The restaurant is close to the place we stayed, Casa Cubuy Eco Lodge. The menu is short, but…read moreeverything is cooked to order and is delicious and fresh. Noelia makes amazing empanadas - meat (rabbit) and veg (vegan - so flavorful I could have eaten just them!) We tried the mofongo (great) pork (tender), pasta with veg (nice and light), rice and beans with some salad an herbs - also nice and light. We loved chatting with Noelia (after she had finished cooking) and her friends who were there both nights we went. The space is very basic, but the terrace overlooks a lush green valley.

This lady makes amazing drinks and food. It was my first trying mofongo and she didn't disappoint !…read moreYou can tell it's all homemade and DELICIOUS. We stopped here after going to charco el hippie and wow ! Did it hit the spot! Not only was the food and the drinks amazing, but so was the view. I highly recommend. Such a hidden gem :) YUM.!!!

Go to Bistro Del Mar for the fish tacos. They're the reason to come…read more You get fresh, flavorful fish with just the right seasoning. The textures work. The toppings don't overpower anything. Every bite feels balanced and worth it. Be ready to wait. The food takes a while to come out. Plan for it and don't come starving. That said, the tacos make up for it. You'll forget the wait once you start eating. Also plan for the setup. There isn't much shade during the day, so think ahead if you're coming earlier. Bring what you need or come at a better time. We went at night, and it was perfect. The atmosphere felt calm and easy, with a great breeze and a relaxed vibe. Sit back, take your time, and enjoy it.

Amazing food, best meal we had during our trip! Had spicy crab stuffed avocado and yucca topped…read morewith octopus.

We stopped here on the road between Ponce and San Juan, and since we didn't have a lot of time, we…read moredidn't wander too far down the Ruta del Lechon (Pork Highway). This place is right on the main highway, it's huge and packed so plan accordingly: we arrived before noon on a Friday, so we probably got one of the last parking spots (there's a guy managing or charging in the parking lot? not sure) and the line was manageable. A large group and some buses showed up after us, so it got really crowded! Anyway, we had a short line, had no idea what we were doing to order (I should have researched better) but pointed and nodded, and with some help from the nice people in line, ended up with two huge platters of pork, rice and some other sides - way more food that we probably needed. The food: delicious! I would say our #2 favorite meal in Puerto Rico, after Marmalade (but that was more than 10x the price!) The pork was delicious, juicy, flavorful, and the crackling was to die for! I wish they would package those and sell them - probably only good fresh, though. Rice and sides were adequate: my son tried to be healthy and said the salad and potatoes were ok, but you're really there for the pork. Cost etc.: we paid less than $50 for 2 enormous plates of food and some sodas. It was enough for 3 lunch servings, plus enough leftovers for 2 people to have the rest for dinner - so I guess 5 servings? The wait was not bad early on a weekday, but they must get incredibly overrun on weekends. It is entertaining to see the pork cooking on a spit (please don't come if you are vegetarian and sensitive to such things) and watch them hacking away with machetes. My husband wondered if the machetes are the same once used for sugar cane!

During our trip to Puerto Rico, we made a stop at a lechónera- a restaurant that serves lechón (one…read moreof PR's unofficial national dishes), which is a whole, slow-roasted pig. This restaurant is just one of many open-air roadside spots that serve lechón along "La Ruta del Lechón", aka the "pork highway" in Guavate. We got a half pound of lechon along with Mamposteao, which was delicious and filling. The pork skin hit a level of shatteringly crispy texture that I have never had from non-fried pork skin. We came later in the day, which unfortunately meant that the pork was slightly dried out. However, the texture and flavor of the lechón was absoutely delicious. It's a "build your own box" style restaurant where you choose which sides you want on the dipslay. Besides the mamposteao there were also other delicious-looking sides such as plantains/mofongo, beans, fruit, etc. There's a small parking lot outside the restaurant- one where the rule is you can only back your car into your parking space. Interesting. Would definetely come to try lechón here again!

This restaurant was recommended to me by the folks that work at the beach chair and umbrella rental…read moreup the road at the beach. Excellent recommendation. To start, I had a chicken and cheese empanada, and a mango mojito. For the entree I had fried pork chops, with Trifongo (mixture of green plantain, yucca and sweet plantain), rice and beans, and tostones. Since I was staying at a hostel, I ordered enough to have leftovers for the next day. This place became more crowded as the early evening came on. I arrived around 6pm. By the time I left at 7:30, it was packed. There is an open grille at the entrance of the restaurant so you can watch them grilling meats. Relaxed and casual vibes. This is an after the beach, popular restaurant. Food was pretty good. Service was solid, nothing over the top. I would return.

