Malecon Restaurant (97th Street)

Malecon has quickly become one of our favorite go-to places in the neighborhood. Fresh food always, amazing rotisserie, and a delicious spread of Dominican classics. Their rice and beans and chicken soup are packed with flavor. We always do take out, but there is plenty of comfortable seating with local music. Fast service, extremely well priced, and a very friendly staff.

There food is fantastic they are fast efficient they also greet u with love n they are very supportive. There food is great. Except one time when I went back for the third time there arroz con pollo they did was salty too salty for my mom n dad to eat due to then having high cholesterol. Other than that there food was great.

Food was delicious. The atmosphere was great. The staff was friendly. The place was busy but not too overcrowded. We went back a second time during our vacation. I tried the bistec encebollado first then the churrasco. My son had the chicken both times. In his words “buzzing”! and the hubby had the parrillada. The portions are large you will definitely not leave hungry. The fruit juices were all delicious as well. Yes we tried all of them. Can’t recommend this place enough.

really cozy place with delicious rotisserie chicken, platanos maduros, yuca fries, mofongo, passionfruit juice and coffee. grouper fish filet was okay.

Great delectable selections of fine Dominican cuisine..Great service w decent priced affordable meals.. Great for families of 4 or more to enjoy.

Chicken is on point. Portions are great, got a half rotisserie with a side of rice and some maduros to top it off. Great spot!

Excellent restaurant. Promp and polite service. Great coffee, always fresh. Their broiled chicken is legendary - made every day, fresh and perfectly seasoned and cooked. They have the most perfect mangú con los tres golpes thatI have tried. The mangú's consistency is just amazing, creamy and satisfying, with the salt and spice on point to create a memorable experience. Los tres golpes are exactly as they should be, complementing the dish superbly. A joy that brings memories. Warmly recomended.

I ordered food on NYE at 2PM and I called 1 hr and 45 mins later and I was told that the delivery person went on break, and it would be delivered soon. 2.5 hrs later no delivery and I called they said they were very busy Mami. I said it is 2.5 hrs later. When 3 hrs came I called to cancel. Very unprofessional. They should have said there were delivery problems. I wonder of the person who placed my order actually submitted it. Just bad customer service. I feel if you don’t speak Spanish - good luck with that.

La cosa esta buena! This place is our family Go-to. Hands down the most consistent restaurant for us. The red beans are so nostalgic because it reminds me of my childhood. From the roasted chicken, to their mofongo this place never ever lets me down. This is my happy place. I must also add that their piña colada, to me, is the BEST. It's rich creamy consistency and the rum they use. It's truly heaven. I can't stress enough how delicious and authentic this place is. The portions are also reasonable. They care more about you being satisfied than anything else. The plate of rice they serve could last two full days. I can always take the leftover home. I love it here.

i love getting a meal and getting it paid for! this was my work lunch. i was so scared i was going to be late because i had a final right before this and then i lowkey ran here and i thought i was gonna be late but i ended up being freaking early because everyone else arrived 30 mins later but it was okay. i never heard of this place before i ate here and then i got half a chicken and green plantains. the green plantains were interesting and tasty but only with the sauce. the sauce ran out way too quickly so i didn't want to eat any afterwards. the chicken was reallyyyyyyy good. i loved the crispyness of the skin and it was so juicy wow. the beer was also very interesting and that was a good lunch before i say goodbye to new york for a month. and then i literally had early dinner planned with friends right after and basically was late and like two hours AFTER that i had dinner again like omg so big backed bro. 4.5 stars!

Nice folks but the roast chicken was dry. Pernil was inedible. Hadn't been in 10 years, won't repeat.

The fried fish in garlic sauce with rice and beans were amazing. Portions lasted me for leftovers at a great price as well. The family also enjoyed their food. A lot of traffic in and out so not an intimate setting.

Service is the worst , food is good but good luck on the service !!!! I've tried over the years and it does not get better , I'm going to blame poor management and the fact the woman spend most of there time gossiping in a corner of the food area .

