What a great food experience!!! Casita Miramar easily earned a spot in my top 2 restaurants I've…read morehad the pleasure of dining at in Puerto Rico when it comes to quality food and an overall amazing experience. The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful, and the service was excellent from beginning to end,from the hostess to the servers and bussers. Our server, Jeffery, was amazing! He was energetic, professional, attentive, and you can genuinely tell he takes his position seriously. I loved that! We were greeted with complimentary sopa de plátano and bacalaítos, and I was NOT expecting to love them as much as I did. This was by far the best sopa de plátano I've ever had. I never thought I could fall in love with a soup, but here we are! (I ordered a whole extra regular size bowl )The bacalaítos were another surprise because they're normally not something I order or even particularly like--and I've tried quite a few in my life--but these were absolutely delicious. My S/O and I shared the churrasco with arroz mamposteao, along with a side of avocado salad and majado de viandas. Everything was a straight 10/10. Not one disappointment on the table. They also make an amazing Rojo Pico, which was the perfect addition to the experience. 100% recommend Casita Miramar. Don't overthink JUST GO! Beautiful atmosphere, excellent service, and most importantly, genuinely delicious, quality Puerto Rican food. This place absolutely deserves the hype and its spot in my top two!

The workers were honestly the sweetest. the environment is so welcoming and calm…read more although i wasn't very happy with the food. i went with my family and we found the food very bland and overpriced!! my mom LOVES cooking and she could tell when frozen beans are served to her. the food tasted old and the rice look like it was reheated from days ago.. definitely might be a tourist trap. the aesthetics are beautiful but isn't worth the price. on the good side, they sell natural juices and the parcha juice was the best i ever had!!

We ended up dining at Refran for dinner our first night in San Juan and it did not disappoint. Our…read moreserver was so sweet and attentive. We ordered the bacalaitos (codfish fritters) as an appetizer and the mofongo with shrimp (and another with pernil). The bacalaitos were perfectly fried, not greasy. The mofongo was the best mofongo I had in San Juan! It was full of flavor and the shrimp was the perfect compliment. My son housed their rice and beans. My husband ordered the tres leches cake. It was probably the best tres leches I've ever had. We'll definitely return next time we're in San Juan.

A very small restaurant with absolutely authentic Puerto Rican food with about 10 tables or so,…read moreabsolutely do not miss this place! So what do you get by coming here? You get the real deal, real Puerto Rican dishes, with the greatest flavors and fair prices. Unless you prefer playing overpriced, find dining restaurants with average Puerto Rican food, which there are plenty of in the area. I'm not able to emphasize how small this restaurant is, it's located right along the main walking strip in Coronado Beach. Maybe 10 tables or so. No reservations walk up wait in line if you have to eat and leave. Not only will you eat the best tasting food during your trip, but probably also pay the least amount of money. We went here twice! Their rice and beans recipe is probably what it's all about! We got grilled shrimp and skirt steak over rice and beans and honestly, I could've had it all week long! This little gem local place is not to be missed! Highly recommended!

Food and service was great! Desert is a must! The cheese flan is the best I've had in a while!!!read more

When planning my first trip to PR I scoured tiktok for food recommendations! And this place was…read moreremarkably noted as Bad Bunny's favorite restaurant, and I understand why! The service was immediate & so welcoming! The restaurant had a very homey feel, like you know someone's family recipes are being used. The food was 10/10, hands down, everything was absolutely delicious! The sangria - to die for! Loved every bit of it! Def a staple if you plan on making the trip!!!

Absolutely -- I'd make it feel like a genuine "we ate GOOD" review, especially since this was…read moreduring your bach trip: SO delicious! We came here during my bachelorette trip in Puerto Rico and everything we ordered was amazing. The food was fresh, flavorful, and genuinely some of the best we had on the trip. The chicken, rice and beans, plantains, avocado, everything hit. Even the drinks were so good. We ordered a little bit of everything for the table and there was honestly not one thing we didn't enjoy. Such a great spot for authentic Puerto Rican food and definitely somewhere I'd come back to whenever I'm in PR!

The food was amazing. There were five us. We had empanadas for appetizers that we shared…read more My companions were not thrilled with the drinks. I had a water bottle, which was not remarkable. Three of us ordered whole snapper. We were not disappointed. One of us ordered jerk beef mofungo. We were quite content. The yellow rice was quite tasty. The atmosphere was that of family restaurant. It was nondescript and high volume. Value for the meals.

