La Isla Restaurant

Had the chance to stop in Hoboken and decided to try this spot. It’s very unassuming from the outside and inside a few small tables line the wall. The little kitchen in the back was bustling and several servers were working the few tables which makes me think at normal dining hours (we ate dinner at 4:30) it’s busy. I don’t eat meat and didn’t miss it for one minute while I was eating the veggie empanadas. Absolutely delicious! The bean sauce was amazing. The service was great and the food not only delicious but served beautifully. I’d definitely go back if I had the chance.

I ordered food by phone, cuz ordering on Grubhub doesn’t work. I called around 10:55am which the breakfast hour should be closing soon. Fact, I ordered delivery for Omar’s stuff toast which everything recommended on Unilocal!However, the lady (who has a bit accent) who talked to me was really patient and nice! She told me that they only delivery for lunch! But I asked her if it could possible for me to get the stuffed toast with my other order of lunch. She asked me to hold on a second, quickly she turned back and asked me whether I would mind the toast would not be warm when the food get delivered to me. I said yes and got my stuffed toast a bit warm when I got them！
I ordered Omar’s stuffed toast and roast chicken (thigh) with plantain and yellow rice (which the lady recommended me), and French fries. The Omar’s stuffed toast is not amazing but pretty good! The filling inside the sandwich is perfectly sweetened! I wouldn’t feel heavy when I finished a whole piece of stuffed toast. But 1 piece of it is very filling to me tho!
The roast chicken is good, too! The yellow rice is not strongly flavoured (good thing) n not bland as all. However, in general all dishes I had here so far are not strongly flavoured by spices or sauces. The rice and chicken could have a bit stronger flavoured. Other than that, they are all good :)) I can taste the really food from here! Not too strong, but not to light! Like home food, tasted Just right!

This place is great. My usual stomping ground if I’m just looking for a quick Cuban sandwich. I do wish they put mustard on it as a classic Cuban sandwich should… the garlic sauce makes up for it. Still delicious. The staff is great & super attentive.
Only negative I should say is how I think its weird the tables are so low. The place gets so packed and everyone’s bum is in your face while you’re trying to eat. Especially in the winter when everyone is bulky with extra layers. That’s neither here or there.
Love this place regardless.

Usually this place is great. But with new staff as of late, the food is inconsistent.
Recently I ordered the ground beef and got maybe half of the usual portion. A bit of a ripoff

i had to stop in and grab some food as I was starving & the thought of authentic Cuban food had me salivating like a dog on a hot day. SO pulled out my Unilocal app, got busy & decided on La Isla. This is a small restaurant and it has a few tables (about 6) and counter seating. I opted for the counter as the only available table was in the back. I ordered the beef empanada, and pollo asado. The boyfriend got a pork sandwich. Ok so the expand was Amazeballs! It was sooo good. The pollo aside was okay, but this dish calls for cooked onions, and my onions were semi cooked and soaked too long in vinegar. It was a potent taste. The rice was dry and the chicken was blah. I mostly ate because i was starving. The boyfriend hated his sandwich and was pretty upset about it. He said it was the worse he has ever had. I gave 3 stars because that empanada was everything.

Great place with delicious food and an awesome atmosphere. Got there a little early, so did not have to wait. I know they also have a big carry out business.

We have been to La Isla for dinner several times and never been overly impressed. But knowing everyone loves it we keep coming back. This was our first shot at brunch. We got the omelette with chorizo, mango and caramelized onions. It was nothing beyond your typical omelette. It came with Cuban toast, which was served probably 10 minutes before the dish. Odd. Also the toast is über buttered. I will say the omelette was much better put on the toast as a sandwich. Their green habanero hot sauce is a must but warning on the level of spice. We also ordered Omar’s famous French toast. I warn you now it is A LOT. I could only eat half a piece and could not eat the center bite with all the cream cheese. I would have liked more of a crunch. If you must order this I recommend splitting this dish if possible. The service was better then previous visits but still just mediocre.

Solid Sunday brunch spot! «El balsero» –poached eggs+shredded beef on a bed of yellow rice — was filling and delicious, and the sopa de pollo hit the spot on this somewhat dreary spring day. Café con leche is served in oversized mugs (good for caffeine addicts like myself), and the service was friendly and solid. I’d definitely return if I were in the area!

Note: This is a review for their Brunch Menu
Sometimes life throws you a curveball so disruptive, that you need to stop everything you’re doing, to process what the hell just happened. For me, I had one of those experiences when I took the first bite from the Maduro, Spinach, and Queso Blanco omelette I ordered for brunch. And their bread… oh that glorious cuban bread of theirs, slathered in butter and pressed to a perfect crispiness, is a thing that dreams are made of.
Seriously, this place is good. The atmosphere’s very comfortable, and the staff was extremely warm and attentive despite being packed to the gills on a Saturday. I’ll be a regular customer from now on, there’s no doubt about it!

