Submitted by icecreammanjc t3_10pjwgp in jerseycity
I'm genuinely curious as I know the heights has a strong hispanic population but anytime I see restaurant recs here, it's always these. as a non-expert in any type of hispanic cuisine, is the food just not good for that type?
this is the list I always see:
Pizza Masters
Salt and Bread
Franklin
Hutton
Corkscrew
Fox and Crow
Corto
Griot
Noches is ok at best, always check your order before you leave. They always forget something
I want to try Torta Truck so much but it’s like a Mayonnaise party and they don’t do customization😞 which is their right obviously but I am just one of those people who can’t stand even the concept of Mayo.
Rumbas cafe is amazing though and pio pio café you can get something ridiculous like 2 entire chickens and sides for like 20$! Yum.
I hate mayo too, but the will leave the mayo off if you ask. I think the customization they are talking about is subbing this ingredient for that one. Like mixing and matching different proteins. Ask to hold they mayo and they will. It’s well worth it.
Noches has gone down the drain the past few years. Its Peruvian but Lomo Truck has been solid even with their growth.
Rumba’s Cafe is amazing and cheap as hell. The little taco truck by Lee’s liquors has my favorite tacos. Sabor a Peru is good with terrific lunch specials. Irmas cafe does good Birria tacos. El Rey del Ser and Tres Chillitos are also solid options.
Where they really hit is the cafes. Dulce de Leche, Unica Cafe, angel azul all do a great job.
Adding for your original list…Saigon Bistro and OZU Foods for non-Latin food
the taco truck is so good!
the taco truck is fantastic, compares favorably to street food I had in Mexico.
Another vote for the taco truck. A+ food
Torta Truck for Mexican and Rumba Cafe for Cuban are both great. I would take either over Pizza Masters for lunch any day.
Tres chilitos (mexican) used to be good a couple of years ago, but quality has gone downhill since the owner's untimely passing.
There's a few newer Peruvian spots that are quite good, but they haven't been around long enough or have enough quality to warrant a recommendation.
Kikiriki (peruvian) has great rotisserie Peruvian style chicken. But it's pretty much takeout only.
There's also a newish Peruvian spot at the corner of jfk blvd and Lincoln (the site of the old Vinnies pizzeria if you remember it). I've tried a couple of things there and thought it was decent, but its also more of a takeout spot.
Noches de colombia is ok, but not the great value it used to be some years ago.
Rumbas is probably the best of the sit down, no frills, good food, good value.
The best lunch value is probably La Concha (near Charles and Central ave). Delicious and huge portions.
I love La Concha and Irma’s Cafe. Neither is a sit down place but they’re both delicious.
There's so much good Latin food on Central alone. Some of my faves are Sabor a Peru, Noches, Los Amigos (their eggs with green sauce, holy moly), Irma's, Kikriki. Tons more as you wander up into Union City too.
Go to Rumba Cafe, Irma's Cafe, El Gordo, Unica Cafe, Angel Azul, and Dulce de Leche. Also, shout out to Freetown Road as a Caribbean option in JSQ.
No but the Heights is not definitively Hispanic. Quite frankly I'd love more diversity in restaurants but the Hispanic restaurants here are nothing great. Good but I wouldn't recommend someone travel up to the Heights with exception to Rumba Cafe and Dulce de Leche. If you want nothing but Hispanic, Bergenline is the best place to go. Nothing but Cuban, Colombian, Peruvian, etc.
Hispanic spots in the Heights:
Rumba Cafe
La Bodega
Tres Chillitos
Angel Azul Cafe
Pio Pio
Dulce De Leche
Noches De Colombia
Mision Burrito
Torta Truck
Pico Taco
El Gordo
Galeria Cafe
La Concha
>No but the Heights is not definitively Hispanic.
What? The Heights is almost majority Hispanic. I mean it's not as Hispanic as Union City or West New York, or even as much as it was 15-20 years ago, but it's still the largest demographic in the Heights.
I said definitively not definitely. The Heights is not absolutely Hispanic, especially in the last few years as it has diversified. Still majority Hispanic
El Sabroso is also fantastic, however, like many other the value is a thing of the past. I still go on occasion.
Do you have any favorites on Bergenline?
El Artesano, La Churreria, Las Palmas, Las Chicas all in UC
Thank you!
For Hispanic food, take a trip to Bergenline instead of anything in The Heights
Yup. Hudson County has a lot of great food. Don't limit yourself to just JC.
El Artesano is lit
Of course the Spanish food doesn't suck, it's mostly pretty great. It's just that it's not that interesting to talk about compared to the latest global food that drops in like a Thai or French or whatever. Plus they tend to be down scale. It gave me a huge sad when basically all of the cheap Spanish places exited Downtown.
My favorite currently is Ricky's on Franklin Street, huge portions of Pernil w rice and beans!
El Gordo in the heights is a top 3 Peruvian restaurant in the US. I challenge anybody to say otherwise, find a better Peruvian restaurant and I'll pay for your chaufa order
I personally like Sabor a Veracruz and Oaxaca taqueria.
Rumbas in the heights is very good. There is a very good selection of peruvian places to. But you cannot go wrong with any spot on Central to be honest.
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Union city has the best Ecuadorian spot, Garcia's Restaurant. Don't try going on the weekends without a reservation. It's jam packed for their famous weekend sopa de mariscos.
You got to try a sandwich from Dos Amigos in West New York
Why don't people see the obvious that the initial postings and usual follow ups are almost like a paid promotions so they can get free publicity. i.e. its advertising.
Rumba's is very reliable. Duche de Leche and Angel Azul are reliable cafes. Noches de Colombia has TVs for sports fans.
As for the recommended places you refer to; some are usually busy but some are not when I walk pass them but that could be because of Covid.
Pico taco has been my go to for the last 3 months. Cheap and banging
possums101 t1_j6l6euu wrote
Nah I think this sub is just predominantly populated by non adventurous whites people lol. The vast majority of restaurants in the Heights are Hispanic. Noches de Colombia is a good start for sit down food. Torta Truck is good for fast/casual. Just go up and down Central, every other storefront is a restaurant.