The Last Cuban-Chinese Restaurant in NYC 

I was born and raised in this neighborhood, and I have been eating la Caridad since I was a baby. All the guys there have known me since I was a week old. Believe me, the food there is amazing, they always give you great service and several laughs to go along with it. If I was extra good Antonio would sneak me a soda or some fried bananas when I was a child. Even when I was away at college the first thing I did when I came home was go out and eat the chopped beef, yellow rice and black beans. That place is a treasure and the guys there are worth getting to know.

Antonio Wong, legend. 🙌

Chinese guy with a Cuban accent. Woah lol

They are permanently closed because of the pandemic, my friends and I grew up eating there and there won’t be any other place like them. Rest In Peace Clarida 78.

been going there since 1982, have yet to have a bad meal.

Can y’all just give the Chinese Cuban guy his own show?

they just reopen at 72 net columbus and brodway,they have some of there kids and nephew in charge now,been eating there since i arrive in NYC at 86,the best!

Absolutely tragic that this great establishment had to close its doors amid these very trying times. Brings a tear to my eye.

*watches video* *immediately gets on the 1 for 79th*

"New York's last Cuban-Chinese restaurant" *Until I open one*

I have known these guys for almost 40 years! Their restaurant used to be one counter with about 7 seats and a line would be outside waiting to get in!

I'm Chinese and Cuban from Brooklyn didn't think we were a common thing

Similar situation that my family experienced. My parents immigrated from China to Puerto Rico and started their own Chinese-Puerto Rican restaurant. From there, I was born and later we moved to New York. It's great to see different cultures merging and becoming something that's unique and special. 🇨🇳🇵🇷🇺🇸

0:42 Good job man! Never shut your phone to your wife, even when you're doing an interview. 👏👏😂

La Caridad has closed, and it was NOT the "last" Cuban-Chinese restaurant in New York City by any means. Within a one mile circumference of La Caridad's location, there are three Cuban-Chinese restaurants: two branches of "Flor de Mayo," which despite the Peruvian Pollo a la Brasa, which is their signature menu item, first opened on Broadway as purely Cuban-Chinese. To this day, the Peruvian chicken notwithstanding, the rest of the menu at both Flor de Mayos is pretty much as it was thirty+ years ago-Chinese on one side, Cuban on the other. There is also La Dinastia, at 145 West 72nd Street, a Cuban-Chinese restaurant that has been open for at least forty years A La Dinsatia II Cuban-Chinese is further up Broadway in Washington Heights. Head out to Brooklyn, and I can think of at least four other Cuban-Chinese restaurants scattered between Sunset Park, Bushwick, and Williamsburg. It's true that there are more Cuban-Chinese places that have closed in the last twenty years than have opened, but they still dot the landscape in all five boroughs. And no other genre of restaurant makes better fried rice.

RIP to this restaurant that died among many other restaurants during covid.

At 1:39 the cuban guy said "a mi me tienen haciendo aquí y comiendo mierda aquí" which roughly translates to "they have me here cooking and eating this shit" xD

do a side story on antonio. he's proper OG!

as a Floridian who knows Cuban food. I would love to check this place out for sure

I'm Domican and we have a decent amount of Chinese people in the Dominican republic there pretty nice and make amazing fried chicken lol

I walked by this place so many times, never been in. Need to check it out!

La Caridad re-opened!

My dad was born in Havana in 1950 and was part of operation Pedro Pan when he was 11 and flew to the US by himself! My grandparents didn’t follow until a year later! I lost him when I was a teenager and I wish I had more time to hear about how my ancestors came to live in Cuba.

Antonio is legit Cuban. He said "comiendo mierda aqui". 🇨🇺💖

I'm half Cuban, my family is Cuban Chinese and I love Cuban Chinese food! So freaking good!

I am Chinese born in Brazil, and when I moved to Canada and was taking French classes, the teacher was puzzled with me whenever I spoke in French. She said my French accent was from Latin America and not like an Asian accent, so she wanted to know where I was really from. Lol.

Dang. I absolutely loved this place. My family frequented the restaurant since I was small. It was so sad to see it close after so many fond memories with the friendly staff and incredible cuisine. It will most definitely be missed.