Love, love, love their modongo (Tripe soup). They always have the best cut of meat! Best flavor. They never let me down when I'm craving this! Also in the photo is their potato salad. Best potato salad in a Spanish restaurant in town! I'll give them 4 stars because they can improve in other areas. But they do some dishes really well. Ordered through Ubereats

We were super hungry upon arrival. The restaurant is kind of small and for 4 people we were seated at a rather small table with tight space. We had asked our server to move us to another table as the other people had exited and they were more than willing to move us. We had gotten the boneless chicken chunks and the churrasco steak with white and yellow rice. The chicken chunks and white rice were my favorite. The steak was okay as it wasn't as thick as I'm used to when eating churrasco. Our waitress was very nice and accommodating. We left with a food baby and that was the best way to end the night!

The short take: Come here! I was jonesing for Cuban-esque food and my dining companion was game to help scratch that itch, so she steered me to Malecon, and I am thankful for the steerage. The place is pretty barebones when it comes to the atmosphere, but there's nothing bare about the flavour or the people manning the counter. We had the Cubano and a steak sandwich and both were excellent. (Two hours later we keep flipping back and forth over which we liked better -- at this moment I'm saying steak.) The bread has that really great crusty exterior that gives way to a soft spongy interior. We both agreed the temperature of the lettuce on the steak sandwich was perfect -- odd that we both noticed it. Portions were huge (we have leftovers!) and the order up counter service was amiable and helpful. On a whim I decided to try the Café con leche (the woman behind the counter said it was "the best" -- not sure if it was the best in the city, country, planet or solar system) -- I have it without sugar. It was sublime and I'll safely say it is the best in at least a four block radius. Only one sticking point: The coffee cups say "el rey del pollo" and underneath (I assume as translation) "king of the roasted chicken" The question is, are they king of only roasted chicken or of all chicken? We plan to go back next week for some arroz dishes and test this out.

Solid neighborhood staple. Malecon is locally known as setting the standard of quality for Dominican restaurants. The food is consistently well prepared and seasoned with flavor. Service is effective although sometimes it appears slow due to their large customer base. Malecon offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and often offer specials as well as catering services. This location is not big at all but pre-covid they packed a good number of tables in the space. I haven't dined in during COVID but will update! I have been frequenting this place for years. Their alcupurria, empanada/pastelitos, etc can get a little dry in the warmer, so be sure to see if they're fresh before ordering. This aside, El Malecon is a great choice when desiring some delicious Dominican food.

We have pretty much given up on Mexican food in New York, but our cousins encouraged us to try this more general Latin American restaurant. We were surprised that, though we had our Excelsior passes in hand, we were not made to prove our vaccination status. On the other hand, every employee was masked, so we did not feel particularly unsafe. Maybe since cousins are such regulars here, we were treated to enthusiastic and efficient service at all times. Prices were in the modest range, and the pitcher of sangria was tasty and enough for the whole table. I avoided classics like quesadilla and tacos and went for a more interesting mofongo con queso. Most of the others got some kind of chicken or veggie dish. I found the mofongo (a creation of mashed plantains) to be a bit dense, but the others in the party were quite enthused about their meaty offerings, and Donna's chicken and vegetable dish was inspired. We went on New Year's Day, so even at an odd time the place was doing quite a good business. It made, on the whole, for a very pleasant holiday gathering.

