LOVE IT! Great customer service, AMAZING tasting Cuban & Dominican food. They have reasonable prices and good portions. I recommend you order the Beef Stew or Chicken (Pollo Guisado)....yum! Had a Cuban coffee after our meal and it was to die for! Strong and tasty, for all you coffee lovers.
(5)
Russ F.
Disappointed with the sit down service. I don't know how long they have been doing this for but the servers must not have been making good tips because there was an automatic 18% tip added to the receipt for a table of three, had I not look closely I would've missed it as I was paying with cash. She asked me what kind of salad dressing I wanted then never brought me a salad and when I asked where my salad is she said it doesn't come with my meal, but you asked me what kind of dressing I want, really? She did bring the salad out. I ordered the pork which came out cold, someone got the mofongo which was hollow, I mean I've never seen a place take out a big scope out of the middle of your food. You could hear kids playing and screaming on the take side so it was not very intimate. The sangria was pretty good I just don't see myself going back for the sit down service, maybe the take out side, as the food was OK.
(2)
Simone G.
I visited Rice and Beans Cocina Latina a week ago and was seated on the dine in side. I ordered the Fried Chicken (2 medium-large strips) with rice and plankton- I don't quite remember the name of this order on the menu, but what I described above is what was included. It was okay- the chicken strips were a little tough in which I had to use a knife to cut into smaller pieces to eat and the plankton was cold. I assumed that the plankton wasn't freshly cooked, but placed on my plate from the buffet side of the restaurant. My friend's order was delicious (grilled chicken with rice and beans). Also, the floors were very sticky throughout the the dine in side of the restaurant all the way to the bathroom. The bathroom did smell clean, but the restaurant's floors shouldn't have been just as sticky as the bathroom. I'm still giving this restaurant a 3 stars and based off of the greeting and waiter's service, I will give it a second try. I would like to return on a Friday evening when they have the live band, and being that my friend's food was delicious, I'll just try something different next time.
(3)
John W.
Although taste and food is important, but when I write my reviews I focus heavy on hospitality. Rice and Beans Covina Latina has definitely delivered in service. The food was very flavorful and appetizing. Thank you Rice and Beans for a great lunch.
(4)
Chlo L.
So just passing by Orlando and we always have to stop at this joint. We've been coming here since undergrad and it always hits that spot between the pernil and iron beer. They expanded since it started up, so this place must be doing well. My girlfriend loves this place and it's worth every penny!! Going to have to learn how they make half this stuff. Time for a party in my mouth!
(4)
Joan B.
First time I actually decided to order fish (tilapia) and I couldn't eat it. It had a horrible fishy taste like the fillet was left out for a while. Veggies were bland and just not good.
(2)
Jillian C.
When I used to live out in the Avalon Park area, Rice and Beans was probably my favorite lunch spot. The food is so delicious! Unfortunately for me I live all the way out in Debary now, but anytime I know I'm gonna be anywhere that's even relatively close to Rice and Beans, I'll go out of my way to stop in and grab some food. It's awesome to see how much the place has grown over the years too. It started out as cafeteria style place with a few tables. A couple years ago, they expanded in to the building next door, and now have a full-fledged sit down restaurant for those that want the traditional restaurant experience. I've been both to sides. The traditional restaurant side is great if you want to take your time, have cocktails with your meal and watch live music. The other side is great for takeout and more casual dining. I usually always end up going for their dinner special (I believe it's $8.99). You get a generous portion of meat, with rice, beans and plantains. The roasted pork is my absolute fav, but really all their meats are good. In addition to the pork, they usually have stewed beef, stewed chicken, ribs, etc. They also have 3 different kinds of rice to pick from and two different kinds of beans (black or pinto). Any meat I've ever had there has been so tender that it just melted in my mouth. In my opinion they have the best beans too - perfectly seasoned. A lot of times I find myself having to add extra salt to my beans, but that's not the case here. I've also had their mofungo, which was very good. Other positives, the place is very clean (like immaculate clean) and the staff is always very friendly. They all speak both English and Spanish, and do a great job at making the customer feel welcome no matter what language they speak.
(5)
Happy R.
Came in on a recommendation from a coworker. Was not disappointed. The manager Jeff was very helpful in explaining the different dishes available for the lunch special. I chose the pork roast, yellow rice and beans and the plantains. The pork was fork tender and just the right mixture of spices. Wish I was in town longer to try out more of the tasty treats.
(5)
Sarah R.
YUM! Just came here for the first time today in between school shopping and wow. Vegetarian lunch special for $6.89 was amazing and came with SOO much food! A side salad, two heaping scoops of rice (4 to choose from), sweet plantains, and your choice of red or black beans. I am stuffed. Jason prepared our plates and he was extremely kind and answered any questions we had. We will be back very soon!
(5)
Dale O.
Very good mostly Cuban style food at friendly prices. Local 'mom and pop' owners. Four types of rice plus black and pink beans, pork or chicken; add yuca or plantains... Huge portions, really enough for two people. Plus salads, soups, and sandwiches. Beer and wine is a bit pricy. all draft and better bottled beer is $4.95, but Dos Equis on tap is icy cold. Domestic bottles are only $3.50 They offer wine and a full liquor bar too. The very nice attached lounge has two TVs and live entertainment sometimes.
(4)
R P.
Love the take out combos, tamales and their chicken vegetable soup. In the combo we prefer the roast pork and the roast chicken. Both have been very moist and full of flavor. Black beans and yucca for one combo. Peas & rice and maduros for the other combo. Order a side of soup and tamale. Now you have four meals easy. Ask for some hot sauce and your set. With cuban food we find drinking lots of your preferred liquid is essential. Not the lightest style of cooking. But the flavors are great. Family business, not a franchise. They care about the food. While we were there we saw the cook bring out at least four replacements for the different combo choice. Each choice was less than half full, but not empty. Rather than dump the new into the old he took the old container out and placed a new container with the same fresh item in its place. Great find across from waterford mall. Same area as home depot, kohl's and staples.
(4)
Jason K.
Everyone else had great meals I had the ropa vieja ($12) which came with about the equivalent of an ice cream scoop of actual meet swimming in sauce. While it was tasty the portion size really made me regret spending that kind of money on it
(3)
Shannon C.
This place was amazing! Great service and I loved the atmosphere. Wish I took a picture of my food but it was soooo yummy that I forgot to take one!! I had the Ropa Vieja with rice and beans, and it was really good! And to top it off a Coconut Mojito for only $5, which was the happy hour special until 7pm. Everything was was delicious! I will definitely be back again!
Great place for an authentic Puerto Rican food with a low price. Lunch special is a plus with various type of foods.
(4)
Carolina C.
Food tastes great but... The problem is the portions and how inconsistent it is becoming. You get 2 pieces of chicken that are small (unlike before), they now give you 2 pieces of plantain when they previously gave you 3. They used to give you 2 big servings of rice and now they barely put 2 scoops. you're not going to believe you are paying $9.00 for this. You actually get more food at the chain restaurants instead of this local business. I am not going to be coming back.
(1)
Ho L.
Some solid cafeteria style Latin food. It's a little confusing at first, because there are no signs, and the menus mostly mention $10+ entrees and such. But the friendly staff are quick to explain their $6.95 lunch special, which has rice, a side, beans, and a meat. This is what you want, because I can't imagine paying much more than that for the food here. Overall a decent place for lunch if you're in the mood for, well...rice and beans.
(3)
Diletta B.
Amazing place!the food is really delicious, the people who work there are amazing and they really make you feel at home :) one of the guy who served me was very patient in describing me the dishes and suggesting me what to get :) great meal!home made food is the secret! I will come back :)
(5)
Jackeline F.
I love, love the fried yucca. The croquettes were awesome and the rellenos de papa, perfect. The passion fruot mojito was sooo tasty, yum! We came during the live music night and it was good old school salsa! Chicharrron de pollo was not good, all skin, no chicken.
(4)
Melissa O.
I enjoy eating here as it's very authentic My favorite dish is the Carne Con Papa with Maduros y Frijoles Rojo. The serving portion is rather decent as I can split it into two meals. I only wished they would give more than just 3 maduros with the meal. The price is good and you get a discount for being a college student.
(4)
Sonny Chris A.
From San Diego, whenever you're in the UCF area this is top 2 places to go to. Usually get the rice plate with chicken and black beans with plantains. The chicken is so moist it almost reminds you of pork. Just different flavors that satisfies the pallets of your you Hye is amazing. Even you had black beans from chipotle you've never had black beans before. WORTH IT.
(5)
Sydney W.
This is one of the only Cuban restaurants in the east Orlando area that I've found. I don't visit often, but I've been a few times and it is always delicious! The sit down side is much better than the quick service... good is much better quality and cooked to order! Just think it's pretty overpriced for what you get. Would go more if it wasn't so costly!
(4)
Jessica D.
Friendly staff, student discount, good food, nothing was too sweet or salty, place looked quite clean, affordable price (and I'm a cheap person so if I'm saying it's affordable it really is!). Came here with my boyfriend and our friends, one of them is part Puerto Rican and knew what good empanadas tasted like and she approved of the ones they had here. I ordered two beef empanadas and they were great. I shared their dinner special with my boyfriend and there was enough food for the both of us at about $7, I think. AND we had some leftovers. Staff was very attentive, knowledgable, and courteous.
(5)
Josh R.
We go there when we see that the line at Chipotle is out the door. It's good. Not to sound like a hipster but it's not as good as your smaller less known Latin restaurants. The pernil is decent but is too salty, I opt to get the chicken instead. The black beans are tender and tasty and not smashed-up mush. They have your normal selection of South American sodas in the cooler. All the customer-facing people are bilingual, so that's nice. There's another half of this restaurant but it's usually closed. Maybe it's for dinner service? I've only been for lunch. The lunch area is fairly small. Maybe 10 tables. I wish the menu was more descriptive - at the moment it's basically non-existent. If you're not familiar with Latin food you might be lost since nothing is labeled, but I suppose you could always just ask what's what. Might slow down the line a bit. Anyway, I'll remain a semi-regular there. It's the best Latin food you will find in Waterford Lakes. Edit: I forgot to say why I'm giving this 3 stars instead of 4: their Cuban sandwiches by default come with mayonnaise! This is blasphemy!
(3)
Victor C.
My first time here. There are 2 choices for service. The buffet style side or dining room. I went to the dining area. The server took a while to recognize me. Plantain chips with sauce as an appetizer. Chip were perfect and 2 good sauces. Had the marinated chicken with yellow rice, black beans, salad. Salad was embarrassing small. Chicken was bland for being "marinated". Yellow rice and black beans were average at best. The manager did check on me more than the server. One other table in dining and been waiting for a server for the bill. Next time I'm going to the other side where they have a good lunch special. Looks like their portions are bigger too. Being Hispanic I may be biased but this is average at best. The dining side is lacking for service and has average food.
(3)
Cpt L L.
Been a few times. Always friendly staff and clean no matter how large the crowd. I've eaten there as well as carry out and never let me down. Good food.
(4)
Dolly M.
I've had several occasions where I wasn't happy with my dining experience. The first time after dining there a few times, I was always told the dish I ordered was not available after everyone in my party had been served already, then got an unapologetic sarcastic remark from the owner when I explained what happened. Secondly on another occasion, the restaurant was not busy on this day and I was seated by a waitress in the dining side with my family and then was forgotten, no one came to serve us for at least 25min until we got up and went to the other side and said something, which I got looks for and no apology. You're supposed to get bread when you're dining in the dining side and they bring it whenever they remember. I always have to ask for my utensils and they don't give extra napkins unless you ask. Their salad portions are extremely small and the lettuce never looks fresh. They're portions vary also. Some days they're very small, others they're ok. I also hate how they charge for sides like plantains or beans which should be included in a meal instead of being charged separately. I once asked for an extra piece of yuca and they gave me half of a piece. When I make take out orders and get home, something is usually missing so check before leaving. I sometimes forget. It's a shame how they're not consistent in their customer service especially when you're a regular. I don't go as much as I use to because I get annoyed how they make the same mistakes and do not improve.
(3)
Lilly V.
Good consistent Latin Caribbean food. Carne con papa is my dtrs go to every time. My favorite is the mofongo with chicaron de pollo.
(4)
Lisa W.
The staff was friendly. The mojitos were great. The food was amazing. Big plates. Had lunch for the next day.
(4)
Ingrid M.
I liked this place. The food was good and the staff was friendly and attentive. I had the paella and my husband had the small fish and both were huge portions. We went on a Friday night and they had live music which was fun. Music was latin jazz, kind of romantic. The mojitos were great, strong, lol. We will go back.
(4)
Amanda G.
This place is great, the flavors are authentic and the portions are unbelievable for the price. I got a whole meal for $6.89 and dinner is just a $1 more! I got the red beans, yuca, pork, the black beans and rice mix, and the rice with pigeon peas! So delicious! You have to come here! This is no Chipotle, this is the real deal! Service is great and the staff is friendly and accommodating! Great spot for a quick Latin food fix!
(5)
Aya L.
Went to tonight ordered special ( yellows rice, pork and black bean) pork was good but rice has no taste black bean was so so ( restaurant name is rice and bean ummm I don't know why) also I was upset one of girl wear glove when make a plate but she keep touching her pants ( too loose or tight??) and touch rice? Really? What is the point of wear glove? Eek!! never go back
(1)
Nestor R.
