The Best Latin American in New York

Sabor Caribeno

★★★★☆ 4.1 (9) • $

"if you don't speak fluent spanish, prepare for a ten minute exchange where you must repeat everything on the telephone if you're ordering for delivery. however, it's worth it because the roast pork (pernil) is luscious, and they don't skimp on the best part - the skin. the cubano is also pretty dang good. portions are generous and one entree will last you for two days. if you're a fan of mofongo, their version is garlicky and studded with moist chunks of pork AND crisp bits of (again) skin. sense a theme here? i really love pig skin. prices are very manageable. i'm all about this place. in fact...time to see if they have oxtail stew.the space itself is tiny, cozy and cheerful. it's not by any means fancy - you'd probably walk right past it on the way to the bodega or laundromat, but it would behoove you to check this place out if you're craving good, homey, comfort latin food (which i always do)."

La Puerta Roja

★★★★☆ 4.1 (202) • $$

"I came here with a group of friends for brunch after church. It was a nice neighborhood spot, serving Latin cuisine.I got a mixed platter, containing steak, sausage, pork belly, egg, rice and beans, avocado, as well as maduros, which I replaced with tostones. The steak was thick cut, with grill marks, and delightfully tender, juicy, well seasoned. The sausage was also tasty and succulent. The pork belly was extremely crispy, with quite a bit of meat. I also really enjoyed the tostones, which were crunchy and flavorful. The egg was also tasty, especially paired with the meat. The rice was a little bland, and since I'm not a fan of black beans, I didn't try them. Service was decent. Our waitress was very nice and worked hard to make sure we were all taken care of. The prices are very reasonable, even on the dinner menu. I'm not usually in this area of Brooklyn, so I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I would be open to trying dinner here. The Fried Pork Chop or Skirt Steak dishes sound particularly appetizing."

La Cocinita Mia

★★★★★ 4.5 (19)

"I live across the street from Gran Canario, but have walked by this place a couple of times and decided to give it a try. It was very good, and the service was much more helpful...I like Gran Canario, but it is always a little bit of chaos.Just tried the pernil, but it was very good, came with a green sauce which was a nice touch, and the portion was a pretty good value.Look forward to giving it another try."

La Isla Cuchifritos

★★★★☆ 3.9 (90) • $

"Super cheap for a plate full of food! Excellent place to fill up after a long day of work or to prep for a long day of work. I ordered the steak and peppers with rice and beans all for only $9.75. It was enough for myself and my girlfriend, and we had leftovers(of rice...) The crowd and neighborhood is a bit sketchy but that's the enjoyment of it, you never know who is going to walk in the restaurant."

Caridad China

★★★★☆ 4.2 (136) • $$

"I found out about this restaurant from a reel on Facebook (yes, seriously! lol). Since my husband likes to hang out in Williamsburg, we decided to check out Caridad China this past weekend. When we arrived, we noticed that the restaurant was busy. I ordered the sesame chicken which comes with a choice of a side (veg/egg fried rice was my choice). My husband ordered the General Tsao chicken with the same type of rice. I also ordered a side of sweet plantains which was a mistake because the portion was HUGE and I was only about to eat about 1/4 of the plantains. :\ The service was fast and friendly and the food was the best Chinese food that I had in a loooong time. We will be back!"

Andrea's Chicken

★★★★☆ 3.6 (65) • $$

"One of my pet peeves is when a place gives you a time to pick up ur food and when you get there it's not close to ready. Yesterday afternoon we ordered quite a bit of food, 2 whole chicken combos (a whole chicken, rice and beans, fries w hot dogs "salchipapas", maduros ) an order of mussels and a steak. When we placed the order we were told 20 min. We showed up in 20 min and were met w looks of confusion. Then a younger guy came out of the back and said "I'm sorry it's going to be about 20 min". I don't complain when it comes to food bc I don't need any extra seasoning on my food (spit, hair etc). After about 20 min or so the food came out. Now just to make mention, our bill was almost $200, we were pleasant with waiting. We went outside and chilled out. In my eyes they should have thrown us something for free. Maybe an appetizer or $10 of the bill. Just to say "sorry and thank you". But they didn't. The food was all delicious and 5 stars. I couldn't eat enough of it. The chicken was juicy and tender, the mussels were great and the rice and beans were perfect. None of my complaints were about the food, strictly the service was my issue."

