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    Piola Express

    3.7 (121 reviews)
    ModeratePizza, Italian, Burgers
    Open 12:00 pm - 10:30 PM

    Piola Express Photos

    PIOLA EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Piola Express

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    Skirt Steak
    Stefani J.

    I've eaten here before and I loved it! Super convenient but felt like we were an inconvenience to them. They said we couldn't sit outside but the food was yummy and fast so I still wanted to come back this time. We came in at 9:40 pm which is later than I'd like to go to a restaurant that closes at 10:30 but I figured we could at least get it to eat quickly before they cleaned but they said we could only get it to-go and that we could not order any Puerto Rican food. Super disappointing when I'd just recommended this place to several coworkers. Now I'm embarrassed but the pepperoni pizza was good.

    Store front
    Chris P.

    We landed in San Juan in the late evening. This pizza place was recommended through trip advisor. It has a funky store front presence and is accessible to the many hotels in the area. We entered and found the pizza place has a fun but somewhat messy store appearance. We were promptly greeted and told that this was the best pizza and Puerto Rican food. I ordered a cheese pizza with a few toppings. Now, pizza is one of America's favorite quick meals and It is the most ordered for delivery food worldwide. The pizza took less than 20 minutes to prepare. What we were served was a flat disc with the most odd flavor ever. The tomato sauce was nearly nonexistent with chicken and veggies. Now, the crust had a saltine cracker texture and the red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese was of little help. This medium - sized pizza was priced at $34. Given the price, I was expecting an amazing pizza and the fact that they also taut t hire pizza being as "artesanal". Additionally, while waiting for the pizza, the owner brought his motorcycle into the very small space, filling the space with exhaust. I have had pizza across the states and in various countries, and this has been the greatest challenge to my digestive tract and taste buds.There are two things that give this establishment an advantage: the store is prominently placed and stays open late. I am not a fan of Domino's pizza at all, but would have preferred that over the "artesanal" pizza.

    This was my first time visiting this place, and the food was great. Both pizzas were hot out of the oven, seasoned and cooked well; they were cheesy and meaty. The service was great! Our server was kind, courteous, and friendly. The ambiance was great--very friendly. Overall, I will be back!

    Olivia S.

    Our server Pedro was very accommodating. We asked him for any suggestions and decided to order the churrasco. It was so delicious as well as our drinks, and definitely a great choice, I would HIGHLY recommend coming here anytime you're in town. The beef turnover was perfectly crispy and makes a good 'on the go' snack. The staff were wonderful, thank you for making our trip amazing!

    Outside bar area
    Holly W.

    Surprise, SURPRISE! Piola was better than we anticipated. Staying at Caribe Hilton we needed non-resort food and Piola is in walking distance. When Piola was finally open (don't trust the hours listed- seems like they are short staffed and open when they can/want to.) It's small inside. We had to wait for a table but our server greeted us and alerted us immediately of the wait. We were seated outside. Cool bar area. It started downpouring- no worries- we were covered! The pizza was good. Nothing to rave about for the rest of my life but we had zero expectations. The garlic knots, very cheesy. Had a ham turover- like an empanada but less cheesy and an order of wings. The wings were good. It was nice to step away from resort food so true score: 3.5

    Menu
    Misty T.

    This was right by our hotel so we decided to walk over and give it a try. We ordered a pizza for two people to split which was ok but not amazing pizza. And I had a burger and fries. I could not eat the burger as it had some weird seasoning or taste. My son's Pepsi had a bunch of white stuff floating at the top which we pointed out to the waitress and she went and got a new one but the new one had the same thing.

    Deb B.

    Staying at the Caribe Hilton, this little gem is just off the property. Unassuming, it is a small restaurant with an even smaller bar....but, it is wonderful! We sat in a courtyard of sorts with just a few tables. After eating some overpriced hotel food, we relished our simple meal of a fresh and generous arugula salad and a thin crust cheese and basil pizza big enough to share. It was the perfect meal, topped off with a Puerto Rican beer, of course. Jose, the owner is engaging and helps bring the food to the tables. His mother, Sonia "pitch hits" and acted as a waitress the night we were there. She is a spitfire and lovely to speak with. It is hard to believe this woman is old enough to be Jose's mom as she not only handled the waitressing, but also the bar. Great night at Piola's!

    Pizza was decent. Fresh and made to order. I would try other things in the menu.
    Shere S.

    The pizza was good. A convenient walking distance from the hotel. I would be open to trying other items on the menu....

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Fire food. Pizza and the chicken penne vodka both were great. Prices are pretty fair too.

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    10 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Convenient to the Hilton. Decent pizza and wings. On the pricey side plus they add an auto tip even for takeout.

