Located on the western edge of Connecticut, Danbury has some great restaurants to choose from. Whether you’re driving through CT to New York, or are in the Fairfield County area, don’t miss a stop in town for some really, really good bites.

As foodies and frequent road-trip enthusiasts, we are always looking for great places to pull off the highway and enjoy mouth watering eats, SO... let us tell you how excited we were to learn about three awesome family owned restaurants in Danbury.

First Stop: Miña’s Carne 36 Osborne St, Danbury

Fast Casual Authentic Brazilian BBQ with tons of delicious options

Second Stop: Amigos Deli 130 West St Danbury

Spanish Deli and Butchershop serving up fresh food options with fantastic service.

Third Stop: Mariposa Taqueria 56 Mill Plain Rd, Danbury

Creative Latin American dishes and drinks in a fun festive environment that pays tribute to their Mother and their dominican descent.

The STORY:

The Reyes Family first came to America in 1990 from the Dominican Republic in search of more opportunities for success and a better life for their four children. Settling in Danbury Connecticut, their father began working as a janitor and after years of hard work, found an opportunity to buy his own business - Amigos Deli.

In operation for 30 years, Amigos Deli & Grocery started as a single storefront on West Street, and with the Reyes family at the helm, was one of the very first quick-service Latino establishments in Danbury to serve up authentic Dominican and Latin dishes. Amigos now has two storefronts – an attached liquor store – and a recently added butcher shop inside the deli/grocery.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the friendliest staff who immediately make you feel like family.. You can order a platter of food served with heaping portions of rice & beans, and your choice of more than 15 different meats and authentic latin sides. There is also an impressive Sandwich menu. We enjoyed the “Cubano” sandwich – filled with juicy pulled pork, ham, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayo and mustard ($6.99) and the “Chimi” Sandwich – a seasoned burger patty with cabbage red onions, tomato, ketchup & mayo ($5.99). We also had Huevos Rancheros with eggs, green tomato-chili salsa, avocado, corn tortillas, and black beans ($4.99).

Juan Reyes: “Amigos Deli is really where everyone comes together. It’s an opportunity to meet new people and members of the community.” It’s 30 years of love. The family grew up working at Amigo’s together and it shows when you walk in because you can feel the love in the atmosphere and reflected in the incredible food.

Another stop on our EatINerary was Minas Carne, serving up authentic Brazilian BBQ in a friendly, fast-casual environment. Minas is very popular among locals and the college crowds for good reason. Their friendly atmosphere and authentic Brazilian BBQ and sides will have you drooling as soon as you walk in. If you go for lunch, arrive early or be prepared to wait in line. Don’t worry though, the line moves quickly and you will enjoy watching the many impressive meats on display rotating on large skewers in their authentic brick oven charcoal BBQ pit.

We started with the salad bar and added a few savory sides like collard greens, spaghetti and plantains. Then we piled on the MEAT — flame roasted chicken, steak, and PINEAPPLE. Yes… pineapple. We had to order the homemade bread stuffed with cheese and of course a desert, so we chose the delicious homemade flan.

Our last stop on our EatINerary was Mariposa Taqueria. As you walk up to Mariposa you are greeted by the most charming little patio reminiscent of a beautiful outdoor space you would find on the West Coast as well as in Latin-America. As you enter the restaurant, you are welcomed with vibrant warm colors, and stylish Spanish-style art and tiles adding to the ambiance.

Formerly Mezón tapas bar, Mariposa came about because of the pandemic and the need to pivot during Covid. Like many restaurants and small businesses hit by the pandemic, Mezón found themselves needing to make a change that would be better suited to the current climate. Staying true to their Latin-American roots and their commitment to community, Mariposa was a rebirth.

At the helm of Mariposa are brothers Javier (head chef) and Sam (Managing Bartender). “We chose the name Mariposa because our mom loves butterflies, which is the English translation of Mariposa,” says Sammy Reyes. “We chose a decor that represents and reflects our Latin American culture.

The Atmosphere completely transported us to a warmer climate, while the drinks and the food had us literally saying… I would drive an hour for this any day. The menu is broken out into Arepas, Tacos, Snacks, and “Mamas Meats”. We enjoyed the Abuelita’s Arepa with shredded chicken, avocado, cilantro, and fresno chile ($5), Empanadas with Sofrito Chicken ($5) and Cheesy Corn & Coconut ($4), Tacos – The El Pastor adobo roasted pork, pineapple, jalapeño ($7), Carne Asada with ancho chili steak, salsa duo ($8), and a Mofango special with beef, chicken, pork and corn.

The Drinks are some of the best craft beverages we have ever had. The drinks menu is broken out into differnet sections such as “Sugar, Lime, Booze” which consist of various Margaritas, Caipirinhas, and Mojitos; Limonadas like the classic, and strawberry and passionfruit, Sangria, Beer and Wine, and our favorite…”Papas Drinks”.

As Sam says, “These are options inspired by our father's love for fun and delicious cocktails.” They are impressive, strong and delicious. Not to mention they are so beautiful you will want to take pictures.

We can see why they say, “Mariposa, like Latin-American culture, has a heartbeat – a pulsating rhythm of energy that revolves around community, tradition and a strong zest for life.” We loved everything about Mariposa and we can’t wait to return.

All 3 locations are about creating opportunities within the Danbury community, whether it is job creation, offering up a place to congregate, or just a comfortable place to relax and enjoy delicious down home Latin American food. Thank you Reyes family for bringing these amazing restaurants to Connecticut.

Danbury, CT