Rice and Beans is what I used to eat everyday when I was younger, so finding a place by the name of your childhood staple forces you to stop and see whats going on up in there. My first impression was confusion. There are two sides, a sit down side, and a cafe style side. I walked into the cafe side, which had no signs, greeters, or anything to help me understand they they actually did have two sides. Lack of direction can sometimes turn people off. I wanted to do sit down, but by the time I figured out I was ordering off the cafe side, I apparently had committed to stay on that side. Wandering off to the other side to eat is a no no. The server told me to go back to the cafe side as I looked for a seat. Outside of the logistics, the food is good. They have arroz con gandules, yucca, platanos maduros, and different types of meat including pernil, pollo, and ropa vieja. Its definitely similar to what I'm used to growing up and the price is right. I havent had the mofongo, but I do plan on going back to try it out. If you have no idea what I said above, then go to Rice and Beans and figure it out! You will be presently surprised.
(4)
Kimberly K.
Absolutely amazing food and hospitality! Not only is the food made fresh daily, they have a certain cook that comes in every morning to begin the prep. This mom and pop Cocina Latina is one of the best around, and #1 on my list! You can typically find decent food anywhere, but if the staff is rude - you typically don't go back. It ruins your experience. Here- That is not the case. I have been a regular for the last year, and not once have I ran into a problem or had a bad dish! I am impressed. There lunch and dinner menu is amazing and prices are fair! Considering the amount of food and the quality... !
(5)
Allie G.
I love it here!!!!! The staff was so nice and spent time explaining the dishes and recommending favorites- I wish I remembered the name of the guy serving us, but he was really a star. The food is delicious and there actually two sides to one restaurant- one is more casual counter service while the other is more formal table service. Both were great, though I'm more of a counter service girl. :) It seems like it would be a great place for football or futbol games- they have a beautiful bar with big TVs. Will be back for sure. :)
(5)
Mike P.
Authentic Latin cuisine with big portions and great price. My wife is from Columbia and she loves this place
(4)
Paige S.
I miss this place every day! The food was so amazing and the staff was always so kind! I love great authentic Cuban food and they have it covered for fantastic food! Their Cuban sandwich is great, their pork and all different meats are great, the rice is great, the deserts are great...it's all great! The only reason I am giving them four stars in only due to the Cuban bread by itself. It's really not all that great or tastes authentic, but i'm pretty picky when it comes to the way Cuban bread is made. I highly recommend this place if you're in the Orlando area, it's so great and worth every penny...and it's not expensive at all! Plus, make sure you try Iron Beer! It's the best cola type drink! :)
(4)
Chantel C.
My daughter and I came here because Chic-Fil-A was closed, so glad we did!!! The guy who helped us was very nice and explained everything. We shared a plate of pork, rice, yuca, and beans. A very friendly lady came over to get our drinks. You could tell she loved working here! She told us about Friday nights (live music), and the dining room next door that has a full menu. We took two deserts to go (I asked if they actually made the deserts on site, and YES they do wohooo). Tres leches cake and Tiramisu (being a baker, I'm picky) was made very nicely, the cake was moist and you could tell it was very fresh. This is our new favorite spot!
(5)
Kelly K.
Delicious lunch buffet at a good price with warm hospitality. Order a tres leches and cafe con leche after your meal. You won't be disappointed. Gracias!
(5)
Stephanie S.
The food is good, but everyone raves about going here and how great it is and it wasn't all the hype I expected. Granted we came in before closing time, so this night be why but it was just regular food. Rice and beans-literally! They had some other specials going on but being a vegetarian made my choices limited. One of the rice options even had chicken in it, so I felt like I had limited choices. And the black beans in my opinion could have been warmer but like I said we came in before they closed. My date however loved his chicken in rice with veggies. So for meat lovers this may be a great stop, but for my vegetarian friends like myself this place lacks variety :/
(3)
Todd G.
Great food and atmosphere. Prices are competitive but above the competition on taste and service. You're not just a number at Rice & Beans. They make you feel like a valued customer. I'll be back soon!
(5)
Leanne M.
I was sketched out by this place at first, but I was so wrong once I actually tried the food. I was in Kissimmee visiting a friend and I had no idea where to eat/what to do because it seemed like we were in the boonies. In desperation and hunger, I'm pretty sure my bf was secretly Yelp-ing places to eat while we were waiting for her. I guess he stumbled upon this place and was so excited about the pictures that he wanted to eat here. I'm so glad he decided to do that. We sat in for lunch and had the special which was basically rice, beans, a "veggie", and a meat item. "Veggie" is in quotations because I decided to get some sweet plantains... YUM. I also had the black beans and the stew beef. Omgah the stew beef. The beef was so yummy and so stewed that it was just falling apart. There were also some potatoes in there because I believe that a stew isn't a stew without potatoes and you can never have enough carbs (I'm just that kind of girl). I just can't explain what it tasted like, but it was so yummy. Had such a great lunch here. Service was okay, but it's not like I was dining in a 5 star joint and the prices were sooooooo cheap! Gah you all need to try the stew beef!
(4)
Madai M.
I don't see what the raves are all about. Service was slow and food was not memorable. Mojitos were decent though but rather on the small side. Have had better latin food.
(2)
Travis S.
Great food. Been eating here a little over year now. Only knock I have is the portions are getting smaller and smaller. I don't mind paying nearly $20 for two meals but make it worth $20
The snapper was excellent. They need to bottle that garlic sauce - it's the best I've ever had. Soooo good! The band on Friday night was good, too bad we came too early, so by the time they really started to play we were heading out. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Caitlin H.
Just what I was looking for! Quality, authentic cuban food. They have a buffet but I sat in the restaurant side. Their sweet plantains, chicken, and dirty rice hit the spot! I'll definitely be coming back.
(5)
Megan C.
So very delicious! Hard to find such good, authentic Hispanic food in Orlando and this hit the nail on the head. Wonderful service, relaxed atmosphere, and great prices.
(5)
Sophie M.
This place has the BEST pernil (pork) and kinds of rice!! Great selection for food and quick buffet style lunch or sit down dinner restaurant area.
(5)
Raghu A.
Great food for the price. I usually go for Fish Curry in this restaurant. Coming to the items Rice : I usually go for the yellow rice (Which is very tasty and close to Indian yellow rice). Even brown rice is good. Beans: I usually go with the black beans which are very tasty. Non-Vegetarian : I like Fish and Chicken Curries over here. Both are well cooked with pretty good flavor. Sides : Yucca and Sweet Plantation are good to try. (Though i prefer Yucca more) Overall its a good good for the price and am giving them 4 stars (4.5 is not there ;) ) as last time when i was there Fish was smelling a little (Fishes smell actually) and is high in salt. This is not repeated all the time anyway.
(4)
Paul M.
I took my family and in-laws there for a early dinner and I must say I was not impressed. There were 2 other parties in the place beside ours so the service was very quick. However, the food was not anything to write home about. The fried Yucca was awesome I must say which made up for the lack of flavor my stuffed chicken had. It wasn't even stuffed...it was 2 pieces of dried chicken breast with lunch meat in the middle. As a family we like to share our food so we try out each others dishes and I didn't find any of the other dishes any better. However, my mother in-law had a grilled marinated chicken and rice dish that was very moist and tasty that I think was the best dish out of all our ours. My son had the seafood platter that had good flavor but consist of mostly rice and not a whole lot of seafood in it. Overall I wasn't pleased. However, I understand that sometimes a restaurant has a off night so I am hoping that was the case. I might be willing to give them a second chance.
(2)
Adler D.
Best home made Spanish food you can buy near UCF, hands down, no questions asked. Get.the.pulled.pork. If you don't, you'll think: "I should have got the pulled pork.." This review doesn't need to be long because there isn't much to say.. Go experience it for yourself! Recommend to all seeking good 'home like' Spanish food.
(4)
William S.
I went with my girlfriend during happy hour and we greatly enjoyed ourselves. We ate on the more formal restaurant side. The atmosphere was great! We had a couple mojitos that were delicious and the food seemed authentic as well. Prices were also VERY reasonable.
(5)
Patti M.
For a small place who does a mostly take out business this place is phenomenal. The staff was very friendly and asked us when we arrived if it was our first time there. He then explained we could order off the menu or do the lunch special. For $6.95 I got to heaping scoops of rice (there was a selection), plantains, black beans, and delish baked chicken. There was so much food I walked out with enough for lunch the next day. My friend was really happy with the stew because the meat was lean and nicely flavored. I really wanted to try the dessert but I was stuffed.They also had a great selection of sodas and I had a frambeusa. The waitstaff kept checking in with us to make sure we were happy and indeed we were. I have a feeling I won't want to cook tomorrow night........hmmmmm
(5)
Aimee D.
Looooong wait! We dined in. Our Waiter, Jefferson, was super nice and was trying hard to please. But, our food took 50 minutes to be done, and that's only 1 out of 10 dishes. Manager, Ana, did not have good customer service. DONT ORDER STUFFED TOSTONES! Crab is old and fishy. Owner was apologetic. It took another 20 minutes just for bill to arrive. Never coming again!
(1)
Justin T.
The best hispanic food in Orlando hands down. They have great, authentic options and the food is always fresh. Even better, I just discovered they offer 10% off with student ID.
(5)
Iman A.
I've been here twice and both times I really enjoyed the food! The drinks are amazing!! My favorite is the cilantro mojito, very refreshing! The staff is always friendly and both times I over-tipped. They take time out to explain the menu and answer any questions you have. The portions are huge too!
(5)
Heidi A.
This place not too far from my house and the prices are awesome. The food is very good. I'd come back here any day. Lucikly it is closeby ... I WILL be back. It is such a great alternative to all of the chains across the street and the prices are much better, and the quantities also plentiful. This place has been around for several years, and I'm surprised I never walked in to try it before. I am retroactively sad for all the times I could have stopped in before!
(4)
Jeffrey D.
Well, we were on the run and decided to come in to see why the crowd. Unlike most of the restaurants around we Cocina Latina was fairly busy around 7:30pm. So we consulted the reviews for here. The experience was a little daunting at first. There were many options and I couldn't really figure our how it worked. The meals are ala carte so you can build your own plate. It is prepared in advance so it is more of a fast food joint than a sit down restaurant. You simply go down the line and choose your choice of yellow (Spanish) rice, black beans and rice, or pigeon peas and rice. Next you choose yuka or plantains. Then the hard part, chicken, shredded beef, or adobo (not sure if I spelled that right). On the other side are salsas which looked fresh, tamales, and various accessories. And last you have beans. Then you sit down and enjoy. It is as simple as that. There are also fountain drinks, Dominican and domestic beer, coconut soda, and other drinks. The food was good and the price was better. We weren't sure what the cost was (shredded beef was $1 more). In total my wife and I left stuffed for less than $30. We managed to find a table after fairly quickly but there were not a plethora of seating options even though we were on for a late dinner. Overall, the food was great for the price. It is a great place to go if you are in a hurry but do not want to sacrifice taste for time or money.
(4)
Eric L.
The Pernil! My FAVORITE. Juicy and full of flavor. The empanadas are great, as well. You really can't beat the price and food. They lose one star from me for two reasons: First, the food isn't consistent. Sometimes the rice isn't as fresh as I'd like it to be. Second, it's often chaotic in there. They usually do a pretty good job of keeping track of orders, but anything out-of-the-ordinary (like a request for fresh rice, or even a call-ahead order) really throws them off.
(4)
Ashley H.
I have been here a few times since my last review, and they never disappointing. They have taken over the old Chee Burger location and expanded to include a much nicer dining and bar area. The staff in incredibly friendly and helpful, and I always enjoy my meal. I really hope they stick around, as it can be hard for a smaller business on this side of the shopping center.
(5)
Aaron K.
This place has some really good authentic Hispanic food at really good prices. We picked up two dinner combos which came with rice and beans, yucca, and platanos maduros all for only about $7.50 each. They offer both a cafeteria style walk in and take out and also a sit down restaurant. One of our go to places for Hispanic food.
(4)
Ryan H.
Great restaraunt that has a diner and restaraunt feel to it. You choose the side that you want. Quick on the diner side and sit for a slower meal in the restaraunt portion. Fast and good food at good price (i got the dinner special for $8). Friendly service staff and the girls behind the counter are cute. Bonus! Ill be back here for sure.
(5)
Kendall K.
Came for lunch yesterday and we will definitely be back! All very delicious and flavorful, excellent service from our server Jefferson. He was friendly and attentive. My husband enjoyed the Cuban and I had the trifongo (mofongo made of green & sweet plantains, & yucca!) with grilled chicken. Yummmmm!!! My only teeny tiny complaints: his French fries needed some salt, I don't think there was any, and the beans were a little soupy. But overall, quite tasty, decent prices, lovely restaurant, great outdoor seating. I would like to come check out the happy hour too, once I'm not pregnant. Check it out, you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Chasity D.
Went to this place for lunch. The rice and black beans were tasty. The small salad was good but too small. The sweet plantains were delicious. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. Would like to go back and try the fish dinner plate.
(3)
Deadra F.
As a white girl in love with Latin food, this is my favorite by far. Always so yummy and huge portions.
(5)
Erin S.
One word, WOW! I am absolutely blown away by this place. Everything is cooked to perfection. Their lunch special is a complete steal. You get a choice of rice, meat, side (plantain or yuca), and beans (red or black) for a total of 6.89. I always choose yellow rice and a random meat depending on what looks good to me at the moment. I have never been disappointed by their meats. I typically go with plantains for my side. At other places, plantains are never cooked right but it's wonderful here. Then red beans to top it all off. The portions are very generous. I find myself loving the rice and beans so much that I hardly even touch my meat. I tend to togo my meat and warm it back up later for dinner. If you're ever in the mood for some Latin food please do yourself a favor and stop by here.
