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This is a great stop just a couple blocks up from the cruise port. We stopped there with a party of eight. We got seats right away. It's kind of like a picnic table seating it's nice inside. It has clean restrooms. The service is a little slow they're not overly excited that you're there which is fine. It's kind of just the island way. We ordered some appetizers and drink drinks. Everything was good. The combination meat rack was really cool to see the meat was good tender juicy sausage was good. chicken was good. One complaint I do have is the only give you plastic silverware but whatever it is what it is but it's hard to you to stake with a plastic knife for restrooms are clean, nice music playing in the background. They seem to do some cruise boat excursions here you see people making piña coladas and things like that. It's a good stop. I suggested for a cruise ship food break.
Big spot with outdoor seating in the middle of old San Juan. We ordered the appetizer platter for 2. It had fried chicken, fried pork, fried sausage and tostones. The mojitos were also delicious. The servers are so friendly and inviting.
Service was good, and the food hit the spot after a long day. What else can I say? We ordered a lot of food, and everything was pretty decent. My only complaint was the grilled chicken I ordered. It had no flavor (for a Puerto Rican restaurant!) and it was like rubber. I sent it back and thankfully it was removed from the bill.
Came in and had a few drinks at the bar to cool down and relax for a bit b4 we walked around town this place looked pretty cool to hang out at and grab a bite to eat .
Located in Old San Juan, this restaurant is conveniently located near the cruise port and came highly regarded by locals around town. Wife and I had an early dinner to avoid the crowds. The Mofongo Churrasco, local beer and fast friendly service made for a fantastic meal. The air conditioning helped with some much needed rest and relaxation from a hot walk around town.
I first discovered Vaca Brava in 2017 when assisting with Hurricane Maria relief efforts. It was the only restaurant open in the immediate area, so we went fairly often during the two weeks we were there. It's simple. I fell in love with Vaca Brava. And I never ordered anything but Mofongo with pork. And every time it was exactly what I expected. Tender, full of flavor, and soul satisfying. Fast forward to 2025. I was going to be in San Juan for one day, and my wife was excited to visit the restaurant I continually bragged about. So, we settled into our family style table and benches, and ordered mofongo with pork, add beans and rice, and aranitas (shredded plantain that is crispy fried, and quite tasty). We leisurely savored our meal, relishing every bite. It was exactly as I remembered, and I look forward to our next visit. Life is good in Puerto Rico! #traviswinmanauthor #todaysdiscovery
We were really excited to visit Vaca Brava after seeing all the hype, but sadly, it turned into a very disappointing and stressful experience. Upon arrival, there was no one to greet us inside. My son noticed the greeter outside, but instead of welcoming us, she seemed annoyed when I approached her to ask if we should meet her there. Her attitude made us feel like we were in the wrong for not knowing what to do--definitely not the way to start a dining experience. We were seated quickly, which was surprising for a busy tourist spot at 2 PM. However, this wasn't because of great service--it turned out the restaurant was half empty. Our server, Digna, made the experience even worse. Her attitude was awful throughout the entire time we were there. She was not only unwelcoming but also outright rude when we asked her questions about the menu and the sides. She acted as if we were inconveniencing her by simply trying to understand the options. I'm one of those who believes that not everyone is suited to work in the hospitality industry, and Digna is a perfect example of why. She made us feel like we were bothering her just by being there. For appetizers, we ordered the Plato de la Vaca. It was underwhelming--just average local fried grease saturated empanadas, most filled with guava. For our main dish, we ordered the Tendedero de la Vaca cooked medium well. The dish took forever to arrive, and when it finally did, the flavor was off, and the meat was dry and inconsistent--some cuts were well done, while others were medium rare. To make things worse, the sides (Arroz mampostea'o', tostones de pana, and tostones de plátano) took even longer to come out, well after the main dish had already been served. The tostones de plátano tasted like they were frozen, and the rice was awful, which was incredibly disappointing. The drink situation was bizarre. We ordered sodas and club soda from the fountain, but when we asked for a refill, Digna told us they don't offer refills. When I requested to speak to the manager, he didn't bother to come over. Instead, Digna informed us that he authorized refills after I raised the issue. If a customer asks to speak to a manager, it's usually a sign something is wrong, and it should be addressed directly--not dismissed through a server. We were initially drawn in by the pictures and the massive meat platters, but the experience is definitely not worth the hype, money, or stress. You don't go to a restaurant expecting to deal with rude staff, dry and inconsistent food, poorly timed service, and bad management. Save yourself the trouble--don't believe the hype.