Ordered the Fritas today, which are 3 small chorizo and meat patties sliders. Tasted awful. The meat was burnt and dry. I didn’t taste chorizo at all. I even added ketchup in the hopes of moistening up the burgers, but it didn’t work at all. Drank a lot of water at lunch…
I wished I had gotten something else off the menu.

I have never gone to the other Isla, despite my best intentions, so I was psyched to finally go to this one uptown. Coincidentally, my other friends also got a table there at the same time so we got to hang at the bar for a cocktail while waiting to be seated. We had the ceviche which was delicious, empanadas and camarones. Atmosphere was upscale and festive. Like this place a lot.

I have been to La Isla many times. I must say that this place is amazing! It has great authentic Cuban food at a very reasonable price. Im not saying it is on the same level as Miami/​Hialeah but its close. When we got to La Isla, we were quickly seated and placed our orders. We ordered the Sweet Plantain Omelette and the «La Papa». I also order a Cuban Latte. Everything came exactly as ordered and took about 10 minutes. I also tried to order fried Yucca but they did not have any. Throughout our meal the waiter kept checking up on us and made sure we were doing well. The guys who work here are all hard workers! As for the food… WOW! It is great! If you are new to Cuban food, please note that it can be heavy but it is definitely worth the extra calories. In addition to the food, i also enjoyed the artwork on the walls. Just as a tip for anyone coming here, come early because it gets crowded very quick! I would highly recommend La Isla to anyone looking for great Cuban food.
I would rate La Isla as follows: Food is 5 Stars, Price is 4.5 Stars, Atmosphere is 4.5 Stars and Service is 4.5 Stars.
The views expressed are of my own and are my true personal experience at this establishment. My personal experience may not reflect this actual establishment, their quality or someone else’s experience at the establishment

Although I’ve only been here a couple times and don’t have a great background in Cuban cuisine, the food was absolutely delicious. Both times I had breakfast. The first time I had an egg sandwich, wasn’t exactly Cuban, but it was made very well from what I can remember. I think it was because they didn’t skimp on the avo!
My second and most recent visit, I thoroughly enjoyed La Papa as my breakfast. It was amazing. You can’t come here expecting quite a healthy meal but you WILL be satisfied! The meat in this dish is so juicy and eggs were cooked just right. I think the star of this dish was the sauce. I can’t recall what it’s called but it’s some type of salsa, it is bonkers!
Also they serve a side of complimentary bread with your breakfasts — it’s a bit crunchy and super soft inside and they add just a touch of butter. So. Good.
Note to newcomers — regular coffee will always come with milk unless you specially request black! They’re cubancino is slightly sweetened regular coffee with cinnamon — also very good!
I would make sure to come right when they open — it’s not a big place and fills up fast!

My friend and I ordered the steamed yuca and veggies as sides, and beef with chorizo in tomato sauce (me) and a pulled pork sandwich (friend) as entrees. Everything was quite tasty and we enjoyed the outdoor seating.
I’m allergic to gluten and was disappointed that they wouldn’t make a sandwich without the bread and that some of my typical
favorites (fried plantains, etc.) were made in a shared fryer.
For gluten free folks, you’ll have good but limited options. Also, note that sandwiches are under $ 10 while entrees are closer to $ 20.

Love this spot, one of my favorites in Hoboken. One of the best Cuban sandwiches you will find. The prices are extremely fair for Hoboken, and the ambience is fun. Their coffee is great as well, either the lattes or just coffee black you can’t go wrong. The sandwich is stuffed with pork, topped with cheese, then put on the press until it is crunchy, and melty. They also have a great brunch menu. They were also featured on the food network multiple times, once with Guy, and once with Bobbby. If you are looking for a fun restaurnat with character and great food, this is it.

There’s Portuguese blood in my veins, but I’m pretty sure there’s also Spanish blood from somewhere way back when because I can’t get enough of things like Spanish rice and all its many variants. When my friend and I experienced the lunchtime munchies, I did a quick Unilocal search for nearby eateries and this spot came up. Luckily, I didn’t need to convince her of anything, and within five minutes, we were seated at La Isla.
The Camarones Encendido + Yellow Rice and Fries sides = Jumbo shrimp sautéed in olive oil, garlic, onion, peppers, and olives. Was it delicious? Oh my, yes. Was the rice fluffy and yellow and everything my little yellow rice-​loving heart desires? Many times yes. I actually think I might have had a foodgasm blackout for a couple of minutes there, as there are some missing frames every time I try to recall the scene of our meal. Oh well. Worth it.
The Cuban Sandwich is as scrumptious as you would expect for a Cuban spot. The bread was perfectly crisp, the pork as succulent as jailbait, and everything else designed to make your taste buds sing opera.
Service can be veeeeery slow, which is why I docked a star.

