Sophie's Cuban Cuisine - Midtown East

Had the oxtail special. Unreal good. Green plantains, yuca and red beans/rice were so flavorful. That green sauce is to die for. The photo isn’t that great but good golly this was so tasty. If you like Cuban food at all you’ll love this place.

Consistently, the food here is good. It's a chain restaurant that has high standards. They put the flavor in the food! I wish they would sell the green sauce! (Order extra...thank me later) It's not a fussy environment. The servings are generous, and the experience feels like a home cooked meal.

Food is pretty good. Always love the green sauce. The location is looking a little tired. Prices, for what it’s is, have gotten unreasonable high relative to other options in the neighborhood.

Solid spot for lunch. There's usually a line but it moves very quick. They always have good chicken over rice. Empanadas are decent. Love the green sauce here.

Took rating from 5 to 3 stars down because staff is consistently hostile to lgbtq+ customers. They seriously need to train their employees. Being Hispanic shouldn’t be the only qualification to work here; get some customer service skills. Shame because the foods good.order for pickup so you don’t have to interact with the staff 😷

This location is great. The food well prepared. The oxtails, peas & rice cherry tomatoes and sweet plantains is a welcomed combination to the taste palette. The staff were all customer service friendly before the rush-hour.

There are two lines to choose from: a sandwich line at the very back and a separate line for different sides you can combine into an entree. The sandwich line took a very long time and the guy wouldn't communicate with us. He would ask our order, make a round of sandwiches, wrap them up and then hand them to someone else behind the counter. I guess it was ordered ahead maybe. Then he'd ask our order again, and do the same thing a few times. Some people left because they were tired of waiting. We asked if he was making ours yet and he'd blurt something incomprehensible. The cuban sandwich was fairly good but it had been doused in way too much mustard. Friends were happy with the dishes they got from the entree line and it all looked fresh enough. The seating situation is a mess with people taking chairs and moving tables all around. The place gets packed and isn't ideal to sit and eat in. The cashier was rude. The price was decent.

Food is very good, they get very busy at lunch time and is a good idea to check what you ordered is what you asked for.

My wife and I each got a Cuban sandwich. They were good. Each contained: roast pork, ham, cheese, pickles and a flavorful sauce. It was easy walking here from Grand Central Station.

Sophie's is one of my favorite places for Empanadas. I enjoy the Cuban sandwiches too. When I'm in the neighborhood hanging around it's fast to grab a couple of my favorite empanadas and eat them then hit the door. I'm not one to sit around but will take advantage of the restroom. It's a chain but it's satisfying to me and reasonably priced. I've never had to wait for my food. Check out is easy because I pay cash. Enjoy!

I've been meaning to try this place as it's right by my office. I walked in, and there were so many lines in this one restaurant. I was quite confused about which line to be on and how to order. It seems like you need to be a frequent diner to know how to order. I just watched people, and that's how I figured it out. There's a line for sandwiches and a line for the hot plates. People are waiting on the side for their pickup/ takeout orders. I ordered the hotplate and got their pernil. I also got their orange rice, mixed steamed veggies (which they called salad), and plantains. Overall, without the special green sauce, the entire meal would've been so bland. That's why I gave this place an average rating. I would have to figure out if I would like to return.

Food is not really Cuban but it's taste good anyway, Across the street from nuy hospital.

Good Cuban Sandwich, could of had more flavor but was still good. The yuca fries and pulled beef were amazing.

It has been some time since I've gotten Sophie's Cuban Cuisine. It was a rainy day without an umbrella and I had forgotten to pack lunch. Sophie was right across the street. For lunch, you can choose 3 sides and one entree. I got the yellow rice which was delicious, steamed vegetables and plantains with the beef. I was shocked to learn that it was 18.50! The rice to meat ratio was about 4:1. The taste was there, but I'm not sure if it was worth it to pay almost 20 dollars for rice. There are definitely cheaper lunch options in the area. The service was fast as it had mainly 2 stations. One for sandwiches and the other for a fast meal where they scooped up your choices in a box.

