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    El Jibarito

    3.9 (2k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    El Jibarito Photos

    EL JIBARITO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - El Jibarito

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    Mini P.

    This was worth the wait. We waited around 20 minutes. The host and servers were very friendly and hospitable. The vibe in the restaurant was very festive. We were seated upstairs and had a great view of the first floor. The pina coladas were delish and the food was so yummy. We had the snapper, steak, pork. We had sides of yellow rice and sweet plantains. So good! You name it, it was delish. We had the coconut flan and the tres leches for dessert and I must say the flan was the best one I've ever tasted. I understand the hype of visiting this long-established restaurant!

    Alex N.

    Found el jibarito by asking g chat gpt of some really good places to eat in san juan. El jibarito came up as one of the many places. We had a party of 5 and waited maybe 10 minutes. We were seated and scanned the qr code on the table for the menu. Our waitress showed up with a sample of pork cubed in plantain gravey. Must say that was absolutely delicious! We all enjoyed that very much! The pork was soft and the plantain sauce was very savory. I would describe it like eating a melted pastele. Super good! That's what atleast two of us ended up ordering. And I would recommend it! The service was fast and attentive and the ambiance was casual. I woukd definitely come back.

    Cubed Steak plate With Mofongo
    Beth S.

    We selected this restaurant based off of other reviews. We weren't super hungry, but knew we definitely wanted some Mofongo. This quaint family owned restaurant is close to the ocean, but it does not have an ocean view. It's kind of hidden with a small sign. Nothing really signifying the restaurant from a distance. We ordered the Alcapurrias / Fried Beef Plantain Türnover and the Bistec Encebollado / Cube Steak with Onions with a side of Mofongo. I also had a pineapple Mojito. The food was good. I do wish the fried plantains had a little more beef in them. Some didn't have any at all. The drink was average. The ambience was very casual, warm, welcoming and locally decorated. Our server was very friendly. She had several recommendations and our food came quickly.

    Marcy Y.

    I really wanted fried fish in San Juan and got recommended El Jibarito. We went almost near their closing time, unknowingly and still got to be able to sit and got my craving in for fried fish! It's a casual restaurant with limited seating that I think is also a bit popular. When we walked in to dine and we did have to wait a bit and put our name down on the waiting list. However, the time flew by I think it was maybe 20 minutes max and we were able to be seated at a table. My partner ordered the steak, but I wasn't the biggest fan of it. it did come with the plantain side. That was super delicious. Overall, for the both of us and a couple of drinks we spent US$90 with tip and each entrée was about $35-$30.

    Masitas en salsa de platano (pork cubes in plantain gravy)
    Pat C.

    This restaurant comes up in many lists of recommended places to try in San Juan so I decided to try it myself. Walked in at ~7pm and had to wait for 15 minutes to be seated. Ambiance was very casual. Restrooms are at the back of the restaurant and you have to go out to a small uncovered space to get to the restrooms, which are not the cleanest. Masitas en salsa de platano (pork cubes in plantain gravy) comes with green salad and tomato and a side. Choices for the side are white rice with beans (arroz blanco y habitchuelas), yellow rice (arroz guisado), tostones (green plantain), sweet plantain (amarillos), mofongos de platano, yuca, trifongo y pana. The salad did not come with dressing; it was dry and sad. Got mofongo as the side; it was also dry and not flavorful. The pork cubes was tender but not as flavorful as I was expecting. Tres leches was not that sweet which was okay. Overall, the food was disappointing. In addition, wait times can be long; the place can get very busy and loud.

    Tamale, salad, and mufongo!
    Hayley P.

    This restaurant and another one close by were recommended to us by our Uber driver for being the spots where you can find good Puerto Rican cuisine in Old San Juan. We came in weary from all of the walking we had done that morning. This restaurant is large and is busy. We had to wait for a few minutes but were seated quickly. I got a cold beer to enjoy but many others were getting their cocktails, which looked good. The eating area, bar, and kitchen are all in the same area, which is pretty cool. My partner and I both ordered the pork tamale which came with salad and your choice of side. We both ordered the mufongo. While I can't speak to the authenticity compared to other restaurants, the food was very good. All of it was tasty and fresh. I also felt very reasonably priced, especially for being in the touristy Old San Juan area. We enjoyed the opportunity to rest our legs in the A/C while enjoying cold drinks and good food. This is a great place to stop in for lunch while you walk around Old San Juan.

    Andres A.

