I have never had a better Cuban sandwich than the one served here. I moved away from Orlando in 2010, and still cannot forget the taste of that sandwich. The chefs should be given a prize. One thing: this location (unlike the others) would consistently forget to put a pickle on the sandwich. It was the *only* shortcoming. Just remember to watch them make it (as you should be!) and ask if they still forget.
(5)
Andy G.
I have eaten at this restaurant for the past year and the food has always been delicious. The cleanliness and service provided is excellent. I would refer my friends to eat at this good Spanish restaurant. Both locations off of East Colonial are good.
(4)
Anthony J.
Tried this place two weeks ago really good food service is awesome and I went back twice since
(5)
Stefano C.
This is your typical Latina eatery with a very good selection of items. Luckily some of my co-workers and I are always open to finding new places and this location was on our lunch run recently. The food choices are plentiful!!! Everything from the main protein, and side dishes, a very good choice. Personally, my favorite is the Pernill and it did not disappoint when I ordered it. The portions are also huge, so be prepared to go hungry when you do go!! Overall, an excellent location to get your Latin food fix without having to drive all the way into Kissimmee!!
(4)
Mike P.
I have been meaning to stop here for quite some time. I have finally found the time and I am kicking myself for not stopping here sooner. You can bet this will be the first of MANY trips here. When I walked in, the smell made me feel as though I died and went to heaven. I scanned over the steam table and EVERYTHING looked great. Indida greeted me at the counter and unsure what to order, I asked for her recommendation. She recommended the ribs over rice with pigeon peas and plantains. As she started very generous portion of rice. She then topped it with a generous portion of ribs and asked me if I wanted some sauce for my rice which I I said yes to. I expected just a couple of plantains and to my surprise she put 6 plantains in the box. She asked me if I wanted anything else but I realized dessert was just not going to happen if that was as good as it smelled. Smart move on my part for I would have never made it through dessert! The red sauce topping my ribs reminded me of a sauce that Attoo made for me as a young boy. I actually flashed back to my childhood for a moment. Whatever they used to season this sauce, DON'T CHANGE A THING! The ribs were cooked just perfectly. The cartilage was cooked to the point you could eat it as well which of course I did. That is when you know the ribs are cooked properly. The rice was cooked just the way I like it and the pigeon peas were just right. My biggest complaint is when the pigeon peas are overcooked. The sauce complimented the rice perfectly. Those plantains were caramelized perfectly. My biggest complaint is when the plantains are undercooked. If you are looking for a fancy place to dine, this is NOT the place to go but if you want some latin food like mom makes, this is the place to go! I can't wait to try the oxtails the next time I come here and rest assured, I will be back!
(5)
Francisco M.
We ordered food from the Lechonera for our Christmas Eve gathering of family and overall the food was tasty. The Pernil/Pork was flavorful, tender and moist which is always important, the last thing you want is dry pork. The only thing I missed from the pork was the crispy Cuerito/Skin which happens to be one of my favorite parts. The Yuca/Cassava was my least favorite, way too dry. I told my wife she should've ordered the Platano Maduros/Sweet Plantains instead. The rice was ok, a tad overcooked for my taste but the rest of the family seemed to enjoy it. They had a special for $70.00 which included the Pork, Rice and Yuca and it fed about 15 people which is not bad. This location is much smaller than their other location on Colonial.
(4)
Carmen M.
First and last time here, the staff was cursing behind the counter, very unprofessional. People just jump infront of you, without question because there's no line system and the staff just serves the person who is closest instead of who got there first. I asked for tostones they told me they were out if I wanted to wait it would be five minutes, I said ok...mind you I had already gotten skipped twice and no one seemed to care. Well 3 minutes later the lady comes back and tells me, all the fryers are currently being used and it would now take 15 min. or more if I wanted to wait for tostones. At this point I was very disappointed. Their customer service sucks, food is the only reason this place got one star.
(1)
Julie K.
