Every time I pass by Maria Cafe there are always 5 or 6 people hanging around, either waiting for their food or drinking some slushy thingy, or some dudes double park and waiting for their feast. Maria Café is not really a cafe, it’s a little window on the street with a 8 x 3 feet kitchen inside.

Check out the menu and you will understand why this place is always crowded. $3.50 for a sandwich (looks pretty big) that you can choose from the following styles: Cuban, Bistec (steak), chicken, roast pork or ham & cheese. Breakfasts items are mostly $2.50 that gives you bacon, fries, eggs and toast. 60 cents for a coffee. $2.50 for a freshly blended fruit slushy that have strawberry, banana and grapes in it.

The best deal here and the most delicious is their Pastelillos / Empanada. For $1 buck you can get one of the followings: Cheese, Beef, Beef & Cheese, Chicken, Chicken & Cheese or Ham & Cheese. For $1.25 you can get a Shrimp one. Our favorite here is Beef. It is very juicy and the taste is very rich, the crust is fried perfectly. It is not greasy at all because of the high turn over rate here so the food is always fresh. For 1 buck each you can’t ask for more.

If you guys happen to go there please make sure to give some love to the brown n white Pit Bull doggie at the corner bodega. That dog is so mellow and cool! Oh one tip, too bad Maria Cafe only opens for breakfast till late afternoon, but if you feel like Puerto Rican for dinner head over to Casa Adela (link: http://www.cheapassfood.com/eats/show/46) and you will be in heaven too.

New York East Village Puerto Rican