NEW YORK (PIX11) — The tri-state area is home to close to 1 million people of Dominican heritage, according to data from the Hispanic Federation.
From the Boogie Down Bronx to the Washington Heights, neighborhoods in Queens, and scattered across New Jersey, the region offers a number of Dominican restaurants, serving up Monfongo, Mangu, and Pernil.
Using Google to identify restaurants with over 1,000 reviews and four stars, PIX11 News compiled a list of the best Dominican restaurants in New York and New Jersey.
“Excelente Dominican joint in the Bronx," Ray Rosa wrote on Google reviews. “We had the Slider Chimis, Mofonguitos, and smoked pork chops with fried yuca. Everything was well prepared, well presented, and quickly served. The ambiance here is that of a country home in the Dominican Republic. I definitely recommend this place!”
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“I’ve been coming here for about 20 years,” one reviewer stated. "The food and service have always been great. As with the rest of the world, prices have gone up, but service and flavor weren’t sacrificed.”
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“Take me to a place where I can have a delicious home-cooked meal. This Dominican restaurant is where it's at,” wrote reviewer Brenda Reynoso. “Whenever I visit them, I'm never disappointed as their dishes are always bussin with flavor. Don't forget to try their sancocho and pair it with a Presidente beer!
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“I've been coming here for over 40 years,” wrote Michael Mancebo. "It's absolutely the best Chicharron, period. Mrs. got Morcilla and Tostones, and the daughter got Longaniza and Tostones. Very efficient service and the food was delicious, as always!”
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“I came with my family to visit New York/New Jersey from Texas, and this is truly a hidden gem in Union City,” wrote Rosa Santana. Santana also mentioned the food was "flavorful and tasty" and that the service was top-tier.
More top Dominican restaurants in New Jersey:
The National Dominican Day Parade will be held in Manhattan on Aug. 11. PIX11 is the proud broadcast partner of the parade. You can watch the parade live on PIX11 and PIX11.com beginning at 2 p.m.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.