Here Is Where to Go When the Craving for Puerto Rican Food Hits in The Bronx

Puerto Rican food is the ultimate comfort food that has its roots in the cooking traditions and practices of Europe – mostly Spain.

From old-style Puerto Rican tostones and empanadas to the modern classics, the Bronx Puerto Rican restaurants showcase all the delicious favorites you’d want to indulge in every time you walk down the streets of San Juan.

Whether you want to explore the food at the famous cuchifritos joint or the selection at the old food truck, here are the best Puerto Rican restaurants in the Bronx.

Is your friend’s birthday coming up? Why not surprise them with a virtual GiftYa card to one of the popular restaurants where they can explore different Puerto Rican cuisine? These cards are completely customizable and easy to load onto your debit card. Don’t forget to add a special personalized message to the card to give it an extra touch!

Lechonera La Piraña

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766 E 152nd St, Bronx, NY 10455 facebook.com

Modern Puerto Rican powerhouse serving an extensive menu of both traditional and classic dishes!

Looking for a fun and casual spot to enjoy Puerto Rican fare? Stop by Lechonera La Piraña. The menu here is extensive with a wide selection of delicious Puerto Rican dishes.

This legendary food trailer located in the South Bronx is open on weekends, but it’s worth making time for. Indulges in the city’s favorite Lechon, prepared by a machete-wielding cook in a Nuyorican block-party setting. When you come here, you will be welcomed by the smell of the garlic wafting and the thwack of a huge machete to prepare your favorite Puerto Rican dishes.

Owner and chef Nagel Jimenez's unique truck that has been open every weekend for a decade now roasts his oregano salt and garlic-rubbed pork in an oven located in an adjacent lot. He also prepares the best pastelillos stuffed with crab and other delicious toppings.

Seasoning is homemade just like the pique criollo. The delicious dishes at this neighborhood chain are worth a couple of tries and visits every other weekend.

188 Bakery Cuchifritos

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158 E 188th St, Bronx, NY 10468 facebook.com

Snug counter-serve serving homemade Puerto Rican and Dominican dishes as well as tropical juices!

Locals and tourists alike at Bronx love to try Puerto Rican dishes. At 188 Bakery Cuchifritos, food is cooked to perfection and includes boneless chicken pieces, pork rinds, and more.

The space is impossibly bright decorated with candy-hued colors where long lunch counters are perfectly set along with shabby tables and a Plexiglass lottery kiosk. Go ahead and order the popular cuchifritos snacks that include chopped-up organ meat, traditionally fried to your liking.

Pop in on Mondays and order the super specials options such as Macarrones Con Pollo or Pollo Guisado served with either rice, yellow plantains, beans, or salad. If you visit during the weekend, you can enjoy Rabo Guisado (oxtail stew) or Carne Guisada (beef stew). Lunch specials are also available with exceptional selections such as chicharron de Pollo chicken chunks, bistec salteado pepper steak, or the chuleta de cerdo with 2 pork chops.

Don’t stop there. Order something fried, pork rinds, or maybe a cutlet and have fun dining here.

La Cocina Boricua

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2245 Westchester Ave, Bronx, NY 10462 lacocinaboricua.com

Casual spot dishing out home-style Puerto Rican cuisines and classic cocktails!

Homemade Puerto Rican food is something you should try to experience at least one time in your life. At La Cocina Boricua, they will get you halfway there with an extensive menu that combines traditional Puerto Rican cuisines and some contemporary twists.

Located in Castle Hill, this modern and traditional restaurant is an ideal place to sit back, relax, and enjoy grandma’s cooking away from home. Start off with their amazing appetizers with unique options like El Corillo, a mixed appetizer platter that comes with boneless chicken chunks, corn fritters, mixed turnovers, fried yucca, ripe plantains, and fried shrimps.

Come here on Mondays and enjoy classic Mexican Margarita recipes to make your night memorable here. Tuesdays are Martini nights with plenty of flavors to choose from. On Thursday, you can indulge in the Mojito, a traditional Cuban drink with delicious blends of sugar, limes, mint leaves, and your favorite run flavors.

Drop-in during happy hour and enjoy great deals on signature drinks, wines, and craft beers. Don’t forget to try out their savory salads and soups to end the day on a high note!

Travesias

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3834 E Tremont Ave, Bronx, NY 10465 travesiasbx.com

Creative Latin-fusion dishes and signature cocktails await you at this snug space with travel-themed décor!

