MANGÚ Authentic Dominican Cuisine

Loved everything about this restaurant, from the food to the service, to the ambiance! I have been to many Dominican restaurants in the past, but none like Mangu. I was greeted warmly, the place was spotless and the ambiance made me feel as if I was in thr Caribbean. My husband and I had empanadas to start and they were delicious… meat was well cooked and the crust was super flaky! I went for the Tres Golpes, and it was amazing! Go pay them a visit. It will not disappoint!

We came to this restaurant recommended by the Dominican consulate. Everything was delicious. Home-made juices, the mofongo was great. The appearance of this restaurant it's chic and at the same time homely. Our server was very friendly and diligent. I highly recommend it!

Decided to come back to eat at Mangu and brought my family to try dominican food. I love their sancocho although they only have it on the weekend and I came on the weekday. I ordered the bistec encebollado with the mofongo. The bistec is super tender and full of flavor. The yuca with mojo appetizer was divine. My family loved it too. Definitely a place to visit when you want dominican food.

Great Dominican Restaurant!! Sadly, it's too far from Slidell. But it's worthy to come here and taste their delicious food. I recommend any food from their menu. Each one have their unique flavor. This restaurant is Very Clean all around Dariana was such a great server. I can't wait to come back to Let's Mangú Restaurant ❣️❣️

I’m Dominican from New Jersey & when I tell you I felt like I was home, I felt like I WAS HOME! The food was delicious, the service was great. When you come here, try the “Santa Mamajuana” cocktail. I had the “Tostones con Pechuga a la plancha” & though simple it packed a PUNCH! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Best Latin place in Gretna, New Orleans!

What really impressed me about this cute Little place was how clean it was once I walked inside, that was when I knew my food would be handled well. I knew then it was going to be great service. The aroma in the air also indicated that the food was seasoned well, and the waitress was very kind, attentive and charming. When the food came I ordered bolas de yuca and a plate of longaniza with moro and a side of avocado while my bf ate his food and we all enjoyed how delicious and just presentable everything was! Thank u for representing Dominican culture.

As a Puerto Rican, I found their mofongo to be amongst the best I’ve ever had. Their palitos de magú were also delicious. Super clean place, nice people, great portions and an amazing value.

Excellent food, amazing staff and affordable prices! The owner made us feel at home immediately, so we came back with additional friends the next day. A place to visit if you like hispanic food, specially Mangú, tostones, and mondongo. Try the Chorizo with Mangu or the traditional one but leave some room for the dessert. The Coconut Flan was amazing and something to try, will come back soon.

The Mofongo was truly remarkable and authentic! Cooked with great seasoning and consistency. The braised goat was a little overcooked but not enough to complain. The slaw was fresh with just the right amount or vinegar. Service was great, food took a while but it's because they cook to order. I'll be back once I'm in the city again.

REALLY enjoyed this Saturday lunch with husband. First foray into Dominican cuisine. Small, intimate location with probably 12 tables. A couple of tables had guests; we chose one closer to the back of the restaurant. Quiet enough to talk, with natural light coming in through the front windows. One server for the restaurant, which was fine. Our drink and food orders were all taken and delivered promptly. Try the pineapple jugo natural - refreshing. Husband liked his coconut water; I wasn't a big fan. We started with an assortment of 3 empanadas, including beef, chicken and green onion. Dinner for husband was Bistec Encebollado (beef with peppers and onions) with rice and beans, mine was Chivo Guisado (braised goat) with rice and beans and Dominican salad. Husband's beef was wonderful, though he thought there were too many onions. (Is there such a thing?) I had asked the server before placing my order what meat had a similar taste to the goat, and she wasn't sure. As I suspected, it tasted a touch like goat, or a gamey beef, both of which I like. The only drawback was the fat to push away (the reason it was so tender) and the small bones (ribs?), which I had to just not think about what they were. The Dominican salad was almost like a slaw, and very tasty. Asked another diner what they were eating, and it's on our list for our next visit. :)

This place is a hidden gem on the westbank! The food, service, ambiance and signature drinks are nothing short from incredible. Must try!