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Pizzas were delicious! They are careful with covid requirements and it is a nice atmosphere. Creative flavors and lots of variety.

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Great pizza, crispy and with plenty of cheese and hint of garlic. Also order the wings and were awesome!!

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    5 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

    The experience was horrible. They had nothing on the menu my friends and I ordered I don't get it. It was hours before closing.

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    10 years ago

    Excellent pizza and amazing service and within walking distance from the Carib Hilton.

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Excellent pizza, and the garlic knots were perfect. Will definitely come here often while staying at the Caribe Hilton this week.

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    Page 3 of 4

    Piola Express Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Piola Express

    A group of friends and I were staying at the Caribe Hilton so we ended up going here to eat on our first day.

    Mentioned in 22 reviews

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    La Burguesía

    La Burguesía

    4.3(116 reviews)
    1.0 km
    $$

    The burger was awesome!!! If you're a burger lover like me, you Definitely should visit. The…read moreburger was everything I wanted and didn't know. Delicious. Their dips are absolutely amazing. All of them -so good! Fries -ask for them hot, if not, it's under a lamp. Services very exceptional. Ambience is spacious, tall ceilings, great music!

    First time visiting the T-Mobile District and decided to stop in for a good cheeseburger after this…read moreplace caught my eye. At first, everything seemed fine. We were greeted, seated inside, and our order was taken with no issues. Unfortunately, the experience quickly went downhill and became one of the most unsanitary restaurant experiences I've ever witnessed. While we were waiting on our food, a man walked in with a dog. It was obvious the staff knew him because several employees immediately started interacting with the dog. The first thing I noticed was our waitress using both of her hands to pet the dog while the dog repeatedly licked her hands. In my mind, I thought surely she would go wash or sanitize her hands afterward. Instead, she proceeded directly toward the kitchen area and started preparing the condiments for our burgers without washing or sanitizing her hands at all. She then brought those condiments directly to our table. At that point, I politely told her she needed to wash her hands and that we no longer wanted the condiments. She walked away to the back, but the situation only got worse from there. The dog was approximately one foot away from our table the entire time. Personally, I do not believe dogs belong inside restaurants, especially around food preparation areas. Dogs carry germs, and anyone who owns dogs knows one of the first things they do when greeting other dogs is sniff each other's private areas. Watching staff pet the dog and immediately return to handling food and kitchen items without washing their hands was honestly disgusting. As we waited for the manager, another employee came up and allowed the dog to lick all over his hands. Right after that, he proceeded directly into the kitchen area to continue cooking food -- again, no hand washing, no sanitizer, nothing. We watched at least three more employees interact with the dog and only one person actually washed their hands afterward. When the manager finally came over, I explained exactly what had happened and asked him if he truly believed this was sanitary. His response was basically that dogs are welcome in the establishment and that he would "tell the staff to wash their hands." His attitude came across very dismissive, like he really didn't care about the seriousness of the situation. At that point, I asked for the bill for our drinks because there was absolutely no way I was going to eat food from an establishment operating like that. To make matters even worse, while we were paying, the man with the dog proceeded to take the dog toward the back near the kitchen area. Completely unacceptable and unsanitary. I understand some places are dog-friendly, but there still has to be health standards and proper hygiene when employees are handling food. Watching staff pet and get licked by a dog and then immediately touch food items and kitchen equipment without washing their hands ruined the entire experience for me. I will definitely not be returning.

    Photos
    La Burguesía - Sign on wall

    Sign on wall

    La Burguesía
    La Burguesía

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    Atabey Condado - Vegan mofongo

    Atabey Condado

    4.6(232 reviews)
    1.2 km
    $$

    Atabey was a small café right next to our Airbnb in Condado, so it was such a convenient little…read morefind. The food has a simple, understated presentation, but the flavors were genuinely delicious! Everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. The highlight for us was definitely the vegan mofongo, which is surprisingly hard to find. It was so nice to have a traditional Puerto Rican dish with a vegan option, and it did not disappoint. Such a cute, casual spot with great food--we're glad we stumbled upon it!

    I tasked my husband with finding a breakfast spot this morning, and thanks to Yelp, he found a…read moregreat one! It was conveniently located near our hotel, so we were able to walk there. I ordered the Cowboy Burger and requested it medium, but it came out well done. That seems to be fairly common from what I've experienced so far in Puerto Rico, so it wasn't a major issue. My husband had the Americana Breakfast and thoroughly enjoyed it. The other couple with us both ordered the ham and cheese croissant and couldn't stop talking about how good it was. In fact, everyone in our group is already talking about coming back before we leave! The restaurant is very cute inside, with a welcoming atmosphere and a full bar. They also offer brunch, lunch and dinner, and outdoor seating, making it a great option any time of day. This was a wonderful find, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a delicious meal and a pleasant dining experience.

