East Harlem Guidebook
City/town information
New York
Neighborhoods
East Harlem
Food scene
Patsy's Pizzeria
2287 1st Ave.Ricardo
2145 2nd AveJuice Max LLC
2172 2nd AvenueLa Tropezienne Bakery
2131 1st Ave.Dear Mama Coffee
308 E 109th StTaco Mix
234 E 116th StPrime One 16
2257 1st Ave.Brother’s bakery Café
2155 2nd AveServing up authentic Dominican comfort food and musical vibes to match, this Dominican-owned eatery buzzes as customers wait for their tables; the indoor-outdoor seating area is filled with eye-catching colors, murals and hanging vines. Try the empanada trio (beef, chicken and cheese), chicharron de pollo (fried chicken chunks) and broccoli and cheese bites served with kashumayo (a ketchup-and-mayo blend). For your main course, opt for the rabbo (oxtails) with coconut rice moro or the skirt steak churrasco with white rice and beans. Don’t forget to order a side of fried plantains: either tostones (green) or maduros (sweet). Santiago’s offers a $20 bottomless mimosa or bellini special seven days a week from 11am to 4pm (read that again and then grab your purse).
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Santiago’s Beer Garden
2337 1st Ave.Serving up authentic Dominican comfort food and musical vibes to match, this Dominican-owned eatery buzzes as customers wait for their tables; the indoor-outdoor seating area is filled with eye-catching colors, murals and hanging vines. Try the empanada trio (beef, chicken and cheese), chicharron de pollo (fried chicken chunks) and broccoli and cheese bites served with kashumayo (a ketchup-and-mayo blend). For your main course, opt for the rabbo (oxtails) with coconut rice moro or the skirt steak churrasco with white rice and beans. Don’t forget to order a side of fried plantains: either tostones (green) or maduros (sweet). Santiago’s offers a $20 bottomless mimosa or bellini special seven days a week from 11am to 4pm (read that again and then grab your purse).
La Fonda on East 106th Street, where they’ve been cooking up delicious Puerto Rican food for over 25 years. Start your meal with the montaditos appetizer: crispy fried plantains topped with either garlic shrimp or fresh octopus salad. Follow it with a plate of La Fonda’s classic bistec encebollado, a pan-fried steak topped with caramelized sauteed onions and served with a side of rice and beans.
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La Fonda Boricua
169 E 106th StLa Fonda on East 106th Street, where they’ve been cooking up delicious Puerto Rican food for over 25 years. Start your meal with the montaditos appetizer: crispy fried plantains topped with either garlic shrimp or fresh octopus salad. Follow it with a plate of La Fonda’s classic bistec encebollado, a pan-fried steak topped with caramelized sauteed onions and served with a side of rice and beans.
El Kallejon is a local favorite for its authentic Mexican decor, amazing service and cute back area that you can check out if you ask nicely. Their sophisticated cocktail and food menu will transport you. Try the Dulce Kamila, a tequila-based cocktail infused with orange liqueur, hibiscus flower, rose petal and lime, and accompany it with a Oaxaca-style fundido. Follow with tacos del barrio (Mexico City style) filled with crispy fish, cabbage and refried beans or their taco of the day. Finish with a wood-oven flatbread (cocas del Kallejon) and homemade sodas—flavors include tropical passion habanero, passion ginger and tamarindo.
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El Kallejon
209 E 117th StEl Kallejon is a local favorite for its authentic Mexican decor, amazing service and cute back area that you can check out if you ask nicely. Their sophisticated cocktail and food menu will transport you. Try the Dulce Kamila, a tequila-based cocktail infused with orange liqueur, hibiscus flower, rose petal and lime, and accompany it with a Oaxaca-style fundido. Follow with tacos del barrio (Mexico City style) filled with crispy fish, cabbage and refried beans or their taco of the day. Finish with a wood-oven flatbread (cocas del Kallejon) and homemade sodas—flavors include tropical passion habanero, passion ginger and tamarindo.
Chef Julian Hoyos and his family opened this restaurant, named after a small farm village in their native Puebla, Mexico. Hoyos’ wife is his sous chef and his three daughters run the restaurant floor. Serving abuelita french toast with fresh berries, tres leches pancakes, chilaquiles de Puebla and Cascalote Benedicto (crab cakes topped with adobo hollandaise), it has a well-rounded menu for morning meals. Make sure to try their Brazilian cheese bread, chorizo brussels sprouts and candied bacon.
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Cascalote
2126 2nd AveChef Julian Hoyos and his family opened this restaurant, named after a small farm village in their native Puebla, Mexico. Hoyos’ wife is his sous chef and his three daughters run the restaurant floor. Serving abuelita french toast with fresh berries, tres leches pancakes, chilaquiles de Puebla and Cascalote Benedicto (crab cakes topped with adobo hollandaise), it has a well-rounded menu for morning meals. Make sure to try their Brazilian cheese bread, chorizo brussels sprouts and candied bacon.