There was a Chinese Cuban man in my neighborhood growing up in Southern California. All of us kids called him “El Cubano Chino”

Man that food looks good. I like how Chinese food is sort of different in every country as the immigrants adapt their food to local tastes. People can complain it's not authentic but the important thing is it's good food. I live in Japan and I like the Chinese food here. I'd like to go to this place if I'm ever in New York.

I remember going to China town in Cuba as a kid, It was like an entirely different city full of Chinese people, they had some amazing food.

This is a pretty epic piece of journalism, displaying the melding of two cultures through historic events, and the culinary effects as a result. Honestly, as someone of Hispanic origin and raised in Texas, understand how something like this can happen. It is similar to the Tex-Mex culinary movement and Bill Miller's own inclusion of BBQ items to taco menus.

I remember my first time going to mexico, going to a chinese restaurant and hearing the workers talk perfect spanish, it was dope.

I remember meeting and going to school with Cuban Chinese people. Blew my mind. Chinese but with a strong Cuban accent and a lot of gold jewelry. So dope and unique

It's an amazing place. When we visited NY a few years ago, our hotel was close by and we had a chance to do some take-out. So glad we did!

At least once a week, my Father and I would hop on the M79 from the UES to eat here. Antonio would always sneak me a guava juice when I was little. (I suppose he did this often with all the regular kids! Haha.) This restaurant is a staple in our family, and a way for my Father to feel close to home- away from his native Puerto Rico. Never a bad meal, and an atmosphere to make you feel as though you have been “one of the family” for many years. This is the type of place that makes New York City... New York City! ❤️ Also try: “La Dinastia” on West 72nd- amazing Chino Latino!

"Chino-Latino" restaurants, as they were called, were once all over New York City when I was a kid growing up. A shame this one has since closed. I was only ever there once, but they were fantastic.

sadly, this is closed. Damn, this will be on our history book.

As a kid I often used to eat with my family at another nearby Cuban Chinese place called La Maravillia back in the 70s and 80s. The combo fried rice was the best! I had a taste for tangy stuff and there was always a bottle of white vinegar on the table along with the soy sauce. I ended up always putting vinegar on my food and would get weird looks when I asked for vinegar in other Chinese restaurant.

Cuban-Chinese food - sounds pretty insane. Will def try out this restaurant for my upcoming trip to NYC. Thanks for sharing this place!

Excellent story and history. And of course excellent food. Hope they can keep on the tradition.

Now I know why my grandmother would always know how to make such good Chinese food. We are Cuban and I was always so confused because she didn’t know anything things other than what she learned in Cuba. She would always say there’s a bit of Chinese in all of us 😂😂 Cuba is such a blended country. Don’t matter the race. If you were born there you’re Cuban no matter what.

This place closed in July 2020. A shame I never ate there. Rest in peace

I go to Collegiate which is right next to La Caridad (well until we moved). This and Europan were always where people went after school. So this restaurant holds a special place in my heart :)

Chinese/Jamacian is still super underrated. Fort lauderdale and Miami, Florida's best kept secret.

Lol I love the Cuban guy 😂❤️

My dads cuban Chinese. It always surprises people when he speaks Spanish haha.

I hope they continue!!! And more people go there it's such a good mix!!!

Antonio Wong straight up got that mafia boss energy. Dude is so chill lmao love it

I'm Latin and I F'n love this! Much props to the Cuban/Chinese man. He has a better accent than I do lol

Sadly, I just heard that they are closing. I hope there will be more such restaurants to carry on the Cuban-Chinese culture.

I’ve been lookin for something like this for a while

Such an amazing spot, many dinners there with my father and sister. Pa'lante Caridad 78!!!

Even though the Covid 19 pandemic sadly ended this restaurant, this video recording of them will be around almost forever.

that looks damn tasty

Best food ever! First visited back in the 90’s. I live in another state now but always stop by whenever I’m in NYC 😎

These are 2 cuisines I can't get enough of. I've been out of plantains for a few weeks and it hurts

Fascinating!

