El Malecon Restaurant

The tables are always full at this Dominican diner in the Bronx. It could be the colorful mural that spans the back wall that puts everyone—staff and patrons alike—in such a good mood, or it could be the tropical fruit shakes, plantain-mashed mofongo studded with crispy pork rind, or one of the succulent chickens turning on spits in the front window (a nicely blackened skin and cilantro dipping sauce make this a signature dish). Cow’s feet soup is so delicious you’ll be sucking the trotters dry, and a rich and salty codfish stew can make you believe you’ve popped down to Santo Domingo for a night. Luckily, dinner here is a lot cheaper than a plane ticket—generous mains go for about $12.