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While in Puerto Rico we decided to try a local spot for food. This place had really good Google reviews and it was a short walk so we decided to give them a try. When we arrived the place was packed which to me is a good indication that the food is good. We waited for quite a while, and we were probably acknowledged once thee entire time we were waiting. As some people got up from the bar we were seated there. I wasn't really sure what to order and asked my server for suggestions and went with her suggestion, which was snapper and mofongo. My son ordered a cheeseburger with fries! I was under the impression that the snapper was going to be fried, but it was just a pan seared filet. Neither the fish or the mofongo had enough seasoning for me, so for me the meal wasn't the best. My son however really enjoyed his food. Service was just okay, we were never asked how our meal was. It's a really small space and gets really packed, but you can tell they have a lot of locals that are regulars. And while we were eating a guy came in playing an instrument and singing which was nice!
I went to Café Manolín as it was recommended by my local friend. Maybe half touristy, but still filled with locals and super affordable prices for their selection of Puerto Rican specialties. Exterior is a blue building, with it slightly misplaced location-wise on Google Maps. Luckily, I had my friend with me and we found the spot and were seated right away during the lunch rush on a Sunday. Interior has a mix of bar and table seating, a little on the noisier side, mostly from lively chatter and brassy laughter. I asked for the daily menu and a recommendation, and went with their carne mechada. Delicious. The arroz con gandules was super flavorful, and the tostones and mofongo were amazing. Definitely try the house hot sauce here. I only went to a few Puertan Rican spots during my visit: Café Manolín took the cake. You get a large amount of food for the price, and the food is delicious. If you can land a spot, I recommend going here for your fix of Puertan Rican dishes.
Great local simple spot! We wanted a good breakfast and fast as it was our last morning in San Juan and Cafe Manolin was just perfect. We ordered cafe con leche, eggs and bread with butter. Yes I dipped the bread in the coffee lol I felt comfy and at home at this place as it is clearly well known by the neighborhood locals. The servers know the regulars and I enjoyed seeing their interactions. Food was simple and hit the spot. We were out of there in no time and on our way to our next destination. I recommend it if you're on a budget looking for simple, not overpriced and relaxed atmosphere.
Came during SanSe which is one of the busiest times of year. My daughter and I had been walking around and I wanted her to try a local place that is not touristy with authentic food. Cafe Manolin did not disappoint. She loved it. Very affordable food with great flavors and great staff. Everyone is so hardworking and kind. I love it here. Great vibes always. Thank you for the consistency and not breaking the bank.
I was excited to come back here for lunch. Just like last time, the place was packed with both tourists and locals. Our waiter was super friendly, and service was pretty quick. I wanted the mofongo but went lighter with the onion steak, paired with plantains and salad (rice and beans would've been obviously been better). My friend had the empanada Milanesa and really enjoyed it--she'd definitely order it again. The real standout was the flan--topped with coconut and absolutely delicious. Easily a 10/10! We had a sweet treat every day during our stay in PR, and this flan was hands down the best.
Café Manolín is an old school diner that has been serving breakfast and lunch since the 1940s. It does get packed so expect a wait for service and food. The AC is bumping to keep everyone nice and cool. We tried the Mofongo Relleno de Camarones (the traditional Puerto Rican green plantain dish filled with shrimp) for $18.95 and Sierra a la Parrilla (grilled king fish) for $14.95. Each plate comes with two sides of your choosing. We got rice, beans, salad and sweet plantains, which were all delicious. The king fish was a bit on the tough and dry side, like swordfish. We washed our food down with coconut juice and Medalla, the local beer. The staff are accommodating, but they are sure quick to close at 4pm!
Delicious stop for dinner. Found this place while roaming the streets, and glad we did. I ordered the pork dish and my wife got the chicken dish. Both excellent and flavorful. I think the pork dish was better Our server was friendly and helpful showing us images of the food on her phone. No English, so that was helpful. We sat at a counter and it was pretty crowded. But crowded is good.
Cool spot, terrible service. The Great: trifongo was goooood The Good: The iced coffee was good after waiting 20 minutes to get it. The bad: The slow service The ugly: The unfriendly & inattentive server We waited a really long time for our food & drinks. The server seemed less then thrilled to help tourists. The food was luke warm.