I've been wanting to try this place for a while but was hesitating because it looked dark from the outside. I'm glad I took a chance! We got seated after checking in. The restaurant is medium in size and is both a sit-in and takeout place. Along the left side of the restaurant is a long ordering counter, where we saw people pick up takeout for dinner. The right side and back of the restaurant is dedicated to in-house dining, with booths placed in the back and regular tables with chairs near the front. There are also two intricately detailed paintings hanging in the dining area, with one being a large mural and the other being a portrait of a woman. We ordered a Mini Camarofongo, which is mini shrimp mofongo. I was very happy that they had a mini one because it was just the right size and the right price! Hubs liked the mofongo a lot. Shrimp and garlic is our favorite. Mashed with the garlic shrimp and It was awesome. Next we also ordered the Filete de pescado al horno y camarones al ajillo, which is baked grouper fish fillet & shrimps in garlic sauce. Hubs thought the entree was boring and thought that we should've went with the fried one. He was disappointed that it came with more garlic shrimp but that just meant plenty of leftovers for the next day. It also came with a side of rice and beans. We also ordered Arroz Con Calamares, which is squid with rice. Hubs found it to be flavorful and delicious. But, he said that it looks like it could be made at home, so he's going to try to make it next time. Lastly, we also ordered a side order of cassava and liked it a lot. I was hoping that they had fresh hot sauce but didn't. They gave me a bottle of hot sauce from the table next to us. Service was quick and friendly. I'm glad we came here. Will definitely return to try other items on the menu.

I only order from here on emergencies. When you call they leave you on the phone waiting while they're having conversations and taking care of other customers in the restaurant. I usually have to hang up and call again cause they forget you're on the line. Their food is not good and the prices are mind blowing for regular Dominican comfort food.

The portions are surprisingly large , the taste of the food is good - definitely very good value place . On the negative side the tables are very cramped together, which is annoying. Service was good/fast. Overall I would go again.

It's been a few years since we had a nice Spanish dinner here. Unfortunately, it's not the same don't get me wrong the food was ok to whole chicken was amazing the maduros were just right. The avocado salad was perfectly made. The rice was terrible so sorry to say the beans were bland, the lemonade was spoiled. The cups are plastic, the utensils were dirty. The pansito tostado con mantequilla is not an option anymore. It's not the same but we still laughed it off and I enjoyed spending time with my son.

Great food at amazing prices. Definitely one of my favorites. Highly recommended if you are in the NYC area.

Love the food, the Rotisserie Chicken is so amazing along with the rice and beans, yuca, plantains and other tasty dishes on the menu. With the new price increases I feel short changed specifically on the now $7 dollar small chicken soup. No carrots, a small piece of Yuca. I did request no potato but said carrots please and nothing was added. I feel like I have to now itemize what I want each time I purchase a take out soup to ensure it's added. This is the 2nd time it has happened. I am a long time faithful customer and think this issue should be addressed by your servers. Thank you and look forward to seeing improvements and hopefully no more price increases.

Malecón in the Heights is A1 as expected. I expected nothing less from this location, although, it is much smaller and gets super packed. Service is quick and friendly and the food was amazing as usual. My uncle got the sancocho which he inhaled in like 5 mins. I got the tres golpes with yuca which came with fried eggs, salami and cheese. Everything was cooked perfectly. The portion sizes are also pretty big for what you're paying. RUN do not walk in you're in the area and craving Dominican food.

Great food! Just like Mom used to make. If you like Caribbean food, this manhattan restaurant is the place!

Excellent food Very warm and welcoming ambience as well. 2nd time I've been there! Always have a great meal and great time!

Never fails. Slow service ans watch your bill: the male waitor tacks on extra chagers. Then he argues, but women at front says we are right.

1. I should have my Bronx Card revoked because it took me 41 years to have Mofongo. 2. I'm kicking my own ass because some damn good Mofongo is just blocks away from me. I'm an idiot. Don't be like me. If you like porky goodness, get you some Mofongo De Chicharron De Cerdo, stat! So good. And such a big serving I had some for the next day when it tastes even better. Or you can be a savage like my friend and eat it with no utensils in your hotel room. No names because I'm discreet like that. Like with most Spanish food I've had, it comes with a side salad that gives you the barest ability to say you ate something green. It also comes with 2 nuggets of even more pork on the side. From what I'm to understand, the sauce is key and this one is proper and plentiful. The place has a diner look and feel. They do breakfast as well. Nothing fancy. But I never care about the decor when the food has my entire attention. Our server was friendly and our food came out quickly. I posted about losing my mofongo virginity on all my social media. Yup. I'm an idiot. But I'm a mofongo eating idiot!

