After arriving to pork highway a little later than expected (6pm) and discovering most restaurants…read morethat specially serve lechon (roast pork) were closed, we went to La Placita de Guavate for some pork dishes alternative to lechon like the 'Can can' and pork chop tomahawk. Staff was friendly and was helpful in translating some dish names. There was also a happy hour until 8pm for a smaller sized cup of mojito - only $3! You can tell that the liquor was on the light side but for someone like me, I didn't mind it. I got the shrimp (camerones) dish with mofongo as a side, my husband got the can can, and our friends got the pork tomahawk to share. The 'can can' dish was HUGE (can feed two in my opinion)! It's basically a bone in pork loin chop with the belly and skin attached fried to a crisp. Drooling at the moment.. Overall lively atmosphere, nice staff and good food!

I'm on vacation so I'm going to keep it short and simple. A group of us spent the day driving and…read morebuilt up a great appetite. I came up with the idea of taking them to the pork highway. However, we were quickly disappointed to learn that most of the fire pit roasted pork locations were closed. We almost decided to head back to the hotel but I made one more search and found La Placita open. I called to verify and the response was enthusiast and welcoming. We were so happy. Then we get there and this amazing professional takes us to our table and immediately starts providing the friendliest and caring service. We joked about my horrible "spanglish" and I assisted my party with their orders. It was busy, we were starved and some where borderline hangry. But then the drinks and appetizer arrived. Happy Level 1 achieved. Then after a few extra minutes, the meals start arriving. Omg! Everything was amazing. Get the Tomahawk! Get the Carne Fritas! Sides were also great - rice & beans, tostones, sweet plantains, mamposteao rice were all amazing! I hate myself for not remembering our waitress's name. I want her manager and the restaurant owners to know how special she is. If it helps - we were a party of 6 that came in at around 7:30-7:45pm on 4/22. Thank you and we will return on our next visit to PR! Great environment, great people, even better food! Muchas Gracias!

Don't miss out on this restaurant! We have been here twice…read more Employees are wonderful! Views are fabulous! Bartenders are amazing! I asked for a fresh ginger margarita. Mind blowing! Lime juice, Blanco tequila, agave & fresh grated ginger! Yum!!!! ¡Gracias!

We stopped by for a couple of cocktails, didn't try the food…read more Our experience at Alavera was great. Found this place by mistake and glad we decided to stop. The views and energy of the restaurant is beautiful. A must visit. Our cocktails were delicious! The servers and bartender were attentive and helpful. Very curious how their food is so I guess we'll have to visit again!

We were restaurant hopping in the area and this was hands down the best pernil we tried…read more The mean and skin were super tasty, not fatty and very flavorful. The sides were delicious. Fast service and very friendly bartenders. Cool little outdoor place with live music on Sundays. Definitely visiting this place again.

Service was great. Cute music. The food was alright. The pork was amazing!!!! Minus the skin the…read moreskin was WAYYY to hard. Like shatter into a million pieces break your teeth hard. I could hear people crunching on the skin at the next table. The pork empenada lacked seasoning but the chicken empanada was good.

Our party of 9 went there on Sunday and I can certainly recommend it. The menu is varied with local…read morefavorites. I had the grouper fillet with rice and beans and it was outstanding. The place had very friendly servers and our table had an awesome view of the Cayey mountains. Would definitely go again.

Un lugar donde voy a regresar mil veces. La comida perfecta, lugar perfecto, servicio excelente!…read moreGracias MUCHO EXITO

The food was very tasty, the pernil was very juicy.... Not a dry piece. The morcilla was good but…read morelack a little pepper sauce. The service was great. The place was very clean, they even had a sink in a corner to wash your hands. There were not too many people, but the people were arriving. Overall, I would highly recommend it.

