Tropical Star Restaurant & Specialty Market

Officially give up now on trying to find a Puerto Rican spot. I was excited to not have to make pasteles in Cali. Or so I thought I wouldn’t ever have to again. Although it was the best thing I ordered, the arroz con gandules was so dry.
For $ 10 it wasn’t worth it, of course the lady assumed I didn’t know Spanish… Spoke to everyone in Spanish except me. Latinas come in all colors just an FYI. Some of us have light eyes and skin too. They overcharge on the products they sell too.

Confession: We haven’t eaten the food here yet (only because we got done chowing down local Mexican fare elsewhere), but we were in the mood for something sweet.
This is a local shop owned by a family in the middle of a strip mall of Balboa Avenue. It’s easy to miss and not even know that it is an ethnic foods place when you simply drive by it.
They did not have the Arroz Con Leche when we visited, but we tried the Tembleque (Puerto Rican coconut dessert), and the Brazilian Passionfruit mousse. The Passionfruit was way too sweet for our palate (and it does not have added sugar-​purely from the fruit), but the Tembleque was a soft pillow of seduction on our tongue. In fact, I had to remind my husband to please not eat all of it :) and save me some.
On Saturdays, they serve a special soup that they cook in the early hours. I forgot the name of it, but we want to go back and check it out.
I loved browsing the products in the store. It may seem small and cramped to some, but the warmth and intimacy is real and inviting.
I think it is easy for a place like this to hide within a shopping district, but you really do not want to miss out on family-​cooked foods and treats. This is a place we will come again, and definitely want our kids to be exposed to more of the Latina culture!

Friend recommended Tropical Star Restaurant some time ago when I was on a Cuban sandwich obsession. I had driven by this tiny restaurant so many times but had never visited. Tropical Star offers Caribbean style food with recipes from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central and South America.
They are located right next to Noble Chef. There’s ample parking in the private lot. You order at the cashier and they bring the food to your table when ready.
We tried:
Pastelillo /​Pastéis $ 2.95:
— I couldn’t help but order this deep fried savory pastry as it was only $ 2.95. We opted for beef. The ground beef tasted nicely seasoned with bits of peppers and onions. The flaky crust was crunchy and well fried.
Chicharrón Con Arepa $ 4.25:
— You get two pieces of deep fried pork rinds. The pork skin wasn’t that great as the bend in the rinds reflected the unwanted plastic-​y feel you get when you bite into the skin. The pork fat and the little bit of meat in this chicharron appetizer was nice though. Unfortunately the arepa tasted brittle and dry. It made me miss the arepa sandwiches I had at Arepex Grill last year.
Cuban $ 6.95 (+$ 2 for avocado):
— The hot pressed sandwich tasted nice especially with the ridiculously creamy ripe avocados. The slices of pork were tender and flavorful. I can’t remember the cheese that was used but wished that the sandwich was pressed longer to melt the cheese. Cdj and I couldn’t help but compare this sandwich to The Cubano we recently tried at Havana Grill just down the street. Overall the Cuban here at Tropical Star was a delicious sandwich.
Lomo Saltado $ 10.50:
— The strips of beef are sauteed with tomatoes, onions, cilantro AND french fries. That’s the potato component of this dish. Friend said the slices of beef tasted a bit tough and chewy compared to previous visits. I’m not used to seeing french fries sauteed with anything so this dish is unique for me. He finished the plate and said it was fine.
I noticed they sold the avocados they used for the Cuban sandwich. I can’t express how HUGE these imported avocados are. The father picked out two that he said would be perfect for me. Look at the pic to see how beautiful these avocados turned out. It was one of the best avocados I’ve ever purchased. I would come back to purchase these in a heartbeat.
Service was great. The girl who took our order is the daughter of the owners. I can’t remember her name but her personality is the backbone to Tropical Star Restaurant & Specialty Market. I believe her father is also the chef of the restaurant. I would visit Tropical Star again to try out more items on their menu.

I don’t know why I have never gone here, I am not a real big fam of Mexican food, or for that matter Latin food… I saw a review yesterday and checked out this place. I looked at their menu and I decided to call in. I ordered the arroz con pollo. Mucho delicious! It was a great portion, and the taste was great on the rice. The chicken was so tender and just fell off the other chicken in my carryout bin. I know black beans are just black beans, but the ones with this order where mighty tasty. Just enough pizzazz, I wanted more… next time extra. I guess you can order red beans, I decided to go with the traditional black beans. The place was small when you enter the doorway, there was a long line of take out orders. The food that was being brought to serve looked really appetizing. The lady at the registers seems only to speak Spanish, so hopeful you will be able to communicate. I speak enough to get me by.
They have a pleathora of teas, coffees, tortillas (corn and flour) for sale, they also have pots, and pans. they have chocolate, and dulce. I like going I and seeing the theatrics of it all. They were busy and catering to this customer and the next… I felt like I was in a sitcom on Netflix, called Bodega. The food was great… next time something different. I am glad I did not miss this Latin lil’ gem.

