When I found out there is a yelp listing for the empanada lady I was thrilled!!! Because let me…read moretell you, this lady makes some amazing empanadas! And I'm all about supporting LOCAL women owned businesses! These locals work so hard to make ends meet. We need to ALL support these local vendors when we travel. This sweet lady walks on the beach and sells her delicious goods in her cute baskets. I didn't know who she was, just hungry on the beach lol. I AM SO GLAD I CAUGHT HER! They are only $4 each. I wish I ordered more than just one. Don't make my mistake lol - ORDER ATLEAST 2-3!!!!

Beach sellers can be annoying, but this was a GREAT find. Just as my husband I were going to throw…read morein the towel and buy overpriced, gross hotel food, along came the Empanada Lady, offering fresh, hot, homemade empanadas! These were fantastic! We got 2 beef with a side of HOT sauce. They were flavorful and large enough to satisfy our hunger. If she comes by your beach chair, do yourself a favor and get a couple!

Los Chamos Arepas is a true hole-in-the-wall gem. Small, unassuming spot with great vibes and Afro…read morebeats playing, which immediately sets the tone with quick service. I ordered the Pabellón and OMG--so good. Packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and a crunchy exterior that held everything together beautifully. The filling of shredded beef, beans, sweet plantains, and cheese was absolutely amazing and well-balanced in every bite. If you're looking for delicious food, good music, and an authentic, low-key spot that delivers big on flavor, Los Chamos Arepas is a must-try. Some cute photo opps with a photo bomb of their extinguisher. Lol.

Very nice people, great drinks! Food is so so for Venezuelan. Also very slow service.read more

I completely understand why this place has such amazing reviews. If you're in San Juan, this is a…read moremust-visit spot. The food was amazing, the portions were generous, and most menu options came with a side. The ambiance of the restaurant was fantastic, with an open street view that really made you feel connected to the local community. The service was good as well, although a bit limited due to the small staff. Overall, I'd rate this place a 10/10. Whenever I come back to Puerto Rico, this will definitely be one of my regular stops

El Refran is located right on Ashford Ave- you cannot miss it - it's a tiny little restaurant that…read morealways has a line. For that reason, I'd recommend going at an off time for lunch because it was great! They were out of a few items, but I ended up with a pork chop with guava sauce and it was so good. They were also sadly out of the tres leches cake but I popped back in later that week as they were closing and were thrilled they had some left. That may have been the best tres leches I've ever had. The drinks were also delicious! We'll definitely return next time we're in PR.

Stand for quick bites that's open late! The Pina colada was the only item I had, and it was good.read more

Lovely ladies who understands how to treat customers right! Loved stopping here on a morning walk…read more Fresh tea, ginger and green tea and a berry açaí bowl. They're able to customize just the way you like. Patient and explain what they offer. Just so friendly it made you want to support and tip well. Cute stand. Not a dine in. Order, walk and stroll. Perfect for my day!

Service was friendly, food was yummy, and environment was casual. Just what we were looking for to…read moretry some Puerto Rican food. Menu had a lot of variety; something for everyone. They also do all-day breakfast. So glad we picked this spot for lunch!

This breakfast spot we tried was decent, but nothing special. The reviews were quite good, which is…read morewhy we decided to check it out--but the experience didn't fully live up to the hype. The biggest downside was the service--it was very slow. It took about 15 minutes just to place our order, and another 30 minutes for the food to arrive. Definitely not a place to go if you're really hungry or in a rush. We ordered a veggie omelette with Swiss cheese and bread--it was okay overall, though the bread was on the sweeter side, which I personally didn't enjoy. My husband had a veggie omelette wrap, which was decent as well. We also got an orange juice, but it wasn't sweet. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, but not particularly memorable either. If you don't have many options, it's worth trying--but I wouldn't go out of my way to return.