This place is delicious, huge portions, and very reasonably priced. Be sure to try their flan cake. I forget what it's called but it's fantastic.
(5)
M. Isabel M.
This place has a great variety of Hispanic foods in a cafeteria type walk through ordering style. A great option for my busy afternoons when I can pick up dinner for the family and can count on quick Spanish homemade food quickly and very economical. Favorites: rabo encendido (oxtail stew), pernil, or mofongo.
(4)
Mike S.
This place is great for what it is, a no frills Dominican style eatery that is ALL about the FOOD! I am hooked on the Pernill(pork shoulder) because it has both tender juicy pieces of pork AND that nice crunchy crispy skin and meat. mmmmmm. Just thinking about it makes me hungry. Their yellow rice is the best rice i've probably ever eaten. So much flavor and spices in the rice! How do they do it!?...that's right, they probably been doing it for hundreds of years and passed down wonderful family traditions and recipes. I need to try the ox tail and the pork skin, both look really good! And I sneaked a peek that they have shrimp or whitefish ceviche, so I think that could definitely be worth a try. Oh i'm sorry, did I forget to mention a meal cost about $7! ANDDDDD it feeds TWO EASILY!!! BAM! I just did! And now is the time for you to hop in your car and get your ass to Lechonera Latina. The Dukes orders.
(4)
Jennifer M.
What can I say about this place? Delicious, affordable Latin food!!! Lechonera Latina is definitely a new favorite of mine. I stopped in the other day for the first time and was highly impressed not only by the taste of the food, but also by the amount of food I got and better yet, the price! It's a deli style restaurant where you order your food at the counter. I ordered Arroz con gandules (seasoned rice with pigeon beans) and pernil (roasted pork). It came with a side of sweet plantains as well. All for $7.00! The meal was very generous in portion, so much so that I had to pack up half of it to go. If you like authentic Latin food (as opposed to commercialized crap), then this is the place for you! You won't be disappointed!
(4)
Chris V.
Never have ate inside but the Wife has gotten take-out over a dozen times and never once have been disappointed. Great food with big portions.
(4)
Antonio M.
Excellent food for the price. You ant go wrong with this place for 7 bucks you wont leave hungry!
(4)
Robert C.
No beans?!!! What kind if Spanish restaurant runs out of beans??!! I thought this was a fluke so I went again and again no beans! I did try the pernil and it was good, but missing a large staple like beans ruins my review of this place.
(1)
Dana F.
If you are looking for a quick and convenient (not to mention delicious) meal, check this place out. They specialize in Puerto Rican and Cuban dishes and the prices are excellent. I've been a few times when I'm in a rush and just do not feel like cooking. For between 6-7 bucks you can get a styrofoam container packed to the brim with food. They give you so much food that you will definitely be eating off of it the next day also. I highly recommend the Lechon Asado (Roasted Pork) and the Arroz con Gandules (Rice with Pigeon Peas). Try their Ceviche - a mix of different seafood and vegetables marinated in lemon juice and spices. It is in a word... heavenly! The dishes seem to pretty much be the same everytime I go. They are displayed in a heated case and you just point to what you want. For the price you get a meat, rice and a side. Great price + great food = happiness!
(4)
Josh E.
