Tina's Cuban Cuisine Reviews

Delicious Cuban food with big portions. You walk by the take out counter to get to the seating area and you can see what everything looks like. Menu is easy even if you speak no Spanish. Very casual but servers didn't rush us at all.

I spent a few days in my firm’s New York City office, and Tina’s is very close by. A co-worker recommended it, and I’m glad he did! I had the shredded pork, plantains, and beans & rice, and it was all very tasty! That and an individual flan for dessert was all under $20!

By far one of the tastiest places to eat! This restaurant has every Spanish restaurant beat by a long shot.

A friend and I ate here on a Friday so I was able to have the seafood soup--great flavor! Friend had roast pork special with plantains and beans--cleaned plate club! Brisk business, reasonable price, friendly service. Selections in take out section also looked good.

There is an excellent range of lunchtime specials. The pulled beef stew was well complimented by plantain and yummy beans - say no more !

I eat here every time I'm in NY. Authentic and fantastic. Huge servings, I've always had a full meal leftover. Roast pork and plantains are perfect. Inexpensive and very fast. There's no ambiance but you won't care.

When we saw first "Cubano" which is Cuban sandwich baked with butter we are doing that at our house since, spectacular

Went to pick up food for lunch. They have a daily lunch offer for $10, today it was baked salmon plus 2 sides (usually $14.25). I selected Moro (rice with beans) and Maduros (sweet plantain). good portion of salmon, smallish portion of rice (maybe because it was part of the special offer). Good flavors. Also ordered the chicken soup, which was very good. Friendly staff. Will definitely return.

We had lunch at this small crowded restaurant which provides take-out and table service. Food is brought quickly and tables turn over rapidly. I had goat stew, fried sweet plantains, and broccoli with a blackberry shake. My wife had chicken soup and fried green plantains. There were two mistakes in our order, but they were quickly corrected when we asked about them. The food was authentic, tasty, and reasonably priced.

My first time trying cuban food and it was simply great! The portions were average and the service was fast and good. Worth trying it!

At this place, you have the choice of eating "cafeteria style" or being seated and ordering. My group chose to do the latter. Choices ranged from rice and peas and maduros to grilled chicken, fried fish and steak sandwich. Everyone loved their food. My only complaint was the unavailability of the specials. They were all gone by the time we arrived. A co-worker even tried to go back another day in early afternoon and still missed out.

Delicious, authentic Cuban cuisine. I was visiting NYC and ended up ordering Tina's thanks to the recommendation of the concierge at the hotel. The guava empanadas are to die for and make sure you try their moros and fried plantains. Highly recommended!!!!

Great midtown spot to get in and out quickly. Ordered the chicken stew and loved the beans, rice and other sides. Will return ASAP to try other Cuban specialties - definitely adds flavor to a cold winter day!

For the second time I had lunch from Tina's Cuban Cuisine. It was authentic, so full of flavor. You must like your food spicy. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the price was great as well.

Tina offers a quick and typically Cuban meal with specials each day. Have a platter or sandwich. At first, I was put off by the food out in trays at a long counter. But in the back, there is table service. I was assured the food is fresh and trays are refilled often from the oven. The friendly waitress suggested the tender pulled pork with yellow rice and fried plaintains. With a soda, it cost $15 for a very filling lunch. In fact, I didn't need dinner. The food was delish. I enjoyed it listening to Cuban music and Spanish speaking counterpeople. Located in busy Madison and 34th, it's a quick and casual stop for yummy food. My only problem was that the dirty bathrooms are down a steep, cluttered staircase. Dangerous.

Tina's was fantastic, Push through the giant line for the takeaway section and make your way through to the back of the restaurant to eat in. You won't be disappointed. Their home made salsa verde is to die for... squeeze it onto a cheap and tasty empanada and you will be in heaven. We went here twice during a four day stay in New York. Will definitely go back.

