Rincon Criollo

Amazing food! Great hospitality. Brings me back to when I was younger and had that amazing Cuban soul food :)

I’ve been here several times (the last time being in September 2015) and it never disappoints. The food is very fairly priced, the portions are a good size, the service is pretty quick and everything I’ve tried is delicious. It is very authentic food so you feel like you are eating a home cooked meal. My favorite appetizer is the yuca rellena. Any meat you want to try with rice, beans and tostones is delicious but the thin steak they do with onions, lechon asado and picadillo are my faves. YUM! Also you have to try the coconut flan!

Home style authentic Cuban food. It’s a hole in the wall with a friendly staff and extremely low prices. I walked out satisfied. Deff a cool neighborhood spot. Unilocal profile said full bar, however only had beer and wine (was looking forward to a mojito). No skirt steak on menu but for the price I can’t complain was a nice cheap filling meal served by friendly staff. Check it out.
Also only takes Amex. They do have ATM in restaurant.
I ordered a Cubano sandwich to go. It was delicious

One of my favorite places! Casual place. Everything from the food to the service is A+. Very hefty portions and the prices are great. Come hungry. The birthday shoutouts are awesome here. It really does feel homey here. The décor is nice. Don’t get me started on the coconut flan, it’s delicious. The coffee is strong as well, a cortadito please! I need it especially after this meal.

This place is so crowded but the environment is cozy! Maybe hard to find street parking, just like anywhere else in NYC!
The food portion is on the large side, so it’s great for sharing. We ordered oxtail, fried pork chop and roasted chicken rincon criollo for 3 of us to share. Each entrée comes with 2 sides, and they are all very filling. My favorite was the oxtail, so tasty and tender! It was awesome to go with the white rice. Fried pork chop was great too, and it’s HUGE! It’s even bigger than the plate! Chicken was good, with very strong garlic flavor.
The price was decent. I will definitely bring my friend/​family there if I’m in that area.

— Great authentic Cuban food. Reasonable prices, about $ 13 per meal. The pork and rice & beans was my favorite dish. Delicious rice pudding.

La comida es deliciosa! De entrada Pedimos fritura de bacalao y de plato principal pedimos lechón asado y ropa vieja. Cada plato viene con dos acompañamiento s. Los moros con cristianos estaban muy buenos al igual que todos los platos. El servicio es excelente!

This is excellent Cuban food… we walked over here from a house we were staying at and found everything about this place to be top notch… it’s not in the best neighborhood area but you need to look past that because once inside forget about this place is the real deal. One heads up though if you want the signature Paella I would call ahead of time because this rookie didn’t and we had to wait for an hour but lesson learned that just gave us some time to hang out and drink some wine and try out some of the other things on the menu…
First off the plantain chips with garlic sauce… my kids loved these and even the garlic sauce with a little kick was a huge hit. They were sooooo good! Next sweet and green plantains hard to choose but both were again delicious… on to some more wine and some more of the bread as well they bring out.
Need to throw in all of the servers here are awesome and walk around checking on people… one of the waiters even walked over to a table with a fussy baby and asked the mom if he could walk the baby around so she and her husband could eat their dinner… you don’t see this kind of service. I asked him he knew them and he no just want her to enjoy her food as he is showing us the cute little baby.
Now after the anticipated wait out comes this huge steam pot of Paella and you can smell all of the deliciousness coming out with all the fresh seafood… time to dive in and watch out this has been cooking for an hour it is very hot, but OMG so delicious. The amount of seafood that is packed here is impressive with fish, shrimp, scallops, clams and crab… hands down one of the best dishes I have ever had. My girls ordered their grilled chicken and stopped eating theirs just to help polish off all of this Paella it was that good. If in this area don’t miss the opportunity to eat at this special spot…