Great food and the service was fast. The place had a great vibe and the employees were nice.read more

WOULD recommend (dinner). Stopped by during first night in Puerto Rico, we had a reservation around…read more9pm so we were able to see the festivities associated with La Placita. I suggest doing reservations at least 3 weeks in advanced if you want to time that you want especially during peak days like Fri, Sat, etc. When we came in, the staff were very hospitable to us. This establishment has was very intimate, well lit; upon entry the music was a bit loud but then became manageable for casual conversation. We saw a good amount of large parties as well so they have good reputation for celebratory outings. We started off with drinks, ordered the Paper Plane, was very sour but wasn't bad in my opinion (Rating: 7.1/10), but the Perfect Lady on the other hand, was amazing lavender goodness, I don't think I have had a bad lavender drink yet from any place I have had so glad they kept the train going (Rating: 9.0/10). Next, for appetizers we ordered the Empanadas, that have different flavors everyday. The day that we came, the flavor was BBQ pulled pork, which I personally absolutely loved. Crispy, not hard exterior, hot and fresh (Rating 8.8/10). For the entrees, we ordered the Tacos De Mero Empanados (Fish Tacos with Chipotle Coleslaw) and the Milanesa De Pollo. The fish tacos were definitely the best dish at the table, came with 3 tacos that had rich flavors, ordered from the "Daily Specials" section of the menu (Rating 8.4/10). Next, the Milanesa De Polla was a large, breaded chicken breast that was honestly good for multiple people, came with side of arugula and cherry tomatoes with light dressing (almost nonexistent to be honest). It came with a sauce on top, like an aioli that wasn't bad honestly. This dish was a good safe option if you aren't sure what to get (Rating 8.1/10). I wanted to originally order the Pastelon De Amarillos but they were out of stock of that dish during the visit. Overall, Santaella offers pretty extensive menu with foundations of a high quality restaurant. Their service during our visit was definitely top of the line, no complaints. I just wished they had more than 2 single use bathrooms as the line definitely added up which could pose an issue for guests with urinary urgency/frequency. Pricing also wasn't horrible, was able to get a full course dinner for 2 for under $150 so can't really complain, just check their menu before going if you want specifics. They also have Rooftop Sundays at Azotea for those who are interested in their alternative dining setting. This place was good nonetheless and I would recommend it, is right in between fine dining and casual making it good for those dressier date nights.

If you're looking for the best asopao on the island... your search stops here…read more I've never had something like this before. The flavor was ridiculous in the best way possible, the shrimp was perfectly cooked, and the tostones were notably fresh. 10/10- you MUST go. Out of all of the gumbo variations I've had from countless regions, Puerto Rico's is my favorite. Particularly from La Cueva Del Mar. Our server, Nicole, was an angel. She is SO SWEET. She made the experience even better!!! It was packed and very loud at 7pm on a Thursday, which is a nonissue for me, but if your party prefers a quiet meal, be mindful of timing.

The good: Convenient location, valet parking, lively but not overwhelming environment, good music,…read moreand good drinks which is a plus. Food is usually good. The Meh: I liked this Cueva del mar in calle loiza but this experience was subpar. Prior to even ordering, I asked if their famous fish tacos would have the same coleslaw with their special sauce intermixed like it's been since 2007, but in recent visit on Dec 2025 was not the same. He stated he understood. When it arrived, the cole slaw was dry, not the same famous fish tacos i've been used to for years unfortunately. It was unnecessary for the waiter (male in his 50s with black ivy cap) to insist to try to prove me wrong stating that "it's always been this way and i've worked here for 15 years" when my mother and i have had these fish tacos since it opened originally in guaynabo circa ~2007. Mind you, i am bilingual and overheard the waiter talking to the kitchen. Their solution was to bring sauce on the side. My partner ate 1 fish taco, I ate none. When we left the establishment, the waiter went outside to stop my fiance. The waiter never approached me to apologize directly por el mal rato. I also found it extremely distasteful to have to overhear an employee (brunette) on her break (or otherwise) with her foul language near our toddler. We'll just have to stick to another location that treats customers better.

On my latest PR vaca I had to stop by El Jibarito.. "The little Hillbilly".. aka the mountain…read morefarmer.. One of my favorite PR restaurants.. I had the petchuga de pollo with rice, beans, tostones.. I also had my favorite appetizers, sorullios and Pizza empanadas.. The chicken, rice, beans were delicious as usual. The corn fritters were equally delicious but the Pizza empanadas missed the spot.. Can't win them all. But overall I had a great meal and will be back soon! Service was great as the wait staff were attentive and accommodating. As far as the ambience, it was pretty packed there was patrons joining their meals. Can't really remember if there was any music in the background. But it's a very nice restaurant. If you are in the old San Juan Puerto Rico area and are looking for some good Puerto Rican food I suggest that you hit this spot up. You won't be mad. Alright now.. Have a great one yall! -Ray

There was a line to get in, but it moved pretty quickly…read more The staff was fine. They were friendly but never really came back to check on us to see if we needed anything else. It could also be that we were seated on the top floor and not the main floor of the restaurant. We ordered the bacalaitos for an appetizer. I ordered the mero al horno (grouper filet). My husband ordered the fried snapper. The bacalaitos were good. The grouper was delicious. I didn't get the chance to try the fried snapper but it looked good. The rice and beans complimented the dish well.