This food is so bland! She asked if I wanted spicy sauce and I should have said yes. No flavor whatsoever! The 2 stars is because I'm surprised the small was the tin and not the small carton

I haven't eaten at Sophie's since before the pandemic. There was a time I would say you needed to try one of New York's most celebrated sandwiches, their Pernil with a Twist. Sadly, memory was a lot more enjoyable than the sandwich. What used to have a savory and moist pile of lechon, fell flat in flavor and was missing the moisture I had recalled. I also got a beef empanada, and it was mediocre at best. Mind you, my visit was around 11:45 am. This should be some of the freshest selections before the rush and good being picked over. Their customer service? It was borderline rude. There was a check in offer within Yelp for 10% off a sandwich or entree. It became a big scene that I didn't want that involved a call to their IT department for a $1.30 discount. After being treated like I was trying to get over on them I told them not to worry about it, but after spending $20 on lunch, it was slightly upsetting. I didn't come to Sophie's for the discount, but thought it was a nice perk. After the mediocre meal at a whopping $20 and unpleasant service, I will think twice before giving Sophie's another visit.

Didn't really care for this place too much i thought it would be better but it wasn't

Great and authentic restaurant. They ask for proof of vaccination if you eat inside. The empanadas were really good with the guava one being my absolut favorite. Malta india reminds of home and being able to buy it at Sophies was amazing. Will reccomend if looking for cuban food.

I have been getting food at Sophies for over 5 years... normally i walk to the one over near times square and i wish i did today. I wouldnt feed what they gave me from this location to my dog.

Highly dissapointed and disgusted! A burnt roach on my sandwich. Never going back again

Over priced extremely small portions. Went down hill pretty fast since COVID. LESS FOOD FOR WAY MORE MONEY.

Love their new menu. Delicious food. Good app for quick order and lots of locations around the city. Downside to this midtown East location is that it closes much earlier than the other chains. I can't buy dinner to take home after work.

Inconsistent quality and service This was a go-to spot for empanadas but sadly better to avoid this location. There is no quality control so you don't always get what you order and pay for. In my last two experiences, * given wrong order (had to throw away food after biting into it) * given an empty empanada (pastry with no filling at all) * given overbaked/hard empanada shell (honestly feared i cracked a tooth) * lukewarm at best

Interesting set up in here they have 2 lines. One for sandwiches and one for line entree's. Entree's is like a lunch bowl type thing. My guess is the one line moves faster than the other. There are also tables if you want to enjoy your lunch there. I went with the cuban sandwich. The sandwich was good however I think the pork was a little dry. Flavors were good and sandwich was pressed nicely. The lunch bowl ingredients looked fresh and I will try that next time I come in. Cool lunch spot if you want something quick.

Usually order from here, Ive tried the chicken empanadas, grilled chicken, pernil, roasted chicken, the pernil w a twist sandwich and probably tried every side dish there. Reason why Im giving 2 stars here is because i got really sick after ordering delivery from here. Its not the first time I ordered the shrimp in garlic sauce lunch but today really messed me up. Could barely make it through work without running to bathroom and I feel like my insides are twisted. I'm traumatized and sadly, I dont think id ever eat from here again.

If you value your hard worked earned money avoid this place! I haven't been to Sophie's in years and remember when they used to serve the take out in a large round aluminum foil container with fair and reasonable portions. Today I was surprised with a tiny container and when I asked for the shredded beef I was insulted with the little amount of beef in the attached photo! I separated the beef from the veggies and DID NOT stack them...what you see are pieces of beef just next to each other. I paid $15 for a plate of rice and veggies....did not bother going back to complain because I was on a lunch break and a couple of blocks away. Very disappointed....

... ahhh music to my ears!! ¡¡¡muy pero MUUIIIIIIII buenos días- "EMPANADA DE QUESO - (echo in the back responds "EMPANADA DE QUESO!!" )- - drill Sargent behind the buffet table is a feisty and demanding lady- BUT- - gets stuff done!!! And definitely appreciate "sense of urgency" !! I'm from an area in New Jersey where Cuban food is the very best- Union city!!! . So, needless to say - when it comes to Cuban food - I'm am super "exigente" (demanding). I walked into this location- (there ARE many) and immediately attended to- with a smile (behind a mask) - and enthusiasm - and a very clean table to work on - - turns me on!!! Love the energy in this place- could have used a little music - but understand why they don't - no one sits to eat UNLESS- you're a tourist and have a vaccine card!! So bring it, take a picture of it or take out is your only option. Everyone has a designated work area - and work at it diligently. Sandwich guy ready to press throes Cuban sammies nice and toasty- as was my bread and butter !!! Carne empanada was warm, juicy, fresh and DEEEEEEELEEECIOSOOOO!!! !! And not to mention my cafecito con leche - as Cuban as they come!!!!! !!! Please try this location- you won't regret it!! Buen provecho!!!!

