On our last afternoon in Miami we searched for a Puerto Rican restaurant and thankfully stumbled across this establishment. It's not a very large location. It's a hole in the wall. We found that it was the 1st Puerto Rican restaurant established in Miami in 1974. So it's been around 52 years and survived covid shut downs. Says a lot about how much the community loves it too. The service was great. The server was able to easily answer any questions about the menu. The food came out from the kitchen quickly and we started to feast. We ordered the Beef Alcapurias(fried masa). It's was great. My spouse who doesn't eat a variety of foods tried it and absolutely loved it. My sister ordered theGrilled Pork with Aroz con Gondules & a Pastele. My spouse had the Aroz con Gondules. I ordered the Chicharones de Pollo & Aroz con Gondules(double side). The portions were generous and delicious. I was even able to order a Pastele to go and eat it later with one of my sides of rice. We couldn't believe how affordable the lunch was when the bill came. We were all pleasantly surprised with the experience. And highly recommend this establishment if you are looking for an authentic Puerto Rican meal. We can't wait to go back for more! read more

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Very nicely prepared food. Clean. Service was very good. We had the alcapurrias to start they were a little dry and overseasoned. We also had the mofongo with pork which was so good. The star of the show was the fritura de bacalao. So delicious. Arrow con gandules was delicious. read more

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It was acceptable, nothing memorable. In fact there isn't much to say at all. The food, the ambiance, and the service were all ho-hum

Good food good service. Nice ambiance definitely coming back. They do have outdoor sitting. read more

El Bajareque Restaurant - Arroz con gandules, chuletas frita y tostones de pana - Latin American Near Me - Miami, Florida

As a local when I lived here I didn't even know about this place but now each time I come back to visit Miami this is my go to breakfast spot. The food is well cooked I just wished it was more seasoned, but they do have salt and pepper on the table. The waiters are always nice & I love how small the place is inside it certainly gives you like a cafeteria vibe. My favorite item is the empanada de camarón (shrimp). read more

El Bajareque Restaurant - Steak and Eggs with Toast and Coffee - Latin American Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Straight to the point kind of restaurant. Small business with good prices. They have a special everyday of the week, medalla for around $4 and really good coffee. The food is very decent and never breaks the bank. All the staff is friendly and polite and they attend to you as fast as possible for whatever you need. The place is small but never too crowded where I can't find a seat--which means it's still a hidden gem! I love the tostones and camarones, and their bacalitos are nice and big too! Definitely will be back and recommend anyone looking for a good full filling meal or a quick lunch to check it out. read more

This place was packed and lively when we arrived on a Saturday afternoon. Fortunately, they had seating in the back available. Food was fantastic! You can tell a lot of their dishes are packed with onions and garlic. I ordered the Lechon Asado with a side of arroz con gandules and yuca con mojo. The portion size was generous for the price, and if I weren't so hungry, this would've lasted me two meals. Service was a bit slow, but it was likely because they were busy. If I'm ever back in the area, I would come back here! read more

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El Bajareque is in the heart of little San Juan and everything a boriqua cafe/restó should be! I sat at the counter across from the espresso machine next to stacks of to go cups waiting for their moment and a can of florecitas. The Puerto Rico decor was on point and the whole ambiance really made me feel like I was in the heart of Puerto Rico. I got a cortadito, the bacalaitos (fire) the gandules (perfect flavor) and bistec jibarito. Would love to come back and try more!! read more

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This quaint yet authentic Puerto Rican spot sits right next to one of my favorite liquor store, so I had to give it a try. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by the owner himself, smiling with open arms. The same welcoming energy extended to the staff, who made the space feel more like home than a restaurant. The menu offers breakfast, lunch specials, and hearty dinner plates--all connected by one thing: soulful Caribbean flavors. We ordered a frozen lemonade, a colada (Cuban coffee served in tiny cups meant to share), the shrimp jibarito (a Puerto Rican "sandwich" with savory shrimp nestled between crispy fried plantains), and kingfish (serrano) with white rice and black beans. Before the main dishes, our waitress brought over a basket of buttery toast that we shamelessly devoured in seconds. Yes, the food took a little while to arrive but with a dining room full of happy, hungry guests, it's understandable. And honestly, the wait was worth it! The frozen lemonade? Fresh-squeezed and ice-cold. The colada? Sweet and strong, just how it should be. The kingfish, rice, and beans? brought me back to dinner at my best friend's house. And that jibarito? OMG. It was my first time trying one, and I cannot wait to go back for another! If you're craving flavorful, soulful, comida Puertorriqueña, this is the spot you need to try. read more

