La Isla Cuchifrito

Small space with several stools and they all was taken because the food was really that good! Real Authentic Puerto Rican food. You would have to travel all the way to Puerto Rico to appreciate how this type of food really supposed to taste but beware their are alot of other Spanish restaurants that claims that they serve Spanish food but it’s not authentic Puerto Rican
it’s something to take into consideration when you are looking for a restaurant to eat in or take out! Flavors makes the difference! Thank you La Isla.

My husband and I were trying to go back to La Morada for Sunday lunch, but sadly, they were closed. As we walked up 3^rd Ave., my husband, armed with his Unilocal app, looked for a Plan B. He asked what I was in the mood for, and my only criteria was «something legit.» He stumbled upon La Isla Cuchifrito, with its photos of stews, beans, and rice, and we were off.
La Isla Cuchifrito is a semi-​hole in the wall Puerto Rican restaurant on the main drag of East 149^th St., and a quick walk from the 2÷4÷5 subway stop. When we walked in, there was a small bunch of locals ordering plates to go, but we chose to eat at the diner counter. The 2 servers were busy, brusque, and I spoke only Spanish. They have a menu of stewed meats with sides, rotisserie chickens glistening in the window, savory pastries, and sandwiches.
I, being an unapologetic bread hound, asked for a pernil (pork shoulder) sandwich. Our server asked what else I’d like on it, and after fumbling around in bad Spanish, she loaded me up with a Cuban-​type sandwich composed of pernil, ham, tomato, lettuce, provolone, and BUTTER… hold the mustard.
My sandwich came out, and I was so excited. This was a SANDWICH. A gut bomb. A meaty two meal’s worth extravaganza. As I tasted the juicy stewed pernil, the powerful flavor of garlic hit my tongue. I love garlic, and the pernil was just so garlicky! I wolfed down half of the sandwich, and somehow good judgment kicked in, and I wrapped the other half up to go.
My husband ordered a straight pernil plate with beans and rice. This was great too, as the beans had a great depth of flavor, and the server gave him a big hunk of crispy pork skin. My generous husband let me have a bite of the pork skin, and it was awesome.
I was pretty satisfied with our lunch here. It’s not the most user-​friendly spot for a gringuita such as myself, but the food was really great.

Food was magnificant and delicious. Relleno de papas was the biggest i have ever seen. Alcapurria was delicious… Pio nono was out :(

Been here a few times in the past few years and it’s always a comforting food experience. Nothing fancy at all, just a place to get reliable food. They have everything from empanadas to steak and every flavor juice u can imagine. The food is also cheap as hell and the portions are enough for 2 people. Service is good too and they speak English.

This was my favorite stop on my way to see grandma. But it has been a year since my last visit and it is not the same.
Tonight I got the mofongo, broiled chicken, rice, beans, tostones and chicharon.
The chicken and sides were good. The tostones needed improvement. Tey were really thick and dark, like old platain dark. The mofongo was a HUGE disapointment. Like question your existence sorta disappointing. I couldn’t believe how bad it was and took more bites… big mistake. Then I forced my grandmother to taste it. She almost hit me. But was too busy spitting it out. She claims the pork was old and the oil too. The aftertaste was horribly indescribeable. Don’t know that our relationship will ever recover. I also don’t know if it gave me what could only be described as cold sweats accompanied by a mean migraine!
Not sure what happened but I hope today was a glitch. I’m just not sure that I want to try them again.

Had their pernil, arroz con gandules, and relleno de papa for the first time. Amazing. Everything was well seasoned, the service was good. No language barriers at all. I’ll be back to try other things.

I graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1988 & La Isla was around then & walking distance. I only discovered this amazing hole in the wall today & I loved it. Nothing fancy about it, no tables, counter service & take away only. For straight up Puerto Rican food this is the place to eat if you find yourself in the neighborhood. Catching a Yankee game, have a court date at Bronx Supreme Court then you’ll find La Isla just minutes away!

This place has CRAZY good food at very inexpensive prices. Whenever I’m around my sister’s place, I stop by and get my rice & beans w/​pernil. You can spend $ 20 there and feed seven fat people… no lie. The previous reviewers are right; if you don’t know a lick of Spanish then make sure you point to what you want. If you’re on a diet, you are NOT welcome here.

AMAZING Cuchifritos… very authentic and most importantly OFF the tourist map.
This place is not for the healthy eaters… but very good and authentic of this very Latino neighborhood.
If you don’t know spanish … there WILL be a language barrier.
so YUPPIES STAY AWAY ;)

If you dont speak spanish, this may not be the place for you. I dont; It wasnt.
The entire «menu» is in spanish, and it consists of some serious, traditional Latin-​American cuisine. Im not sure if it was the fact that Im gringo, or just a coincidence, but I stood there for 5 minutes, ready to order, before anyone gave a shit. I ordered the one thing that I thought I recognized, and could call by its name.
«One empanada, please.»
confused look. so I point–
«One empanada please.»
«You mean meat patty?»
«Yes.»
It was $ 1.50, and fairly decently-​sized (although the majority was the fried «crust»). The hot sauce was the main saving grace.
It was A-​OK, I guess, but I dont think I’ll be back, at least not with out my interpreter.