What a brunching good time!
My love and I arrived at La Isla just moments after they opened on a Sunday morning and it was a good thing we did. Minutes after we were seated and settled, there wasn’t an open table in the house (save for a few counter spots). We perused the menu, ordered some velvety smooth coffee, asked for some suggestions, and we were on our way to brunchful bliss.
La Isla Egg Sandwich — bacon, tomato, avocado, and red onion on multigrain toast. It was a simple sandwich but it packed a ton of flavor. Avocado makes everything a bit more sexy, no?
Chorizo Omelet — complete with several different blends of cheese and some of the tastiest homefries this homegirl has ever had.
Omar’s Stuffed French Toast — Omar, I don’t know you but you must be a flippin’ genius for creating this masterpiece. Made with egg bread, stuffed with guava cream cheese, dipped in a cinnamon batter, and coated in corn flakes and almonds. This thing was crunchtastic. We took the second piece home and we polished it off the minute we walked in the door. What would it take to get my workplace cafeteria to make this dish on the regular?
Cozy, unpretentious, and delish. Now I see why La Isla is a Unilocal favorite.
Get your hiney out of bed early and head on over for a brunch that shouldn’t be missed!

Totally lives up to the hype! Downtown location is small so there is always a line, but well worth the wait. BYOB and fresh-​squeezed orange juice are a perfect excuse for mimosas to enjoy with your meal!
As appetizers, we ordered a Vegetable Empanada ($ 5.50) and the Papa Rellena ($ 4.50). For entrees we had the Saturday special, Arroz con Pollo ($ 12) and the popular Tasajo con Boniato ($ 21).
Friendly wait staff, generous portions, and amazing food make La Isla a must visit when in Hoboken!

One of my go-​to spots for a hearty Cuban meal that wont break the bank. I don’t mind waiting, and almost always there is a wait considering there are only about ⁵⁄₆ tables and 15 bar stools.
Once you are seated, the waiters are pretty quick getting your order in and the kitchen is pretty efficient when it comes to getting your food out. If its appropriate, get a Cuban latte. If you’re walking by and want a snack, get an empanada. Brunch? Try El Balsero or Churrasco. The meat is always super flavorful, well seasoned and cooked perfectly. Gotta get the rice, beans and sweet plantains on the side to round it all out. I have seen the French Toast and heard raves about it, so if you’re into a sweet breakfast, thats definitely right up your alley. Lunchtime? Go for the Cuban. It’s really damn good and the garlic mojo is even better. Dinner? EVERYTHING. You just really can’t go wrong with this place.
My ONLY qualm, and this goes back to how quickly everything is brought out, is that some sides and popular appetizers aren’t piping hot. This is a personal pet peeve, since I prefer burning my tongue over eating luke warm food.
I haven’t yet tried the uptown location, however it has a full bar and excepts reservations. So they are definitely catering to bigger groups. I’ll be sticking to my quaint little hole in the wall as long as I can.

When my BF was living in Hoboken, we were big on our weekend brunch game, however laziness and/​or being hungover kept us more uptown versus venturing downtown and trying La Isla, which had been on his bookmarks list for forever.
We headed to La Isla on the Sunday before Labor Day a little after 11 a.m., with backup brunch places in mind because of Unilocal reviews that stated how crowded this spot can get. Luckily for us, there was zero wait, and we picked a table inside, immediately ordering the café con leche (skim for me). We picked the sweet spot of arrival time, because not even 30 minutes later, the restaurant, which is small to begin with, was PACKED.
The coffee was delicious — so creamy and fresh that you don’t need sugar, and will feel a little fuller after drinking one.
BF ordered the famous stuffed French toast… and a side of bacon, while I settled on pancakes… and home fries. We definitely overdid it, and probably could have split that delicious French toast, stuffed with cream cheese and strawberry, drizzled in guava (that was battered with a corn flake/​nut combo). It was incredible, but I could literally have about two bites of it (despite wanting more) in fear that I wouldn’t be able to finish my three massive blueberry pancakes (spoiler alert, it didn’t matter because I couldn’t finish anyway).
The food was phenomenal, and the service was also attentive and warm, without being invasive. Food arrived quickly, the staff was fast to refill glasses, ask if we wanted more coffee (yes), and drop the check at an appropriate time.
All in all, awesome brunch spot and worth the wait/​walk from uptown. Wish we had come here sooner!