Bistro Taino

Came here for my best friend birthday and we were so pleasantly surprised with how amazing our lunch turned out❤️ This was such a special birthday and the service as well as the food made this Experience 100 times better. From the Chefs to the servers, the service here is 10 out of 10. They are attentive, and truly some of the sweetest people you ever meet. Being a Puerto Rican and coming to a restaurant like this feels like home. The food was so true and delicious. It truly just feels like I’m back home!!!🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷 The Acho Mano cocktail and the Pollo Jibaro was my favorite and we finished off the meal with an espresso shot. That was so needed after that delicious meal . I can’t stress enough. How fantastic the food on the service here. If you love Puerto Rican food or even if you just like good service, please come here and support this wonderful restaurant.

If you’re looking for true Puerto Rican comfort food made with love, Bistro Taino is a must-visit. From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with warm hospitality and the delicious aroma of home-style cooking. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and authentic. Dishes like mofongo, pernil, arroz con gandules, and pasteles are prepared just right seasoned perfectly and served generously. Every bite reminds you of island cooking and family meals made from the heart. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, making it a great place for both quick lunches and relaxed dinners. The staff is friendly, attentive, and makes you feel like part of the family. Whether you’re Puerto Rican missing home flavors or someone wanting to experience real Caribbean cuisine, Bistro Taino delivers every time. Highly recommended for quality, taste, and genuine culture.

We had the most incredible experience celebrating my daughter’s 5th birthday and Valentine’s Day at Bistro Taino! From the moment we walked in, Benito, the owner, was so attentive and made us feel truly welcomed — like family. The food was absolutely out of this world. The tostones de pana were unforgettable, and the churrasco, arroz con gandules, pasteles, and mofongo were beyond delicious. Every bite made us feel like we were back in Puerto Rico! What made the night even more special was how they treated my daughter. They made her feel like a princess on her birthday. The lead singer of the band sang to her and even danced with her — it was such a magical moment that we will always remember. We will definitely be making the hour-and-a-half drive again. It was worth every single mile. Highly recommend to anyone looking for authentic Puerto Rican food and an unforgettable atmosphere!

I am A Puerto Rican that lives in New Jersey and part time in Puerto Rico.. I am a foodie that spends my life look looking for great food especially Puerto Rican.. because there are so many great restaurants in Puerto Rico i have yet to find great Puerto Rican Food in my area until i found ThIs place, the decor puts me in Puerto Rico for a few hours.. This is by far the best Puerto Rican restaurant in the state… The Ropa Vieja is like my mother used to make… over the last year i have tried many of the dishes and all have been amazing.. Unlike many Restaurants on the island the service here is first class (if you have been to PR you will get the joke) our waiter Jacob treated us like family and impressed me when he knew what A Carajillo is (great drink with coffee and 43) one could not ask for a better waiter The Chef And Owner Benny is a well trained artist when it comes to taking traditional Puerto Rican dishes to the next level, and an excellent host when it comes to making everyone feel at home. The most demanding foodies will be satisfied.

I never have a bad experience coming here. The food is amazing and the staff are as well. Jacob was our server he always greets us when we come in. If you haven’t tried this place you need to!

My favorite bartender, Jacob! The best customer service & hand picked drinks for us; despite us not having any idea what to order! Friendliest environment I have entered in a while. 10/10 recommend! Our drinks are attached. 🍸🍸

The food was authentic and delicious. The restaurant has an amazing vibe with great decor. Our waitress Ana was very friendly and warm and had knowledge of all the offerings. Thank you and we will be back again.

This place never disappoints. They always make you feel like home and the service is excellent especially when your being catered by JACOB! He is the best and his drinks are top notch . Ty guys for your service ♥️

2/15/25 It was late and we were looking for somewhere that was still open that was not a diner. Bistro Taino fit the bill. The front parking was full and as we turned around the back we found a parking lot. Phew LOL Love the mural in back. Iconic image of San Juan. Went inside and the tropical vibe continued. It felt like we were in PR. Salsa was playing. Absolutely love the vibe. Buscando Guayaba & Pina Colada definitely gave us the Island vibe. Pasteles and Bacalaito were delicious. Hubby thought the bacalaito were too thin, personally I preferred it. It was like Chinese Scallion pancake thickness which I preferred. When it's thicker it taste drier. Asopao de Camarones so much flavor in each bite loved it. I forgot the name on the specials menu, but it's Rice with Beans and Bacon, Chicharrones, Alcapurria, Fried Yuca and Pasteles all on one plate. Everything was delicious. Definitely will be back to try other items on the menu. Sabrina was attentive and friendly and welcoming.

