Puerto Rico is a place full of surprises, including tourist attractions, endless oceans, beaches, adventure, forests, and restaurants. However, people often overlook traditional dishes that should be kept in mind when planning a trip to Puerto Rico. Food is one of the essential elements of any culture and exploring Puerto Rican cuisine will give you deep insights into its cultural traditions, historical background and rich cultural heritage. That’s why it’s important to read this Puerto Rican cuisine guide when planning your trip.
The traditional food in Puerto Rican is made with fresh ingredients like fruits, vegetables, herbs, and lean proteins, so it’s worth trying at least once. Many dishes include nutrient-dense foods like bananas, yucca, beans, and seafood. There are some amazing restaurants and bars in San Juan that have these dishes on their menu. Read further to know which places are known for which dishes.
The Best Traditional Food in Puerto Rico:
- Mofongo
- Lechón Asado
- Arroz con gandules
- Tostones
- Pastels
- Bacalaitos
- Pastelillos
Mofongo
Mofongo is considered the island’s most famous traditional dish and has become an icon of local cuisine. It’s a delicious and nutritious dish made with green plantains, garlic, olive oil and pork rinds called chicharrónes with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. There are also vegetarian versions of the mofongo made with fried vegetables that tastes even more delicious. Mofongo represents the island’s mix of African, Spanish and indigenous influences. The dish was a unique take on the dish fufu that the slaves captured under the Spanish brought with them from Africa. From there it evolved, getting infused with the spices and cooking methods of the indigenous Taino people until the Mofongo dish was created.
Top Restaurants Serving Mofongo
Ajo del Pais
In Old San Juan, Ajo del Pais is a popular restaurant specializing in mofongo. Their motto is “The Best Mofongo” so you bet they make it good. You have several mofongo options including the mofongo stuffed with shrimp, conch, skirt steak, octopus or mahi-mahi.
El Jibarito
El Jibarito is located on one of the lesser traversed streets in Old San Juan. El Jibarito is a long-established restaurant known for its aromatic mofongo. Among the many Mofongo flavors on their menu are lobster, octopus, and beef options. The restaurant is perfect for a sit down meal. It will remind you of a proper Puerto Rican eatery.
Lechón Asado
A delicious dish in Puerto Rico’s cuisine, and an important part of this Puerto Rican food guide, Lechon Asado is an entire pig marinated with spices and grilled slowly on the fire. This results in tender, juicy meat that has crisp skin. It is usually served during celebrations or festivities.
In Puerto Rico’s, Lechón Asado has cultural and social significance during Christmas, New Year’s and local festivals. It’s an expression of community and unity, as family and friends often prepare and enjoy them together. The town of Guavate is known for having the best preparation of Lechon Asado on the whole island. You can get to Guavate in 50 minutes from San Juan by renting a car and driving yourself to the city. Go to the street called La Ruta that has all lechoneras in a line.
Top Restaurants Serving Lechón Asado
Lechoneras en La Ruta
In Guavata there is a street called La Ruta de Lechon which is lined with restaurants that specialize in roasted pig (lechón). As a customary complement to the lechón, several lechoneras offer Arroz with Gandules as well. Guavate in Cayey and the municipality of Guayama are popular destinations for lechoneras.
El Rancho Original
El Rancho Original is one of the most famous places to get Lechon Asado. It gained its fame when it was featured by Anthony Bourdain in his food show No Reservations. The lechon here is cooked to perfection. It is crispy on the outside and melts in your mouth when you bite into it. The locals love to come here for this speciality.
El Mojito
This is another lechonera on La Ruta in Guavate. El Mojito are known for providing a genuine eating experience by serving delectable Lechón Asado with crispy skin and succulent meat. The meat will be taken off the lechon right in front of you so you can rest assured that it is freshly prepared.
Arroz Con Gandules
Arroz con Gandules is a typical Puerto Rican rice dish that is often referred to as the island’s national cuisine. It is a fragrant rice dish made from pigeon peas, commonly known as gandules. It’s a traditional Puerto Rican dish served at holidays, family reunions, and other events. Arroz con Gandules contains ingredients such as rice, pigeon peas, sofrito, pork, spices and condiments such as oregano, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
Top Restaurants Serving Arroz con Gandules
Molini’s Cafe and Restaurant
This is a great place to get Arroz con Gandules in San Juan. It’s a cozy little eatery that is known for having great rice and beans. The restaurant is very old school and only accepts cash. They have a big blackboard with the menu that lists the specials of the day.
El Jibarito
El Jibarito is a well-known Old San Juan restaurant specializing in Puerto Rican cuisine. They provide a variety of classic meals, such as Arroz with Gandules, which is made with care and rich flavors. They also have all the other Puerto Rican cuisine should you wish to try any other dishes.
