El Sabroso — Restaurant in Jersey City

First, to clarify, this review is for El Sabroso in Manhattan, at 265 West 37th Street, off of 8th Avenue.

** It's not too often I eat my breakfast in a freight elevator entrance, but in El Sabroso's case, I was willing to take the risk. At first it took me about five minutes of walking right by its entrance, going up and down the block in a daze, but when I looked up over the swinging double-door loading dock, I knew I was in the right place. Walking down the flourescent light corridor, I came upon a small luncheon counter manned by the most polite Ecuadorian gentleman on cooking duty. There's no real menu, per se, it's just whatever he's got on tap for the day. Though he did warn me that he makes the best fish stew on Fridays, so come early.

The two times I went, I was greeted with the most tender chicken stew and cheese empanadas served alongside hot sauce. For breakfast? Hell yeah, for breakfast-- or lunch or dinner! You can't get around the fact this is unbelievably authentic Ecuadorian dishes, just they are cooked in a freight elevator entrance, so you will have to learn to love no windows, a tiny television playing South American soap operas, and sitting on stools that likely have seen better days, given their proximity to the nearby dumpsters.

Many would say this may be Manhattan's strangest place of all to eat, but I would counter that with "Have you ever been inside the kitchens of even four-star restaurants"-- some would make you shudder. At El Sabroso, you can't hide a thing, so you are best to trust the fact the owner loves his food, and wants to share that love with you. One of Manhattan's best places you will ever visit. Try it, and...

This Central Ave location is relatively new. About a year or 2. Decor is simple nothing fancy but clean, new, open, lots of tile. Nicer decor and cleaner than many of the older dumpier PR and Cuban type places in the area. Essentially one big room. Can get a little loud when busy. Food has always been very good here, tasty, good portions, fresh. I've had some of the same dishes at other fancier places for twice the price and the quality was just as good. They just don't have a guy walking around playing spanish guitar. Prices are very reasonalble. I can get a filling dinner portion and flan for desert for about $15. They can get very busy at dinner time and when they are busy service can be a tad slow but acceptable. I like the fact that the kitchen is out in the open and completely visible. You can see exactly what they are doing and that it is very clean. I used to be in the food business and you would be surprised at what some fancy places look like behind the kitchen doors. This kitchen seems to be kept spic and span. So if your looking for very tasty Puerto Rican food, there are many in JC but this is...

I remember when they were on Lincoln Ave., this was a real hole in the wall place that made the BEST white rice I have EVER eaten. It was light, lightly salted, with a buttery taste. Now they are on Central Ave. and have expanded. They are still the same, sweet and generous ladies that serve probably the BEST authentic Puerto Rican cookery in all of New Jersey. Their food is amazing and you leave their place full as can be. The pernil is roasted to perfection where it is just crispy enough but not burned, the meat is moist and full of garlic and falling apart as you lift it to your mouth. The aroma is to die for. Their roz con condules is moist, and pungent and well seasoned. Who needs meat with rice like this. The baked chicken is moist and falling off the bone. They have fried breaded fish on Friday's, this too is amazing. The fish is lightly battered and fried to perfection. It is soft and flakey. I could go on all day about how wonderful their food is. I have enjoyed living up the street as I can always count on a Home Cooked Meal from the little...