This past Saturday night, it was getting late for dinner (past 2000 hours) and my wife and I were getting hungry. We felt like eating LatinX food, so right away we thought of the town of Passaic. We tried finding eateries where it'll still be opened by the time we got there, but very few were staying opened past 2100 hours or if they were opened past 2100, these places became a lounge type of establishment with super loud music and drunk patrons, which wasn't our scene. As luck would have it, Google stated that Bistro Taíno's kitchen was closing at 2200, and when I called to verify this, I was told that the last meal would be served by 2130. I drove to Bistro Taíno as fast as I could legally do so. We got there by 2040. We were lead to our seats. The place has a nice island decor, with lots of Puerto Rican phrases and imageries. Sabrina was our server, she's jovial, friendly and helpful. For drinks my wife got a Virgin Piña Colada, I got me a Buscando Guayaba (Toasted Coconut infused with Buchanan's scotch, guava, lime & aromatic Vanilla). My wife enjoyed her Virgin Colada and I enjoyed my Guava drink, my wife complained that my Guava drink had too much alcohol (this coming from a person that doesn't drink alcohol lol) I explained to her that it's fantastic that they didn't skimp on the liquor. Our appetizers were: Bacalaitos (Cod fish fritters) & Pastel en Hoja (Green banana with pork wrapped in plantain leaf). The Bacalaitos were fried very thin, barely tasted any Cod. On the other hand, the Pastel was tasty, full of pork. For entrees she ordered the Asopaó de Camarones (soupy rice & shrimp), I got me the Rice/Beans (mixed) with Chicharrón (fried pork cubes), Alcapurria (fried green banana, yautía with ground beef) & pastel en hoja. My dish was scrumptious, the rice/beans combo was full of flavor, the Alcapurria was perfectly fried with a good amount of ground beef, and of course, the pastel en hoja was on-point! We were definitely very glad that the other restaurants were either closing or turned into a sort of disco club/lounge; otherwise, we would have never been able to have found nor tried this place. We will definitely be returning to try more dishes and drinks.

Honest review! Let's dive in! Drinks PARCHA Amazing Appetizers cerrullitos, tostones, alcapurrias Delish perfect can't go wrong did order the bacalaitos and they need more bacalao and they would be perfect. Entree churrasco, carne frita fresh and seasoned perfectly came with Maduros and I got the Mamposteao Definitely worth ordering. Dessert TEMBLEQUE FLAN and Tres leches AMAZING REALLY APPRECIATED THE FLAVORS Yes I'm coming back!!

Absolutely delicious--I wish I had taken pictures! It truly felt like a taste of Puerto Rico. This was the best mofongo I've had in the States, hands down. I ordered the shrimp, and it was incredible. The empanadas were unbelievably fresh, with the crab ones being a unique and tasty twist. The sangria was perfect, and the bar had a great vibe on a Saturday night. The place was packed with large parties, clearly a local favorite. I'll definitely be back!

Visited Bistro Taino for happy hour on a weekday. It's a cool restaurant, with lively and colorful decorations and Spanish music playing in the background. We sat at the bar and were given menus. Since it was happy hour, we ordered a pina colada, strawberry margarita, sorullitos, chicarrone, and the alcapurrias. The alcapurrias came in chicken, beef, and crab. They were all good, but my favorite was the crab. The chicarrone portion was a bit small, but it was seasoned well, crispy, and still juicy. My favorite thing was the sorullitos, which were like chewy corn bread sticks. Drinks were decent and cheap. I would definitely return for happy hour.

