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    Pa Pical

    4.5 (115 reviews)
    InexpensivePuerto Rican
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Pa Pical Photos

    PA PICAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

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    Reviews With Photos - Pa Pical

    Matcha
    Caitlin M.

    Went here based on distance and good reviews. What a cute local spot. We had Kareliz as our waitress and she was so sweet and nice! We did our best to communicate in Spanish and English :). My mom ordered an omelet and an iced coffee and loved it. I ordered a "make your own" breakfast sandwich on Mallorca bread. The highlight for me was the iced matcha latte (Oli/Olé matcha with oat milk and vanilla syrup and a dash of cinnamon on top). The best matcha I have had. I had a conversation with the women next to me who asked me about it. They also loved it. And finally I also ordered passion fruit juice because I have never had better passion fruit juice since I have been on the island.

    Coddy A.

    Pa Pical is a term ( Slang ) used in the Puerto Rican and latin community in Spanish is "para pica" or in English is "finger food" but this is not an ordinary place you will be amaze of the flavors in the empanadas, breakfast offering and incredible attention to detail. is a small little place is Carolinas, back in New York we call it a hole in the wall but is big in service and welcoming ambience. they play music in the weekend and special occations. This is not just a place for locals is for everyone because the experience so don't miss the opportunity and stop by you will be amaze.

    Jessica J.

    Came here twice on a five day trip to PR. So delicious. Empanadas (turnovers) were bomb. Favorites: 1) shrimp 2) beef and cheese 3)lobster Drinks were also good and staff were friendly. Very fair prices.

    Shrimp empanadas
    Jonesha M.

    My group and I ate there multiple times during our stay in PR. It was in walking distance to where we stayed, It's opened late and the food is piping hot and delish. I've tried the beef, shrimp, and pizza empanadas, all great. The tsunami fries were really good too. My sister really enjoyed the fish tacos. Definitely would recommend!

    Chicken and shrimp empanadas
    Amanda R.

    Cute place, lots of locals and empanadas were great! Service is walk up and quick! Would definitely recommend if you want a quick snack or drink!

    Recommend getting the empanadas carne con queso. best empanadas I have ever had Very friendly people.

    Alcapurria de Carne
    Cristian V.

    When in Puerto Rico , drink rum, enjoy the beach and eat Alcapurrias Highlights: *Variety of fillings *Empanadas *Alcapurrias Review: The name does this spot justice, Pa Pical means to munch on. The Alcapurrias come in a variety of fillings and are fried fresh to order, pair that with a nice cold beer on a sunny day for a perfect combination. The Alcapurria was hot, crunchy, flaky and filled with a delicious ground beef mix. I can't wait to try the rest of their fillings and empanadas. Rating: 8/10 Alcapurria de Carne

    Keith E.

    Pricey for the amount of food you receive but the empanadas are delicious. Drinks are good and priced fairly during happy hour. Very laid back, can sit by the bar or inside around the corner where it's more quiet if preferred. Waitresses were very attentive and polite.

    Beer
    Deborah T.

    So you are hanging out in Isla Verde area or you are leaving the beach and need a laid back pit stop to eat some delicious empanadas.. search no more. Pa pical has the best empanadas in the area period. We have been there way more times than I want to admit and it never disappoints. We have tried all of them, well almost all of them we did not try the vegan ones but if you are a vegan you will be happy to know they have at least 4 options. Camarones: Shrimp Jueyes: local crab Are a most try! Also if you like spicy food they have and sell the spiciest sauce we have found on the island. We had the special fries with ground meat and cheese and it was ok,. They offer a great selection of local beer. Service is prompt and accommodating. Check it out

    Everyone writes on everything
    Adele P.

    We tried to go to another business down the street but they had a 2-hour wait, and when we were walking back to our apartment we passed this place and they had no wait. We both ordered ham, egg, and cheese sandwiches with coffee. After waiting more than half an hour, despite the fact that only one other couple was in there, we were given the wrong sandwiches. The bread was very well toasted with the cheese inside was not melted well. All in all it was okay, but the wait was not worth it.

    Meghna S.

    One of the cutest, rugged looking and fun small restaurant in the city. The entire place has a rough look and walls filled with graffitis that adds to the charm. The place is small and it is order at the counter. We bought a bottle of champagne with orange juice to make our own mimosas. This place has amazing empanadas; pulpo empanadas is my favorite here. Chicken empanadas were equally delicious. Just the ambience, the mimosas, the service, the music, the vibe. It is a superb place that one must try.

