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SHORT VIDEO EXPLAINS THE DELICIOUS HISTORY OF LA CARIDAD

February 23, 2017 | 4:05 PM
in FOOD, HISTORY
34

la caridad 78

La Caridad on 78th Street and Broadway has satisfied cravings for Chinese and Cuban food and Chinese-Cuban food for decades. Now it’s getting some time on the silver screen — or YouTube at least. The video below by Great Big Story explains how the restaurant began, and has an interview with the last surviving Cuban immigrant in the kitchen.

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Bob Lamm
Bob Lamm
8 years ago

Great video! I love La Caridad. I well remember when the Upper West Side had many Chinese-Cuban restaurants. I hadn’t realized that this is the last one left.

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Andrew U.
Andrew U.
8 years ago
Reply to  Bob Lamm

Hi there Bob! Out of curiousity, do you remember the name(s) of any of the other Chinese-Cuban restaurants?

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AC
AC
8 years ago
Reply to  Andrew U.

Back in the 60’s / early 70’s, at the NE corner of 82nd street and B’way, at present day Café 82 and GEOX, there existed a delicious Chino-Cuban Restaurant by the name of Flor de Mayo. It was the original location, prior to relocating to 101 street and subsequently expanding to 83 and Amsterdam. Its managed by 2nd and 3rd generation offspring from the original owners.

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Cato
Cato
8 years ago
Reply to  AC

I’m a big fan of Flor de Mayo, have been for many years. But I think (based on menu items) that they are Peruvian in origin, not Cuban.

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AC
AC
8 years ago
Reply to  Cato

Erica/Cato, yes, I believe you’re right. Their current menu is more Peruvian based, but back then there were plenty of Cubans in the UWS, and their original menu was more Chino-Cuban than Chino-Peruvian. Cubans were a plenty back in the 50’s & 60’s in the UWS. I believe Fidel Castro once visited family on West 82, back in the late 40’s.

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EricaC
EricaC
8 years ago
Reply to  AC

Flor de Mayo is terrific – but I thought they were Peruvian-Chinese? Their food is delicious.

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Mary
Mary
8 years ago

Fascinating! Thank you for posting this.

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Katie Bitchman
Katie Bitchman
8 years ago

Great video! Love La Caridad but don’t forget about La Dinastia on 72nd. Almost the same menu!

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zeus
zeus
8 years ago

Have been eating there for over 30 years.
Never – ever – have they failed to deliver
a first rate quality food to the table.
Their carna guisada has to be the best beef stew in the city.
The potato alone in this dish is worth the price.

You go in, sit down, order the best food you
can order for under $25, and you leave with a smile on your face and a full and happy belly.

A great eating place, a reminder of what NYC used to be like, and especially the Upper West Side.

Stay open forever!

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Mark
Mark
8 years ago

Bad waiters doling out lousy food.
What could be better?

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zeus
zeus
8 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Mark,
Time to have a physical check up of your taste buds.
If the food, as you said, is “lousy”, may I ask what food and other restaurants do you consider to be good?
And as far as the service is considered – you get your order in less than 5 minutes, and no one bothers you to leave in case you want to stay awhile longer after you’re done eating.
It may not be a “Four Seasons” look alike, but the food is better and 95% less expensive.
Cheers

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Mark
Mark
8 years ago
Reply to  zeus

Yes, you may ask.

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zeus
zeus
8 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Well, I asked already, but you did not answer.

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Miriam
Miriam
8 years ago

Oh, I so miss the Cuban Chinese restaurant on Broadway between 108th & 109th! I had no idea there was even one left. Will have to visit this place. I imagine they don’t deliver this far up..? If they do, I’m ordering today. :p

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BW
BW
8 years ago
Reply to  Miriam

That was La Rosita, on Broadway between 108 and 109. It closed years ago, sadly.

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BW
BW
8 years ago
Reply to  BW

We remember delicious rope vieja, pressed sandwiches, and black squid ink rice.

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Martin
Martin
8 years ago
Reply to  Miriam

That was the late lamented La Rosita. Which was Puerto Rican, and not Chinese at all. Unless you’re thinking of another restaurant.

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Panko R Crumb
Panko R Crumb
8 years ago
Reply to  Miriam

was that “Taza de Oro”?

I loved that one. so small, inexpensive and soooo good!

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AnDee
AnDee
8 years ago
Reply to  Panko R Crumb

Think that was La Rosita, IIRC.

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Zev
Zev
8 years ago
Reply to  Panko R Crumb

I believe Taza de Oro was on 100th and broadway, where Metro Diner is today

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MQ
MQ
8 years ago

What about Dynastia?

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UWSer
UWSer
8 years ago

https://cubannewyorker.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/the-simple-pleasures-of-a-chino-cubano-restaurant-2/

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Jill S
Jill S
8 years ago

There is also Flor de Mayo on the UWS but I believe that is Peruvian-Chinese.

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Bill Falk
Bill Falk
8 years ago

There was one on the East Side of Broadway at about 94th Street. Is it still there??????

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Vicky Z
Vicky Z
8 years ago

My favorite restaurant ever. Ate there for 25 yrs when I lived on w 75th st.

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Adam Greene
Adam Greene
8 years ago

Don’t forgot about La Nueva Victoria (95th and Broadway)

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Jerry
Jerry
8 years ago

I suspect that Egg Foo Young is neither Chinese nor Cuban, but most likely an American dish. Whatever! La Caridad’s is the best.

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Ken J.
Ken J.
8 years ago

La Caridad is not the last Cuban Chinese restaurant. There is La Nueva Victoria on Broadway and 95th Street.

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Ted
Ted
8 years ago

I think La Caridad was a missed opportunity for Seinfeld. It is always so amusing when a hapless tourist tries to order a dish with some alteration which unleashes a harangue from the most intimidating waiters in the city. Street theater at its best.

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Sue
Sue
8 years ago
Reply to  Ted

Seinfeld mentioned La Caridad on the show

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Howard Freeman
Howard Freeman
8 years ago

I didn’t know the history, though I’ve always enjoyed the food. Awesome.

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Simcha Segalowitz
Simcha Segalowitz
8 years ago

There have been issues with the rating of the restaurant. Does anyone know the current rating? Is it A?

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Reply
grandmasterbeta
grandmasterbeta
8 years ago

Lung Fung was a great place. It was down on 8th and ~17th. The Rice and beans ruled.

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Reynold
Reynold
8 years ago

La Caridad will eventually expire due to the ongoing removal of unique heritage dishes. If they pander to middle-American tastes, they have no reason to exist. For my money, by far the best reason to visit was the scrambled eggs & bacalao (which is freshened salt cod). They took bacalao off the menu a couple of years ago.

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Reply

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