Cuchifritos
“Spend the 30 minutes on the 6 train and enjoy the atmosphere of the best Spanish Harlem has to offer.”
“That thing turned out to be a relleno de papa, mashed potato ball filled with meat, then fried…it was soooo good.”
“I only get the yellow rice and red beans, but I am sure the white rice and black beans are just as good.”
Cuchifritos
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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I think, I am not sure but this store has been here since I was a kid. I remember passing by these cuchifrito joints as a kid and kept wondering what it was. While I was in J.H.S., my friend's mom took me home but before she did, she made a pit stop into a cuchifrito place (I can't remember if it was this store was it was on 116th street) and bought us a fried round thingy. That thing turned out to be a relleno de papa, mashed potato ball filled with meat, then fried…it was soooo good.
I saw on yelp that this place was still around. I dropped by after visiting family in the area. I bought 2 each, of the alcapurrias and relleno de papa. I ended up taking it home to eat. When I got home, I had a relleno de papa. It was warm but on the cool side. It was okay…I actually liked it better when I pan-toasted it, giving the thin dough on the outside, a nice toasty crunch to it. Same with the alcapurrias.
I would definitely pass by again and pick up more stuff for home.
I am very very unfamiliar with this type of food and have had to ask the people around me for suggestions every time I come. I've come here twice and both times they have not disappointed. The first time I got a rotisserie chicken piece with yellow rice and beans. The second time I got pork with yellow rice and beans. I am a huge fan of the beans. When you drizzle it over the rice it is just so good. They also give huge portions here and it has lasted me at least two meals every time I order food from here. The staff is also very friendly. This place is very popular so when you come expect to wait a while before getting your order in.
Their papa rellena still wins and I find comfort in their striped shirts BUT the mofongo was depressing.
Since coming back home I have been longing for good mofongo and thought I would find that at Sandy's or this cuchifrito. Face palm. The chicharon was old and dry. Horrible. Their juices were also weak.
I will be back, because this place and the papas are like a time travel machine to the days of my youth. But, I'll stick to Sandy's for my other needs.
Don't ever listen to Anthony Bourdain, I visited this Cuchifrito spot only because I seen it on Tv and the food look so good. This is not the first time I have. Wen disappointed by something looking good on tv but not as good in real life lol. When have you ever heard these Tv show hosts like Anthony Bourdain or Guy Fieri say that the good is bad? NEVER.
I guess it's a hit or miss and this spot was definitely a miss for me. I was in the area and had bookmarked this place in Yelp because it looked good on Tv, I ordered a few items to go such blood sausage and chicken soup and the food was not good at all flavorless. This is what happens when you eat with your eyes.
I will never return nor ever listen to Any recommendations by Anthony Bourdain.
Good Lord is this place good! Traditional Puerto Rican fried food and "cuchifrito". What is even better is that they are now using real, high quality ground beef! It used to bug me before that the meat tasted odd- as in canned?
The "taco" (a roll of dough stuffed with spicy beef and deep fried), alcapurria (a fried food product which is stuffed with beef and the outside is made from plantains and certain traditional tubers), papa rellena (beef stuffed potato ball) and the platano relleno (a ripened plantain deep fried, split down the middle and a mound of deliciously prepared ground beef, topped with marinated red pepper strips and peas- a little taste of heaven on earth)
Their non-fried selection ranges from the tame (rotisserie chicken or pernil-roasted pork with rice and beans) to tripe, pigs feet, tongue, pig ears, etc. Some items may offend the average American sensibilities but they are DELICIOUS if you are willing to be a little adventurous!)
Definitely feels like you're in Puerto Rico for this treasure. Expect a longer line – you can order at the counter outside (in nicer weather) or inside. Don't expect a seat, unless you're patient and quick to grab an empty place at the counter.
The jugos (juices) were delicious – the coco is my favorite, but it's quite sweet. I ordered the especialidad de la casa: fried chicken chunks with mofongo. I've been to PR, and this mofongo was decent. A little dry, but had nice crunchy bits (I think chicharrones?) inside. The chicken was hot, high quality, and all white meat. Two of us split it for $12.50. Plenty of food, but expect a longer wait than the delicious snacks under the heat lamp.
Seemed like a hit with locals, would definitely return. Would recommend knowing a bit of Spanish to order, but certainly not required. Come to see the beautiful cacophony that is Cuchifritos, and enjoy the fried deliciousness while you're there.
Stick with the small snacks, a buck or two each, and eat inside or outside on the street immediately, for maximum enjoyment. The flavor profiles are rather narrow, nothing is particularly distinctive, seasoning is minimal, it's all sort of neutral, relying on textures — crunchy on the outside and mushy on the inside, fried of stewed, with or without meat. Some might call it bland, but it's authentic, I just wish that the sauces were a little more zesty, the garlic isn't very garlicky and the hot doesn't have much heat. Dry whole bird.
A great find. A no frills shop. We got their $18 combo which included a whole chicken, yellow rice, beans (habichuelas), salad, and 32 oz. of agua fresca. Fed 3 adults and 2 children. The chicken was on point. The spices and crispiness of the skin were all so good.
The yellow rice and the beans were so good too. My kids gobbled them up.
It is a little busy inside and pretty noisy so it's probably best to take it to-go. There is a counter with some high stools but it can get packed.