Latin American restaurants in the US are as diverse as the people who make up the 62.5 million-strong community. Case in point: Some become dance floors for epic salsa showdowns. At others, menus take cues from treasured family recipes. Many are led by award-winning chefs who confidently mash up ancient flavors with worldly ingredients.
To mark National Hispanic Heritage Month—honoring the cultures and contributions of Americans linked to Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Spain—here are 12 Hispanic-owned restaurants to try that represent the best of Latin American food in the US.
Casta’s Rum Bar – Washington, D.C.
Rum and cigar aficionados flock to this locally loved West End gem. The indoor-outdoor bar serves Cuban food by chef Alberto Vega, with highlights like a classic Cuban sandwich on bread flown daily from Florida and ropa vieja made from partner Arian Castañeda’s Cuban grandmother’s recipe. A large global rum collection fuels tropical cocktails, perhaps best consumed at a discount during weekday happy hours. For peak party vibes, come for free salsa lessons on Wednesdays or mojito towers on Saturdays and Sundays.
El Naranjo – South Lamar – Austin, TX
James Beard Award-winning chef Iliana de la Vega leads the kitchen at this sophisticated Mexican restaurant. Crowds come for pitch-perfect renditions of ceviche, guacamole, and enchiladas. But the real standouts are the dishes that represent Oaxaca—where de la Vega has deep family roots—like crunchy tlayudas (large corn tortillas topped with beans, sauces, and cheese) and a spectacular made-from-scratch black mole with more than 30 ingredients, including a hint of Oaxacan-style chocolate, served with grilled duck breast. The bar is stocked with a generous mezcal and tequila selection to drink straight up or in cocktails, like the very sippable Sangre Oaxaqueña made with mezcal, chile liqueur, spiced hibiscus tea, and fresh-squeezed lime juice.
Colombia Kaliente – Englewood, NJ
This casual northeastern New Jersey bakery-restaurant is the brainchild of Sebastian Colorado and all about traditional Colombian specialties ranging from sandwiches and salads to hearty combo plates, burgers, pastas, and an excellent kids’ menu. Expect classics including crunchy arepas and bandeja paisa—steak, sausage, chicharron, fried eggs, rice, fried plantains, and avocado wedges—plus house specialties like grilled flounder with garlic shrimp in creamy wine sauce. The bar is a popular perch for friends to meet over mojitos and sangria, and Kaliente’s festive vibe is enhanced by live music on weekends.
Vejigante Restaurant – Boston, MA
Hector and Nivia Piña (who also run Doña Habana, a Cuban spot close by) have showcased the best of Puerto Rican food since 2012. The restaurant draws Bostonites for its family-friendly ambience and bright dining room. Not to mention Boricua specialties including the highly rated mofongo—fried and mashed plantains, mixed with garlic paste and pork skin. Save yourself a hard decision by getting the mofonguito sampler, three small mofongo stuffed with beef, shrimp, and lobster. Or go for one of the many seafood-centric options like chillo entero emperrao, a whole red snapper cooked with a tomato and olive sauce, and you’ll see why this homey South End spot is a bonafide neighborhood star.
Casa Vega – Los Angeles, CA
Casa Vega is a historic Mexican restaurant with no shortage of accolades—in addition to scoring an America’s Classics award from the James Beard Foundation, the Sherman Oaks mainstay appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and is a consistent celeb hangout. It’s steered by second-gen owner Christina Vega, who took the reins from her father Ray Vega, who opened the restaurant in 1956. The cozy, banquette-lined landmark is locally loved for its spot-on shredded beef taquitos, stiff margaritas (best consumed at happy hour on weekdays, which kicks off at 2:30 pm), and extra-friendly service.
