Lucas! You should have ordered the fried rice. Cuban Fried rice usually has three types of pork in it and it's topped with bean sprouts. It gives it a crunchy texture. Delicious! Buen Provecho, my friend! Great episode!
Reminiscing at this point. Pouring one out for this restaurant and many more eccentric places like this. End of an era for sure. Thank you Lucas and Eater team for capturing this moment in time.
Cuba, Guatemala, Puerto, Panama (basically the entire regions of Central America and Caribbean) have so much Chinese and general Asian culture intergraded in it too. these restaurants are a shining staple
I love it when Lukas is totally unimpressed but just hanging in the through the whole episode. He's rushing through the descriptions of the food as well. You can't fool us, Lukas!
He wasn't keen on those wontons but the thick dough is what homemade style is like. Most people only know wontons and dumplings made with thin machine cut dough - even Chinese people who make their own dumplings usually just buy the precut wrappers.
OMG... hit a Cuban-Chinese place in NYC back in the '90's. Found it in a Lonely Planet guidebook. Totally forgot about this kind of food. Hope this cuisine continues and just doesn't end up a reference on the internet... at least Lucas has documented this for prosperity. Trinidadian food kind of mixed up like that too... Chinese, Indian food items along with more regional creations.
I honestly didn't know affordable gems like this existed in Manhattan. Places like La Caridad truly make a neighbourhood. Lucas a Korean woman might be a good fit for you. Lol. We love to eat and garlic is at pretty much every meal. We even eat whole garlic raw in wraps!
There used be a cuban chinese place on 109st and broadway called La Bella China and the food there was sooo good. Unfortunately Manhattan lease is high and they closed. I just miss the thin steak, the chicharron de pollo, fried frice, and the sopa china.
4:09 Yes they are bananas, but different from the ones you typically think of when you say 'banana' (usually cavendish), ie. a different group of banana varieties
Chinese food is very common throughout the Caribbean due to a long history of Chinese labourers who migrated there in the 19th Century. The food in this episode didn't look all that exciting but the Chinese food that you find in Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, and Jamaica are all amazing. I don't even like Chinese food but when I tried some Chinese dishes from these countries years ago, I was seriously hooked. It's to my understanding that the Chinese population in Cuba has dwindled significantly since the 19th century. From what I've read, there were well over 120 000 Chinese labourers in Cuba at one point back in the day but they were almost all men and so they intermixed with local women. I guess this just goes to show what an extremely rich melting pot the Caribbean is. If you're looking for Chinese-Latin American fusion, the best type might be Peruvian Chinese as there's a huge Chinese population in Peru as well. I've only tried one of their dishes (lomo saltado) and it was very interesting. I think Panama has a significant Chinese population as well but I've never been able to try their dishes.
Between that and the Southern American Chinese community, I am absolutely mindblown. It's pretty weird and amazing at the same time. French Chinese here heh.
There used to be a show where a Chinese Canadian guy travelled around world exploring how Chinese food was done in various countries. He went to South Africa, South America & the Caribbean. So the Chinese-Cuban connection doesn't surprise me.
I visited this restaurant in 1989 and when i heard it was closing about 2 years ago i wanted to visit again, but that was not to be. I'm dominican and a lot of the food is very similar as is also puerto rican food. The food as i remember was good and tasty.
I grew up with this in Jamaica, but didn't think it was that big of a deal. Of course it is a big deal but I was so used to it, eh...it is just Caribbean food to me with island variations. I now realize Ive been spoiled.
I don't think he's gonna get married. He's like a male version of a cat lady. Without cats but living alone in a very neat and clean house using the appropriate kitchen utensils when cooking "Arroth ala Cubana". The utensils are his cats.
Tim McCormick I do we have lots of bay leaf trees here in Barbados. It's not like peppermint though a little hard to explain. I drink bay leaf tea a lot...
mykindoflibrarian Yup! Chino Bandido is awesome. That Jade chicken....in a burrito....delicious. That mix is definitely Mexican-Chinese. And my God it works! Very tasty.
