Restaurants, Cuban Restaurants, Latin American Restaurants, Asian Restaurants, Asian Fusion Restaurants
$, Breakfast, Cheap Eats, Family-Friendly Dining, Food Delivery, Hidden Find, Local Favorite, Lunch Spot, People Watching
Every day we serve to a very diverse ethnicity of clientele, who through our dishes, experience something that we have called "A Cuban Dining Experience", which takes them back to our roots. We were the FIRST Latino restaurant to have delivery service. The FIRST to have a variety of dishes as daily specials, plus an extensive menu full of Cuban and International dishes. First, to have a professional Catering Service that has become the most prestigious and renowned in the state of Massachusetts. El Oriental de Cuba features Cuban dishes like Ropa vieja, Rice with octopus, the authentic Cuban sandwich, delicious Cuban coffee and more. Give us a call to make your reservations, or email us, we will be happy to help you!
Visiting Jamaica Plain is a multi cultural experience. The homes are renovated versions of once a working class neighborhood. El Oriental reflects the diversity by catering to its Cuban residents.
Posted 01/31/09 | Report Abuse
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The Only Cuban food worth having in Boston...
by goddesszeppelin2
Me and my bf haunt this place as regulars almost. The food is exceptional, staff is all so friendly and knowledgable and the place is anything but stuffy and overpriced. We recommend the fried pork chops or the griled chicken plate. On that note they have the best tostones in town ( fried plantains) . The crows is very diverse and welcoming even though it can be packed. You have to try it at least once, It wont be your last... I didt even mention the Cubano sandwich because there are no words
Pros: Food, Service, BEST SHAKES with REAL fruit
Cons: parking, can get very busy at rush times
Posted 11/01/08
I'm Cuban, El Oriental isn't
by alideva
The 4.5 stars the editorial staff gace this place is grossly undeserved, but since there isn't an AUTHENTIC Cuban restaurant in the Boston area, they really don't have anything else to compare it to.
This is not the place to go if you want a Cuban Sandwich. In fact, this is not the place to you if you want Cuban anything... except the scenes on the photos on the wall.
The cooks aren't Cuban. The food is a mash-up of recipes of Latin-American origin.
Service couldn't be worse. Sorry guys. If you want good Cuban food, go to El Exquisito on Calle Ocho in Miami.
Posted 02/05/08
Terrible Octopus and inedible Famous Cuban Sandwich.
by meatfenway
I have never been in Cuba, therfore I am not sure how the octopus is cook there, but I bet it is nothing close to the huge smelly chunks of cheap and unfresh octopus tossed with rice and lots of oil I got here for $12. It was bad news and I even got intoxicated the next day. They also have "Bacalao" in the menu for Saturdays only and good luck getting that because they don't make it. My wife got the famous cuban sandwich (the specialty) and that was a disaster as well. The two "empanadas" were bad too. Maybe we did not know how to order, but I am not taking the risk going back there. Save yourself a trip !
Pros: Nothing.
Cons: Th ingredients are not fresh, no tables for one person and bad service.
Posted 06/02/07
A terrifying nightmare of poor service and mediocre food.
by elmira77
This is my first review on Citysearch. I have had Cuban food before at the excellent Cuban resaurant La Isla in Hoboken, NJ and I was prepared for more of the same when I visited El Oriental with two friends on Jan 2nd, 2007. One friend ordered a Cuban sandwich, and the other a beef and rice dish. They were both moderately satisfied with their food, but we were all appalled and insulted by the service. I ordered the vegeterian plate, which was $7 for plaintains, yellow rice, and salad. The menu said that it also included black beans, but no black beans were served. We ordered but were not served: water, coffee, dessert. Our server took our order and disappeared for the rest of the evening. No explaination or compansation was offered for the fact that more than half of our order was not served. We had to track him down to tell him to strike the omissions from our tab when we figured out that he had no intention of returning to our table that evening. Suffice it to say we were thoroughly fleeced. I suppose that El Oriental is a good choice if you happen to be on this block and absolutely must have a Cuban sandwich, but otherwise, save yourself the agony and give your money to a business that actually notices that you are patronizing it.
Cons: poor service, indifferent staff
Posted 01/04/07
Good Cuban, great food option generally
by kidray
I really appreciate this place. Again, this is a sign of the times in JP, though I know it used to be there, but this place offers yet another ethnic option for this up and coming area. The empanadas are absolutely top notch. The Cuban Sandwhich was as good as advertised and rice and beans were giving me precisely what I wanted. Decent pricing makes this an easy go to on any given night. Enjoy.
Pros: Good food at a reasonable price. Ethnic diversity a plus.
Cons: Take out was somewhat of an adventure
Posted 12/19/06
best (and only?) cuban food in boston
by nelsonsanz
i can't explain how excited i was to read that they had re-opened! the food NEVER disappoints, whether you just come in for an authentic sandwich cubano or a full-out meal, and the service is always top-notch. the new space is noticeably more elegant, but the prices stayed the same as before. the # of tables stayed the same as well, so get there early or you'll have to wait.
Pros: fantastic food, reasonable prices
Cons: no vaca frita on the menu!
Posted 11/12/06
Alot of Cuban Flair!!
by stormie2025
Before this resturant was set of fire, it was really on FIRE!! I've been eating here for years and even got a bunch of my friends hooked on this place. They have seafood dishes that make your mouth water even before you have it in front of you, like the seafood stew. It's full of fish and shellfish and the broth is to die for! This is the place to have your first real Cuban meal.
Pros: Great food for a great price. Right on the MBTA (3 buses).
Cons: No major parking
Posted 10/11/06
Excellent Value
by mille1j
Very good service and great value for good food. The Cuban sandwich is awesome.
Pros: cheap, great Cuban sandwich
Cons: hard to get to
Posted 01/09/03
Man I wish my mom could cook like this
by creepkid
This is a great place! I was fortunate enough to be with my friends(who call this a second home) on my first visit..I've been back every weekend! I love the fried yucca, plaintains(sp), and the rice(im veggie). How can plain rice taste so good??
Posted 10/19/02
