Leticias Restaurant in Queens

Leticias: A Mother’s Recipes, Corona’s Pride

The most reliable restaurants are named after someone real. At Leticias in Corona, the name belongs to the owner’s mother, and her cooking — the ceviches, the soul-warming soups, the Sunday-table pork — is the entire point. What the family added is polish: a modern room, crafted cocktails and plating that honors the food instead of hiding it.

The Story

Leticias set out to serve Ecuadorian hospitality made in Queens: recipes handed down from Leticia herself, cooked with fresh ingredients and a few creative liberties. In a neighborhood dense with South American kitchens, this one built its name on doing the classics properly and welcoming everyone — regulars swear the room feels like being hosted, not served.

On the Table

The ceviche has admirers across Queens, bright with citrus and generous with seafood. The encebollado — Ecuador’s famous restorative tuna soup — is the dish expats order first, while the fritada with mote pillo, the chaulafán and the whole roasted trucha cover the comfort spectrum. To drink: the signature Quaker Frío, a chilled oat drink, or cocktails mixed from Ecuadorian spirits and fruit. Leave room for something sweet — desserts follow the same homemade instinct.

The Space

Contemporary and light-filled, with warm colors and none of the theme-restaurant costume. It moves gracefully from family lunches — strollers, grandparents, birthday flan — to relaxed evenings when the lights drop and the cocktail shaker takes over.

Who It’s For

Families keeping traditions alive one Sunday at a time, couples exploring beyond the familiar, and anyone who believes a restaurant with a mother’s name on the door will not dare serve a careless plate.

Good to Know

When is it liveliest? Weekend afternoons — the classic hour for Ecuadorian family lunches.

What’s the signature dish? The ceviche, with the encebollado a close and beloved second.

Can I celebrate an occasion here? Yes — the staff happily accommodates birthdays and family gatherings; call ahead for larger tables.

What is Quaker Frío? A traditional chilled Ecuadorian drink blended from oats and fruit — refreshing and worth trying once.

Are there lighter options? Certainly: ceviches, soups and grilled fish keep the meal fresh rather than heavy.

Opening hours