NYC's Best Puerto Rican Restaurants

Every June the annual National Puerto Rican Parade takes place in New York City, one of the largest parades in the country. The parade celebrates the rich Puerto Rican culture — a culture that has influenced New York City in various ways for many years. Puerto Ricans form the second largest Hispanic group in the United States, so as you can imagine, the parade is quite the celebration.The event includes dancing, marching bands, celebrities, pageants, and lots of food. The parade usually takes place along Fifth Avenue between 44th and 86th streets and starts at 11 a.m. Bring your dancing shoes!Start prepping for the big day by visiting some of the best Puerto Rican restaurants NYC has to offer!La Taza de Oro96 Eighth Avenue, ManhattanNearby trains: A, C, E to 14th Street; L to Eighth AvenueDefinitely a mom and pop restaurant, La Taza de Oro (The Gold Cup) is reminiscent of Chelsea’s Nuyorican culture before gentrification. You can’t go wrong with any dish on the menu, just make sure to order the rice and beans!Sofrito400 East 57th Street, ManhattanNearby trains: E, M to Lexington Avenue/53th StreetOnce you step into Sofrito, you will notice that it’s the complete opposite of La Taza de Oro. The restaurant is much trendier and located in Midtown East, although just as La Taza de Oro, the food is excellent. Enjoy delicious Puerto Rican small dishes, as well as some tasty mojitos.Sazón105 Reade Street, ManhattanNearby trains: 1, 2, 3 to Chambers StreetSazón is Sofrito’s sister restaurant, and you will immediately be able to tell. Also a trendy spot that’s located in Tribeca, you won’t want to miss the plantain sandwiches and the tasty Puerto Rican dish mofongo (boiled mashed plantains).Casa Adela66 Avenue C, ManhattanNearby train: F to Second Avenue Located in the East Village, Casa Adela definitely takes it back to the Nuyorican days of this storied neighborhood. Renowned for its rotisserie chicken, I’d also recommend ordering their delicious café con leche.To learn more about the National Puerto Rican Parade, visit the organization’s website.