My party of 15 invaded the place for a not-​so-​small reunion during dinner on a weekday. It is a small homely spot and super lively. We are here for the infamous paella and we got not one but two! In order to enjoy the paella, you will need to call ahead of time on the same day.
We started with red wine sangria — refreshing, fruity, and the best drink to accompany any Spanish meal. Let’s keep that pouring! Various of sides started to pour in such as their sweet plantains, tostones, and rice and beans. Tostones was my absolute favorite side of the evening. They were so smash into big pieces and the texture was just the perfect crunchy and soft in the middle.
My companion and I shared the Oxtail dish together. The oxtail meat was so tender and falls off the bones effortlessly. The sauce is tomato based and filled with various spices. Since it was a big dish, I saved a big piece to go with white rice the next day.
Seafood and Meat Paella made a grand entrance to our table. The pot was a lot bigger than what I imagined, not to mention how deep the pot is. After our server lifted the lid, the smell of seafood and saffron hit my nose leading to my mouth watering. (I hope no one saw that!) I see lobster, clams, mussels, shrimp, scallop, and chicken, all in there! Flavors of the paella was amazing! I did wish that the texture of the rice was mushy like it was but other than that, it was muy bien (very good)!
To my surprise, this spot is a great host for dinner parties for it has a very lively atmosphere. If you have a birthday boy/​girl, a staff member will wear a funny hat and glasses dancing to loud, exciting music while bringing a plate of dessert to them! It was very entertaining and I already figured out who I want to surprise! So watch out!

Maybe it was what I ordered or the fact that I’ve grown up around this food but I really don’t see what the big deal is about this place.
The service was great but the food was just mediocre. Same chicken, rice and beans I can get anywhere else.
Don’t get the Cuban. It’s a thin panini lacking all the goodness it should contain.
Probably won’t be giving them another try unless I’m missing the usual Spanish food entry.

I absolutely love this place, waited for an hour once and was not disappointed. This is real deal cuban food, expect to get a nice heap of food. I like to compare my cuban spots by their ropa vieja– there’s had a bit too much tomato for my taste but still delicious. Their other plates were just as satisfying — bistec, rotisserie chickens, yuca fries; my my. I’m usually so stuffed that I can’t eat anymore, but in their case you have to get the coconut flan. It’s not so sweet that you get a cavity, it’s almost light (and you feel a little better about yourself cause it’s got coconut).

We love this place. Everything from the food to the service. We had great experience here. The food were absolutely delicious! Don’t be fool by the size. It may not look that big but it’s definitely filling. We were stuffed! We ordered the ½ rincon criollo chicken which is pretty much a roasted chicken, filet of fish rincon criollo, fried plaintain, white rice, rice n’ beans, & cassava with garlic sauce. Everything that we ordered were full of flavor. Lots of garlic flavor! If you love garlic flavor, you’ll love the fish rincon criollo.
The décor is nice. When we went in, it felt like we were in a restaurant in a different country. The service were definitely great! Our waiter were friendly, polite, & helpful.
This place takes credit card but ONLY American Express. There’s an ATM machine inside the restaurant.
We’ll definitely go back!

These are the restaurants I LIVE for — delicious food, homey vibe, lovely service. I had such a delicious, jovial meal with my friends at Rincon Criollo, and I can’t wait to take my other friends and family here next time we have a hankering for Cuban food (or just good ‘noms). The place is small, so be wary of brining parties more than 5 (I assume there will be a wait — my friends and I lucked out and got seated right away.) The service was sweet, and were more than happy to give us suggestions. Oh but be warned: the place ONLY takes cash or AmEx (usually it’s the opposite).
All the food is great, but let me start with the only negative part of this review: avoid the croquetas. I’m sucker for those things, so I ordered them, but they were a little too over-​fried for my tastes. Not terrible by any means, but I would not order those again.
Everything else was superb — the mariquitas (plantain chips) were thin, crispy, and addictive. I love how here, every entrée comes with two sides of your choice. I went with the chicharron de pollo with maduros and moros y cristianos (rice and beans). THIS is what I consider comfort food. The crispy, juicy chicken pieces with garlic and onion made the chicharron more than live up to the hype. The rice and beans were hearty, and the maduros were the ideal combination of crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. I also got to try my friend’s Pechuga Rincon Criollo with grilled onions, which was delicious.
I can’t wait to go back to try the ropa vieja and other specialities there. Also a bonus are the reasonable prices for such generous portions. In a culinary heaven of a neighborhood/​borough, Rincon Criollo is a gem.

Reminiscent of a spot you would find in Cuba/​Caribbean with the way the tables are set up, the waiters are dressed, and even the linens.
Regardless of the cool/​funky p ambiance of the restaurant itself – This place is no short of excellent when it comes to Cuban food.
After more than a few visits here, I can recommend a couple items that I can guarantee a lay person would love.
Vaca frita (shredded beef)
Rincon criollo «house» steak
Seafood paella (f.y.i. takes over an hour)
Ropa vieja (in almost everyone’s review)

.c.ious yummmmy :) I may offend a few with my garlic breath but I am smiling ear to ear with the amazing neal I just had. Yes they use garlic like there is no tomorrow. The flavor is a burst of deliciousness.
So you may order pork, or rice and beans but it aint like the other Latin places. This is honoring Cuban home cook meals. Price is right. Staff friendly, not pushy.