Why can't I give 100 to this bistro. Latin music playing as soon as you walk in you feel like your visiting a friends home and not a restaurant.....it's very inviting and comfy. The servers are superb, friendly and efficient from beginning to end, service with a smile was in full effect on both of my visits (yes it left such an impression on me I went back 6 days later). Yes, I saved the best for last....THE FOOD is sublime. From the appetizers, entrees and dessert you won't want the meal to end. What makes Latin food so special for me is the harmonious balance of flavors, with an emphasis on quality ingredients and the chefs ability to bring all the ingredients together to create a memorable dish. Taino encompasses all the key factors you want in a great meal and enjoyable dining experience.

Ay Bendito! It is about time there is an upscale and authentic Puerto Rican cuisine restaurant in NJ let alone the Tr-State area. Bistro Taino hits high marks on food, presentation, atmosphere, decor and service. I started with the Puerta de San Juan cocktail which was incredible! The Bolitas de Queso cannot be more passed up. The guava sauce it comes with should be bottled up and sold, it is that good. The Ceviche was delish as well as the Sorullitos and Alcapurias. The Mofongos were legit and the Pernil Asado was so flavorful and juicy, for me, it's the star entree. Thankfully we saved room for dessert because the Tembleque is riquísimo!!!! To sum up the entire experience....Sabrosura!

Came here with my family. We were so excited to finally find an authentic boricua restaurant. The food is on point! And the cocktails were great. Service was fast and great.

This place is a 10/10! My boyfriend came across this place and the food was beyond delicious! Appetizers: We ordered the empandillas with crab meat in it - it was so savory and it literally melted in my mouth! Dinner: The BBQ baby back ribs were so tasty and the roasted chicken dish was juicy and flavorful. Drinks: The bartender was friendly and the drinks were smooth and mixed really well. Vibe: I love the ambiance and interior decorations especially the floral bar area and upstairs dining room covered with colorful umbrellas. If you're in the Bergen County area, please check this place out!

Where to begin. I thought I was transported back to PR. The decor and music was great. The place was beautiful decorated. The upstairs room called La Calle Fortaleza was simply adorable. Now the important part, the Drinks. Tio Torres - The Bomb Bistro Margarita - Awesome Buscando Guyaba - awesome Piña Colada - good Acho Mano - spicy but Goood ! El Chillo - The fish - Definitely my favorite. Now the food- the beef Alcapurria were delicious. The chicharrones were to die for. Then the Churrasco was tender and tasty. It's definitely now one of my favorite restaurants in Bogota. Make sure Belsy is your waitress as she's friendly, nice and makes the best recommendations. I'm soooooo coming back!!!

We love coming here! Dioris, our waitress was welcoming, attentive and personable. Food was amazing and portions were generous. Can't wait to come back!

