Where to Find the Best Dominican Food in Greater Boston

Talk about the best of all worlds: Cuisine from the Dominican Republic reflects numerous global influences. From Africa, Dominican cuisine adopted mangú, or boiled and mashed green plantain; from Spanish colonization came sancocho, a hearty meat stew. Meanwhile, dishes like la bandera Dominicana ( “The Dominican Flag,” a meal of meat, rice, and beans) bring all these inspirations together into something inimitable and distinctive. Where to get great Dominican food in Boston? Luckily, you won’t have to travel far. This guide was most recently updated in February 2025; stay tuned for periodic updates.

See also: Where to Find Boston’s Best Caribbean Food

Alex’s Chimis

A Jamaica Plain favorite since it opened in 1998, Alex’s Chimis is known for generous portions of Dominican comfort food—including the namesake chimis. Essentially Dominican-style burgers, they’re served on baguette-like bread and come in combinations of beef, chicken, pork, ham, and cheese (sometimes, yes, all in one sandwich). But they’re not all Alex’s serves. The restaurant also prides itself on its rotisserie chicken, so check it out via combo plates serving traditional sides like cassava, fried rice, or green plantains.

358 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, Boston, 617-522-5201, alexschimisrestaurant.com.

Bani Restaurant

If you’re looking for a friendly neighborhood spot bursting with vibrant Dominican cuisine, Bani has you covered. The restaurant’s simple, no-frills atmosphere provides space for the flavor-packed portions to shine. Snack on Bani’s popular bollitos de yuca, cassava stuffed with beef, or for a heartier meal, try the barbecue ribs with fried plantains or the house fried rice with pork, salami, and longaniza. Either way, be sure to save room for flancocho for dessert—a knockout duo of flan atop chocolate cake.

4541 Washington St., Roslindale, 617-469-0294, banirestaurant.com. 

Photo courtesy of Guira y Tambora

Guira y Tambora

Although made with simple ingredients, Guira y Tambora’s Dominican dishes pack a big punch—and that’s exactly what makes the restaurant a mainstay in Roslindale. Enjoy the outdoor patio in the summer, or lounge inside the colorful, spacious restaurant, while diving into Dominican sausage served with fried cassava or a whole platter of fried meats. We’re big fans of the customizable mofongo: choose a base of green plantains, sweet plantains, or cassava, and choose one of six fillings, such as fried chicken or—our favorite—the chicharrón (fried pork skin) and cheese combo. A full bar and weekly DJs complete the package here.

4014 Washington St., Roslindale, 617-327-7555, guiraytamboraboston.com.

La Esquina

If you’re looking for chimis (saucy sandwiches) and yaroa, La Esquina boasts some of the best. Yaroa, a popular street food in the Dominican Republic, starts with either mashed sweet plantains or French fries and loads on toppings like shredded meat, cheese, ketchup, and mayonnaise; La Esquina serves the dish in eye-popping portions bearing chicken, pork, beef, or all of the above. Besides yarao, you’ll also find classic pork or chicken chimis, cheese sandwiches, Dominican clubs, and a “super hot dog” loaded with lettuce, sauces, and ground beef.

624 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester, Boston, 617-822-0200; 164 Franklin St., Lynn, 339-440-4550; instagram.com/laesquinasandwichshop.

La Parada’s “banana canoe.” / Courtesy photo

La Parada Dominican Kitchen

Right in the heart of Egleston Square, decorated with bright yellow walls and colorful artwork, La Parada is a spot that’s hard to miss. You wouldn’t want to miss it, either—or the restaurant’s most unique item, the “banana canoe,” which can be stuffed with shrimp and served with a side of tostones, or fried plantain fritters. For something more traditional, try appetizers like papas rellenas (fried stuffed potatoes), Dominican sausage, and cassava turnovers. And carnivores, take note: barbecue-style ribs, stewed pork chops, and breaded steak dominate the main section of the menu.