    Sorullitos, empanadas with meat & cheese, empanadas with Guava & cheese, passionfruit (parcha) margarita

    Better than Pinones! Food was freshly made, served piping hot and delicious! Empanadas with meat and cheese, fried corn sticks (sorullitos) with cheese and empanadas with guava & cheese. Don't be put off by the graffiti on the walls, this place is great!

    Passionfruit juice
    Sarah P.

    Delicious tostones, fries, and empanadillas! I'd go back anytime. It was definitely more of a snack place than a meal place. The juice was super tasty too!!

    Beer & Marg (get Tajin NOT SALT)

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    Excelente lugar, con excelente ambiente y buenos precios también. Lo máximo de ellos es que están abiertos hasta tarde.

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    They have really good empanadas. The service was amazing and there was a nice evening vibe.

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    4 years ago

    Got the soft beef tacos, and let me tell ya, incredible. If you are in this area and are looking for tacos this is the place.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    So yummy! The employees are kind. This is a great local spot for Puerto Rican fritura.

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    4 years ago

    Food was so good and servers were kind. Cool place but make sure to check your cans for bugs on top of them

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    5 years ago

    The food and service is excellent, the servers are friendly and honest. My girlfriend forgot her purse and they secured it until we returned

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    4 years ago

    This place is walking distance from our Airbnb and it has such a great atmosphere and great empanadas, drinks!! Must try!

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    6 years ago

    This is a hangout spot in my neighborhood always opened and always fun! The tacos are delish

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    5 years ago

    This spot is BOMB AF!!! All the pastellitos we ordered were so good (beef and cheese, pizza, pepperoni)!! Highly recommend!

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    Page 2 of 3

    Review Highlights - Pa Pical

    Empanadas with meat and cheese, fried corn sticks (sorullitos) with cheese and empanadas with guava & cheese.

    Mentioned in 26 reviews

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    La Cueva del Mar - Mofongo with Ropa Vieja

    La Cueva del Mar

    4.4(524 reviews)
    2.4 km
    $$

    I highly enjoyed La Cueva Del Mar! I wanted a mix of Latin and seafood and this was the perfect…read morechoice. It was recommended by one of our tour guides so it is a great option for both locals and tourists. It had a nice atmosphere and very large menu with many different types of options. The Frutti di mare was one of the best pastas I've ever had! It had almost every type of seafood you could want. A great option for someone who wants to try a bit of everything. It was large enough to satisfy you but not too large where you have to take leftovers it back to your hotel. It also came with a salad and delicious bread. My husband ordered the yucafongo pollo, and was very impressed. It was also filling and well made. The drink menu also had a lot of options. I went with the sangria which was super tasty! It's more on the fruity side. Our service was great and we didn't have to wait long for a table or our food, although it seemed busy. Whether you live in the area or are just on vacation, I would recommended trying it out!

    We visited La Cueva del Mar for my wife's birthday dinner during our family trip to Puerto Rico,…read moreand despite a few minor issues, the meal itself was absolutely outstanding. The service was a little confusing at first. We were seated and expected to access the menu through a QR code, which wasn't immediately explained to us. We initially expected traditional menus, so there was a bit of uncertainty before we realized how the ordering process worked. We were also seated near one of the air conditioning units, which made some members of our party feel a bit cold during the meal. However, once the food arrived, all of those concerns quickly disappeared. The food was incredible. Rich, flavorful, and beautifully prepared, every dish at the table was delicious. The arroz con pollo was honestly the best I have ever had in my life. It was perfectly seasoned, comforting, and packed with flavor. Every bite felt like authentic Puerto Rican cooking at its best. Our family thoroughly enjoyed the meal, and it made for a wonderful birthday dinner for my wife. While the service experience could be a little clearer and some seating areas may be colder than others, the quality of the food more than makes up for those minor issues. I would absolutely return on a future visit to Puerto Rico.

    Photos
    La Cueva del Mar - Inside

    Inside

    La Cueva del Mar - Fish tacos & Sangria

    Fish tacos & Sangria

    La Cueva del Mar - The bar area

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    The bar area

    Mar Del Caribe - Variedad de mariscos. The best seafood in town!!