¡Estoy en la zona de Bochinche! De Wikipedia: La palabra "bochinche", utilizada principalmente en Gran Canaria, y su variante "guachinche", más típica de Tenerife, se usa en el dialecto canario del español para referirse a un establecimiento popular donde se sirve vino local y alimentos típicos. Según el diccionario histórico-etimológico del dialecto canario, de Marcial Morera, se deriva de la palabra española latinoamericana "bochinche" (derivada de "buche" - "sorber, tragar"), que significa "una taberna pobre". La otra versión afirma que la palabra "guachinche" proviene de la expresión inglesa "¡Te estoy viendo!", aparentemente utilizada por los compradores británicos para indicar que estaban listos para probar los productos locales y los agricultores canarios entendieron la frase como "¿Hay un guachinche?", es decir, si hubiera una fiesta cerca? Sin embargo, acabo de leer que los puertorriqueños no lo usan así. En la jerga puertorriqueña, bochinche significa "chismes". Así que mientras me siento en la zona de Bochinche, escucho las paredes chismeando en torno a una pregunta. Tal vez dos... el primero es: "¿Es Bistro Taino increíble debido al genio culinario mágico de Benito Rivero y décadas de hospitalidad sincera, o es el toque creativo y el liderazgo de su esposa Nataly?" Esta pregunta ciertamente se discute en sus otros lugares inspirados... La respuesta podría encontrarse en el Ceviche, o el poder legendario y mítico en la Leche de Tigre... que, como la comida aquí, forja el verdadero deleite carnal y la asociación... sí... el Ceviche peruano tiene el título, sin duda, pero la Leche de Tigre o no, Bistro Taino es el claro nacimiento de una pareja poderosa y apasionada... ¿Qué más probar? ¡El Pina Collada, los Bacalaitos y el Asopao eran nuevos para mí aquí y por los que volveré como un Taino honorario que encontró su Baricua! Bistro Taino I'm in the Bochinche Zone! From Wikipedia: The word "bochinche", mainly used in Gran Canaria, and its variant "guachinche", more typical of Tenerife, is used in the Canary dialect of Spanish to refer to a popular establishment where local wine and typical foods are served. According to the historical-etymological dictionary of Canary dialect, by Marcial Morera, it derived from the Latin American Spanish word "bochinche" (derived from "buche" - "sip, gulp"), which means 'a poor tavern'. The other version claims that the word "guachinche" comes from the English expression "I'm watching you!", apparently used by the British buyers to indicate that they were ready to try the local products and the Canary farmers understood the phrase as "Is there a guachinche?", that is if there was a party nearby? I just read however that Puerto Ricans don't use it like that. In Puerto Rican slang, bochinche means "gossip." So as I sit in the Bochinche Zone, I hear the walls gossiping around one question? Maybe two... the First is, "Is Bistro Taino amazing because of Benito Rivero's magical culinary genius and decades of sincere hospitality, or is it his wife Nataly's creative touch and leadership?" This question is certainly argued at their other inspired venues... The answer might be found in the Ceviche, or the legendary and mythical power in the Leche de Tigre... which like the food here, forges true carnal delight and partnership... yes... the Peruvian Ceviche holds the title, hands down, but Leche de Tigre or not, Bistro Taino is the clear birth of a powerful and passionate couple... What else to try? The Pina Collada, the Bacalaitos, and the Asopao were new for me here and for which I'll return as an honorary Taino who found his Baricua!!!

The ambiance was very nice, Latin music on the background perfect for a lunch hr, the service was really good, the waitress checked on the table without being overwhelming,. The moFongo stuffed with shrimp was very good not too garlicky and super filling. The bacalaitos were disappointing; greasy and not enough bacalao in the mix. Very bland The empanadas filled with cangrejo was very good. The limonada was on point non alcoholic for lunch time.

My friend chose Bistro Taino for a Thursday dinner outing. We walked into a vibrant restaurant, with fun and classy decor. Staff were excellent, host and waitress were polite and patient. We selected alcapurrias, bacalaoitos, and pasteles for appetizers. All three were delicious but the alcapurrias were our favorite, somewhat similar to an empanada but the different shell made it delicious in its own way. The delicious garlic dipping sauce didn't hurt either. For an entree, we shared the bifongo (mofongo with the addition of sweet plantain) with chicharones. Both were the best version I've had. The bifongo was perfectly cooked and the chicharones hit the perfect texture. Sometimes chicharones can be over fried and become chewy, these are perfectly fried and you can still see that they started with a quality piece of pork belly. The entree came with a very tasty side salad with perfectly ripe avocado. The dish was plated elegantly. The glasses, cutlery, and everything else were elegant as well! We shared two excellent desserts, tres leches cake that was better than most I've had and an excellent pudding that went very well with its cinnamon garnish. Washed that all down with an excellent cup of espresso! Bistro Taino is an excellent restaurant, I look forward to returning. Have to also mention, the prices are very reasonable for the quality they are delivering. Almost forgot to mention, the chef (and perhaps owner?) stopped by our table and was a truly personable gentleman. Nice to see that tradition lives on in quality restaurants.