    We enjoyed some typical Puerto Rican food. We had to wait a short while before we were seated but it was worth the wait. We started wit an order of bacalaoitos which were absolutely delicious. For my entree I had the ribs with tostones. They were very flavorful and good. My girlfriend had the Conch with mofongo de pana. She really enjoyed her meal. The food was good and the flavors were on point.

    Pina colada - frappe/cocktail
    Sonal B.

    A little less attitude and a bit more of a smile would do wonders to the service of this place. I stood at the chained gate for a few minutes before I got even acknowledged. It felt like I was being done a favor being served. I had the pina colada, the bacalaitos, the red beans and rice and the side salad. Pina colada - too sugary and like a dessert, side salad - was $5 for a bed of iceberg with 3 slices of tomatoes. Bacalaitos was dripping with oil. All I wanted was some authentic Puerto Rican food and the beans and rice helped. The place is closed with no open windows, smells of cleaning product.

    Angie G.

    Visually some more thought in plating and presentation would have been nice. Salad was very basic. Fish and mofongo had flavor but I was also waiting very long and was starving at this point. Pina colada was delicious

    Flan de coco

    This restaurant was just down Calle del Sol from our Airbnb. So delicious! We got a variety of plates and everything was delicious. Stay for dessert!... the flan de coco is to die for!

    Whole fried snapper.
    Andrew G.

    The food, phenomenal! The bathroom, needs improvements - updates and cleanliness. The staff are all pleasant, friendly and accommodating. The place was easy to find.

    Alcapurria
    Tracy H.

    This place was recommended to me and we are so glad we went. There was a bit of a wait but it was fine. The server was very nice and she spoke English--but I had Google Translate just in case. It was raining outside and to get to the restroom, you had to walk thru a courtyard. The restroom was bare bones but I'm not a snob so it was okay. Our food was good--my stew wasn't hot though--temperature wise. It has happened before at restaurants that when it's warm outside, the food isn't hot. But I prefer it hotter than it came out.

    Let's eat!
    Suzanne H.

    Great place to sit and get a delicious bite in Old San Juan. I really liked my ceviche in the giant avocado. My guy got tacos. He enjoyed them.

    Beef Turnovers

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    Page 1 of 51

    El Jibarito Reviews in Other Languages

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    Borikén - Passion fruit mojito and rum punch

    Borikén

    4.3(8 reviews)
    0.3 km

    I remember coming to this restaurant aBout 5 years ago oomph my layover in San Juan. The food was…read moreso memorable that I decided to come back in 2020 to see if it was still good. Well good news, the food is still good! I stopped in during the festival of San Sebastian and the restaurant was packed! We luckily got a seat for two and were able to order right away. I order the mofongo de pollo and my friend ordered a different meal with a soup. I am not going to lie, the service was extremely slow and the food took about 30 to 40 mins maybe to come out. I expect this was because of the festival and how busy the restaurant was. When the food came out, it was delicious! The chicken was great and drenched in a salsa criolla sauce. It was definitely worth the wait! After my meal, I ordered a coffee to digest the food. Luckily this didn't take as long as the food. I would definitely recommend this place however if you are in a rush, it might be best to go somewhere else. The food is very tasty!

    This is a difficult review to do because technically we only had an appetizer and drinks. First of…read moreall the rest is located next to the Christopher Columbus Plaza in Old San Juan which makes it an ideal location for tourists coming in and out. The restaurant is very small inside but they do have outside dining which is what we chose to do. The service was good, they were very attentive to our needs. Unfortunately, the appetizer we ordered was just awful. We ordered a mix of very traditional Puerto Rican bites-small alcapurrias, sorrullos, chicharrónes de pollo and some fried cheese. There was absolutely nothing good about the mix. The alcapurrias has no meat whatsoever, the chicharrónes were not crispy and the cheese was just awful. I wanted to give them a 1star review but I felt this would not be fair because we did not try an entree and I hope that would be better. The 3star was because the service was good. In addition to the service later on in the evening they had live music which was essentially old traditional Puerto Rican music which was excellent. So to be fair I thought a 3 star review would be the right thing to do. Hopefully the entrees are much better just stay away from the surtido appetizer because it was not good.

    Photos
    Borikén - Live music.

    Live music.

    Borikén - Chicken mofongo with rice and salad

    Chicken mofongo with rice and salad

    Borikén

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    Casa Luna Rest. - Avocado salad

    Casa Luna Rest.

