Mercado Pueblo

This is a little hole in the wall Latino grocery store with a hot foods counter where you can create your own plate combination and take it to go. Super cheap, friendly employees, and whatever you order is going to be fresh, hot and delicious. The owners are Dominican but the food is a combinaton of Dominican, PuertoRican and Cuban. Cuban sandwich — awesome. Steak sandwich — awesome. Cuerito (crunchy greasy pork skin) — awesome.
My favorite combinations: Steak and onions (bistec encebollado), yellow rice with pigeon peas (arroz con gandules), and yucca en escabechi (yucca with onions & peppers in warm vinaigrette). Or go full-​blown PuertoRican and get Roast pork with mojo (pernil con mojito), yellow rice (arroz amarillo), stewed red beans with pumpkin (habichuelas rojas con calabaza), and sweet plantains (maduros). Another good one is Mofongo. This is a big ball of mashed garlic green plantains and you can top it off with your choice of meat. The best way to eat Mofongo is by topping it with a big ladle full of Carne Guisada (beef stew) or Bistec encebollado (Steak and onions — and ask them to scoop up the pan juices from the bottom to put on your mofongo too!).
If you have never tried Latin food, or you have but were never really impressed by it, go here. If you are unfamiliar with the menu and don’t know how to order, then try one of my recommendations. You can’t go wrong.