- In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we've compiled a roundup of some favorite Latino-owned restaurants in the Lehigh Valley
- The eateries serve authentic dishes from Colombia, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Peru, Dominican Republic and Peru
- Whether diners are craving meat, seafood or chicken, the establishments offer something for all, including vegetarian and gluten-free items
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Buen Provecho!
Hispanic Heritage Month ends today — it runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 — and shines a light on the contributions and influence of Latinos in the United States.
So what better way to highlight that than with food?
Whether you're craving Colombian arepas or Puerto Rican guisada, there are plenty of local spots to check out in the Lehigh Valley.
Here are some of our favorites — listed by country — that dish up authentic meals.
Ecuador
Couchpota.doh: Expect long lines when you spot this Bethlehem-based food truck at festivals and events in the Valley.
Owned by William and Marylou Seixas, many of the dishes are inspired by William's family, who hail from Ambato, Ecuador.
The result: yummy food on the go that is both flavorful and marinated to perfection.
The couple also offers delivery and catering for parties and other private events.
What to try: For a quick snack, order one of their crispy and stuffed empanadas. For meat lovers, try the hearty pork plate (seasoned pork shoulder with fried egg and red onion) with Spanish rice and beans.
Delivery: Yes
Info: couchpota.doh@gmail.com, instagram.com/couchpota.doh_food_truck
Colombia
Little Cali arepa and empanada bar:
If you've never been to a Colombian bakery, it's worth a trip to this small joint located in the Stefko Boulevard Shopping Center in Bethlehem.
While they serve delicious arepas and empanadas from various regions (Bogota, Valle del Cauca), the real treat is the sweet bread that pairs well with coffee or hot cocoa.
What to try: Pandebono (Colombian gluten-free cheese bread made with cassava starch), buñuelos (Colombian cheese-based donuts fried golden and crunchy on the outside with an angel cake taste on the inside), arepa con to' (grilled corn patty stuff with chicharron, chicken and grilled ham and topped with cheese, plantains).
There are vegetarian empanadas and arepas options as well.
Delivery: No
BYOB: Yes
Info: 1806 Stefko Blvd, Bethlehem, 610-419-4060, facebook.com/littlecali7
Cuquita Restaurant:
From the antojitos (appetizers) to the main dishes, the hearty platters at Cuquita in Fountain Hill do not disappoint.
Yes, there are arepas and empanadas on the menu, but regulars swear by the platos fuerte (bigger plates) such as the pechuga encebollada (chicken breast with sautéed onions) and costilla de cerdo asada (slow-cooked pork marinated in a secret sauce).
What to try: Chef Andres Caceres whips up savory meats and seafood options, so try one of his favorites like the bistec encebollado (fried top round steak with sautéed onions and served white rice, a side of lentil beans and a salad).
Delivery: Via DoorDash
BYOB: Yes
Info: 960 Broadway, Fountain Hill, 610-868-5252, cuquitarestaurant.co
Las Orquideas 2 Colombian restaurant:
Don't be put off by this tiny, no-frills eatery in Allentown (there are about seven tables in all).
The authentic menu consists of breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes and eight varieties of sopas, or soups, which are rotated daily.
They also sell baked goods (pandebono and dulce de leche pastries).
What to try: Perfect for this time of the year; order one of the soups to pair with an empanada or salchichon con papa (a salted sausage with a potato).
Delivery: No
BYOB: Yes
Info: 446 N. Seventh St., Allentown, 610-351-9010, orderlasorquideas2colombianrestaurant.com
Tierra de Fuego: From the charming and bright decor to the friendly staff, diners will feel right at home upon entry at this Easton spot.
The menu consists of baked bread (pan de queso, pandebono) four varieties of arepas, rotating soups and big plates of authentic eats like the picada criollo (grilled steak and chicken, sausages, potatoes, pork skin, an arepa and plantains).
From the appetizers to the sides, there are also vegetarian and vegan options.
What to try: A Colombian staple, the bandeja paisa, pleases the palette (expect to be full!). The must-try traditional Colombian dish comes with rice, beans, maduros (sweet fried plantain), arepa (corn patty), chicharrón (fried pork), chorizo, beef, fried egg and avocado.
Delivery: Via DoorDash
BYOB: Yes
Info: 612 Northampton St, Easton, 610-829-2700, facebook.com/TierradeFuegoEaston/
Dominican Republic
Las Palmas: While you may just opt for takeout (as most do), this bustling Allentown eatery is known to serve some of the best sandwiches around (even better, they're all less than $10).
There are also several different types of pastelillos, or empanadas and common dishes like chuleta empanizada (breaded pork) and rabo guisado (ox stew).
What to try: The bistec (steak) sandwich or the sancocho, a Dominican stew made with meat, vegetables, yuca and platanos (available on Fridays only).
Delivery: No
BYOB: Yes
Info: 959 W. Turner St., Allentown, 610-437-1680
Mar & Tierra: This popular Allentown spot offers some ambiance and serves authentic Dominican food with a modern twist including 10 different types of mofongo, a custom recipe that consists of mashed plantains, a garlic paste and crispy pork skin.
There are also lunch specials like the popular pollo a horno (chicken with rice and beans) and pernil (pulled pork with rice).
What to try: Take a bite out of the queso or seafood mofongo made with lobster and shrimp.
Delivery: Via Grubhub
BYOB: Yes
Info: 760 Hanover Ave., Allentown, 484-221-8022, marytierrarest.com
El Paraiso Spanish Restaurant: This Allentown neighborhood joint, known for its chicken dishes, serves breakfast and lunch sandwiches, plus takeout.