    4.4(42 reviews)
    0.1 km

    I discovered a quaint little spot on YouTube while researching my cruise that serves authentic…read morePuerto Rican food. I was really craving fried snapper, but unfortunately, it was too large for me to eat by myself. To my disappointment, it was served family style, and my family wasn't in the mood for fish. Instead, we ordered several items from the menu, including stew chicken, fried pork chops, which my son really enjoyed. We also had mofongo with chicken and creole sauce, white rice and beans, fried plantains, and another side of beans and rice. We definitely over-ordered, as the food was plentiful and very filling. In fact, that was the only meal we had that day. If you're ever in San Juan, Puerto Rico, I highly recommend this restaurant. It's a hidden gem tucked away on a side street. You will not be disappointed! I can't wait to go back.

    Try. the. Mofongo. The skirt steak mofongo, with garlic…read moresauce. Order it, possibly to share -- it's a big portion. You will not be sorry. Your date might be a little over-garlicked if you try to kiss them without letting them at least try it, though. Definitely a vampire-free zone. Delicious! And the best I have ever had, anywhere. We tried a little of a lot of things, kind of a meal of sides to go with our mofongo, and the empanadilla pastry was flaky and light. Hubs liked the chicken one best, I preferred the ground beef. But the big takeaway is the mofongo with garlic sauce. They even let you choose from a list of other sauces if you don't want garlic, but frankly, there's a reason it's listed first and it's not just tradition.

    Photos
    Casa Luna Rest.
    Casa Luna Rest. - Red snapper!!!

    Red snapper!!!

    Casa Luna Rest. - Weak Piña Coladas

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    Weak Piña Coladas

    Mallorca - mallorca w/ butter

    Mallorca

    4.2(844 reviews)
    0.1 km
    $$

    Review #1,046 Posted on 4.26.26…read more We came here on Thursday the 23rd while in San Juan area for my buddies 50th birthday. This spot we had seen on social media a ton for being famous for their Mallorca sandwich, a special type bread, we got the one with bacon & American cheese. Man, I made the mistake of doing the bacon instead of ham, overthought that deal. I tried my buddies with ham n cheese and I think that was way to go. I loved how this spot had that super old school feel of like a diner. You can sit at one of the table tops, or you can do the countertop too, which has tons of seats, we all were able to sit there. I'd 100% recommend this spot, but get the ham n cheese mallorca sandwich, don't overthink it.

    Walked in here at ~8:15am for breakfast. There was not a lot of people yet; we were seated at the…read morebar. After a few minutes, people started trickling down and soon the place was close to being full. I liked the mallorca with ham, bacon, cheese! It was delicious. They looked small but they were filling. The pastries displayed at the window were inviting. If you're dining in, you have to tell your server that you're getting some pastries that are on display then you ask the person at the counter who also serves as the cashier to get them for you. The guava pastry was good. The vanilla bread with strawberry and pineapple/lemon was okay. They looked better than they tasted in my opinion. Payment for everything would be at the cashier after dining. If you're in San Juan, this is a place to try!

    Photos
    Mallorca
    Mallorca - Mallorca w/ ham and cheese

    Mallorca w/ ham and cheese

    Mallorca - Mallorca with ham n cheese

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    Mallorca with ham n cheese

    Casita Miramar - Arroz con Mariscos (seafood paella) and Churrasco (steak); Follow me @RimyEats on Instagram

    Casita Miramar

    4.5(1.7k reviews)
    3.4 km
    $$

    We're currently dining here, and from the moment my partner and I walked in, the experience has…read morebeen mixed. One of the hostesses was noticeably rude at the start, which set an uncomfortable tone. After being seated, our waiter hasn't been outright unkind, but there's a clear difference in how we're being treated compared to other guests. As a same-sex couple, it feels like we're not being received as warmly, even though he seems to be making an effort to remain professional. As a Puerto Rican, that's honestly a bit disappointing and feels out of place. That said, the food itself has been very good.

    A gem. Sat outside & had a great night. Food, vibes, & service were all wonderful. Started out with…read morea complimentary soup & cod fritters (yummmy! & I don't even like fish, usually). The hot sauce on the table was nice, not too hot but a good kick, I usually do not like habanero based hot sauces but this was good! The Queso Frito was interesting in flavors & textures, delicious. El Conflicto was perfect, all the flavor of a pina colada but without the heaviness of syrups & sugar. The Pollo Borracho was super flavorful & filling, chicken cooked to perfection falling off the bone. My fiancé had the Carne Frita, it was super tender & a well balanced dish. Service was friendly & attentive. My only complaint- we were so full we couldn't even look at the dessert menu! Guess we will just have to go back.

