Midtown Lunch

A few months ago, some awesome Midtown Lunch Reader (I can’t remember which one, sorry!) mentioned in the comments that there was Dominican food to be found inside a deli on South Street. There are few things I like more than good food in unexpected places. Which is why it kept *eating* at me that I had yet to make it over there to see for myself. But I finally got there, guys!

The deli, located next to Lazaro’s Pizza close to 18th Street, looks completely #basic. Head past the chips towards the back counter where they make breakfast and sandwiches. One small sign taped to the Plexiglas explains that Dominican platters are cooked daily. Since most Dominican food in Philly is north of Center City, this is an excitingly convenient find.

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Empanadas Rosario is a Dominican take out window in North Philly serving cheap Dominican snacks, sandwiches, stews, and rotisserie chicken.  I noticed it as I walked by when I visited Tierra Colombiana, because anything with the word empanda in the name is going to catch my eye.  Alas it was closed, so I promised myself I would come back.

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Did you miss me? I just spend the past few days in San Antonio, visiting a friend and eating bbq and kolaches, but I am back to share this new place that is bringing us Dominican food without the visit North Philly.  Parada Maimon opened a few months ago in the Callowhill area (right above Chinatown)- serving Dominican food in a festive setting. All of the unexpected wood reminded me of Uncle’s Backyard last weekend. And according to my Dominican friend, the paintings on the wall are exactly what you would find at a home in the D.R (something about a child picking at her feet in a field).

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At the end of November, a Latin American/Caribbean casual dining restaurant opened on South Street. Latin Flavor serves Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican food. This news peaked my taste bud’s interests because most Caribbean restaurants we have to work with in Philly are either fancy or super far from Center City.  I wondered if this spot could stand up to the amazing Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican food I have tried up in North Philly: Isla Nena, El Principe, El Lechonera Principe, Cibao, El Rey de Fritura, Shining Star, Porky’s Point, and Freddy and Tony’s. Looking back at those reviews, I can only grimace with pride about how much fatty pork I have already consumed in my lifetime. Time for more. Because we all know that the “Latin Flavor” is often fatty, delicious pork.

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Great pork is worth traveling for. If I were Game of Thrones royalty, that would be the motto of my House. Dominican cuisine knows how to treat pork and Philly has some great Dominican kitchens. Like Bran searching for my three eyed raven, I trekked all the way up to Frankford and Ontario in the hopes of finding some crispy skinned pork somewhere new.

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You are going to have to deal with the crappy pictures in exchange for this awesome story of adventure dining. While driving around in North Philly, we saw a sign letting us know that the tiny storefront held “El Rey de Fritura (king of fried things).” Having already had a great experience with another Rey, we poked our heads in. Inside we found out there were no menus and no people who spoke English. It was going to be an interesting meal.

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No profile volunteers for today (email me slackers! the people want to know what you eat. jamie@midtownlunch.com), so I will instead share my awesome pork experience from when I snuck away to Puerto Plata last week.

On my way from the airport I asked my taxi driver the most important question, “Donde podemos comer lechon asado? Where can we eat roast pork?” He responded, “En todos partes! Everywhere!” That is my kind of country.

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