cuban-chinese

I have heard from native new yorkers about how good
cuban-chinese is. Does anyone know of any good ones in Manhatten?

I think LaCaridad is overrated. I like La Tacita d'Oro on B'way and 99-100th. Also, you can get great island food without the Chinese component. El Malacon on 97th and Amsterdam (great cafe con leche) or El International on Amsterdam and 90th. Both have great soups (especially the chicken and the tripe), great cubanos, beans etc..

You could also try LA CHINITA LINDA on 8th Avenue between 18th & 19th Sts.

I recommend the Roast Pork Cuban Style (pernil asado) with yellow rice and black beans. The Chicken Crackling is good as well.

The only time I went to a Chinese restaurant in Havana,I was surprised to be served bread and butter with the meal.

I do not mean this as praise or condemnation. But it is unusual.

La Caridad on the Upper West Side ... B'way and 78th St., I believe.

can anyone explain the phenomenon that is cuban-chinese? how did this happen?

Cuban chinese comes from Chinese immigrants to Cuba who at some point re-immigrated to the US, mostly to NYC, probably to flee from Castro's government. That's what I've been told, at least.

A large population of chinese men, mostly from southern China (Guangzhou) immigrated to a very prosperous Cuba before Castro took over. American immigration policies were pretty tight, too. When the Cuban economy downturned, many of them moved to NYC (including some of my uncles). Unfortunately, the majority of these men who opened these chino-cubano restaurants are at least in their late 60s or have passed away. A short but descriptive article about this phenomenon was in Time Out New York about a year ago. A large portion of them opened up on Restaurant Row and in Queens (Jackson Heights, Corona, etc.) They're pretty much gone now except for La Caridad.

I miss the chicharrons and chicken chow mein side by side, not to mention the cuban sandwiches and the butterfly shrimp my Dad used to make. :(

Yes, La Caridad is at that location, 78th and Bdway, and prepares wonderful fried pork chops (unless they are left too long on the grill!). I always ask for them "not well-done" and they say, "yes" and much of the time I am "lucky." By the way, if you're not familiar with Cuban-Chinese restaurants, the Cuban/Spanish food is on one side of the menu and the Chinese, on the other. Two different cuisines. I usually enjoy the Cuban, tho the egg foo young is good comfort food.