Since I stopped eating breakfast and eating lunch earlier, their early bird special is a great deal for me. $10 for an entree with sides. My favorite is the salmon, but the chicken is also a favorite of mine.

I don't usually provide reviews on this or any other platform unless they are exceptional or terrible. Unfortunately this was a terrible experience. About a month ago, I stopped by this Sophie's location to get a Cuban sandwich for lunch and 3/4 the way through my meal I bit into a marble sized bone and nearly broke a tooth. This wouldn't usually warrant a yelp review but after attempting to get in touch with customer service, twice through the online portal with no response, I was left with no other option. I would absolutely not recommend eating here as clearly there is something going on with the quality control on the food as well as the management of the business. Likely a connected issue. Sophie's - please stop ignoring my outreach.

I've come to Sophie's for years because of their deliciously addicting green sauce. However, in the last few years I've slowly but surely weaning off of Sophie's and going to Empanada Mama more and more. Why? The empanada fillings are just a lot tastier to me. They're more seasoned, perhaps? I also don't love that when I came here yesterday I asked for a shredded beef empanada and they gave me ground beef. Womp. This is probably the last time I visit Sophie's. Just keeps missing the mark for me (besides that wonderful amazing green sauce).

This is THE worst place to eat. Hospital food is better than the crap they say is Cuban food. I had their "Ropa Vieja". It had no cumin or Worcestershire sauce or anything else that remotely comes close to Ropa Vieja. All it was was shredded beef with tomatoes in a sweet sauce. Their plantains were tasty but they're yucca needed salt and their Moho was week. If you go there make sure to bring salt and pepper and any other spices you can bring. I asked them why do they not cook more traditional Cuban food and their response was Americans can't handle it. If I could shut this place down I would because it is a joke and not good at all

Wow, I paid $25 for oxtail rice and plantains. My oxtail was all bones. Definitely not coming back. Not the same Sophie's as the past. And this was lunch??? No thanks.

I got the pernil with a twist (roast pork, mayo, onions, sweet plantains and Sophie's special SPICY green sauce). Good flavor combinations and a nice size for under $10 but it was super greasy. Definitely not a healthy or light meal.

Really great lunch and MealPal setup here. MealPal means you get to skip the line, which is awesome. They have the lunches ready to go behind the counter, they highlight your order to reflect that you picked it up, and bam you're on your way. If you're coming here to choose your lunch, it's a bit of an assembly line then you get everything at the end and then you pay. Either way they're super organized and will throw in extra green sauce if you ask for it. Not that many places to sit. Definitely a grab and go type place. Food is delicious and it is at any Sophie's location. And the green sauce makes everything that much better.

First off, the "Moro" rice is extremely subpar. Sorry guys, please do better! This isn't Moro, this is just rice with canned beans thrown in it.. very bland. Second, the steak -super tough. I read a review prior to ordering regarding the steak and onions and just wanted to give benefit of doubt to go ahead and try. Let me tell you -no bueno. Super chewy and also kind of bland in taste. Third -price. I get that this is midtown but jeez the prices are ridiculous. $15 for entree and measly served sides? Wow. I don't understand. ...The first time I came I went for chicken breast and veggies which was also costly for $15 lol. Tried you a couple times Sophie. I understand you're a chain but let's go back to the rice -if you call that Moro, then I'm sorry. Will only come for the empanadas and little things like that, other than the other big plates -issa no for me. You want real Cuban/Hispanic fare? Head over to a Dominican/Puerto Rican restaurant, cuchifritos is great too. Trust me, if you try their Moro there and are a foodie like me, you'll taste the difference and love put into it! I would've given two stars but gave three since I didn't wanna take away that the staff are very friendly :)

It was all good until I said I didn't have my vaccination card. The young lady behind the counter started being rude. She doesn't know if I'm vaccinated or just forgot it at home so why they attitude? I asked for a paper bag with a handle since I couldn't sit and eat and she damn near threw it at me. I won't be going to Sophie's again with their subpar food. The only really good thing is the sauce.

