I cannot say enough great things about this place. Everything here was perfect!!! The owner and her daughter were absolutely phenomenal hosts, they were so friendly - so patient - so kind - so knowledgeable of the menu and the food items. There wasn't a time when my friends and I didn't feel taken care of. When we first walked in, we were greeted warmly and the owner really took her time explaining everything and making sure we happy with our food selection. The COFFEE!!! Made to perfection, DELICIOUS. The decor was very home-like. Very intimate yet warm. But the food!!!!!! I don't have enough words to describe how amazing everything on the menu tasted and looked - and we pretty much ordered everything on the menu. Fresh vegetables, fresh poultry, everything fresh! Presentation was on point. If you're in San Juan, this is a must go!! read more

DELICIOUS food. Menu is on a chalkboard and is all in spanish, but the server reads it out to you if you're unfamiliar (me). Menu items range from 8.95 (my meal :) :) ) to $20 and a pitcher of DELICIOUS sangria is $24.95 and is worth every. single. penny. When we came here, it wasn't very busy but it also closed earlyish compared to some of the other bars that were open on a Saturday. The food was so delicious and the service was fine. Portions are also pretty large, so come hungry! Can accept Visa or Mastercard, but try to use cash if you can! read more

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Something in that house sauce they got but it's low key spot. Thoroughly impressed. Service was quick and simple. You really can't go wrong with roasted pork. read more

Molini's - Pernil Asado con Arroz Mojo. - Latin American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

There are a few moments in life, and I mean a few rare moments, when you find yourself in a small quaint place and think oh maybe this place won't be so bad. You order off the menu (mind you, it changes everyday) they place in front of you a well-plated dish. Of course you know that not all things that look good are good. So you take your first bite............... And your mind is blown! That's what this place does! It not only delivers on good food but the flavors are just amazing! I've had "Puerto Rican" food back home and honestly.... Nothing compares to the real thing here. It doesn't get as authentic as this place, and honestly if I could pack it up and put it in my pocket I would. I've had the best arroz con pollo here hands down. It beats out the other restaurants I've visited here. The staff was friendly and very helpful, suggested delicious dishes and the prices were great (considering some places wanna charge an arm and a legs worth) Most definitely when I come back to PR, this is my first stop!!!! read more

Molini's - Arroz con pollo y ensalada Amarilla delish! And chayote relleno de molida! - Latin American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

Nowhere in Puerto Rico have we eaten a better meal. Not only this but atmosphere, service and price were also some of the best we have found anywhere in Puerto Rico. Our entrees, with sides were both unique, elegantly presented and very well prepared, though my barracuda was just a little dry. The maduros were as good as I've had them and my wife's chicken with eggplant, a sort of fricasse was superb. We finished the meal with a delectable tres leches topped with crushed pistachio--excellent--perhaps the best, and certainly the most unique tres leches I've ever had. read more

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Molini's Café & Restaurant in San is a must when you're in San Juan! For an authentic Puertorrican meal, made with fresh ingredients run, don't walk to this small quaint and friendly family-owned restaurant. We stopped here right after arriving in Puerto Rico, they are close to the airport, and I'm so glad we did! This will now be a required stop in our future travels to the island. Never have I had beans anywhere which rival my moms! The thought of our meals here stayed with us throughout our vacation and nothing else quite came close to this level! Something the owner warned us about! LOL Everything we had was absolutely delicious, from mofongo to fried grouper (my favorite!) to their breaded steak, and their amazing Sangria, and of course their amazing beans, and dessert, ALL WAS EXCELLENT! Inexpensive, Great value for all the food we had. We Can't wait to go back! P.S. Cash only. read more

Very small cute cafe that only takes cash payments. They also have a different menue each day but seem to be very flexible with their cooking. Always a good thing! Makes you feel special :) YOU HAVE TO TRY THE MOFONGO WITH CHICKEN OR SHRIMP. Hands down the best thing I've eaten in months! read more

Molini's - mofongo BEAUTY - Latin American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

We dropped by for a quick bite and the scrambled eggs were terrible. I had a BLT which was pretty good. Prices are average and the coffee is good. read more

Molini's - BLT - Latin American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

