Latin American Cheap Eats in Providence Area

[Chris Amirault]

As most know, there are a huge number of folks in Providence RI who hail from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Mexico. I've been slowly trying this and that throughout the city for years, and I've got a short list of places we'll hit:

Carolina's on Broad St for most beans, rice, and meat dishes;

Chilango's on Manton Ave (at Atwells Ave) for suadero, chorizo, and other soft tacos;

Sonrisa on Cranston St for chicharones tacos;

La Arepa on Smithfield Ave in Pawtucket for their pabellon arepas.

There are dozens of places and thousands of dishes that I haven't tried, though, so what else is out there, and what do you get? For example, we've struck out at Mi Guatemala a few times, but I think it's an ordering problem more than anything else.

[newsbabe]

I just wanted to throw a ditto onto the La Arepa place. My those things are good!

[Chris Amirault]

It's a true fact. You need to be sure to order extra salsa for a quarter, though, so you have two of those dinky containers for your arepa. That stuff's magic.

[Chris Amirault]

Went to the much-bally-hooed La Lupita tonight and got a variety of things. Not bad, but not good: decent carnitas tacos, but just ok pastor; Maseca tamales with too much baking soda in the dough. Black instead of pinto beans, canned salsas and pickles.

We were there because Chilango's closes for Wednesdays. I guess we'll eat Mexican out on non-Wednesdays only.

[Chris Amirault]

Just back from Sanchez Market on Atwells at Academy, where in the back of the store you can order outstanding barbacoa soft tacos made from tortillas hot from the back. Two of those and a Jarritos naranja soda: $4. Best lunch in Providence.