Had a wonderful time at Casita Miramar. Aalyah, our server did an amazing job of being able to…read morecommunicate and inform us about the dishes and accommodate anything we needed. Aalyah, thank you so much for making our last meal in San Juan so special!! The portions are huge! I split an app with 3 people and honestly the main dishes can be split among two people as well. It was very tasty especially the chicken, and the ribs! The place also looked amazing and we were given a semi-private room for such a large group. Thanks for having us!!

For my last night in Puerto Rico, I wanted to go all out, and I ended up somewhere pretty special…read more Casita Miramar sits in a gorgeous old villa in the Miramar neighborhood, all hanging plants, twinkle lights, and vintage furniture, and the décor and ambiance alone had me sold before the food even showed up. I sat at the bar, and the staff absolutely made the night. Insanely nice and receptive, they talked with me the entire time, made recommendations, walked me through the dishes and the culture behind them, and kept the strong drinks coming, which I will never complain about. That kind of hospitality is rare and I can't say enough about it. Now for my one nitpick, and this is a me problem more than a them problem: I don't totally love Puerto Rican food. This is authentic comida criolla, which pulls from Caribbean, Latin American, and Spanish influences all at once, and my picky palate keeps asking what exactly it's trying to be. But the vibes, the people, and the setting made the whole experience more than worth it. Come for the criollo cooking, stay for one of the warmest rooms in San Juan.

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

A very small restaurant with absolutely authentic Puerto Rican food with about 10 tables or so,…read moreabsolutely do not miss this place! So what do you get by coming here? You get the real deal, real Puerto Rican dishes, with the greatest flavors and fair prices. Unless you prefer playing overpriced, find dining restaurants with average Puerto Rican food, which there are plenty of in the area. I'm not able to emphasize how small this restaurant is, it's located right along the main walking strip in Coronado Beach. Maybe 10 tables or so. No reservations walk up wait in line if you have to eat and leave. Not only will you eat the best tasting food during your trip, but probably also pay the least amount of money. We went here twice! Their rice and beans recipe is probably what it's all about! We got grilled shrimp and skirt steak over rice and beans and honestly, I could've had it all week long! This little gem local place is not to be missed! Highly recommended!

A True Taste of Tradition: El Jibarito Delivers on Every Front…read more​If you are looking for an dining experience that feels like a warm embrace from family, El Jibarito is an absolute must-visit. From the moment you step through the doors, you are wrapped in a vibrant, welcoming ambiance that perfectly balances lively energy with cozy, authentic charm. ​But the true star of the show is the food. Every single dish bursts with rich, ancestral flavors, serving up exceptional quality that respects deep-rooted family traditions.The absolute standout is their Bistec Encebollado (beef steak with onions). The steak is perfectly tender, marinated to perfection, and smothered in a mountain of sweet, caramelized onions. Paired with a side of fluffy white rice, savory beans, and perfectly caramelized sweet plantains (maduros), it is pure culinary comfort. You can quite literally taste the love and history in every bite--it doesn't just feel like you're eating at a restaurant; it feels like you've been invited into a family's home kitchen where recipes have been perfected over generations. ​The Verdict: Incredible food, an unforgettable atmosphere, and a beautiful dedication to heritage. El Jibarito is a masterclass in tradition done right. Don't pass this one up!

El Jibarito is absolutely worth the visit if you're looking for authentic Puerto Rican food. We had…read morethe lechón con salsa de plátano, and it was absolutely delicious--full of flavor and cooked perfectly! We were a large group, so there was about a 30-minute wait for a table, but that's part of the fonda-style experience. Tables turn over as people finish their meals, and while you're waiting, you can relax with an ice-cold Medalla, which makes the time go by quickly. A special thank you to the staff for the excellent service and warm hospitality. The food, the atmosphere, and the friendly staff made this one of our favorite dining experiences in Old San Juan. We will definitely be back!

When planning my first trip to PR I scoured tiktok for food recommendations! And this place was…read moreremarkably noted as Bad Bunny's favorite restaurant, and I understand why! The service was immediate & so welcoming! The restaurant had a very homey feel, like you know someone's family recipes are being used. The food was 10/10, hands down, everything was absolutely delicious! The sangria - to die for! Loved every bit of it! Def a staple if you plan on making the trip!!!