The food here is so flavorful. This was my second time here and I tried the chivo guisado aka braised goat. The meat was tender and the flavor and gravy gave it that home cooked meal feel. So good. The mofongo is good too. I'm a huge fan of plantains so I'll eat them in any form. I left Mangu stuffed and had leftovers for breakfast the next morning! I'll return for sure!

Finally made it here! Had been on my list to try since forever! Customer service was great. Our server was very nice. The Tostones rellenos had such a great texture and the filling was so well seasoned. The goat was very tender. I enjoyed the mofongo as well. I almost ordered the braised beef. Will be back to try that soon enough

First of all the service here is A1!! They are very friendly. I came here with my sister specifically for the mofongo. I started off with a passion fruit juice which was really good. I ordered the tostones rellenos and omg this one is a must try. I got it with shrimp. This is the best part of a really great meal. For our entrees my sister got the braised chicken with the mofongo I got the braised goat with the mofongo. It was so good! The meat was really tender and oh so flavorful.

Couldn't have been happier with the service and food here. Arrived in town late and was starving so I wanted a quick bite. This place didn't disappoint. The food was out to us quickly and it was all so flavorful. The waitress and manager were very kind and checked on us frequently. Would definitely try again.

Good ambiance, freshly made food and good service. I have tried different plates and everything has been good. Authentic Dominican flavor.

This place is amazing we started off with some drinks. We got a Sangria & a Santa Mamajuana. Super yummy! For appetizers we got the tostones rellenos and the yuca al mojo, omg both were amazing. Than for the entree we got the pescado al coco con mofongo, & the camarones en salsa & omggggg. The mofongo was the best part for me. But the food in general is really really good. We really enjoyed coming here and will be coming back :) Customer service was great also!

I've never had Dominican food before and decided to go have lunch here after passing it a few times. I'm so mad at myself for waiting this long to go. The service was excellent. My waitress took the time to explain the dishes I was interested in and was very patient with me. The food was excellent as well. The place was so inviting and calm I felt like I was at home. I've never had food so hot come to my table. The goat was tender and so hearty I felt the love in this dish. I also had the shrimp Tostones Rellenos which I thoroughly enjoyed. Top everything off with some fresh passion fruit juice. Yummy. I would've went the very next day for lunch again, but they were closed. I can't wait to return to explore the menu more.

Excellent food and service! Been going to Mangu for years. Goat mofongo is exceptional.

I have never had a bad meal from this restaurant. Every time it is delicious. The restaurant is colorful and welcoming. The staff is great and the food portions are a great size for the price. Most of the time I have leftovers.

TO GO ORDER: I received a Yelp Elite perk for a complimentary empanada sampler. I have this place on my radar for quite some time, so I was excited to try them out. Its a very cute restaurant in a strip mall setting on the Westbank. Plenty of free parking. I made my order to go and decided to also get a lunch plate..gotta support our local businesses y'all! Ok let me step down off my soap box..everything i tasted was so damn good. The empanadas were larger than I expected so I was able to share them with my mom. I ordered the braised chicken with mangu for her bc my mom WILL NOT try new things often..unless its free of course. Lol. She raved about the flavor of the chicken and I totally agreed. Mangu was similar to a mashed potato but the red onions added a nice kick. So glad I finally got to try this place. Gives me incentive to try other things on the menu.

I must apologize to the owners and staff of Mangú for not patronizing their restaurant sooner. This is the first Dominican restaurant I have ever eaten at and I am a FAN! The flavors are comforting, the portions are healthy, the employees are pleasant, and I can't wait to bring more people with me next time to try more things. Yall got a new regular!

As a perk of being a Yelp Elite, I got to try empanadas from Mangu. I really like empanadas so was looking forward to trying them. The service was really good and they answered all my questions about Dominican food The perk was empanada sampler but since I have food restrictions so I asked for the vegetarian and cheese only; unfortunately i got a variety with cheese and crawfish so i was only able to try the cheese empanada. The portion size was also really good and the flavor of the empanada was also good. Overall nice and flavorful empanadas and good service