Janette Segui It is so tasty and satisfying. I've never had bad food or a bad experience. Also I can't believe I forgot to mention their amazing refried black beans. Garlic-y and rich and so good!
I LOVE GARLIC, BAY LEAF, DARK MEAT (CANNOT STAND WHITE MEAT) LET'S GET MARRIED! I'm part Cuban :DDDD My grandma is from Cuba and I never knew about the Chinese labour over there, so she might have some Chinese ancestry in her DNA!!! Oddly enough Mulan has always been my favourite Disney princess/character/technically Empress of China because I always felt misunderstood, like her, but also because whoever designed her parents used a picture of my mom and dad to model their concept art off of...at least, I'm convinced. Long story short, I've always been fascinated with Asian culture, and my dad worked in Japan during my childhood, so my siblings and I became mesmerized by the anime and video games, etc. Maybe I should take a trip to a few of the HUNDREDS of beautiful cities in China to "find myself" haha Also, I was once on chatroulette and some guy was like, "you look Chinese when you smile", and he was actually from China, and I was like, "oh, okay! Sure lol" Idk, it's all so weird for me because I've always known more of my Haitian background, but if my grandma is from Cuba and could possibly be part Chinese, I think it'd be pretty cool to know!! Someone plz HALP!!!
Yeah, you could very well have some Chinese ancestry from not only your Cuban side but also maybe even your Haitian side too (look up Haitian painter Edouard Wah). Chinese labourers who migrated to Cuba were almost all men and so they intermixed with local women which was a common occurrence throughout many places in the Caribbean and parts of Latin America.
WAAAAAAAAHHHHH?!?!????!!!!??????????!!!!!!!!!! #ThingsTheyDontTeachYouInSchool >w< X3333333333333333 omg omg omg omg omg omg omg!!! TvT I just looked him up!!! Omg, I love some of his paintings!!! I also read a bit more into it, and apparently his family lineage is still living and creating art!!! This was soooo cool!!! Thank you!!
Best ever chines food i test was in London, Singapore ,Boston and in Lima, Peru,tje the rest just nice ,i didn't understand very good if the chines food here is made with Cubans condiments as well or just the restaurant has cuban cuban and chines chines! Thank you anyhow vI test cuban food is delicious!!!
I am from NeW YorK, but moved to AtlanTA, Ga. BOY DO I MISS THAT TYPE OF FOODS! They are Cookers! Atlanta want one to EAT Fast Food! It is bad for your health!😊
What's Panamanian-Chinese food like? I've tried Chinese food from Peru before but not Panama. And the Chinese food you that find in the Anglo-Caribbean (like Jamaica, Trinidad, and Guyana) are absolutely incredible.
Come to miami and you'll see Cubans packed in every Chinese restaurant. We have a big Chinese community in Cuba like many others! The ignorance is strong with many of you! Btw the food is the best of both worlds! And yes I'm Cuban
Cuban Chinese restaurants had the best Chinese food. The rice was outstanding and the flavors were incredible. Chinese restaurants are all the same now and the food is sooo bland. I rarely eat chinese food now. It's just not the same. NYC still has better Chinese restaurants than other places, but, not what it was.
I always wonder how people can be in a country for 40 years and still have such a thick accent. Is it that much harder to lose a Chinese accent, or does it come from still speaking Chinese at work and at home?
Here in NYC, there are large enough pockets of diverse communities where people can get away with having the same accent for decades. A lot of accent formation occurs during youth and while you can obviously change your natural accent over time via training or being forced to use a different accent, it's much harder. it's why learning languages can be so hard as an adult: for many languages, being able to pronounce words and phrases perfectly doesn't change the fact that you will also need to accompany spoken language with the proper accent to get people to consistently understand you.
i somehow have no problem with lucas using his hands haha. i also tend to gravitate to using my hands. my justification is that i know how clean they are, versus utensils :p
Lucas! You should have ordered the fried rice. Cuban Fried rice usually has three types of pork in it and it's topped with bean sprouts. It gives it a crunchy texture. Delicious! Buen Provecho, my friend! Great episode!