I have been looking for good Mofongo outside of PR for 10 yrs. Ten long years. While it's sad that I found it 800 miles from my house, I'm just thankful I finally found it. With just the right amount of garlic and all of that fried plantain goodness, I loved it even without the delicious sauce, but as everyone knows, Mofongo is all about the sauce. I could have eaten all of my Mofongo De Chicharron De Cerdo right then and there, but feeling self conscious, I boxed up my leftovers and trekked back to my hotel in midtown. -Where I sat on the floor of my room and ate them without a fork or napkin. Just my bare hands. Like a savage. But with no regrets.

I know I'm not an expert on Dominican food but I thought the food here was amazing. It is definitely very fatty and probably not good for you, but the food was packed with flavor. I came here with my Dominican friend and I let him picked all the dishes Also get yourself a beer - El Presidente - goes very well with the food here Tres Leche cake at the end is a must

LOVE their: 1) chicken soup; 2) tripe soup; 3)omelets; 4) mangu with queso frito and sausage; 5) oxtail stew lunch special;6) cubano sandwich; 7) cafe con leche with tostada; 8) batidas de mamey; 9) chicken chicharonnes; 10) tostones con ajo; 11) steak churrasco; 12) roast chicken; 13)black beans; 14)white rice; 15)shrimp in garlic sauce....am I forgetting something? Probably. Maybe it would be easier to say what isn't good. :) When I am sick and can't make my own chicken soup - el Malecon's is my go-to. It is actually a chicken stew - at $7 for a large portion, it is the cheapest dinner ever. I sometimes even ask them to put in less chicken and more broth! Thick with local roots like yautia - so good. Also, go with a hungry friend, get a breakfast with mangu (ask for extra pickled onions), two eggs over easy, sausage, fried cheese - and a side of tostado (toasted, buttered cuban bread). Split it - washing it down with some cafe con leche - and you won't be hungry until dinner. The mangu, or mashed plantains, is an acquired taste - it is very rich, creamy - like a dominican mashed potato dish. Lunch specials are huge - served with a choice of white or yellow rice and red or black beans. Some of the stews are a bit tomato-ey for my taste, but I love the oxtails. For $12, what a bargain. Dinners are more family-style with large portions, especially the non-seafood dishes. If you are eating alone, the mofongo with shrimp app is enough for a dinner entree - 6-7 shrimp in a garlicky sauce. I wish they had picadillo - I think they used to. Go with 4 people - get an order of tostones with garlic as an app, split the roasted chicken and one other entree - the steak? The fried pork chops? Maybe add a soup - and you will be good to go. Last but not least, finish with a batido de Mamey - a cuban "milkshake" made with fruit, milk and ice. Mamey is like a cross between mango and papaya with a unique taste. Or, try a batida de guanabana - tastes like a banana with attitude. One is large enough to split. Enjoy!

Fabulous food+ beverages - highly recommend their Amsterdam restaurant !! Their pernil is delicious-tender+tasty!! Their Guanabana shake is beyond perfection+ their iced espresso is fabulous-strong+ rich+ without sugar - it's is divine coffee + equal to any great Italian!! Amazing people take your order+ great deliverymen too!!

I was catering my mother's 80th birthday party. I ordered two trays of rice for a total of $150.00 from Malecon on Amsterdam Avenue. Catering orders are not computerized so the person that answered the phone took my information via phone along with my credit card details. I insisted that she text me a copy of my receipt since there was no other proof of my order. I explained that my brother would pick up the order on Sunday morning. We agreed on a time, and it's reflected on the hand-written receipt. When my well-dressed African-American brothers arrived on Sunday morning, this incredibly rude man refused to acknowledge their presence then refused to believe they had an order to pick up. After about 15 minutes trying to convince him, he finally decided to look at the pending orders. He could have called me. My number was on the handwritten receipt. He simply said, "Five minutes," then walked away. That was my first- and last-time ordering from Malecon. I should have gone to West Side Market. Never again. Spend your money elsewhere.