For years, Travesias has been serving creative Latin-fusion Puerto Rican dishes to locals in the Bronx. Here, there is plenty to choose from their extensive menu. Travesias – Latin Fusion dishes are a reflection of a couple of many countries that the owner has visited and/or planning to visit in the near future. It displays a new culinary style that fuses together different culinary techniques, spices, and traditional dishes from around the world.

Not sure what to order, go ahead and try delicious such as prime ribeye steak grilled to perfection and served with mac and cheese and sautéed vegetables. Surf and turf is also a great option and it includes butter-poached lobster tail and grill skirt steak served with sautéed kale, a cheesy yuca croquette, and wine butter sauce.

Sunday brunch is a ritual here and folks can enjoy everything from delicious appetizers to mouthwatering entrees. Don’t forget to add a side, soup, and salad to make the experience awesome.

Con Sofrito

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1315 Commerce Ave, Bronx, NY 10461 consofrito.com

Hip Puerto Rican restaurant and bar serving empanadas, brick-oven-baked pizzas, and specialty drinks!

Whether you’re planning to order your favorite pizzas to enjoy with friends or an empanada to enjoy indoors, Con Sofrito has just the right selection that fits every occasion. From favorites such as brick oven pizzas, empanadas, burgers, and more.

Speaking of mealtime, Alita's wings are super delicious and you can add an appetizer such as shrimp cocktail, Angus beef sliders, crispy calamari, and more. Brick oven pizza is the main draw here and you can enjoy either the Nutella and strawberry option, with sausage, or even veggie selection.

Craving for something heavy, try their king-size burgers with generous toppings to ensure you’re satisfied throughout the day. You can also try the pan-seared salmon, buttermilk fried chicken, or shrimp scampi, or fried shrimp.

Once you’re done eating, order one of their specialty drinks to enjoy along with your main meal!

Made In Puerto Rico (MIPR)

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3363 E Tremont Ave, Bronx, NY 10461 madeinpuertoricony.com

Restaurant and nightspot dishing out Puerto Rican dishes as well as cocktails in a Caribbean-inspired setting!

Just like the name, Made In Puerto Rico is a popular restaurant and bar that serves made-in Puerto Rican cuisines with exceptional cocktails that will definitely make your evening memorable.

They also serve a blend of modern Latin cuisine with traditional spices in a way that highlights all of Puerto Rico’s amazing flavors. Feast on all of their popular traditional delights along with their infamous signature dishes. Some signature items include Paella Puerto Rico – seafood rice, the popular Trifongo served with green and sweet plantains, mashed cassava, Pernil Asado (slow-roasted pork shoulder), and Churrasco (grilled skirt steak). You can also try other delicious options such as montaditos that come with green plantain topped with shredded beef, pork, chicken, and shrimp.

MIPR sandwich that contains pulled pork, pickles, smoked ham, Swiss cheese and served with a light brandy may and ketchup spread is also a wonderful treat to try. Add in a savory soup, salad, and signature drink and you have an awesome experience that you will leave to tell.

El Nuevo Bohío

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791 E Tremont Ave, Bronx, NY 10460 elnuevobohiorestaurant.com

Modern eatery serving a variety of familiar Puerto Rican comfort in an old-school setting!

Super-cheap, cool ambiance, and extra-large portions of classics are what you find at El Nuevo Bohio. They serve the best Puerto Rican fare, fresh every day. Come here and savor into mountains of delicious pork and order an octopus salad to enjoy along with it. The pork is roasted and fried every day before being turned into dishes such as pork mofongo.

Heading to work early in the morning? Drop by El Nuevo Bohio and try the Spanish breakfast that includes three strikes (eggs, salami, and cheese) served with cassava or green banana or mashed plantain. Their sandwiches are also with options such as steak, pork, Cuban, and Jamon Queso.

If you love meat, then you will have a great time dining here. Order either the fried pork skin or whole chicken alone served with rice and beans or sweet plantains or even fried green plantains. Seafood options are in plenty and you can order a side, soup, or salad as an accompaniment.

They also serve signature drinks, which gives you a whole new array of flavors they’ve put together for you to check out.

There is no shortage of Puerto Rican restaurants in the Bronx, but finding the most unique spot that ticks all your boxes when it comes to comfort food isn’t always easy. These are some of the best. Which is your favorite Puerto Rican restaurant on this list? Let us know in the comments!

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