*_"That is the choice that you can make...and that's all I'll say."_* 😂👍
Bahaha was waiting for someone to comment on that...the man is diplomatic.
Reminiscing at this point. Pouring one out for this restaurant and many more eccentric places like this. End of an era for sure. Thank you Lucas and Eater team for capturing this moment in time.
Cuba, Guatemala, Puerto, Panama (basically the entire regions of Central America and Caribbean) have so much Chinese and general Asian culture intergraded in it too. these restaurants are a shining staple
I love it when Lukas is totally unimpressed but just hanging in the through the whole episode.
He's rushing through the descriptions of the food as well. You can't fool us, Lukas!
He wasn't keen on those wontons but the thick dough is what homemade style is like. Most people only know wontons and dumplings made with thin machine cut dough - even Chinese people who make their own dumplings usually just buy the precut wrappers.
i love the little grandpas that run the place! They are too cute!
Did not even know this cuisine existed
Anish Roy Isn't it fascinating?
Eboné Smiley Yup, that's why we love Lucas and DOAD
I grew up eating chino Cubano restaurant was called Apollo. They are in Brooklyn now
*Why not? Just like Indians are everywhere, as are Chinese.* Did you know there are also Chinese in the Bengal region?
Le Huy-Anh Chinese Bengali food sounds like something that came straight out of hell
They’re back on 72nd between Columbus and Amsterdam. On the other side of the street from Dinastia. You can’t go wrong with either one.
I've seen a lot of Jamaican-Chinese restaurants, cause there's a lot of Chinese people in Jamaica, but never heard of Cuban-Chinese before.
Vinh Sama we have a chinnese town in Havana Cuba. if you search you will find a lot of chinnese heritage in Cuba
There are even Chinese Peruvian restaurants
There are 6 million Asians living all over Latin America and the Caribbean. Asians live literally everywhere on earth with all races of people.
yessss garlic lovers unite!!!! *inhales garlic aggressively*
Syamim Aziz wooohoooo♥️😂
This place closed down for a while about a year ago for months nice to see open
Come on! We need more Cuban-Chinese restaurants to open!
I need to go to these resturants wow yoy can see the mix of Cuban and chinese in them when he spoke the spanish and Chinese his smile lit up
When I had a good day, I watch a Lucas Peterson video. When I had a bad day, I watch a Lucas Peterson video. Nothing beats a good food review.
Newer viewer here, did you ever get your grandma on the show? I think that would be awesome if you haven’t had her on yet!
Lucas' grandmother hasn't made an official appearance on the show yet. Thanks for watching!
I remember living in New York a long time ago and dining in a Cuban Chinese restaurant. The food was delicious.
I love that place! It's an UWS staple, the fried pork chops with that garlic sauce is very good.
Can any Eater hosts try Peruvian Chinese food next?
Heard of it and I can't find a good review, it sounds freaking fascinating, at least to me.
Chinese Peruvian food is very well renown supposedly. I've tried one of their dishes (lomo saltado) and it was very good.
There were many Japanese that settled in Peru, also.
Yeah, i know a lot of people talk about it on the internet.
I am just too far from Americas to try it.
Korean too, lots of east asian there.
+Janette Segui. Oh yes. Alberto Fujimori is probably the most famous example of a Japanese Peruvian.
OMG... hit a Cuban-Chinese place in NYC back in the '90's. Found it in a Lonely Planet guidebook. Totally forgot about this kind of food. Hope this cuisine continues and just doesn't end up a reference on the internet... at least Lucas has documented this for prosperity. Trinidadian food kind of mixed up like that too... Chinese, Indian food items along with more regional creations.
For *posterity.*
This is what I miss in NYC and Peruvian Chinese food!