Well let's just say if you're even remotely interested in good Latin food, this is the place to try. As soon as we step through the door we were greeted with smiles and it almost feels like you're visiting your family. The place was pretty busy for a Wednesday. Even though our server was a bit distracted she was attentive enough to take our orders and answer questions. I'm Puerto Rican so generally we expect our food to be Primo. We started with appetizers and ordered bacalaitos and alcapurrias. Wow! They brought us the beef alcapurrias though we ordered chicken but no problem -quickly & sweetly corrected. They were both delicious. The bacalaitos could have used a bit more cod but good. Drinks? Puerta de San Juan for me... exotic and interesting. I likeee very much!! He had a pina colada- perfect. Our entree was churrasco with arroz con gandules and Maduros. Then he wanted a side of beans- he likes to try it all no dessert cause I was dizzy from all the good food- barely make it out the door. Last but not least the ambiance was so nice. Beautiful images of the island without being over the top. The salsa playing in the background was not too loud to be annoying- just enough to have me snapping my fingers and shaking my shoulders during my meal. This is a definite favorite on my list. Hope it lasts.

Loooove this place. Very clean, nice ambiance, good drinks and food. The alcapurrias are a MUST have!

This place is a hidden gem in Bogota, NJ. Once I entered the restaurant it felt as though I was back in Puerto Rico ! The ambiance was perfect, food was delicious! And the host and servers were kind and friendly. I ordered the arroz con gandules and acapurria with beef and a side of avocado. The options I chose were soo tasty!! My husband ordered the roasted chicken...unfortunately, it did not present or taste like the traditional roasted chicken that we are used to (see the pic); It was rather bland and the texture was off. Other than that, I have no complaints. The drink I ordered is called 'El Chillo' . The fish glass was very pretty, but the drink was so so. I will try this place again and try other items from the menu.

OK, so let's start with scents. You know how during that period in our lives where we were so germaphobic? And we bought Odo Ban? I did anyway. It has a certain scent to it. I like that the tables and chairs are cleaned that way. What I didn't like is actually smelling it w/o a mask - sometimes, it effects my breathing. Kudos to those that it didn't effect - especially their palate. Now, the food. It could just be me (I have a slew of issues w food, especially Spanish food. My beans can't touch the rice, absolutely no moro, NO EGGS in my alcapurrias (Columbian food - who knew??), my cucifritos need to NOT be greasy, my pernil needs to be done a certain way and I need to taste un ching de sofrito for me to say, ok this is good! Also, I need to smell sofrito in the air (homemade - not that garbage sold in supermarkets). Since it was my first time there, I decided appetizers would be a good way to get in - alcapurrias y baccalao. These smelled just OK. Sadly, the taste didn't overwhelm me. The baccalao was flavorless. I didn't understand that. My husband had the salad (he's a vegetarian) - he was completely happy w it. It had a slew of aquacate it in and that always makes him content (he didn't grow up eating it w meals). we had the hummus de gandules, it wasn't bad but, my husband ate that like it was his last meal. And Bistro Taino has a veg (plain) version of mofongo - I did taste it but, honestly, it needed meat and sazon. One thing that was truly on pointe: Maduros. (they were cooked perfectly. Even, I said DAMN!!!) TWO things to note: DO GET DESSERT. The tres leche was exceptional!! It wasn't soggy, it wasn't dry, the frosting was perfect and it was divine to consume. Get the limonada (mango). If you find it too sweet - order a seltzer and an extra glass. Pour 1/2 of the limonada and pour 1/2 seltzer in the extra glass and it's good that way. I will say finally, the ambiance was good. Great music. Most of the people working there were very nice! Would I go back? Probably not. But, I am happy I went.

Food: Delicious! Service: Staff was friendly and accommodating. One of the owners came and spoke with us. Very friendly guy. Ambiance: Went on a Sunday. Place was packed when we got there and still was when we left (that says a lot). Beautifully decorated inside and out. Loved the salsa music playing.

From the start, everyone and everything was amazing! From the music to the hostess to the food and drinks. 5 stars For starters,, we had the bacalaitos, alcapurias, chicharron de Bayamon for appetizers. We later had the Mofongo de Camaron, Churrasco con chimichurri, and pernil. Nothing was left on the plate. That is how good it was. Our waitress, Dior was just a doll! Would highly recommend. We shall be back!

Absolutely amazing food! The chicharon was better than I had in San Juan! The pernil was perfect and the service was amazing!

