El Chinchorro Boricua — Restaurant in Holyoke

Run, don't walk, to this new restaurant serving PHENOMENAL Puerto Rican food. El Chinchorro Boricua

I ordered a small meal of yellow rice (arros) with gandules, beans & Pollo guiseau (stewed chicken) & a potato ball (additional cost) Each component is packed with flavor!!! The potato ball is crunchy on the outside & silky smooth potato inside with flavorful beef.

All of this for $11 & change

The restaurant was mobbed!! So happy for them!

☆☆☆☆☆ADDING ON review for 2nd visit: I went again!!!☆☆☆☆☆

I couldn't resist another visit so soon to El Chinchorro Boricua

Today's lunch/dinner is pernil, yellow rice with gandules, beans, yuca (THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD) & passion fruit juice- delicious!!!

The yuca came in a seperate container & was an additional cost. My picture makes it look like it came with my meal. There was much more to enjoy as a serving meal with my other leftovers.

I thought the drink was pricey at $4.50 UNTIL I tasted it!! Holy smokes. What an absolute treat. I'd pay more for it, it's THAT good. (Plus the pouch it comes in is reusable) GET THE PASSION FRUIT JUICE!!!

Everything looked so good.

Great energy in the restaurant.

I started talking with the woman next to me in line & we chit chatted as we walked through & place our orders. All of a sudden, she looked up and gasped... the ceiling "tiles" are the metal roof material that is very popular in Puerto Rico. She shared a little memory with me from when she was a young girl. Her bedroom ceiling was made of the same metal...it was an absolute delight to hear the rain hitting it, but mid days, bc of the heat, it wasn't appreciated..at all. ☀ It was really neat to go back in time with her to the beautiful Isla del Encanto 🇵🇷 for a brief moment. Super special!!!!! That is one of the gifts when you share a smile & a hello with a stranger... We cashed out & told eachother to enjoy lunch & went on our seperate ways. ❤️ Love it!!!...

Will not be going back, I walk in, there is a couple in front of me. The server was putting their order together at a very slow pace and it's lunch time. I'm waiting and waiting, people are lining up behind me. After 15 mins another server comes up and puts my order together. Instead of her ringing me up because the first server is still putting the couples order together. I must wait in line till the first server is done. So bam she is done, rings them up gives them their bags of food. I'm like okay my turn, NOPE she tells me to wait as she goes and makes another plate of food. I'm waiting again, finally she gets to me. Rings up my food and it's $41.00 and some change. As you see from my picture, does it look like I have over $41 worth of food? A meal like this I share with my boyfriend, I never eat the whole thing. Any who the food was wicked salty, but it was juicy. Also Spanish restaurants are known for giving you a TON of rice, they server gave me like two scoops and closed the carton, I asked will you kindly put more rice in the container. Also the next day myself, boyfriend and dog had such upset stomachs, we could not stay out of the restroom and my dog went to bathroom on himself while I was work.

I will never go back here.

Service - Zero Food - Zero Price - Zero Aftermath eating this food -...

I absolutely LOVED this place! It is a cafeteria style restaurant where you get in line and you indicate what you would like, based off the menu. Everyone speaks both English and Spanish, so no need to be intimidated when you order.

All of the food is made fresh! The pernil is soo tender and delicious it melts in your mouth. Another wonderful item on the menu are the handmade empanadas. There are several varieties from which to choose: beef, chicken, crab, and pizza. All are delicious and not spicy. They can be shared as well.

Large orders don't upset the staff either. (We had ordered a whole shoulder of pernil and they very happily cut it for us, and Christina, the owner helped us carry everything out to our car. She is very kind and helpful!) It took them little time to put our order together. 😊

The prices are very reasonable too! You will not go broke bringing your...