How have I not done a review of Mangu!!! One of the best Latin restaurant in the greater New Orleans area! The food is made with so much love and time! If you want to try a mix of appetizers get the appetizer sampler and get the yuca en mojo on the side! You get a choice of two empanadas. The chicken, beef or cheese empanada. Probably the hardest decision because you want all three! Also, comes with quipes, plantain chips and yuca balls. The yuca balls are filled with cheese. Yuca is such a hard vegetable that it's so amazing they can get it that soft plus fill it with cheese! Amazing!! No matter which entree you get, you will not be disappointed!! The Chivo (goat) is cooked in peppers, onions and who knows what else lol but it's absolutely delicious! The tres golpes, a traditional Dominican breakfast is so simple yet so yummy! The pollo guisado(not on menu anymore) was literally falling off the bone! Entrees come with a choice of rice & beans, mangu or mofongo on the side. No matter which one you choose, you will not be disappointed! Overall, a great date night place, casual Wednesday night or if you're going for a celebration. You will leave full & happy! :)

Mangu is a bit of a drive from New Orleans, but SO worth it! Definitely swing by if you're already over the bridge in the Gretna area. It's a cute small restaurant within a plaza with hearty portions very reasonably priced. The dish this restaurant provided complimentary for the Yelp Elite Perk was the empanada platter (~$13). These were the BEST empanadas I have ever had!! The platter came with 5 different kinds: cheese, chicken, beef, vegetables, and shrimp. I am glad I didn't have to choose just one kind to try because every single one of them were splendid! The fillings for each were perfectly seasoned and scrumptious, so I didn't even need the creamy sauce it came with! The shrimp was my favorite. The crust was not too thick nor doughy like many others I have had before. Each empanada was about the size of my hand (generously sized), so they were enough to fill a hungry stomach too! I loved that they were clearly homemade. Some places will buy them in bulk and reheat them, but Mangu empanadas seem fresh and made right there! I ordered a braised chicken with mofongo and a side salad as well (~$13 for everything). Every item was incredibly delicious. The braised chicken was juicy and tender bursting with flavor. The mofongo was surprising, but also yummy. It is a garlicky side dish with made with plantains; however, the plantains taste and have the texture of potatoes! It's not sweet at all. Due to the large portion size, it gives you plenty of the 'carbs' portion of your meal too! The side salad was a slaw that was sitting in the chicken juices/gravy, so it was incredibly flavorful without getting soggy at all. I used the mofongo to sop up the remaining gravy juices too because it was just SO GOOD! I had a perfect meal from Mangu, and I highly recommend it!

My friend and I!very much enjoyed this restaurant. Mangu is a plantain which is mashed and seasoned and better than mashed potatoes, imho. The goat was delicious and I am looking forward to returning and trying the Carnitas. Surface was delightful.

Food was great just super slow for lunch. Need faster service that's what I would say

Im visiting from Dallas TX and was pleasantly surprised with this spot! The food is delicious and the portions are very generous. If you are looking for those Caribbean flavors, you will not be disappointed. Buen Provecho!

Apparently Mangu is a mashed down banana. I tried it and it was like yucca consistency. I certainly recommend it. We tried the goat and the fried fish. Both were absolutely tasty. The serving sizes are sufficient and my goat plate was still steaming when served. The vibe and staff were a delight! Best for last was the fried sweet plantains with the dipping sauce was so good like a dessert

Great customer service . The food presentation is outstanding. The taste is amazing. The carne frita is one of the best I have tried. Very soft and easy to chew. This is the best Dominican restaurant in New Orleans área.

Delicioso todo la atención la comida me encanto una variedad muy buena para los que amamos la comida Dominicana y Puertorriqueña un éxito

It's hard to find a place where they serve Puerto Rican Or Dominican food. I must say their food is delicious. The taste was pretty on point win between the braised goat, shrimp, mangú, mofongo and the beans their serving size are quite big which is a good thing, but I recommend maybe making slightly smaller if they would love to thrive or have people get desserts or appetizers, but i also don't mind keeping it as it is and take some home. As the plantains are very heavy and just a few bites makes anyone fill up quick. Also the mofongo tasted slightly salty and too dry(maybe add more sauce or oil to the Mofongo to have better consistency). The service was very fast probably around 20 minutes, the staff was friendly and always kept checking on the table. It is worth the drive coming from New Orleans but could definitely get a better location. The presentation was great I would recommend people to drive down and get some mangú if you are in New Orleans or somewhere near Mangú. It is a great experience. Small so perfect for a date that is not expensive and has the good flavors of the Caribbean.