Nice ambiance and friendly service. we had the bacalitos for appetizer which were very flavorful but thinner than I ever had. The size of a large kettle potato chip. I had the chicken Jibaro with a nice confit on top and my husband had the pernil. The presentation and portion size was nice . The waitress stated the food was made fresh and it would take longer to come out which I didn't mind fresh is always good by me, but unfortunately it lacked seasoning and salt. we asked for hot sauce and gravy and they brought out 2 sauces and 1 vinegar based hot sauce which helped flavor our meal. I would go back and give them another chance maybe order something different. I gave three stars because I specifically went for the PR flavor and did not want to eat anything Bland I was just disappointed that I had to season my own food.

Amazing! for someone who travels to PR regularly this was by far the best PR food I've had in NJ in a very long time.

If I could give 10 stars I would!!! This bright me back home to PR! From the surullitos to the alcapurria!!! The red snapper was to die for!!! Our mofongo de camarones with the white sauce was out of this world! We told all our friends and family ! We are coming back !!!! Our waitress was Dior! She was excellent!

Great food, drinks and service at a reasonable price. The ambiance is perfect for a family dinner, date night or even just for a few drinks at the bar. We will definitely be back.

We wanted to love it but the truth is it just lacks in authentic Puerto Rican flavor. I really respect what they are trying to do here but execution is off. If you are Puerto Rican, you will know right away that the flavor is simply lacking. The menu is 100% Puerto Rican, the food is not. The Pernil is more like a lechon asado from a Cuban restaurant with very little seasoning and it is shredded. The Mofongo was lacking in garlic and crunch. The alcapurria masa is def lacking. The arroz con gandules also did not taste like it had any seasoning or sofrito at all. In general, it seems they are not using any or not enough recao based sofrito which is the basis of Puerto Rican cooking. If they started incorporating more traditional flavors it could work.

The food was great and tasty, and the service was exceptional, and the ambiance was cozy and vibrant. I will also give a review on restaurant_explorers22 on Instagram.

Excellent food in a lovely setting. Friendly and helpful staff. Terrific cocktails. Overall a very pleasant place! Portions were generous and prices reasonable. Can't wait to return!

Un tesoro en NJ. We found a hidden gem in NJ and loved it. The ambience was warm, food was fantastic, and the service was great. It was so nice for Chef Ben Rivero to come out of the kitchen, greet customers and share a little about his dream in creating Bistro Taino. The tostones de panas were such a great treat, took me back to PR and mi familia. The sauces that accompanied each plate were so tasty and unique; they elevated the food. Must try the tembleque- WOW!. This treasure is definitely no longer hidden.

Food is delicious and fresh! Nice service as well. My only critic is they NEED TO DIM THE LIGHTS!! We've been there twice, and they seem to have families with children which could be the only reason they're keeping it bright. But I've been to plenty of restaurants that get families and the lights are dim, so I'm not sure I'm correct with my reasoning. Plus, they have a full bar, so a dimmer ambiance is that much more important. So, dim your lights and everything is good!

The food was good and the service was top shelf. Great ambiance for family gatherings such as birthdays. I'll go back to try the other dishes.

Wow! We stumbled upon this spot on our way home and were cautiously excited to see a restaurant serving Puerto Rican cuisine within walking distance of our home. I grew up with traditional homemade PRican food. Needless to say, I know authenticity when I taste it. Bistro Taíno nailed it! The decor is reminiscent of Old San Juan; the hospitality makes you feel like your family treats you when you're on the island; the menu is simple so they get to perfect a few dishes and it's reasonably priced; and the dishes were memorable. I ordered the bacalaitos as an appetizer. They tasted perfectly salty, which means not too salty, and the dipping salsa was so delicious I wanted to take it home. I had the mofongo side dish without meat. It was a good sized portion, perfectly textured, and with a subtle garlic after taste (just the way I like it). My piña colada had the perfect mix of coco and piña and was topped with toasted coconut flakes--rica! My only feedback is on the arroz con gandules. It was good but not the best I've ever had. Maybe my standards are too high because my abuelita's arroz has the hoja de plátano flavor that's unbeatable and you can taste her sofrito with every bite. That's not a deal breaker, though. We're so grateful for the attention to detail that the owners devoted to this lovely restaurant. ¡Que orgullo! We will definitely be back!