El Pikante foods

★★★★☆ 3.9 (17) • $$

"Central Food Market, is one of those hard to find places that serves authentic Latin American food. This market has everything from hot food made daily to frozen food, from different Central American countries. All is very yummy, I've tried the pupupas mixtas and the plantano con frijol (fried banana with black beans) and have loved them both. They breakfast burritos in the morning and tacos for lunch.The only down side to this place is that it's a first-come-first-serve kind of take out, stuff tends to run out towards the end of the day and they don't make more until the next day. Being Guatemalan I love tor-trix, it's the national snack of Guatemala, and to my surprise they had snack size bags of lemon flavored tor-trix here!"

Peka Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (83)

"Went here to celebrate my friend's birthday, and it was so much fun. They had a salsa band, and somehow my friend's father made his little dancing floor by the band, where there was no room., The place is fairly large with three rooms and it's a great place for birthday celebrations. The food is delicious. I had the ceviche and tacos and they were very very good. The owner Kat was super nice. She showed the entertainment room, which was a cute space for dancing and celebrations.. it seemed like it was well enough for the pop up place for people to come out and play. The sangria was good. Will be back here again."

La Fonda - Boston

★★★★★ 4.7 (12)

"Delicious homemade food with different Hispanic and Caribbean flavors. It is my first time and will definitely come back"

Mana Escondido Café

★★★★☆ 4.3 (115)

"Can't believe it was my first time here! It's a small shop that's very loved by regular customers. I came to grab a quick lunch and there were people in and out. It was clearly my first time, but one of the workers were very helpful with explaining to me the menu.I got a sandwich, a side, and a pastry for under $20. There are a few seating options.I loved the TRIPLETA SANDWICH. It has three meats- ham, roasted pork, and steak. SO GOOD. I love that instead of bread, it's with sweet plantains. They'll ask what kind of toppings you want, but I went with everything (lettuce, tomato, onions, etc). It's very messy to eat, so it comes with a fork that will be used shortly after a few bites. This is a great spot for lunch. There are some other things I want to try next, like their breakfast options (only 9-11am).Will be back to try more authentic dishes!!"

Tu Y Yo

★★★★☆ 4 (511) • $$

"We don't often eat grasshoppers, but when we do, they are from Tú y Yo in Powder House Square. Also, my first time trying cuitlacoche (Mexican truffle also known as corn smut, an edible fungus, considered a delicacy) which was stuffed inside the mini cheese quesadilla. It was quite tasty! Great food, décor and service!"

Pollo Royal

★★★★☆ 3.9 (14)

"We walked into this place randomly when looking for a warm chicken soup on a cold day. The place was empty but staff were warm and friendly, the chicken and soup was delicious and we were treated to a Salvadorian dessert we'd never heard of (the corn pudding was muy rico). I'd definitely recommend this place for an affordable delicious chicken dinner."

Rincon Caribeno Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (114)

"I loved it here. I couldn't tell whether it was a restaurant or if it was going to turn into a nightclub because of the loud music. I read the reviews before coming in and it seemed like all the positive reviews were eat-in experiences and all the negative reviews were takeout or delivery. It's definitely worth the time to eat in. They have all the items listed in Spanish so you're able to order correctly if you aren't fluent. Rincon has a large space for many tables, and there were only 3 other groups here, plus the bar, which made it feel more private. I didn't get exactly what I ordered but I loved what I was served. I ordered shrimp with coconut sauce, with rice + beans, veggies, and tostones. I got 6 shrimp which was a great portion, but I didn't get vegetables, just a small side salad. My friend ordered their chicken and he said it was very flavorful and filling. Vanessa was a great waitress, kind and patient. I love authentic food for a great price which is what I think Rincon definitely provides. They gave us plenty of time to eat without rushing us. It only got 4 stars because it was so loud it was hard to speak with my friend, and although I loved my food, it wasn't exactly what I ordered. I'll definitely return keeping this in mind.Ambience: 4/5 (beautiful + spacious but very loud)Food: 5/5Service: 4.5/5Rincon: 4.5/5"

