I called to ask what time they close and the lady told me 8 so I drove 45 minutes arrived at 7:20 and they were already closed. Terrible.
Maria Roman
Empanada almost $4 with not even a spoon of beef, alcapurria tasted like a quipe, I ordered a pastrami sandwich and ate it right away and it was so soggy, ordered bacalaitos it didn’t taste like anything but oil. I used to love their natural juices and this time they were watered down. If you really want puertorrican food this is not the place. Horrible.!!!!!!
Food: 1
Xenia Murray
The food is always good. Best Puerto Rican food I have found in Charlotte so far. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Churasco Con Arroz Blanco Y Frijoles, Plaintain Basket Filled with Seafood, Flan, Empanadas, Typical PR Plate Plato Tipico, Sancocho Puerto Rican Beef Soup, Grilled Chicken Plate, Tostones Con Pulpo
Tish S
Gross!! I ate nothing off my plate. I ordered pernil (roast pork) and it legitimately smelled like old feet. I took one small bite and that wad it. We got there when they first opened that day and I could tell the food was not fresh. It was really gross. The tostones were so greasy and mushy (probably microwaved). There was a couple next to us and the gentleman ordered the exact same thing I did, and he also left his plate completely untouched. We both looked at each other, and he remarked me that the food was really gross. His wife, then took a taste, and she also concurred that the food was disgusting. I can’t imagine anyone eating here and thinking it’s good. Btw I’m Puerto Rican and have eaten this food my entire life.,, this was gross.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 5
Priscilla Perez
Food was too salty.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Zion Farrar
This place is definitely the place to go for authentic Puerto Rican foods! Food was hot, fresh, & full of flavor. Reminded me of my favorites back home including the cola champagne. We will be back with the rest of the family.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Empanadas
Rick Cornick
Best Spanish food I've had out side of the Bronx. Definitely the best in Charlotte.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Cesar Montalvo
As a native Puerto Rican, anytime I get a chance to eat food from home, I take it. That being said, I think El Cilantro has good food at an OK value.The dining room could use a refresh, as the wobbly tables and worn chairs give a not so great first impression. The food however was good, and I would say tasted just like home. The waitress that helped us was friendly.I noticed that their online menu did not match up with the menu we were ordering from, which caused some confusion as their POS was matched to the online menu.Since they did not have a soda fountain, drinks were served in the cans and if you wanted a refill, you were purchasing another drink at full price.Will I come back, sure! Only because this type of food is not as common in the area.
Recommended dishes: Flan, Empanadas, Steak and Onions, Sancocho
Michael Vasquez
Great tasting Hispanic food is hard to come by in the Charlotte area, but today we discovered a hidden gem. The cuisine in the Puerto Rican manner was excellent. Steak and onions, served with white rice, black beans, and either tostones or maduros, is always my go-to dinner. I got to try the mofongo as well, and it was delicious. The staff was really helpful and kind as they went over the menu and suggested things. Strongly suggested if you're in the Matthews, Mint Hill, or Charlotte region. Will most definitely return soon! Five stars all around.
Las alcapurias ,empanadas & de relleno de papa were good trifongo also good but my biggest disappointment was my food not arriving to the table hot hot like it was just made & the rice & gandules with no flavor being a Puerto Rican restaurant you have to make great Puerto Rican rice con gandules with great flavor with sofrito & recaito but it lacked on flavor and I recommend them to use short grain Rico or Goya rice the real Spanish brand to have authentic Puerto Rican food to impress clients with our Puerto Rican food flavors I will give them another try since I enjoyed their appetizers & try other things on the menu & the lady was very nice and yes it’s pricey for the quality that they’re putting out at the moment
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Norma
This restaurant has great tasting food!Unfortunately...there is not enough staff to bring this place to the heights it deserve.Although short staffed, wonderful dishes are coming out of the kitchen making me overlook the service being slow. Others may not.Is there not anyone out there who would bring their gift of service to others to rise this restaurant to live up to the authenticity of its great island food?
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Diana Rivera
Bad customer service, it is not clean and they also served me some potatoes that were damaged and it is also expensive for food that is not good, I do not recommend it. Nice photos on the internet but there is nothing even close to that, they serve you very little and it doesn't taste good, I don't recommend it apart from being very expensive!