(5)
Dana F.
WOW. This place has good food. I've driven by hundreds of times and never expected that I'd been bypassing such deliciousness! For about $8, you can get their dinner special which includes: Rice Beans Meat Side Item I ordered the lechon asado (roast pork), which is my all-time favorite latin dish. I've eaten it all over town and I must say that theirs was one of the best! It was garlicky and tasty! Their congri (rice and black beans mixed together) was one of the best I've ever had (besides my Grandma's of course..). The portions are enormous. I boxed up half of my meal and ate another full meal for lunch today! The atmosphere is super casual - you go up to the counter and order and take your plates to your table, where a server comes by to get your drink orders and take care of anything else you need. All in all, a great place. I'd definitely head there again!
(4)
David K.
Fellow 'Jelpers', I have eaten here on several occasions since this restaurant is close to my crib, yo. These guys have had a very successful run as their establishment is always packed. It is run entirely by a Hispanic staff with one or two exceptions. The place itself is not very spacious, they offer tables but their niche is mainly take-out Spanish food. However, this time we chose to sit at a table and eat there. I ordered a bistec encebollado (steak with onions on top) which came with rice and beans (captain obvious) and a choice of plantains and yucca. I went with the plantains. The steak was a bit dry, the onions were a bit too thick, but put together they were fairly good. Nothing too impressive. The rice & beans were very good as well as the plantains, better than the steak. I also had cheese empanadas there and they were very very good. Crunchy and cheesy. I would recommend this place to grab a quick bite or take out. Cheap, quick and easy like a lady of the evening at OBT but without the consequences. Hasta Luego!
(3)
Marissa I.
Amazing food. Had the lunch special with roasted pork as my meat choice- so moist and delicious. The portions are very generous. Cant beat the price- for under 7 bucks you get choice of rice ( 4 different kinds offered), choice of meats ( lots of choices), red or black beans, and yucca or plantains. I also tasted their stewed and oven baked chicken- they were great! Their emapanadas were awesome as well. For dessert i had the flan. It was pretty good. On my second trip I had the tres leches cake which was a little too wet for me. The service was amazing. Friendly and gave great recommendations on how to get more bang for my buck. Wish we had a place like this in California.
(5)
Kris M.
I came here a ton when I was a UCF student. Delicious food, wide selection and not a bad price either. I love the chicken stew- amazing! The plantains are heavenly. The service is always quick and pleasant. Definitely worth a try for some delicious and authentic Cuban food.
(4)
Beth F.
I love this place! Not only are they super friendly, but they have the best chicken soup I have ever tasted outside my mom's and grandmom's! Definitely authentic.
(5)
Nick H.
Wow what a great place to eat at a great price and friendly staff.
(5)
Ben T.
Being new to the area I was hungrily searching for a nice dinner spot while my mom was visiting. We went to this place after I had it bookmarked on Yelp for a little over a month. I was happy with the experience and felt like it was a great dinner spot. I had the pork that was bursting with flavor. My mom enjoyed a steak cooked just right. The staff were also above and beyond friendly despite things being a bit hectic with a few large groups seated with us. I will be back.
(4)
Bill F.
If you've read my reviews before you can compare this place to Dominican Restaurant near Hofstra. I was disappointed in the portion size...it was too perfect. When I go to a Cuban place I want leftovers....and I had none...partly because the food was good but mostly because the portion was medium. I love sweet plantains. They only gave me two. I'm harsh I guess. This place was really good...just not amazing. Cheap meal bumped this bad boy up to 4 stars! Only $10 with a drink!
(4)
Jeff P.
Wow! This makes me wish I lived in Florida. There really isn't much food better than Cuban....and this is good Cuban food. The Cuban sandwich is out of this world. The Cuban coffee...great. And of course you need the delicious sweet plantains. The location is in a strip mall, but there is a couple of outside tables.
(4)
Albert P.
I've only been here once, but I really enjoyed it. I had roasted chicken, tostones, rice and beans. The flavors were perfect. I really enjoyed the food. The place is small, but the staff was very friendly and accommodating.
(4)
Ashley H.
I went here today with a friend for lunch and was pleasantly surprised! Rice and Beans is half-table service, half-counter service, but it works perfectly. When you go, grab a table (it was incredibly busy in there) and then head to the counter. A server will bring you a menu if you like, but the lunch special is a great deal. For $6.95 I had 2 scoops of white rice, a cup of black beans, two pieces of chicken (breast and leg on the bone), maduros (sweet plantains), and a small side salad. There are other options on the rice, beans, and meat, as Annette G. described in her review. Instead of maduros, you can have yuca if you like. But honestly, I looked at the yuca and saw that it was basically floating in water when it should have been in a special mojo sauce (I'm Cuban. I know my stuff). I skipped out on that. I enjoyed the meal, but I'd rather order something else next time, like the chicken breast or "onion steak", which for those familiar with Cuban food seems an awful lot like bistec de palomilla. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and it was awfully cheap. This place is a good bet for cheap and fast Latin food, and the service is pretty great (although the server ended up charging my card for both of our meals and then having to void that and charge me again for mine...thankfully I had the money to cover it).
(4)
Annette G.
I have found my favorite lunch spot for Waterford Lakes\UCF area. This is it! For $6.95 you can feast!!! It's advertised as a lunch\dinner special. Pretty sure it's because the amount of food you get at lunch will give you enough leftovers for dinner. Seriously! Here's how it breaks out. 2 scoops of rice. They have 4 different kinds, and all vegetarian. 2 pieces of meat. They have 3 kinds of chicken, beef, pork or goat. Choice of yucca or sweet plantains. Choice of red or black beans, both made without meat. A side salad that is made to order. Add a drink and you're still under 10 bucks! Oh, and the food? Yeah. It's awesome. Meat is super tender, falling off the bone. I had a scoop of the yellow rice and a scoop of the red rice, because you can mix and match... and I can't make a decision. Both were good, but I liked the red rice better in the end. The chicken was delicious, but a little cold. That's my only complaint. Not all food was up to temp. Still though, it was delicious. I opted for the red beans, because it's been forever since I was able to get them without pork. They were super flavorful, the texture was perfect too. Loved 'em! Holy crap, it really is a crazy deal. So much food. So good. So cheap! LOVE IT!
(5)
Mark A.
Food was not good. Rice overlooked, goat was nothing special as was chicken. Was way over cooked like its was some bad cafeteria leftovers. Don't get the hype . Waited my $30
(2)
Katelyn C.
I do love trying hole in the wall places because it is either a diamond in the rough or it is a pain in the butt. Ha, get the pun? The fried plantains were great, and the rice was fine but I ordered a jerk chicken of some sort (forgot the specific name) and for some reason it did not look appetizing, so I opted out. My male companion enjoyed it for lunch the next day. I will try it again and be more adventurous!
(4)
Lia T.
This place is absolutely amazing and I would recommend the food to everyone. My favorites are the beef stew and the red beans; both taste like heaven!
(5)
Ricky L.
i love their lunch/dinner special, such a good price at $6.95 and so much fooood
(5)
Emily N.
This place is simple amazing. For about seven dollars I can get enough food to last me all day. They have a huge variety and they were their service was speedy. Their servers was more than welcoming and helped me through the ordering process. This place is a great way for me to keep my college budget and still get up-scale food!
(5)
Don J.
The best Latina restaurant, the food is the best. The plantains were great (sweet) and so was everything else.
(5)
Traveler F.
Finally, a down to earth Latin restaurant that holds true to it's motto "Real Food, Simply Good". All too often there are several, if not too many, Latin restaurants in almost every Orlando neighborhood claiming to be the best. Maybe so, but for who? As in the case of most ethnic driven restaurant, the focus is on just that ethnicity. Everyone else, who by the way makes up the complete dining scene, seems sidelined. Lost opportunity. Rice and Beans at Waterford Lakes Town Center have bridged that divide and taken the inclusion of the entire neighborhood and dining scene into full consideration. Waterford Lakes Town Center which is steps away from millions of college aged students at University of Central Florida though, still very suburban family oriented. It is a no brainer to have college aged students working in the restaurant, a welcomed move away from the traditional older stereotypical attendants in neigborly Latin restaurants. Upon entrance, there is an immediate lively, fun, approachable vibe that screams, Bien benitos, welcome. The exterior storefront is nondescript, like every other strip mall. Although, this particular build-out boast brighter, vibrant colors which lends well to the more affluent Alafaya Trail corridor. The interior, takes a whole new blast on the quick service concept. Bright bold colors adorned with ethnic Latin art covers the walls. Tastefully displayed food in steam table style servers presents itself to lure the uninitiated. The attendants are quick to smile and start a casual conversation. Questions are encouraged and even little tastes are offered. It is very refreshing to be greeted with warm hospitality when venturing out on a different cuisine. In as much as there are buffet style quick service items, there is also a full dine in or take out menu. There is also a fiesta catering menu. We had a few combinations from the steam table to share and sample. The Beef Stew was thick, flavorful, with chunks of beef and well cooked potatoes. The gravy was tomato and herb based. Roasted Pork was well seasoned with crispy skin and succulent fall apart meat. Chicken Fricasse was tender juicy and flavorful. Crowning meat of them all was the Goat Stew. Succulent tender pieces of goat meat fall apart in a thick gooey tomato based gravy with herbs and Latin goodness. If this dish was not made by an abuela, grandma, I would be shocked. The yellow rice, pigeon peas rice, and brown rice and beans were all soft, fluffy and flavorful. Sweet Plantains were spot on, not too ripe, not too green, just the right amount of sugar. Seafood Salad was full of plumb medium shrimp, onions, cilantro, squid, in a medley of citrus juice. The Boiled Red Beans were a treat in itself. Bursting with flavors and heartiness. Flan was delicately balanced between a sugar coma and soft fluffy sweetness. All of these goodies were washed down with traditional Latin sodas of Merengue, Raspberry, Iced Tea. Rice and Beans Cocina Latina delivers on its motto of Real Food, Simply Good. They are not trying to be a fanciful restaurant with any nouveau taste and flavors with dazzling presentation and blosterous personalities behind the food. The are simply sharing what the good honest down to earth people of Latin influences scattered across the Caribbean Islands cook at home. The vibe was welcoming, service great, food great, prices reasonable, portions not overcompensating. What else can you ask for, a wheel barrow to roll you out?
(4)
Alex L.
I'm a little apprehensive about giving Cocina Latina just three stars, but since that means "A-OK," I'll go with that. After all, it was good, just not as great as I'd hoped. I think the atmosphere is what brought their score down for me. I was expecting a restaurant and not a take-out place, which is my fault. But at the same time, El Corral and other restaurant/take-out places can be nice and quiet. Rice & Beans was rather loud - both aurally and visually. The only place to sit down was outside, which was fine, but they don't have service outside. I ordered at the counter and the staff was friendly. However, their lunch special is great at around $6, but I didn't like that they kept the "LUNCH" menu out and then charged me the dinner price of $9. Overall, I enjoyed the food. It was on par with more expensive, authentic places I've been. I would give them 4 stars for takeout or lunch, but dinner felt more in the 3-star range.
(3)
Anita L.
It was a little weird walking in without any directions, but it's basically in the format of a Chinese mall style pick and choose array. The portions were pretty sizeable for $8-9 a plate. The boiled yucca didn't have enough mojo in it though. I also ordered a plain mofongo (mashed plantains) to go, which was my first try. It was pretty awesome. Some parts were soft and some were crunchy (probably fried the plantains first?). I put my leftover bacalao on top, and it was awesome. Do try it!
(4)
Janice C.
Since my first experience and review about Rice and Beans I've been over a dozen times. I usually try to eat here once a week during my lunch break. The first thing I've got to do is retract my comment about the emmpanadas. Yes the first time around I got an old empanada but I've never had a bad one since. They are always made fresh when I order it. I only eat the cheese empanadas and of all the empanadas I've eated in the last few years Rice and Beans do make the best ones. Its all about the queso really. You see, I've ventured to many latin food places and found a nasty dry Kraft single stuff into my alleged 'empanada'. Rice and Beans uses some kind of white, moist, salty cheese. It is emo-mazing. Esta rico! The food is always seasoned well, hot and fresh. They always have a variety of different meats (I've never eaten the meat but I can see it through the glass :) I have tried the bacalao and man oh man it was sooo friggin good. Filled with onions and peppers and that classic red color. The portion was huge for me. I usually eat 3 times from my meals there. I still stand by what I said in my previous review that this is the closest I've come to the food I can get at home. I love this spot.
(5)
Sara M.
Overall: Red beans and rice didn't miss ya! The portions are huge at Rice and Beans Cocina Latina. I ordered grilled chicken with beans and rice, plantains, and red beans. The chicken was scrumptious but the beans and rice were a little dry. The sweet plantains were delish and the red beans were just OK. My boyfriend got the seafood rice which is pretty much a Puerto Rican paella. It had tilapia, shrimp and mussels. It tasted really good but there were rogue mussel shells floating around the rice. If one didn't pay attention to every bite you could chip a tooth or something. Overall it was good experience and I want to try the lunch special. I will be back.
(3)
Tom X.