Food is good, service could have been much better!!…read more We got in line and we were seated within 10 minutes of arriving Initially our server was very attentive, took time to explain the menu however after we got our food it took us over 45 min to pay even after asking 2 times. Decor is nice, food is good. Drinks could have been a bit better prices are reasonable

Kept seeing a bunch of reviews on how amazing this place was and honestly it's up there…read more To start off, I'm not really a sweets guy so my take is going to be a little off from the general public. We were able to snag a reservation but for a late time which was about an hour and a half before close. The service was super great but one thing I wished they mentioned that the bottled water was going to be a $40 charge lol. Makes sense for any upscale restaurant though. Should've mentioned we wanted tap so fair warning, ask cause you WILL get charged haha. We had a group of 10 and for how big the group was, the food came out pretty fast. I don't think we ever had a time between drinks to entrees where we were waiting for food to come out. We got the watermelons mojito for drinks since it was the most raved about. It was good but personally nothing crazy for me. 8/10 score on that. We also curry popcorn chicken, the ahi tuna lollipops, the empanadillas and the goat cheese quesadillas for apps and honestly overall 9/10. This is where I don't like the sweetness part of this meal. The empanadillas were what I was most excited for but it was more sweet then savory which sort of lose my appetite a little. I think if you like that kind of taste then it's going to be good. It wasn't a bad taste at all. Just too sweet for my liking. The curry popcorn chicken was good and the lollipops were great. Again, nothing crazy. The goat cheese quesadillas was good as well but again, too sweet for my liking. Now on to the entree, they didn't have the porkchop since we came late so I ended up getting the porkchop belly dish. When it came out, it looked amazing but then I got a whiff of it and smelled cinnamon. That's when I was sort of disappointed. It was like eating pork but tasting Cinnamon Toast Crunch and as said before, it tasted great but too sweet for me. This one was way too sweet to where it seemed like a dessert item. I just had poor luck and got one of the one items that were sweet. This doesn't tank the rating down whatsoever because I also should've read it had cinnamon. It would've been great if they made a dipping sauce or something to pair it with and not have it on the pork belly itself. I got to try other dishes my friends got which were good as well but I wish I got to try something else. If I came back I would try the sold out item which was the pork shank or the sea bass. I know for a fact the sea bass was amazing. Had a bite of it and thought "I'll come back for that" Overall, 10/10 experience and nothing bad about the place but gotta try different items when I go next time. I understand the hype now

My friend travels to PR occasionally for work and this time I decided to tag along. Both being…read morefoodies, she only made one reservation and that was to her favorite San Juan restaurant, Santaella. Not only that, she made it weeks in advance because reservations are hard to come by. We arrived for dinner before reservation time and we attempted to open the front door. It was locked, so we along with two other couples, walked to see if there was a side entrance.. Nope! We kept walking to the rear and stopped a random parking lot attendant that shirt had a different restaurant's name on it. He asked us if we had reservations for Santaella and we said yes, and he directed us to a rear entrance. Once inside, my friend realized this was NOT Santaellas but a rooftop restaurant with an entirely different name. Visibly perturbed, she asked our server QUESTIONS! He said, it's the same restaurant, however, only the rooftop is open on Sundays and it's named Azotea.. WHAT?!? LOL! Because we took an Uber, we decided to stay a while. The menu was extremely limited, but we decided to try the Tamarind margaritas, which were really good, along with two appetizers, the tuna lollipops and the pulled pork quesadilla. Both VERY good, but the dinner menu was lacking. That said, I suggested we go to STK for the seafood tower that I had my eye on the evening before, so we exited stage right! Shame on Santaella for accepting reservations through Open Table knowing full well they are not open. I'm giving them two stars because Azotea was decent but it definitely wasn't what she was going for!