Oooooiiiii!!! The Legendary La Ruta de Lechon (Pork Highway)…read more AMBIANCE Parking: Can definitely get busy during peak hours and weekends, but there's usually attendants and nearby parking options helping direct traffic. There's paid parking and street parking. All in all come early. Seating: Huge open seating areas with picnic-style tables and plenty of room for large groups, families, and celebrations. Take your pick, close to the live music or the local river for a more natural feeling. Vibes: The area keeps you busy from souvenir shopping, listening to music, or just Chinchorreo (like bar crawl but with pork)! The spot itself is alive on the weekend with music, people dancing, pig roasting and for a calmer pace, enjoying the scenery of the mountain, flow of the river and the chirps of animals around. Great place for a nice food adventure for families, friends, or just rolling through solo. FOOD / DRINKS Combo Plate (Recommend) I know it's important to save room to chinchorreo but especially if this is your first time, this should be your base. Lechon - Pick your protein, obviously I got pig - it was juicy, flavorful and tender slices of meat, and a nice piece of crispy skin. Morcilla - not your usual sausage but a rich flavorful with a chewy spiced earthy flavor. Pasteles - kind of like a tamale which was a savory soft doughy base. Arroz con Gandules - If they're out of their seasonal pasteles, then this is a nice savory with a lot of lot of lively flavors and seasoning. The portions overall were generous and very "family style" feeling. This is not tiny trendy food--you come hungry. CUSTOMER SERVICE Awesome! Props to the people that work the weekends for their consistent friendly service. TL;DR OVERALL 5 Stars. Good food, reasonable prices, and a one of a kind Puerto Rican vibe. From the mountain scenery, live local music, smoky aroma, and the general playful energy - this was a highlight of my trip I won't be forgetting for a while. When in Puerto Rico, La Ruta de Lechon is a must and make sure to stop by El Rancho Original. TIPS * Come hungry and come early (for parking and to get the best parts of the lechon). Weekends are the best as it is livelier.

Great food, good prices and friendly atmosphere!! A must…read moreplace for lechon whenever we visit the island!!

The Ruta del Lechon "the pork highway" in Guavate, Cayey is a located about 45 minutes from San…read moreJuan. My friend mentioned that this was her favorite place for traditional whole spit-roasted pork and we headed that way for lunch. It is not a fancy place but the flavors are so worth the trip! The place was packed with locals and visitors alike. We stood in line, selected and pointed to what we wanted and we paid at the other end of the counter. They have open coveted seating and they have fans going. Lively music played in the background. We left with our bellies full and happy with our delicious adventure.

Miércoles 19 de noviembre de 2025 salida almorzar y aunque iba para otro lado me encontré este de…read morefrente y decidí probar. Local al aire libre con mesas en varios sitios menú extenso y con barra. Local limpio y bien decorado. La comida desde la sopa y hasta el postre fue muy bueno. Servicio muy excelente.

Fun hang out spot! Medalla and American beers are offered. There are three pool tables and good…read moremusic.

Sábado 14 de junio de 2025. Víspera Día de Padres mi hijo me invitar almorzar y decidí llegar este…read morelocal. Vista espectacular y facilidades grandes y cómodas. Comida excelente al igual que el servicio. Ambiente de almuerzo es familiar.

Our first time visiting and we cannot wait to go back! Went with family to enjoy the unique view…read moreand amazing flavors that did not dissapoint. The mofongo is incredible and they have many options of proteins and sauces to create unique plates for everyones palates. We went on a Sunday close to opening time and it was already busy and full. The 45 minute wait was worth it but if you are trying to get a table without waiting make sure you arrive a little before opening. The wait was entertaining as we got to enjoy the view and take pictures in the roof area that showcases the entire beautiful island of Puerto Rico!

Delicious Everything excellent service ! Everything is super delicious in this restaurant ! Totally…read moreworth it !!!

Fantastic! I'm always trying plantains because I want to like them -- this is the first place I…read morehave!! The tostones with the garlic sauce are amazing!! And the chicken with garlic was also fantastic! Worth the trip!