Good food, great price, a fast and good choice for lunch on the go. Dropped in here for lunch and wasn't sure what to expect as this style of cuisine is rather new to me. There were 3 of us so we ordered 3 lunch specials. Each came with a choice of red or black beans, your choice of type of rice, choice of meat, and a side. The meats we got were: - Stewed beef: tender, flavorful, perfectly sauced - Chicken: it was good, but nothing to rave about - Ribs: awesome, the meat was fall off the bone tender and very well sauced We all had a side of fried plantains and they were sweet and delicious. I recommend this place for a quick and cheap lunch, each entree came out to be about $8 and I had to save some for dinner b/c the portions are rather generous.
(4)
Ha C.
Great price for really good food. The food is amazingly tasty. Try the pork and rice. The yuca is so delicious
(4)
Tom B.
Waterford Lakes is a bit out of my way, but I was in the area today and gave this place a try. I got there just after they opened at 11:00 and there were diners already there. By the time I left, the place was nearly full. I didn't see a web site (I just submitted it to Yelp), so I didn't get to do my homework. I chose the enticing $6.89 daily special, and chose beef stew meat, yuca, yellow rice (lots of yellow rice) and black beans. I've only had yuca a couple of times before -- this was the best I think I have had. On this visit the yellow rice was a bit dry. As another reviewer mentioned, this little place is so clean and everything is in its place. It's obvious that the owners and managers take pride in their business. Had I done my homework, I would have chosen the Chivo Guisado, goat meat fricassee. Next time!
(3)
Michael J.
Love the concept. They have a panda express style "pick what you want" line with your choice of 3-4 different types of rice, starches and meats. But if you really want to try something good try ordering some of their mofongos or anything from their menus that's not already on the line. You wont be disappointed.
(4)
Albert V.
Great place for a quick Latin bite on the cheap.
(4)
Marc V.
I was in the area and stopped into the store for lunch. You can either order directly from the counter, or a server will come to your table and take your order. The lunch special was very affordable ($6.89). It includes a main course (chicken, pork, meatballs, etc.) plus 2 servings of rice (4 varieties), choice of beans, and yucca or plantains. Food was very good and plentiful. I recommend this restaurant to everyone who wants a great meal as a great price.
(4)
Kelly F.
Rice and Beans Cocina Latina is a breath of fresh air among the myriad of chain restaurants that fill both Waterford shopping plazas. If you can't tell by the name, this cute little cafe style restaurant serves Latin inspired cuisine and does a pretty good job. When you walk into the brightly lit establishment you are greeted by the pungent aroma of spices and the sound of meat searing in the kitchen. The menu features a lot of Spanish and Latin cuisine staples like maduros, yucca, black beans and yellow rice, chicken and pork...all of which taste amazing. The portions are huge and everything tastes good with the exception of the yucca and chicken which needed some salt to perk it up a bit. The cafe con leche is a good choice for a drink, but if you're not a fan of strong coffee steer clear of this. The servers are your typical teenagers working to earn some extra spending money, but they weren't bad at all. Our waitress in particular was good about keeping our drinks full and keeping us updated on our food. However, their constantly yelling to each other in Spanglish was kind of distracting at times. Prices are average and affordable for the most part. This place is a nice change from the usual places in Waterford and is the only one of it's kind...so far anyway.
(4)
Keelan P.
Great place. Everything was excellent and the people behind the counter SO nice. If I lived on this side of town I would eat here regularly. Alas I don't. But I'll definitely eat here whenever I'm in the area
(4)
Tony H.
excellent Cuban food! Place was clean the food was fresh and the service was outstanding. Priced very reasonably.
(5)
Daniel H.
Yellow rice, pork and sweet plantains. Pork was great. Really wish they had fried plantains. A little disorganized but very much worth the trip.
(4)
Sandra E.
Delicious. Highly recommend. Always fresh food. They r very friendly. And It's very healthily food!
(4)
Michael W.
Their combo meal is GREAT! Huge portions! You get a choice of meat prepared in different sauces, two different rices, a side, choice of beans and a side salad all for around $7! The staff is very warm and friendly! They also have empanadas that are ready to go as well as a full menu if nothing on their combination platter entices you. It's a well priced, quick, filling meal that will leave you saying YAY RICE AND BEANS!
(4)
Emmanuel S.
This place is very good. First time I came I had the red snapper...OMG!! SO GOOD!! Next I had a cuban sandwich...nothing out of the ordinary...the way it should be. Last time I wasn't super hungry so I ordered some croquettes, arroz moro, and this badass mango shake! The staff is really nice and treat you like family. It get's crowded for lunch and dinner and the place is kinda small. Overall, this gets an A!
(4)
R R.
Not a Latin food expert but this place has GREAT tasting food. The staff was very friendly and helpful. If you want authentic Latin food try this place.
(5)
Reed B.
I'm in Miami! Well...not really... but this is as close as you will come to the flavors of South Florida in Orlando. I stopped by and had the lunch special. BBQ (really Mojo) Chicken, beans and rice, sweet plantains. All friggin delicious. The biggest plus to this location is really the flavors - they are all spot on and very obvious. This is not the place to go if you want flavorless black beans and rice. Price is good and the tres leches cake I had was the best I have found in the area. One other thing I like is how clean this place is... as in SPOTLESS. Disposable gloves are changed after every customer and the restroom looks like it has never been touched. The one weird thing service wise is how you order and get your food cafeteria style then sit down and have a waitress get your drink order. Felt like a slightly akward process (be either self serve or full serve!) but the warm server made up for it with her great attitude. This really is a gem of a place - try it... you won't regret it.
(5)
JR R.
In Puerto Rico they call this "Comida Criolla" The great reviews here led me to try this place and I was not at all disappointed. The lunch special was just shy of seven bucks and there was enough food for my wife and I to share. We had the lechon (pork), yellow rice, red beans, and sweet bananas. The pork was fall apart tender and seasoned to perfection. The rice and beans were like gramma used to make. I finished the meal off with a Cafe con Leche and was extremely satisfied with the food, the service, and the price. ----------- Tip: You walk in and order from the "buffet" table. You grab your food and then grab a seat. They come to your table, get your drink order, and then you pay at the end of the meal. Slightly weird, but the food is worth it.
(5)
Lisa C.
I'm always excited about heading over to Rice and Beans for lunch, because the price is great and the food is delicious, not to mention how nice the staff is. I felt a little apprehensive the first time I walked in because I don't know very much Spanish and haven't tried too much Latin food, but everyone was really helpful, letting me try samples of some of the stuff I'd never had before like the cassava and giving me suggestions. I had the roasted pork with black beans, rice, and sweet plantains, and it was delicious, although the pork was just a little on the greasy side. It's still an amazing value and extremely flavorful, so I'm not going to complain too much. This is definitely one of the restaurants I don't mind going back to again and again.
(4)
Ricardo R.
My Wife and I went to Rice and Beans, right around Noon for lunch. This as an interesting experience for me because it was the first time I went to a place that was Half table service and Half window. The decor was very nice, it was smaller than I thought it would be though. We ordered the Lunch Specials, I had the Pork, Rice (they have a variety to choose from), Red Beans and Plantains. My Wife had the Stewed Beef, Rice, Plantains, a salad and potato ball (I'm going to have to learn the Spanish/Proper names for these things soon....). We sat after we ordered the food and a server took our drink order, (They have fountain drinks as well as bottled), and brought our food. She was nice enough, very little as far personality. But nice enough. OK, now the portions are very good, and the food tasted, DELICOUSIOSIOUS(?Did I spell that wrong? LOL.) I have to say the pork was so good, it surprised me. Moist, tender seasoned very well. The rice was very good also. I tasted my wife's beef stew and it also was seasoned very good, nothing over powering, as is the like at most ethnic locales. All in all, we spent around $24.00, which is what we would have spent for the same lunch at my other fav Latin food locale, soooooo...... I'll say I am a fan. We will be back again very soon to try some of the other dishes as well.
(4)
Matt G.
Great food, feels like the real thing.
(5)
Bettina T.
I had lunch here with my sister the other day and needless to say we were looking for a place with big portions at a low cost. We decided to step into Rice and beans and got what we wanted. We shared 1 combo lunch which was plenty of food for two. The rice and beans were delicious the beef was okay and the yuca was alright. I still think Lechonera Latina is better though.
(4)
Steve S.
ALWAYS delicious!!! Their Pernil and Mufongo are simply perfect.
(5)
Will H.
You get loads if food for super cheap. More authentic than most places.
(5)
Edith O.
Always an enjoyable experience here. Great for both dine in & out. Everything has great flavor, the meats are super tender, and the portions are huge. Overall a great deal.
(3)
Robin C.
I've experienced a number of mediocre restaurants here in Central Florida, as well as some pretty good ones. Rice and Beans, however hits the trifecta for me: The food is delicious (and what I assume is authentic), the prices are super affordable for the amount you get, and it has always been convenient to go from parking to stuffing my face. It's a little confusing when you first get there, though. We've always ordered the Lunch/Dinner Special which is your choice of rice (white, yellow, etc.), a meat (different variations of chicken, beef or pork), a side (plantains or yucca), a cup of beans (black or red!), and a side salad. If you are going to have that special, you should first go to the counter on the left and let them know which items you want. They'll put the plate on the counter, then get your salad and place it next to that . Then, you take your food over to a table and they'll bring your drinks over to you if you asked for any. The waitress will take your payment from you at the table. Some of the meats I've seen have been beef brisket, stewed beef with potatoes, chicken thighs and legs, pulled(?) pork. Every one that I've tried has been full of flavor and surprisingly good for having been pre-made. I love that they actually have red beans, though one time they were actually pinto and not kidney beans, but the sauce was still incredible. The side salad is pretty standard, but served in a too-small bowl, so it's difficult to eat without losing some to the table. We've only ever gotten the house salad, but I think they may also offer a macaroni salad. The entire meal is a hearty portion, so big eaters like myself will be very satisfied. If you've ever enjoyed Pollo Tropical, you owe it to yourself to check this place out, especially since the price is very comparable. Can you tell that I want this place to do well?
(5)
Mike S.
Delicious! I was in Orlando for the weekend, and was at the Waterford Lakes shopping area looking for lunch. I didn't want to eat at a typical chain place, so I looked to Yelp and found this place. Amazing food with great prices.I had the special with roast pork, black beans, yellow rice, and yucca. My mom had the roast chicken, white rice, black beans, and plantains. Both of my kids had grilled chicken sandwiches (I couldn't convince them to try the special). My 9 year old son said "it was the best sandwich ever." My mom and I both cleaned our plates and were full. Total bill was about $30 (we all drank tap water). Authentic food, great prices, and friendly service. I will definitely come back the next time I'm in the area!
(5)
Jussi D.
The portions are big, and the lunch special price is great at $6.95! In my few visits, I've enjoyed the pork, chicken, and even the Puerto Rican sheperd's pie! -- Not sure if that was really the name, or just the explanation they give to gringos. The yellow rice, red beans, plantains, and yucca are all very tasty as well. I still need to try the empanadas... Recommended!
(4)
Sasha M.
Everything about this restaurant is perfect! The price is very cheap and reasonable The staff very friendly, polite, and concerning The food flavorful, fresh, delicious! I have yet to find another restaurant that can compare with Rice & Beans. The manager is exceptional and its obvious that this restaurant for her is her passion which is why it has been so successful. She has done an amazing job providing good quality food despite the other competition. I have brought many friends, and family to this location and have yet to hear a negative comment about any of Rice & Beans menu items. I am waiting for the day the this restaurant begins to branch out and we have several locations. I have moved away from Orlando but this is the only place I miss!
(5)
Jerry R.
Really tasty food and a good portion. Nice and clean looking place with a good variety. Staff was friendly. A very nice alternative to fast food. We got our meals to go.
(4)
Joe K.
Food is great and very tasty! Price is pretty cheap for the amount of food you get. I would suggest trying this place out for lunch as they have absolutely great lunch specials. For those who are into hispanic foods this place will appease most yearnings. Of course it can't beat the real thing but this place comes pretty close!
(4)
Dave M.
Love this place. Clean and food is nice and hot. I've eaton there several times and never been disappointed. Empanadas rock.
(4)
Howard L.
The slow cooked pork was some of the juiciest and most tender pork that I've had. Could have used a little more flavor but not going to complain, it was pretty damn good. Unfortunately the rice was dry, which was expected for being in open air on steam-tables all day. A friend had the chicken thigh and that was pretty good also. Price was very cheap for what it was and how it tasted overall but far from 5 stars. Overall good, but not a favorite in my book
(3)
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Address :504 N Alafaya Trl,Ste 106
Orlando, FL, 32828
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
SalviMex L.
LOVE IT! Great customer service, AMAZING tasting Cuban & Dominican food. They have reasonable prices and good portions. I recommend you order the Beef Stew or Chicken (Pollo Guisado)....yum! Had a Cuban coffee after our meal and it was to die for! Strong and tasty, for all you coffee lovers.
(5)Russ F.
Disappointed with the sit down service. I don't know how long they have been doing this for but the servers must not have been making good tips because there was an automatic 18% tip added to the receipt for a table of three, had I not look closely I would've missed it as I was paying with cash. She asked me what kind of salad dressing I wanted then never brought me a salad and when I asked where my salad is she said it doesn't come with my meal, but you asked me what kind of dressing I want, really? She did bring the salad out. I ordered the pork which came out cold, someone got the mofongo which was hollow, I mean I've never seen a place take out a big scope out of the middle of your food. You could hear kids playing and screaming on the take side so it was not very intimate. The sangria was pretty good I just don't see myself going back for the sit down service, maybe the take out side, as the food was OK.