I've been to that restaurant. It's awesome!
Makes me appreciate my roots so much more! Cuban Chinese and proud 👏🏽👏🏽😍
I have a cuban chinese abuelo!
Same here! 💖
I honestly didn't know affordable gems like this existed in Manhattan. Places like La Caridad truly make a neighbourhood.
Lucas a Korean woman might be a good fit for you. Lol. We love to eat and garlic is at pretty much every meal. We even eat whole garlic raw in wraps!
The pork chops look INCREDIBLE!!!
Sam Chinita & La Chinita Linda were both legendary places in Chelsea. Such amazing food for very little on the wallet.
There used be a cuban chinese place on 109st and broadway called La Bella China and the food there was sooo good. Unfortunately Manhattan lease is high and they closed. I just miss the thin steak, the chicharron de pollo, fried frice, and the sopa china.
4:09 Yes they are bananas, but different from the ones you typically think of when you say 'banana' (usually cavendish), ie. a different group of banana varieties
Chinese food is very common throughout the Caribbean due to a long history of Chinese labourers who migrated there in the 19th Century. The food in this episode didn't look all that exciting but the Chinese food that you find in Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, and Jamaica are all amazing. I don't even like Chinese food but when I tried some Chinese dishes from these countries years ago, I was seriously hooked.
It's to my understanding that the Chinese population in Cuba has dwindled significantly since the 19th century. From what I've read, there were well over 120 000 Chinese labourers in Cuba at one point back in the day but they were almost all men and so they intermixed with local women. I guess this just goes to show what an extremely rich melting pot the Caribbean is.
If you're looking for Chinese-Latin American fusion, the best type might be Peruvian Chinese as there's a huge Chinese population in Peru as well. I've only tried one of their dishes (lomo saltado) and it was very interesting. I think Panama has a significant Chinese population as well but I've never been able to try their dishes.
Between that and the Southern American Chinese community, I am absolutely mindblown. It's pretty weird and amazing at the same time. French Chinese here heh.
Are you Teochow (Chaozhou), like most Chinese from France?
If so, where did they come from? Cambodia or the Mekong? Or Mauritius?
There are 7 million Asians in Latin America. If anything, it's one of the most common Chinese diaspora variants.
That guy at @5:22 , on the right ... looking at him like na bro, that's on you 🤣
Yo that's me, Cuban mixed Chinese, Manhattan born, word! 😋 yummy!
I have a cuban chinese abuelo from santiago de cuba, but i was raised in australia
There used to be a show where a Chinese Canadian guy travelled around world exploring how Chinese food was done in various countries. He went to South Africa, South America & the Caribbean. So the Chinese-Cuban connection doesn't surprise me.
For sure. You'll find Chinese and/or Indians all over the world whether it be in the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, the South Pacific, etc.
What happened to Antonio Wong? I would have loved to have seen Lucas and Antonio go at it in spanish.
I visited this restaurant in 1989 and when i heard it was closing about 2 years ago i wanted to visit again, but that was not to be. I'm dominican and a lot of the food is very similar as is also puerto rican food. The food as i remember was good and tasty.
Oh!!! I love Cuban Chinese. It's the best! It's delicious!
Omg. I walk by this place almost every weekend. Need to check this place out now! :)
100newkid do it! Eat that ultra thick wonton skin. Feel all the flour go down your throat.
Bwahaha that sounds so sexual.. it's turning me on... lol
Mark Wiens and Mike Chen are pretty festive and energetic when doing videos about food. Lucas on the other hand seems jaded.
I grew up with this in Jamaica, but didn't think it was that big of a deal. Of course it is a big deal but I was so used to it, eh...it is just Caribbean food to me with island variations. I now realize Ive been spoiled.
I just found out La Caridad closed in 2020. Correction: affordable gems like this no longer exist in Manhattan :-(.
One more reason I want to go visit New York! I want... no I need to try that food!!!
