Casa Adela

Casa Adela is pretty much synonymous with NYC Puerto Rican food (and endorsed by both Fat Joe and Rosario Dawson). Come to this iconic BYOB Puerto Rican restaurant in Alphabet City for dishes like crispy-skinned rotisserie chicken, beans and rice, and fresh avocado salad. Adela Ferguson, the woman at the helm of the business since it opened in 1976, sadly passed away a couple of years ago—but the family-run place still feels as welcoming and homey as ever.

If you’re coming here for the first time, try the garlicky, piping-hot mofongo with pernil and the crispy chicharrón de pollo. Moist and filled with shredded hunks of roast pork, the mofongo is some of the best we’ve had. And it gets even better when you pour on some of the rich broth that comes on the side—which you should do liberally.

Just remember to bring cash, as Casa Adela does not accept credit cards. Also, if you’re BYOBing, hit up Discovery Wines, one of NYC’s best bottles shops, just an avenue over.

Food Rundown

Mofongo

Get your mofongo with or without a side of pernil. Whatever choice you make, there will be enough roasted pork in this dish to make it a very filling meal. The chunks of green plantains are super moist, and they taste even better when splashed with the accompanying rich sauce.

Chicharrón De Pollo

Crackly, bone-in pieces of fried chicken that benefit from a nice squeeze of lemon. Every single piece is juicy. Get an order for the table, and watch the poultry chunks disappear.

Rice & Beans

On one of our visits here, one of the servers told us she always goes with the pinto beans, and we’ve never looked back. You want them. They’re swimming in a rich thickened broth and pair nicely with mofongo when you inevitably run out of the accompanying sauce.