Tostones
Tostones are a popular traditional food in Puerto Rico and thus a part of this Puerto Rican cuisine guide. Green plantains are used for their production. They’re made by thickly slicing unripe bananas, then frying them twice to get a crunchy texture. Tostones are salted and eaten like chips. People prefer to eat tostones with a sauce that is made by mixing ketchup, mayo and a very spicy local sauce.
Top Restaurants Serving Tostones
Marlin Tubeau on Wheels
This is a food truck in San Juan near Escambron Beach that has the best fish tacos, tostones and sweet pastelillos filled with guava and cheese. The tostones are always freshly fried and they make the best sauce suited to your spice level.
Casita Miramar
Casita Miramar is a charming traditional Puerto Rican restaurant known for its authentic cuisine. They serve delicious tostones as a starter that goes perfectly with their good meals. It has great value for money and a good place to get a great local dinner. Do not forget to order their coqui tres leche dessert.
Jose Enrique
Headed by Chef Jose Enrique, this prestigious San Juan restaurant offers a new interpretation of Puerto Rican cuisine. Tostones are combined with unique delicious ingredients and flavors to create a fantastic dining experience.
Pastels
Pastels are an essential element of the Puerto Rican cuisine. They are made with a dough of grated green bananas and root vegetables. They are then filled with a mixture of meat, such as pork or chicken, wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed. They’re a traditional holiday dish. Availability of pastels depends on the season and it is mostly served during the winter season.
Top Restaurants Serving Pastels
Santaella
Santaella is a very popular restaurant in the Santurce area of San Juan that offers an innovative take on Puerto Rican cuisine. During the holidays, they usually incorporate pastels into their menus to show off their culinary creativity with this traditional dish.
Casa Dante
Located in the heart of Ponce, Casa Dante is an established restaurant serving Puerto Rican traditional dishes. They are known for offering delicious pastels during the holiday season, allowing visitors to enjoy this seasonal treat in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Lechonera Los Pinos
Lechonera Los Pinos is a casual and lively restaurant in Guavate, an area known for its lechon (roast pork). Although Lechonera Los Pinos specializes in a Lechonia dish, pastel is also available on the menu to allow customers to sample seasonal specialities.
Bacalaitos
This Puerto Rican food guide wouldn’t be complete I mention Bacalaitos. Bacalaitos is a deep-fried codfish fritter stuffed with a batter of salted codfish, flour, and spices. They’re a popular snack in the streets and many street stalls serve Bacalaitos with garlic sauce.
Top Restaurants Serving Bacalaitos
Piñones
Piñones is located in the coastal town of Loíza. Piñones area is famous for its street food and beachside kiosks. On the main road, you can find a wide variety of vendors serving bacalaitos that are freshly made to satisfy your appetite. They often have pastels, empanadas and pastelillos as well!
Kiosko El Boricua
Kiosko El Boricua is a beach café situated between Loiza and San Juan, Puerto Rico. This café is known for serving fresh food to its customers. You can hear the fresh sizzling as you wait for the food next to the beach.
Donde Olga
Donde Olga is a restaurant situated in Loiza, Puerto Rico. As per customer reviews, this place serves the best bacalaitos. It is a place where you can go to relax and eat the best bacalaitos, alcapurrias and fried fish. The restaurant is known for serving genuine Puerto Rico seafood.
Pastelillos
Pastelillos are deep fried pies stuffed with sweet and savory filling. For savory fillings you can go with any meat or vegetarian options. But the best pastelillos are the sweet ones. Some flavors that are really liked by everyone are guava with cheese filling or sweet berry filling.
Top Restaurants Serving Pastelillos
Marlin Tubeau on Wheels
This is a food truck near Escambron Beach in San Juan. They make pastelillos with sweet guava and a cheese filling. Pastelillos are freshly fried from fresh sweet guavas when you order it. It is the best sweet pastelillos in town.
Kasalta
Kasalta became very famous when Obama visited it on his tour to Puerto Rico. They have some amazing desserts with sweet pastelillos being a fan favorite. You can also try a huge number of local desserts here.
Conclusion
Good food is the key to happiness. The traditional food in Puerto Rico is not merely sustenance; it is a way of bringing people together, celebrating life’s joys, and creating cherished memories. Whether you’re a foodie or a curious traveler, immersing yourself in the world of Puerto Rican cuisine is an experience that will captivate, satisfy and leave you wanting more. Get ready for an unparalleled culinary adventure, where the flavors are as vibrant as the island itself.
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