At the end of 2019, we said goodbye to Zafra, a colorful Cuban-Latin fare restaurant located at 301 Willow Avenue. But the locale reopened under the name Changó Kitchen after some very quick renovations. The spot has a similar menu, just new owners, so you can still get your Zafra-esque food fix at this Willow Avenue spot in Hoboken. Since its opening, Chango has made a name for itself, and for good reason. Here’s all about Changó Kitchen in Hoboken.
About Changó
Although Changó is keeping a similar menu to the previous Zafra Kitchen, the restaurant itself is under new ownership. This new Mile Square venture is a BYOB and is the brainchild of Ceferino Fernandez. When it was called Zafra, the space was owned by Clara Chaumont and boasted a menu curated by Chef Marciel Presilla. They were also the masterminds behind the beloved Cucharamama, just a few blocks down at 233 Clinton Street, now La Boheme.
What’s on the Menu
Lovers of Zafra can rejoice, because although the space is under the aforementioned Fernandez’s ownership, the restaurant has kept some of Zafra’s menu favorites, paying homage to its predecessors. Beyond Zafra’s menu, the menu at Changó has expanded to include other Latin-American dishes, like mofongo (a classic Puerto Rican dish), Cuban sandwiches, and more.
Beyond the savory options, however, Changó sells desserts, too. Think tres leches cakes for a sweet-tooth fix at any time of the day. Team HG contributor Danielle snapped this amazing pic of the new tres leches dish, and damn, it’s definitely something to write home about.
Read More: La Isla (Uptown): An Intimate Cuban Dining Experience
Now, Changó is not the only Latin American-inspired restaurant in the Mile Square. Changó is among The Cuban on Washington Street, La Isla Uptown and La Isla Downtown, Charrito’s in Midtown, Orale all the way uptown, La Casa, and more. Of course, each of these locales offers its own unique spin and take on savory Latin dishes, but there is one thing that is guaranteed among all of them — the food will be delicious.
Chango also offers catering for off-site events. Keep up with the restaurant and its ever-changing daily specials via its Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Written by: Arielle Witter
Arielle is a born-and-bred Jersey girl and like a true NJ native, half her diet consists of bagels and the other half pizza. As a graduate of both American University and City, University of London, she’s been a passionate writer ever since she wrote her first “book” in the first grade. When she’s not furiously typing away at her keyboard, she spends her time ticking places off of her “to travel to” list, trying any and all new foods, and trying to stop herself from spending too much money at Zara.