Tropical Star, a little slice of Latin heaven. So it’s been around for about 15 – 20 years (!) and I finally wandered in one time a few years ago. I actually first went in on the recommendation of a coworker of mine because she made empanadas for our work potluck and said they have a great frozen pre-​made dough– I was trying to emulate her grandma’s recipe. So for a couple visits I would just go there for that dough and also the frozen acai to make acai bowls at home. One day I ordered like half the menu for take-​out for the family and I and I swear everything we got was delicious. We got 2 kinds of empanadas, a papa rellena (fried mashed potato ball with meat filling), lomo saltado (heavenly.) We like to try different things each time and honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu… we haven’t tried EVERYTHING yet, but getting there. I love how it’s a small mom and pop feel to the shop and there’s all these goods you can take home to create your own yumz. There aren’t a lot of places like it in San Diego or if there are than I’m unaware? Check them out, you won’t be sorry!

Friendly service but disappointed with the rice and beans. I’ve been missing the Dominican and Puerto Rican rice and bean spots in NYC and was recommended this place for the closest taste to home… rice was good but a bit salty and the beans were not flavorful. Still craving a rice and bean fix. A bit pricey too

First time here yesterday night. Went for the food. Had Ropa Vieja combo and Avocado Salad. It was DELICIOUS!!! – except for the black beans –they tasted like they were canned or something. They were kind of hard. I will definitely be back!
So much stuff crammed in that little place!
Wish they didn’t use styrofoam…
Service was pleasant too

When I saw Colombiana and Postobon Manzana I knew I was going to like this place! These are awesome sodas with flavors you’ve probably never imagined in a soda (it totally works though)
My bf did the ordering so I cannot recall the plate name but we had chorizo, dark sausage, patacones, little potato balls, an arepa, fried yucca, and chicharrones. We also got a few empanadas to share and an arepa con queso.
Overall food quality was really good, the empanadas and chorizo were my favorite. The arepa con queso was delicious and the green sauce made the potatoes and fried yucca 10x better.
My favorite part was the service. The girl working had such an awesome sense of humor and speaks Spanish and English so everyone felt comfortable. She was so personable we all agreed that she made the experience even better.
There are also groceries and goods you can buy when you’re done with your meal if you need some imported products that aren’t sold here!

Came here for lunch because hubby had buy one get one free coupon which saves us some money.
As we walk in, it’s a small little shop with a few tables and snacks and desserts around the mom and pop place. It was cool to see snacks on the shelves right across from the table. The menus are up front when you go to the cashier. You order your food at the cashier and pay. The nice lady brings out your food and utensils.
Hubby ordered me a number 5 which consists of pieces of pork slices, white rice, beans and banana plantains cooked to perfection. The pork was tasty and soft. The banana plantains remind me of the Filipino dessert called Turon without the lumpia wrapper. So good! The rice and beans were good. Overall, food was delicious! I drank a Coke life which had real sugar and stevia. I normally don’t drink sodas but I needed one today!
The only negative was there was no air conditioning inside on this hot day but they had ceiling fans running! Parking is limited since it shares its parking with other businesses in this shopping center.
The food is worth trying if you want something different to eat. Very delicious food prepared by the owners of this place! I highly recommend it!

2^nd time trying it and again I wasn’t impressed I tried to give it a second chance and I wasn’t happy… the lady at the front was nice but when we were asking what was some items pictured in the menu it’s like she was getting annoyed, I was happy to finally find a place I could come and get items from Costa Rica but they seem
To not have any selection so yeah I would only come back for my salsa Lizano. Slow service, brought out the two appetizers 30 mins apart.

Went to this restaurant /​small market and I totally love this place as well as the courteous service provided by friendly staff. Although, images shared by patrons might male the local seem bigger, the food totally rocks. I just wished they would expand.
Great Puerto Rican as well as Latino fellow counties food for reasonable prices.
I highly recommend this place.

I love this place! The place I come when I need a home cooked meal, 400+ miles from home. Food is tasty and service is impeccable. Not only can you come for a bite of Puerto Rican, Peruvian, Salvadorian, Cuban etc type food. You can also buy Latin spices that are hard to get at any other specialty store.
Try their Lomo Saltado, an authentic Peruvian beef dish that will leave you drooling. Thank you Tropical Star for the years of service!

First time here. The man upfront was very friendly and courteous. We ordered: cuban sandwich w/​salad, bandeja Paisa & side of arroz w/​gandules. They have a good variety of items on menu. The prices are cheap and the portions are decent. I loved their little market. They have several items on shelf, refrigerator & in freezer: food, sausage, yogurt, crackers, desserts, sauces & cookware.
The location is really small, but there are about 5 tables inside and two outside. Seating is either for four or two. But, they do have about two high chairs for kids. The place is packed from floor to ceiling of food items or accessories. Lots to look at while you wait for your food. Plenty of parking in strip mall. Not good for groups.
I was really looking forward to trying it, but the food was not great. The meat in sandwich was skimpy and the flavor was very bland. I was constantly putting Goya chipotle sauce on it to add some flavor. The salad lacked dressing. The bandeja Paisa was good but greasy. The best thing was the side of rice. It was a large portion, enough for two people and yummy. I was really disappointed in the food. I’ll give it another chance, but I’m not driving back any time soon.