My husband works near by so on occasion I would meet him here for lunch. He is here almost weekly, but for me it is a special treat. The staff knows him because he eats here often and they are always friendly & lovely. It is a female wait staff and mostly men behind the counter. You can order food at the long counter to go or dine at a table towards the back for wait service. The food here is DELICIOUS!!! Soooo flavorful and huge portions plus side dishes. The restaurant itself is just simple casual diner, nothing fancy thus not giving 5 stars, but the food is great.

I colleague of mine comes here every time he's in New York (over from London). He brought me here for lunch and recommended the roast pork, rice and beans. The food was fantastic. Tasty and a little spicy, but not too much. The restaurant interior is clean and has an honest authenticity, but I have to confess it wasn't overly inspiring. All in all, I had a very enjoyable lunch. I would not have come in here in a month of Sundays, unless I was guided here by my colleague. I owe him a debt of gratitude and intend to pay it forward when I first bring someone, when I'm on another work trip to New York!

My kids and I love Tina's food. I normally stop there after work & bring home dinner for the family. Take out service is fast & friendly. The food is always hot & fresh. We especially love the pork, roasted chicken breast, & carrots and potatoes. They also have the best rice in town. Prices are very reasonable.

We were told able this place when I asked for good Puertorican Food. Yes, I know, this place serves Cuban Food, but some of the offerings are so much like what I would get at home. The food was delicious, the service was friendly and the atmosphere is just like a bodega. We ate in. This place has both, to-go and eat in. The back of the restaurant has table service. They have specials of the day and the basic menu. We had cuban sandwich, plantains. Rice, Ropa Vieja, Beans... Delicious. The portions are good, we were able to take some to-go. We came back a second time, just because it was that good, and not pretentious.

While I love the food at this restaurant, they are way OVER PRICED and take WAY too long to deliver. However my BIGGEST complaint with this establishment is the managerial system. I ordered a sandwich that was $11.25. after delivery cost, tax and tip, the total was $16…. FOR A SANDWICH! Ok… while I accepted that…. I realized while my stomach was grumbling from hunger that it’s been an hour and a half since I ordered my EXTREMELY OVER PRICED sandwich. I called to find out where my food was and the manager told me “oh it just came upstairs” … after an hour and a half?!?! She was so RUDE! I demanded a refund and my food and she said she will not send me my food, she will only refund me. BAD BUSINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The food is amazing but the service is terrible!!!!!

Stopped in for lunch after a quick look at their menu and food. Our timing was perfect and we just beat the lunch crowd. Don't know if it is always busy but it sure was the day we were there. We couldn't have been happier with our meal, Cuban Pork Chunks which were cooked perfect for my taste with Black Beans and Rice, a Cuban Sandwich, as well Café con Leche . Nice portions, quick friendly service, big takeout business which looked to move quickly. A must for Cuban Food in the city

Great Cuban food on the go. I have never dined in the restaurant...but I can say, the food I take back to the office is fantastic. I always get the mixed black beans and rice and one of the daily meat dishes with it....make sure to get the green and white sauces - they make the meal!

Good eatery right in the heart of manhattan... the Cuban fares are great, the pork roast and banana fritters awesome. The place closes early evening which is a pity:)

Small casual spot where you order at the counter. They have eight tables in the back that you can eat inside or do takeout. Seems like they do more takeout vs eating in. Great selection of authentic Cuban food. Not fancy but doesn’t need to be. The typical Cuban foods with great vegetarian options. They made my wife a vegetarian Cubano that was fantastic. Great spot for a quick lunch in midtown.

It was a rainy afternoon on our trip to NYC. We were near Central Park and wanted to find a nearby restaurant. We found Tina's and tried it out. OH. MY. WORD. You need to go now and try their cubano! I've had several Cuban sandwiches in the past and nothing holds a candle to the cubano at Tina's. Seriously, go now! You won't regret it. They have a counter you can order as well as table service in the back.

