The Most Delectable Latin American in Newark

Maya's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (738) • $$

"Grabbing a quick weekend evening meal, you'd be quick to dismiss Maya's as not a terribly serious choice for good food, but they do a very solid job on their Honduran eats. It's certainly not the tightest operation being run, so be ready to adapt on the service front, but for their solid portions of deliciousness I'd sure be ready for plenty more rounds. Overall I'd place it at 4.5, but I'm comfortable rounding up on strength of their menu.Service is well, serviceable, but a slight weakness on their front so I can see where mixed reviews come from. Our server was polite, but shorter on words when asking for recommendations so it seems a bit of a given you're expected to know what's what already. Food came out sequentially, so while it wasn't too long of a wait it was a bit of an awkward one since it still took 20min for the last entree to come out. We were mostly left alone afterwards so it was hard to flag any server down to let them know my entree was missing its queso and my brother's entree was missing tortillas (which I wouldn't have known if I didn't compare to my friend's sets). Then came time to settle the check which had an error to correct. Each thing by itself is fine, but it all added up to a bit more chaos than I'd prefer so YMMV.That all said the food is banger! I'd say it's enough to make it up for it, it also being a rather super-local hole-in-the-wall. The menu is grouped mostly by meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and then by item type (like specials, soup, seafood, etc.). Dinner plates generally with rice, beans, and tortilla. Cheese pupusa = 4/5Solid on texture with a good amount of cheesiness for the books, plus a nice small lightly pickled salad for contrasting crunch. The dipping salsa was rather light though, which I personally feel like overall it tasted a bit light on seasoning (fine as an appetizer of sorts). Could just be a honduran thing though, cause the entrees were on-point on seasoning.Carne Asada dinner = 5/5Honestly it's a pretty great dinner set that I had trouble finishing with a great amount of variety to keep you on your culinary toes. The plantain chips were perfect with a great crisp and oozing flavor (even the spilled salsa that was meant for the beef tasted great on them). Beef was a tough cut but I hardly noticed with how well seasoned it was and it just melded right in with the rice and beans, plus a nice crunch from pickles on top. Just all around deliciousness on a platter. Cerdo Tamales = 5/5Positively massive and very filling. The chicken was damn near the most tender and soft I've ever had it. Like for real, this has set the bar for softness for chicken. Very nice as a cozy meal and lots of loving carbs. Just the right amount of seasoning on everything to to bring out the flavors without being overbearing and a great amount of cheese to complement the corn/rice."

El Jardin Tequila Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (866) • $$

"After a retirement luncheon at a restaurant in Santana Row, ten of decided to take to come here with the new retiree for a drink to toast his retirement. El Jardin is an open air restaurant and bar. We were seated at a long high-top table and to order, you scan the QR Code at the table to pull up the menu.With a long drive back home, I opted for a non-alcoholic drink and got a Pina Co-Nada. It was a refreshing pineapple and coconut juice over ice topped with some whipped cream and coconut flakes. It was perfect drink after a heavy lunch meal. It was a nice environment with the trees and bushes and heat lamps.Restrooms were about 100 ft away around the corner from Left Bank Brasserie before the stairways to the garage.Nice outdoor bar restaurant with good drinks and friendly service."

Casa Del Toro

★★★★☆ 4.2 (483) • $$$

"Started skeptical because it was dead inside, but then assumed that this was due to it being a holiday weekend. Ordered the glazed pork ribs, gambas, and calamari off of the starter menu; again not expecting anything spectacular. WOW food was elevated and finger licking delicious! We also ordered two cocktails and they were top shelf...not at all watered down, had all the garnishes and proper ice for what we ordered. Support this local diamond in the ruff, you won't be disappointed! Only suggestions and not a necessity. Turn up the thermostat a tad. Chop up cashews and sprinkle on the top of the ribs instead of serving them whole-whole makes them a little misplaced. PS: very friendly staff!"