(2)Simone G.
I visited Rice and Beans Cocina Latina a week ago and was seated on the dine in side. I ordered the Fried Chicken (2 medium-large strips) with rice and plankton- I don't quite remember the name of this order on the menu, but what I described above is what was included. It was okay- the chicken strips were a little tough in which I had to use a knife to cut into smaller pieces to eat and the plankton was cold. I assumed that the plankton wasn't freshly cooked, but placed on my plate from the buffet side of the restaurant. My friend's order was delicious (grilled chicken with rice and beans). Also, the floors were very sticky throughout the the dine in side of the restaurant all the way to the bathroom. The bathroom did smell clean, but the restaurant's floors shouldn't have been just as sticky as the bathroom. I'm still giving this restaurant a 3 stars and based off of the greeting and waiter's service, I will give it a second try. I would like to return on a Friday evening when they have the live band, and being that my friend's food was delicious, I'll just try something different next time.
(3)John W.
Although taste and food is important, but when I write my reviews I focus heavy on hospitality. Rice and Beans Covina Latina has definitely delivered in service. The food was very flavorful and appetizing. Thank you Rice and Beans for a great lunch.
(4)Chlo L.
So just passing by Orlando and we always have to stop at this joint. We've been coming here since undergrad and it always hits that spot between the pernil and iron beer. They expanded since it started up, so this place must be doing well. My girlfriend loves this place and it's worth every penny!! Going to have to learn how they make half this stuff. Time for a party in my mouth!
(4)Joan B.
First time I actually decided to order fish (tilapia) and I couldn't eat it. It had a horrible fishy taste like the fillet was left out for a while. Veggies were bland and just not good.
(2)Jillian C.
When I used to live out in the Avalon Park area, Rice and Beans was probably my favorite lunch spot. The food is so delicious! Unfortunately for me I live all the way out in Debary now, but anytime I know I'm gonna be anywhere that's even relatively close to Rice and Beans, I'll go out of my way to stop in and grab some food. It's awesome to see how much the place has grown over the years too. It started out as cafeteria style place with a few tables. A couple years ago, they expanded in to the building next door, and now have a full-fledged sit down restaurant for those that want the traditional restaurant experience. I've been both to sides. The traditional restaurant side is great if you want to take your time, have cocktails with your meal and watch live music. The other side is great for takeout and more casual dining. I usually always end up going for their dinner special (I believe it's $8.99). You get a generous portion of meat, with rice, beans and plantains. The roasted pork is my absolute fav, but really all their meats are good. In addition to the pork, they usually have stewed beef, stewed chicken, ribs, etc. They also have 3 different kinds of rice to pick from and two different kinds of beans (black or pinto). Any meat I've ever had there has been so tender that it just melted in my mouth. In my opinion they have the best beans too - perfectly seasoned. A lot of times I find myself having to add extra salt to my beans, but that's not the case here. I've also had their mofungo, which was very good. Other positives, the place is very clean (like immaculate clean) and the staff is always very friendly. They all speak both English and Spanish, and do a great job at making the customer feel welcome no matter what language they speak.
(5)Happy R.
Came in on a recommendation from a coworker. Was not disappointed. The manager Jeff was very helpful in explaining the different dishes available for the lunch special. I chose the pork roast, yellow rice and beans and the plantains. The pork was fork tender and just the right mixture of spices. Wish I was in town longer to try out more of the tasty treats.
(5)Sarah R.
YUM! Just came here for the first time today in between school shopping and wow. Vegetarian lunch special for $6.89 was amazing and came with SOO much food! A side salad, two heaping scoops of rice (4 to choose from), sweet plantains, and your choice of red or black beans. I am stuffed. Jason prepared our plates and he was extremely kind and answered any questions we had. We will be back very soon!
(5)Dale O.
Very good mostly Cuban style food at friendly prices. Local 'mom and pop' owners. Four types of rice plus black and pink beans, pork or chicken; add yuca or plantains... Huge portions, really enough for two people. Plus salads, soups, and sandwiches. Beer and wine is a bit pricy. all draft and better bottled beer is $4.95, but Dos Equis on tap is icy cold. Domestic bottles are only $3.50 They offer wine and a full liquor bar too. The very nice attached lounge has two TVs and live entertainment sometimes.
(4)R P.
Love the take out combos, tamales and their chicken vegetable soup. In the combo we prefer the roast pork and the roast chicken. Both have been very moist and full of flavor. Black beans and yucca for one combo. Peas & rice and maduros for the other combo. Order a side of soup and tamale. Now you have four meals easy. Ask for some hot sauce and your set. With cuban food we find drinking lots of your preferred liquid is essential. Not the lightest style of cooking. But the flavors are great. Family business, not a franchise. They care about the food. While we were there we saw the cook bring out at least four replacements for the different combo choice. Each choice was less than half full, but not empty. Rather than dump the new into the old he took the old container out and placed a new container with the same fresh item in its place. Great find across from waterford mall. Same area as home depot, kohl's and staples.
(4)Jason K.
Everyone else had great meals I had the ropa vieja ($12) which came with about the equivalent of an ice cream scoop of actual meet swimming in sauce. While it was tasty the portion size really made me regret spending that kind of money on it
(3)Shannon C.
This place was amazing! Great service and I loved the atmosphere. Wish I took a picture of my food but it was soooo yummy that I forgot to take one!! I had the Ropa Vieja with rice and beans, and it was really good! And to top it off a Coconut Mojito for only $5, which was the happy hour special until 7pm. Everything was was delicious! I will definitely be back again!
(5)David H.
Dinner special for 7.89, can't beat that price for what you get! The Special comes with two scoops of rice, cup of beans, choice of plantains or yucca, and choice of meat. The servings are just perfect, even if it may not look like it at first. I tend to think portions are smaller than they look cause I'm a fatty. I went with the stew chicken, yellow rice, plantains, and black beans. Delicious! I haven't had Latin food in awhile, so I am glad the fiancée suggested Rice and Beans tonight. The beans were a bit too salty at first, but when mixed with your rice it is just perfect. The server also gave me a few scoops of the chicken gravy on top of the rice, so that made the mixture of rice and beans extra tasty. Will definitely be back to try the mofongos! If you are in the area and got a craving for some latin food, check Rice and Beans out!
(4)Alvin L.
Great place for an authentic Puerto Rican food with a low price. Lunch special is a plus with various type of foods.
(4)Carolina C.
Food tastes great but... The problem is the portions and how inconsistent it is becoming. You get 2 pieces of chicken that are small (unlike before), they now give you 2 pieces of plantain when they previously gave you 3. They used to give you 2 big servings of rice and now they barely put 2 scoops. you're not going to believe you are paying $9.00 for this. You actually get more food at the chain restaurants instead of this local business. I am not going to be coming back.
(1)Ho L.
Some solid cafeteria style Latin food. It's a little confusing at first, because there are no signs, and the menus mostly mention $10+ entrees and such. But the friendly staff are quick to explain their $6.95 lunch special, which has rice, a side, beans, and a meat. This is what you want, because I can't imagine paying much more than that for the food here. Overall a decent place for lunch if you're in the mood for, well...rice and beans.
(3)Diletta B.
Amazing place!the food is really delicious, the people who work there are amazing and they really make you feel at home :) one of the guy who served me was very patient in describing me the dishes and suggesting me what to get :) great meal!home made food is the secret! I will come back :)
(5)Jackeline F.
I love, love the fried yucca. The croquettes were awesome and the rellenos de papa, perfect. The passion fruot mojito was sooo tasty, yum! We came during the live music night and it was good old school salsa! Chicharrron de pollo was not good, all skin, no chicken.
(4)Melissa O.
I enjoy eating here as it's very authentic My favorite dish is the Carne Con Papa with Maduros y Frijoles Rojo. The serving portion is rather decent as I can split it into two meals. I only wished they would give more than just 3 maduros with the meal. The price is good and you get a discount for being a college student.
(4)Sonny Chris A.
From San Diego, whenever you're in the UCF area this is top 2 places to go to. Usually get the rice plate with chicken and black beans with plantains. The chicken is so moist it almost reminds you of pork. Just different flavors that satisfies the pallets of your you Hye is amazing. Even you had black beans from chipotle you've never had black beans before. WORTH IT.
(5)Sydney W.
This is one of the only Cuban restaurants in the east Orlando area that I've found. I don't visit often, but I've been a few times and it is always delicious! The sit down side is much better than the quick service... good is much better quality and cooked to order! Just think it's pretty overpriced for what you get. Would go more if it wasn't so costly!
(4)Jessica D.
Friendly staff, student discount, good food, nothing was too sweet or salty, place looked quite clean, affordable price (and I'm a cheap person so if I'm saying it's affordable it really is!). Came here with my boyfriend and our friends, one of them is part Puerto Rican and knew what good empanadas tasted like and she approved of the ones they had here. I ordered two beef empanadas and they were great. I shared their dinner special with my boyfriend and there was enough food for the both of us at about $7, I think. AND we had some leftovers. Staff was very attentive, knowledgable, and courteous.
(5)Josh R.
We go there when we see that the line at Chipotle is out the door. It's good. Not to sound like a hipster but it's not as good as your smaller less known Latin restaurants. The pernil is decent but is too salty, I opt to get the chicken instead. The black beans are tender and tasty and not smashed-up mush. They have your normal selection of South American sodas in the cooler. All the customer-facing people are bilingual, so that's nice. There's another half of this restaurant but it's usually closed. Maybe it's for dinner service? I've only been for lunch. The lunch area is fairly small. Maybe 10 tables. I wish the menu was more descriptive - at the moment it's basically non-existent. If you're not familiar with Latin food you might be lost since nothing is labeled, but I suppose you could always just ask what's what. Might slow down the line a bit. Anyway, I'll remain a semi-regular there. It's the best Latin food you will find in Waterford Lakes. Edit: I forgot to say why I'm giving this 3 stars instead of 4: their Cuban sandwiches by default come with mayonnaise! This is blasphemy!
(3)Victor C.
My first time here. There are 2 choices for service. The buffet style side or dining room. I went to the dining area. The server took a while to recognize me. Plantain chips with sauce as an appetizer. Chip were perfect and 2 good sauces. Had the marinated chicken with yellow rice, black beans, salad. Salad was embarrassing small. Chicken was bland for being "marinated". Yellow rice and black beans were average at best. The manager did check on me more than the server. One other table in dining and been waiting for a server for the bill. Next time I'm going to the other side where they have a good lunch special. Looks like their portions are bigger too. Being Hispanic I may be biased but this is average at best. The dining side is lacking for service and has average food.
(3)Cpt L L.
Been a few times. Always friendly staff and clean no matter how large the crowd. I've eaten there as well as carry out and never let me down. Good food.
(4)Dolly M.
I've had several occasions where I wasn't happy with my dining experience. The first time after dining there a few times, I was always told the dish I ordered was not available after everyone in my party had been served already, then got an unapologetic sarcastic remark from the owner when I explained what happened. Secondly on another occasion, the restaurant was not busy on this day and I was seated by a waitress in the dining side with my family and then was forgotten, no one came to serve us for at least 25min until we got up and went to the other side and said something, which I got looks for and no apology. You're supposed to get bread when you're dining in the dining side and they bring it whenever they remember. I always have to ask for my utensils and they don't give extra napkins unless you ask. Their salad portions are extremely small and the lettuce never looks fresh. They're portions vary also. Some days they're very small, others they're ok. I also hate how they charge for sides like plantains or beans which should be included in a meal instead of being charged separately. I once asked for an extra piece of yuca and they gave me half of a piece. When I make take out orders and get home, something is usually missing so check before leaving. I sometimes forget. It's a shame how they're not consistent in their customer service especially when you're a regular. I don't go as much as I use to because I get annoyed how they make the same mistakes and do not improve.
(3)Lilly V.
Good consistent Latin Caribbean food. Carne con papa is my dtrs go to every time. My favorite is the mofongo with chicaron de pollo.
(4)Lisa W.
The staff was friendly. The mojitos were great. The food was amazing. Big plates. Had lunch for the next day.
(4)Ingrid M.
I liked this place. The food was good and the staff was friendly and attentive. I had the paella and my husband had the small fish and both were huge portions. We went on a Friday night and they had live music which was fun. Music was latin jazz, kind of romantic. The mojitos were great, strong, lol. We will go back.
(4)Amanda G.
This place is great, the flavors are authentic and the portions are unbelievable for the price. I got a whole meal for $6.89 and dinner is just a $1 more! I got the red beans, yuca, pork, the black beans and rice mix, and the rice with pigeon peas! So delicious! You have to come here! This is no Chipotle, this is the real deal! Service is great and the staff is friendly and accommodating! Great spot for a quick Latin food fix!
(5)Aya L.
Went to tonight ordered special ( yellows rice, pork and black bean) pork was good but rice has no taste black bean was so so ( restaurant name is rice and bean ummm I don't know why) also I was upset one of girl wear glove when make a plate but she keep touching her pants ( too loose or tight??) and touch rice? Really? What is the point of wear glove? Eek!! never go back
(1)Nestor R.
