{"id":299104,"date":"2026-10-03T14:08:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T14:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/299104\/"},"modified":"2026-10-03T14:08:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T14:08:09","slug":"retail-watch-enjoy-authentic-puerto-rican-cuisine-at-new-lehigh-valley-restaurant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/299104\/","title":{"rendered":"Retail Watch: Enjoy authentic Puerto Rican cuisine at new Lehigh Valley restaurant"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new restaurant is offering a taste of Puerto Rico in the Lehigh Valley.<\/p>\n

Chinchorro held its grand opening<\/a> Thursday at 2600 William Penn Highway in Palmer Township.<\/p>\n

Owner Yesenia Westerband-Rodriguez said the restaurant will offer platters such as with rice and beans, sausage, pig roast, tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. It also has outdoor seating.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal that we have here is for whoever reaches us to feel like they are in Puerto Rico, so the menu will definitely be full authentic,\u201d Westerband-Rodriguez said. \u201c100% Puerto Rican.\u201d<\/p>\n

The restaurant is an expansion of the food truck La Frikitona<\/a> that Westerband-Rodriguez opened in 2021 with her husband Armando, who is the manager of Chinchorro.<\/p>\n

They originally were just looking for a commercial kitchen to prepare more food, but found an opportunity to lease at the property when Don Juan Mex Grill closed there.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity to grow,\u201d Westerband-Rodriguez said. \u201cWe have a lot of customers that come and they want that seating area, which we can\u2019t offer them in the food truck, so we saw this as a perfect place to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing better than doing what you love,\u201d Armando said.<\/p>\n

The restaurant is open11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.<\/p>\n

Westerband-Rodriguez said they plan to continue to operate the two food trucks they have, but that they may scale back on the number of events in which they participate.<\/p>\n

\"Carmen<\/p>\n

Carmen Cintron, left to right, Armando Rodriguez, cook and food prep., Yesenia Westerband-Rodriguez, owner, and Armando Rodriguez-Cintron, restaurant manager, serve up Puerto Rican specialties Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Puerto<\/p>\n

Puerto Rican specialties are served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Empanadas<\/p>\n

Empanadas and pastelillos are Puerto Rican specialties served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A Pi\u00f1a Colada Mocktail is served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A Jibarito sandwich is among the Puerto Rican specialties served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Loaded<\/p>\n

Loaded Fries is served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tostones<\/p>\n

Tostones are among the Puerto Rican specialties served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A Jibarito sandwich is among the Puerto Rican specialties served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Sorullitos<\/p>\n

Sorullitos is among the Puerto Rican specialties served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Puerto<\/p>\n

Puerto Rican specialties are served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Shrimp<\/p>\n

Shrimp DemBowl is one of the Puerto Rican specialties served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Puerto<\/p>\n

Puerto Rican specialties are served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Shrimp<\/p>\n

Shrimp DemBowl is one of the Puerto Rican specialties served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Black<\/p>\n

Black sausage is among the Puerto Rican specialties served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Alcapurria,<\/p>\n

Alcapurria, a popular Puerto Rican deep-fried fritter is one of the Puerto Rican specialties served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Puerto<\/p>\n

Puerto Rican specialties are served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Shrimp<\/p>\n

Shrimp DemBowl is one of the Puerto Rican specialties served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Alcapurria,<\/p>\n

Alcapurria, a popular Puerto Rican deep-fried fritter is one of the Puerto Rican specialties served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Puerto<\/p>\n

Puerto Rican specialties are served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Puerto<\/p>\n

Puerto Rican specialties are served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Puerto<\/p>\n

Puerto Rican specialties are served Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 21<\/p>\n

Carmen Cintron, left to right, Armando Rodriguez, cook and food prep., Yesenia Westerband-Rodriguez, owner, and Armando Rodriguez-Cintron, restaurant manager, serve up Puerto Rican specialties Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Chinchorro restaurant in Easton. Like their sister food truck La Frikitona, Chinchorro serves food items such as tostones, mofongo, sancocho, canoas and pastelillos. (Monica Cabrera\/The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a>
\nLehigh Valley retail and restaurant news in brief<\/p>\n

Taco Tek Mexican Grill: The restaurant opened Sept. 26<\/a> at the Schoenersville Centre at 3211 Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem, serving tacos, burritos and bowls.<\/p>\n

dd\u2019s DISCOUNTS: The discount retailer opened at the former Staples<\/a> at the Whitehall Square shopping center at 2180 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township.<\/p>\n

Nazareth Book Shoppe: The new bookshop announced it expects to open at the end of November<\/a> at 27 E. Belvidere St. in Nazareth. It will be from the same family that opened the Blackbird Antiques<\/a> store nearby last year.\u00a0The Hive crafts market operated at the property until it closed earlier this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fruitella Crepes: The dessert shop announced it would close<\/a> as a vendor at the Trolley Barn Public Market in Quakertown, noting that it would later announce a new location.<\/p>\n

Ripper Vintage: The secondhand store will open soon<\/a> at 21 S. Second St. in Easton, where it will offer clothing, jewelry, artwork, furniture and home decor.<\/p>\n

Shangy\u2019s Biergarten: The new biergarten announced it will hold a\u00a0grand opening<\/a> at noon Saturday at 40 E. Main St. in Emmaus.<\/p>\n

Tinto Tapas & Pasta: The property for the former Italian restaurant is up for sale and lease at 1028 Broadway in Fountain Hill, real estate agent Mario Peralta Jr. announced<\/a>. The liquor license would be included in the sale. The sale price is $1.3 million and the leasing price is $6,000 per month.<\/p>\n

The restaurant closed earlier this year<\/a>, and previously operated as Nonna Sulina\u2019s Sicilian Kitchen and Grill in Hanover Township, Northampton County, until a fire forced it to close in 2024.<\/p>\n

In other news<\/p>\n

The second \u201cRooted in the Lehigh Valley\u201d<\/a> networking event will occur at 4 p.m. Oct. 21 at House & Barn at 1449 Chestnut St. in Emmaus, as announced by the Jessie the Florst shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cRooted is all about taking the connections we make online and bringing them into real life \u2014 meeting the people behind the local businesses we follow, support, and love,\u201d the announcement said.<\/p>\n

Retail Watch is a weekly column covering retail and restaurant news in the Lehigh Valley. Have a question, tip, or want to see something in the area? Contact retail reporter Graysen Golter at retailwatch@mcall.com. Sign up for our weekly Retail Watch newsletter at mcall.com\/retailwatchsignup.<\/p>\n

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