I have always been a fan of Sophie's. Great food, generous portions, quick service! This location here on Lexington wasn't any different. Sophie's has been my only exposure to Cuban cuisine so I can't really compare it to other Cuban restaurants but I love it here! My favorites are the Baked Chicken and the Steak & Onions. The fear of ordering chicken from many restaurants is that it usually ends up dry. I have never had that issue here, its always so moist the skin is really amazing too. Love the beans too black or pinto you cant go wrong. I usually dine in at a different Sophie's but I made the trek down here since it was on MealPal. Thankfully they aren't too stingy with the Mealpal portion. I am super stuffed as I am writing this and thinking of the next time I will have Sophie's .

I had the baked chicken leg using my meal pal. I get this every time. This is the #1 hands down meal i get every time and I'll tell you why. I've had their steak and pulled pork and it just couldn't compare with their baked chicken. They give you some beans, carrots, avocado, and potato. The chicken is just so tender, it just melts in your mouth. The flavor worth the vegetables just complement each other so well. If you get this, you have to try it with their green sauce. I normally don't eat my vegetables but because this dish was so good, I finished my plate.

Lunch delivery for 6 people - right on time! I ordered at 11:30am and it was delivered promptly by 12pm. Chicken and beef empanadas - great outer shell, didn't love the olives. Ham and pork croquettes - delicious, falling apart because they were so soft. For the entrees we had baked chicken - super moist but hard to eat because of the bones, pulled pork - slightly dry but great taste, and the Cuban sandwich - large and really tasty. Service was fantastic, they included like 12 green sauces and lots of forks and napkins. I added a note for avocados on the Cuban sandwich and they added it! Food was hot and packed neatly.

I want to say that this place is totally expensive and the rice is super greasy You don't get the delicious Cuban rice that you get at mast places Yes the food is good for fast food but it is not fast food prices

This place has delicious empanadas and a great section of entrees. I love that it's as fast food-style of serving but that food tastes freshly made.

I don't know what happened to this restaurant. They used to be good. They are totally overpriced for food that is not good. The couple of times that I ordered the chicken, it was not cooked. It was still raw. If you order avacado. For two Tiny prices that is not even fresh is $4. REALLY? how much more higher can they go with their prices. Empanadas are actually not bad but totally over priced at 3.79. This is crazy if the prices are going to be this high the food should at least be good!!!!!

Sophie's Cuban Cuisine recently opened up some new branches around town and lucky me, one of them was right near my job! Located in Midtown East this branch is not quite like the one towards the West Side in the 40's (which has a decidedly rough and Old Skool appearance). Instead its signage is bright with high contrast and the background is bright white, falling in line with the type of signage design we have Apple to thank for. The interior is also fairly modern compared to some of the older branches. It is not super fancy, but nor is it a dive. Instead the interior is just as bright as their signage with a few seats and a station for napkins, water and most importantly squeeze bottles filled with condiments including their awesome green sauce! Clearly designed for the lunch crowd this branch is more take out than eat in. I would say maybe 6-8 people can sit in here tops. Instead most of the space is dedicated to lines and a long steam table featuring their foods to order. I cannot speak to how authentically Cuban Sophie's food is but man, everything I have ever had at any of their restaurants has been super tasty. My favorite appetizer is their Stuffed Potato which is crispy on the outside while the inside is a combination of mashed potatoes and seasoned beef (mouth watering commencing...now). My favorite entree is a combination of Moro Rice (rice with beans), baked chicken (with accompanying veggies including carrots) and plain old mixed vegetables for some non-salty balance. The result is a comforting, scrumptious and filling meal! Also worth having on the side, the garlic yucca which lives up to its name. Shout out to the staff who seem energetic and happy even though most of the time when i go it is dinner time and they have probably pulled a full shift already. They are also very kind about explaining a food if you do not familiar with it. Sophie's is one of my favorite take out spots to hit and I anticipate coming back many many more times!

Sophie's is where I would go to get my quick chicken and rice fix. I have been to different locations of Sophie's in Manhattan for I have always worked/went to school nearby. I am very hesitant to report that this is probably the most disappointing location I have ever been to. Yes, the food is still taste good but the portion is pretty sad here. Other locations I have been to had been pretty fair with the amount of food you get in a platter. This location charges the same price, if not more; but gives noticeably less food. Price is acceptable for Midtown but the value could not be justified. Baked Chicken with Yellow Rice and Sweet Plantains. I loved the taste of fresh chicken and yellow rice. It was done right. But really now I literally got only 2 scoops of yellow rice to attempting to cover the bottom, tiny half chicken with just one layer of meat and many layers of skin, and finally 3 pieces of sweet plantains. My container was barely half full. Enough said, I'll walk further to the one on 45th Street between 5th Avenue & Avenue of Americas instead.