For authentic birria tacos, head over to Ollin. The star of the dish is consomé, a stew made of beef or goat braised with chiles and spices and topped with cilantro. For birria tacos, the tortillas are dipped into consomé, placed on a griddle and topped with shredded cheese before being filled with tender beef of pork. Folded and grilled again, they are topped with more cheese, cilantro and served with lime and a cup of consomé for dipping. Ollin also serves up birria versions of fries, enchiladas, ramen and chilaquiles.
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Ollin
339 E 108th StFor authentic birria tacos, head over to Ollin. The star of the dish is consomé, a stew made of beef or goat braised with chiles and spices and topped with cilantro. For birria tacos, the tortillas are dipped into consomé, placed on a griddle and topped with shredded cheese before being filled with tender beef of pork. Folded and grilled again, they are topped with more cheese, cilantro and served with lime and a cup of consomé for dipping. Ollin also serves up birria versions of fries, enchiladas, ramen and chilaquiles.
Quesadillas Doña Maty
228 E 116th StSightseeing
running track and swimming pool located within. Theres a small bridge that crosses over FDR onto the hudson river pier which is highly suggested for a nice run. It leads onto a bridge on 96st that connects to Randalls Island
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Πάρκο Τόμας Τζέφερσον
2180 1st Ave.running track and swimming pool located within. Theres a small bridge that crosses over FDR onto the hudson river pier which is highly suggested for a nice run. It leads onto a bridge on 96st that connects to Randalls Island
Bobby Wagner Walk
Bobby Wagner WalkLocated on the northern end of Fifth Avenue’s Museum Mile, El Museo celebrates the landscape of Latin American and Caribbean culture. Its current showcase, Estamos Bien, is the museum’s triennial and its largest-ever survey of contemporary Latinx art. More than 40 artists from the US and Puerto Rico are represented, including Lucia Hierro, Patrick Martinez and Dominique Duroseau. Entry is timed, so reserve your tickets online prior to heading over.
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El Museo del Barrio
1230 5th AveLocated on the northern end of Fifth Avenue’s Museum Mile, El Museo celebrates the landscape of Latin American and Caribbean culture. Its current showcase, Estamos Bien, is the museum’s triennial and its largest-ever survey of contemporary Latinx art. More than 40 artists from the US and Puerto Rico are represented, including Lucia Hierro, Patrick Martinez and Dominique Duroseau. Entry is timed, so reserve your tickets online prior to heading over.
Located in the Jackie Robinson Playground , the Graffiti Hall of Fame honors the art form that bubbled up in New York City in the late 1960s and ’70s with a rotating exhibit by a who’s who of street artists. More than 20 pieces typically adorn the walls, complementing the work in the rest of the neighborhood, like the The Spirit of East Harlem mural on the corner of Lexington Avenue and East 104th Street
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Graffiti Hall of Fame
Park AvenueLocated in the Jackie Robinson Playground , the Graffiti Hall of Fame honors the art form that bubbled up in New York City in the late 1960s and ’70s with a rotating exhibit by a who’s who of street artists. More than 20 pieces typically adorn the walls, complementing the work in the rest of the neighborhood, like the The Spirit of East Harlem mural on the corner of Lexington Avenue and East 104th Street
The Crack Is Wack mural was erected by Keith Haring in 1986 during a time when drugs and poverty plagued the local community. Painted on the wall of the park’s handball court, the artwork continues to be maintained by the Keith Haring Foundation and was restored in 2019.
Crack Is Wack Playground
Harlem River DriveThe Crack Is Wack mural was erected by Keith Haring in 1986 during a time when drugs and poverty plagued the local community. Painted on the wall of the park’s handball court, the artwork continues to be maintained by the Keith Haring Foundation and was restored in 2019.
During the neighborhood’s transition from Italian to Spanish Harlem, this market became a cultural anchor for Latinos and Caribbeans from Harlem and the South Bronx looking to purchase goods from back home. Inside you’ll find kiosks such as Sprinkle Splash Sweet Shoppe and Mama Grace’s Afro Caribbean Food. Walk toward Park Avenue and 116th Street to find the Urban Garden Center, a neighborhood plant nursery and gardening resource open year-round.
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La Marqueta
1590 Park AveDuring the neighborhood’s transition from Italian to Spanish Harlem, this market became a cultural anchor for Latinos and Caribbeans from Harlem and the South Bronx looking to purchase goods from back home. Inside you’ll find kiosks such as Sprinkle Splash Sweet Shoppe and Mama Grace’s Afro Caribbean Food. Walk toward Park Avenue and 116th Street to find the Urban Garden Center, a neighborhood plant nursery and gardening resource open year-round.
Randalls and Wards Islands