La Nueva Conquista

I love this hole in the wall place. The stuff they make in that dingy little kitchen is like eating at someone’s Mom’s place. If you find yourself in that SoHo/​Nolita part of town, try it over the other more fancier places around. Don’t expect amazing service or anything spiffed up and polished. It’s been around for a long time and looks like it. It’s that teeny place that just puts out good Dominican comfort food! PS. Can get crowded at lunch time, line out the door. I always try after 1pm, but then you risk them running out of something you had in mind to order.

I could probably come here every day and not get sick of it for 3 + months.
I like to take it home and add green vegetables to it since they have none there. It is really good with kale and raw, cubed tofu. (The tofu helps to balance the saltiness — not that it’s overwhelmingly salty) Doing that turns one of their containers into 3 meals if I’m not sharing with anyone.
Next time I go I need to get something besides the beef stew. I always point to that one out of habit and maybe because it has the most variety (carrots, potatoes, peas); therefore, eye catching.
The yellow rice is SO good. I also love the plantains. They taste like sweet potatoes + a little bit of lemon. [My boyfriend doesn’t like certain kinds of cooked fruit, like pineapples, so he didn’t like them.]
It has cost 8 $ — 9 $ for a hefty container that feels like it might be close to 5 lbs.
Well, I can’t think of anything else to say. I’m about to have the leftovers for breakfast (with kale of course).
One star is deducted because I don’t like the lack of a menu/​price chart.

Was brought here by my Dominican friend, she took care of ordering food for the four of us– I don’t think there’s a menu here. I just sat down on my wobbly stool and ate what was handed to me, which included half a perfectly baked and juicy chicken, stewed beef and potatoes, beans, white rice and plantains, and freshly peeled and cooked yuca. The place is a bit of a dive restaurant, but definitely worth a visit if you want something filling. The seating is a bit old, cramped, and dirty, which is not a big deal when you’re hungry, scarfing down food and primarily concerned with your bean to rice ratio.

Not sure if I went to this place with high expectations but the food lacked flavor. i’ve had much better dominican, only outside the city though so thats why I can’t dislike the food I paid for. if you have the chance go to «El Malecon» in the bronx. If you can’t travel that far this place will fill some craving that you have. i got both the pork and chicken with yellow rice and beans with onions on top (the best part of the meal btw, not bashing on the food but onions ftw).
but yea, fast semicheap to go food and a good find in the city. You can easily find better outside manhattan but try this place out and be the judge yourself. The pork and chicken lacked flavor and the pork/​pernil lacked its traditional crunchy skin.
El Malecon
Bronx
1 train to 231^st
go there

AWFUL! I had to go back to this place a 2^nd time to confirm my opinion since I couldn’t believe how highly it is rated here on Unilocal.
The food was mediocre and the portions are not standardized, which means the portions vary depending on the mood of your server. And for a petite girl like me, they deem I eat less than the average Joe but that would be their mistake. My plantains were not cooked on the inside.
The place looks and feels poorly kept. The service is awful. There is no organization so anyone who wants to cut line can. Moreover, the cashier insisted that my lunch a dollar more than what it was. When I spoke up, she conceded. I won’t be going back.

It’s skeptical from the outside. There’s no menu and it’s in the oddest of places with nothing else around it. You notice a few boxes sloppily towering inside and are not quite sure what to make of it. You hesitate for a second and then you decide to keep on walking by. It’s been over a decade that I’ve walked by this place countless times and every time, I was intimidated to go in. Well, let me tell you, our drunkenness has led a few friends and myself inside.
There is a glass counter where you can point and ask what each item is. Otherwise you can ask the question, «What’s good?», to which Raphael will just grunt and say «Everything» in an eerie and ominous voice. While we were eating there, we must’ve heard every single customer ask that same question. Well, here’s a little bit of advice. Get the Mixed Plate ($ 10.00), which includes yellow rice & beans (or white rice), some more beans on top (black or pinto), and three meats. Since the menu changes everyday, we were treated to stewed beef with carrots, stewed chicken, and a pork chop. Because the food was heaping over the top of the aluminum platter so much, Raphael gave us a side platter which included the pork chop and several pieces of plaintains.
While we waited for our food to be prepped, I asked Raphael how long they’ve been here. I can’t even remember how many times I’ve walked by this place since I was kid. I wasn’t surprised when he said they’ve been there over 50 years, passed through the family. Jose, one of the cooks, looked aged and somewhat slow in his methodologies, but he seemed to have an aura of confidence, leading you to believe he knew what he was doing. Grab a seat if you can, there’s only about 10 bar-​like stools that you can sit along the perimeter of the restaurant. The seats by the front window are the best so you can enjoy the people watching of all passerbys glancing inside curiously but deciding to keep on walking by. You can chuckle to yourself at this time, as you’ve found yourself a hidden gem.
All the food was amazingly good! The stewed beef was very tender to the point that the meat just fell apart complimented with very soft pieces of carrot. The flavors were soaked all the way through, leaving every last bite extra delicious. The same went for the chicken which fell right off the bone. It was moist almost to the point of juiciness, similar to a deep-​fried chicken, flavors penetrating all the way through making for another delicious protein. Lastly, the thin bone-​in pork chop was seasoned generously with spices bringing out a lot of flavor, but it erred to the ever so slightly dry and overcooked side. But whatever dryness that existed in the pork chop was easily negated from the beans and plantains. The 5 – 6 pieces of plantains were large-​sized chunks, slightly caramelized on the outside and mushy but still firm in texture. Because Raphael was running out of the yellow rice and beans, he gave us a half portion of the white rice as well which were both very tasty. It was then all topped off with 2 generous spoonfuls of black beans that had a subtle salty quality but still very delicious.
I was loving my dish from beginning to end and finished my leftovers for lunch the next day. And it tasted just as good! La Nueva Conquista has won my support and I wasn’t quite sure of whether I should put this review up, in fear of drawing larger crowds, but Unilocal is all about spreading the good word. If three types of meat is too much, I highly recommend the beef stew, which was downright my favorite of the three that I tried. I hope your experience here will be as enjoyable as mine.