Stopped in for a quick lunch with my friends . It's a quaint diner with an additional seating area in the back is what we opted for. Our server was very pleasant. Mostly Spanish speaking and I'm a bit rusty but my friends are fluent so it worked out well when asking about menu items. I had the steak fajitas which was tender and flavorful but gave more of a sautéed sirloin tip than fajita. I still enjoyed it with the rice and beans. One friend had the steak that she also rated a 4 star, and my other friend had the chicken soup that he also rated a 4 star. The pricing is reasonable and the service was fast and efficient. Great for a quick lunch. I'd probably go back to try some other menu items. read more

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Authentic Puerto Rican food in miami. Chill atmosphere and reasonable. Staff super helpful.

We were super lucky to find a street parking spot right in front the door. The food was on the bland side. Don't plan on returning. read more

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The wait and the lack of attention is crazy!!!! Overpriced tourist BS!!!! Got code and ran out of there!!!!!!! No thanks 25 mins to bring a damn latte that was nasty and watered down. Better off going to Starbucks across the street! Wow so sic of places like this. Then they charge gratuity for 2 ppl. Just a damn rip off read more

El Bajareque Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Miami, Florida

Absolutely love love this place! This place has been around for a long long time and they definitely stand their ground for amazing Puerto Rican food at affordable delicious quality price everything from breakfast to lunch to dinner they have it all. read more

Had a great experience and enjoyed my time at bajareque with a nice frozen lemonade. The waitress was very helpful and attentive. She brought us bread with garlic sauce. Then we ordered our food, which was well seasoned. The place was like a "cafeteria" nothing fancy, but they make it up with a well priced menu and good food. Tuve una gran experiencia y disfruté de mi tiempo en Bajareque con una rica limonada helada. La mesera fue muy servicial y atenta. Nos trajo pan con salsa de ajo. Luego pedimos nuestra comida, que estaba bien sazonada. El lugar era como una "cafetería", nada lujoso, pero lo compensan con un menú a buen precio y buena comida. read more

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Checked out this place a few times while visiting Miami since it was close to my accommodations. Each time I went I was enjoyed what I had more and more. Between two breakfast meals and a dinner, I had the chicken and waffles (delicious and you can choose a wing or strips), the Baja special (one meat, eggs, and toast, plus toast and coffee), the steak and eggs breakfast, roasted pork sandwich (so juicy!), and a papaya smoothie (refreshing). The staff were friendly and definitely speaking a bit of Spanish would have helped some with placing my orders, but that experience varied depending on the day/person. All in all, I'd definitely recommend for breakfast, lunch, or an early dinner. read more

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Food: 5 Service: 2 Ambiance: 6 since it's near Wynwood there's def a lot to do while checking this restaurant out. read more

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Amazing food. We had bacalaitos as an appetizer, Chuleta KanKan. We shared both and were stuffed. The chuleta was cooked to perfection as we're the gandules and mofongo. They'll be seeing a lot more of us very soon and very often. read more

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This is such a great spot for breakfast or lunch. They have great specials and make the most perfect coffee. The service is really good. I stop in every chance I get. The ambiance is great too. If you have a chance I recommend trying them out. read more

Their food is great! Everything! But the empanadas babyyy - the best. These are authentic, delicious and good sizes. The shrimp is a must and the pizza is great and not found in other places usually. Definitely recommend. read more

El Bajareque Restaurant - the front of the restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Miami, Florida

My favorite go to!! This place is the definition of that whole in the wall experience! This is the spot you go when you want amazing food for a great price & it's just not found easily... in other words, this place is a gem! Every dish is made with love & if it isn't they never hesitate to make it right for you! It tends to be busy often so please be patient because you'll leave happy! My all time favorite is the bacalaito!! The mofongo, tamale & alcapurria is always a hit! Any of their meats & seafood will be enjoyable because they bring that Caribbean flavor every time!! I've been coming here since 2018 and I can't believe I've just now written a review! Although this is the place you want to gate-keep! read more

