Rincón Melania

"Located in a strip mall on Queens Boulevard at the far eastern edge of Long Island City, Rinclón Melania is a fantastic choice for a casual lunch or dinner. The menu consists of Ecuadorian classics, and everything from the steak to the salchipapas is comforting and well-executed. But the ceviche is the biggest reason to come here. It’s perfectly tangy, with a substantial amount of fish that tastes like it just hopped in a cab and arrived here straight from the dock. Sit on a comfy banquette, and eat some with a side of tostones." - neha talreja, bryan kim, hannah albertine, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick

"The owners of Rincón Melania have been serving Ecuadorian food in Queens for several decades now, and it shows. Their previous restaurant, Rincón Latino, closed in 2011, but now you can eat their chaulafan, guatita, and carne asada in a homey space on Queens Boulevard in Long Island City. Get some salchipapas for the table, order the bandeja with a llapingacho on the side, and be sure to try the ceviche. It’s some of the best in NYC." - Bryan Kim

"You’ll find some of the best ceviche in NYC at Rincón Melania, a bright, casual Ecuadorian spot in Long Island City with a few TVs and woven rugs on the walls. They have a couple different varieties, but go with the mixto version that comes with a pile of heavily marinated shrimp, fish, and octopus. Next, get some carne asada with cartoonishly perfect grill marks, a bowl of seco de chivo with big bone-in chunks of goat, or a crispy bolon with melty cheese. All of the classic Ecuadorian food here is satisfying and well-executed, so bring a small group, split a few things, and enjoy an impressive meal that’ll probably run you around $30 per person. " - Bryan Kim