La Isla Cuchifrito

With its long counter and round chrome swivel stools that are confusingly spaced very far apart, La Isla looks like a diner that opened several decades ago. It seems like half the people at this cash-only Puerto Rican spot have been coming for years and probably stop by at least once a week. We recommend the big plate of bacalao with slices of boiled eggs and the huge cuchifritos platter with stomach, ultra-tender tongue, and blood sausage. Add a tamarind agua fresca to wash everything down. You can get out of here with enough food for four meals and still pay less than what you would for one entrée at a lot of restaurants in the city.

photo credit: David A. Lee