One of the worst restaurants we have visited in a port. Huge, open restaurant, great decor, cold A/C, we were seated right away. Cocktails were horrible- syrupy and too sweet. Waitress was overworked- doing her best. Wings were unseasoned and dry. Our food order came all wrong after an hour wait! Horrible service, horrible food and way too expensive!! Don't go!
This is the 2nd spot that my airport shuttle recommended. I have noticed that the time allowed to look at the menu is longer in PR, than in most US states. I appreciate that because it takes me a LONG time to decide. I asked for medium, but i was definitely given well
Horrendous service. Showed up with 4 of us around 7 on a Sat nite. Told a 45 min wait. Walked into bar and saw numerous empty tables full of dishes . Should have walked out. The concierge at Sheraton where we're staying at said this place was supposed to be great. Bartender super slow and a tad rude. Ended up eating at bar. Big Mistake ...Apps were mofongo and chix wings. Both came out cold. Wings overcooked and dry. Never had mofongo but it was dry and flavorless. Entrees were steak and shrimp ..steak tasted old and shrimp had zero flavor. Sirloin and a cheese burger called a Muu burger. All came out cold. Only thing good were the fries and they were cold. Sirloin came out undercooked. Muu burger was good. Overall I wouldn't ever come back here.
Service was lacking. The bartender was not very friendly. He and other staff were talking and acted like taking orders was an interruption. The fountain drinks were weak with flavor and carbonation. It took 3 tries to get a decent coke. The ice was practically melted when I got it. Just not a good start. I ordered the churrasco. It was delicious but a very small portion. I'm used to bigger strips of meat. The rice did not taste authentic. I barely ate it. The veggies were over cooked. Things were better with the manager who made sure the drinks were fixed, but the food quality and service is a no go for me.
Came here after landing in PR and checking into our hotel. Average food. Noisy ambience. Really liked their roasted version of mofongo!
After enjoying a full day in old San Juan, our hunger started to get to us. We reached out to a few locals who recommended this spot. When we got there it was incredibly busy but when we got on the waitlist she quoted about 30 minutes. I set a timer while we sat outside and looked at the menu. Pleased to say they sat us down in about 20 minutes, around 3 o'clock-ish. Our waiter wasn't very friendly but honestly we didn't care we were just hungry and wanted food before heading back to our side of town. We ordered three Vaca Colada's (their version of a piña colada) and waters. They brought us back water bottles, which I was okay with since we had to walk back but they were an extra $2 a piece and it was Dasani :( Moving onto food, we ordered alcapurrias. They were oddly shaped almost like little mini gyozas but they were delicious and served with the traditional puertorriqueño sauce mayo-ketchup. For our actual dishes we all wanted mofongo so we ordered one each -- my mom ordered shrimp, my aunt ordered it with carne frita (little crispy pork pieces) and I got the churrasco. When the food was brought out, my mom's was also served on a churrasco so keep an eye out for all the pescatarians out there. Personally, we didn't mind so we dug in. Everything was tender, flavorful and the portions were great. Despite the few complaints I had, we would definitely come again. Bonus for visitors, they spoke English! We are lucky to be bilingual but don't let that deter you from eating some delicious plates in the heart of the city.