Miami's Chinese Jamaican take out food is amazing!!!!
"You like dark meat, Chinese people like dark meat" Hahahaha
miss those great restaurants.
I love the Lucas strut.
He walks kinda like he has heavy weights strapped to his wrists and ankles. LOL
I love Lucas’s descriptions. 😂
I don't think he's gonna get married. He's like a male version of a cat lady. Without cats but living alone in a very neat and clean house using the appropriate kitchen utensils when cooking "Arroth ala Cubana". The utensils are his cats.
The breaded steak with white rice and black or Chinese rice is so good.
Who's watching this channel and not knowing what a bay leaf tastes like? Plantains I get but bay leaf?
Tim McCormick I do we have lots of bay leaf trees here in Barbados. It's not like peppermint though a little hard to explain. I drink bay leaf tea a lot...
Dale Carrington, could you explain how you make bay leaf tea? And also does it have any medicinal properties ? Thanks !
Go to Phoenix and try Chino Bandido where you can get jade chicken, chile relleno and fried rice on the same plate.
mykindoflibrarian Yup! Chino Bandido is awesome. That Jade chicken....in a burrito....delicious. That mix is definitely Mexican-Chinese. And my God it works! Very tasty.
Janette Segui It is so tasty and satisfying. I've never had bad food or a bad experience. Also I can't believe I forgot to mention their amazing refried black beans. Garlic-y and rich and so good!
I need to check this place out.
5:55 his face just SCREAMS "ehhh"
Says "that's nice"
yeah....doesn't seem like Lucas liked any of the food in this episode lol
Totally would love to eat here! Place looks amazing! That Tso's Porkchop is smart!!!
Should have come to Queens for this one Lucas. Jardin de China
Cubans are Chinese also. We are from everywhere
"chinese people like dark meat" no truer words have been spoken
You must try Barrio Chino in old Havana
“I love the food”
*Saying with flat expression*
he does that in all his videos lol
I LOVE GARLIC, BAY LEAF, DARK MEAT (CANNOT STAND WHITE MEAT) LET'S GET MARRIED!
I'm part Cuban :DDDD
My grandma is from Cuba and I never knew about the Chinese labour over there, so she might have some Chinese ancestry in her DNA!!!
Oddly enough Mulan has always been my favourite Disney princess/character/technically Empress of China because I always felt misunderstood, like her, but also because whoever designed her parents used a picture of my mom and dad to model their concept art off of...at least, I'm convinced.
Long story short, I've always been fascinated with Asian culture, and my dad worked in Japan during my childhood, so my siblings and I became mesmerized by the anime and video games, etc.
Maybe I should take a trip to a few of the HUNDREDS of beautiful cities in China to "find myself" haha
Also, I was once on chatroulette and some guy was like, "you look Chinese when you smile", and he was actually from China, and I was like, "oh, okay! Sure lol"
Idk, it's all so weird for me because I've always known more of my Haitian background, but if my grandma is from Cuba and could possibly be part Chinese, I think it'd be pretty cool to know!!
Someone plz HALP!!!
Yeah, you could very well have some Chinese ancestry from not only your Cuban side but also maybe even your Haitian side too (look up Haitian painter Edouard Wah). Chinese labourers who migrated to Cuba were almost all men and so they intermixed with local women which was a common occurrence throughout many places in the Caribbean and parts of Latin America.
WAAAAAAAAHHHHH?!?!????!!!!??????????!!!!!!!!!! #ThingsTheyDontTeachYouInSchool >w< X3333333333333333 omg omg omg omg omg omg omg!!! TvT
I just looked him up!!! Omg, I love some of his paintings!!! I also read a bit more into it, and apparently his family lineage is still living and creating art!!! This was soooo cool!!! Thank you!!
:)
Great episode as usual!
I LOVE GARLIC - yay for us 💓
Best ever chines food i test was in London, Singapore ,Boston and in Lima, Peru,tje the rest just nice ,i didn't understand very good if the chines food here is made with Cubans condiments as well or just the restaurant has cuban cuban and chines chines! Thank you anyhow vI test cuban food is delicious!!!