RUKA Restobar

★★★★☆ 4 (805) • $$

"Who doesn't love a great restaurant that is in or close to their Hotel? I know I do!After staying at The Godfrey Hotel (right next door) we had the pleasure of eating here which was both convenient and excellent. We could head right up to our hotel room afterward. RUKA is part of the same restaurant group that owns Yvonnes, Coquette, Mariel, and Lolita to name a few. It is a Peruvian-Asian style cuisine that offers tapas-style dishes and some larger portions as well. For a Sunday evening, they were jam-packed so we sat at their sushi bar. The menu is broken down into categories such as Chilled, Hot, Makimoto (sushi), and Wok. I liked this since some of these dishes can be overwhelming and having it outlined like this gave me some knowledge of what to expect. Their Cocktail List is amazing and offers a little bit of everything for everyone. I decided to stick to one of their Sake to pair with some of our food. I wish they offered Sake Flights but maybe down the road and after reading my review they will:)We shared a few dishes: Sesame Noodles, Chicken Fried Rice, and Fried Chicken. All were excellent and shareable which I liked. The Fried Rice was the only item that we couldn't finish. I highly recommend coming here for date night since the ambiance and vibe is super sexy. I can't wait to come back and try some of their other menu items."

Taqueria El Carrizal

★★★★☆ 4 (119) • $$

"We were in search of good pupusas not too far away from where we live. This was a win! It's a pleasant sit-down experience. They have lots of good beverage options- my bf Francisco P. & I had horchatas and our dinner companion had a papaya shake. On request, they can prepare the shake with water instead of milk. You can see the female chef in the kitchen preparing the food lovingly by hand. I tried the bean and cheese pupusas, which were very good. Our companion also tried the chicken pupusas, which she said were also very good. We thought they tasted freshly made, to order. I love that the pupusas had the bits of crunchy cheese that form when some cheese leaks out the side. I was also glad to have the red sauce and pickled cabbage for putting on top. Maybe next time I'd order more of that because I love the pickled cabbage, or curtido. My bf had a Salvadoran combo plate- that had a pupusa, a Salvadoran tamale, and a Salvadoran enchilada (which closely resembles a Mexican tostada). I had a taste of the tamale, which had chicken, & which I thought was really flavorful, and different in consistency than a Mexican tamale- softer."

Pollo Royal

★★★★☆ 4 (22)

"A quality Salvadoran restaurant! Had 3 papusas - really hot with cheese and meat. Really good flavor. They came with an orange sauce to dip them in plus they had hot sauce and a green creamy sauce as well. They had cabbage which was really good. Plus beans and rice on the side."

Chacarero

★★★★☆ 4.1 (447) • $

"Came here at 1 pm as they do close at 3 pm to find the lines long and fast. People had already placed orders or already knew what they wanted when walking in. One of the owners sweetly suggested we try their BBQ combos as they marinate the chicken and beef. My friend and I each order a large combo of the BBQ and original and split. Both sandwiches were so flavorful served inside soft and chewy bread. Although toppings were similar, the original had more of a pesto based taste and was spicier in my opinion. The BBQ was served with roasted bell pepper and tomatoes which I am a sucker for and was my preferred as a result. Overall, the food was phenomenal and the staff were so kind. I will absolutely come again to this hidden gem and hope others do too! Now I understand how they are able to stay afloat with their limited hours and rightfully so."

Merengue Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (330)

La Lechonera Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (57) • $

"This place makes authentic Puerto Rican food from the fritters and fried pork to the yellow rice with pigeon peas (arroz con gandules). If you want to know what Chicken noodle soup really can be then do yourself a favor and get a bowl. The Roast Pork (pernil) is a flavor bomb with typical seasoning of garlic sour orange and oregano. Everything is good and authentically prepared. I heartily recommend this place."

Luna's Restaurant Italian and Latin Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.3 (145) • $$

"Luna's was suggested as our destination by a member from our party of six, so we made a reservation for a Sunday brunch/lunch and arrived at their quiet restaurant with a table for six setup and ready to go. Luna's has the look and feel of a local neighborhood eatery, it's fairly basic, but seemed clean and comfortable with plenty of space between the tables.Our orders were taken promptly by a very pleasant waitress and included:MAKE YOUR OWN OMELETTE $8.953 Eggs and choice of cheese (Mozzarella, Queso Fresco, American, Swiss, Provolone, Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack)EGGS BENEDICT $12.952 Poached Eggs, Ham, Hollandaise Sauce, Chives, English Muffins, Home FriesSTEAK AND EGGS $15.956 oz NY Sirloin Strip, 2 Eggs Any Style, Home FriesLUNA'S CALENTADO $14.95Arepa with Queso, Scramble Eggs, Rice with BeansMy Steak and Eggs were very good, the medium rare steak cooked to order correctly and surprisingly tender for a thin steak. My eggs over were perfectly prepared. The Eggs Benedict also received positive reviews and the Arepa was declared delicious. Everything was nicely done except the breakfast potatoes which were tepid and mushy, though I generally don't care for breakfast potatoes.The service throughout our meal was excellent, and we'd be happy to return. 4.5 stars rounded up for good service and their semi-private parking lot adjacent to the restaurant."