Conveniently located right by the port, which tells you something about the crowd it draws -- but that doesn't mean it's not worth a stop. Vaca Brava is a no-frills, gets-the-job-done kind of place, and sometimes that's exactly what you need. Easy to get a reservation, which is a plus when you're navigating Old San Juan on a busy day. The space is casual and unpretentious, and the menu leans into Puerto Rican staples without trying to reinvent anything. I had the mofongo with sweet plantains -- a generous, satisfying plate, well-seasoned and exactly what you want when you're in PR. My daughter had a steak and was happy with it. The food is solid across the board, the portions are good, and the price is fair for the location. It's not going to be the meal you talk about for years, but it delivers what it promises. Good value, great spot to recharge after a morning exploring Old San Juan, and the location alone earns some points. read more
1 month ago
We ordered four churrasco mofongo plates. The restaurant wasn't busy, yet somehow our food took over 40 minutes to arrive. I figured they must've been raising the cow. Unfortunately, the wait didn't pay off. The churrasco was tough and stringy enough to qualify as resistance training. The mofongo? Dry, flavorless, and tasted like it was made with popcorn butter instead of garlic and love. I'm all for authentic Puerto Rican food, but this wasn't it. Hopefully this was just an off day, because based on our experience, the best thing we tasted was our own patience. read more
This is a great stop just a couple blocks up from the cruise port. We stopped there with a party of eight. We got seats right away. It's kind of like a picnic table seating it's nice inside. It has clean restrooms. The service is a little slow they're not overly excited that you're there which is fine. It's kind of just the island way. We ordered some appetizers and drink drinks. Everything was good. The combination meat rack was really cool to see the meat was good tender juicy sausage was good. chicken was good. One complaint I do have is the only give you plastic silverware but whatever it is what it is but it's hard to you to stake with a plastic knife for restrooms are clean, nice music playing in the background. They seem to do some cruise boat excursions here you see people making piña coladas and things like that. It's a good stop. I suggested for a cruise ship food break. read more
Big spot with outdoor seating in the middle of old San Juan. We ordered the appetizer platter for 2. It had fried chicken, fried pork, fried sausage and tostones. The mojitos were also delicious. The servers are so friendly and inviting. read more
Service was good, and the food hit the spot after a long day. What else can I say? We ordered a lot of food, and everything was pretty decent. My only complaint was the grilled chicken I ordered. It had no flavor (for a Puerto Rican restaurant!) and it was like rubber. I sent it back and thankfully it was removed from the bill. read more
1 year ago
Came in and had a few drinks at the bar to cool down and relax for a bit b4 we walked around town this place looked pretty cool to hang out at and grab a bite to eat . read more
2 years ago
Located in Old San Juan, this restaurant is conveniently located near the cruise port and came highly regarded by locals around town. Wife and I had an early dinner to avoid the crowds. The Mofongo Churrasco, local beer and fast friendly service made for a fantastic meal. The air conditioning helped with some much needed rest and relaxation from a hot walk around town. read more
I first discovered Vaca Brava in 2017 when assisting with Hurricane Maria relief efforts. It was the only restaurant open in the immediate area, so we went fairly often during the two weeks we were there. It's simple. I fell in love with Vaca Brava. And I never ordered anything but Mofongo with pork. And every time it was exactly what I expected. Tender, full of flavor, and soul satisfying. Fast forward to 2025. I was going to be in San Juan for one day, and my wife was excited to visit the restaurant I continually bragged about. So, we settled into our family style table and benches, and ordered mofongo with pork, add beans and rice, and aranitas (shredded plantain that is crispy fried, and quite tasty). We leisurely savored our meal, relishing every bite. It was exactly as I remembered, and I look forward to our next visit. Life is good in Puerto Rico! #traviswinmanauthor #todaysdiscovery read more
2 years ago