Mayan Kitchen Food

★★★★☆ 4.4 (323) • $$

"Sitting in the center of historic Murphy Avenue, Mayan Kitchen has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating (perfect on a summer evening). Empanadas 9/10: We tried the vegan and beef empanadas and loved them both. Crisp exteriors paired with flavorful, juicy filling made these a great appetizer, though I wouldn't have minded eating a bunch as a meal. Cochinita Pibil 8/10: This slow-cooked pork dish is good and borders on a 9/10 with its appealing presentation, fall-apart pork, and cilantro rice. I wish the pork had been a little less greasy as the fat congealed on the bottom, but I really enjoyed it regardless. The pickled onions give a nice hit of acid. Served with Tajin dusted jicama and beans. Potato Croquettes 7/10: I really enjoyed these but the cranberries were wholly unnecessary. I love croquettes and cranberries, but not together. They added a sweetness that clashed with the wonderfully savory croquettes. It's plated with tomatoes that are dressed in a cheesy, almost mozzarella or burrata flavor profile. Easily a 8.5/10 if it weren't for the cranberries. Aqua Fresca (seasonal Dragonfruit) 8/10: On the sweeter side, but still a really tasty drink. Their agua Fresca flavor changes throughout the year. Vegan Cheesecake and churro were good. Our server heard that we were hoping for a churro with no cream and was able to get one for us (they are cream-filled by default). Overall, the service was attentive and this spot caters really well to vegan diners and non-vegans alike!! They did forget one item on our order, but I won't dock any points for that :)"

El Taco Zamorano Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (403) • $$

"Been living in Oakland fir some time and tried many Mexican restaurants over the years. We use to hit this truck all the time but honestly didn't do the actual restaurant till recently. Was recommended to go by a friend and this place delivered on the hype. We had pupusas with Curtido. Super burrito, rice and bean, and lengua tacos. The pupusas were lightly crisp on the outside and soft in the center with loaded meat and cheese. The curtido was crispy and refreshing with the vinegar twang to brighten the dish. Once done with those we moved to the tacos which were succulent and juicy. Amazing amount of meat that barely let them get folded and picked up. The beans were super creamy retried and rice done properly. Now the star of the show which is the gigantic. These burritos should only be fully consumed if you're ready to loosen your belt buckle, have fasted for a day, kept up with the exercise routine and received clearance from your health professionals. Seriously excellent eats with the creamy beans, juicy grilled chicken, meaty cheese and wrapped in a foot long soda can girth. Hella tasty. Pro tip: get extra napkins. They will be needed."

Coupa Cafe - Colonnade

★★★★☆ 3.9 (127) • $$

"I was in the area waiting for Chef Chu's to open for lunch. A quick Yelp search for coffee and this cafe popped up. I think it's deja vu or not, but I could've sworn I was here before. That's why I upload a ton of photos to document and remember that I've been to this and that place. I just wanted a large cup of the Deluxious Dark Mocha as requested by my wife for the drive back to Sacramento. There were two manning the counter and I could've sworn one of them took a break as we were queued for ordering. After 5 minutes or so, I was finally able to get my single order in and waited.There was more waiting for my coffee as they had a lot of orders ahead of me. The smell of the beans being grounded and brewed was just teasing my thirst for the java. It was a wait of about 30 more minutes, but the brew was worth it. It's good I wasn't in a hurry and a lot of photos were snapped during this idle time."

Coupa Cafe - Y2E2

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (112) • $

"Yum And piles of other things I didnt eat or drink only because it was not the right time of day for it. All the combos of brunch and lunch dishes look fabulous here.Sports TV Heaven as well ."

Carnitas El Rincon - Hayward

★★★★☆ 3.6 (83) • $$

"Best carnitas I've ever had outside of Mexico. You HAVE to get the combos. That's the best bang for your buck, also get the carnitas MIXTAS. Straight fire. Their house salsa is so good too. Estás carnitas son las carnitas más deliciosas que e comido fuera de México. Vivo en San Francisco y vengo hasta Hayward a comprar estas carnitas mixtas."