Rincon Latino

★★★★★ 4.7 (34) • $$

"Best tacos I've had in a long time. I'm looking forward to getting back to try some of the other things on the menu but the tacos are definitely outstanding. I had the asada, carnitas, pastor and lengua and all were both crispy and juicy. I also had a queso pupusa which was also really good. Staff are super nice. Can't wait to get back"

Vee Vee

★★★★☆ 4.2 (329)

"I was looking for a place in JP with gluten-free options and Vee Vee more than delivered. The inside seemed cozy but we went with a table in their "secret" patio, which is right around the corner and nicely decked out (I applaud restaurants' efforts to convert parking lots into feasible outdoor options at the height of the pandemic). Advise making reservations on the weekend and Thursday-Friday. The menu's pretty limited but that's not a ding in my book if the restaurant can ace the handful of dishes offered (better than a wide spread of mediocre options). I went with the chicken dish. Chicken breast, whenever I cook it at home, always turns into a dry, tough slab, so as it happens, that's usually a restaurant dish that catches my eye. This one was cooked beautifully, with a nice, crispy skin, and I loved the potato gnocchi as a side. Was it mind-blowing, though? I will say, for a chicken dish, the price tag of $31 was fancy steakhouse-level steep. Everyone's reeling from inflation these days but my wallet definitely felt a pinch. That said, the dish was cooked with attention and care.Our waiter made sure to offer suggestions and refill our water glasses. For parking, there's a municipal lot right behind the row of restaurants with lots of 2-hour spaces and free after 6pm."

Burro Bar South End

★★★★☆ 3.9 (265) • $$

"Bottomless Burro Brunch... I'm in!! A neighborhood gem of a place in the South Snd of Boston, Burro Bar delivers familiar Mexican flavors inspired and influenced from Baja and Oaxaca to Veracruz and Yucatan and their brunch menu is indeed proof of that. They showcase, creative, fun along with an abundance of delicious flavors. Their menu offers a wide selection of tapas style dishes that you can order over & over again as your heart desires. So I decided to sin... give me one of everything!! lol Great & wicked friendly service with a lot of charm that simply enhances your overall experience. If you're ever feeling "brunchy", be sure to reserve a table at Burro Bar South End Boston."

Teresa's Market

★★★★★ 4.6 (131)

"Flavors - 4/5Textures - 3.5/5Presentation - 3/5Value for Money - 4/5Would return? YesMust-try: Agave Pulled Pork Tacos The best thing about these tacos is the meat fillings. Honestly the meats are super flavorful and juicy which means no dry tacos, however that also means issues with the Taco falling apartYou have to try their agave pulled pork which was by far my favorite. Now the birria tacos - even though they came with a broth, they had cheese and the tortilla was crispy, it taste it nothing like a birria taco. So should I read it as a Birria taco or as a regular taco? As a regular taco it was very good really nice flavor and the crispiness of the Tortilla made it hold up together much better, So I'll give it a 3.8. but as a Birria taco it lacked all the spices to get the right flavor and aesthetics of what it should look like so I would give it a 2.5For the price in the quality though I will definitely come back"

Bani Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (28)

"My ratings is based on the Mangu breakfast, was made PERFECTLY, generous portions and seasons perfectly, didn't need salt or anything added. Pastellios on point too, legit Dominican cuisine near Westie, happy to have discovered it!"

Taco Mex

★★★★☆ 3.6 (147) • $$

"I ordered a tipico montenera (mountain plate) with borracho beans and rice, fried ripe plantain, chicharron (crispy belly pork), and a slab of carne asada (steak), and salad. A thimble of salsa pulls all the elements together.Perfect with a lime margarita (on the rocks, not frozen, so you can really taste what you're drinking).The servers are effective but are not here to give you the warm fuzzies :P"

Beantown Taqueria

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (327) • $

"I have been to Beantown Taqueria many times over the years. To me Beantown is a solid place for legit Mexican food. It is not a trendy place with fancy drinks or fusion food, but the food is authentic, both authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex.The portion are good, and the price has been affordable. I remember the Saturday mornings that I came here for brunch and spent much of the rest of the day walking around to burn off all the calories."