We were really excited to visit Vaca Brava after seeing all the hype, but sadly, it turned into a very disappointing and stressful experience. Upon arrival, there was no one to greet us inside. My son noticed the greeter outside, but instead of welcoming us, she seemed annoyed when I approached her to ask if we should meet her there. Her attitude made us feel like we were in the wrong for not knowing what to do--definitely not the way to start a dining experience. We were seated quickly, which was surprising for a busy tourist spot at 2 PM. However, this wasn't because of great service--it turned out the restaurant was half empty. Our server, Digna, made the experience even worse. Her attitude was awful throughout the entire time we were there. She was not only unwelcoming but also outright rude when we asked her questions about the menu and the sides. She acted as if we were inconveniencing her by simply trying to understand the options. I'm one of those who believes that not everyone is suited to work in the hospitality industry, and Digna is a perfect example of why. She made us feel like we were bothering her just by being there. For appetizers, we ordered the Plato de la Vaca. It was underwhelming--just average local fried grease saturated empanadas, most filled with guava. For our main dish, we ordered the Tendedero de la Vaca cooked medium well. The dish took forever to arrive, and when it finally did, the flavor was off, and the meat was dry and inconsistent--some cuts were well done, while others were medium rare. To make things worse, the sides (Arroz mampostea'o', tostones de pana, and tostones de plátano) took even longer to come out, well after the main dish had already been served. The tostones de plátano tasted like they were frozen, and the rice was awful, which was incredibly disappointing. The drink situation was bizarre. We ordered sodas and club soda from the fountain, but when we asked for a refill, Digna told us they don't offer refills. When I requested to speak to the manager, he didn't bother to come over. Instead, Digna informed us that he authorized refills after I raised the issue. If a customer asks to speak to a manager, it's usually a sign something is wrong, and it should be addressed directly--not dismissed through a server. We were initially drawn in by the pictures and the massive meat platters, but the experience is definitely not worth the hype, money, or stress. You don't go to a restaurant expecting to deal with rude staff, dry and inconsistent food, poorly timed service, and bad management. Save yourself the trouble--don't believe the hype. read more
One of the worst restaurants we have visited in a port. Huge, open restaurant, great decor, cold A/C, we were seated right away. Cocktails were horrible- syrupy and too sweet. Waitress was overworked- doing her best. Wings were unseasoned and dry. Our food order came all wrong after an hour wait! Horrible service, horrible food and way too expensive!! Don't go! read more
This is the 2nd spot that my airport shuttle recommended. I have noticed that the time allowed to look at the menu is longer in PR, than in most US states. I appreciate that because it takes me a LONG time to decide. I asked for medium, but i was definitely given well read more
6 months ago
3 years ago
Horrendous service. Showed up with 4 of us around 7 on a Sat nite. Told a 45 min wait. Walked into bar and saw numerous empty tables full of dishes . Should have walked out. The concierge at Sheraton where we're staying at said this place was supposed to be great. Bartender super slow and a tad rude. Ended up eating at bar. Big Mistake ...Apps were mofongo and chix wings. Both came out cold. Wings overcooked and dry. Never had mofongo but it was dry and flavorless. Entrees were steak and shrimp ..steak tasted old and shrimp had zero flavor. Sirloin and a cheese burger called a Muu burger. All came out cold. Only thing good were the fries and they were cold. Sirloin came out undercooked. Muu burger was good. Overall I wouldn't ever come back here. read more
9 months ago
3 years ago
Service was lacking. The bartender was not very friendly. He and other staff were talking and acted like taking orders was an interruption. The fountain drinks were weak with flavor and carbonation. It took 3 tries to get a decent coke. The ice was practically melted when I got it. Just not a good start. I ordered the churrasco. It was delicious but a very small portion. I'm used to bigger strips of meat. The rice did not taste authentic. I barely ate it. The veggies were over cooked. Things were better with the manager who made sure the drinks were fixed, but the food quality and service is a no go for me. read more
5 years ago