This place use to be sooooo much better. Food is ok, not great like it use to. There are certain things that might come out to greasy or «taste funny». if you go later on the day you run the risk of them «running out» of a certain item for your plate.
My biggest issue is the cleanliness and hygiene. The place seems dirty and to go to the bathroom you have to walk through the kitchen. My wife won’t go back after she so a small cockroach in one of the walls.
I still go to buy some of the import products but not eat anymore.

South American Products available. I will not get tired of recommending this place to my Latinos in town.
Many people think that you can find latin products at a Mexican market. But as much as I love my fresh tortillas and many other delicious treats that I find at my near by Mexican mercado I will gladly driver the six miles an half that it takes me to get here.
To my South American people out there this is one of the stores who carries the largest variety of products. From green plantains to Malta and all kinds of cereal, cooking goods and plenty more.
They have hot food items always fresh and delicious. From a quick empanadas to a Plato Paisa.
Love this place cannot get enough from it.

I Love the food and the service
The people are very friendly very family friendly I go as many times as I can to eat and shop a little

The go to spot if you want some good Puerto Rican food, hey have Alcapurias, empanadillas, stuffed potatoe balls, Cuban sandwiches and a few other dishes from different countries. Inside is like a bodega! Love it here

when I am craving something from the motherland… I come here! they have just about everything you could imagine from most latin countries. I met the owners, very friendly and always happy to chit chat.
I come here at least once a month. when I craving some empanadas, sweet plantains, or just need some colombian cooking spices like triguisar !!
well, if you are colombian and grew up there most of your childhood, then this place is a hidden gem. they have all the traditional dishes,
–arroz con pollo
–bandeja paisa
–tamal colombiano
–picada colombiana
*other treats also include: bon bon bum, jet chocolatinas, bocadillo, frozen arepas. I gotten them before… not bad. but bummer they are not fresh. like the ones you buy in bogota, … darn… i miss bogota’s street food!
–they have colombiana soda, also pony malta [ my favorite soda growing up] also they sell the chocolate bars and the metal pans. just like they make it in colombia…
if you do come here, remember is a small market and restaurant so your dish might take a while come out… be patient, catch up on your social feeds, take some pictures… maybe even write a review or 2.
–since the place is small… there 3 or 4 tables that sit 2 and 3 tables that sit 4 on the inside and I think 2 outdoor tables that sit 4 or 5.
I normally end up here while running errands in clairemont. thank you guys for making all our favorite things from colombia and other latin countries so easily accessible! yummy in my tummy!!!
… darn. I am writing this review before dinner time and long after lunch… might just go there right after work!

«You can get this stuff at little corner stores called ‘bodegas.’ Say it with me, BO-​DE-​GAS…» — Thurgood Jenkins, Half Baked 1998
For over 15 years, I’ve lived about 2 miles away from this place… and I finally discovered it a couple weeks ago. This is just a small Hole-​In-​The-​Wall Latin/​South American grocery store and eatery that has quite an extensive menu of unique and tasty foods from Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Venezuela, and more… and all for pretty cheap! Appears to be run by small friendly family.
$ 2.50 Papa Rellena: potato puff, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, filled with seasoned beef… effing delish!
$ 2.75 Colombian Empanadas: seasoned potato and beef in a deep fried pastry… effing delish!
$ 2.50 Coxinha: kinda of like giant empanada with chicken… effing delish!
Argentinan Empanadas: Deep fried pastries with chicken and a chimichurri sauce… effing delish!
$ 10.50 Pabellon Venezolano: Venezuelan seasoned beef, white rice, black beans, fried ripe plantains, and a cornmeal griddle cake… effing delish!
$ 8.95 Filete de Pescado Paulista: Breaded fish filet in Brazilian spices… effing delish!
$ 5.95 Cubano sandwich with fries… effing delish! Does it get any cheaper than this? :)
4.5 Stars as the environment isn’t the best place for a first date or anniversary dinner. Combo plates are on the smaller size, so get an appetizer too. No booze.
Unilocalers…please tell me about your favorite Hole-​in-​the-​Walls! :D

After a trip to Puerto Rico in September I’ve been missing the food we had there. So this past Saturday my girlfriend surprised me by taking me to this gem of a place. The place is ran by a lovely couple and they really know how to bring it. We ordered the chuletas with rice and beans, arroz con pollo, tostones and a relleno. Great stuff overall and the ambiance of the location is great. Feels like being back
In Puerto Rico.