Yum Yum Yum Yum, thats 4 Yums for 4 stars, this place is G double O D good. I ate here with my sister for lunch the other day, we were on a mission to find a great latin american restaurant in the union park/university area and we wanted to try somewhere new. So we hopped on the good old yelp wagon and started searching, there were a few places that popped up, but the reviews and the food sounded so good that we decided to go for it. Yes there are two of these restaurants in the same area, we went to #2 and it says so on the sign, if your ever near that wal mart on 50 then you are basically within walking distance to this place. On the outside it looks like a kitchy plaza, fairly new, nice facade, but when you get inside the door, your taken to south america almost instantly. It has that other america feel and its bouncing with patrons most of whom are hispanic of some culture or another. You walk right up to the counter/display case where you can see most of the dishes simmering there waiting to get scooped onto your plate, you can see the chickens turning the big rotisserie and it smells so good. This place is no 5 star lunch, but it does scream good food. They serve you fast, no waiting for your food, if you order something they have to go out back and kill, but for the most part everything is right there. I ordered the Pollo w/Congri and Plaintains. It was so delicious, they gave me a whole 1/4 chicken, and my sister ordered the Pernil(pork shoulder) with Grandules (pigeon peas and rice) with tostones. The chicken was moist and seasoned, not spicy but perfect and the congri was perfectly mixed black beans and rice, the plaintains were perfectly ripe, and sweet and salty. The pernil was moist and soft, great flavor and not much fat or gristle, It looked like some savory southern style barbecue but with their special seasonings. The tostones were so perfect, crunchy a good size and sweetness was mild, they were so perfectly fried and soft in the middle. We both cleaned up every last bit of our little white take out boxes, nothing to leave behind but some chicken bones. We ended up paying like $17 bux for the two lunches and 2 drinks, the only thing we both would have liked would have been some roasted onions in the pork or with the chicken, and we didnt get any, but after I ate I checked the display and they did have them further down simmering in some sort of sauce, im sure it would not have cost any extra. They were nice, and we got a table, like I said no waiting. Give it a go! I dare ya.
(4)
Chris R.
Went today, this store is pretty clean and nice as is this newer plaza. I had the Pernil($7) which is just shredded pork, it's typically cooked with lots of salt, garlic and sour orange sauce though you wouldn't know any of this visually from the final product. It makes the pork taste so good! The Pernil here is really good, I had it with the Orange Rice that had beans in it. The Sweet Plantains were good as well. They have Louisiana Hot sauce on the tables, I find that a lot of Latin places don't serve latin bottled hot sauces which I still don't understand why. They serve tap water. I also had the tres leches for desert, it isn't made there and it isn't very good I've had much better.
(4)
Lauren E.
Please tell me what kind of Latin restaurant does not have Cafe con leche or any type of Cuban coffee or croquettes? Obviously not a good one! The food looked delicious, but the two things that I was craving they did not have! I guess I know not to go there if I want Cuban coffee or croquettes!
(1)
Estuardo L.
Really good food, but be early on sundays or you wont find much for lunch! The Lechon asado and rice was great and the price was fair! Clean and friendly also!
(4)
Ricardo R.
Enjoy Puerto Rican, Latin type food? Well you have to forget those other hole in the wall wanna be's, YOU HAVE TO EAT HERE! Great service always a smile when my Wife and I show up, (We don't speak Spanish even though I am half,) they speak English so any one can order with out feeling foolish. Food looks great every time. You will see all types of people showing up to order, and in the growing East Orlando/Union Park area. Place is clean, restrooms are clean, Portions are large, lots of meat, rice and plantains (a Caribbean type of banana) or any other type of combination you choose. I have only tried the Penil, rice and beans, and Tostones (Drier Flattened plantains) or sweet plantains. For an order (platter) a drink (usually a pop) and a bread pudding slice is usually around $11.00. (Depends on which "drink" I get, lol.) I really love this place. (Please feel free to correct my Spanish in the review, thanks.....)
(4)
Margaret E.
Don't go for the ambience or style - the food comes in styrofoam to-go boxes, but what they put in their boxes is fantastic. They do have a good Bachata soundtrack they often play (Bachata is a style of music from the Dominican Republic.) For $7 you get a choice of a couple of different styles of rice and beans. I really recommend "Arroz y gandules" which is rice and pigeon peas cooked with sofrito and spices. Then you choose your meat - everything I've tried is great. They always have roast pork, then they may have other types of pork including chops, ribs, and other unusual choices, pepper steak, stewed chicken, sometimes bacalao (dried salt cod), and several other choices. Then you choose your type of plantain, either tostones or maduros. Tostones are fried and savory, and maduros are sweet. They're both good. Ask for one of each. There is so much food for $7 my family of four adults always gets two boxes, and we have some left over.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Tim R.
