waffles, cheese hash brown waffles, sausage and mixed fruit.

    See all

    Coquito French toast, pimento cheese deviled eggs, sweet plantain chicken and waffles, cheese hash brown waffles, sausage and mixed fruit.
    O’ya Cantina

    O’ya Cantina

    4.2
    (71 reviews)
    6.2 mi

    I'm a fan. Typically if I'm craving tacos I'll just head over to a Mexican restaurant, but my…read morefriend had great reviews about this place so we decided to come here. Everything was delicious. We got all different kinds of tacos, crab empanadas, and the Peruvian half roasted chicken. You can really taste the quality in the meat and flavors of the food here. If you even look at their google photos- you can see how good the food looks there as well. It did not disappoint at all. I feel like you could get anything here and be happy with it. You order at the front, then find a seat. Everyone inside was super kind, and the restaurant was cute with both indoor and outdoor seating right next to Town Hall.

    Oya deserves way more attention than it gets. Every time we've been, it's been efficient, spotless,…read moreand consistently excellent. The tacos are damn good, but don't sleep on the beans, rice, and guacamole -- everything is fresh and well done, and there's something for everyone. We came in with our kids, who were... not at their best , and the staff could not have been kinder or more understanding. That alone makes this a place I'd recommend to other families. They also have a 99% health rating, which shows in how clean and well-run the space is. If you're a family looking for a relaxed, genuinely welcoming spot with great food, this is one of those quiet gems that's easy to miss but absolutely worth supporting.

    Photos
    Dining room.
    Dining room.
    Beans & Rice
    Beans & Rice
    Strawberry Margarita

    See all

    Strawberry Margarita
    El Carbonero

    El Carbonero

    4.4
    (83 reviews)
    22.4 mi
    $$

    Best Mexican I've had in a very long time. When we pulled up we were the only ones in the place but…read moreit started to fill pretty quick. The staff weee awesome and even brought us the homemade hot sauce (delicious by the way). Their chips for the chips and salsa are obviously homemade. Had to resist not gorging on those. I got a pork chop with rice and beans and fried plantains. The pork chop was fine but it was completely overshadowed by the rice and beans which were overstuffed by the plantains. This was just a delicious meal. The place has a wide variety of seating options for almost any size group. We also noticed they seem to do a brisk takeout business as well. If you're around or even passing through this is a must try.

    Lo que pasa es que este restaurante es auténtico, de verdad. La cocina es Salvadoreña con algunos…read moreplatos típicos Mexicanos. Ten en cuenta que solo aceptan efectivo, pero estás aquí para disfrutar de la comida, no de sus métodos de pago :) / The Coal Miner, Carbonero ;) is the real-deal for Salvadoran cuisine. I love places that let one channel their inner Anthony Bourdain right here close to home. The cuisine is primarily Salvadoran with some Mexican-influenced dishes as well. No disputing the authenticity of the food; this is not a chain. The service was fast and friendly, although it did take a short while for the meal to be delivered. El Carbonero is quite casual, this is not a fancy spot. There were families and workers enjoying their freshly made pupusas. They only take cash, so be prepared. Get outside your comfort zone (perhaps) and definitely give this spot a try. Estarás gratamente sorprendido :)

    Photos
    From the outside
    From the outside
    El Carbonero
    El Carbonero
    El Carbonero

    See all

    El Carbonero

    The Latin Effect - foodtrucks - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...