After enjoying a full day in old San Juan, our hunger started to get to us. We reached out to a few locals who recommended this spot. When we got there it was incredibly busy but when we got on the waitlist she quoted about 30 minutes. I set a timer while we sat outside and looked at the menu. Pleased to say they sat us down in about 20 minutes, around 3 o'clock-ish. Our waiter wasn't very friendly but honestly we didn't care we were just hungry and wanted food before heading back to our side of town. We ordered three Vaca Colada's (their version of a piña colada) and waters. They brought us back water bottles, which I was okay with since we had to walk back but they were an extra $2 a piece and it was Dasani :( Moving onto food, we ordered alcapurrias. They were oddly shaped almost like little mini gyozas but they were delicious and served with the traditional puertorriqueño sauce mayo-ketchup. For our actual dishes we all wanted mofongo so we ordered one each -- my mom ordered shrimp, my aunt ordered it with carne frita (little crispy pork pieces) and I got the churrasco. When the food was brought out, my mom's was also served on a churrasco so keep an eye out for all the pescatarians out there. Personally, we didn't mind so we dug in. Everything was tender, flavorful and the portions were great. Despite the few complaints I had, we would definitely come again. Bonus for visitors, they spoke English! We are lucky to be bilingual but don't let that deter you from eating some delicious plates in the heart of the city. read more
4 years ago
This large restaurant had a very touristy feel and service was a bit slow due to how busy they were, but the food was good. The bravas fries were the hit with our group of 6, massive portion, piled high with meat and lots of cheese. It was enough for all of us to dive into. The mofongo was also good but just slightly dry. Overall had a good experience here. read more
3 years ago
My boyfriend (PR native) and I came here for Saturday night dinner and it was a disappointment. When walked up to the door, we saw a sign that said, please wait here for the hostess. We waited about five minutes and no hostess came out, so we went inside to wait for someone to notice and seat us. The server was nice but very busy so we saw him about 3 times. I ordered a pina colada and that was delicious! For food we ordered queso frito con guava sauce. The cheese was thick but good. For our meals my boyfriend ordered mofongo con pollo in criolla sauce, I ordered the trifongo (plátano, yuca, maduros) con churrasco. My mofongo was made of only maduros and the meat was bistec encebollado. It was alright, my boyfriend did not like his. He says his mofongo had no flavor or sauce. Even though I told the waiter that my mofongo came out wrong they still charged me the extra $4.00 for the upgrade. Shortly after leaving my boyfriend got super sick, upset stomach and everything. I don't recommend. read more
5 years ago
Old San Juan has lots of great dining options that I found this place to be average. I was part of a tour and this was our lunch stop. We were served the chicken mofongo with rice and beans. It was good but I've had better at other places. While I understand this was the dish the tour and restaurant chose for us and they likely have better dishes, I don't think I'll revisit anytime soon. read more
5 years ago
This was our lunch stop during our Flavors of San Juan Tour. To be honest, it was a bit of a letdown. Every stop was excellent. This stop was average. We had the chicken mofongo with rice and beans. The mofongo was good, but it was stuffed with chicken breast. If it had been chicken thighs, it would have had more flavor. Although, if I had a choice, I'd go with steak of seafood mofongo. Overall, the meal was fine but it is something I could have made better at home. For a restaurant dish, it was underwhelming. There are several better choice to eat in Old San Juan. read more
3 years ago
Everything was delicious. Drinks were good . Service was fast . Ambiance was nice. Would def go back for the food for sure! read more
1 year ago
Great place for dinner! It does get busy so plan ahead for a wait. Luckily we were able to get seated pretty quickly. We got the Vaca Acostada. It was definitely a lot of food for two people but for $65 you can't beat that especially compared to mainland prices. The seasoning was good and so was the side dipping sauce dish. The drinks were so good too - recommend the pina colada mojito! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
On a busy street with a big Red Bull in front next to a parking garage. Hostess told us wait would be 45 minutes but took us in about 20. Fairly noisy. Mojitos were good. Beer was ice cold. The chuleta kan kan was delicious along with the arroz mamposteao which is rice and beans together and a little mushy. Prices for Old San Juan are decent. read more
4 years ago
