(4.5 stars) Not long after the PR Pantry opened over the…read moresummer, its social media was awash in tantalizing photos of candied fruit and cheesecakes. More recently, the shop added a food truck to the mix. After driving past it on a nearly daily basis, I finally got around to checking it out. First, a caveat: this is not a Latin market. If you come here expecting one, you will be disappointed. Think of it instead as a typical corner convenience store...that happens to have an above-average homemade food selection. Inside, you'll encounter candied fruit, cheesecake, tres leches, pasteles, and more. The truck then offers plates, apps, and sides. From arroz con gandules to pernil to mofongo, classic Puerto Rican dishes are well-accounted for. While there are a few tables outside the store, The PR Pantry is probably best suited for takeout. I ordered a pernil sandwich with a side of arroz con gandules and an additional side of tostones before popping inside to grab a slice of vanilla tres leches. Nothing took terribly long to prepare, and the guys on the truck were personable. At $13 for the sandwich and $3.50 for an extra side, the prices were reasonable too, especially for the quantity and quality. The food was, on average, really, really good. Served on pressed Cuban-style bread, the pernil sandwich was a bit greasy, but it was also incredibly satisfying. Tender pork met melty cheese and magic ensued. The rice was only OK, but the tostones were crisp and paired well with the accompanying pink sauce (mayoketchup). Later on, my wife and I split the tres leches, and it was incredible: rich and creamy with hints of cinnamon. If you want filling, tasty homemade food that won't break the bank, add The PR Pantry to your list. I regret that it took me this long to try it.

I would not recommend this place because it is completely abandoned/closed but everywhere you look;…read moreFB, Google etc says it's open, but it is not.

Was very pleased with my find today The customer service…read morewas amazing and one thing for sure I will be coming back for more Ordered empanadas 1 Pizza (Mozzarella cheese, Homemade red sauce, seasonings)....$3.50 9 out 10 1 Carne (ground beef)...$3.50 Also 9 out 10 4 of the Alcapurrias de Carne..... 9 out of 10 (Green banana fritter stuffed with ground beef) 1 Bacalaitos...10 out 10 (Cod Fish Fritter - flour, cod fish, cilantro and spices) Very crispy and delicious Mofongo y Carne Frita ....10 out 10 (MOFONGO consist of fried plantains, mashed and mixed with garlic paste and pork cracklings) Choose (1) pork tips, chicken tips or grilled chicken (grilled chicken upon availability) Make sure to give them a try if u want to try some very good Puerto Rican style food. They are at the compare food supermarket Thursday through Saturday and are open from 12 PM to 6 PM

While at an event at Bailey Park, this food truck was present. I stopped by around 5:05pm and…read moreplaced my order at 5:08pm. They had a special menu for the event. I got wings and fries ($12) for myself. I got pizza empanadas for my sons. I also goy a kola champagne soda. This is a drink from Puerto Rico. After ordering, I was given a buzzer to be notified when it was ready. The staff person were very friendly. The buzzer went off at 5:23pm. The food was hot and fresh. However, the fries and chicken was unseasoned. Ketchup made the fries taste better. I had to eat the chicken how it was, lol. Overall, it was a good deal. My kids enjoyed their empanadas. The kola drink was interesting. It wasn't nasty but I can't say it'll be something I'd crave or be my first option. They are normally open Thursday-Saturday from 12pm-7pm at Compare Foods.

We attended the holiday festival and market in angier and they had approx 10 food trucks of…read moredifferent varieties. We decided on the Rican lab as the food smelled really good. We had to wait around 15min but the food was pretty good. We wish there was a little more seasoning to add flavor but overall it was good food and worth the price. The amount of food was good as well.

We took a stroll through the International Food Truck event in downtown Raleigh with one mission in…read moremind: find some unforgettable empanadas. Ever since trying some amazing ones in California and Florida, we've been on the lookout for something that hits that same note--and we may have found a solid contender. Out of the many food trucks selling empanadas, The Rican Lab stood out. Their empanadas didn't disappoint. The crust was just right--crispy, not greasy, and not overly doughy. I didn't get any of that lingering cooking oil taste, which is a huge plus. I went with the beef empanada, while my husband tried the buffalo chicken. The beef had good flavor, but it could have used a binding agent--maybe cheese or sauce--to hold everything together. It felt a bit loose, so I imagine the beef and cheese version would have had better structure. I also think using shredded or chunked beef might work better than ground beef for a more satisfying texture. The buffalo chicken empanada was the real winner--well-seasoned with just the right kick. Neither empanada was dry or overly saucy, but both could benefit from a solid dipping sauce to round them out. We also grabbed a cherry lemonade, which was wonderfully refreshing. It hit a perfect balance--not too sour, not too sweet, and just tart enough. Bonus points for the generous serving size--it definitely felt worth the price. Beyond the food, the event itself was an amazing experience. There were food trucks representing a variety of cultures--Laotian, Filipino, Greek, and more. The diversity of choices was exciting. On top of that, local performers added to the festive atmosphere with live music and dancing. All in all, the Raleigh' Annual International Food Truck Festival is a must-visit. If you're on the hunt for good eats and good vibes, this is the place to be. We're already looking forward to our next visit--and the next round of empanadas.

