Carlito's Chicken, San Jose

The chefs at Carlito's Chicken roast free-range chickens on a Peruvian-style rotisserie, yielding meat that one San Jose Mercury News writer called “fall-off-the-bone scrumptious.” They conjure other Latin American flavors, as well; they fry sirloin steak milanesa, steam tamales in banana leaves, and stuff salvadoran pupusas with pork, squash, and other savory fillings. Diners can sip freshly squeezed fruit juices and imported beers and wines while unwinding in the eatery’s dining room, which is decorated with colorful murals and Latin American flags.