Rice and Beans is what I used to eat everyday when I was younger, so finding a place by the name of your childhood staple forces you to stop and see whats going on up in there. My first impression was confusion. There are two sides, a sit down side, and a cafe style side. I walked into the cafe side, which had no signs, greeters, or anything to help me understand they they actually did have two sides. Lack of direction can sometimes turn people off. I wanted to do sit down, but by the time I figured out I was ordering off the cafe side, I apparently had committed to stay on that side. Wandering off to the other side to eat is a no no. The server told me to go back to the cafe side as I looked for a seat. Outside of the logistics, the food is good. They have arroz con gandules, yucca, platanos maduros, and different types of meat including pernil, pollo, and ropa vieja. Its definitely similar to what I'm used to growing up and the price is right. I havent had the mofongo, but I do plan on going back to try it out. If you have no idea what I said above, then go to Rice and Beans and figure it out! You will be presently surprised.
(4)Kimberly K.
Absolutely amazing food and hospitality! Not only is the food made fresh daily, they have a certain cook that comes in every morning to begin the prep. This mom and pop Cocina Latina is one of the best around, and #1 on my list! You can typically find decent food anywhere, but if the staff is rude - you typically don't go back. It ruins your experience. Here- That is not the case. I have been a regular for the last year, and not once have I ran into a problem or had a bad dish! I am impressed. There lunch and dinner menu is amazing and prices are fair! Considering the amount of food and the quality... !
(5)Allie G.
I love it here!!!!! The staff was so nice and spent time explaining the dishes and recommending favorites- I wish I remembered the name of the guy serving us, but he was really a star. The food is delicious and there actually two sides to one restaurant- one is more casual counter service while the other is more formal table service. Both were great, though I'm more of a counter service girl. :) It seems like it would be a great place for football or futbol games- they have a beautiful bar with big TVs. Will be back for sure. :)
(5)Mike P.
Authentic Latin cuisine with big portions and great price. My wife is from Columbia and she loves this place
(4)Paige S.
I miss this place every day! The food was so amazing and the staff was always so kind! I love great authentic Cuban food and they have it covered for fantastic food! Their Cuban sandwich is great, their pork and all different meats are great, the rice is great, the deserts are great...it's all great! The only reason I am giving them four stars in only due to the Cuban bread by itself. It's really not all that great or tastes authentic, but i'm pretty picky when it comes to the way Cuban bread is made. I highly recommend this place if you're in the Orlando area, it's so great and worth every penny...and it's not expensive at all! Plus, make sure you try Iron Beer! It's the best cola type drink! :)
(4)Chantel C.
My daughter and I came here because Chic-Fil-A was closed, so glad we did!!! The guy who helped us was very nice and explained everything. We shared a plate of pork, rice, yuca, and beans. A very friendly lady came over to get our drinks. You could tell she loved working here! She told us about Friday nights (live music), and the dining room next door that has a full menu. We took two deserts to go (I asked if they actually made the deserts on site, and YES they do wohooo). Tres leches cake and Tiramisu (being a baker, I'm picky) was made very nicely, the cake was moist and you could tell it was very fresh. This is our new favorite spot!
(5)Kelly K.
Delicious lunch buffet at a good price with warm hospitality. Order a tres leches and cafe con leche after your meal. You won't be disappointed. Gracias!
(5)Stephanie S.
The food is good, but everyone raves about going here and how great it is and it wasn't all the hype I expected. Granted we came in before closing time, so this night be why but it was just regular food. Rice and beans-literally! They had some other specials going on but being a vegetarian made my choices limited. One of the rice options even had chicken in it, so I felt like I had limited choices. And the black beans in my opinion could have been warmer but like I said we came in before they closed. My date however loved his chicken in rice with veggies. So for meat lovers this may be a great stop, but for my vegetarian friends like myself this place lacks variety :/
(3)Todd G.
Great food and atmosphere. Prices are competitive but above the competition on taste and service. You're not just a number at Rice & Beans. They make you feel like a valued customer. I'll be back soon!
(5)Leanne M.
I was sketched out by this place at first, but I was so wrong once I actually tried the food. I was in Kissimmee visiting a friend and I had no idea where to eat/what to do because it seemed like we were in the boonies. In desperation and hunger, I'm pretty sure my bf was secretly Yelp-ing places to eat while we were waiting for her. I guess he stumbled upon this place and was so excited about the pictures that he wanted to eat here. I'm so glad he decided to do that. We sat in for lunch and had the special which was basically rice, beans, a "veggie", and a meat item. "Veggie" is in quotations because I decided to get some sweet plantains... YUM. I also had the black beans and the stew beef. Omgah the stew beef. The beef was so yummy and so stewed that it was just falling apart. There were also some potatoes in there because I believe that a stew isn't a stew without potatoes and you can never have enough carbs (I'm just that kind of girl). I just can't explain what it tasted like, but it was so yummy. Had such a great lunch here. Service was okay, but it's not like I was dining in a 5 star joint and the prices were sooooooo cheap! Gah you all need to try the stew beef!
(4)Madai M.
I don't see what the raves are all about. Service was slow and food was not memorable. Mojitos were decent though but rather on the small side. Have had better latin food.
(2)Travis S.
Great food. Been eating here a little over year now. Only knock I have is the portions are getting smaller and smaller. I don't mind paying nearly $20 for two meals but make it worth $20
(3)Jeff K.
I'm so full I can't feel my face. Upon walking into the restaurant, I went up to the counter not knowing the normal procedure. I was told that if I was eating in, I could just have a seat at a table and someone would bring me a menu. Cool. It's a really clean place with minimal decor [see photo]. So I got my menu and was forgotten for a bit... maybe about 10 minutes. I started to freeze, they apparently keep the thermostat at a brisk 7 degrees. Eventually someone realized that I wasn't being helped and took my order. I ordered an entrée rather than a lunch special, though I'm not sure why. I got the Chicharrones de Pollo, which came with a side salad, rice (yellow or white), yuca or plantains, and beans (red or black). I opted for white rice, yuca, and black beans [see photo, if you dare]. It all tasted great. The chicken seemed a little under seasoned, but I squeezed a lime wedge along there and it made it all a bit more interesting. Between my hunger and the great taste of everything, I became aware of how I must've looked, sitting in the restaurant at a table by myself and shovelling food into my mouth like Zoidberg at a Roswell lunch buffet. Hats off to you if you got that reference. In my mind's eye, I saw the kitchen staff peering around the corner and wondering aloud to their cohorts, "Is that guy ever going to come up for air?" Long story not very short, I enjoyed the meal. I'll have to see if maybe the lunch specials are a little bit smaller because I ate way too much. But at $8.50 it was a pretty good deal!
(4)Drea W.
The snapper was excellent. They need to bottle that garlic sauce - it's the best I've ever had. Soooo good! The band on Friday night was good, too bad we came too early, so by the time they really started to play we were heading out. Will definitely be back.
(4)Caitlin H.
Just what I was looking for! Quality, authentic cuban food. They have a buffet but I sat in the restaurant side. Their sweet plantains, chicken, and dirty rice hit the spot! I'll definitely be coming back.
(5)Megan C.
So very delicious! Hard to find such good, authentic Hispanic food in Orlando and this hit the nail on the head. Wonderful service, relaxed atmosphere, and great prices.
(5)Sophie M.
This place has the BEST pernil (pork) and kinds of rice!! Great selection for food and quick buffet style lunch or sit down dinner restaurant area.
(5)Raghu A.
Great food for the price. I usually go for Fish Curry in this restaurant. Coming to the items Rice : I usually go for the yellow rice (Which is very tasty and close to Indian yellow rice). Even brown rice is good. Beans: I usually go with the black beans which are very tasty. Non-Vegetarian : I like Fish and Chicken Curries over here. Both are well cooked with pretty good flavor. Sides : Yucca and Sweet Plantation are good to try. (Though i prefer Yucca more) Overall its a good good for the price and am giving them 4 stars (4.5 is not there ;) ) as last time when i was there Fish was smelling a little (Fishes smell actually) and is high in salt. This is not repeated all the time anyway.
(4)Paul M.
I took my family and in-laws there for a early dinner and I must say I was not impressed. There were 2 other parties in the place beside ours so the service was very quick. However, the food was not anything to write home about. The fried Yucca was awesome I must say which made up for the lack of flavor my stuffed chicken had. It wasn't even stuffed...it was 2 pieces of dried chicken breast with lunch meat in the middle. As a family we like to share our food so we try out each others dishes and I didn't find any of the other dishes any better. However, my mother in-law had a grilled marinated chicken and rice dish that was very moist and tasty that I think was the best dish out of all our ours. My son had the seafood platter that had good flavor but consist of mostly rice and not a whole lot of seafood in it. Overall I wasn't pleased. However, I understand that sometimes a restaurant has a off night so I am hoping that was the case. I might be willing to give them a second chance.
(2)Adler D.
Best home made Spanish food you can buy near UCF, hands down, no questions asked. Get.the.pulled.pork. If you don't, you'll think: "I should have got the pulled pork.." This review doesn't need to be long because there isn't much to say.. Go experience it for yourself! Recommend to all seeking good 'home like' Spanish food.
(4)William S.
I went with my girlfriend during happy hour and we greatly enjoyed ourselves. We ate on the more formal restaurant side. The atmosphere was great! We had a couple mojitos that were delicious and the food seemed authentic as well. Prices were also VERY reasonable.
(5)Patti M.
For a small place who does a mostly take out business this place is phenomenal. The staff was very friendly and asked us when we arrived if it was our first time there. He then explained we could order off the menu or do the lunch special. For $6.95 I got to heaping scoops of rice (there was a selection), plantains, black beans, and delish baked chicken. There was so much food I walked out with enough for lunch the next day. My friend was really happy with the stew because the meat was lean and nicely flavored. I really wanted to try the dessert but I was stuffed.They also had a great selection of sodas and I had a frambeusa. The waitstaff kept checking in with us to make sure we were happy and indeed we were. I have a feeling I won't want to cook tomorrow night........hmmmmm
(5)Aimee D.
Looooong wait! We dined in. Our Waiter, Jefferson, was super nice and was trying hard to please. But, our food took 50 minutes to be done, and that's only 1 out of 10 dishes. Manager, Ana, did not have good customer service. DONT ORDER STUFFED TOSTONES! Crab is old and fishy. Owner was apologetic. It took another 20 minutes just for bill to arrive. Never coming again!
(1)Justin T.
The best hispanic food in Orlando hands down. They have great, authentic options and the food is always fresh. Even better, I just discovered they offer 10% off with student ID.
(5)Iman A.
I've been here twice and both times I really enjoyed the food! The drinks are amazing!! My favorite is the cilantro mojito, very refreshing! The staff is always friendly and both times I over-tipped. They take time out to explain the menu and answer any questions you have. The portions are huge too!
(5)Heidi A.
This place not too far from my house and the prices are awesome. The food is very good. I'd come back here any day. Lucikly it is closeby ... I WILL be back. It is such a great alternative to all of the chains across the street and the prices are much better, and the quantities also plentiful. This place has been around for several years, and I'm surprised I never walked in to try it before. I am retroactively sad for all the times I could have stopped in before!
(4)Jeffrey D.
Well, we were on the run and decided to come in to see why the crowd. Unlike most of the restaurants around we Cocina Latina was fairly busy around 7:30pm. So we consulted the reviews for here. The experience was a little daunting at first. There were many options and I couldn't really figure our how it worked. The meals are ala carte so you can build your own plate. It is prepared in advance so it is more of a fast food joint than a sit down restaurant. You simply go down the line and choose your choice of yellow (Spanish) rice, black beans and rice, or pigeon peas and rice. Next you choose yuka or plantains. Then the hard part, chicken, shredded beef, or adobo (not sure if I spelled that right). On the other side are salsas which looked fresh, tamales, and various accessories. And last you have beans. Then you sit down and enjoy. It is as simple as that. There are also fountain drinks, Dominican and domestic beer, coconut soda, and other drinks. The food was good and the price was better. We weren't sure what the cost was (shredded beef was $1 more). In total my wife and I left stuffed for less than $30. We managed to find a table after fairly quickly but there were not a plethora of seating options even though we were on for a late dinner. Overall, the food was great for the price. It is a great place to go if you are in a hurry but do not want to sacrifice taste for time or money.
(4)Eric L.
The Pernil! My FAVORITE. Juicy and full of flavor. The empanadas are great, as well. You really can't beat the price and food. They lose one star from me for two reasons: First, the food isn't consistent. Sometimes the rice isn't as fresh as I'd like it to be. Second, it's often chaotic in there. They usually do a pretty good job of keeping track of orders, but anything out-of-the-ordinary (like a request for fresh rice, or even a call-ahead order) really throws them off.
(4)Ashley H.
I have been here a few times since my last review, and they never disappointing. They have taken over the old Chee Burger location and expanded to include a much nicer dining and bar area. The staff in incredibly friendly and helpful, and I always enjoy my meal. I really hope they stick around, as it can be hard for a smaller business on this side of the shopping center.
(5)Aaron K.
This place has some really good authentic Hispanic food at really good prices. We picked up two dinner combos which came with rice and beans, yucca, and platanos maduros all for only about $7.50 each. They offer both a cafeteria style walk in and take out and also a sit down restaurant. One of our go to places for Hispanic food.
(4)Ryan H.
Great restaraunt that has a diner and restaraunt feel to it. You choose the side that you want. Quick on the diner side and sit for a slower meal in the restaraunt portion. Fast and good food at good price (i got the dinner special for $8). Friendly service staff and the girls behind the counter are cute. Bonus! Ill be back here for sure.
(5)Kendall K.