New Apolo

★★★★☆ 4 (3)

"Few times ordered via popular delivery app. The food never disappoints, always delicious. I can understand there's differences from delivery and eating at the restaurant, but I can only imagine having it fresh right out the kitchen. Will definitely try to visit one day but so long as I can get delivery from here, I'm happy. Excellent fried rice, boneless ribs and delicious steamed dumplings. Great prices, definitely got to check them out, you won't be disappointed."

Exquisito

★★★★☆ 3.5 (20) • $

"By far the cleanest looking Dominican fast take-out/point at the food in the steam trays restaurant I've ever been to. The food looks and tastes great too. Prices are good. My Beef Short Ribs with rice and beans with some plantains was $7."

La Isla

★★★★☆ 3.9 (146) • $

"Fast and friendly service- great local joint. Wide selection of items and the prices are great. I got a healthy serving of Pernil and a big plate of rice and beans for $10. Great taste and value. Would come back!"

Puertas

★★★★☆ 4.2 (42) • $$$

"Puertas took over Xin, and what can you say when one takes over a home and keeps the decor but the vibe is very different. When I thought of a different place to eat locally I wanted to try Puertas. I can honestly say the ghost of Xin has vanished. Xin opened @10 years ago and was the first slightly upscale Chinese restaurant in Bay Ridge. Unfortunately, it declined over the years and now the " door" was opened for Puertas.Puertas offers numerous options for Latin cuisine but the menu is not overwhelming. One can start with ceviche or calamari fritters for appetizers and then opt for traditional Latin cuisine like Pernil,, Carne asada, Garlic shrimp to a simple burger.My friend and I shared the House Special salad which was very good: avocados, tomatoes, red onions, cilantro and greens in a light vinaigrette. Smashing!We sipped our cocktails: Margherita for myself ( delicious) and an Espresso Martini for my friend. The live band at this point started jamming and singing Cuban songs. " Bessame Mucho"Then our main entrees arrived: my friend ordered Ropa Vieja, shredded flank steak in an onion red sauce with rice and maduros. She liked it didn't love it.I absolutely loved the Pollo Guisafo: the braised chicken stew with potatoes, carrots, olives in a tomato broth served with white rice. The chicken was tender and the broth very flavorful. It was absolutely delicious and the portion generous thus I took half home. A side of tostones was also served and they were tasty but missing some salsa verde to dip in.The music at this point was extremely loud thus we both ordered another round of Margaritas. It's amazing how alcohol can numb the ringing in your ears.To top off the night we ordered the Coconut Flan to share.It could have been renamed Flan cheesecake due to the density. It wasn't a traditional flan, sauce was underneath. Let's call it an upside down flan!The service was exemplary and on point. Our waitress checked on us a few times and that is appreciated ( water, extra napkins, drink order etc).The only disconnect is the band, yes live music is appreciated. However, one should be told that if seated in the back the band will be right there. I made reservations online and didn't see options for seating.It's difficult to have a conversation when music is blaring.I can definitely recommend Puertas but will be sure to inquire about seating next time.Now, all I hear in my head is "Guantanamera"I need another Margarita...."

Guarapo Latin Fusion

★★★★☆ 4 (112)

"My 2nd time coming here, but it's been a few years. I was a little disappointed they changed the decor with the coqui and big PR flag, but it's still pretty. Attentive service, large portions and good music.Didn't like that they have a photographer walked around. It isn't a theme park or a touristy spot like Margaritaville."

Santo Domingo Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (58) • $

"We ordered food from here tonight for the family 6/27/2020My son and daughter had porkchops with rice and beans me and my other daughter had the grilled snapper with plantains and macaroni salad ,my honey had the shrimp monfongo we all enjoyed our food my oldest daughter is special needs and she's a very picky eater but she couldn't let those pork chops go,they must have been good,those grilled snappers was full of bones I had to eat with caution but it was good,I didn't really care for the macaroni salad my honey enjoyed his shrimp monfongo,I would definitely order from here again..I love the fact that the lady at this restaurant called us to let us know what wasn't available and gave us other options,that was very nice of her we ordered through uber eats"

La Pulperia 44th HK

★★★★☆ 4.2 (944) • $$$

"Great food, great cocktails, and GREAT service thanks to Cesar. The rest of the staff was super fun and friendly, too. Ceviche was delicious. It had a tangy and slightly spicy sauce, very fresh. Paella for two was really good as well. A very nice mix of all kinds of seafood. Come check this place out!"