In San Juan for the night and being my first trip to the country I was looking for something authentic. The place we were staying had it as an option. I saw it on yelp and noticed good reviews but somehow the 5 stars slipped by me. I was told Mofango is very traditional so we ordered both the shrimp and chicken. AMAZING! Three hours later and the delicious flavo read more

Very quaint and intimate place. Food was delicious and cooked perfectly, wait wasn't bad either. Prices were a bit higher than other native restaurants, but nothing outrageous and certainly reasonable for the quality. The only downside is that they don't take credit card and we were not aware until the check came and we had just enough cash to pay. I highly recommend this place. read more

The first red flag was that this place was dead while all the other nearby businesses were booming. We had called ahead for a party of 7 so we decided to commit anyways. The debit machine was down, no problem we had cash. We asked for drinks and were basically told they only have medallas and juice and soda. We ordered our food from the limited menu. It was around 8:20 and they were supposed to close at 9:30 but locked the door at 8:45. Our orders were a bit mixed up (forgot one meal, salad was added to the wrong meal) but again it was ok. The final straw was salty food, boiled rather than seared bistec, and overcooked beans that were so thick there was barely any bean juice. We had to send one of the salty meals back because it wasn't edible, they still charged us for it. Would not recommend. read more

Really great food and service. Small place but it's definitely a restaurant/cafe with a dark ambiance. Waitress was very friendly and explained all the dishes in English. Prices are very reasonable. And it's A LOT of food. I had the #2 chicken and it was breaded (extra $2) and plantains which were great. Also came with rice and beans (the beans were very, very good - not just regular beans). The drinks were great. I had a fresh squeezed juice for $3.75 and my friend had a coffee for $6 (but it was big and delicious). Overall a great place, highly recommend. Also, CASH ONLY. That's pretty important. read more

Molini's - #2 Chicken breaded (12.95) - Latin American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

It was alright. Decent serving size, decent food, I've had bigger portions for cheaper or similar prices in Puerto Rico. Had the fricase de pollo, good but nothing to write home about. Doesn't accept credit or debit cards but written in an obscure part of the restaurant. read more

Molini's - Latin American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

Very much enjoyed my lunch here. I ordered a beef mofongo special & a side soup. The soup was a rice chicken soup. Was delish!! The mofongo was a little salty, but that's maybe because I like my food a bit bland. I washed this all down with a delicious passion fruit drink...although I barely ate half of my Mofongo. For dessert I had to get the flan & some iced black coffee. Might I say it was fabulous!! You can literally roll me out the door now please...hahaha!! read more

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As other reviewers mentioned, the menu changes daily and is pretty small so my review was for the dishes that we ordered and were available that day. We ordered the pepper stuffed with ground beef and the cod stew. The cod came with potato salad that was pretty good and the cod was tasty. The ground beef stuffed pepper was decent but I felt as if it was something I could make myself in 15 minutes. The rice and beans that came with the pepper was delicious. Service was helpful. Even though I gave the meal a 3 star, I would consider going back because I'd like to try their other dishes. read more

Great food, wonderful cozy, classy atmosphere. The mofongo was perfect, great texture and taste. The chicken was seasoned to perfection, and it served on a beautiful bed of greens. Started with the sopa de Jamon y fideos. A fantastic soup. Highly recommend. read more

We went to this restaurant bc of the yelp reviews. We wanted to start off with mofongo as an appetizer and the waitress said I bc it was to big of an entree to be an appetizer. Throughout our order she made changes and didn't really let us decide what we wanted. It was an it bizarre. She told my bf he had to try the pasteles and he said no but she continued to push so he just gave in and said ok. Of course he didn't like it and it was very awkward. She waited for him to try it and just watched us eat. We ended up ordering mofongo with skirt steak only to find out they didn't have any and they gave us beef instead. It was ok not the best. He ordered the chueletta tan tan and as they brought it out they told us that it was smaller than what we had ordered. They neglected to tell us that what we ordered wasn't available and they substituted another type of pork chop without running it by us. The pork-chop was way over cooked and inedible. Needless to say we got our check and left. Don't waste your time here. They literally changed the prices for their entrees as we were sitting there waiting for our food. We do not recommend this place. Had to get dinner at another restaurant after. la jaquita baya is phenomenal! That restaurant was our saving grace! read more