We visited at the recommendation of a friend and WOOOOOOW. This was my favorite dining experience…read morein San Juan...maybe all of PR. The high quality preparation combined with the classic tastes of the island... mwah chef's kiss. LB and I ordered apps and split and entree. There was sooo much food and it was all so delicious. Our server was a DELIGHT and made it feel like we were dining with friends. Love the ambiance. The location. The menu. Put this high on your list of things to check out

Beautiful restaurant with outstanding, creative dishes…read more My husband and I ordered one app and two entrees. The portions were very large, and we would have been fine with just two menu items! To start, we had the roasted eggplant, lamb 'picadillo', date sofrito, 'Feliche' yogurt. Really delicious and probably best for sharing among 3-4 people as it's a bit heavy given the lamb. Nevertheless, it was really good and we finished it! For entrees, we tried the (1) rice with rabbit, sweet plantain in its leaf and the (2) breaded pork loin, mushroom cream, cherokee tomatoes from San Lorenzo, tostones. Our server was super excited when we ordered the rice with rabbit and I understand why. It was insanely flavorful. Also a massive portion haha. We really enjoyed this. The pork loin was delicious as well, especially with the mushroom cream. Plantains are one of my favorite foods, and these tostones did not disappoint. The restaurant itself is beautiful. It's a nice mix of modern decor with homey, vintage elements. There is a very large outdoor space, but I'm really glad we ate inside. Definitely recommend - especially for a group that likes to share!

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.

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

PHENOMENAL This is…read morenot just a restaurant, this is a dining experience. This is upscale elegance in a relaxed environment. This is global techniques blended with locally sourced Puerto Rican ingredients. From the moment you walk in, you feel welcome. I was there to celebrate my birthday (a reservation is a must). I asked if I could be seated in a different section of the restaurant, and even though they were packed, they said absolutely and found me a lovely seat in the bar area. The staff is knowledgeable and attentive. I suffer from severe food allergies but wanted to experience their tasting menu. My server spoke to the chef directly and then took the time to walk me through every option. I TRULY appreciated that they did not take anything off the menu but rather told me how they could adjust for my allergies. That is very rare and so very much appreciated that they went that extra mile for me. I highly recommend the tasting menu. It's 5 courses and they give you 3 options to choose from, within each course. And for the price ($85), a great value. Everything was delicious but I highly recommend the Breadfruit Gnocchi, Rainbow Runner Crudo, and Criollo Duck Mofongo. Chefs kiss! What I also noticed was, even though they were insanely busy, they didn't make you feel rushed. The invited you to savor the experience - which I did. Next time you are in San Juan, make a reservation and go. You won't be disappointed!

4.5 stars. Cocina Abierta was one of the better meals of our trip. The food was excellent overall,…read morewith the lone exception being the empanadas, which were simply too salty. Everything else was very well done. The two of us split one order of the five-course tasting menu plus an additional starter, and it ended up being a nice light meal. Had we each ordered our own tasting menu, it would have been far more food than we wanted...something we found to be a fairly common theme with portion sizes throughout Puerto Rico. The standout of the evening was the Criollo Duck Mofongo, which was absolutely exquisite and easily the best mofongo we had on our trip by far. The cocktails were tasty and unique, but a bit small for the price. This definitely isn't an every-night kind of restaurant...the prices are on the higher side. But if you're looking to splurge a little, it's a fun place to do it.

We were in the area shopping around and exploring. It was earlier in the day so not many places…read morewere open, we saw signs leading to this food truck. They had such poor service, they were not helpful in providing menu items or recommendations. Very impatient. The truck was pretty small, clean interior, and drinks were organized. They had limited seating with NO shade/umbrellas. After they took our order we waited over 40 minutes for three boxes of food. The platter came with meat, veggies, two sauces, and another side of choice (I chose fries). We all got Chicharrones, it was very juicy and tender. And the exterior skin was surprisingly really crunchy! Super tasty!! The fries were mediocre, cold and thick cuts. Portions were filling, none of us were able to finish. I don't recommend, plenty of other restaurants that offer the same items with better service and shorter wait times.

Love Trifongo Taino the bartenders are amazing and the food is fresh and delicious! If you come to…read moreLa Placita you must make a stop at Trifongo Taino is right in front of Paraiso.