Cocotazo — Restaurant in New York

I originally wrote a great review but took it down because of attitude. The food is good, not great. There are inconsistancies. my 1st visit i didnt know they closed at 5 on Sundays. Their website doesn't show hours of operation, or i missed it. i got there just after 5 after an instagram review. The line was long so i assumed they were still open. i asked if i was too late to order. no one answered me. i asked again. i would have left. The chef very calmly and graciously smiled and said, give us a minute we will serve you. The other woman was annoyed. I found out later this was the chefs wife. i dismissed it as she was very tired. i get it. or so i thought...The chef was wonderful. the food was good. i ordered a half dozen pastels and half dozen alcapurrias in addition to two entrees and a sandwhch. they were all seasoned very well! The next time i went back i ordered 1 dozen frozen pasteles and 1 dz alcapurrias. The alcapurrias lacked salt. i still have 9 frozen. i sent an email about the no salt and was told that it was strange that they had no salt but i could bring them back for a refund. i didnt want money. i wanted well seasoned alcapurrias. since i do not live anywhere near this place and usually get an urge for it when i go out of my way to go there, i didnt bother taking the alcapurrias back. the 3rd time i went was today. i didnt know they started serving at 12 noon. i got there at 11:15am from Brooklyn. i was headed back home to New Rochelle and diverted to stock up on pernil, arroz con gandules, more pasteles and more. Each time I've been there i drop over $100. 1-I love supporting women owned businesses 2- I love supporting my people and 3- i have no limit in spending when i like something. if the food is really good I'll take the trip and drop the cash. So today sitting there at one of the tables was the chefs wife. I asked if i could place an order. i got attitude. SHE IS NOT WELCOMING AT ALL!! Her face showed anger, she was annoyed and acted insulted. I got, "No we don't open until 12!" with a look that said "how dare you ask!" I asked not even a little earlier? She was annoyed and barked "no!" then she got up walked away towards the back. She never asked what i wanted. She made no effort at all. so I saw that another kiosk was serving Asian fair and I went there. i was done at 11:50am I tried again at Cocotazo. this time the chef was behind the counter. I asked if i could order something. I'm told no, no orders until the food is up. You can kill people with kindness and ruin your service business by being curt, dismissive, unapproachable and rude. i won't be back to be dismissed and spoken to like i'm chattle. The first time i was there i got attitude from the chefs wife. I made excuses fir that. The second time she went out of her way to tell me she was the wife, which i thought was strange. The 3rd time i got worse attitude from her, the wife, and dismissed by the chef. Instead of asking me what i wanted they just turned me away with big negative attitude. Had they asked me what i wanted i would have told them i was there for another 2 dozen frozen pasteles, an entire pernil, rice with gandules, and potato salad to go with it, but they never asked. I'm not chasing anyone to give them my money!! I would have waited if they needed to prep some of it, but they just shut me down and gave me attitude. No discussion at all. They were very standoffish and they hadn't even started serving. i guess they have it that way. I wish them much luck. I won't be returning.

Ps a HUGE roach walked across the floor while we were eating at one of the tables in front of the Asian food kiosk area. The very sweet female that served us started chasing it, but it went under her kiosk. lt looked like a flying roach....

Cocotazo isn’t just a restaurant—it’s home.

The first time I walked through those doors in 2023, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time: home. The aroma of the pernil , the warmth of the space,—it was like stepping into my grandmother’s house, where love was served on every plate.

In a city that has slowly erased so much of our Puerto Rican culture—especially in East Harlem—Cocotazo is a lifeline. It is one of the few places left where you can taste the island in every bite, where the food doesn’t just feed you, it heals you. Each dish tells a story, carrying generations of tradition, resilience, and soul.

But Cocotazo is more than just its incredible food. It’s the people behind it. Chef Frances and her wife Vicky are two of the strongest, most loving women I’ve ever met. They weren’t born in this community, but you’d never know it—because they love it like their own. They show up, they give back, they uplift. They’ve supported the work I do, embraced me like family, and created a space where everyone belongs.

In a city that moves fast and often forgets, Cocotazo reminds us to slow down and savor—not just the food, but the memories, the culture, the love.

We have a gem in our community, and I couldn’t be more grateful. If you love food that tells a story, that takes you home, that reminds you of the people who loved you through a plate of arroz con gandules—then Cocotazo is waiting for you.

Come hungry. Leave full—in every way...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Cocotazo LLC, and I must say, it was an extraordinary experience that brought me right back to my roots in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican food here is nothing short of spectacular. From the moment I tasted the arroz con gandules (yellow rice with pigeon peas), I was transported back to the vibrant flavors of home. The rice was perfectly cooked, and the pigeon peas added a delightful texture. The pernil (roasted pork) was tender and flavorful, a true testament to authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. The beans were well-prepared and complemented the meal beautifully. The attention to detail in every dish was evident, and everything was excellently prepared. The meal setup, complete with traditional sides and refreshing beverages, made the experience even more enjoyable. The fried items, possibly rellenos de papa or alcapurrias, were crispy and delicious, adding a perfect touch to the meal. Cocotazo LLC has truly captured the essence of Puerto Rican food, and I am thrilled to have found a restaurant that reminds me so much of home. If you’re looking for a place that offers authentic and mouth-watering Puerto Rican cuisine, look no further than Cocotazo LLC. Highly...