I called to ask what time they close and the lady told me 8 so I drove 45 minutes arrived at 7:20 and they were already closed. Terrible.
Empanada almost $4 with not even a spoon of beef, alcapurria tasted like a quipe, I ordered a pastrami sandwich and ate it right away and it was so soggy, ordered bacalaitos it didn’t taste like anything but oil. I used to love their natural juices and this time they were watered down. If you really want puertorrican food this is not the place. Horrible.!!!!!!
Food: 1
The food is always good. Best Puerto Rican food I have found in Charlotte so far. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Churasco Con Arroz Blanco Y Frijoles, Plaintain Basket Filled with Seafood, Flan, Empanadas, Typical PR Plate Plato Tipico, Sancocho Puerto Rican Beef Soup, Grilled Chicken Plate, Tostones Con Pulpo
Gross!! I ate nothing off my plate. I ordered pernil (roast pork) and it legitimately smelled like old feet. I took one small bite and that wad it. We got there when they first opened that day and I could tell the food was not fresh. It was really gross. The tostones were so greasy and mushy (probably microwaved). There was a couple next to us and the gentleman ordered the exact same thing I did, and he also left his plate completely untouched. We both looked at each other, and he remarked me that the food was really gross. His wife, then took a taste, and she also concurred that the food was disgusting. I can’t imagine anyone eating here and thinking it’s good. Btw I’m Puerto Rican and have eaten this food my entire life.,, this was gross.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 5
Food was too salty.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
This place is definitely the place to go for authentic Puerto Rican foods! Food was hot, fresh, & full of flavor. Reminded me of my favorites back home including the cola champagne. We will be back with the rest of the family.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Empanadas
Best Spanish food I've had out side of the Bronx. Definitely the best in Charlotte.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
As a native Puerto Rican, anytime I get a chance to eat food from home, I take it. That being said, I think El Cilantro has good food at an OK value.The dining room could use a refresh, as the wobbly tables and worn chairs give a not so great first impression. The food however was good, and I would say tasted just like home. The waitress that helped us was friendly.I noticed that their online menu did not match up with the menu we were ordering from, which caused some confusion as their POS was matched to the online menu.Since they did not have a soda fountain, drinks were served in the cans and if you wanted a refill, you were purchasing another drink at full price.Will I come back, sure! Only because this type of food is not as common in the area.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Porcion Mofongo, Typical PR Plate Plato Tipico, Steak, Alcapurrias, Grilled Chicken Plate
Great tasting, affordable n convenient location.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Flan, Empanadas, Steak and Onions, Sancocho
Great tasting Hispanic food is hard to come by in the Charlotte area, but today we discovered a hidden gem. The cuisine in the Puerto Rican manner was excellent. Steak and onions, served with white rice, black beans, and either tostones or maduros, is always my go-to dinner. I got to try the mofongo as well, and it was delicious. The staff was really helpful and kind as they went over the menu and suggested things. Strongly suggested if you're in the Matthews, Mint Hill, or Charlotte region. Will most definitely return soon! Five stars all around.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Real puertorican food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Typical PR Plate Plato Tipico, Empanadas
Las alcapurias ,empanadas & de relleno de papa were good trifongo also good but my biggest disappointment was my food not arriving to the table hot hot like it was just made & the rice & gandules with no flavor being a Puerto Rican restaurant you have to make great Puerto Rican rice con gandules with great flavor with sofrito & recaito but it lacked on flavor and I recommend them to use short grain Rico or Goya rice the real Spanish brand to have authentic Puerto Rican food to impress clients with our Puerto Rican food flavors I will give them another try since I enjoyed their appetizers & try other things on the menu & the lady was very nice and yes it’s pricey for the quality that they’re putting out at the moment
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
This restaurant has great tasting food!Unfortunately...there is not enough staff to bring this place to the heights it deserve.Although short staffed, wonderful dishes are coming out of the kitchen making me overlook the service being slow. Others may not.Is there not anyone out there who would bring their gift of service to others to rise this restaurant to live up to the authenticity of its great island food?
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Bad customer service, it is not clean and they also served me some potatoes that were damaged and it is also expensive for food that is not good, I do not recommend it. Nice photos on the internet but there is nothing even close to that, they serve you very little and it doesn't taste good, I don't recommend it apart from being very expensive!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Highly recommended them ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5