Guanaticos Restaurant
Guanaticos Restaurant
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
2 reviews
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My sister from another mother is from Siquirres, Costa Rica and the food there is AMAZING!
I'm happily excited that she found this place 10 mins from her house in NJ.
Their gallo pinto satisfies the soul! They have Salchichón made out of beef which makes me a happy camper!
If you try this neighborhood spot you will not be disappointed!
Guanaticos Restaurant is located on the corner of Tichenor and Irvington, near Inkosi's Cafe. Inside, you'll see maybe eight to ten tables with lamps hovering over each of them. There's also an island/drink bar at the front.
Chicken Empanadas ($2/ea): These were served hot and fresh from the fryer, which is always an 'A+' in my books. Although I found these to be nice and crispy, the chicken filling was pretty sparse. The sauce accompanying this did not help, either. It was like regular tomato sauce. It was alright, but I have certainly had better.
Pork Pupusas ($2/ea): It was okay. These are better than the pupusas that I've had elsewhere, but not by much. I tasted the corn masa more than I did the chicharron, but it was served hot and fresh. The sauce served with this is the same one served with the empanadas.
Guanaticos Dinner ($18): This is served with a large (whole) steak grilled to a slight char, half an avocado, white rice, plantains, fries, and two over-medium fried eggs. The steak was seasoned well, giving the charred fat on the edges good flavor and saltiness. However, do note that the cut they use has quite a bit of cartilage–I'm think it's a chuck steak but I could be wrong. The plantains were pretty disappointing–they were fried just the way they should be, but it was flavorless.
Bistec Encebollado ($12.95): I was surprised at the lack of onions. For a dish like this, I was expecting at least half of a medium-sized onion to be used, but that's fine. The sauce and meat were flavorful (not too salty), but the bistec could have been a little more tender. This is served with rice and a side salad.
Pargo Rojo Frito ($14.95): My table ordered this after seeing the size of the fried red snapper in another Yelper's photo. However, we were surprised to see how small the fish was when it was served. It was fried pretty well and was accompanied by what tasted like a yogurt-based sauce. Flavor wise, no complaints. The seasoning was spot on.
Tamarindo ($2.50): Perfect. I'm guessing they make this on their own since it is not as sweet as the store-bought versions. There is sugar mixed in, but it usually settles on the bottom of the glass, so just stir it before taking a sip.
All in all, we thought the food was "A-OK." The service was great–everyone here is friendly.