Look, were we at an alcapurria spot ordering pastelillos? Yes. Do we regret it? Absolutely not…read more We got one each of vegetariano, cebolla y queso, pollo, and guayaba con queso. The vegetariano was mid, but the other three? No complaints. But honestly, the food is only part of the story here. The vibe is everything. Salsa playing, high energy, warm service. We rolled in late and hungry, looking for sweet refuge from La Placita crowds, and they welcomed us like we belonged there. The music started out mixed, but at some point it shifted to Contra La Corriente front to back. We were enjoying our pastelillos, singing along to No Me Conoces, minding our own business when... el apagón. Not the whole Placita, just a couple spots including this one. The staff didn't miss a beat. Flashlights came out, mood lighting appeared, and nobody rushed us. We finished our food. We paid. We left happy. 5 stars because some experiences are bigger than the sum of their parts. This was one of them.

This is not a polished, Instagram-perfect restaurant and that's exactly the point. That's why I…read morelove it so much. Tucked inside La Placita de Santurce, its a small, casual, almost hidden spot that's usually packed with locals. Think plastic chairs, outdoor tables, music playing and a constant flow of people coming in for a quick bite or drink. Feels more like a neighborhood hangout than a restaurant. I've been coming here for years and this is what I've learned, take it from a local. For a quick bite, alcapurrias are a MUST -- especially beef or crab. Also the "pastelillos" are amazing-- corn beef, chorizo, morcilla... Everything freshly made to order. Now, if you want to sit down and enjoy an authentic Puerto Rican meal, here are some of my favorites: chuletas fritas, chicharrones de pollo, bistec encebollado and carne frita-- of course with a side of rice and beans or tostones for the win. Bottom line: you come here for flavor and authenticity, not comfort. Enjoy

PHENOMENAL This is…read morenot just a restaurant, this is a dining experience. This is upscale elegance in a relaxed environment. This is global techniques blended with locally sourced Puerto Rican ingredients. From the moment you walk in, you feel welcome. I was there to celebrate my birthday (a reservation is a must). I asked if I could be seated in a different section of the restaurant, and even though they were packed, they said absolutely and found me a lovely seat in the bar area. The staff is knowledgeable and attentive. I suffer from severe food allergies but wanted to experience their tasting menu. My server spoke to the chef directly and then took the time to walk me through every option. I TRULY appreciated that they did not take anything off the menu but rather told me how they could adjust for my allergies. That is very rare and so very much appreciated that they went that extra mile for me. I highly recommend the tasting menu. It's 5 courses and they give you 3 options to choose from, within each course. And for the price ($85), a great value. Everything was delicious but I highly recommend the Breadfruit Gnocchi, Rainbow Runner Crudo, and Criollo Duck Mofongo. Chefs kiss! What I also noticed was, even though they were insanely busy, they didn't make you feel rushed. The invited you to savor the experience - which I did. Next time you are in San Juan, make a reservation and go. You won't be disappointed!

4.5 stars. Cocina Abierta was one of the better meals of our trip. The food was excellent overall,…read morewith the lone exception being the empanadas, which were simply too salty. Everything else was very well done. The two of us split one order of the five-course tasting menu plus an additional starter, and it ended up being a nice light meal. Had we each ordered our own tasting menu, it would have been far more food than we wanted...something we found to be a fairly common theme with portion sizes throughout Puerto Rico. The standout of the evening was the Criollo Duck Mofongo, which was absolutely exquisite and easily the best mofongo we had on our trip by far. The cocktails were tasty and unique, but a bit small for the price. This definitely isn't an every-night kind of restaurant...the prices are on the higher side. But if you're looking to splurge a little, it's a fun place to do it.

SUPER yummy food here. My boyfriend had been raving about this place, so when we visited PR we had…read moreto try it out. We were seated pretty quickly and our waiter was great. The place has a warm, homey touch to it. I ordered the Grouper & my boyfriend got the Carne Frita mofongo. Both were 10/10. Their mojitos were very delicious as well. Will definitely be back the next time we visit!

Great service, very lovely place. This place was features on the show Diners, Drives, and Dives and…read moreis worth the visit! Lots of tourists visit here, but good Easter extremely flavorful. I had the chicken mofongo with garlic sauce and have been craving it ever since. I highly recommend!