We went on a final excursion for food before we headed back to the states. We were so glad we…read morefound these kiosk and food places over here. This one in particular was just a gut feeling, and it left my gut very HAPPY! This place was not busy when we arrived but by the time we left it was hopping! The service at first was a little questionable due to my limited spanish, but we found a way to communicate effectively and ended up ordering a bunch of different items and a couple of drinks. The place is an open walled restaurant right off the road and the view is ever changing. There is no doubt this is authentic Puerto Rican fare. We were watching them prepare these items over open flames and open wood fired grills. Overall the service was excellent even with language barriers! All of the food we tried from fresh shrimp, to candied papaya and barbeque chicken from the grill. Everything was delicious. Super fresh and very tasty food that I wish we found on the first day -instead of on the last day! The prices and value are amazing! If you go to San Juan - Go here first! Day or Night - these places are making amazing local food!

Superb dining & customer service experience. We stopped at this port while cruising, and this…read moreauthentic cuisine was phenomenal! The food cane in medium-sized bowls, so we assumed they'd be filled with rice, but we were wrong! Those bowls had soooooo much meat, neither of us could finish even half! We could've actually shared one, it was that much meat in one! The restaurant was simple, but beautifully decorated with admirable murals! We're thinking of going back just to spend some time in San Juan....if we do, we'll definitely go eat here again!

Love the vibe in here! Kept us cool inside and out with drinks, ceviche and fans. The cleanliness,…read morerainforest vibe and World Cup made it the perfect Old San Juan stop! You are welcomed by the friendliest servers and given personalized attention no matter your food restrictions! Must stop here!

Viernes 5 de septiembre de 2025 nos fuimos para Guaynabo City almorzar. Amplio comedor , el…read moreestacionamiento es un poco incómodo pero encontramos. Empezamos con una sopa de plátano y luego pechuga empanada con mofongo. Todo muy bueno. Servicio excelente.

I think I just found my go-to spot for Puerto Rican food back home. This place has only been around…read morefor about two years but feels extremely well hidden! The restaurant feels very open and inviting, with several different seating sections, including a more private group area. The decor is very fitting - recao is the Puerto Rican name for culantro, and there is a big Puerto Rico flag in one wall, and one nicely green contrast wall by the bar. This place just makes me feel like it is exactly where I need to be. The food is spectacular. Those breadfruit fritters were divine, and the tangy spiced dipping sauce it came with made the perfect combination. The breaded steak was thicker than I am used to, which in hindsight was great! I think the breading is ground crackers, which gave it a nice flaky consistency. Their green rice was great. But how about that trifongo side?! It's a GREAT portion, and it's only $5 as an add-on. This is probably the best one I have had in years. I hope this place gets more business and reviews, because the food is epic and the vibe is just right. Top notch.

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.

It was super exciting to visit Guavate (aka Pork Highway). This is one of the oldest running…read moreestablishments there. The interior was pretty spacious and colorful, with festive decor for the holidays and a live band playing. There was a happening atmosphere to the place. I ordered Pork (of course), tostones, and yuca. The Pork was well seasoned, though a little dry. I was disappointed that the skin was not crispy thin enough to eat. Tostones were nice and crisp. Yuca were cooked perfectly and had just the right consistency. Also got to try the Pork Ribs, and this was my favorite! They were small in size, delightfully tender, juicy, full of bold flavor, making for truly mouthwatering bites.

We found this place tucked in the middle of the block just off the freeway. We were actually headed…read moresomewhere else we saw on TikTok, but the wait was ridiculously long. So we went back to the car, drove to the other side of the freeway, and happened to spot this place. Best accidental stop ever. The girl at the window was super helpful and explained the menu to us. It's a small outdoor seating-only spot, simple but welcoming. We ordered the tacos -- although coming from Texas, I'm used to these being called empanadas. We got two shrimp-filled tacos, and they are cooked fresh to order, so expect about a 15-minute wait. When they came out, the first thing I noticed was the crust. You can immediately tell it's homemade just by looking at it. I took a bite way too fast and nearly burned my mouth because they come out HOT, so consider yourself warned if you're impatient like me. Once they cooled down a bit, I took another bite and wow. The crust was outstanding -- flaky, crispy, rich with flavor -- and the shrimp filling was packed full. I mean loaded with shrimp mixed in this delicious sauce that tied everything together perfectly. This taco was simply elegant, rich, flavorful, and unlike anything I've eaten before. Definitely one of those unexpected food stops that ends up being the highlight of the trip.

This was a great spot for quick and cheap lunch!!! They offer "tacos" that are basically meat or…read moreseafood filled puff pastries. Every taco I ordered was soooo delicious! And they're super filling as well. The cashier I saw on the 2-3 occasions I went was always very friendly. She was patient with me as I tried to order in Spanish--although she did appear to speak English if that's easier for you. They have a few tables but it's a pretty small dining area--the tables were always full from what I could tell. They have netting up to keep birds out of the dining area. Definitely a must try if you are in Loíza/San Juan!