I have never had a better Cuban sandwich than the one served here. I moved away from Orlando in 2010, and still cannot forget the taste of that sandwich. The chefs should be given a prize. One thing: this location (unlike the others) would consistently forget to put a pickle on the sandwich. It was the *only* shortcoming. Just remember to watch them make it (as you should be!) and ask if they still forget.
(5)Andy G.
I have eaten at this restaurant for the past year and the food has always been delicious. The cleanliness and service provided is excellent. I would refer my friends to eat at this good Spanish restaurant. Both locations off of East Colonial are good.
(4)Anthony J.
Tried this place two weeks ago really good food service is awesome and I went back twice since
(5)Stefano C.
This is your typical Latina eatery with a very good selection of items. Luckily some of my co-workers and I are always open to finding new places and this location was on our lunch run recently. The food choices are plentiful!!! Everything from the main protein, and side dishes, a very good choice. Personally, my favorite is the Pernill and it did not disappoint when I ordered it. The portions are also huge, so be prepared to go hungry when you do go!! Overall, an excellent location to get your Latin food fix without having to drive all the way into Kissimmee!!
(4)Mike P.
I have been meaning to stop here for quite some time. I have finally found the time and I am kicking myself for not stopping here sooner. You can bet this will be the first of MANY trips here. When I walked in, the smell made me feel as though I died and went to heaven. I scanned over the steam table and EVERYTHING looked great. Indida greeted me at the counter and unsure what to order, I asked for her recommendation. She recommended the ribs over rice with pigeon peas and plantains. As she started very generous portion of rice. She then topped it with a generous portion of ribs and asked me if I wanted some sauce for my rice which I I said yes to. I expected just a couple of plantains and to my surprise she put 6 plantains in the box. She asked me if I wanted anything else but I realized dessert was just not going to happen if that was as good as it smelled. Smart move on my part for I would have never made it through dessert! The red sauce topping my ribs reminded me of a sauce that Attoo made for me as a young boy. I actually flashed back to my childhood for a moment. Whatever they used to season this sauce, DON'T CHANGE A THING! The ribs were cooked just perfectly. The cartilage was cooked to the point you could eat it as well which of course I did. That is when you know the ribs are cooked properly. The rice was cooked just the way I like it and the pigeon peas were just right. My biggest complaint is when the pigeon peas are overcooked. The sauce complimented the rice perfectly. Those plantains were caramelized perfectly. My biggest complaint is when the plantains are undercooked. If you are looking for a fancy place to dine, this is NOT the place to go but if you want some latin food like mom makes, this is the place to go! I can't wait to try the oxtails the next time I come here and rest assured, I will be back!
(5)Francisco M.
We ordered food from the Lechonera for our Christmas Eve gathering of family and overall the food was tasty. The Pernil/Pork was flavorful, tender and moist which is always important, the last thing you want is dry pork. The only thing I missed from the pork was the crispy Cuerito/Skin which happens to be one of my favorite parts. The Yuca/Cassava was my least favorite, way too dry. I told my wife she should've ordered the Platano Maduros/Sweet Plantains instead. The rice was ok, a tad overcooked for my taste but the rest of the family seemed to enjoy it. They had a special for $70.00 which included the Pork, Rice and Yuca and it fed about 15 people which is not bad. This location is much smaller than their other location on Colonial.
(4)Carmen M.
First and last time here, the staff was cursing behind the counter, very unprofessional. People just jump infront of you, without question because there's no line system and the staff just serves the person who is closest instead of who got there first. I asked for tostones they told me they were out if I wanted to wait it would be five minutes, I said ok...mind you I had already gotten skipped twice and no one seemed to care. Well 3 minutes later the lady comes back and tells me, all the fryers are currently being used and it would now take 15 min. or more if I wanted to wait for tostones. At this point I was very disappointed. Their customer service sucks, food is the only reason this place got one star.
(1)Julie K.
