Bodega Bamz’s Five Favorite Restaurants In Spanish Harlem

Bodega Bamz is proud of where he came from. Growing up in Spanish Harlem in New York, the 28-year-old rapper represents a new wave of Dominican/Puerto Rican rappers in hip-hop. Thanks to his Tanboys movement, Bamz is one of the buzzing rappers ready to make a noticeable impact on the game. What most people don’t know about Bamz is he’s also the go-to tour guide for eating good food uptown. During a recent stop through XXL headquarters, we asked Bamz about his five favorite restaurants in his neighborhood. Here are his picks, including one that'll pleasantly surprise you. —Eric Diep

Cuchifritos

Bodega Bamz: No. 1, Cuchifritos. A restaurant called Cuchifritos, man. It’s on 116th St. between 3rd Ave. and Lexington. And this restaurant has been here for 45 years. They don’t even deliver. That shit is like a staple. Like a monument in Spanish Harlem.

Patsy’s Pizzeria

Patsy’s is No. 2. It’s a pizzeria. Another one that’s been there for a hundred years. It’s on 118th St. and 1st Ave. It’s a very historical pizzeria. It's been there for 100 years. Italian-owned. To me, it’s one of the best pizzas in New York. That shit is mad good and shit.

Ricardo’s Steakhouse

Ricardo’s Steakhouse, they got two actually. They got two on 2nd Ave. They got one on 119th St. and one on 109th. Ricardo’s Steakhouse, cool. A lot of gangsters be there. They pull up with they Ferraris. A lot of women be there. Last time I been there, it was two-and-a-half years ago, I met a young lady there. But, it's one of them places where when you get there, all eyes are on you. People start looking at you like, “What you got?” It’s been there for a minute.

McDonald's

McDonald's. I remember my mom being on welfare and every time she got that check on the 1st and 15th, we would go to McDonald's. 117th and 3rd Ave. I take it personal when people be shitting on McDonald's man. I take it personal because you know why? I take [it] personal when these dudes that came from the hood and you just switch it out of nowhere. That was the thing man. We couldn’t afford anything else but McDonald's. This is when McDonald's was fucking cheap, now that shit’s expensive. But yeah, we used to look forward to them days. I really know about that shit. I grew up broke.

Sandy’s

It’s another restaurant that’s been there for fucking ever. It’s on the corner of 116th St. between 2nd Ave. Spanish food. Really good shit. Puerto Rican shit. They don’t got too much Dominican food in Spanish Harlem. Like I said, it’s predominantly Puerto Rican. For Dominican food, you go to the heights, Washington Heights.