Ladies are nice. Good food . I stopped in for some tea but ended up having the oxtail and yellow ruce. Oxtail well cooked , waitress gracious. I enjoyed the experience

Don't come here if you're looking for a fancy restaurant. But if you just want cheap, authentic Cuban fare, this place is great. Try one of the fruit shakes, put some of the spicy green sauce on your meat/shrimp/rice, and enjoy!

My husband and I went one afternoon for lunch; he is Cuban-American and I am Puerto Rican. He grew up on all this kind of food, and still to this day we enjoy dinner every week that his mother makes. She is full Cuban, straight from the island, so we definitely came in with high standards. We LOVED the food here! Even took some to go, and for my wonderful mother-in-law to enjoy. She loved it. We will return, for sure!!

TINA, TINA, TINA!!! Man this place is delicious !!! Thus far my favorite place in NYU(been here 3 weeks). It taste so much like what you will find in Northern Cuba(Florida). I order the ropa vieja(duh). The meat was juicy enough, not too much, tender. It was a lot of food too with a great price. My sides were white rice and fried yuca. The yuca was good, nothing special but I did appreciate that they were on the less greasier side than ones ive had. Definitely recommend and will be back next week probably !

delicious food, i had the baked chicken with Yuca,rice,beans, plantains. mine friend had the Veggie sandwich and also delicious. i do recommend this restaurant.

I wish I would have found this place sooner. The aroma coming out of this restaurant is amazing. There's line food where you can order meals. They also have sandwiches which is what we got. We ordered the Cuban sandwiches. They were so good. If you are eating in you can sit and order. You can pay at the table too. We thought it was more like a fast food place because of the size but they have full service. Their staff was very friendly and understanding that we didn't know what we were doing.

We visited the location on 3rd Ave. Tina’s is a small restaurant with lots of seating, to the point decor, welcoming ambiance and warm staff. Menu is simple; offers specials. Take-out available. Service timing is excellent-no waiting(food is ready upon order) Best kept secret in Manhattan.

We wanted some different food in which locals eat--no typical chain food. This busy place was excellent! I had a Cubano sandwich, my 17 year old had Goat Stew, and husband had the Ox Tail. All dishes were delicious and affordable! The long line moved quickly. Great portions, selections, and prices!

This is the kind of place you'd miss if you blinked. Very tasty Latin cuisine. A lot of the food is ready to go, kind of place you pick a main like steak or chicken then 2 sides, all the usual suspects:beans, rice, plantains, yuca(fried or boiled)! The Cuban sandwich was sooooo good, standard. Server we had was extremely attentive. Great lunch spot, seating in back, or get it to go and go sit under a tree at Central Park.

I'm new to Tina's. A friend of mine suggested it and WOW, am I glad I ate there. The food is flavorful and beautifully presented. The Cuban sandwiched are so good and fresh there's usual a line for them. The staff is friendly. The only downside is the cramped limited seating. If you come at lunchtime with a large group (preferably not too large), be ready to wait for seating. The location is very clean, including the restroom. If you haven't had Tina's, you're missing out.

I ended up here completely by accident in the middle of the afternoon. I popped inside and found a quiet dining area in the back. The choices on the menu were inexpensive and plentiful. I ordered the pernil (stewed pork) and it was nothing short of a religious experience. I chose sides of salad and rice and beans. Fortunately I tried the salsa on the table early on and found I couldn't get enough. If I lived in NY I would be back here again and again until I worked my way through the entire menu. And on top of that, with tip it was like $14 and I was stuffed to the gills. Even if you don't like Cuban food just go have a sandwich. You won't be sorry.

Great lunch spot for the business crowd with a nice selection between sandwiches or entrees/platters. Highly recommend going for the sandwiches ; Cuban sandwich is good but opt for the Fried Pork sandwich. Plantains, Onions and spicy sauce accommodate the fried pork and makes for a wonderfully tasty sandwich. Portion size is bigger than the fried pork and taste-wise, much better as well. They also have chicken sandwiches, steak sandwiches and hot food station where you order entrees/platters. Empanadas are also good. Overall, one of the better lunch spots in the neighborhood.