This place is delicious, huge portions, and very reasonably priced. Be sure to try their flan cake. I forget what it's called but it's fantastic.
(5)M. Isabel M.
This place has a great variety of Hispanic foods in a cafeteria type walk through ordering style. A great option for my busy afternoons when I can pick up dinner for the family and can count on quick Spanish homemade food quickly and very economical. Favorites: rabo encendido (oxtail stew), pernil, or mofongo.
(4)Mike S.
This place is great for what it is, a no frills Dominican style eatery that is ALL about the FOOD! I am hooked on the Pernill(pork shoulder) because it has both tender juicy pieces of pork AND that nice crunchy crispy skin and meat. mmmmmm. Just thinking about it makes me hungry. Their yellow rice is the best rice i've probably ever eaten. So much flavor and spices in the rice! How do they do it!?...that's right, they probably been doing it for hundreds of years and passed down wonderful family traditions and recipes. I need to try the ox tail and the pork skin, both look really good! And I sneaked a peek that they have shrimp or whitefish ceviche, so I think that could definitely be worth a try. Oh i'm sorry, did I forget to mention a meal cost about $7! ANDDDDD it feeds TWO EASILY!!! BAM! I just did! And now is the time for you to hop in your car and get your ass to Lechonera Latina. The Dukes orders.
(4)Jennifer M.
What can I say about this place? Delicious, affordable Latin food!!! Lechonera Latina is definitely a new favorite of mine. I stopped in the other day for the first time and was highly impressed not only by the taste of the food, but also by the amount of food I got and better yet, the price! It's a deli style restaurant where you order your food at the counter. I ordered Arroz con gandules (seasoned rice with pigeon beans) and pernil (roasted pork). It came with a side of sweet plantains as well. All for $7.00! The meal was very generous in portion, so much so that I had to pack up half of it to go. If you like authentic Latin food (as opposed to commercialized crap), then this is the place for you! You won't be disappointed!
(4)Chris V.
Never have ate inside but the Wife has gotten take-out over a dozen times and never once have been disappointed. Great food with big portions.
(4)Antonio M.
Excellent food for the price. You ant go wrong with this place for 7 bucks you wont leave hungry!
(4)Robert C.
No beans?!!! What kind if Spanish restaurant runs out of beans??!! I thought this was a fluke so I went again and again no beans! I did try the pernil and it was good, but missing a large staple like beans ruins my review of this place.
(1)Dana F.
If you are looking for a quick and convenient (not to mention delicious) meal, check this place out. They specialize in Puerto Rican and Cuban dishes and the prices are excellent. I've been a few times when I'm in a rush and just do not feel like cooking. For between 6-7 bucks you can get a styrofoam container packed to the brim with food. They give you so much food that you will definitely be eating off of it the next day also. I highly recommend the Lechon Asado (Roasted Pork) and the Arroz con Gandules (Rice with Pigeon Peas). Try their Ceviche - a mix of different seafood and vegetables marinated in lemon juice and spices. It is in a word... heavenly! The dishes seem to pretty much be the same everytime I go. They are displayed in a heated case and you just point to what you want. For the price you get a meat, rice and a side. Great price + great food = happiness!
(4)Josh E.