Came for lunch yesterday and we will definitely be back! All very delicious and flavorful, excellent service from our server Jefferson. He was friendly and attentive. My husband enjoyed the Cuban and I had the trifongo (mofongo made of green & sweet plantains, & yucca!) with grilled chicken. Yummmmm!!! My only teeny tiny complaints: his French fries needed some salt, I don't think there was any, and the beans were a little soupy. But overall, quite tasty, decent prices, lovely restaurant, great outdoor seating. I would like to come check out the happy hour too, once I'm not pregnant. Check it out, you won't be disappointed!
(4)Chasity D.
Went to this place for lunch. The rice and black beans were tasty. The small salad was good but too small. The sweet plantains were delicious. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. Would like to go back and try the fish dinner plate.
(3)Deadra F.
As a white girl in love with Latin food, this is my favorite by far. Always so yummy and huge portions.
(5)Erin S.
One word, WOW! I am absolutely blown away by this place. Everything is cooked to perfection. Their lunch special is a complete steal. You get a choice of rice, meat, side (plantain or yuca), and beans (red or black) for a total of 6.89. I always choose yellow rice and a random meat depending on what looks good to me at the moment. I have never been disappointed by their meats. I typically go with plantains for my side. At other places, plantains are never cooked right but it's wonderful here. Then red beans to top it all off. The portions are very generous. I find myself loving the rice and beans so much that I hardly even touch my meat. I tend to togo my meat and warm it back up later for dinner. If you're ever in the mood for some Latin food please do yourself a favor and stop by here.
(5)Dana F.
WOW. This place has good food. I've driven by hundreds of times and never expected that I'd been bypassing such deliciousness! For about $8, you can get their dinner special which includes: Rice Beans Meat Side Item I ordered the lechon asado (roast pork), which is my all-time favorite latin dish. I've eaten it all over town and I must say that theirs was one of the best! It was garlicky and tasty! Their congri (rice and black beans mixed together) was one of the best I've ever had (besides my Grandma's of course..). The portions are enormous. I boxed up half of my meal and ate another full meal for lunch today! The atmosphere is super casual - you go up to the counter and order and take your plates to your table, where a server comes by to get your drink orders and take care of anything else you need. All in all, a great place. I'd definitely head there again!
(4)David K.
Fellow 'Jelpers', I have eaten here on several occasions since this restaurant is close to my crib, yo. These guys have had a very successful run as their establishment is always packed. It is run entirely by a Hispanic staff with one or two exceptions. The place itself is not very spacious, they offer tables but their niche is mainly take-out Spanish food. However, this time we chose to sit at a table and eat there. I ordered a bistec encebollado (steak with onions on top) which came with rice and beans (captain obvious) and a choice of plantains and yucca. I went with the plantains. The steak was a bit dry, the onions were a bit too thick, but put together they were fairly good. Nothing too impressive. The rice & beans were very good as well as the plantains, better than the steak. I also had cheese empanadas there and they were very very good. Crunchy and cheesy. I would recommend this place to grab a quick bite or take out. Cheap, quick and easy like a lady of the evening at OBT but without the consequences. Hasta Luego!
(3)Marissa I.
Amazing food. Had the lunch special with roasted pork as my meat choice- so moist and delicious. The portions are very generous. Cant beat the price- for under 7 bucks you get choice of rice ( 4 different kinds offered), choice of meats ( lots of choices), red or black beans, and yucca or plantains. I also tasted their stewed and oven baked chicken- they were great! Their emapanadas were awesome as well. For dessert i had the flan. It was pretty good. On my second trip I had the tres leches cake which was a little too wet for me. The service was amazing. Friendly and gave great recommendations on how to get more bang for my buck. Wish we had a place like this in California.
(5)Kris M.
I came here a ton when I was a UCF student. Delicious food, wide selection and not a bad price either. I love the chicken stew- amazing! The plantains are heavenly. The service is always quick and pleasant. Definitely worth a try for some delicious and authentic Cuban food.
(4)Beth F.
I love this place! Not only are they super friendly, but they have the best chicken soup I have ever tasted outside my mom's and grandmom's! Definitely authentic.
(5)Nick H.
Wow what a great place to eat at a great price and friendly staff.
(5)Ben T.
Being new to the area I was hungrily searching for a nice dinner spot while my mom was visiting. We went to this place after I had it bookmarked on Yelp for a little over a month. I was happy with the experience and felt like it was a great dinner spot. I had the pork that was bursting with flavor. My mom enjoyed a steak cooked just right. The staff were also above and beyond friendly despite things being a bit hectic with a few large groups seated with us. I will be back.
(4)Bill F.
If you've read my reviews before you can compare this place to Dominican Restaurant near Hofstra. I was disappointed in the portion size...it was too perfect. When I go to a Cuban place I want leftovers....and I had none...partly because the food was good but mostly because the portion was medium. I love sweet plantains. They only gave me two. I'm harsh I guess. This place was really good...just not amazing. Cheap meal bumped this bad boy up to 4 stars! Only $10 with a drink!
(4)Jeff P.
Wow! This makes me wish I lived in Florida. There really isn't much food better than Cuban....and this is good Cuban food. The Cuban sandwich is out of this world. The Cuban coffee...great. And of course you need the delicious sweet plantains. The location is in a strip mall, but there is a couple of outside tables.
(4)Albert P.
I've only been here once, but I really enjoyed it. I had roasted chicken, tostones, rice and beans. The flavors were perfect. I really enjoyed the food. The place is small, but the staff was very friendly and accommodating.
(4)Ashley H.
I went here today with a friend for lunch and was pleasantly surprised! Rice and Beans is half-table service, half-counter service, but it works perfectly. When you go, grab a table (it was incredibly busy in there) and then head to the counter. A server will bring you a menu if you like, but the lunch special is a great deal. For $6.95 I had 2 scoops of white rice, a cup of black beans, two pieces of chicken (breast and leg on the bone), maduros (sweet plantains), and a small side salad. There are other options on the rice, beans, and meat, as Annette G. described in her review. Instead of maduros, you can have yuca if you like. But honestly, I looked at the yuca and saw that it was basically floating in water when it should have been in a special mojo sauce (I'm Cuban. I know my stuff). I skipped out on that. I enjoyed the meal, but I'd rather order something else next time, like the chicken breast or "onion steak", which for those familiar with Cuban food seems an awful lot like bistec de palomilla. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and it was awfully cheap. This place is a good bet for cheap and fast Latin food, and the service is pretty great (although the server ended up charging my card for both of our meals and then having to void that and charge me again for mine...thankfully I had the money to cover it).
(4)Annette G.
I have found my favorite lunch spot for Waterford Lakes\UCF area. This is it! For $6.95 you can feast!!! It's advertised as a lunch\dinner special. Pretty sure it's because the amount of food you get at lunch will give you enough leftovers for dinner. Seriously! Here's how it breaks out. 2 scoops of rice. They have 4 different kinds, and all vegetarian. 2 pieces of meat. They have 3 kinds of chicken, beef, pork or goat. Choice of yucca or sweet plantains. Choice of red or black beans, both made without meat. A side salad that is made to order. Add a drink and you're still under 10 bucks! Oh, and the food? Yeah. It's awesome. Meat is super tender, falling off the bone. I had a scoop of the yellow rice and a scoop of the red rice, because you can mix and match... and I can't make a decision. Both were good, but I liked the red rice better in the end. The chicken was delicious, but a little cold. That's my only complaint. Not all food was up to temp. Still though, it was delicious. I opted for the red beans, because it's been forever since I was able to get them without pork. They were super flavorful, the texture was perfect too. Loved 'em! Holy crap, it really is a crazy deal. So much food. So good. So cheap! LOVE IT!
(5)Mark A.
Food was not good. Rice overlooked, goat was nothing special as was chicken. Was way over cooked like its was some bad cafeteria leftovers. Don't get the hype . Waited my $30
(2)Katelyn C.
I do love trying hole in the wall places because it is either a diamond in the rough or it is a pain in the butt. Ha, get the pun? The fried plantains were great, and the rice was fine but I ordered a jerk chicken of some sort (forgot the specific name) and for some reason it did not look appetizing, so I opted out. My male companion enjoyed it for lunch the next day. I will try it again and be more adventurous!
(4)Lia T.
This place is absolutely amazing and I would recommend the food to everyone. My favorites are the beef stew and the red beans; both taste like heaven!
(5)Ricky L.
i love their lunch/dinner special, such a good price at $6.95 and so much fooood
(5)Emily N.
This place is simple amazing. For about seven dollars I can get enough food to last me all day. They have a huge variety and they were their service was speedy. Their servers was more than welcoming and helped me through the ordering process. This place is a great way for me to keep my college budget and still get up-scale food!
(5)Don J.
The best Latina restaurant, the food is the best. The plantains were great (sweet) and so was everything else.
(5)Traveler F.
Finally, a down to earth Latin restaurant that holds true to it's motto "Real Food, Simply Good". All too often there are several, if not too many, Latin restaurants in almost every Orlando neighborhood claiming to be the best. Maybe so, but for who? As in the case of most ethnic driven restaurant, the focus is on just that ethnicity. Everyone else, who by the way makes up the complete dining scene, seems sidelined. Lost opportunity. Rice and Beans at Waterford Lakes Town Center have bridged that divide and taken the inclusion of the entire neighborhood and dining scene into full consideration. Waterford Lakes Town Center which is steps away from millions of college aged students at University of Central Florida though, still very suburban family oriented. It is a no brainer to have college aged students working in the restaurant, a welcomed move away from the traditional older stereotypical attendants in neigborly Latin restaurants. Upon entrance, there is an immediate lively, fun, approachable vibe that screams, Bien benitos, welcome. The exterior storefront is nondescript, like every other strip mall. Although, this particular build-out boast brighter, vibrant colors which lends well to the more affluent Alafaya Trail corridor. The interior, takes a whole new blast on the quick service concept. Bright bold colors adorned with ethnic Latin art covers the walls. Tastefully displayed food in steam table style servers presents itself to lure the uninitiated. The attendants are quick to smile and start a casual conversation. Questions are encouraged and even little tastes are offered. It is very refreshing to be greeted with warm hospitality when venturing out on a different cuisine. In as much as there are buffet style quick service items, there is also a full dine in or take out menu. There is also a fiesta catering menu. We had a few combinations from the steam table to share and sample. The Beef Stew was thick, flavorful, with chunks of beef and well cooked potatoes. The gravy was tomato and herb based. Roasted Pork was well seasoned with crispy skin and succulent fall apart meat. Chicken Fricasse was tender juicy and flavorful. Crowning meat of them all was the Goat Stew. Succulent tender pieces of goat meat fall apart in a thick gooey tomato based gravy with herbs and Latin goodness. If this dish was not made by an abuela, grandma, I would be shocked. The yellow rice, pigeon peas rice, and brown rice and beans were all soft, fluffy and flavorful. Sweet Plantains were spot on, not too ripe, not too green, just the right amount of sugar. Seafood Salad was full of plumb medium shrimp, onions, cilantro, squid, in a medley of citrus juice. The Boiled Red Beans were a treat in itself. Bursting with flavors and heartiness. Flan was delicately balanced between a sugar coma and soft fluffy sweetness. All of these goodies were washed down with traditional Latin sodas of Merengue, Raspberry, Iced Tea. Rice and Beans Cocina Latina delivers on its motto of Real Food, Simply Good. They are not trying to be a fanciful restaurant with any nouveau taste and flavors with dazzling presentation and blosterous personalities behind the food. The are simply sharing what the good honest down to earth people of Latin influences scattered across the Caribbean Islands cook at home. The vibe was welcoming, service great, food great, prices reasonable, portions not overcompensating. What else can you ask for, a wheel barrow to roll you out?
(4)Alex L.
I'm a little apprehensive about giving Cocina Latina just three stars, but since that means "A-OK," I'll go with that. After all, it was good, just not as great as I'd hoped. I think the atmosphere is what brought their score down for me. I was expecting a restaurant and not a take-out place, which is my fault. But at the same time, El Corral and other restaurant/take-out places can be nice and quiet. Rice & Beans was rather loud - both aurally and visually. The only place to sit down was outside, which was fine, but they don't have service outside. I ordered at the counter and the staff was friendly. However, their lunch special is great at around $6, but I didn't like that they kept the "LUNCH" menu out and then charged me the dinner price of $9. Overall, I enjoyed the food. It was on par with more expensive, authentic places I've been. I would give them 4 stars for takeout or lunch, but dinner felt more in the 3-star range.
(3)Anita L.
It was a little weird walking in without any directions, but it's basically in the format of a Chinese mall style pick and choose array. The portions were pretty sizeable for $8-9 a plate. The boiled yucca didn't have enough mojo in it though. I also ordered a plain mofongo (mashed plantains) to go, which was my first try. It was pretty awesome. Some parts were soft and some were crunchy (probably fried the plantains first?). I put my leftover bacalao on top, and it was awesome. Do try it!
(4)Janice C.
Since my first experience and review about Rice and Beans I've been over a dozen times. I usually try to eat here once a week during my lunch break. The first thing I've got to do is retract my comment about the emmpanadas. Yes the first time around I got an old empanada but I've never had a bad one since. They are always made fresh when I order it. I only eat the cheese empanadas and of all the empanadas I've eated in the last few years Rice and Beans do make the best ones. Its all about the queso really. You see, I've ventured to many latin food places and found a nasty dry Kraft single stuff into my alleged 'empanada'. Rice and Beans uses some kind of white, moist, salty cheese. It is emo-mazing. Esta rico! The food is always seasoned well, hot and fresh. They always have a variety of different meats (I've never eaten the meat but I can see it through the glass :) I have tried the bacalao and man oh man it was sooo friggin good. Filled with onions and peppers and that classic red color. The portion was huge for me. I usually eat 3 times from my meals there. I still stand by what I said in my previous review that this is the closest I've come to the food I can get at home. I love this spot.