Sophie's Cuban Cuisine is like the old school Latin restaurants that were buffet style in which you would chose what you wanted from a few trays. They would then give you a container full of your food. These places exist today. At a much cheaper price. As a vegetarian, I did feel that Sophie's provided enough food to provide me with a nutritious meal. They do give you a lot of food so keep that in mind. I got the vegetarian and it included your choice of rice - I choose yellow, beans (pretty good), a salad (I chose beet salad), tostones (1 star off for only giving me 2 when it's considered a side) and I also had some marinated white onions. The onions were seasoned and had vinegar. Pretty good. They also had a side of green, spicy sauce and a pink salad dressing sauce. Both were tasty. I'd recommend if you were either super hungry or had the $20 to drop on 1 meal. If I were a mom and I was running late home, I may bring a container of Sophie's and share it with my kid or partner. It's that much food. But Otherwise, this place is too expensive to make it a daily thing.

MealPal: Steak & Onions Platter Rice and beans, sweet plantains and a very large thin steak. Smothered with salsa verde. I call this bistec. A bit tougher to eat from the chuck cut. We used to have this in sandwiches. The bistec is not too dry yet I wish it was more saltier for my taste. Onions at work; I didn't care it. It was too good to not eat. Adding salsa verde helped. Thursday, April 26, 2018

I have always been a huge fan of empanadas and today to my delight I ran into Sophie's while walking back to my office. They were putting out fresh empanadas and I knew I would have to have one. You can smell the fresh deliciousness just from walking by the store, my senses were also probably heightened because I was starving. They have 4 different types ranging from beef, chicken, guava & cheese, and spinach & cheese. Each empanadas runs 2.59, about $1 more than the usual spots I go to in Brooklyn and Jersey. I decided to go with the beef. Taste- the outside of the empanadas was perfectly crusted, it was not to hard or to soft. The Sophie's "special" green sauce combined with the juicy flavors of the beef made it to die for. The sauce has a hint of jalapeño mixed in with lime. A few dabs of it would definitely give you an extra kick. I loved the sauce so much I had to ask for a few extra to bring back to the office to supplement with my dinner later. This place could also make for a great lunch spot. They have a wide range of Cuban cuisine with plenty of clean tables for those that want to dine in. Staff- The cashier that helped us was super friendly and the manager came to greet us as well. She also recommended that we try the green sauce. Overall, great place for a quick snack or lunch. This is my new empanada spot in midtown when I suddenly get the craving. You can definitely catch me back here soon.

Empanadas are bomb. Walking back to the office from a meeting getting ready to go to lunch and stumbled on this gem. They have the empanadas in the window and it brought us in. As soon as we came in the cashier was so nice and welcomed us. The smell of the place was delightful. We didn't have time to stay too long but really wanted to try the empanadas. They have beef, chicken, guava and cheese and lastly spinach and cheese. We got the beef empanadas and boy was it good. From the crispy crust to the well seasoned beef it was a bite of joy every time. Will definitely come back when I have more time and actually grab lunch. They have a lot of entrees and I love Cuban food. I am so excited we came across this gem!!!

I've been here a few times for lunch and can definitely say that the food here is pretty good. I usually get the spicy grilled chicken, cuban sandwich, or the breaded chicken. You really can't go wrong with most of what they offer here. Sophies used to have 2 different platter sizes but now only offer 1 which is a tremendous amount of food for midday lunch. I preferred having the option to get the smaller platter instead of feeling forced to pay a higher price and having to eat more than I'd like. However, I will definitely be back (barring another price increase) because I do love the food. Service - 4 Food - 4 Decor - 3.25 Price - $17.00 pp

My office ordered Sophie's for lunch and I was really surprised at how much I liked it. The price point was great especially for the amount you get. I paid about $13 for my meal. I ended up eating only half and saved the other half for dinner. I got the baked chicken which came with 3 sides. I chose rice, beans, and plantains. The ended up putting their green sauce all over it wishing I had extra. This is a great option for lunch in the area. I also enjoy their empanadas!