Popped into this place looking for a good meal and was blown away. Perfectly crafted. Spices on point. Started with a cafe con leche that did not disappoint and chose the Fricase de pollo con habichuelas blancas. Juicy chicken with some great veggies, rice and a serving of white beans erupting with flavor. Portions were great. Impressed! read more

I had just arrived from the airport. Checked into my Airbnb and soon walked around to find some local grub. Along the streets were cafes catering to the menial American eggs and sandwich motif. I was on a mission to find the local treasure for my ever so growing appetite (Mind you I had been flying/connecting for 20+ hours). On the busy main street, I enter this small, low lit restaurant; Norah Jones playing on the background and not the reggaeton playing everywhere else. A sweet inviting waitress, Amelia, tells me to sit anywhere I'd like. First thing I ask, "Do you serve local cuisine and not just eggs and sandwiches that I keep seeing around?". She laughs and says, "Yes, our menu changes daily and our breakfast is a lot like American style with jamon (ham), bread and queso (cheese) but our lunch is very different." I was sold and sat excitingly for my first authentic Puerto Rican meal. She asked what I'd like to drink. I ordered fresh mango juice. It was good but not especial. For round dos I ordered the soursop juice. I'm not a big fan of soursop (guanábana) but she insisted I would like it. The juice came garnished with a pineapple slice. It was already appeasing to the eyes and ears since I saw her blend the fresh soursop just seconds before. I slowly sip the juice; My mouth and eyes start to twinkle, My tongue celebrating every tasteful drip. I had just experienced my first juice high. I was baffled on how AMAZING it tasted! It was light, simple, refreshing with the perfect amount of fruit and sugar. It has now caught my newfound love and obsession. I grew up with a soursop tree in the backyard and have tried fresh soursop juice in Singapore, Thailand, Guam and the Philippines; but this takes 1st place (by a LONG SHOT). I don't know if it was the tincture that Amelia made or if it was the quality of the soursop that made it spectacular. Whatever it was, it was surely unforgettable. Sorry Asia, we lost this battle. For the main course, I was craving fish but didn't see it on the daily menu board. I asked Amelia if they had fish and she quickly went to the chef and she returns and says "yes but we'll charge $3 extra for the sauce because it's not on the menu today". I happily accept then I see the chef exit and walk across to the produce store to get some missing ingredients for the sauce (I presume). 10-13 mins later the beautifully fried red snapper in "special sauce" arrives. The sauce had fresh sautéed tomatoes, lime juice, red pepper, onions, green bell pepper, cilantro, and plenty spices I can't confidently identify. The sauce = PERFECTION. The fried fish = 8/10 (-2 cause it had a slight bitter taste around the gills). The sauce had a red creole base but with a special secret kick that is almost impossible to replicate. I had no shame in my game and scarfed my plate empty like a newly released POW (Prisoner of War). IT WAS THAT GOOOOD!!! I was in food heaven and was deeply saddened when it all ended. All good meals must come to an end *sighs. ANYONE in San Juan - THIS PLACE IS A MUST GO! read more

Must go to Molinis, you'll regret not going and getting delicious and authentic Puertorican food! I brought my friends from the DR there to try the Mofongo - they were so impressed we went almost every day on our trip. read more

What a wonderful find. Our only regret was finding this place on our last night, otherwise we would have eaten here every night. Do not let the Spanish only menu scare you; the staff is fluent in English and will explain everything. We enjoyed having them explain things, as it was much better than taking a chance on pictures. The owner takes obvious pride in his craft and the food was DELICIOUS. I would have loved to have given them 5 stars but for the fact that they only take cash. They say they take debit, but only if it does not have a visa or MasterCard logo. Haven't seen one of those in years (debit card with no logo). They have been here for 10 years. You would think that in all that time in a tourist friendly environment you would spend a little extra money to make more money. Upgrade your payment options and I will gladly give you 6 stars read more

If you're in the Ocean Park or Condado area, this little gem is worth many visits. This neighborhood bistro serves quintessential Puerto Rican cuisine. The joint only seats about 15-20 and the tasteful atmosphere comes off as cozy and intimate. The menu, as mentioned by the previous poster, is ever changing for breakfast, lunch and dinner - showing off the talents of the chef. The Stuffed Bell-pepper we had was savory and delicious. The Eggplant Stew was full of robust flavor. And the prices were definitely in the diner's favor. We will try to make it back every time we return to San Juan. (BYOB with a small corkage fee.) read more

Great food and great service. Ate here twice while in PR. You should definitely eat here!