Just amazingly delicious take-​away Dominican food.
It’s a very small take-​away place with very authentic dishes. Menu is informal but typically stewed or baked chicken (spices are just amazing for both), brown or yellow rice (both are delicious with the beans interspersed and gravy atop), gravy or stew sauce, optional plaintans, and side of beans. Quantities are large, crowd is very authentic as is the food. Prices vary with the quantity served. Seating is very limited.
Just awesome.

Yum! The grilled chicken is very good! Goes very well with the beans, onion and the yellow rice. If your looking for a quick cheap lunch ! This is definitely a good place to go for Spanish food .
They have no menu, you basically tell them what you want and they give you what you want for only $ 8.50!
Will go again :)

I love coming here when I can’t make the trip to corona queens for some good ass dominican good. Doesn’t look like much or what you expect from a ‘soho’ restaurant but don’t judge a book by its cover. The food is really delicious and for $ 8 – 9 plate, you can get a huge portion of food to share between 2 people. Everything on their prepared daily buffet style food from my favorite beef stew with potatoes, dominican styled spaghetti, baked chicken, their fish, etc is just amazing. Definitely stop by this place after an afternoon of shopping and you won’t be disappointed.

La Nueva Conquista is your typical Dominican place: rice, beans, meat, and lots of it, all for under $ 10.
Don’t get me wrong, you will eat well here, but you won’t eat well.
On my excursion I had the pork chop, which was about as tough and dry as they come, enough to snap my plasticware in twain. You know you’re in trouble when you’re desperately seeking out every little piece of fat on the meat to provide any modicum of moisture. On top of this the rice and beans were completely bland. Over-​salting food isn’t good, but neither is under-​salting.
You. Must. Put. Salt. In. Everything. You. Make. Somebody please send LNC the memo.
Normally I’d have given LNC another shot before Unilocaling it — pork was dry that day, chicken is better, etc. — but you’re in trouble if you can’t get your staple rice and beans right. I guess I’ll stick to two stars because you get a substantial amount of food, but it’s not that good.

I knew I had walked into the right no-​nonsense spot when I saw all the customers hunched over their meal with their backs to me. The selection is quite simple — pick your rice, beans, and meat — all for $ 8. There are two plantains added to the top. I picked the rice with black beans, black beans, and stewed beef. YUM. The stewed beef has a nice sauce, and some carrots and potatoes. You’re given a plastic spoon and fork and then it’s time to attack!!!
The food is plenty generous. In fact, even though I was eating there, I was given a plastic cover for my metal bowl and sure enough, I needed it because I couldn’t finish it all. Two moderately-​hungry people could easily share one bowl and be satisfied. What a deal!
I didn’t care that the place has no ambiance — this place is seriously all about the food. Get on that stool and chow! I promise you will leave happy and full.
p. s. Everyone there was solo, including myself — perfect place to go when you’re on the go by yourself!

This place’s main selling point is that its a dominican kitchen in the middle of SoHo. The food isn’t great, but its good in a homey way and the portions are big. If you want to know whats good and you don’t speak spanish, your best bet is just taking a look at what they have and picking what looks good. I used to get the rice and beans on a fairly regular basis for lunch ($ 4), but I skipped the plantains which were nasty. My cousin married a dominican girl so I’ve had much better than this, but its definitely worth a try – especially if you’ve never had dominican food before.

This epitomizes a hole in the wall kind place… in the fabulosity of Soho.
Everytime I come to NYC, I insist on coming to this place, because it’s just mad comfort food and delicious. The ambiance is definitely lacking. With only a bar and a couple of stools to dine in at. It is a bit loud, cooking is fragrant, and the cashier will be on the phone the whole time she is taking your order. Despite that all, this place is a gem.
— BBQ Chicken w/​plaintains, rice, beans, and onions: Huge tin of it, that can be easily shared. It is yummy! Packed with flavor. It’s seriously one of my favorite things to eat in NYC.
This place is tiny tiny. But the food is good. For the location, it’s pretty amazing you can get such a tasty meal at such a cheap price.