4 months ago
25 days ago
Busy and for a good reason! We got the Mofongo Relleno de Carne Frita (fried pork) and it was soo good! The mofongo itself was a bit dry, but the flavor was still delicious! Loved the plantains as well. Normally, I'm not a fan of beans like how they served it, but I was pleasantly surprised by them in a good way. Overall, 3.5 stars round to 4. read more
Food was good but mofongo came out a bit too dry. I tried to separate it but it was so hard that I could pick up the whole thing with one fork. Other than that the food tasted great so rating comes down a little. Ambiance was great inside. Like a diner vibe. One other thing that brought the rating down was that we ordered fries instead of the plantains. We specifically remember asking because when we asked, the server asked if we wanted it as a separate side or as a replacement but when she came with the normal side of plantains and we said we ordered fries, she sort of snapped back saying "no you didn't. You never asked for it". It was sort of busy so I understand if she forgot and we honestly wouldn't have made it a big deal but I've been a server before and even if the customer never asked, just go with the flow and get the order as they ask. Would've been a 4/5 experience but wish we were treated a bit better in terms of service. If I were to compare this place and vibe to anywhere else, it's like a Waffle House read more
4 months ago
6 days ago
Came here out for early lunch shortly after getting out of the airport first time to PR. Diner/lunch vibe food was very good! Service was very good also! Very busy but very good service! It was the perfect early lunch! We will be back next time we go to OSJ read more
9 days ago
7 months ago
While in Puerto Rico we decided to try a local spot for food. This place had really good Google reviews and it was a short walk so we decided to give them a try. When we arrived the place was packed which to me is a good indication that the food is good. We waited for quite a while, and we were probably acknowledged once thee entire time we were waiting. As some people got up from the bar we were seated there. I wasn't really sure what to order and asked my server for suggestions and went with her suggestion, which was snapper and mofongo. My son ordered a cheeseburger with fries! I was under the impression that the snapper was going to be fried, but it was just a pan seared filet. Neither the fish or the mofongo had enough seasoning for me, so for me the meal wasn't the best. My son however really enjoyed his food. Service was just okay, we were never asked how our meal was. It's a really small space and gets really packed, but you can tell they have a lot of locals that are regulars. And while we were eating a guy came in playing an instrument and singing which was nice! read more
I went to Café Manolín as it was recommended by my local friend. Maybe half touristy, but still filled with locals and super affordable prices for their selection of Puerto Rican specialties. Exterior is a blue building, with it slightly misplaced location-wise on Google Maps. Luckily, I had my friend with me and we found the spot and were seated right away during the lunch rush on a Sunday. Interior has a mix of bar and table seating, a little on the noisier side, mostly from lively chatter and brassy laughter. I asked for the daily menu and a recommendation, and went with their carne mechada. Delicious. The arroz con gandules was super flavorful, and the tostones and mofongo were amazing. Definitely try the house hot sauce here. I only went to a few Puertan Rican spots during my visit: Café Manolín took the cake. You get a large amount of food for the price, and the food is delicious. If you can land a spot, I recommend going here for your fix of Puertan Rican dishes. read more
What a great diner atmosphere. Looked crowded but didn't have to wait . Old fashion plastic coated menus . Service was excellent. Churrasco Steak cooked perfectly. First time eating Mofongo relleno de pollo. When mixed with the rice and beans its excellent. read more
Great local simple spot! We wanted a good breakfast and fast as it was our last morning in San Juan and Cafe Manolin was just perfect. We ordered cafe con leche, eggs and bread with butter. Yes I dipped the bread in the coffee lol I felt comfy and at home at this place as it is clearly well known by the neighborhood locals. The servers know the regulars and I enjoyed seeing their interactions. Food was simple and hit the spot. We were out of there in no time and on our way to our next destination. I recommend it if you're on a budget looking for simple, not overpriced and relaxed atmosphere. read more
A local fav that's generally going to be busy with both people working in the area as well as tourists. Good place to sample mofongo - mashed plantain was good, chicken was fine if a bit dry so def needs the ketchup or hot sauce they provide. Service is great. Cool cozy diner feel. read more
Came during SanSe which is one of the busiest times of year. My daughter and I had been walking around and I wanted her to try a local place that is not touristy with authentic food. Cafe Manolin did not disappoint. She loved it. Very affordable food with great flavors and great staff. Everyone is so hardworking and kind. I love it here. Great vibes always. Thank you for the consistency and not breaking the bank. read more