    Mar Del Caribe

    4.4(70 reviews)
    0.5 km

    This little hole in the hell yeah! will leaving you feeling like island royalty. In the mood for…read moresuper fresh, well-prepared seafood? Want a little white tablecloth treatment? Do you enjoy being waited on with the utmost care and attention to detail? This is the spot!! The service here is impeccable! I mean I have never seen food and drinks come so seamlessly while plates and silverware were cleared by the invisible man. The ceviche was an abundant pile of gloriously fresh fish. I asked for more bread to finish it off. I also had the Lobster Thermidor. It was as big as my head and delicious down to the last bite. My margaretes were strong and tasty. Treat yourself to this adorable, authentic place.

    We selected Mar Del Caribe from internet reviews for a Tuesday evening dinner as we were heading…read moreback to the Isla Verde area after visiting Old San Juan. My wish that night was to find a place offering fried whole snapper and it was on their menu - and I even called ahead to be sure it was available that night. So I was hyped to try their snapper version, and it didn't disappoint. The vibe of the restaurant was that of a friendly neighborhood joint, possibly a bit retro time-wise. Service was prompt and informative. We both had cocktails, and Paige said it was one of the best whisky sours she's had. With the snapper - which was HUGE - I had an order of mamposeao, a rice and bean stew that was amazing. My wife's chicken parm also got a great review from her. We parked in the small lot directly in front of the restaurant, and there was an attendant to help with parking.

    Photos
    Mar Del Caribe - At Mar del Caribe

    At Mar del Caribe

    Mar Del Caribe - The best food in San Juan

    The best food in San Juan

    Mar Del Caribe - Storefront for Mar del Caribe

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    Storefront for Mar del Caribe

    Bebo's Café - Vanilla flan

    Bebo's Café

    3.9(959 reviews)
    2.9 km
    $$

    Bebo's Cafe is everything people say it is and more. After hearing so many positive things, we…read moredecided to visit during our trip, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The food was incredible. Everything we ordered was flavorful, comforting, and clearly prepared with care. My mother even commented that the arroz y habichuelas reminded her of her grandmother's cooking, which is probably one of the highest compliments a Puerto Rican restaurant can receive. The meal felt authentic, homemade, and deeply satisfying. I ordered the stuffed avocado, and it was absolutely to die for. It was one of the standout dishes of our entire trip. The staff was attentive and worked hard to keep things moving despite how busy the restaurant was. You can immediately tell that this place serves a very high volume of customers, and for good reason. The only thing that may confuse first-time visitors is the seating process. People generally line up in the hallway adjacent to the dining room and wait to be seated. At first, it can feel like organized chaos, but the staff clearly knows how to manage the crowd. Given the popularity of the restaurant and the amount of people coming through the doors, the system works. The quality of the food for the price is outstanding. This is the kind of place you visit when you want authentic Puerto Rican food that tastes like it came straight from someone's family kitchen. If you're visiting San Juan, you owe it to yourself to eat here at least once. Our family loved it, and we would absolutely return on a future trip.

    Came recommended by our driver as a good local food option fir good Puerto Rican food . Food okay…read more- service okay - nothing special. Not many people were there and not many locals. It was not the local flair I was expecting. When most of the menu contains all-American hamburgers and pasta,,,, and mediocre at that... I had plantains with rice and beans. Chased the waiter for the bill.

    Photos
    Bebo's Café
    Bebo's Café - Chicken soup

    Chicken soup

    Bebo's Café - Steak with a side salad

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    Steak with a side salad

    Manzana de Java - Gelato de Galangal  Cheese flan

    Manzana de Java

    4.6(12 reviews)
    2.4 km

    Very small and cozy spot in San Juan, praised by many. Definitely make a reservation as there is…read morenot a lot of seating but it is quite popular!! This was my first meal in Puerto Rico and basically my introduction to Puerto Rican cuisine. They offer a twist on classic dishes, which kind of threw us off but I still enjoyed most of the dishes! I really liked the asopao, empanadas, tostones, and the guanime (dessert). The other dishes were good as well, but a bit on the salty side, which I'm just not used to. The only thing I didn't like was the alcapurria, which I think you can get better ones elsewhere, but it was definitely worth trying. We got complimentary ice cream beans which was nice because I love trying exotic fruits! And the rocio de miel is a great cocktail if you're like me and you like sweeter, lighter drinks. Our server was very attentive and patient, explaining the menu to us since we hadn't tried most things before. It was a very nice experience and great introduction to Puerto Rican cuisine!