Roasted Chicken and Pork are solid. Shrimp on Wednesday and Friday is really good. Flounder (Mondays?) is great too. They deep fry the pork chops and steaks so I tend to stay away from them.
The most savory and filling lunch you can find for under $ 10 in nolita/​soho. I like la Esquina’s Plato de Julia too, but la nueva’s plates allow you to have more variety and feel a little more homemade/​wholesome.
I like to go with a main seafood or meat, catfish, black beans side and brown or yellow rice.

I work nearby but only on sundays, the one day this place is closed. So I was in Soho on a saturday and couldn’t wait to try this place. I didn’t really know a lot about it, but it just had the look of a place I would love.
It did not disappoint.
Everyone was ordering in spanish so I didn’t think I’d get out of there with food, but the people there are really nice and were pretty patient with my ignorance of how to order. It was $ 9 for a dinner platter with a coke. I was told to try the ribs, and they were tasty. More like riblets, and maybe dry for some but perfect for me. Served over rice and beans, can’t beat it.
Pretty good food for good prices in soho. Will definitely eat here again if I’m in soho on any day but sunday.

Cheap ($ 7), delicious and filling Dominican food. You kind of just point (and ask the identity) at what you want. I’ve done well with the beef stew here. The yucca is really tasty.
The food here at La Nueva isn’t the healthiest nor the yummiest, but for SoHo, it might just be the perfect on-​the-​go eat. Comes complete with sketchy counter seating and air that’s saturated with grease. Cash only!

HUGE portions for $ 8
Arroz con habicuelas rosadas, yuca, platanos maduros, y pollo rostizado
repeat this refrain

You don’t expect to find amazing food for a reasonable price in SoHo, but here it is at La Nueva Conquista.
This small shop is a classic hole-​in-​the-​wall eatery. There is bar stool seating for about 8 people and no restroom. Their concept of décor involves a bright yellow paint-​job and an Obama calendar tacked to the wall. It’s basic and a little grungy — best to take this food to-​go.
You get to choose a meat item (usually lamb or chicken), rice (white or yellow), beans (red/​baked or black), and plantains. They fill the to-​go container to the brim. All of this for $ 7.50. Cans of soda are also available for $ 1.00.
The older woman filling up my plate was helpful in answering my questions and she looked like someone who had years of cooking experience. I knew I was in good hands. I ordered the baked chicken which consisted of 3 sizable pieces of chicken — a great portion. I opted for yellow rice, plantains, and no beans, topping it off with a mixture of onions. The chicken was moist and lightly seasoned. The plantains were average, but delicious. Their custom onion mixture topping really added some great flavor to the whole meal and I was sure to eat every piece. The meal was filling, but didn’t leave me stuffed. That’s because I didn’t eat all of the yellow rice (because there was so much of it) and I skipped the beans. But if you eat the whole thing you’ll be well stuffed indeed.
My colleague got the lamb with baked beans which I tasted and it was also great. I have little experience with lamb, but I would get it myself in the future.
If this place wasn’t in SoHo I imagine they’d be charging $ 5.50 for all this great food, but for neighborhood $ 7.50 is a steal for fantastic «Spanish/​American Food Dominican Style Cooking».

This place is definitely a hidden treasure. A hole-​in-​the-​wall type place, it lacks ambiance, but it is a great value. There are a just few bar stools to sit on and the food is served from behind a counter out of cafeteria-​style aluminum pans.
There is no menu, but a printed review on the window outside lets you know that for $ 7 you get a choice of meat, white or yellow rice, black or pinto beans, and, theoretically, plantains. I say theoretically because I have been to this place numerous times and only the last time did I even see a hint of plantain. I always get the baked chicken, so I am not exactly sure what the other meat options are, but I’ve seen pork and fish dishes. The food is tasty, and best of all, cheap! You get loads of food for just $ 7. It has to be one of the best deals in the city.
On top of that, the people working there are very friendly. It’s definitely worth checking out.

A definite hole-​in-​the-​wall, with a great deal located in all place Soho, I have never seen a greater deal then La Conquita. For $ 7 the counter guys will pack a huge plate of food good for two, chock-​full of rice, beans, stewed meat (beef, oxtail, or chicken), roasted chicken and my favorite the deep fried pork. Not sure if there is a limit to how many items one can have but it seem endless.
I got the white rice, with beef stew, plantains, one fried pork chop and beans, ask for gravy and onions it really adds to the meal.
RANTS & RAVES:
Not great for sit down, it is tiny so take it to the park or eat standing either way it’s way worth it.
Go there when you’re famished if not I think you can get a smaller plate for $ 5 but have to tell them you want a small order. Do go in the early hours because toward the end of the day everything will run dry — fast. The rule of thumb is when they finish serving all the food that’s when they close.