Best Asopao de Pollo Near Me: 4 Top NYC Spots, Ranked
Craving a steaming bowl of chicken asopao? We tracked down the Dominican and Puerto Rican kitchens in Manhattan and the Bronx that locals actually line up for — with addresses, phone numbers, prices, and exactly what to order at each one.
The 4 best asopao de pollo spots in NYC
Quick comparison table
What is asopao de pollo?
Frequently asked questions
If you searched “best asopao de pollo near me” from anywhere in New York City, you’re in luck: NYC has some of the best asopao outside of Santo Domingo and San Juan. The dish — a rich, brothy rice stew loaded with tender chicken — is a staple of the city’s Dominican neighborhoods, from the Lower East Side to the Bronx.
We ranked the four spots below on broth depth, rice texture, portion size, and value. All four are long-running family restaurants (not chains), and every one offers dine-in, pickup, and delivery.
The 4 Best Asopao de Pollo Spots in NYC
El Castillo De Jagua 2
A Lower East Side institution for Dominican comfort food. The asopao de pollo here hits the classic mark: thick, peppery broth, rice cooked just past al dente so it drinks up the stock, and generous pieces of bone-in chicken. Portions are big enough to split. If you’re feeling flush, the asopao de langosta (lobster, $38) is the house showstopper.
El Castillo De Jagua (Original)
The original Rivington Street location, and the old-school choice. A no-frills Dominican diner where the asopao comes out fast, hot, and deeply seasoned. The seafood versions — asopao de camarones (shrimp) and asopao de langosta (lobster) — rotate alongside the chicken, and the pernil and pollo al horno make strong backup orders if you’re bringing a group.
Parrilla Latina
The Bronx pick for asopao with serious range. The menu lists both asopao de pollo (chicken soupy rice) and asopao de mariscos (seafood soupy rice), plus paella and mofongo with crab. Open until 10 PM — later than the Manhattan spots — which makes it the best late-dinner asopao option on this list.
Cafe Colonial Restaurant & Grill
A neighborhood Latin grill on White Plains Road that regulars trust for homestyle asopao. Less famous than the Castillo De Jagua duo, but that works in your favor: shorter waits, and the same soul-warming bowl. A solid choice if you’re in the East Bronx and don’t want to trek to Fordham or Manhattan.
Quick Comparison
| Restaurant | Neighborhood | Best For | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Castillo De Jagua 2 | Lower East Side | Classic chicken asopao, lobster splurge | (212) 995-0244 |
| El Castillo De Jagua | Lower East Side | Old-school vibe, shrimp asopao | (212) 982-6412 |
| Parrilla Latina | Fordham, Bronx | Late hours, seafood asopao | (718) 329-3000 |
| Cafe Colonial | Pelham Pkwy, Bronx | No-wait neighborhood bowl | (718) 824-1933 |
Hours and prices verified July 2026 — call ahead, as asopao sometimes sells out on weekends.
What Is Asopao de Pollo?
Asopao de pollo (“chicken asopao”) is the Caribbean’s answer to chicken and rice soup — but richer. It sits halfway between a soup and a paella: medium-grain rice is simmered in a sofrito-based broth with chicken, olives, capers, and peppers until the rice releases its starch and the whole pot turns velvety and spoonable.
Puerto Rican and Dominican kitchens each claim their own version. The Puerto Rican style leans on sofrito, tomato, and green olives; the Dominican style is often brothier, finished with a squeeze of lime. Either way, it’s rainy-day food — the dish Dominicans and Boricuas call for when they need a bowl that feels like home. No surprise, then, that "best asopao de pollo near me" is one of New York's most common comfort-food searches on a rainy evening.
Want to make it yourself? Our step-by-step authentic asopao de pollo recipe breaks down the sofrito, the rice ratio, and the timing. Watching your macros? See the full asopao de pollo nutrition and calorie guide.
Explore by Neighborhood
Best Asopao in the Lower East Side — the full Castillo De Jagua story: Grand St vs. Rivington St, compared dish by dish.
Best Asopao in the Bronx — Fordham’s seafood asopao and the borough’s latest-open bowl.
Make It at Home — the authentic recipe, plus the calorie and nutrition guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find the best asopao de pollo near me in NYC?
In Manhattan, head to the Lower East Side — El Castillo De Jagua 2 (521 Grand St) and the original El Castillo De Jagua (113 Rivington St) both serve it daily. In the Bronx, try Parrilla Latina (2501 Webster Ave) or Cafe Colonial (2072 White Plains Rd). All four deliver.
How much does asopao de pollo cost?
Roughly $13–$20 for chicken asopao at most NYC Dominican restaurants. Seafood versions run higher — lobster asopao is about $38 at El Castillo De Jagua 2.
Is asopao the same as arroz con pollo?
No — arroz con pollo is drier, like a pilaf. Asopao is deliberately soupy: the rice stays loose in a rich broth. If you want something spoonable, order asopao.
Which borough has the best asopao?
For classic Dominican asopao, the Lower East Side’s Grand Street corridor is hard to beat. For late-night bowls and seafood versions, the Bronx (Webster Ave) wins.