We're currently dining here, and from the moment my partner and I walked in, the experience has…read morebeen mixed. One of the hostesses was noticeably rude at the start, which set an uncomfortable tone. After being seated, our waiter hasn't been outright unkind, but there's a clear difference in how we're being treated compared to other guests. As a same-sex couple, it feels like we're not being received as warmly, even though he seems to be making an effort to remain professional. As a Puerto Rican, that's honestly a bit disappointing and feels out of place. That said, the food itself has been very good.

A gem. Sat outside & had a great night. Food, vibes, & service were all wonderful. Started out with…read morea complimentary soup & cod fritters (yummmy! & I don't even like fish, usually). The hot sauce on the table was nice, not too hot but a good kick, I usually do not like habanero based hot sauces but this was good! The Queso Frito was interesting in flavors & textures, delicious. El Conflicto was perfect, all the flavor of a pina colada but without the heaviness of syrups & sugar. The Pollo Borracho was super flavorful & filling, chicken cooked to perfection falling off the bone. My fiancé had the Carne Frita, it was super tender & a well balanced dish. Service was friendly & attentive. My only complaint- we were so full we couldn't even look at the dessert menu! Guess we will just have to go back.

After a week of beer, tacos, street food, beaches, forts, music, and mischief, I had one last…read moremission: a Cuban sandwich. At Ropa Vieja Grill in San Juan, Puerto Rico, they might just perfect it better than Cuba itself. The spot is clean, classy, and welcoming not your typical hole-in-the-wall and the service is top-notch, making you feel like a VIP with every bite. The sandwich itself? Pressed just right, loaded with roast pork, ham, melty cheese, and pickles a little Caribbean celebration in your hands. A must-stop for your final taste of the island flavorful, polished, and unforgettable.

Ropa Vieja Grill got the birthday shenanigans off to a great start. It's just about a block from…read morethe beach and was the perfect stop, enroute to sun, sand, and celebration. From the moment we walked in, it was a lively and fun vibe. The warmth and friendliness of the staff set the tone and instantly put us in vacation mode. I finally tried the much talked about mofongo (fried green plantains mashed with garlic, olive oil, and "chicharrónes" or pork skins). We ordered the beef, which was tender and flavorful, and more than just enough as it's quite filling. The Puerto Rican lemonade made with passion fruit was another new tickler for the tastebuds. As guests at the hotel (The Condado Palm Inn), we were lucky enough to meet Denise, during breakfast one morning. Let me just say, she ROCKS! Denise was our hostess turned unofficial tour guide, enthusiastically sharing some great ideas and recommendations on beaches, adventures, local spots and other must-see-if-you-can sights of interest.

Great service , great food.. very traditional food!!! Every time I visit San Juan, I make sure to…read moremake a stop here!!

The restaurant has the ambiance of a small town PR restaurant that you would find tucked away in…read morethe country roads of the island, with the long shared tables and the decorations. The wait was usual for Old San Juan. About 30-45mins. They take your name down and call you when there's a table ready. What they don't tell you is that the menu is a QR code on the table. Once you figure that you see a well organized and simple 2 pages menu with many PR authentic dishes listed. The waiter comes about 10-15mins later. And it's best to have all your order ready as they don't come back very often. The place is usually packed all the hours that they're open. Food: that's why they lost a star. Rice and beans, Madurai/amarrillos, scurrilous, delicious 5 stars, but the bigger, empanada, chicken with garlic lack the bite that you come to expect of PR food! They lack taste, "Sazon", they were bland and tasted more like someone forgot to season them and forgot the garlic. I'd tell them to go back to their food and make PR food like it's supposed to taste, not for the tourist, please!

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

First time in PR and we are foodies. This has to be the best food we have had so far! Absolutely…read moredelicious. Not one complaint . Service was great. We also had the Flan de coco but ate it before I could get a picture. It was delicious. We didn't have a reservation but we were able to get a table. The sitting area was great we were also provided a lil table lamp which came in handy because it was getting dark outside.

Just around the block from our hotel, we decided to try Waiter's for dinner. The service was good…read more When we first entered the restaurant, there weren't any other patrons. As it got busier, it took the waiter more time to get to us. The restaurant was very casual and comfortable. The temperature was cool inside with the air conditioning. Sadly they did not have the appetizer we had hoped to try. They made it up to us with a complementary dessert. The coconut flan was delicious. We shared a skirt steak rice and fried pork Mofongo. Both were flavorful. The servings were generous. The rice included Amarillos. If you are in the area Waiter's is it excellent option for dining.

Los Chamos Arepas is a true hole-in-the-wall gem. Small, unassuming spot with great vibes and Afro…read morebeats playing, which immediately sets the tone with quick service. I ordered the Pabellón and OMG--so good. Packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and a crunchy exterior that held everything together beautifully. The filling of shredded beef, beans, sweet plantains, and cheese was absolutely amazing and well-balanced in every bite. If you're looking for delicious food, good music, and an authentic, low-key spot that delivers big on flavor, Los Chamos Arepas is a must-try. Some cute photo opps with a photo bomb of their extinguisher. Lol.