I grew up eating there !
RIP to the OG loh wah keues, like the old one clearing tables at the end
I am from NeW YorK, but moved to AtlanTA, Ga. BOY DO I MISS THAT TYPE OF FOODS! They are Cookers! Atlanta want one to EAT Fast Food! It is bad for your health!😊
Pretty sure this is the first time I've seen a commercial on an eater video
Never tried this fusion. I could imagine Tausi rice instead of rice and beans. 😊
You should try Panamanian-Chinese food. There is a large population of Chinese people in Panama that stayed after Panama Canal was built.
What's Panamanian-Chinese food like? I've tried Chinese food from Peru before but not Panama. And the Chinese food you that find in the Anglo-Caribbean (like Jamaica, Trinidad, and Guyana) are absolutely incredible.
Lucas needs to come to Miami. We have those everywhere
Why does this guy seem like he is never interested in the places he visits. He has the resting disappointed asian parent face.
Come to miami and you'll see Cubans packed in every Chinese restaurant. We have a big Chinese community in Cuba like many others! The ignorance is strong with many of you! Btw the food is the best of both worlds! And yes I'm Cuban
Lucas + NYC = addiction... Loves it so much!
Lucas had a part in Westworld?!
used to dine here with my friends, just delicious overall
Eater, plz get to work on that Lucas's grandma series.
Both countries love two things more than anything. Rice n pork 😂
I'm a simple man. I see Lucas, I hit the like button.
I wanna know what did he do with the leftovers
I only know of this restaurant from a reference in an episode of Seinfeld... I didn't know it was even a real restaurant till this video
You would never expect bad food having a dream job like this...but when it happens it's gotta be so disappointing haha
Do the restaurants pay for these spots?
Restaurants do not pay us to cover them, thanks for watching
According to Yelp, this place closed. :(
Care to do a documentary on Chinese in Cuba? CHINATOWN CUBA
tesn tuyet v ngon thank
Lucas definitely wasn't wowed by the food
6:18 the look
the pork chop looks a bit dry though. Lucas seems to have trouble biting into it.
Ariel Dapito jj
I ate here with a Chinese and a Cuban and all 3 of us thought the FOOD SUCKED BALLS!! Absolutely TERRIBLE!!!
I would like the soft dhall rice.
That 3:05 flip was amazing 👏
Sad news, it closed due to pandemic 😔 😔 😔
LUCAS, AGREEDD
Bro the Chinese/Cuban accent though ! Lmao that’s badass
Zero Chinese accent, what are you talking about?
Is this one of the Buzzfeed channels?
Lucas is King of finger food
👏Plantains are not bananas👏 ty Lucas
Cuban Chinese restaurants had the best Chinese food. The rice was outstanding and the flavors were incredible. Chinese restaurants are all the same now and the food is sooo bland. I rarely eat chinese food now. It's just not the same. NYC still has better Chinese restaurants than other places, but, not what it was.
I always wonder how people can be in a country for 40 years and still have such a thick accent. Is it that much harder to lose a Chinese accent, or does it come from still speaking Chinese at work and at home?
Nathan Lewis - it’s really a mystery. I have USA born Asian friends who have an accent and then also some who don’t.
Here in NYC, there are large enough pockets of diverse communities where people can get away with having the same accent for decades. A lot of accent formation occurs during youth and while you can obviously change your natural accent over time via training or being forced to use a different accent, it's much harder. it's why learning languages can be so hard as an adult: for many languages, being able to pronounce words and phrases perfectly doesn't change the fact that you will also need to accompany spoken language with the proper accent to get people to consistently understand you.
Some good Cuban Chinese in Tampa places
i somehow have no problem with lucas using his hands haha. i also tend to gravitate to using my hands. my justification is that i know how clean they are, versus utensils :p