    Photos
    Casita Miramar - Indoor Dining Room

    Indoor Dining Room

    Casita Miramar - Amazing chocolate Fudge Cake delivered to restaurant (Cakes by Glorimar in PR). Staff sang and added candle

    Amazing chocolate Fudge Cake delivered to restaurant (Cakes by Glorimar in PR). Staff sang and added candle

    Casita Miramar - Pastelón - Delicious thick Caribbean soft meat and plantain taste and texture

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    Pastelón - Delicious thick Caribbean soft meat and plantain taste and texture

    Cayo Caribe - Old San Juan - Red snapper it's about $30/lb

    Cayo Caribe - Old San Juan

    4.0(221 reviews)
    0.3 km
    $$

    When you want an easy, reliable seafood lunch near the San Juan port, Cayo Caribe hits the mark…read more Our walking tour guide recommended this spot, and it ended up being one of the better casual lunches of the trip. It's located close to the cruise port area, making it an effortless stop if you're exploring Old San Juan. The vibe is straightforward and comfortable--think casual, sit-down seafood spot where you can relax, grab a drink, and not overthink the menu. It's not flashy or upscale, but that's part of the appeal. Just friendly service, cold drinks, and solid food. Service * Very friendly and welcoming * Easy walk-in experience * Relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere Food & Drinks * Standard beers and cocktails--perfect for a mid-day refresher * Seafood Fried Platter - especially the fried cod; crispy, flavorful, and well-executed * Tacos (Fried Shrimp & Fried Cod) - the standout; fresh, generous portions with crunchy slaw and spot-on sauce The tacos were the surprise hit--bright, crispy, and packed with flavor. Exactly what you want from a Puerto Rican seafood lunch. Verdict Cayo Caribe is a dependable, casual seafood stop near the port. Nothing overly complicated--just good service, fresh seafood, and a relaxed setting. A great lunch choice if you're in the area and craving fried seafood and tacos. Solid four stars.

    HIGHLY RECOMMEND…read more We had the fried whole snapped it was excellent!! Also the beef empanadas were amazing. Great service and friendly. Inside the bar was playing Pickleball on the tv at the bar and we got to watch the finals.

    Photos
    Cayo Caribe - Old San Juan - PICKLEBALL AT THE BAR!!!

    PICKLEBALL AT THE BAR!!!

    Cayo Caribe - Old San Juan - 1.5lb snapper

    1.5lb snapper

    Cayo Caribe - Old San Juan - Crazy shrimp

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    Crazy shrimp

    Restaurante Raices - Boatload: (Bacalaitos)

    Restaurante Raices

    3.3(1.9k reviews)
    0.3 km
    $$

    This place was very busy. We had to wait about 30mins before entering they write down your name and…read moreit will be called based on table availability. Once we made it inside they had a long menu of different items. Was able to order and the food took some time to come out but with how busy it was I knew it would be a while. The food came out and it was fresh also hot just missing some hot sauce. The place is noisy with voices carrying which is normal. A recommended place to visit when in Old San Juan.

    I asked a Puerto Rican friend for restaurant recommendations in Old San Juan. This was one of the…read moreplaces on his list. I checked the menu and decided to come here for dinner. They don't take reservations but we were gonna go early anyway. We decided that we'd get there at 5:30 PM and allow up to 30 minutes wait time. My friends got there a bit before 5:30 and were seated before I arrived. I got there a bit after 5:30 and there was a line of people trying to put their names down as I was walking in. They had already ordered drinks and an appetizer. We ordered another app and put in our entree orders. The bacalaitos took about 30 minutes to arrive. They were delicious. Not too salty which was great. The entrees took over 30 more minutes to come. I ordered the paella and it was delicious. My friend thought her mofongo was just ok. I tried a bite and it was kinda bland. The kids thought their entrees were ok. I thought they didn't make the right choices. Service was OK. Server wasn't really present as the majority of our time there was waiting vs eating. That was true for most patrons. Most people seated at tables were waiting instead of eating. Not sure if there was an issue that night. Either way, I'd say that it's still a good spot. You just can't come hangry or in a hurry.

    Photos
    Restaurante Raices - Juan and the wine selections.

    Juan and the wine selections.

    Restaurante Raices - Pechuga de Pollo

    Pechuga de Pollo

    Restaurante Raices - Paradise Found:

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    Paradise Found:

    El Jibarito - latin - Updated June 2026

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