Authentic and bountiful servings of the best Cuban food I have had outside of Miami. A unique find in the heart of Midtown.

The food was good but not great. The empanadas had a really good taste and the fried plantains were very good. The ropa vieja was just average. I have had much better ropa at other places. My friend seemed to enjoy his cuban sandwich.

With this cold weather we found this the best little place for a quick and hot meal. It's cheap and hearty and no fuss, great stop for lunch anytime.

We were looking for a place to eat tasty when we entered there. The food looked good so we gave it a try : it was tasty especially the (green) sauce that came with it and the plantain. Not very spicy but nice ! I’d recommend ! P.S. they close at 8pm so if u order around that time be prepared to eat out..

Tina's is always packed during weekday lunch hours, simply because it has excellent food and average price in Midtown East of Manhattan. I usually be there 10-15 min before 12pm to get seats. Most other times, take out is a better option considering the crowd in small dining area and smell of other people's food. My favorite dish is fried pork sandwich. I have tried a few other things on their menu. The only dish I did not like was the oxtail: not stewed long enough & flavored well. The chicken varieties were excellent, baked, grilled, or fried. The restaurant runs daily specials if you want to save a buck or two.

Great Cuban sandwiches and tasty sides. Very low key but busy. Good location, walking distance from the park, friendly people.

Try their spicy chicken. The chicken isn't amazing or something, but the spicy sauce (with hot peppers & onions) is simply amazing.

Tiny spot but great food! The seafood with Cuban sauce was delicious. Service is very friendly and quick.

Good food, reasonable prices for location. No license, bad. You can also buy to-go. Friendly personnel.

Extremely good food at fair price. I had spicy chicken with beans and sweet plantains. My son, who has never had Cuban had shrimp in garlic sauce with Cuban rice and loved it! Tina's will be definite stop next Trip to New York! Our server was very nice too!

If you need to eat in this area, this is a good place. The cubano was perfectly adequate ( not as good in many others, but better than some) as it was toasted and the ham and roast pork were high quality. The pernil was good, not the best, but not the worst. It’s kind of fast food, but good fast food.

My mom and I were looking for lunch and stopped in here because it looked yummy. There are two locations and we ate at the one on W 45th st. We split a meal of ropa vieja and rice and beans. We also got an extra side of maduros (sweet plantains) and a tamal. It was all really good. The front of the restaurant is all take out and it was very crowded. The back has some small tables and though it was packed service is very quick and the customers were all on lunch so the tables turn over very quickly and we didn't have to wait at all for a table. Nothing fancy but great food.

Easy buffet line to walk through have em plate your items and go. Empanadas $1.99 are good. Beef Empanada has green olives. Cheese empanada is just a white cheese inside. Sweet fried plantains have a heavy batter. Cubano sandwich ok- little dry. Roasted pork - huge portions! With black beans & rice. 5 ate for $60.

When I saw this place near the work location for this biz trip & that it was packed during lunchtime, I knew it was the place to go. I was not disappointed. For a great price, I was able to get a big plate of ropa vieja, moros & cristianos & platanos fritos. It was spectacular & basically provided me with 2 meals (or at least an afternoon snack). One thing, the restaurant doesn't really have any seating, so you'll need to find a place to enjoy your tasty treat. There are, however, a quite few places in the area (courtyards, atriums) you can find some tables or a makeshift place to eat. Highly recommended!

They have a new location on 3rd avenue near 57 th that I went to. Their food is quite good and. Fairly priced. They do their best to help and have great Madurai's and dark sauce.good spot for lunch.

I ordered their deep fried fish. It melts in your mouth! And they have this avocado based sauce that is so good. They give you three choices of sides. Of course you have to get plantain. Cuban food is not complete without it :). I highly recommend this place if you want to try authentic Cuban food.