OH MY OLD SAN JUAN!!! This place is man's best friend Caribbean Style...lots of meat to eat. The smoked pull pork fries a dream come true of goodness, filling comfort and feeling comfortable. The large snapper surrounded by steak and Mofongo...just the dish we needed. In mind you'd love to eat this to self but it's so plentiful...it's definitely a meal to share. Especially, after the amazing pork fries. We're going back tonight for the big pork chop and more pork fries. ...THOSE PORK FRIES THOUGH read more
We were in search of somewhere that has steaks and found this place. They have a menu where you can order to share (really big portions) or just for yourself. They also have mofongo so was a great place for everyone. I decided to get a skirt steak that came topped with shrimp and was the "Vaca bravas" way. When we asked - it a garlicky onion sauce that is thrown over. It came with one side - I picked the paella. Food took awhile to come out. From my experience on the island - this is pretty much normal. We got A LOT of food. My dish even came with vegetables which I didn't know. The food was okay. Some of it tasted like frozen / microwaved. Not fresh. The paella was just yellow rice with pieces of sausage in it. I wasn't blown away but the restaurant was a fun environment and our server was nice. read more
3 years ago
Food was very tasty but wait time can be very long - up to an hour after you order, so get a beer and relax. The atmosphere is super casual. My wife had the mofongo and said it was the best she has had in Puerto Rico. read more
8 years ago
4 years ago
Good and fast table service and large portions of typical Puerto Rican fare. Food was standard but plated nicely. I would go again if I happen to be the area for immediate seating. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
4 years ago
Come here two hours before you're hungry, sit a while and wait for your drink to come maybe an hour after placing your order and then you might be able to give this place a better rating than I am giving it. All in all, service was horrendous. I mean, almost 25-30 minutes to get a drink is a nightmare. First, we came in and the hostess did not explain what's going on. She was seating parties of people presenting her some weird valet looking card. She did not acknowledge us, she simply kept seating people. Finally, we were seen and she puts us on a list! Five minutes later, we were seated. The restaurant floors were very slippery, I almost slipped going to our booth. We got a very spacious booth which I was thankful for. Our waitress came about 10 minutes later and frantically apologized for the delay. It was busy so I didn't care as much. However, we placed all our orders at once (drinks, apps and entrée) and it took her a good 25 minutes to bring our drinks over and again, frantically apologized. I've seen all the other wait staff on the floor more than I've seen her so not sure what the deal was. Twenty minutes later, our appetizers came and about 5 minutes later, our main meal was delivered to the table before we even got our second drink. What a debacle! So, on to the food. We started with some shrimp stuffed plantains. It had some good flavors but the plantain cups were dry and cold and not at all flavorful. I would give it a 2-star in the realm of food possibilities. And really, it wasn't stuffed. The shrimp was more cradled in the edible cups. I ordered the ropa vieja for my main dish with some rice and beans side. The combination was actually good. Dining partner had the carnitas frita and I ate some because they were what I originally wanted. They were a bit dry and too hard. Definitely nothing to write home about. The mashed potatoes were very plain and bland. My mojitos were OK (pretty weak). I've had better and served to me way faster. She came back another time and asked us if we were interested in anything else. Honestly, we were so tired at this point that even if we wanted dessert, we would have just opted to skip it anyway. Still, it took another 15 minutes to get our check and be done with everything and then told us she was really tired from a day at the beach followed by more apologies. I would have rather not hear the apologies to be quite honest because it means nothing to me after the 5th time hearing it especially when I'm still getting a low quality service on top of it. It just seems very insincere and annoying in the end. read more
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More info about Vaca Brava
Calle Recinto Sur 253
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
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(787) 723-3700
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http://www.restaurantvacabrava.com
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