Not only was the service great but the food was delicious. Being someone that lived on the island…read moreof Puerto Rico for 26 years. I could definitely tell that they were native cooks as well. Our waiter was very, very attentive ensuring that our meal with flawless I'm sorry I don't remember his name, but he did mention that he had just gotten to Fayetteville recently. I would definitely recommend and I will definitely be coming back.

Every time I visit Fayetteville, I have such a hard time finding good food, and an even harder time…read morefinding a restaurant that's clean with good service. This place delivered in all aspects. The mofongo was great, and I highly recommend getting their sampler appetizer tray. Marion was a wonderful server and very accommodating.

Was hanging out in Durham and decided to check out this spot. I got the vegetarian Cuban sandwich…read morewhich I have not seen at many other places and the yuca fries. The sandwich itself was okay. Was very salty and the flavor seemed off slightly but overall decent. The yuca fries were a good choice with the dipping sauce that comes with it. The space inside is spacious with plenty of seats when we went. The staff is friendly and helpful with any questions you may have. You can also order online to go. For parking, you can park on the street or deck parking. Prices were slightly higher than expected but appropriate for downtown Durham. Overall, a cool restaurant with a variety of options. Unsure if I will come back but recommend trying it if you are in the area.

Cool way to celebrate a birthday.... Have a food truck cater the party! The Spanglish crew served…read moreup some delicious Latin cuisine. Started with the pernil mallorca melt... mouthwatering pork roast, slow-cooked & fork tender, on sweet-ish mallorca bread with melted cheese and a spoonful or two of the pork juices. Excellent. Next, a Cuban sandwich. The same pork roast, this time with as slice of ham, Swiss cheese and sliced pickles, slathered with mustard on pressed mallorca bread. A great rendition of a Tampa-style Cuban but missing that Cuban bread. Also tried a trio of empanadas. The beef is a hearty mix of chunky beef, well spiced, juicy and tender. The chicken is chunks of white meat, with slivers of carrots and other vegetables. A little more bland than the beef, but still flavorful, moist and tender. Each was ensconsed in a traditional half moon pastry and fried deep, golden brown. Not at all greasy, these were crunchy, savory and delicious. Honorable mention to the s'mores empanada. The same half moon pastry, stuffed with chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker, then deep fried. WAY better than your standard cookout s'mores; these were decadent and sweet. The perfect dessert to top off the meal. Be on the lookout for this food truck. Really good food - fresh and delicious.

Cheerful ambiance, gracious service from an attendant young woman who also seemed to be doing a…read moregood deal of kitchen help. The food was well prepared, seemed to have a solid consistent quality to it across all the dishes we tried, and everything was flavorful. We were a bit shocked at how real and fresh the two passion fruit items were--we didn't taste the normal crazy amounts of added sugar.

We came to try out some Puerto Rican cuisine, and it was a relatively good experience…read more El Cilantro offers a traditional menu with a good number of dish and drink options. This is not a high-end restaurant and more of a casual experience. We ordered the octopus mofongo, the empanadas and the alcapurrias. For drinks, we had the pineapple juice. Out of those, the empanadas and the juice were really good. Other than that, the rest was OK. The service was excellent, and our two waitresses were helpful and professional. The vive felt traditional and colorful. The restaurant is located in a centrally located small shopping plaza with plenty of free parking. If you are not familiar with the area, the GPS will take you straight to it.