Tanchito's Restaurant & Bakery

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (137) • $$

"Walked into the restaurant and employees said nothing. No one greeted us so we seated ourselves at the table. Chips were getting old. Salsa was good though. There horchata tasted real chalky. There Camarones de ajo was good. I had there pupusas and they were alittle hard. There pickled cabbage had too much oregano for me. There corn tortillas were home made and very good. They are a bit pricey. I doubt if I will come back her again."

Jess's Place

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (91) • $$

"Hidden gem probably close to being in Peru . Peruvian food is my favorite and in the last month I've been there 3 times they are known for there pollo a la brasa but there other dishes fire I'll be there next week to try something different the staff is great and nice . One golden gem cuz not many Peruvian restaurants don't make it but the picorones so good . Please go by"

Pollo Campero - Digital Kitchen San Jose

★★★★☆ 3.8 (29)

"First time ordering food here and we ordered a 25 pieces combo meal. We chose corn salad, coleslaw, 2 french fries and plantains. We picked up the food at a digital kitchen on ruff drive. The chicken smelled and looked good, but it was not crispy. It had good flavor tough but it just wasn't crispy. The corn salad was good, and it came with diced peppers and feta cheese. The coleslaw was okay, it tasted like regular coleslaw with no special flavors or ingredients. The french fries had good flavor but it also was not crispy and soggy. The plantains were decent, but it was not fried and a little greasy. Overall, the food was decent and I would give it another try since I've heard good reviews."

Adelita Cocina Catering Service

★★★★☆ 3.6 (29) • $$

"I've been wanting to try this food truck ever since I moved in the area and I finally did. I ordered the asada torta and it was good but I definitely had better. I think what I didn't like about the torta was that the bread was very flat and wasn't full unlike other places I've had tortas at. I'll definitely try to come back and try their tacos. The service was great, the lady who took my order and made my food was very kind and helpful! It's located in the chevron gas station so it's pretty easy to spot! They have seating outside as well if you wanted to eat your meal there."

La Cueva Mex Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$

"I wish someone told me about La cueva earlier than when I found out about it, because this place is absolutely amazing. Really good tacos and burritos, La Cueva does not miss one bit. I got their veggie and chicken tacos and they were so fresh and flavorful. The best part is the fresh chips and green salsa they give. They also have fire burritos and enchiladas so I will be coming back again and again for their authentic Mexican eats!"

Angelicas

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$

"7/23/24My now husband and I decided to go to Angelica's for dinner. We made a reservation via the yelp app. Angelica's is located in downtown Redwood City. We thought we'd have a hard time finding parking, but we managed to get a spot about 2 blocks away.The restaurant was relatively empty when we got there. We were seated on the patio and it's beautifully decorated. We liked that the restaurant was pretty quiet (minus a birthday party near the back but thankfully they left when we got our appetizers). Here's what we got:- Old fashioned (for him)- Pink piranha (mine)- Empanadas (share)- Angelica's carne asada (mine)- Fruta del mare bucatini (his)The empanadas and drinks came put first. I admit that the empanadas are on the smaller side, but are very delicious. Zach was practically licking the sauce off his plate while we were waiting for the entrees to come. We only waited 10 minutes before the main dishes arrive. Everything looked great and tasted amazing. The only comment I have is that the beef was a little chewy. The sauce that came with the beef was a little spicy but I liked it. The rice was seasoned well and the corn was delicious. I tried some of the pasta as well, which was really good and the sauce was creamy. Overall, we had a really pleasant time at Angelica's. The food was great, we didn't have to wait long for the food and all the staff was very friendly. The fresh flowers on the tables are a nice touch too! Looking forward to our next meal here :)"

Picante

★★★★☆ 3.5 • $$

"I haven't been here for probably 15 years. It's changed a lot. Used to be a small place with a patio, no parking. Now it's huge and sleek with two parking lots and a separate To Go building. Prices have increased of course too. I had the battered shrimp burrito, way too much beans and not enough mango-jicama salsa. Order at the counter and they bring the food to you, do not really any service. The restaurant was beautifully renovated, lots of outside patio space with twinkly lights. If I came again, I know how to modify the shrimp burrito more to my taste."