Wow, I had an amazing experience at Mangú. The hostess/staff was so nice, welcoming, helpful and kind. I loved the ambiance when i walked through the doors and the authentic Dominican cuisine was just a great addition to the overall experience. I ordered the empanada sampler: chicken, shrimp, cheese, beef and veggie and I was so pleased! The empanadas were HUGE and stuffed. The flavors were spot on and surpassed any thought I have had of an empanada. The crust was flaky and light. My favorite were ALL of them. It was so hard choosing just one. I can't wait to tell others of this restaurant and the great things they have to offer! I will be visiting this weekend with my boyfriend so he too so he can fulfill his craving of authentic Dominican food! I'm so excited, thanks so much for this amazing experience

The service was great and the food was delicious. We started with the appetizer sampler- the quipe were delicious, the empanadas were very flavorful, but the yuca balls were the star. They were so good! For our entrees we shared the Yaoro with plantains and the Fried chicken plate with mofongo. The Yaoro was delicious, and huge. The mofongo had a great texture and flavor, and the jus served on it was the perfect compliment. The chicken was good but the weakest part of the meal. It was a lot of batter and not much meat. I will definitely be back to try other items!

Dominican mangu (Tres Goloes style) is my hangover cure and comfort food and I don't care how unhealthy it is, you can't make me give it up (and this is coming from a HONDURAN)

Just decided to try this place after passing by and it was pretty good! Not a very busy place but it's nice to have a Dominican cuisine place to go to and the inside is pretty cute to me. Our server explained to us what mangu was right off the bat (boiled and mashed plantains is what we gathered!) so I went ahead and got it with my braised goat. The ground beef empanadas were really fresh but I wish we would've tried another one with cheese or something - the ground beef alone isn't much to it but still well made. The braised beef was SO tender and I loved it. It was flavored very well. The braised beef was good too but a little over cooked in my opinion. I liked the mangu as well and would definitely get again! The beans tasted very much like any New Orleans red beans and rice that you get on a Monday so that was nice. I also ordered the flan but had it to go instead and was looking forward to it at home but the caramel has leaked out all over the bag and didn't really have much left for the flan itself but it was good nonetheless! Wouldn't mind coming here again to try other menu items.

Ok, absolutely get the mangu with the stewed goat. Thank me later. (Returned for a second time, almost got the fried fish again because it was amazing, then got myself to try something different and I'm so glad.)

Among New Orleans' rapidly diversifying Latin American restaurant scene is this little Dominican restaurant buried in an anonymous strip mall on the Westbank. Inside it was quite pleasant though; the place was clean and had some nice little touches that suggest the people running it care. The food here is totally different from other Latin American and Caribbean restaurants; even Haiti, which is on the same island, seems to have a rather different flavor profile. The food item du jour is mangu, which was explained to me as mashed plantains cooked with butter and vegetables. They offer a vegetarian dish based on it, as well as some vegetarian appetizers and sides (given that the plantains are cooked with butter, this is one of those places where vegetarian and vegan is a significant difference, and I did not see much you could do without dairy). The empanadas I started with were ostensibly basic things, but perfectly prepared, with a freshly crisp exterior and a sour dipping sauce that strongly counterpointed the green onions and cheese. The mangu vegetariano was quite a marvelous-looking mess; two large fried eggplant slices on top of a mound of mashed plantains and some carrots, peppers, onions, and cheese. This is the sort of place where it seems like most people spend a fair amount of money and leave with leftovers. Given how filling it was (from the butter, I imagine), it would be tough to finish an entire entree in one sitting. With an appetizer, I'll comfortably have two meals. The main dish didn't come with any of the beans and/or mushrooms that I go to Latin American places for (some sides were available), so not much protein/fiber. Unless plantains are much healthier than I think they are, this menu doesn't quite suit me in that regard. I'm guessing it'll suit the New Orleanian palate quite well, and eating out for it once in a while is fine. What this place does, it seems like they do well.