For quick bites, there are also beef, chicken, veggie empanadas and papa rellanos (a fried potato ball with meat).
What to try: The penchuga a la plancha (grilled chicken breast) comes with rice and a choice of side (plantains or fries).
Delivery: Via Grubhub
BYOB: Yes
Info: 502 W Gordon St., Allentown, 484-350-3058
Mexico
Aqui es: A Taste of Mexico: This award-winning Bethlehem taqueria was already a favorite among locals before it was named one of the best taco joints in the states by Business Insider in 2017.
Owned by Paula Zumas and her husband Daniel Flores (it's his family's recipes that put Aqui Es on the map), it's Mexican street food at its best.
There are vegetarian options and the business caters for private events.
What to try: While there are nine different types of tacos, locals swear by the el pastor (with pork and pineapple), chorizo (sausage) or the carnitas (marinated beef).
Delivery: No
BYOB: Yes
Info: 821 Linden St, Bethlehem, 610-419-4901, facebook.com/AquiEsRestaurant/
Don Juan Mex Grill
With five locations in the Valley, this chain restaurant serves Tex-Mex dishes in a casual-like setting.
Co-owner Juan Martinez, who hails from the Dominican Republic, opened the first restaurant in Easton in 2011 with his wife, Melanie.
Together they built a menu that brought inspiration from his roots serving dishes like Dominican-style rice and beans, along with tequeños (cheese sticks) from Venezuela and Tex-Mex items like burritos and hard and soft-shell tacos.
What to try:
Delivery: Via Grub hub
BYOB: Yes
Info: For directions to locations in Bethlehem, Emmaus, Easton, Palmer, Township and Fogelsville, go to donjuanmexgrill.com
Peru
Las Brasa's: Stay awhile and enjoy the flavors in this family-owned Allentown establishment that serves authentic staples like ceviche (Peru's national dish), jalea (fried breaded seafood platter of fish, calamari and shrimp, topped with onions and tomatoes in lime juice) and tacu tacu Kinoa (sauteed rice and beans, topped with seafood sauce).
What to try: The saltado de pollo (chicken sautéed with onion, tomatoes, soy sauce and Peruvian spices) is served with fries and steamed rice.
Vegetarian options are available.
Delivery: No
BYOB: Yes
Info: 704 W. Emaus Ave., Allentown, 484-221-8360
Machu Picchu Peruvian Restaurant: The smell of pollo a la brasa ( a type of Peruvian rotisserie chicken) hits the nose from the back of the parking lot at this popular spot at 1330 E. Fourth St. in Bethlehem.
While their chicken is a crowd-pleaser, they also serve lomo saltado and arroz chaufa de mariscos (A Peruvian/Chinese seafood fried rice with green onions, eggs, ginger and seasoned with soy sauce).
What to try: The tallarin verde con bistec, a staple pasta dish made with meat and savory pesto, is big enough to share or save as a left-over meal.
Delivery: No
BYOB: Yes
Info: The second location is at 624 N. Maxwell St., Allentown, machupicchuperuvianrestaurantpa.com
Puerto Rico
Las Américas bakery: For something sweet to pair with a cafe con leche, check out this Bethlehem panadería that offers yummy bites like guyaba pastelillos (guava turnover) and mantecaditos (guava cookies).
The bakery also sells cakes for birthdays, quinceañeras and other special occasions.
What to try: Their donas (donuts) and tornillas are both delicious and newsroom-approved.
Delivery: No
Info: 736 E. Fourth Street, Bethlehem, 610-419-4366
Nieves Grocery: For more than 40 years, the Nieves family has been serving Latin American food and groceries to locals.
Equally worth checking out are their sandwiches, rice and other items from the grill.
What to try: The Cuban sandwich that is made with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese and a pickle. It is arguably one of the best in Bethlehem and pressed to perfection.
Delivery: Via DoorDash
Info: 744 E Fourth St., Bethlehem, 610-868-1171, https://www.facebook.com/p/Nieves-Hispanic-American-Grocery-100070801481434/
Williams Spanish Restaurant: Take a little trip to Isla del Encanto at this Bethlehem eatery that serves Puerto Rican staples like arroz con granules (rice and pigeon peas), peril (roast pork) and guisada (stews made with beef, chicken, pig or cod).
What to try: The eatery makes its sofrito in-house which only adds to the savoriness of dishes like popular pernil, served with rice and red beans.
Delivery: Via Grubhub or UberEats
BYOB: Yes
Info: 838 Linden St., Bethlehem, 610-419-1309, https://www.facebook.com/Williamsspanishrestaurant/
Venezuela
La Bicicleta Arepa Bar: Diners looking for some authentic comida Venezolana are in luck.
This laid-back Allentown spot serves staples like stuffed arepas (Venezuelan-style), cachapas (sweet pancakes made of corn and stuffed with cheese or meat) and pabelllons (a traditional dish with shredded beef, beans, white rice and sweet plantains).
What to try: While diners can't go wrong with most anything on the menu, the pepito (a well-known Venezuelan street food that is stuffed with diced chicken and beef, and topped with potato sticks, shredded cheese and house sauces) will surely ignite some of the taste buds.
Delivery: Via DoorDash
BYOB: Yes
Info: 12 S. Eighth St., Allentown, 610- 871-0809 labicicletaarepa.bar
Micaela Hood is LehighValleyNews.com's arts and culture reporter.