    Photos
    Atabey Condado - Beautiful lighting

    Beautiful lighting

    Atabey Condado - Vegan mofongo was really good

    Vegan mofongo was really good

    Atabey Condado - CRISPY CHICKEN VEGAN

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    CRISPY CHICKEN VEGAN

    Semilla Kitchen & Bar - Dumplings

    Semilla Kitchen & Bar

    4.4(265 reviews)
    1.5 km
    $$

    Fantastic! Even though I misunderstood the dish (they did exactly what I asked), they fixed it for…read moreme without a problem. And the food and atmosphere were terrific. Was our last night in San Juan. Should have gone here on our first.

    We really enjoyed our visit to Semilla. The menu had a nice variety of dishes, and after a fairly…read morelong vacation up to that point, it was refreshing to find a place that blended flavors and influences from multiple cultures instead of another menu that looked much like the last place. Everything we ordered was very good, and on an extremely hot day, I was especially appreciative of how well the A/C was keeping up. I was actually a little cold--and I'm never cold. It felt so nice after getting overheated right before we got there. One thing I noticed while wandering around Old San Juan is that some restaurants likely survive on location and foot traffic alone, while others earn people seeking them out. Semilla definitely felt like the latter. It's tucked just around the corner from some of the busiest pedestrian areas, so it felt like we escaped the crowds for a little while without actually going very far. Overall, I'd happily come back. If you're staying nearby and looking for a good meal without being surrounded by the busiest tourist crowds, Semilla is well worth checking out.

    Photos
    Semilla Kitchen & Bar - My cute ducky bag I designed inside the restaurant

    My cute ducky bag I designed inside the restaurant

    Semilla Kitchen & Bar - Chocolate mouse and tres leches

    Chocolate mouse and tres leches

    Semilla Kitchen & Bar - Margarita

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    Margarita

    STK - San Juan - That Lobster MAC

    STK - San Juan

    3.1(262 reviews)
    1.4 km
    $$$$

    I'm not a fan of the STK located in Washington, DC, however, the San Juan iteration is so dope, I…read morecame here two days in a row.. Lol! The interior couldn't be more swanky. It seems like they put a little more "pop" into this one! South Beach is the one that rivals it. The first day, I came solo because I flew in a day before she did. When I mean the hostess and bar staff treated me like I was a star, I left out thinking I was Denzel.. Lol!! All high end restaurant managers need to fly to this STK and get taught a crash course on how to make folks come back. Because isn't that the secret sauce to restaurant success?!! I think so! My main bartender they called the "Godfather", made my Manhattans to perfection! My blackened Ribeye was sooo good I wanted to order one to go! The next day wasn't planned, but when we had to do a forced pivot move, I suggested we come back for the seafood tower, because they told me it would be too much food for one person. They were right. It was delicious but we did have a little bit to eat first which made us unable to completely finish that seafood masterpiece! Please visit STK while in San Juan, you will become a big fan like yours truly!!

    I rarely leave reviews like this, but I want to share our experience for other families considering…read moreSTK San Juan for a large dinner or special celebration. I planned a dinner for 19 family members for my father's 70th birthday, including senior family members and children. We also had guests with severe food allergies and different dietary needs. Because of this, I called STK before our trip to make sure our group could be accommodated. I spoke directly with a manager named Nicole and explained everything. We had several separate reservations and I asked if we could simply be seated near each other instead of doing the large group menu (pre selected) and minimum. I was told this would be fine and that the team would do their best to accommodate. When we arrived, that completely changed. The General Manager on duty, Josie, refused to honor what I had previously been told. We were told that if we wanted to be treated as one group, there would be a $150 per person minimum, with an exception for the children. What made this even more frustrating was that the restaurant was practically empty. There were plenty of open tables, including tables right around where our reservation of 12 was being seated. We were not asking for all 19 people to sit at one table. We simply wanted our other reservations seated nearby so our family could enjoy my dad's birthday dinner together. There was large area where this could be accommodated. They still refused. At that point, we decided to take our business elsewhere. I called Rare 125 Neighborhood Grill at the last minute and explained what happened. They welcomed all 19 of us, seated us together and treated our family wonderfully. No hassle. No unnecessary back and forth. Just great hospitality. My issue is not that STK has policies. My issue is that I did my due diligence as a customer should. I called ahead, explained our situation, spoke with a manager and received approval before bringing 19 people to the restaurant. We made our plans based on what STK management told us, only for that agreement not to be honored once we arrived. Josie even asked me for proof that Nicole the manager I spoke with approved this request. If you are planning a large family dinner, milestone birthday, multigenerational celebration, or have guests with different dietary needs, please keep our experience in mind. I would strongly recommend getting any special arrangements in writing. For families looking for this same type of accommodation, my advice based on our experience is simple: spend your dollars elsewhere. We did, and the restaurant that welcomed us ended up giving my father and our family the experience we were looking for. Best, Ashley Lane

    Photos
    STK - San Juan - Bar located at front entrance.