I ordered Boneless chicken chunks with yellow rice and red beans through the chownow app for a pick up dish, because this restaurant has rave reviews. When I got home. I just had the yellow rice and chicken chunks with a lime wrapped in aluminum foil and was charged $22.00 plus tax. A total waste of my money to begin with and a meal that is subpar. When I called the restaurant to complain about my missing item. I was placed on hold several times and had to keep repeating my issue about the missing item to the poor english speaking employee. All I got was an apology and a "next time when you come, I will fix it." I don't plan to ever use this place again.

Very good food and drinks I was visiting from Northern California I was referred from 2 different friends to this place

El Malecon is pretty solid no matter the location. This location was quick and delicious as per usual. We came here because Yelp said it was close by and the place we chose was closed for another 2 hours. Hunger waits for no one! This place is consistent and tasty. We ordered chicharron de pollo, white rice, black beans and two types of mofongo. My dad had shrimp and chicken which was good. My sister ordered longoniza and chicken which was BANGING!! I am generally not a huge fan of longaniza but this combo took the cake. Delicious and I would get it again and again.... but hey lol My order of chicharron de pollo was fried perfectly and even the plain white rice had great flavor. This was a great place for fast service and a great time over good food. Malecon is always a great choice and I'm glad it resonates through each location.

The food and service were above average!! The mofongo was good. The ambience was good also.

My friend and I were craving a classic Dominican breakfast so we went here, as recommended by a friend. I used to eat at a Dominican restaurant in Spanish Harlem as a youngin and was craving that old memory. We ended up ordering regular dishes. The coffee was great. Waitresses were friendly and relaxed, a nice classic NYC experience. I had tostones with a side of mojo sauce and steak with onions. I prefer more oily tostones but they hit the spot. My friend ordered Maduros which were out of this world. The rice and beans side were classically delicious. The steak had some gristle in it I did not love, but that sometimes happens with meat. That said, giving El Malecon five stars because it was delicious, staff were friendly, restaurant was bustling and the food hit my desired spot on. The leftovers were equally delicious.

I've been there a total of 3 times. I cannot eat much due to stomach issues so I tried the burger despite wanting to dive in to all the delicious smelling food I kept seeing other people order. I got the burger and WOW. Soo delicious and the fries!.....The fries were crispy and NOT greasy at all. I was over the moon. I went a second time and again a delicious, perfectly cooked burger, a soft bun and fries. My third time, unfortunately, was a huge disappointment. The burger was overly well done and dry which I will not blame the server or kitchen for as I forgot to tell him how I wanted it cooked. However the server Never bothered to tell us there were no hamburger buns and served the burger on a flat, hard piece of baguette. The burgers my mom and I ordered looked as though it was a rush job to get it out of the way. The chicken and mushroom dish my brother ordered smelled divine but had a ton of garlic, which my mom pointed out after she tasted a mushroom and other veggies. Also the tostones, were super bland and hard, "come el suelo de un zapato y no tenia sal" Maybe it was an off day in the kitchen but considering I paid for a proper hamburger at what I had considered a Cozy home like place that made us feel great after all we've been through this year, I was hugely disappointed and highly doubt we'll be going back.