    i'm torn about this place. some of the bites i had were AMAZING. some i really didn't like but…read moremaybe that's just puerto rican cuisine and i'm just not used to it. as for atmosphere - it was very quaint and cute. small spot so you definitely need a reservation. favorites: crudo!!! fish chiccarones, tostones, pork dislikes: fish cocktail, crab service was UNMATCHED. the waiter recommended ordering the whole menu because we were 4 people and they suggest 3-4 small plates per person. but he checked in with us after about 75% of the dishes came out and we were full so he stopped bringing the rest! very sweet because we wouldn't have been able to finish the rest. bill was very reasonable

    Photos
    Manzana de Java - Bar and food prep area

    Bar and food prep area

    Manzana de Java - Seafood cocktail  Ceviche

    Seafood cocktail Ceviche

    Manzana de Java

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    Vianda - BARQUILLITAS DE ZANAHORIA - CARROT RILLETE, CROUSTADE

    Vianda

    4.8(157 reviews)
    3.7 km
    $$

    We were very excited to try Vianda and made reservations well before our trip. What an outstanding…read moremeal. The concept is farm to table and the menu changes monthly. My husband and I shared the following dishes off the April 2026 menu and every bite was delicious: - Cauliflower croquettes & pecorino - Pumpkin, tamarind, cubanelle peppers, pumpkin seed crema - Asian eggplant, coconut curry, pepper-banana conserva - Pork belly, ginger fried rice, coconut, basil (without peanuts) - Vanilla flan & orange caramel We specifically wanted a more vegetable forward meal after having several meat heavy dishes the few days before. We also have several allergy and dietary restrictions and they were extremely accommodating without making it feel like a big deal. Every dish was full of flavor and complexity. The pumpkin was a standout for me. And the pork belly was some of the crispiest I've tried. I also really enjoyed the wine. The restaurant itself is modern, intimidate yet spacious, and everyone we interacted with was extremely kind and welcoming. Even the chef was a delight to chat with toward the end of our meal. Vianda is perfect for a special occasion or date night.

    Dinner at Vianda was an amazing experience. Every dish was so creative, thoughtful, and most…read moreimportantly delicious. My partner and I enjoyed a vast selection of the April 2026 menu items. 6 small plates was plenty for us to split. We started with two rolls with some butter that was brought to the table before our appetizers. They were warm and fluffy but average. Next we had the grouper bites which came on little arepa bread. Probably not a "must-get" but a nice warm introduction. Next was the kampachi- the fish was really great but the sauce was a little thicker/heavier than expected. Then came the grilled prawns. This was our favorite dish! The prawns were large & well cooked. Sauce was extremely savory with great crab and butter flavor. The fried chicken was our second favorite dish. Chicken was juicy, crispy, and well seasoned. The sauce was SPICY. Sweet and savory with an Asian twist with the addition of nuoc cham. We then had the morcilla crepes which were good but not something I'd get again. They were fine- soft, & meaty- not much to say. Lastly, we finished off our meal with a sweet plantain bolognese. The chocolate was so interesting and actually worked really well with the meat sauce. The agnolotti was filled with plantain! This unique dish was the perfect cap to the meal. We also tried a couple cocktails which were super creative as well. The sashamama which was made with sour milk punch was very good! The el cardenalito was a little too sweet. The a tomates si huele was a little too savory. Overall, the experience at Vianda was unique and special. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Vianda - Beets salad and sautéed pumpkin

    Beets salad and sautéed pumpkin

    Vianda - REPOLLO AL CARBÓN - FRIED ECG SAUCE, WALNUT SOFRITO, CRISPY GARLIC

    REPOLLO AL CARBÓN - FRIED ECG SAUCE, WALNUT SOFRITO, CRISPY GARLIC

    Vianda - Beans

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    Beans

    La Alcapurria Quemá - Alcapurria

    La Alcapurria Quemá

    4.5(167 reviews)
    3.8 km
    $$

    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

    Photos
    La Alcapurria Quemá
    La Alcapurria Quemá - Empanadas

    Empanadas

    La Alcapurria Quemá - Alvapurria - corned beef

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    Alvapurria - corned beef

    Pa Pical - puertorican - Updated July 2026

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