Salud Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (372) • $$

"NY steak strip mostly all gone, that's how great! The steak was from the salad perfectly seasoned to the perfectly done and that's is coming from a former italian chef at the romada Hotel"

Popular

★★★★☆ 4 (136) • $$$

"Sorry for the delay with these guys , I always forget to leave reviews . But this restaurant was EVERYTHING . The food was flavorful, fresh, delightful . Perfect date night (we came after a show) it has warm lighting, plants everywhere and quiet enough to actually talk ! And when I say we let not a sip or crumb go to waste ! We actually came back here a few times after because of the oysters alone ! (If anyone follows me they would know I am a oyster lover by now) Its so good . I highly recommend."

Chuzo Culture

★★★★★ 4.8 (26)

"There aren't many Ecuadorian places in NYC, so what a treat to have this spot fairly close by! It feels cozy but has a good amount of seating, with a bustling sports bar vibe, especially at night.I first came during lunch and got the combo with encebollado and chaulafan. Although I'm waiting for more of my favorite Ecuadorian dishes to make their way to NYC (black clam ceviche anyone?) I'm glad they do the encebollado justice here. It comes with lime slices and plantain chips, so squeeze that lime, crumble the chips, and mix everything around. I loved the rich, comforting flavors of the soup with the umami flavor of the albacore tuna, streaked through with the brightness of lime juice. I'm not even an onion fan but I've been converted for just this one dish. The fried rice was perfectly fine, but the encebollado's where it's at.The second time around, I had to take advantage of the happy hour. The saucy, spicy wings ($1 on Monday nights) and Ecuadorian hot dog with green sauce, pickled aioli, and crushed chips are fantastic. The pork seco patacones are flavorful, and you also can't go wrong with the mini salchipapas. Separate from the HH menu, don't sleep on the chuzos, which they're known for. I got the combo with chicken, steak, and chorizo. Each of the grilled meats was super juicy (my favorite was the steak) with a hint of smokiness, and went well with the green sauce and spicy pickled veggies.I'd also recommend getting the Manzana soda. It's refreshing, not too bubbly or sweet, and really tastes like fresh, ripe apples.Rest assured I'll be back, either for more of their wings, encebollado, or new dishes like the llapingachos and rotisserie chicken."

Yayo's Latin Cuisine

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (277) • $$

"I come for the Mofongo... and the ice.My garlicky pernil Mofongo (lightly-fried green plantain with pork mixed into a flat mountain form, topped, then surrounded by the sauce of your chooosing) into a arrived and I didn't even think about taking pictures! I ate it and enjoyed every morsel of the delicate balance of moisture without oversaturation. The portion is big enough for 2 people to share and the take home container fit my "extra" half perfectly.I peered over at my Love's food and nabbed 2 chicharrón de pollo con huesos (bone-in fried chicken chunks) drizzled with freshly-squeezed lemon juice. He graced me with a heaping spoonful of white rice and black beans. Flavorful chicken, from a women's who isn't the biggest chicken fan. Shout out to the chef. The food is consistently 4 to 5 stars.There are 2 dining rooms, and we opted for the very rear, which had music, a bar area, a stage, and a gender neutral restroom. Our server was pleasant and urged us to take our time and enjoy our meal. Thanks a bunch.We opted out of dessert, but I had MY treat, a cup of their delicious ice...heaven ('s ice) must be like this!"

Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar

★★★★★ 4.6 (453) • $$$

"We were visiting New York and looking to have dining experiences we can't have at home. So I consulted Yelp and we found ourselves at this lovely, intimate restaurant around the corner from our hotel. The space is simple with a small assortment of tables and a bar along one side wall. We were promptly greeted with smiles and seated.We were provided menus and asked if we wanted sparkling or still water. The water was brought out along with warm bread and a dipping sauce that was so flavorful we had to have seconds of it.Our waitress was lovely and very helpful providing us with recommendations to order from appetizers, to wine, and dessert.For the appetizers we tried:Cuban Tamal: Filled with crab meat in a shrimp saffron sauce splashed with Albarino wine.Chilean Seabass Ceviche: With Peruvian rocoto and yellow pepper in a tiger milk.For the Entrees:Calamari Ink Linguini: Sautéed with scallop, shrimp, and spinach in a lemongrass creamy Alfredo, sprinkled with pecorino and micro purple basil.Lobster Raviolis: With porchine mushroom in a grey goose tomato vodka sauce, sprinkled with rayano parmesano, topped w/ organic spinach.For dessert:Tres Leche CakeFor Wine: Martin Codax Albarino.During our visit our waitress was helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. Every dish was amazing from the preparation, plating, and flavor profile.We chatted with the manager who was also very kind.I highly recommend coming here if you are not in a hurry and are not on a tight budget. it is well worth the visit!"