3094 Washington St., Roxbury, Boston, 617-942-7599, laparadadominicankitchen.com.

Mangú 3 golpes (mashed plantains with fried cheese, eggs, and Dominican salami) at Mangú Dominican Bistro. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Mangú Dominican Bistro

This Forest Hills nook has established itself as a go-to for great Dominican cuisine in Boston, especially the all-important first meal of the day. The restaurant is named after a traditional Dominican breakfast of mashed plantains, after all; try it as mangú 3 golpes, in which it’s served alongside fried cheese, eggs, and salami. By lunchtime, you might be craving the club sandwich, stuffed with shredded chicken breast, pork shoulder, ham, and other toppings, with a massive stack of French fries.

264 Hyde Park Ave., Jamaica Plain, Boston, 617-522-2455.

Mofongo Factory Restaurant

Unsurprisingly, it’s all about the mofongo here. Go the choose-your-own-adventure route to pick among eight bases (including trifongo, a mix of cassava, sweet plantain, and green plantain), a dozen fillings (such as longaniza, Dominican sausage), and add-ons, like covering the whole shebang with cheese. Or, try one of the restaurant’s signature options, like mariscofongo: You still choose the base and filling, but it comes topped with a feast of lobster, octopus, conch, squid, and shrimp, plus one of four sauces. The huge menu also includes grilled and fried meats, smoothies, sandwiches, and more, but start with the mofongo.

299 Hancock St., Dorchester, Boston, 617-580-9940, order.toasttab.com.

Merengue  

Merengue is part of a family of restaurants focused on different Caribbean cuisines: Its South End siblings Vejigantes and Doña Habana look to Puerto Rican and Cuban dining, respectively. Over in Roxbury, meanwhile, Merengue offers a brightly colored interior and a menu filled with everything from fried sweet plantains to fried whole red snapper; beef and pork burgers with mofongo (or mashed plantains); and lobster and shrimp gumbo. Between the good vibes and great food, Merengue will leave you dancing out the door.

160 Blue Hill Ave., Roxbury, Boston, 617-445 5403, merenguerestaurant.com.

Pikalo. / Courtesy photo

Pikalo

For Dominican empanadas and sandwiches washed down with a whole slew of smoothies, look no further than Pikalo. Sure, you could go straight to the super-popular chicken and cheese empanada, but don’t miss spins like the cheese pizza and “seafood fiesta” empanadas. (Sandwiches like the pork chimi and three-cheese melt are worth your attention, too.) Whether you wind up at Pikalo’s East Boston or Jamaica Plain location, or farther outside of the city in Lawrence or Lowell, top your meal off with one of Pikalo’s signature smoothies, in flavors like strawberry, papaya, or passionfruit.

386 Chelsea St., East Boston; 378 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, Boston; and other locations; pikalo-empanadas.com.

Rey del Pollo

The pollo al horno—rotisserie chicken—beckons at Roxbury’s “chicken king”; get a half or whole chicken as a meal with rice, beans, fried sweet plantains, and salad. The hefty menu also includes yaroa, chimis and other sandwiches, a few varieties of mofongo (the pollo is the fitting choice), soups such as mondongo and sancocho, and more. You won’t leave here hungry.

111 Blue Hill Ave., Roxbury, Boston, 617-652-8172, reydelpolloma.com.

Guava cake from Santia’s Bakery. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Santia’s Bakery

A quick stroll from the Green Street T, gleaming pastry cases are jam-packed with sweet delights (and some savory treats, too). Order a beautifully decorated custom cake, or swing by for guava-stuffed cake slices, various flans, corn pudding, buñuelos (tasty fried dough balls), and lots more. On the savory side, Santia’s serves a variety of picaderas—snacks—such as pastelitos, empanadas, and quipes. There’s a location out in Lawrence, too.

3381 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, Boston; 366 Essex St., Lawrence; santiasbakery.com.

Dominican empanadas (one stuffed with beef, one chicken) from Wonderful Mart, a North Cambridge convenience store. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumental

Wonderful Mart

Jazz up your day with a hot, crackly-crusted beef or chicken empanada from this North Cambridge convenience store (find it on the same block as Tilde and Umami), or the sometimes-available frikitaki street sandwiches or yaroa, fries smothered in toppings. Good news: These will be available on a more regular schedule around late February or March 2025 as the shop staffs up a bit more, and you’ll be able to order them for delivery, too. Also coming soon: retail beer, wine, and lottery.

2368 Massachusetts Ave., North Cambridge, instagram.com/wonderful3l.

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