I was looking for some colouring pencils for my little nephew. I came upon this place and was very disappointed that they didn’t sell any. I mean. with a name like «Rincon Crayola» you would think they would have f***ing Crayola pens wouldn’t you??? I mean srsly!!!111 So I am giving them a 1 star rating.
Just kidding.
What to get: Ropa Vieja
What not to get: Coconut Flan
What else: Don’t ask for ice in your drink. They have a «Cube-​ban» in effect.
So I wanted some donuts. I came here and they had none. So why the hell are they named Rincon Cruler?
I’ve been to Rincon Criollo twice and both times I had the Ropa Vieja. It is by far, easily, hands down the best Cuban food I’ve had anywhere in NYC. While it is very heavy and greasy, it is also absolutely delicious, and all fans of Latin food should try it. I’ve also had the Coconut Flan on one occasion, and I was not impressed. It was ultra-​sweet to the level of sickliness, so I couldn’t finish it.
I came here for some healthy suplements. They had none. So why the hell are they called Rincon Krill Oil?
Of course this place has been featured on TV, so you probably know about it already. Unlike many of the Food Network’s pay-​for-​play choices, this one is «the real deal» as they’d say in their clichéd way. It tastes as good as it’s supposed to. In fact, it tastes better.
So I came here for some New Orleans Cajun food. I asked for Gumbo, Crawfish and a Po Boy. They had *none* of them. So why the hell are they named Rincon Creole?
The only better Cuban meal I’ve had in the country, other than one in New Jersey which rivals Rincon, is Luis Galindo II’s Vaca Frita in Miami, near the airport. Also Paseo’s sandwiches are right up there, as are El Cubanito’s in Chicago. Nevertheless, you won’t get a better Ropa Vieja than this.
I came here looking for Melissa Joan Hart. She was not here. So why the f*** are they named «Rincon Clarissa-​Explains-​It-​All?»
The meat is so tender and stringy and juicy and perfectly spiced and flavoured. Soaked for days, it seems like. The heavy, greasy dark brown rice is exceptionally tasty, especially if you ask them to pour some marinade/​juice from the meat all over the rice. And the plantains that come with the dish are fried to perfection, very sweet but very delicious and satisfying. They basically taste like soft, mushy, sweet bananas. So tropical and so indescribably delicious.
Get down to Rincon Criollo at your earliest convenience. I love it so much, that I would have written this review in Rincon Crayola if I had to.
And I brought a girl here who was really into me. We couldn’t wait for the hotel room so we went straight in the RC bathroom. After what happened in there, I think I’m going to rename the place «Rincon Creamalloverme.»

After two other wonderful experiences, I have decided to update this review and give this restaurant five stars.
I refer to myself here as «el chino gordo,» or «the fat Chinese guy» and they seem to appreciate my attempts at speaking Spanish, even though everyone here speaks almost perfect English.
The Paella stole the show. I didn’t get a chance to taste it until this time because I never ordered in, but it’s amazing! Please do call an hour or two in advance to get it!
Rolled steak is another favorite, along with fried plantains and sweet fried plantains, I’m sold!
The prior review still stands, of course.
Birthdays are so much fun here! They gave me a flan that was out of this world!