Taco Mahal

★★★★☆ 4.4 (962) • $$

"I came across Taco Mahal in Hell's Kitchen while exploring the area, and I was immediately intrigued by their unique fusion of Indian and Mexican cuisines. The concept is so creative that I just had to give it a try. I decided to start with the Tandoori Chicken Wings, and they were nothing short of phenomenal. The wings were perfectly cooked--juicy on the inside with a slight crisp on the outside--and the seasoning was spot on. The bold, smoky flavor of the tandoori spices paired beautifully with the classic comfort of chicken wings, creating a truly memorable dish.It's not every day you find such an inventive blend of flavors that works this well. Each bite was packed with spices that transported me straight to an Indian kitchen, yet the dish still retained its universal appeal as a classic appetizer. I'm already planning my next visit to explore more of their menu because if the wings are this good, I can only imagine how delicious their other offerings must be. If you're a fan of bold flavors and culinary creativity, this is a must-visit spot!"

Claudia's

★★★★☆ 4.4 (228) • $$

"I had the experience of working with them with Dennis and Mario at the Mirage and their food is absolutely spectacular. Just like that customer service! Highly recommend!!"

ABC Cocina

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$$

"I would say a solid 3.5/5. Good food and nice setting. It can get pretty loud but nice for sharing plates and catching up with friends.I got the sweet corn empanadas and the passionfruit margarita and thoroughly enjoyed both. It was hard to track down our server to order more drinks and grab the bill, hence the bit of the lower rating. It also felt a touch overpriced but that is NYC for ya."

La Cabana Rodriguez - Rodriguez Fried Chicken

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (112) • $$

"I've eaten here plenty of times over the years. You can count on the line being out the door. I've had fried chicken, roasted chicken, fried fish, steak, all variations of rice and beans. I like the seafood salad even though there's only shrimp. The flan is good also. The Henny Colada is bomb too. At one point you could order drinks with alcohol to go as long as you purchase food. Over the past 5 years, I've only had one issue with my fried chicken not being cooked all the way through but for the most part the food is consistently good and fresh because it is always crowded. Service is kinda chaotic if you are not used to the crowdedness. Be patient and be prepared to wait."

Rico Pollo

★★★★☆ 3.8 (156) • $

"Local Spanish place. Rotisserie Chicken is always good. Rice and beans are good too. Ick up service is usually pretty quick. Usually order takeout. Ambiance is okay. Place has seating but usually we just pick up and go or order take out."

Sazon Nunez

★★★★☆ 3.7 (42) • $

"I came through with some friends recently and was very happy with their food and price! I got white rice and red beans, turkey wing, and a chicken empanada. It was a large portion, and totaled me $7.50, which is incredible! You can't go wrong with the rice and beans, well made and flavorful! The turkey wing was meaty, well spiced, and so big it needed to be broken in half to fit in the container. The empanada I was excited for, however it had almost no filling, which was a disappointment. But honestly, I ate the fried dough pocket anyway, because fried dough is still good!"

Ceci's Latin Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4 (34) • $

"Always hits the spot, breakfast lunch or dinner. Elite and authentic Dominican meals for a great price"

Alex Luncheonette

★★★★☆ 4.2 (79) • $

"Solid Dominican food! They're almost always busy and for good reason. I recommend their ribs and spaghetti--my favs! I also like their chicken empanadas the best. Their passionfruit juice and pear & pineapple juice are so good and refreshing. Their oatmeal juice is heavier and tastes just like Yakult LOL. Great to pair with your meal. They're a takeout/catering spot and they're popular around breakfast and lunch, so get here early!"

Tabaré Williamsburg

★★★★☆ 4.3 (782) • $$

"The best part about Tabare is definitely the vibe-- so warm and welcoming. They don't rush you at all (we took FOREVER to order, and they were super accommodating). We ate for a long time, sat for a long time, and there was truly no rush. It was giving Europe with how generous they were with time. Food wise, my favorite thing I ate was the beef empanada. Super fresh and flavorful; give me 10 more. I was also a fan of the brussels salad, which was both savory and sweet. Where I went wrong was definitely the ravioli-- while it wasn't bad, I just don't think ravioli is where their strong suit is. The plate was lackluster compared to the burgers my friends got, and the flavor was a bit bland. I'd definitely recommend going with a meat dish (as the menu says they're known for), and absolutely that beef empanada!"