This café came recommended by our hostel, but sorry to say, we did not have a very good experience here. Shortly after we sat down, the waitress asked my wife to get up from her seat so that she could hang the daily "Special" board on the wall above us. The gal stood on my wife's chair to do it, then returned it, not wiping it down. OK, we are not fussy people. But many might find this a bit . . . informal. The funny part was that when I tried to order from that list of specials, I was told the kitchen was all out of that dish. We laughed, because were the very first people in the restaurant that evening, and the list had just been posted two minutes before! So I ordered a stew when the gal assured me it had lots of veggies. But when my plate came, it was not even close to what I ordered. It was plate of deep-fried chunks of pork and a small bit of salad on the side. I didn't want all that meat, and took most of it home in a box. On paying the bill, I mentioned that the dish was not what I ordered, and the waitress replied, casually, that she knew it wasn't. She said she'd selected a substitute for me. Huh? I paid at the register, and the gal's math was off a few bucks. She refigured, and her total was off again. Still only a few bucks, but by now I felt like getting it straight, which we did, and I paid with a fifty-dollar bill. In making my change, she mumbled she was out of larger denominations, and proceeded to count out a pile of one-dollar bills. There was to be $14 in change. She was counting them out with her back to me at first, then turned and finished in front of me, saying, "...twelve, thirteen, fourteen. There we go." I did not recount the stack of bills in from of her. I should have. There were eleven bills. For all I know, the restaurant may be fine in many other respects. But the gal serving on Feb. 26, 2020, was a disaster. And management should be paying better attention. read more

My experience is limited to one short trip to San Juan, but if you're looking for Puerto Rican food, Molini's is a good bet. It's a great little place. You wouldn't think it from the outside--it's not particularly designed or attention-grabbing--but service is terrific and friendly, the food is spot on, and it's consistently full of both locals and tourists (who seem all to have been directed here by locals.) Molini's served us the best mofongo we tried in our whole trip--I had the "mofongo relleno de camalones", which was basically a shrimp curry mofongo. The pernil was also delicious--we got the plate, which was a little too large, but I imagine the sandwich version would be smaller and extremely good. (The menu changes daily, so no telling what they'll offer, but I suspect the mofongos and pernils are standards.) The beans were soupy and terrific, and the bread pudding was pleasantly spongy and not too sweet. We liked it so much we came back a second time. Not everything was to our tastes--on our second visit, we tried the pastel de masa without knowing what it was, and got a plate full of a sort of fishy mush. I suspect the dish was well done, but perhaps is an acquired taste? I can't fault the kitchen for this! read more

Wow. I give this place 5 stars on service alone--the people who served me were more interested in me and my trip to PR than all other servers on my trip combined. And that food!! I would eat here every night, given the chance. I had the the Pernil, and I shan't forget it soon. Best food of my 7 day trip. Stop in. Eat here. Have your mind blown. read more

Great Puerto Rican food as I imagine my non-existent Puerto Rican grandma might cook at home. Menu is up on a chalkboard and gets crossed off as they run out. On Monday night around 1930, several things were already crossed out and another item joined the sold out list while I was there. So go early I'd guess! Everything is written in Spanish and the majority of the patrons were Puerto Rican, but the staff all spoke excellent English and were more than willing to translate as needed. I had the chicken mofongo, which was amazing. The Puerto Rican woman next to me had it also and told me that it's her favorite mofongo dish in San Juan. Delicious! Also, in contrast to what the details on Yelp say, they do NOT take credit. Cash or travelers checks only!! read more

Every time I travel to Puerto Rico, I just have to come here. The food is amazing, the menu is the catch of the day. The times I have been here, I have not been disappointed. If you're looking for a nice lunch after tanning it up on the beach or pool, this is the place to go. I can say so much more but it's an experience everyone who is in the area should have! read more