I will preface I might be the only one that finds it exciting this Sophie's is $1 cheaper than its Tina's counterpart on 56th Street (bet. 5th and 6th ave). If you use one word to describe the food of Sophie's, it would be - consistency. Portions are always solid with your aluminum container packed with your item of choice and 2 sides. The salted pork chops are mostly rough and mouth-drying. The baked chicken leg is always tender and flavorful, and the beef is tasty and chewy. The plantains are sweet and soft, while the moro rice is bean-heavy yet easy to go down. Going in with eight dollars, I know I will get my container of two large pieces of salty pork chops with sides of salad and moro rice. Add a little green sauce and you'll have an awesome coma-inducing meal with a nice kick. Unbeknownst to me, I actually tested the consistency by designating Sophie's as my go-to lunch place twice a week for over a month. As my waistline noticeably changed (for the worse) during the test, the quality of the food surely did not. Combining consistent quality and good value, Sophie's is a worthy representation of Cuban food that has yet to fall short in satisfying cravings and appetites.

I wish this location was open later/open on weekends, because it's my favorite for an easy, Cuban food fix close to home. I usually get the rice and beans with sweet plantains, and either the ropa vieja or the pernil (I used to always get the pernil, although recently have found it's a little too dry?) SO much food, I can never finish it. If you want a sandwich, go for the pernil with a twist. The sandwiches here are truly massive, and it's actually crazy how much they fit on a thin piece of bread... watching them assemble this sandwich really brings home what a terrible thing you're about to do to your body. Docking a star because: - when did they get so stingy with the green sauce?!?! You get 2 per order (if you get an entree) and have to pay for more now. Although, sometimes if you the cashier likes you, you can get away with 4 for free. Annoyingly though, they don't have "extra green sauce" as an option to add to your cart when you order online, so you are just stuck with 2 no matter what pleas you leave in the comments. - I used to really like the empanadas here, but I had the beef one and the guava and cheese one recently, and eh. Maybe my empanada standards have just gone up? Pretty mediocre.

Eh... It's hit-or-miss based on who know's what. That said, the portions are decent and the prices are low so you get what you get. This place gets a lot of volume so service is uncoordinated and stupid, but when they get it right (like the roast pork sandwich I had the other day) they *really* get it right. That said, when they screw up (like the roast pork sandwich I had the other, other day) it's tragic. But they're close to my office so I visit often. Roll the dice and see where you land.

Stopped by here for lunch and this place is so good. The portions are extremely generous and the line moves quickly. I started coming here through mealpal but I even come here when I don't have mealpal. I'm looking forward to trying everything on their menu.

My office is right across the street so it's a good and bad thing!!! I haven't had a bad meal yet in the 6 years I've been frequenting this spot. It's one of my fave comfort food lunch places in the city! I like the moro rice (white rice mixed with black beans) over the yellow or white, although the other 2 are good too... My top choices here are: ~ Fried Pork Chops with grilled onions: fried perfection and the onions just put it over the top ~ Braised Oxtails: moist and tender and they don't skimp! ~ Pernil (slow roasted pork shoulder): they don't do the whole chicharron part but the pork is very very tender and flavorful ~ Roast chicken: never dry and just damn tender! I also like their empanadas, choice of chicken or beef and their version of pork tamale. Slap on some their amazing green hotsauce on the entire plate and you are golden!

Definitely the best Cuban Cuisine in town. The food looks normal but taste great The crispy chicken and pull pork are wonderful. Steak is a little hard to chew. The beet is great. And size is enough for two girls

#1 lunch option in the city. Delicious flavorful food for great prices explore on a flavorful journey. My go to is the chicken cubano sandwich or salmon with yellow rice and beans with green sauce. The green sauce is a must. It takes the food from good to great!

HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE serving of food for a meal for its lunch combo. You can choose your rice and meat with two sides. The serving was really big and when I carried the box in the hand, I consciously felt that it was heavy. Sadly it didn't have my favorite oxtail so I got beef instead. The meat was ok and was a bit dry. Yellow rice was very tasty. The side yuca and beans were fine (yuca was good and had great gravvy inside it) but together they were too starchy. I realized I made the wrong choice of not getting any vegetable. Side effect of this? You are promised very serious food coma and a very sleep afternoon after the heavy food. If you really want to get this, make sure you get enough vegetable and don't finish the entire portion! Forget to mention: you HAVE to get the GREEN SAUCE!! It was heaven and definitely alleviated the food coma a little bit with its refreshing taste.