LOVE the food here...it's a busy spot at lunch and dinner and the line moves quick. Eat in or take out...both worth it.

Bummed that they've raised prices and sized down on the portion but this is the spot to satisfy my lunchtime Cuban craving . I've had the pernil and the breaded chicken, both of which are pretty good, and would get the yellow rice and maduros on the side. As expected, this is a greasy and heavy meal as I'm ready for a nap right after but never leaves you hungry. Be forewarned, this is not a place for amateurs and if you are one, you better learn quick. Know what you want as the servers work you quickly down the assembly line that can leave you feeling frazzled! :)

Consistent hearty food, and lots of it! Not the place to go if you are dieting or a vegetarian! Otherwise consistently good comfort food. The pork and fried bananas are good and the BEST hot sauce. My eyes water when I eat it but it is so good! They are pleasant fast and efficient in serving lunch.

We love Cuban food and came across Tina's it looks like a little hole in the wall with a cafeteria style set up in the front however there are tables in the back with full service. We saw the menu and affordable prices so took a seat. Pleasantly surprised it was a good meal the roasted pork was suggested by the waiter so I had that with the rice and beans and yucca. It was so large it could serve two hungry people. We also ordered the sweet and fried plantains which were both tasty. The service was fast and we left happy and full.

We loved Tina's Cuban Cuisine! We ate there before a show and the portions are large for a reasonable price. Best of all, the food is authentic Cuban food, and don't miss drenching you food in the awesome green sauce provided at every table. Waiter service in the back or take out. The roast pork was excellent along with the Cuban sandwich. Maduros were some of the best we've had! Rice and beans good too. Salad decent. Many choices on the menu too. Don't miss it.

My wife and I visited Tina's Cuban Cuisine for lunch today. We were excited to visit Tina's because of the reviews. When we got there the place was jam packed and it raised our expectations even more. Unfortunately, the food was good but not great. Maybe it's because I'm Cuban and Spanish and come from Tampa. Tina's would be a very average place to visit in Tampa. The prices we're very good especially considering we were in New York.

We stumbled on this place by accident and I'd love to have more accidents like this. The concierge at our upscale hotel had recommended a couple of snooty dining spots for us. We checked them out and found the prices were okay but the menus were pretentious and the crowd way too noisy. We nixed both and decided to punt. We walked around and spotted Tina's. We looked inside and saw it was a talk-to-the-counter kind of place. Not what we wanted. But then we noticed it had a room with table service. So in we went. Good move. As we walked to the room we passed the open prep and kitchen area and saw--and smelled--the food. Appetizing would be an understatement. We were ready for a great dinner and we weren't disappointed. The menu offered a variety of Cuban dishes. I won't tell you what we had because you shouldn't be swayed by our selections, but our dinners were delicious. (Roasted potatoes especially good.) And judging from the way the people around us were enjoying their food, they were all members of the clean-plate club. Service was quick and friendly. Prices were ridiculously reasonable. I'll bet anything the place is mobbed at lunch; if not, it should be. Keep in mind this is not a fancy restaurant. There's no ambiance. No table cloths. No huffy servers. Just great food in a relaxed atmosphere. I'm just sorry we didn't have the chance to back for another meal.

This place is good for a fast cheap lunch if you are near MOMA or the expensive Fifth Avenue stretch in the 50's. They have the best Cuban sandwich and if you want to try the more authentic CUBAN dishes, the roast pork dish is delicious. It comes withe 2 sides. My choice red beans and rice. The place has a pick up in the front of the rest and a VERY casual seating area in the back.

Tina's is a very clean and well-located restaurant in the Midtown West. If you want to taste typical cuban dishes and you do not have a lot of time, Tina's is your place! In a few minutes you can choose a lot of different dishes and a lot of drinks (special mention to these fruit milkshakes). Nevertheless, I missed a more typical cuban atmosphere for the decoration.