    Bar located at front entrance.

    STK - San Juan
    STK - San Juan

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    Munchie Burger - Avocado burger & fries

    Munchie Burger

    2.9(37 reviews)
    1.5 km

    When we first arrived...I thought it was a bit weird that there was a chain across the door was…read morepermitting anyone from coming in. However, we stood there until someone came to greet us. Which wasn't too long. Once we got in, we were seated and to my surprise, they had the NBA channel going. Yay. . .love me some basketball. Once the waiter got to us he mentioned that they did not have pizza and my kids were so bummed about that because that is one of the reasons we went. However, they were very grateful for the chicken strips and fries. I really enjoyed my burger. . .which is what this place is mainly known for. My husband also had a chicken sandwich and he enjoyed his food as well. We both had margaritas and I was impressed with how good it was. I also want to mention how awesome our server was. He was polite, chatty and very helpful with the menu since this was our first time. My expectations were not very high for this place just due to its location and the cleanliness of it but it turned out to be very good. I was satisfied and so was my family.

    Food: 7/10 Drinks: 7/10…read moreService: 5/10 Ambiance:1/10 We were able to walk here and there was a sign that blocks the door that ask you to wait to be seated but your standing outside. We were waiting a few mins before someone came to assist. To go orders they make you wait outside which was weird and they even had a bench for you to sit on. We had pina coladas, virgin & w/rum which ive had better.

    Photos
    Munchie Burger - Bacon cheeseburger sliders with fries and a delicious dipping sauce.

    Bacon cheeseburger sliders with fries and a delicious dipping sauce.

    Munchie Burger - Cuban sandwich with fries and a delicious dipping sauce.

    Cuban sandwich with fries and a delicious dipping sauce.

    Munchie Burger - Piña Colada

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    Piña Colada

    El Hamburguer - Bacon cheeseburger

    El Hamburguer

    4.1(298 reviews)
    0.9 km
    $

    Surprise fave of our San Juan trip--old burger spot was legit…read more Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4 Cost to worth it rating: 5 ($4.25 for the burger!) Opentableable: no reservations Return worthiness: yes Highlights: - Burgers: thick and a bit rounded. Pure meat with not much seasoning in a good way--delicious. 5 stars - Onion rings: legit crispy and thick. 4.25 stars - Wine burger: braised in wine was a fun idea--mild flavor though. 4 stars - Fries: McDonald's style. 4 stars - Drinks: had fresh juices and cocktails in addition to sodas in cans. - Options: few cheeses to choose from (cheddar, roquefort) and also have chicken. Bacon is also an option. "Salad" (aka lettuce and tomato are extra 90 cents) - Squeezy ketchup bottles on the table were appreciated. - Has a drive thru! - Open late - Locals and visitors enjoying it - Friendly and efficient staff - Huge spot with a smaller dining room on one side and larger on the other. Midlights: - Smaller burger than you'd expect so you may need to get multiples if you are like my hungry teenage son - Pina colada: not expecting much but cool they even offered one Lowlights: - If you are staying down in old town bit too far to walk up the hill especially in the summer heat, so need to take an Uber around to it

    I went on a Saturday night at about 8:45. There was a brief wait since I had a large group but the…read moreline moved pretty fast. The food was good! Nothing that I tried was bad. It was interesting that all of the burger toppings are brought to you separate from the burger so you can add whatever you want. It was also interesting that the patty came in the form of a meat ball instead of a flat patty. The service was a bit slow but they were busy. I got seated at about 9:05, was provided the menu at 9:15, placed my order at 9:25, and all of the food came at 10. I would recommend getting drinks and appetizers since the burgers and sides are made as ordered so it can take a while. There is parking available in a small lot as well as on the street.

    Photos
    El Hamburguer - FUEGO POWER!!!

    FUEGO POWER!!!

    El Hamburguer - NEXT LEVEL VEGGIE BURGER

    NEXT LEVEL VEGGIE BURGER

    El Hamburguer - Mejor for sure!!!

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    Mejor for sure!!!

    Piola Express - pizza - Updated September 2026

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