A little packed but a group of 7 got seats at the bar :) Bartender was super helpful and recommended the trifongo which had yuka plantains and something else. I loved it! Cheese flan tasted like cheesecake, texture was a little thick but pretty good! read more
1 year ago
I was excited to come back here for lunch. Just like last time, the place was packed with both tourists and locals. Our waiter was super friendly, and service was pretty quick. I wanted the mofongo but went lighter with the onion steak, paired with plantains and salad (rice and beans would've been obviously been better). My friend had the empanada Milanesa and really enjoyed it--she'd definitely order it again. The real standout was the flan--topped with coconut and absolutely delicious. Easily a 10/10! We had a sweet treat every day during our stay in PR, and this flan was hands down the best. read more
Café Manolín is an old school diner that has been serving breakfast and lunch since the 1940s. It does get packed so expect a wait for service and food. The AC is bumping to keep everyone nice and cool. We tried the Mofongo Relleno de Camarones (the traditional Puerto Rican green plantain dish filled with shrimp) for $18.95 and Sierra a la Parrilla (grilled king fish) for $14.95. Each plate comes with two sides of your choosing. We got rice, beans, salad and sweet plantains, which were all delicious. The king fish was a bit on the tough and dry side, like swordfish. We washed our food down with coconut juice and Medalla, the local beer. The staff are accommodating, but they are sure quick to close at 4pm! read more
Delicious stop for dinner. Found this place while roaming the streets, and glad we did. I ordered the pork dish and my wife got the chicken dish. Both excellent and flavorful. I think the pork dish was better Our server was friendly and helpful showing us images of the food on her phone. No English, so that was helpful. We sat at a counter and it was pretty crowded. But crowded is good. read more
3 months ago
Food was delicious! We loved the ambiance. The place was packed with visitors and locals. We had a great time sharing conversation with the San Juan lunch crowd! We made it a point to come here every time we are in the city all the way from New Orleans. read more
Cool spot, terrible service. The Great: trifongo was goooood The Good: The iced coffee was good after waiting 20 minutes to get it. The bad: The slow service The ugly: The unfriendly & inattentive server We waited a really long time for our food & drinks. The server seemed less then thrilled to help tourists. The food was luke warm. read more
I love this diner. the seating layout is unique. It's a snake like bar pattern. feels very homey. I ordered the chuleta kan kan. That's a big spread of meat right there lol. I completely demolished it. I ordered a hot chocolate on the side. Weird? i know . But it was good! The waitress was very kind and timely. Overall a great lunch. read more
9 months ago
We were on the hunt for affordable Puerto Rican food in Old San Juan--and we found a hidden gem! This place is absolutely amazing. There's no big sign out front, and while GPS said it was on the right, it's actually on the left. Just look for a purple building with a small sign--that's your spot. The vibe inside is warm and cozy, like a mix between a café and a diner. The prices are super reasonable, and the menu has a great variety of Puerto Rican favorites. We ordered the 10 oz churrasco and wow--it was cooked to perfection. I'd read that this spot has the best churrasco on the island, and I have to agree. If you're in Old San Juan and craving authentic, affordable Puerto Rican food, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommend! read more
1 year ago
Snagged some seats at the bar near the front door. This restaurant has an interesting set-up with 2 or 3 separate U-shaped bars with attentive service, a great concept for entertaining larger parties. That being said, the food lacked flavor all-around. We ordered the chicken mofongo and the shrimp mofongo and found both dishes to be quite bland and dry. Maybe the other dishes here are better but I would not recommend the mofongo. read more
This was recommended to me by a friend and now I know why. It gets busy so we waited a few minutes for a counter seat. My daughter got the chuleta which was perfectly cooked and I got the lunch special of pernil y arroz con gandules. My lunch was delicious!!!! I highly recommend. Service is fast and prices are great. Highly recommend read more
1 year ago
I recently ordered a to go lunch from Café Manolin. I had the Mofongo Relleno de Carne Frita. The Mofongo was savory, garlicy and nicely salty. The Carne Frita (Fried Pork Chunks) were tender with a lightly crisp outside. The side of sweet plantains were sweet and soft, and the rice was delicious. Overall this was a quality Puerto Rican lunch. read more
4 months ago
4 months ago
We were looking for a place to eat once we got to San Juan, we were actually looking for another place but hunger was killing us so we walked in there. The service wasn't bad but they were out of some items on the menu, we ordered a sprite and passion fruit drink and they were out. The food was delicious tho, the empanadas were great and so were the stuff tostones. It was a bit over priced to be honest but that must be because it's right in the heart of the tourist San Juan area but just for those three food dishes, a coke and 2 waters the total came out to $70. Again the food was good but it doesn't justify the price. The overall vibes of the place was nice tho. Very old school. I liked it. read more
