"This quintessential Puerto Rican restaurant on Loisaida Ave., especially beloved for its moist rotisserie chicken, was founded by Adela Fargas in 1976. She passed away in 2018, but the matriarch’s likeness still smiles at customers from the tribute art on the walls of this East Village spot with a small-town feel. (There's even a Casa Adela-inspired restaurant in a Guardians of the Galaxy comic.) Think of Fargas gratefully with every bite of the mofongo with peppery pernil. There are only a few tables inside, but you’ll find a squeeze bottle of mayo ketchup on every one of them—and you can BYOB. Pernil asado, chicharrón de pollo, alcapurrias, tostones" - molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman, bryan kim, sonal shah