My husband and I really enjoyed our meal here. The tables are a bit cramped but the delicious food and friendly service was worth it :)

Awesome little local spot in Condado! Everyday the menu is different so you can expect the food to be fresh and authentic! Our waitress was great and spoke English which was a plus! We will definitely come back here and will recommend this little gem to everyone that's staying in this town in Puerto Rico! read more

Molini's - Amazing coffee! - Latin American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

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We stayed in Condado vacationing for a few days. We found this gem just walking on the way to another restaurant and decided to try this instead. Food was great, very boutique restaurant feel, small menu, which is always an indication of quality food. We really loved everything we got, and even though we dined at fancier spots in Old San Juan, this was still a favorite. It has the feel of a restaurant in the West village in NYC - very cozy and intimate atmosphere and crafty menu. read more

My family has been coming to Molini's for dinner at least once a week for years - and my family is a handful of tough customers. We've always enjoyed good times here. If you like delicious local food and quick service with a smile, go to Molini's. read more

Each time I come to PR I have to come to Molini's. They always have a variety of great food to order posted each day on a blackboard. Your choices range from meat, pork, & fish, served w/very healthy portions of rice, beans, & salad. David, the owner, plays wonderful background music for your listening pleasure. Don't forget to order their cheese flan & expresso. Divine! Consistently awesome! read more

Molini's - Latin American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

The breaded chicken with rice and beans and platanos are out of this world. I would strongly suggest to go here if you're looking for Puerto Rican food at great prices. Cash only. read more

Molini's - Latin American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

They do not take credit cards here, so be sure to bring cash. The owner was very nice. The service was just ok. The waitress left us waiting and forgot to take our order after bringing our drinks. They also got one of the orders wrong. Both dishes were good, but the beefsteak en salsa was overly salty. We would try this place again. read more

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Fresh food. Authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. Attentive staff. Menu changes daily. Mid-day can be crowded. Bistro ambience with beer and wine available. Very moderate prices. Walking distance to heart of Condado or Ocean Park. Short walk to beach. This is a place populated by locals who are willing to share their good luck. Diverse crowd. read more

Molini's - Intimate, mellow dining room - Latin American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

Molini's is always on the list of places to get lunch or dinner while I am in Puerto Rico. Today I learned that they also serve breakfast. My husband and I were the first (and only) customers during our time there. As usual, the food was phenomenal. I had the tuna fish sandwich which was perfectly and deliciously boring and served on a pressed sub roll. (I know not exactly gastronomic excitement but a comfort food done within the comfort zone!) my husband ordered two eggs and two pancakes. He is somewhat of a pancake snob, if there are any others out there, I don't know, but he is a pancake guru. These pancakes were correctly pan-sized as well as fluffy, not flat. His food also required two plates and came with a bowl of fresh cut fruit. The ambiance for breakfast was entertaining. We sat comfortably in the window and people watched as the line for the pink place next door spilled into the street. The only draw from 5 stars is for the service which was warm and friendly but a little slow. This may be because they just opened for the day, or it may be the island life. The owner is usually present, super friendly and engaging in conversation that is beyond that of mere self promotion. I will be here again, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. read more

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Good P.R. food. Small restaurant though and tiny bathrooms. The food was good but my garbanzo beans were salty. I did enjoy their yellow rice. Coffee is good--quite strong. read more

I just came here for a quick, but intimate dinner, and was pretty happy with it! It's a small restaurant, but the dim lighting and cozy space made it a nice atmosphere. It's in a local area, so just be mindful of the fact that you and your server might come across some language barriers (as they might not know English). Fortunately, we sat in front of a local couple that was able to translate for us :) We just got the skirt steak and yuca fries, which was pretty good! The sangrias here were quite yummy as well. read more

So I don't typically write reviews here, but this place is absolutely incredible. Our airbnb host recommended this little place to us and we ended up going twice! The menu changes daily and was great both times. The owner works here and is very friendly, so chat with him if you get a chance. They were out of the dish I ordered, so he whipped something up for me that the waitress called "little boat" and it was possibly the best thing I have ever had, definitely the best food I've had in PR! If you're in the ocean park area, this place is definitely worth a visit! read more