Delicious dinner here tonight. I shall return soon! https://blainerestaurantreport.wordpress.com/2022/01/07/mangu-gretna-la-report-442/

Ahhh stumbled upon MANGU by accident and so happy we found it. I could imagine all the tourists skip over this place because it's not that close to the French quarter but personally I would travel to come here. The service was friendly but the food took a long time to come out, however, good food takes time! We ordered the yucca balls (can't remember the name), empanadas, shrimp mofongo & the tostada. All were EXTREMELY good!! Not one person had leftovers on their plate, I highly recommend MANGU

#ThankYouThursday - I'm very thankful to find this hidden gem through Yelp NOLA. I cannot wait to go back and show my support to Mangu because the food is delicious! This is a family owned and run business that is striving to give New Orleans a taste of Dominican cuisine. If you haven't gone, it is worth the trip to the West Bank. I highly recommend the empanadas and bolas de yuca which is cheese stuff yuca balls!

I really wanted to love this restaurant. I have been wanting to go for so long, but it's quite a drive from where I live so I was so excited to go. I absolutely love Dominican food, but the flavors here just fell short. The service wasn't as attentive as it should have been since we were the only party, but it was okay. We ordered almost every appetizer on the menu. The only thing that really stood out were the Quipes and the Palitos de Mangú. Everything else was pretty bland including the empanadas. The people at the table who had really never had empanadas thought they were great, but the others who are Dominican or accustomed to the food thought otherwise. The one thing I will say that they do a phenomenal job with is the Mangú itself. It was so creamy and flavorful. So, when you go order the mangú (as you should). Since there was a lot of mangú already ordered, some of us wanted to try some other items and share them with the table. I ordered the Yaroa w/sweet plantains as the base, but I should have ordered it with the fries instead. There just wasn't a good balance in flavor to the dish. The sweet plantains were too overpowering and took away from the roasted pork. I could not get through a fourth of the dish. I ordered some fries and avocado to try to help with the sweetness but there was no saving it. I have never left so much food on a table and I spent $40 for it. My friend ordered the tostada with chicken and it was okay but none of us wanted more than a bite. For dessert we had the flan and Platanos a la Paila which I don't have pictures of, but both were great! Overall, I would suggest this place for the mangú but I just think some of the other items on the menu need more attention. I would like to try it again one day.

I had the empanadas as one of the yelp Elite perks last month. I got it Togo, but the empanadas smaller included a vegetable, chicken, beef, shrimp, and cheese empanadas. These empanadas were so good! It was my first time trying empanadas so I didn't know what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised. The sauce on the side paired well with the beef and cheese empanadas.

My Lunch time get away! Very friendly staff, lots of parking and very clean restroom.

I tried the empanadas at this place courtesy of Mangu and Yelp for Latin X month. My favorite were the cheese, vegetable, shrimp, and the chicken. I loved how fresh and flaky the dough was. The service was fast and accommodating. I would go back to try the other items I saw online that they have a delivery and an online order service.

Amazing! The service...from the moment you walk in the lady is friendly and attentive without being intrusive. Everything was delicious, empanadas, not a bad one, we tried Chicken, Beef and Cheese! Main was the goat with rice and beans and some Mangu. While there, they had a regular rotation of people, including lots of DoorDash and all seemed regulars. Always great when having repeat customers.

Y'all! Mangú!! Mangú is like the most savory buttery flavorful creamy mashed green plantains you could imagine; very similar to mashed potatoes, it's incomparable to potatoes but somewhat similar. Dominicans know how to DO IT!! I tried the Mangú Criollo- mangú topped with shrimp and pork skin cracklings. Yea, that's right -- creamy, buttery savory mangú topped with shrimp, aguacate cilantro sauce AND crispy pork skin cracklins! I went here during a work lunch so I didn't want to over order and then want to take a nap, BUT I wanted to try everything! Although I appreciate such a great menu selection, it was really hard to rein myself in with such an amazing selection! My only wish is that they would have given me more aguacate cilantro sauce!! And I wish the menu wasn't with such small text (kinda hard to read). But I LOVE the space it's decorated so adorably I can not wait to return and try the empanadas!

klk. I'm embarrassed at how much food I ate here in one sitting. I brought my friend from Colombia here for lunch, and she danced in her seat the entire time. I'm not sure if she danced because the food was so good or because of the bachata playing in the background. If you're looking for authentic Dominican food, Mangú is it. Drinks: they have a natural juice menu, cocktails, and beer. They have tons of appetizers. We had a complimentary empanada platter. (Shout out to my Yelp Elite perks!) It comes with five different empanadas: veggies, cheese, shrimp, chicken, beef. Each empanada was soooo different but equally amazing. The veggie and the chicken empanadas were our favorites because they were so savory. Those two sort of taste like homemade pot pie. I also had the bandeja frita! It comes with fried cheese, pork, sausage, chicken, and plantains. It's definitely more than enough to share, but it was so good that I couldn't share. The waitstaff is super nice. They explained the menu to us and answered all of our questions.