Faros Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.8 (5)

"Faros Restaurant opened recently next to the Second Street Market behind Aztec Restaurant. This Dominican restaurant offers takeout and full service dining in a cozy and clean dining room. I stopped by here mid afternoon for an early dinner. The place was not busy and the staff was in the kitchen. It did take a while for someone to come out as I was looking over the menu offerings and I decided to eat here and took a seat at a table. I placed my order for the Empanadas Trio ($9 plus tax) and the Spaghetti with House Cream Sauce ($14 plus tax) and chicken (add $2). I was brought over some cold water and complementary plate of homemade fried crisp tortilla chips and fresh tomato salsa.The Empanadas Trio came out first, very hot, 3 good sized deep fried empanadas, 1 filled with cheese, 1 filled with shredded chicken & cheese, and 1 filled with ground beef. The shell was light and crisp and ketchup and tangy orange dipping sauces were provided. I would say their empanadas are some of the best I've had in the area! Next, the Spaghetti entree came out, a modest portion served in a bowl. The spaghetti was cooked soft with a light cream sauce not too rich and pieces of boneless pulled chicken, some pieces were chewy. After I was finished, I requested the check, but the total was initially incorrect since they charged me an additional $6 for shrimp instead of $2 for chicken. I saw the staff try to fix my check on the computer, but there was no pollo chicken option. I already knew the total with tax should be $26 and change and I paid cash with tip rounded up. Overall, I pretty good meal here and I would definitely order the empanadas again and try some other things next time. They also have a tres leches cake too."

Rincon Limeño Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (372) • $$

"Flavors - 4.4/5Textures - 4.5/5Presentation - 4/5Value for Money - 4/5Would return? YesMust-try: Chupe de CamaronesIf you are hispanic this restaurant will make you feel at home ... from the service to the food, I loved every minute of it. Here is what I had: Chupe de Camarones: so tasty, savory and comforting. The shrimps were perfectly cooked, although I wish the tails were removed. It comes with a huge pile of very delicious rice. I want this all winter. The ceviche was very well balanced with a strong but not aggressive level of acid, and all seafood was firm and fresh. If you like fried seafood, you might want to get the ceviche mixto with Jalea (mix battered fried seafood), since the jalea was crispy and well cooked. I got to try the lamb with rice and beans, and the Arroz Chaufa (seafood rice) as well, both delicious and generous quantities."

Muqueca Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (711) • $$

"Considering I live in the area, I really had no excuse for waiting so long to check this place out! There's a bunch of Portuguese on Cambridge Street, but this spot is actually Brazilian. Despite coming on a Sunday night, it was actually pretty busy, so that's always a good sign! The decor was fairly nice, without being overly upscale.To start, we shared the Brazilian Patties. They came in either cod or chicken, so we tried both, and I preferred the cod. For the main course, we split the Moqueca, which was delicious! If you're into fish, this is the way to go. Definitely get the option with the most seafood in it. My only complaint was that the dish was a bit salty for my liking, but I absolutely loved the unique flavor. If you need to tone down the salty taste, go for one of their juices. Highly recommend if you're looking to try something different!"

Celeste

★★★★☆ 4.3 (268) • $$

"When you're in Boston for less than 72 hours and it was last minute, glad I have a foodie family that can point me in the direction of Celeste in Somerville before my flight out. Having available street parking without having to find a place to park in Boston itself when you're in a time crunch was so important. We arrived right when they opened and was immediately seated since we thankfully made a reservation. Before long the place was packed and I can see why. We started with the super flavorful Camaron pupusa which I was so happy to have all to myself, it was that good, followed by tomato avocado Causa that made me a fan of causa, and the classic lomo saltado. This was way better than any airport food and it was only 15 minutes from Logan."

