La Fonda

"Spanish Harlem is one of the Puerto Rican epicenters of New York, and La Fonda Boricua has been one of its most recognizable restaurants for the past 25 years. Start with the tail-on shrimp mofongo, which comes with plátanos in garlicky salsa de ajo or salsa tomate, and try the chuleta kan kan too. It’s a bone-in loin chop, with a bit of the belly and skin still attached, roasted and finished in a deep fryer. This place is also a destination for live Latin jazz bands and flamenco dancers." - marisel salazar, bryan kim

"This Puerto Rican restaurant is another staple of Spanish Harlem. Families file into booths at dinner and brunch, sharing tail-on shrimp monfongo and plátanos in garlicky salsa de ajo or salsa tomate. Or, try the chuleta kan kan too, a cut of pork first created in Puerto Rico in 1957. Not in the mood for meat? You can get vegan jackfruit pernil, mushroom meat mofonguitos, and more plant-based comida puertorriqueña at La Fonda on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, when Black Rican Vegan’s pop-up takes over the kitchen. " - neha talreja, sonal shah, hannah albertine

"This Puerto Rican restaurant has been a staple of the Spanish Harlem community since 1996, and it’s here that you’ll find some of the best mofongo in Manhattan outside of Washington Heights and Inwood. Try the shrimp version which comes with tail-on shrimp and big hunks of plantains, all drenched in aromatic garlic sauce (you get a choice of a tomato- or garlic-based sauce). If you want something meaty, order the crispy chuletas or almost-sweet pernil. La Fonda Boricua often hosts live music nights with flamenco dancers and Latin jazz bands, so follow their Instagram here to stay in the loop." - Hannah Albertine