Blue Agave

★★★★☆ 3.8 (292) • $$

"Came here for the first time this past Saturday and absolutely loved it. It was pretty chilly out so we chose to sit inside. They take your temperature upon entering, their tables are all spaced apart and their staff all wear masks. As soon as we sat down, we were given complimentary chips and salsa.. awesome start! We then ordered a few spicy margaritas (strawberry and spicy). They were so good that we decided to grab a pitcher right after. As for food, there were so many delicious options on the menu but we ultimately decided the hard tacos, the veggie fajitas, empanadas and choco flan for dessert. I'm a hard shell taco kind of guy and I was so happy to see the option on the menu, as most places only serve soft tacos. They had the perfect crunch, were packed with flavor and held together with each bite. I can't comment on the fajitas as I did not try my dates dish, but the empanadas were fantastic. She's a vegetarian so we opted for a plain cheese empanada. The cheese was warm, gooey, and oh so stretchy. I know this is a bold statement but I would put these in the top echelon of empanadas across New York! Now onto the finale.. their chocoflan. In the words of Joey Lawrence from Blossom, "WHOA"! This was the perfect way to end a meal. I loved how the quickly the fork pierces the soft flan, only to be slowed down by the rich creamy chocolate below. Each bite slowed down time. I don't often find myself in this area but the next time I'm back, you can bet I'm returning to Blue Agave."

Palo Santo

★★★★☆ 4.2 (667) • $$$

"Palo Santo is a quaint establishment located in a Brooklyn brownstone that serves Pan Latin Cuisine. It is walking distance from the R train at Union Street, & from other eateries that include Rana Fifteen, Dinosaur BBQ, etc. Congratulations to Palo Santo on their 18th Anniversary! Friendly service & good vibes have always been present at Palo Santo. We visited one day during a "Restaurant Week " event & never looked back - lol. Wooden tables & chairs , casual decor & indoor / outdoor dining area all things that make up Palo Santo. You can view hardworking staff preparing & bringing wonderful looking dishes to patrons for dinner & during their brunch service. Palo Santo promotes their long-standing special 3 Course Dinner - ($49 )- includes an appetizer, entree & dessert. The first time hete we had a 3 Course-Dinner - we both had the Mushroom Quesadilla Appetizer, the Skirt Steak w/ Bok Choy & Potatoes Entree & shared a Tres Leches & Papaya Sorbet for dessert. Boy, was everything delicious! Every dish & the service was so good that we have returned numerous times and have had other marvelous cuisin. A 3-Course Meal for $49 is a great price & they give nice-sized appetizer & entree portions. Palo Santo is consistently fantastic. Website - www.palosantorestaurant.comInstagram - @palosantobkBrunch Service - Sat. & Sun. - 10am - 3pm.Dinner Service - Mon. - Thurs. - 6pm - 10pm, Fri. - 6pm - 11pm. Sat. - 5pm - 11pm & Sun. - 5pm - 10pm."

Brooklyn Beso Restaurant & Bar

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (653) • $$

"Had a really great Sunday brunch here!Came with a 130pm reservation and it was busy. Thank goodness we had a reservation for two because it would be hard to walk in.Upon initial entry, there's a bar which you pass to go to the backroom where the tables are. They had a DJ and the brunch offerings were plentiful.There were tons of large tables so i originally thought food would take a long time to come but it was surprisingly quick! Everything was amazing!"

Sabor Latino

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (15) • $$

"Walking in you are met with the most feeling. The decor, plates, etc is like someone grandma's kitchen. The wait staff each amongst patrons. We ordered empanadas for appetizers. Main course salmon for my niece and arroz con pollo for myself. Honestly the BEST Spanish food I've ever had in my LIFE! I wish I lived closer I would for sure rider from them all the time. The wait time for food was a little long but understand as it was cooked FRESH! They accept Apple Pay Cash card for payment! The price was 50 dollars plus tip which isn't bad. Would go again"

Sweet Anaelle

★★★★☆ 4.4 (18)

"This a place is a hidden gem, I can't wait for more people to realize how spectacular it is!The Food is exquisite, with every bite I just wanted more, my husband and I tried a few plates! The shrimp ceviche was my favorite and my husband's was the tuna sashimi, but we also love, the corn ribs, the grilledoctopus...Just about everything!!! Go check them out!"