Vejigantes

★★★★☆ 3.5 (572) • $$

"Food and service was great Very clean and organized Cute kissing booth for Valentine's Day as well Music is a plus"

Solea Restaurant & Tapas Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (676) • $$

"Solid 3.5 restaurant had just opened an hour before we got there for lunch so there was plenty of seats to choose from. Our waitress was sweet and although she was the only server on the floor, she got to every table without missing a beat.Everything was seasoned nicely and portions were perfect for the price and to share. The only thing I had to send back was the shrimp in garlic sauce... I'm fairly familiar with traditional tapas and shrimp in garlic sauce is usually flavorful and packed with garlicky goodness. Their version wasn't even sauteed, just swimming in oil and the garlic didn't even look like they tried to date it one bit. Took a flan to go and that was delicious as well. Definitely a solid spot to stop in for a good meal."

Mestizo Modern Mexican

★★★★☆ 4 (10)

"Mestizo opened up recently near Kendall Square. This modern Mexican fusion restaurant and bar serves up a variety of tacos, enchiladas, sopes, hot & cold small plates, main entrees and a few desserts (churros & cake). The place has a modern feel in a L-shaped space with rows of table seating, seating up at the bar with TVs, big windows for natural light and murals on the walls. The bar offers 6 beers on tap, wine, margaritas, tequilas, and sangria. The prices here are on the higher spectrum.I stopped by Mestizo on a late afternoon and sat myself at the bar. The bartender brought over a glass of cold water as I went over the menu. I decided on the Tostadas De Atun ($18 plus tax), which has Asian fusion marinated tuna loin pieces, pickled red onion, avocado, garlic cilantro sauce, on top of a crisp corn tostadita. This cold appetizer had a citrusy flavor. Next, the Yuca Fries ($7 plus tax) were 5 thick crisp firm yuca fries with a creamy dressing for dipping. I also got 2 tacos which were the Carnitas ($7 plus tax) and Camarones ($7 plus tax). Though small tacos, both were nicely presented and both I enjoyed served on top of soft corn tortillas. The check was presented after I had enough and it came out to $41.73 with tax and before tip. Overall, the Mexican fusion food I had was pretty good, but be prepared to spend more than normal for Mexican fusion due to this prime location and modern setting."

Toca Chida Casa Sociale

★★★★☆ 3.9 (22)

"I was so excited to see a new spot coming to Assembly row. The ambiance and vibe inside Toca Chids is definitely part of the appeal. Its beautiful and super fun. I would say the vibe and service were 10/10 but the some of the food could use just a little work which I think will come in time. The nachos and fried shrimp were super delicious. The quesadilla was tasty but a little burnt, and the tacos were also very tasty but the carnitas were a little bit dry. Overall it was a good experience and i'll definitely be back to try more!"

Sabor Latino Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (14)

"This restaurant is a great value! I ordered some Ecuadorian style steak (had never had it before) and thought it was delicious and very flavorful!! The atmosphere was fairly plain and simple but was like eating in a small restaurant in Ecuador! I'm definitely going back to check out other dishes!"

Paisano Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (192)

"Pupusas are still amazing. Their Tacos Mexicanos are so tasty and they're only $2.99 each--can't beat it!!"

Las Palmas Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (18)

"Tasty food, but ordering could use help.Be wary if you're ordering ahead online (via Toast)- they have no idea what the menu items actually are, so things will be messed up and you will need to wait for your order. I specifically ordered a standard item (the La Lechonera bowl) with no customization hoping that wouldn't cause any issues, but they weren't familiar with what that even was and were confused when it printed out on the ticket with no customizations noted- so we had to read out what the Toast menu said it contained, wait another 15 minutes after arriving for them to make that plus the sandwich we ordered, and then get an approximation of that bowl's contents (not exact, but close enough). Maybe just stop by and order in person instead, so you can tell them what you want as they build it? (Or maybe just choose 'custom bowl' instead on Toast, so they know just what you want)That being said, the food is tasty: my bowl was fresh and full of flavor, from the rice to the beans to the pork to the potato salad to the guava BBQ sauce (although I could have used a bigger portion!). And it was quite large, making for a very filling meal or even yielding leftovers- all for a very reasonable price."

Tostado Sandwich Bar

★★★★☆ 3.6 (38)

"I saw this place on one of my lovely drives home from the Dedham mall. I popped in for a menu and the owner was freshly out - he handed me a card and told me to come back later. But before I left I took a glance at their brief, but appetizing menu - written in chalk on the wall - and knew I had to get a Cubano. That night. And being that Tostado delivers, I couldn't ask for any more joy than to savor a delicious Cuban in my own home. And this was a superb sandwich, rivaling those of Miami's in the heart of Jamaica Plain. I think I've found a new favorite sandwich place and a new addiction."