Very nice people, great drinks! Food is so so for Venezuelan. Also very slow service.read more

As a team we are going for a 4.5 rating. So I do 5 , my wife does 4…read more Get here early opens 11:30 on Sunday about 11 for parking and to get in. They do have valet parking and it is a good idea to use. Roads are narrow and parking is hard to find. Plantain Soup given when you first meet the server. Very good. Beers are $18 Caasita mule $14 very good Arepas con bacalao $18. very fish forward, good. Pigs feet and chickpea stew $19. Aguacate Camarones $27. They have their own hot sauce. Rojo pique, very good $14 Service was very good Note they have a James Beard award.

Outstanding food. Every bite was delicious. Definitely really popular lunch restaurant and filled…read morewith both locals and tourists. We arrived at 11am on a Monday because that's when we thought they opened. They actually opened at 11:30am, so we were 2nd in line at 11am. Once 11:30am rolled around, the line was very long. It's an old house that was transformed into a restaurant. It's pretty big in there and they have an upstairs as well. It really feels like you're eating in a Caribbean home, from the colorful tablecloth to the things on the tables. The menu is on a board, and they have a Spanish and English version. They give you a cup of complimentary plantain soup which was amazing. We also ordered the fried cheese app which came with a delicious guava sauce. For mains, I had the fried pork with tostones and my husband had the mamposteado (corned beef, fried eggs, and rice). My husband cleaned his plate, while I took leftovers back to the hotel (which we actually ate later because it was that good). They were out of tres leches that day, so we had the coconut pudding for dessert. It was my first time trying coconut pudding and it did not disappoint! For drinks, we had the passionfruit sangria. When we left, there was a very long line outside. Despite the line, they did not rush us out. Definitely recommend and would go out of my way to come back next time I'm in PR.

Many restaurants were closed for Good Friday, but Los Pinos Cafe is open "24/7," and they held true…read moreto their outdoor signage! The restaurant is located in the cute Miramar area -- also home to my favorite coffee shop, Gustos! Finding parking on Ave. Juan Ponce de León is not easy, but there are many side streets that had open parking spots. The restaurant was busy the whole time we were there, but there always seemed to be an open table. Our waiter was excellent and all the waiters we saw were bilingual. The garlic bread was ok -- tasted like garlic powder on a fluffy, lighted toasted sourdough. I had the "regular" grilled pork chops and they were the best pork chops I've ever eaten. The taste of the grill was so good and the chops were still pretty moist. My wife and kids had the churrasco skirt streak. My son said the steak at Bebo's was better, but I the steak at Los Pinos was super tender and buttery. The mofongo was so bland we didn't eat it and the amarillos (sweet plantains) were dry and lacked any caramelization on the exterior. French fries were good. As a bonus, I finally got my tres leches and it was good. I've never seen a cake oozing so much "milk" from the top of the cake when it was cut. Overall, a solid place, but Bebo's gets the win for our favorite Puerto Rican food. Regardless, I would easily return here for a meal.

This was no better than a 3-star place for me, but my friend loved his seafood soup enough to earn…read morea promotion. This is right next to another 24-hour restaurant which I also visited, and which is visibly less popular. The air conditioning wasn't working this entire evening, and for most of our visit the power was out. I do realize that's more of a Puerto Rico thing than anything related to this restaurant though, and they were able to keep the food coming (albeit very slowly). My food was a very average pasta of the sort that I could get at a small town restaurant anywhere else in the US. But my friend who is NOT easy to please, absolutely loved that seafood soup. If good seafood soup is a draw for you, you probably should come here and get that. I should also mention that the servers were appropriately contrite about the lack of A/C and power and the overall slowness. Although, as with blackouts, I think servers being genuinely nice is a Puerto Rico thing. Also I thought I remembered seeing it was 24-hours, but maybe it's more like almost-24? Check and make sure maybe.

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.

This place was very busy. We had to wait about 30mins before entering they write down your name and…read moreit will be called based on table availability. Once we made it inside they had a long menu of different items. Was able to order and the food took some time to come out but with how busy it was I knew it would be a while. The food came out and it was fresh also hot just missing some hot sauce. The place is noisy with voices carrying which is normal. A recommended place to visit when in Old San Juan.

I asked a Puerto Rican friend for restaurant recommendations in Old San Juan. This was one of the…read moreplaces on his list. I checked the menu and decided to come here for dinner. They don't take reservations but we were gonna go early anyway. We decided that we'd get there at 5:30 PM and allow up to 30 minutes wait time. My friends got there a bit before 5:30 and were seated before I arrived. I got there a bit after 5:30 and there was a line of people trying to put their names down as I was walking in. They had already ordered drinks and an appetizer. We ordered another app and put in our entree orders. The bacalaitos took about 30 minutes to arrive. They were delicious. Not too salty which was great. The entrees took over 30 more minutes to come. I ordered the paella and it was delicious. My friend thought her mofongo was just ok. I tried a bite and it was kinda bland. The kids thought their entrees were ok. I thought they didn't make the right choices. Service was OK. Server wasn't really present as the majority of our time there was waiting vs eating. That was true for most patrons. Most people seated at tables were waiting instead of eating. Not sure if there was an issue that night. Either way, I'd say that it's still a good spot. You just can't come hangry or in a hurry.