I am Dominican and come from Miami, FL and let me tell you this is REAL Dominican good at last! It was flavorful and delicious from the queso frito, mangu, and salami. The café con leche was very smooth and rich with flavors. I will most definitely be coming back again on my next New York visit! A true Dominican café/restuaunte. (:

It's a very close 2nd to El Liberato in the Bronx. All the signature dishes were represented. I would definitely repeat BB

This restaurant is the truth. Run, don't walk there. We were skeptical at first, but by the time our shrimp mofongo (camarafongo) app arrived, we were completely sold! This food is AMAZING! The best I've had in Manhattan or Miami. You won't regret it. The gravy is perfect, and the skin on the chicken is savory & sweet.

oh baby.. I was here last Tuesday afternoon with a friend. I honestly expected the cubano NOT to be up to par but Malecon showed me differently. Chicken nicely presented, done, and not salty. sandwich was amazing. yellow rice, flavorful. I asked em for a large chinola and they came thru. I understand why it's a neighborhood staple. Don't walk. RUN! to Malecon if you need your Spanish food needs met.

Just moved my daughter from Miami to NYC to go to school. Definitely her go to place when she wants to eat food that tastes like home. The shrimp mofongo was delicious and the churrasco was on point. Portions are big to share or great for leftovers.

Three stars because I'm mostly new to Dominican cuisine, but my guide who brought me agreed my chicken entree was overcooked and very dry even with the sauce. It was also a bad day to come for outdoor dining, the street smelled strongly of garbage and there were some aggressive bees harassing us (obviously not the restaurants fault). I'd come back and try again.

I love it here! All the restaurants throughout this route on Amsterdam have the streets closed off which kind of frightens me (not going to lie) but other than exceptional food. My fiancé and I were so full after this meal we did not eat anything else for the rest of the night. Great service as well! They always made sure to check in on us without being too intrusive.

Review is for the Cubano, which is the best one you'll have because instead of thin cut deli meat-style roast pork they use Dominican pernil and it is amazing. Destination worthy if you're looking for the best Cubano in NYC.

Omg I don't even know where to begin with this review but I can't believe I haven't been reviewed this place every time I come here the next food is always perfect from the freshness of the ingredients to the customer service everything about this restaurant screams five stars! I heart El Malecon great Spanish food hands down

The food was delicious and the ambiance was bilingual and loud; it's like being in your Tia's living room during a family party. Highly recommend if you're craving a family meal!

Saludos mi gente! One of the best Dominican spots in NYC, and one of the best deals in NYC!!! Staff couldn't possible do better and the rotisserie chicken and salcocho is in my top 10!!

If you go to the place the food is better I ordered delivery The food is sloppy peppers and onions aren't cooked at all the meat is not seasoned at all just simple not worth it

Chicken is so good and the best rice I have ever had I really recommend it if you want a small spot

Don't get it twisted the food here is amazing. In fact most Spanish/Dominican places are pretty amazing in NYC. I ordered takeout and the portion was huge as well as it's price. $19?! I don't speak Spanish and so I went in with someone who knows how to order and I had the roasted chicken with yellow rice and beans and was blown away by both the taste and and size of the plate. The roasted chicken was perfectly roasted and soooo juicy. The rice was perfect, just perfect. The portion was enough to make two meals for a grown man so it worked out as far as the price goes. One thing too about this place is the wait times. Waited nearly 30 minutes for a to go meal and definitely felt like we were getting ignored. Who knows. I'd probably rather go to a hole in the wall Spanish joint than a place that charges $20 for rice and beans.

if you're hungry, don't order from them. I placed an order for eggs and bacon. It arrived an hour and 20 minutes later, after I called, ice cold, I'm literally one block away and it was incorrec. I asked for eggs, I got fried cheese. When I called, they hung up on me. Never again!

If you are seeking the best tasting spit-roasted chicken, arroz con habichuelas, a variety of Dominican specialities and atomic cafe con leche, search no farther than El Malecon. And they have best salsa in town in the form of their house made mojito which they dole out sparingly. I found my snobby French downtown pal Daniel secretly dining there recently.

I ordered breakfast delivery last month and I have been wanting to try this place. Delivery was super fast, food was BOMB and the portion was huge! I ordered mangu with queso frito and it satisfied my craving! The serving is perfect for 2 people! Definitely support this restaurant and order delivery! Great portions and family-sized servings!