Food is delicious flavorful and tasty the service is great and drinks are delicious I recommend…read morethis spot check it out a hidden gem

Amazing Service,&food is Delicious!! They have the Best food in town!!...there place to eat is very…read morecozy

I'm from Charlotte and my friend was in the southeast visiting so we met up in Durham. ChatGPT…read moresuggested Boricua Soul as a part of our girls day. First stop. We never made it anywhere else lol! I'm so excited to write this review!! We chose it because when I reviewed the Yelp reviews they were stellar. But mostly I was super intrigued by the sweet potato cheesecake empanada and y'all it was everything I hoped it would be. It's small, you can maybe get 4 or 5 bites. The filling is sweet but not overpowering, good balance. The crust, crunchy and delicious. Came with a side of whipped cream. Drizzled in caramel sauce. I had the restraint to save it for last. We opted to split the shrimp sandwich and house made chips because we weren't too hungry and wanted to save room for the empanadas. Perfect plan. The sandwich can be ordered with a garlic, jerk or buffalo sauce. We were given a sample of the jerk to determine spicyness. Super spicy (which I loved) but my friend doesn't so we went with buffalo which wasn't spicy at all. The shrimp were a nice size, coated and seasoned well. The restaurant itself is small with about five tables but there is an abundance of outdoor seating shared with other businesses. We knew we planned to relax and catch up so we opted to eat outside. Despite the 90 degree weather, the entire area was shaded with a little wind so perfect. We got a number and our food and drinks were served to us. (Peach passion froze----yum!) Now. Boricua Soul is a great example of why I love seeking out and patroning local restaurants. The founders, Serena and Tori Fredericks, were both present, Serena managing the front, Tori managing the kitchen and both in and out of the restaurant serving people outside as well as inside. They were all over! Very welcoming. We were there for four hours and Serena's smile never left her face. She personally checked on us throughout. It felt like hanging out at your family's for the day. When we came in just a few people there, no line. Serena was at the register. I told her I came from Charlotte and she graciously gave us samples of the mac and cheese and collard greens as she described the menu. Both by the way, amazing! I don't think I've ever been able to find delicious perfectly seasoned greens with no meat. Before we knew it the line was to the door. By then I had the chance to experience her love for what she does and her heart for the community. Clean restaurant, beautiful and personable decor. Clean gender neutral private bathrooms. I took pics of the article on the wall about them, well worth the read. You too will drive miles to experience this Caribbean and Southern inspired restaurant! Im coming back and bringing people. There's so much more for me to try.

We visited for lunch on a beautiful spring weekday. The place was hopping, both inside and out. The…read moremusic was great, the ambience was fast-casual. I love how they had a lot of drink options, including fountain drinks, and special lemonades. We got here on the late side for lunch, and found there to be several different options for ordering. You could wait in line and order with a cashier, you could do a self service kiosk, or you could order from a QR code at a table. We ended up grabbing a table and opting to do it with a QR code. Everything was very clear, and I like that they showed what was popular immediately. I opted for a Boricua Soul Bowl, which I'd sampled during a food tour a few years back- then I tried it with chicken, so today I opted for shrimp. I feel like you really should go with pork since that's the default, and a mainstay of Puerto Rican cuisine and soul food, but alas I have an aversion to pork so I can't. I was also intrigued by the jackfruit option- there's something for everyone! My husband went for a platter with pork, which he said was delicious and rich. The Mac and cheese was amazing, and the collards were to DIE FOR! They have four house made sauces, which were a very fun way to add different flavors (I doused mine in Guava!). Since I've now been, I understand that there are many different methods of ordering, but I'm not sure I understand if there's a benefit or staff preference to one over another. I think one thing I might do in the future is order online (if you're using Toast Tab anyway, might as well order in advance) and then sit outside after I arrive. It took about 30 minutes to get our food, which probably means everything is made to order and fresh (as opposed to sitting around) so that's great, but I was STARVING by the time we got our food. Will definitely be back!

Very good size portions of good tasting food. There were so many menu options it was slightly…read moreoverwhelming but very glad we came to try this place. There were not many people but still liked the vibe because of the good music. I think it would be a great place for a night out. Also enjoyed the service. The waitress seemed new and had to ask a lot of questions but I prefer that over someone guessing.

Generous portions, large variety of food and nice presentation. Flavor is not very consistent- some…read moredays the food tastes fresh, others it does not. Service is ok- everyone looks like they do not want to be there.

What a treat to find at the Red Oak brewery. We shared the platter, 2 sliders, 4 wings, fried okra,…read moretruffle fries. I thought everything was very good and the wife loved the slider, okra, fries but the sauce is very sweet, so if you don't like sweet ask them for non sweet is the least sweet hot saucy and we had the "She Hot" sauce on the sliders and not to sweat, but whatever was on the wings was very sweet. All in all very good!