15 Best Latin American Restaurants in Hartford

“Just tried the Middletown location for the first time. I ordered to go and the food was so hot and fresh still. Everything was delicious. I will for sure be going back😊“

“Best traditional Mexican food in town. Casual confortable dinning. I’ve been to México many times and his food is way better. You can tell this guy loves cooking, you can feel at home with his food!“

“Just tried the Middletown location for the first time. I ordered to go and the food was so hot and fresh still. Everything was delicious. I will for sure be going back😊“

“Food was sooo good , great energy and customer service!“

“Through the grapevine (social media pages I follow), we heard that Chef Van Hurd from Season 6 of Hell's Kitchen was now the executive chef here at Fire By Forge! So naturally, we pulled up to check it out! (Disclaimer: Chef told me that he was so new there that his featured items hadn't hit the menu at that time. ALSO, he's been long gone from there at the time of this review.) So anyway, here's how things went! Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right in Hartford, just a little on the outskirts is this gem. It's on Broad street a little out the way and there is a very small parking lot next to the restaurant, but street parking is also available. The outside looks very well put together and rustic. Once inside the restaurant is kinda split into 2 sections. You have the main section which is nice, open with high ceilings, bright red bricks, big windows, soft leather couches and all kinds of seating arrangements. If you walk past the bar you get into a smaller section, but it's kinda like a tunnel of tables. Lol. That tunnel of tables then opens up into what almost looks like a different restaurant, but feels like a space they expanded into. So there's plenty of places to sit, though I still encourage reservations! The atmosphere was lively and full of energy. This place also lets you know that it's a cooking school too! Amateur chefs can come here to learn knife skills and cooking skills as well! (This is just a small snippet of what they do, but I encourage you to visit the businesses website to learn more about what they offer.) Service: Here's my only gripe about this place. Right online it says "Happy Hour is from 4:30 PM to 6 PM daily and 8pm-9pm, except on holidays, events, or show nights." But like, when isn't there a show or some sort of event going at at The Bushnell or some nearby theater?! You have to literally call and check with the host to see if they're doing happy hour before you come because if you THINK you're in the clear, they can just say... oh there's a show tonight so there will be no happy hour. So that bothered me. Oh well. We still dined. Now for the good stuff! Let me tell you something about Suzie Johnson! She is the bartender here and she won BARTENDER OF THE YEAR in 2024 via the Connecticut Restaurant Association! She is a TREAT! She's full of personality, knows her stuff and is just a true pleasure. Food: First off was the Up In Smoke Old Fashioned. It had great, subtle sweetness up front, warm taste from the Up & Down branded bourbon, cold, smooth, not too harsh and of course, a bit smokey. As a courtesy to guests, they're served pickled carrots as palate cleansers instead of bread, crisps or anything like that. Clever. The first small plate I got to try were the Duck Mole Wings! These are described as "5 crispy duck wings with a tequila mole barbecue sauce, served with sesame seeds and pickled onions. These certainly looked the part! These were smooth, not necessarily crispy, extremely tender, hardy and just balanced. Mole is a very ingredient-heavy sauce and these were delicious. My 2nd drink was the Ghost Rider which is Up & Down bourbon, spiced Nightrider espresso, Licor 43 and an orange twist. This had a sharp cinnamon/hazelnut/nutmeg flavor/spice-y flavor. Very good and warming as well, even though it was a little sweet. Next up was the Knife Skills Soup! This is a soup compiled by the trainees and all the vegetables they've chopped in class! How cool is that?! It was a very thick vegetable soup, hearty, salty and warm. Next up were the Tostone Nachos! These were so fantastic. The pulled pork on top was so meaty, so tender and the queso fresco was lightly cheesy adding subtle notes to the hearty pork and carb-y tostone. This was my favorite thing of the night. My last drink of the night was the Sazerac. If absinthe is in the building, I must try that restaurant's version. This one was spectacular, but could've used more rye bourbon. The last thing we had to try was their Smash“

“The food is phenomenal, cooked to order. tge staff is always welcoming. Their fresh juices are amazing. outdoor seating for warmer days. I highly recommend“

“The people are friendly and very helpful with questions about the menu items! The food here is delicious, I highly recommend eating here!

You can have Breakfast, lunch, dinner and appetizers here!

You can dine in or take out. There is plenty of parking on the street and in the lot.“

“I ordered because a coworker had an order delivered to them earlier the same day...I smelled the deliciousness through the bag, so we decided to give them a try, the customer service was great and food was full of flavor..thank you...we ordered a buffet on 11/16 at 6:30 they close at 830 food looked good still“

“Delish, always! Quick & easy online order and pick up! Love me some “Dazed & Confused!” 😋“

“Creative menu Intimate setting Intriguing location“

“If you’re looking for a true hispanic dining experience, El Gran Dominicano is the perfect place. From the moment you walk in, you’re embraced by a warm and welcoming atmosphere that reflects the joy and hospitality of hispanic culture.
The food is undoubtedly the heart of the restaurant. Every dish is bursting with flavor, made with fresh ingredients, and prepared with that homemade touch that makes it amazing. Their mofongos are spectacular, the frituras has that authentic, comforting taste, and the pernil is so fresh.
The service is exceptional. The staff is friendly, attentive, and always eager to ensure you have the best experience possible. You can tell they love what they do and genuinely appreciate every customer.
And let’s not forget the traditional music in the background, which adds the perfect final touch to an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re going for a family lunch, or a quick bite is a must-visit. Highly recommended!“

“I had their food today and it was delicious. I recommend it to you for lunch, dinner, or a party 😀“

“We love this place! Authentic Mexican food and restaurant. People usually order out so we love coming here and enjoying the place with our daughter who LOVES the food. the Young lady who owns/cooks is very nice to our family. We just love good Mexican food!“

“Best chicken I've ever had however they forgot my mashed potatoes“

“Celebrating anniversary #37 we received a gift card to this restaurant our first time and will come back. Very friendly and good food!“