I remember eating there back in 1999, good tho know that place is still around. I know of other Cuban-Chinese kitchens in other parts of NY like in Brooklyn. I am surprised "Caridad" have not been driven out by the high rents.

love the colors in the shots

They had several great Cuban - Chinese Restaurants all over New York City. Hard working people providing delicious foods. A magnificent culinary combination from two different worlds. :-)

The last? No. Nuevo Jardín de China in queens has been open for a very long time, and is still open, and the food/staff is amazing.

Omg that food looks amazing

Love that place. Haven't been there in years. Must go back!

As a Cuban Chinese this makes me feel not alone lmao

0:48 This! Bistec (beef steak) de Palomilla and fried rice 🤤

RIP La Caridad. One of my favorite places in the city.

Cuban-Chinese food?! I had no idea such a thing existed, but now I want it. 😋

Chinese Cubans have been there and still are. Havana has a large Chinese community. The irony is that they left China because of Communism and migrated to Cuba and now many have left Cuba for the same reason. La Caridad 78, an Upper West Side anchor on the corner of 78th Street and Broadway for 52 years, has closed. It was one of the city’s best-known purveyors of Chino Latino food, a particular combination of Chinese-American and Cuban fare.

I too face a similar dilemma. A paternal ancestor of mine came spoke Flemish (or Frisian?) and descended from Benelux traders living in Persia They moved to India when Queen Victoria was crowned Empress of India. My great-grandfather used to love eating Flemish and Iranian food in the early 1900s but the family recipes have been lost over time due to us converting to Hinduism and not eating beef, pork and meats.

This is awesome! First Restaurant I will go to where I visit New York

Amazing fusion

Awesome. I love Cuban food and like Chinese food.

The fact he didn’t let go of his roots and carried his father’s legacy. Huge respect for him 💯

I love everything about this

These two cultures are so beautiful together

I'm going to NYC in 3 weeks. I want to eat here!

I live 1 block from La Caridad and have eaten there for years. You can always tell a good inexpensive restaurant in NYC when cabs are double parked at dinner time. Sadly they have closed a victim of COVID. It is not the only Cuban Chinese restaurananother. It was one of the last family run businesses in the neighborhood. So I will have to find another. So sad indeed. It will be missed. ❤❤❤

Very interesting mix. Would like to try this place.

Oh wow i just went to this place on my first trip to NYC, i wanted some authentic cuban food and when i got inside i was very confused, but it was one of the best meals I've had

La Dinastia is still open as I have their delish boneless chicken crackling in my mouth right now!!! (72nd st)

When 2 communist forces come together

Looks amazing!!

*You already know* that anytime you walk into one of those small mom and pop restaurants that has a picture of each dish on the wall for you to browse thru, that the food is going to be 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Damn, the Chinese diaspora is a beautiful thing. There were also Chinese in South America and Cuba back on the day. That's why there's chaufa. Also, I was going to say there's also Mi Estrella in Jackson Heights. I used to get their guk when I was sick and it was made with yellow rice. Not sure if it closed or not...

THEY'RE GONE! Yesterday, I was craving this and decided to go here only to see that they shut down 😢. I don't know when was this but now I'm sad

Sounds like the perfect combination

Excellent episode

So interesting, I thought "Comida China y Criolla" was only a thing in here the Dominican Republic. Basically every Chinese restaurant here serves a mix of Chinese and Caribbean food, where tostones are as important as rice.

Fascinating, I'll definitely have to visit next time I'm in New York

There are a few chino cubano spots in Queens and they are on point! I grew up eating at Jardin de China on Broadway in Astoria, Queens. Great food and great service.

I love this place, the food is so good!

La Caridad recently closed. Sad to see such a great place go.

"They got me eating shit here" THATS WHAT HE SAID OMG

im gonna cry. i hate when good things start to come to an end. may this restaurant live on pls ;;

Nice combo 👌

I miss this channel 🥺💔

01:38 if anyone is curious to know what the cook said in spanish, as a native spanish speaker and a caribbean myself, I have to say, this guy has a very quick accented cubano spanish style. I myself hardly understand half of it, the first part in unintelligible for me but it ends saying "comiendo mierda aquí" which means "eating shit here"... he's joking of course, it doesn't mean the food is bad but that he's toiling with work

I enjoy both cuisines, I'd love to try this.

How beautiful. I love eclectic interracial mixtures!

Great, I'm hungry now.