11 months ago
This cafe was a mom and pop dinner style restaurant in old San Juan!!! It was amazing the portions were perfect the service is quick and gets very packed quickly I recommend coming during the week before 2pm. read more
2 months ago
10 months ago
This place is packed! Waited 10 minutes for a table. We're a party of 6 and we had to separate in order to get seated quicker. Started with some drinks. Waiting for our food Gerry's drink recommendation are amazing read more
2 months ago
Amazing food. Service was wonderful. Air conditioned. Everything was perfect. 10/10 meal for our last day in PR! read more
Uber driver tipped us on this local place so we had to go. Cheaper than other places in the area, but food was just ok imo...I like how thin and crisp the bread is for the Cuban sandwich but the meat is super salty. The shrimp monfugo was good. If you have not had monfugo, I would recommend this place since it's literally half of what other places in the area would charge you. read more
This restaurant caught my eye because it was more like a diner rather than a tourist trap. I was not disappointed as I got to see some local people watching and had some good mofongo. I enjoy a bustling cafe atmosphere and it was cool to see the legacy workers and soak in all the culture of the establishment. Ordered the 3 meat mofongo to try out and it was pretty good! Never had it before but it still captured my palette and made me understand how it worked. It's kind of like a mashed plaintain but you eat it with rice and beans in a way that is very comforting. It was good but it was not so good that I can say it was 5 stars. The chicken was a bit dry and I thought it was a bit pricey at like $30 a plate. I think a 4 star rating for a tourist-type expectation is fair. I would go back. read more
2 years ago
Ay yai yai Oo la la this place had some amazing mofongo! When in Puerto Rico, this is the dish to have. I was gonna go to the super popular spot but there was a huge wait for our big party, so we just ended up splitting up and doing our own thing... then I found this place online with good rating, so, why not? So glad I went there! Got their Cameron mofongo. So much garlicky buttery flavor in the fried (unripe) plantains! They basically tasted like potatoes but with more depth and an added umami to it. Love it! There was a bit of a wait without anywhere to sit and barely to stand (single file along the wall behind the counter stools) but at least the AC was blasting. The bathrooms were at the back. Maybe 15 mins later we were seated at the counter. Our waitress was friendly and efficient. She also spoke decent English. The prices were affordable, along with great food and service, this is a place that I would come back for if I were in PR again. Thank you for a great meal in a country that I never visited before until then! read more
This spot was recommended by a native Uber driver. I went there in my last day of vacation. It was a Monday therefore it wasn't super packed. The spot has appropriate dose of AC and it has a very chill vibe. The waitress was very friendly and understanding. Coffee was great even I ordered decaf! It was definitely the best decaf I have had in my life thus far. For food I ordered fried pork (came with sweet fried plantain and rice and beans) and fried pana. Their rice and beans were very tasty. It has a warm "homemade" vibe to it and I cherish it very much. Their pink sauce and hot sauce goes great with the fried pork. Their fried sweet plantain has a caramelized edge which I adore. Notably, some of their tostone pana are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside! Whereas others has a nice crunch on it. I really appreciate the combination and they were all very delicious. From this spot, I met the most approachable, and friendly waitress in my 6 days stay in San Juan and I had the best tasting while affordable food. My check was under $19 excluding tips. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone and I will surely come back when I visit this city. read more
6 months ago
5 months ago
Food was good steak bread breaded with eggs was good, we ordered chicken empanada. It came as breaded chicken and he said this is the empanada. I wasn't sure this is the first for us. Waiter was not friendly at all. Give us our drinks till we ask him again.. when we asked him about the empanada he didn't say anything. But he was very nice to one of the locals that just walked in so that means he's got her and his personality to be nice. Thank you. read more
8 months ago
Manolín Café was the perfect taste of San Juan during our cruise stop. The place was buzzing with locals, the line moved quickly, and the energy felt authentic. I had the mofongo with fried pork--crispy, garlicky, and packed with flavor. It was exactly the kind of local experience you hope to find between ports. read more
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More info about Café Manolín
Calle San Justo 251
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
Directions
(787) 723-9743
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http://www.cafemanolinoldsanjuan.com
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