(5)Sara M.
Overall: Red beans and rice didn't miss ya! The portions are huge at Rice and Beans Cocina Latina. I ordered grilled chicken with beans and rice, plantains, and red beans. The chicken was scrumptious but the beans and rice were a little dry. The sweet plantains were delish and the red beans were just OK. My boyfriend got the seafood rice which is pretty much a Puerto Rican paella. It had tilapia, shrimp and mussels. It tasted really good but there were rogue mussel shells floating around the rice. If one didn't pay attention to every bite you could chip a tooth or something. Overall it was good experience and I want to try the lunch special. I will be back.
(3)Tom X.
Good food, great price, a fast and good choice for lunch on the go. Dropped in here for lunch and wasn't sure what to expect as this style of cuisine is rather new to me. There were 3 of us so we ordered 3 lunch specials. Each came with a choice of red or black beans, your choice of type of rice, choice of meat, and a side. The meats we got were: - Stewed beef: tender, flavorful, perfectly sauced - Chicken: it was good, but nothing to rave about - Ribs: awesome, the meat was fall off the bone tender and very well sauced We all had a side of fried plantains and they were sweet and delicious. I recommend this place for a quick and cheap lunch, each entree came out to be about $8 and I had to save some for dinner b/c the portions are rather generous.
(4)Ha C.
Great price for really good food. The food is amazingly tasty. Try the pork and rice. The yuca is so delicious
(4)Tom B.
Waterford Lakes is a bit out of my way, but I was in the area today and gave this place a try. I got there just after they opened at 11:00 and there were diners already there. By the time I left, the place was nearly full. I didn't see a web site (I just submitted it to Yelp), so I didn't get to do my homework. I chose the enticing $6.89 daily special, and chose beef stew meat, yuca, yellow rice (lots of yellow rice) and black beans. I've only had yuca a couple of times before -- this was the best I think I have had. On this visit the yellow rice was a bit dry. As another reviewer mentioned, this little place is so clean and everything is in its place. It's obvious that the owners and managers take pride in their business. Had I done my homework, I would have chosen the Chivo Guisado, goat meat fricassee. Next time!
(3)Michael J.
Love the concept. They have a panda express style "pick what you want" line with your choice of 3-4 different types of rice, starches and meats. But if you really want to try something good try ordering some of their mofongos or anything from their menus that's not already on the line. You wont be disappointed.
(4)Albert V.
Great place for a quick Latin bite on the cheap.
(4)Marc V.
I was in the area and stopped into the store for lunch. You can either order directly from the counter, or a server will come to your table and take your order. The lunch special was very affordable ($6.89). It includes a main course (chicken, pork, meatballs, etc.) plus 2 servings of rice (4 varieties), choice of beans, and yucca or plantains. Food was very good and plentiful. I recommend this restaurant to everyone who wants a great meal as a great price.
(4)Kelly F.
Rice and Beans Cocina Latina is a breath of fresh air among the myriad of chain restaurants that fill both Waterford shopping plazas. If you can't tell by the name, this cute little cafe style restaurant serves Latin inspired cuisine and does a pretty good job. When you walk into the brightly lit establishment you are greeted by the pungent aroma of spices and the sound of meat searing in the kitchen. The menu features a lot of Spanish and Latin cuisine staples like maduros, yucca, black beans and yellow rice, chicken and pork...all of which taste amazing. The portions are huge and everything tastes good with the exception of the yucca and chicken which needed some salt to perk it up a bit. The cafe con leche is a good choice for a drink, but if you're not a fan of strong coffee steer clear of this. The servers are your typical teenagers working to earn some extra spending money, but they weren't bad at all. Our waitress in particular was good about keeping our drinks full and keeping us updated on our food. However, their constantly yelling to each other in Spanglish was kind of distracting at times. Prices are average and affordable for the most part. This place is a nice change from the usual places in Waterford and is the only one of it's kind...so far anyway.
(4)Keelan P.
Great place. Everything was excellent and the people behind the counter SO nice. If I lived on this side of town I would eat here regularly. Alas I don't. But I'll definitely eat here whenever I'm in the area
(4)Tony H.
excellent Cuban food! Place was clean the food was fresh and the service was outstanding. Priced very reasonably.
(5)Daniel H.
Yellow rice, pork and sweet plantains. Pork was great. Really wish they had fried plantains. A little disorganized but very much worth the trip.
(4)Sandra E.
Delicious. Highly recommend. Always fresh food. They r very friendly. And It's very healthily food!
(4)Michael W.
Their combo meal is GREAT! Huge portions! You get a choice of meat prepared in different sauces, two different rices, a side, choice of beans and a side salad all for around $7! The staff is very warm and friendly! They also have empanadas that are ready to go as well as a full menu if nothing on their combination platter entices you. It's a well priced, quick, filling meal that will leave you saying YAY RICE AND BEANS!
(4)Emmanuel S.
This place is very good. First time I came I had the red snapper...OMG!! SO GOOD!! Next I had a cuban sandwich...nothing out of the ordinary...the way it should be. Last time I wasn't super hungry so I ordered some croquettes, arroz moro, and this badass mango shake! The staff is really nice and treat you like family. It get's crowded for lunch and dinner and the place is kinda small. Overall, this gets an A!
(4)R R.
Not a Latin food expert but this place has GREAT tasting food. The staff was very friendly and helpful. If you want authentic Latin food try this place.
(5)Reed B.
I'm in Miami! Well...not really... but this is as close as you will come to the flavors of South Florida in Orlando. I stopped by and had the lunch special. BBQ (really Mojo) Chicken, beans and rice, sweet plantains. All friggin delicious. The biggest plus to this location is really the flavors - they are all spot on and very obvious. This is not the place to go if you want flavorless black beans and rice. Price is good and the tres leches cake I had was the best I have found in the area. One other thing I like is how clean this place is... as in SPOTLESS. Disposable gloves are changed after every customer and the restroom looks like it has never been touched. The one weird thing service wise is how you order and get your food cafeteria style then sit down and have a waitress get your drink order. Felt like a slightly akward process (be either self serve or full serve!) but the warm server made up for it with her great attitude. This really is a gem of a place - try it... you won't regret it.
(5)JR R.
In Puerto Rico they call this "Comida Criolla" The great reviews here led me to try this place and I was not at all disappointed. The lunch special was just shy of seven bucks and there was enough food for my wife and I to share. We had the lechon (pork), yellow rice, red beans, and sweet bananas. The pork was fall apart tender and seasoned to perfection. The rice and beans were like gramma used to make. I finished the meal off with a Cafe con Leche and was extremely satisfied with the food, the service, and the price. ----------- Tip: You walk in and order from the "buffet" table. You grab your food and then grab a seat. They come to your table, get your drink order, and then you pay at the end of the meal. Slightly weird, but the food is worth it.
(5)Lisa C.
I'm always excited about heading over to Rice and Beans for lunch, because the price is great and the food is delicious, not to mention how nice the staff is. I felt a little apprehensive the first time I walked in because I don't know very much Spanish and haven't tried too much Latin food, but everyone was really helpful, letting me try samples of some of the stuff I'd never had before like the cassava and giving me suggestions. I had the roasted pork with black beans, rice, and sweet plantains, and it was delicious, although the pork was just a little on the greasy side. It's still an amazing value and extremely flavorful, so I'm not going to complain too much. This is definitely one of the restaurants I don't mind going back to again and again.
(4)Ricardo R.
My Wife and I went to Rice and Beans, right around Noon for lunch. This as an interesting experience for me because it was the first time I went to a place that was Half table service and Half window. The decor was very nice, it was smaller than I thought it would be though. We ordered the Lunch Specials, I had the Pork, Rice (they have a variety to choose from), Red Beans and Plantains. My Wife had the Stewed Beef, Rice, Plantains, a salad and potato ball (I'm going to have to learn the Spanish/Proper names for these things soon....). We sat after we ordered the food and a server took our drink order, (They have fountain drinks as well as bottled), and brought our food. She was nice enough, very little as far personality. But nice enough. OK, now the portions are very good, and the food tasted, DELICOUSIOSIOUS(?Did I spell that wrong? LOL.) I have to say the pork was so good, it surprised me. Moist, tender seasoned very well. The rice was very good also. I tasted my wife's beef stew and it also was seasoned very good, nothing over powering, as is the like at most ethnic locales. All in all, we spent around $24.00, which is what we would have spent for the same lunch at my other fav Latin food locale, soooooo...... I'll say I am a fan. We will be back again very soon to try some of the other dishes as well.
(4)Matt G.
Great food, feels like the real thing.
(5)Bettina T.
I had lunch here with my sister the other day and needless to say we were looking for a place with big portions at a low cost. We decided to step into Rice and beans and got what we wanted. We shared 1 combo lunch which was plenty of food for two. The rice and beans were delicious the beef was okay and the yuca was alright. I still think Lechonera Latina is better though.
(4)Steve S.
ALWAYS delicious!!! Their Pernil and Mufongo are simply perfect.
(5)Will H.
You get loads if food for super cheap. More authentic than most places.
(5)Edith O.
Always an enjoyable experience here. Great for both dine in & out. Everything has great flavor, the meats are super tender, and the portions are huge. Overall a great deal.
(3)Robin C.
I've experienced a number of mediocre restaurants here in Central Florida, as well as some pretty good ones. Rice and Beans, however hits the trifecta for me: The food is delicious (and what I assume is authentic), the prices are super affordable for the amount you get, and it has always been convenient to go from parking to stuffing my face. It's a little confusing when you first get there, though. We've always ordered the Lunch/Dinner Special which is your choice of rice (white, yellow, etc.), a meat (different variations of chicken, beef or pork), a side (plantains or yucca), a cup of beans (black or red!), and a side salad. If you are going to have that special, you should first go to the counter on the left and let them know which items you want. They'll put the plate on the counter, then get your salad and place it next to that . Then, you take your food over to a table and they'll bring your drinks over to you if you asked for any. The waitress will take your payment from you at the table. Some of the meats I've seen have been beef brisket, stewed beef with potatoes, chicken thighs and legs, pulled(?) pork. Every one that I've tried has been full of flavor and surprisingly good for having been pre-made. I love that they actually have red beans, though one time they were actually pinto and not kidney beans, but the sauce was still incredible. The side salad is pretty standard, but served in a too-small bowl, so it's difficult to eat without losing some to the table. We've only ever gotten the house salad, but I think they may also offer a macaroni salad. The entire meal is a hearty portion, so big eaters like myself will be very satisfied. If you've ever enjoyed Pollo Tropical, you owe it to yourself to check this place out, especially since the price is very comparable. Can you tell that I want this place to do well?
(5)Mike S.
Delicious! I was in Orlando for the weekend, and was at the Waterford Lakes shopping area looking for lunch. I didn't want to eat at a typical chain place, so I looked to Yelp and found this place. Amazing food with great prices.I had the special with roast pork, black beans, yellow rice, and yucca. My mom had the roast chicken, white rice, black beans, and plantains. Both of my kids had grilled chicken sandwiches (I couldn't convince them to try the special). My 9 year old son said "it was the best sandwich ever." My mom and I both cleaned our plates and were full. Total bill was about $30 (we all drank tap water). Authentic food, great prices, and friendly service. I will definitely come back the next time I'm in the area!
(5)Jussi D.
The portions are big, and the lunch special price is great at $6.95! In my few visits, I've enjoyed the pork, chicken, and even the Puerto Rican sheperd's pie! -- Not sure if that was really the name, or just the explanation they give to gringos. The yellow rice, red beans, plantains, and yucca are all very tasty as well. I still need to try the empanadas... Recommended!
(4)Sasha M.
Everything about this restaurant is perfect! The price is very cheap and reasonable The staff very friendly, polite, and concerning The food flavorful, fresh, delicious! I have yet to find another restaurant that can compare with Rice & Beans. The manager is exceptional and its obvious that this restaurant for her is her passion which is why it has been so successful. She has done an amazing job providing good quality food despite the other competition. I have brought many friends, and family to this location and have yet to hear a negative comment about any of Rice & Beans menu items. I am waiting for the day the this restaurant begins to branch out and we have several locations. I have moved away from Orlando but this is the only place I miss!
(5)Jerry R.
Really tasty food and a good portion. Nice and clean looking place with a good variety. Staff was friendly. A very nice alternative to fast food. We got our meals to go.
(4)Joe K.
Food is great and very tasty! Price is pretty cheap for the amount of food you get. I would suggest trying this place out for lunch as they have absolutely great lunch specials. For those who are into hispanic foods this place will appease most yearnings. Of course it can't beat the real thing but this place comes pretty close!
(4)Dave M.
Love this place. Clean and food is nice and hot. I've eaton there several times and never been disappointed. Empanadas rock.
(4)Howard L.
The slow cooked pork was some of the juiciest and most tender pork that I've had. Could have used a little more flavor but not going to complain, it was pretty damn good. Unfortunately the rice was dry, which was expected for being in open air on steam-tables all day. A friend had the chicken thigh and that was pretty good also. Price was very cheap for what it was and how it tasted overall but far from 5 stars. Overall good, but not a favorite in my book
(3)