Yum Yum Yum Yum, thats 4 Yums for 4 stars, this place is G double O D good. I ate here with my sister for lunch the other day, we were on a mission to find a great latin american restaurant in the union park/university area and we wanted to try somewhere new. So we hopped on the good old yelp wagon and started searching, there were a few places that popped up, but the reviews and the food sounded so good that we decided to go for it. Yes there are two of these restaurants in the same area, we went to #2 and it says so on the sign, if your ever near that wal mart on 50 then you are basically within walking distance to this place. On the outside it looks like a kitchy plaza, fairly new, nice facade, but when you get inside the door, your taken to south america almost instantly. It has that other america feel and its bouncing with patrons most of whom are hispanic of some culture or another. You walk right up to the counter/display case where you can see most of the dishes simmering there waiting to get scooped onto your plate, you can see the chickens turning the big rotisserie and it smells so good. This place is no 5 star lunch, but it does scream good food. They serve you fast, no waiting for your food, if you order something they have to go out back and kill, but for the most part everything is right there. I ordered the Pollo w/Congri and Plaintains. It was so delicious, they gave me a whole 1/4 chicken, and my sister ordered the Pernil(pork shoulder) with Grandules (pigeon peas and rice) with tostones. The chicken was moist and seasoned, not spicy but perfect and the congri was perfectly mixed black beans and rice, the plaintains were perfectly ripe, and sweet and salty. The pernil was moist and soft, great flavor and not much fat or gristle, It looked like some savory southern style barbecue but with their special seasonings. The tostones were so perfect, crunchy a good size and sweetness was mild, they were so perfectly fried and soft in the middle. We both cleaned up every last bit of our little white take out boxes, nothing to leave behind but some chicken bones. We ended up paying like $17 bux for the two lunches and 2 drinks, the only thing we both would have liked would have been some roasted onions in the pork or with the chicken, and we didnt get any, but after I ate I checked the display and they did have them further down simmering in some sort of sauce, im sure it would not have cost any extra. They were nice, and we got a table, like I said no waiting. Give it a go! I dare ya.
(4)Chris R.
Went today, this store is pretty clean and nice as is this newer plaza. I had the Pernil($7) which is just shredded pork, it's typically cooked with lots of salt, garlic and sour orange sauce though you wouldn't know any of this visually from the final product. It makes the pork taste so good! The Pernil here is really good, I had it with the Orange Rice that had beans in it. The Sweet Plantains were good as well. They have Louisiana Hot sauce on the tables, I find that a lot of Latin places don't serve latin bottled hot sauces which I still don't understand why. They serve tap water. I also had the tres leches for desert, it isn't made there and it isn't very good I've had much better.
(4)Lauren E.
Please tell me what kind of Latin restaurant does not have Cafe con leche or any type of Cuban coffee or croquettes? Obviously not a good one! The food looked delicious, but the two things that I was craving they did not have! I guess I know not to go there if I want Cuban coffee or croquettes!
(1)Estuardo L.
Really good food, but be early on sundays or you wont find much for lunch! The Lechon asado and rice was great and the price was fair! Clean and friendly also!
(4)Ricardo R.
Enjoy Puerto Rican, Latin type food? Well you have to forget those other hole in the wall wanna be's, YOU HAVE TO EAT HERE! Great service always a smile when my Wife and I show up, (We don't speak Spanish even though I am half,) they speak English so any one can order with out feeling foolish. Food looks great every time. You will see all types of people showing up to order, and in the growing East Orlando/Union Park area. Place is clean, restrooms are clean, Portions are large, lots of meat, rice and plantains (a Caribbean type of banana) or any other type of combination you choose. I have only tried the Penil, rice and beans, and Tostones (Drier Flattened plantains) or sweet plantains. For an order (platter) a drink (usually a pop) and a bread pudding slice is usually around $11.00. (Depends on which "drink" I get, lol.) I really love this place. (Please feel free to correct my Spanish in the review, thanks.....)
(4)Margaret E.
Don't go for the ambience or style - the food comes in styrofoam to-go boxes, but what they put in their boxes is fantastic. They do have a good Bachata soundtrack they often play (Bachata is a style of music from the Dominican Republic.) For $7 you get a choice of a couple of different styles of rice and beans. I really recommend "Arroz y gandules" which is rice and pigeon peas cooked with sofrito and spices. Then you choose your meat - everything I've tried is great. They always have roast pork, then they may have other types of pork including chops, ribs, and other unusual choices, pepper steak, stewed chicken, sometimes bacalao (dried salt cod), and several other choices. Then you choose your type of plantain, either tostones or maduros. Tostones are fried and savory, and maduros are sweet. They're both good. Ask for one of each. There is so much food for $7 my family of four adults always gets two boxes, and we have some left over.
(4)