Casa Ora – Brooklyn, NY
Casa Ora is a full family affair: Executive chef Isbelis Diaz dishes up knockout Venezuelan food and her son, Ivo Diaz—a mixologist with Eleven Madison Park cred—creates superb craft cocktails using ingredients like sweet plantains and tamarind. Fittingly, the restaurant is lined with family mementos that give diners a look at the inspo behind dishes including the pork tamale with chickpea, potato, raisins, and olives or seared chicken breast with crispy coconut rice dulce, corn, sofrito, and scallion. In addition to celebrating their homeland’s cuisine, the mother-son duo supports Venezuela by donating a portion of Casa Ora’s revenue to families forced to seek asylum from the country.
Puerto Viejo – Brooklyn, NY
This humble Brooklyn bistro is owned and operated by the Abreu family and has served traditional Dominican dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner since 1986. The interiors were completely restored after a devastating 2012 fire and now serve as the unofficial local headquarters for all things Dominican. Those unfamiliar with the cuisine should start with a sampler of tostones (fried plantains), longaniza (spiced sausage), fried cheese, lightly salted beef, crispy chicken, and pork chicharrones; or dig into a homey classic like rabo guisado, oxtail stew served with white rice and red beans.
Azuca – San Antonio, TX
Chef-owner Rene Fernandez opened this pan-Latin restaurant in Southtown in 2003—years before the area became the artsy hotspot it is now. Food from South and Central America, Spain, the Caribbean, and Mexico all get modern makeovers on Azuca’s adventurous menu. Some of the most popular dishes include the Chino-Latino tuna crudo with serrano-cilantro soy, seaweed, avocado, and spicy crisps; Venezuelan arepas with cheese and chorizo; and paella loaded with meats, shrimps, and vegetables. Enjoy it all on the plant-filled patio or lively dining room. On weekend nights, the bar turns into salsa dancing central from 10 pm to 2 am.
Tamayo Restaurant – Denver, CO
Tamayo sits in Denver’s historic Larimer Square and is home to innovative Mexican cuisine from award-winning chef Richard Sandoval. His innovative menu remixes traditions through dishes like pork tenderloin with a habanero orange reduction, avocado puree, black beans, and pickled red onion salad served with artisan blue corn tortillas. The creative plates pair well with tequila cocktails (the bar is stocked with over 100 kinds of the spirit). For the ultimate Tamayo experience, head to the rooftop deck for sweeping mountain views—and don’t leave without getting the housemade churros with cinnamon-chocolate and caramel sauces for dipping.
Doña Paulina – Miami, FL
Tasty dishes from Uruguay and Spain are the twin draws at this family-owned Westchester spot. The stars of the show are undeniably the grilled meats—Uruguayans are some of the world’s highest meat consumers—which can be ordered with sides like rice and beans, Russian salad, and mashed yuca. Go all out with a parrillada (mixed grill), a shareable little-bit-of-everything option. Doña Paulina also stands out for its significant wine selection, featuring bottles from Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Spain, and Italy—though many pair their gargantuan feasts with pitchers of refreshing sangria for the table.
Lo De Lea – Miami, FL
Miamians can’t get enough of this warm and friendly Argentinian grill that does it all from breakfast to late-night snacks and cocktails. Lo De Lea is helmed by Buenos Aires native Leandro Marcelo de Vita, who serves empanadas and grilled meats along with salads and more internationally influenced dishes like mussels steamed in a Chardonnay garlic broth. Friday nights are for live music and Sundays mean fresh pastas served family-style, accompanied, of course, by a killer bottle of Malbec.
Irazu – Chicago, IL
Costa Rican cuisine may not yet be widely available in the US, which is all the more reason to head to this family-owned staple opened by Costa Rican immigrants Gerardo and Miriam Cerdas in 1990. The menu is filled with simple but flavor-packed ceviche, empanadas, tacos, and burritos with a Tico touch (think lots of sweet plantains), plus traditional favorites like arroz con pollo or gallo pinto (beans and rice) served with sweet fried plantains, an over-easy egg, and cabbage slaw. Irazu is BYOB, so grab your favorite liquor and mix it with a pitcher of housemade piña colada, mango daiquiri, or limeade to kick things up a notch.
Claudia Alarcón is a Mexico City-born writer based in Austin, Texas, covering dining, drinking, and travel since 1999.