While I will say the food was pretty good, I don't think they are fans of tourists. While walking…read moreby from the next door coffee place, I saw a man on the porch area sitting at a table so I decided to stop in to grab some food to take back to the hotel. One of the employees was further in, wiping down some of the bar stools, and she kept giving me side eye. So I asked if they were open and she said yes. I ended up ordering a shrimp burrito but there was some confusion so it wasn't made right away. The employee that makes the food ended up coming back out about 10 minutes later to ask what I wanted in it. Then they asked what kind of sauce I wanted on it and I said sour cream is fine. The counter employee made some kind of comment about me being American to the lady who was making the food. I also ended up having to ask for the Powerade I paid for (and even though there were multiple flavors, she just pulled the closest one and gave it to me) and the prices varied from the posted board. While the food was very good, my shrimp burrito with rice and beans was awesome, I don't know if I would come back just because it seems like they don't like tourists very much.

This is a local grab and go place. You can also seat and eat. The food took a while to get. Food…read morewas okay, but could have been better. The fish tacos were the best ones. The chicken taco was supposed to be julienne (shredded), but it was strips. Got a side of beans but it was mainly juice. Definitely not fine dining but a good quick in between snack. Food: fish tacos, shrimp taco, chicken taco, side of beans

Very cute spot and the empanadas were delicious. My favorite was the churrasco and cheese, then the…read morechorizo and the pollo. They multiple hot sauces to choose from but the spicy aoli with the steak and chicken is a must try. Service was fast and the guys were super welcoming.

The empanadas were delicious. You can't be sure about what they have prior to visiting because the…read moreoptions seem to change daily. Small place, lots of character, friendly and attentive staff, and quick service. I Had a perfect pina colada here.

First time in PR and we are foodies. This has to be the best food we have had so far! Absolutely…read moredelicious. Not one complaint . Service was great. We also had the Flan de coco but ate it before I could get a picture. It was delicious. We didn't have a reservation but we were able to get a table. The sitting area was great we were also provided a lil table lamp which came in handy because it was getting dark outside.

Just around the block from our hotel, we decided to try Waiter's for dinner. The service was good…read more When we first entered the restaurant, there weren't any other patrons. As it got busier, it took the waiter more time to get to us. The restaurant was very casual and comfortable. The temperature was cool inside with the air conditioning. Sadly they did not have the appetizer we had hoped to try. They made it up to us with a complementary dessert. The coconut flan was delicious. We shared a skirt steak rice and fried pork Mofongo. Both were flavorful. The servings were generous. The rice included Amarillos. If you are in the area Waiter's is it excellent option for dining.

The ambiance is casual cool. The service is EXCELLENT! Our waitress answered all our questions and…read morehelped us figure out what we should drink and order. The food was delicious and nice and hot! We had shared a plate and it was just the right size for us. Excellent choice!

So this is the 2nd time going to Orozcos. You can find it in Diners Drive-ins and Dives. So after a…read moredisastrous attempt at sushi across the street we decided to keep it simple and go to the place in Condado that is guaranteed to be great authentic Puerto Rican food. Coño! It was good! I'm Puerto Rican and I was born and raised in Puerto Rican culture and I can say Orozcos is legit. I ordered their amazing Chuleton Kan Kan with arroz con gandules. (Big crispy pork chop with yellow rice and pigeon peas) It was delicious but you have to eat it traditionally with your hands. Don't try to be proper just dig in like the locals do. Just treat of a piece, eat it and then eat some rice. Mmmmm!!! Don't forget their signature hot sauce it's delicious but not too spicy. My daughter and wife ordered the monfongo with Bistec and mini empanadillas which is a regular beef empanada cut in half. Mix some of that hot sauce with it and BAM! You got the perfect appetizer. The monfongo was their star. I was chowing down on my pork chop but I had to steal a few bites lol. The beef was tender and delicious and the monfongo was soaked in the steak sauce, it was bliss! The staff were funny and very efficient and they all helped each other out. The atmosphere was personal and small with amazing salsa music playing and air conditioners blasting. It was so comfortable I highly recommend Orozcos!!!

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