188 Bakery Cuchifritos

"This Bronx institution is a pork specialist, serving stewed pig ears, crackly chicharrón, and garlicky mofongo mixed with pernil since 1983. The counter-service spot is mostly geared toward takeout, with a handful of stools, a few tables, and big trays of frituras lounging in the window. Grab a softball-sized papa rellena, and don’t skip the rich and crumbly morcilla." - marisel salazar, bryan kim

"The sign above the entrance with a cartoon pig on it looks like it belongs to a carnival, and, in a sense, it does. This Bronx institution is a carnival of pork, serving stewed pig ears, crackly chicharron, and garlicky mofongo mixed with pernil in Fordham since 1983. Lit by long fluorescent lights, the counter-service spot is brighter than the sun, with a handful of stools, a few tables, and big trays of frituras lounging in the window. Grab a softball-sized papa rellena, and don’t skip the rich and crumbly morcilla." - Bryan Kim

"Open since 1982, 188 Bakery Cuchifritos is a Caribbean neighborhood staple for orders of chicharrones, pernil, cuajito (meaty pig stomach), as well as morcilla. Of the latter, critic Ryan Sutton says, “the sausage...serves as a reminder that if you’re not considering Puerto Rican pork within the scope of the city’s grand meat and charcuterie traditions, you’re not doing it right.”" - Eater Staff

"Jose Coto’s nearly 40-year-old Fordham Heights lunch counter remains one of the city’s most vital temples to pork. Watch in awe as counter workers cleave through a golden chicharron Dominicano — a crunchy and gelatinous pork candy bar of sorts — then feast on anything that looks good, including garlicky pernil, starchy alcapurrias (empanadas made from yucca), filling mofongo platters, and aromatic cups of morir soñando forged from freshly squeezed orange juice and condensed milk. Do not by any means overlook the morcilla, a bouncy and light blood sausage with a fragrant cilantro kick." - Korsha Wilson, Brianne Garrett, Ryan Sutton

"Jose Coto’s Caribbean lunch counter remains a fantastically porky establishment for a quick, affordable bite in Fordham Heights. Literally order anything: the chewy alcapurrias, tender pernil, starchy mofongo, crisp chicharrones, or bouncy blood sausages with cilantro." - Eater Staff