This place is amazing, the food is packed with flavor the portions are great and it can leave you with the need of wanting more!

Always amazing food and service!! Everything is literally so fresh, flavorful and delicious. Support, Support, Support!!!

Really great food and experience. Small spot. Staff so friendly and helpful. Happy to explain any and all items on the menu. We ordered the mangu sticks, the traditional mangu with goat, sweet fried plantains and passion fruit margaritas. All of it was delicious. And the margarita. Perfect. I highly suggest trying this place out whether you love Dominican food or are just trying it for the first time.

What a great choice! Thought we would try something new, and Mangu' did not disappoint. Small, maybe eight tables. Roberto is the host, bartender, and waiter. His mother and wife are the chefs in the kitchen. Our food was unique, full of flavor, and more than enjoyable! We will be back.

Delicious food, we had the fried yuca, stuffed plantains and fried whole fish. Everything was fresh and yummy. I highly recommend this place.

I know that today is only the third day that MANGÚ has been open, but if today is any indication, this restaurant is about to take off. I'm glad I got to try it before the word really got out. I was so excited to hear about a new Dominican restaurant opening, that I immediately made plans to stop here for lunch. I was here today at exactly noon and there was a good crowd. The place is small, so on busier days there might be a bit of wait, but the staff was pretty good at getting everyone served as quickly as possible. I had looked over the menu ahead of time and I decided to get the Mofongo: fried plantains with salt, garlic, olive oil and pork cracklins served with shrimp. After we ordered, there was a good 30 minute wait, but that was all forgotten when the food came out. WOW. This is a BIIIIIIIG lunch! I was more than happy to dig in and I was overwhelmed by the incredible flavors of the dish. The plantains were perfectly cooked and the pork cracklins were nice and soft. The tail-off shrimp were a perfect addition to the dish and I loved all of it. Did I have leftovers? You know I did. I have to say- for the prices, the servings are HUGE. It definitely makes me want to go back with a group, order a few different things and split it all up. Our waiter (who I think is one of the owners) couldn't have been nicer. He mentioned up front that it's their third day open and they are still working out some kinks (we ordered an appetizer that never came. No worries, it just gives me an excuse to go back). One thing I'm excited to try is their fried plantains. I almost got some today, but decided to try a "big" dish first. I can see myself picking up an order of fried plantains "to go", sometime in the very near future. As we were getting ready to leave, the place was starting to get packed, so if you're planning to go, prepare for a short wait. Trust me, it's totally worth it.

My all time favorite restaurant to go too hands down, I'd go every week if I could. Very friendly, clean place. Very cozy and comfortable. If you want true Spanish/ Dominican food this is the place to go in NOLA. I truly love it here

The best quipes ever!! If you like Dominican food I Highly recommend this place. Very friendly and quick service

I felt like I was on vacation! The food was amazing and fresh and the service was excellent. My best friend and I shared the bandeja de antojitos with bolas de yucca, platano chips (so tender!) and queso empanadas; pescado entero frito and mangu de camarones y salsa; platanos a la paila, aguacate, cafe, rum punch. Everything was soooo good. Decor, etc. I can't wait to return! The pescado frito and bolas de yuca were my favorites, if I had to choose. But I loved it ALL.

I decided to stop here for a quick bite and was pleased with the fast, friendly service, the delicious food, and the pleasant environment of the restaurant. Ordered the mangu plate with braised chicken, as pictured. This is my first time trying mangu and I don't think it'll be my last. The chicken was tender and almost all of the meat fell off the bone. The sauce was delicious and I used all of it to mix with the slaw and mangu. This place is worth a try!