Watched an episode of «Diners, Drive in’s and Dives». Rincon Criollo was featured on the show. I was excited to learn that an authentic Cuban restaurant was located in Queens. I grew up as a young lad in Corona, so we decided to venture out to try this place.
The joint is literally a few hundred feet from the NYC number 7 train station off Roosevelt ave. When we first walked in the servers were polite and seated us quickly. We were also greeted by the chef/​owner Rudy who was on the show and was working the floor that night. Unbeknownst to me as we sat down, a fellow Unilocaler and friend «Long K» recognized me and quickly introduced himself first via an instant message on Unilocal.«Long K» was funny as he wanted to put me at ease to not think he was creepy for recognizing me. LOL!
My wife thought it was kind of cool to have someone on Unilocal recognize me. It was nice to finally meet a fellow Unilocaler for the 1^st time without going to a Unilocal event. I Hope to meet more fellow Unilocalers in the future in Elite and UYE events though. Thanks «Long K»! because of you my wife actually thinks I’m sort of like a «Movie Star» minus the good looks and money!
We were hungry and I wished I would have read «Long K’s» review about calling up to place your order for the Paella since it does take an hour to cook, but we didn’t have the time or patience to wait that long for our food. I’ll savor the paella for another date. We ordered the Rolled Steak which was a Cuban version of «chicken cordon bleu» minus the chicken and rolled in what appears to be a flank steak pounded thin and stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese and deep fried. The rolled steak was delicious, I mean who doesn’t like meat and melted cheese together, right? A huge portion size cut into 3 segments.
We also ordered the ½ Rincon Crioillo chicken — Garlic chicken deep fried and topped with raw sweet onions coated with garlic. The chicken was moist and delicious and the raw onions coupled together with the chicken made my mouth and taste buds happy!
The sides were amazingly good, we had the beans and rice cooked together, cassava with garlic, sweet plantains and as the owner Rudy calls them «Cuban fries» actually they were regular cut fries that were a little on the soggy side. We were so stuffed we passed on the dessert, but had to have the Cuban coffee, my wife asked Rudy is it really Cuban? Rudy responded by telling her «As Cuban as it gets». I agree, a Cuban man brewing Cuban Coffee beans is as Cuban as it gets! Veridict! The coffee was strong almost espresso like, but not bitter with a very smooth finish and taste.
The staff here is so genuine and kind and you can see the love they have for the customer’s and it’s sincere and not contrived. This place truly is a Gem in an area heavily populated by latino restaurants. Rincon Criollo as Rudy said earlier to my wife «It’s as Cuban as it gets! Que the «Charanga» music!

I like this Cuban restaurant. I keep coming back here. This place is good for group. My favorite menu are Rincon Criollo Chicken and Codfish Fritters.
I try to make sure to eat Rincon Criollo chicken every time I come here. It is my boyfriend’s favorite, too, so even if I don’t order it, I will pick his, and taste it:) You can order Rincon Criollo as either entrée or appetizer. When you order it, tell the wait staff to chop the chicken and add extra garlic sauce (or garlic sauce on the side). This is the best way to eat Rincon Criollo chicken, I think.
I saw many groups were celebrating birthday here. If you tell the restaurant that you are celebrating a birthday, one of the wait staff (maybe he is a manager?) will bring a flan with a candle with happy birthday song. He wears funny glasses and after happy birthday song, he does funny dancing, too. We talked with him before, he was very friendly and told us his story how he moved to New York.
I think the best way to enjoy this restaurant is going there in a group, and share different appetizers and try each others entrée.
* I am adding this after I posted the review, but I forgot to mention Rincon Criollo Appetizer. This is assortment of appetizer. (Chorizo, ham, cheese, olive and turkey (chicken?)) It was good, too. I want to order again.

PAELLA craving fulfilled. Pro Tip: Call in advance before arriving to the restaurant, the paella takes at least 1 hour to cook! Also pretty interesting to watch how this place does it, videos online from Guy Fieri’s Triple D’s!
Advertised as portions for 2 people, this giant vat of steaming rice, chicken and seafood definitely feeds at least 3 – 5. A must order if you’re coming here. Only complaint was that it may be a bit salty after a while. Vaca Frita was a good dish of shredded beef, which was a bit salty as well, but still delicious protein. We got sides of maduros and fried yuca (not on menu but our server had no issue getting that done for us) which were perfect. The Coconut Flan for dessert fills in the remaining gaps in your stomach and will make you sleep easy at night.
Service is super friendly, but can fall off a bit when the place gets busy. You should come here for someone’s birthday occasion… just to watch all the lights go down and hilarious celebration with disco lights ensue. They go hard for peoples birthdays here…

Don’t listen to Guy Fieri, by far the worse tasting cuban food in NYC in my opinion.
The food is tasteless, no flavor whatsoever, I had to add salt to all of the dishes ordered. I chicharon the pollo needed to be cooked more, it was a bit undercooked, the yuca had no taste, nobody even touched the beans, the rice with Black beans was also flavorless, the carne Frita was a fried mess.
The atmosphere is pretty nice, they play nice music and the staff is very friendly and attentive.
I do not recommend the food, Guy Fieri is a liar, when have you ever heard him say that something was flavorless or not good on the show?

Still a fav. Bisteck empanizado, moros and platanitos, ensalda de aguacate. y Materva. oYe chico!