Unassuming on the outside, small and loud on the inside; but totally worth a stop. I walked in and sat at the counter, was greeted quick enough and they asked if it was for here or to go. I was offered a menu and had the choice to communicate in English or Spanish, or both. My first meal in Miami after landing today, (and first Puerto Rican food experience ever) and it did not disappoint. Big portions, had to take half of it home with me for later. The food was piping hot, fresh and delicious. Even an unexpected bread basket with the most garlicky sauce I've ever tasted (and I live on garlic pretty much). The only thing that could have been better were the maduros. I visited mid-afternoon and they tasted like they'd been cooked in old oil and were sitting out for awhile. Decent prices though and it was quick too. They do a lot of takeout orders as well. Give 'em a try! read more

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Always the very best of everything!!!! Just read my previous reviews ‼If you want to try authentic Puerto Rican food that is not only going to satisfy your taste buds but also your soul then this is the place where you need to come and eat read more

El Bajareque Restaurant - puerto rico sign - Latin American Near Me - Miami, Florida

Great authentic Puerto Rican food! Fast and good service! Definitely will return with more friends and family! Thanks!

This was my first time at this restaurant and It met my expectations. The food is delicious and inexpensive. I got shrimp with rice and beans and chuleta frita with gandules. Both meals were delicious! I also got a passion fruit smoothie that was very refreshing. The place is small but it's perfect for breakfast and lunch. I highly recommend it read more

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This restaurant is a jewel! I am so happy that I found this treasure! The staff is super attentive and delightful and the food is absolutely exquisite. We tried the alcapurrias, croquetas, pastel, bacalaito and each of these items were beyond delicious. The flan for dessert was perfect! I can't wait to go back. read more

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I wasn't impressed. The place doesn't make me feel like I'm in PR at all except for the music. The decor is blah. The ambience is average. The host/server/bud girl was overworked...need another worker. I ordered the steak with eggs thinking it would be in a sandwich but I got served a roll of bread. It was warm then came my steak & eggs minutes later. I waited to eat my bread but it was hard. No one thought to make a steak & egg sandwich???? They do back home in Chicago. Here it seems like they have the right ingredients but no concept. The coffee con leche was good and the velvet cake was superb. I'll stick to my spot in Humboldt Park that knows how to make a steak & egg sandwich. read more

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What a gem! It's very hard to find comforting food in the Midtown area lately. With everything including restaurants feeling like it lacks either quality, Portions or affordability, I get real happy when I find a spot near me that embodies what Miami was 10 years ago. This reminded me of the Miami I grew up in and is now a new favorite. It's a small hole in the wall and it was packed on a Friday afternoon for lunch but we got seated very quickly. They start you off with pan con ajo which was warm and left me satisfied. I got the Friday special of the day which was rabo encendido (stewed oxtail) with arroz con gandules (a must at any Puerto Rican spot) and maduros to cut the salt. My friend got the camarones enchílados which was also a Friday special with a side of Mofongo. I wish they had sweet mofongo which is my favorite. I tried my friends and it was just too dry for me and had big chunks of pork which is typical for salty mofongo. That being said, it was the best salty mofongo I've ever tried and it came with a side of garlic vinegar which moistens it a bit. It was the perfect side for the shrimp as it comes with a lot of sauce. I found the portions to be a little small compared to other Latin spots nearby but the flavors were out this world. Both our specials were $15.50 and I did not leave a single grain of rice on my plate. The ox tail was fall off the bone soft and the rice had on point seasoning. I enjoyed everything about it and we only Paid $36 after tip for two dishes. A steal in Miami now a days. My new favorite Puerto Rican spot in Miami! read more

El Bajareque Restaurant - Rabo encendido - Latin American Near Me - Miami, Florida

An interesting hole-in-the-wall spot for homemade Puerto Rican food! Worth a try if you're in the area. Overall our experience here was good. My boyfriend and I loved the friendly, homey energy in the place and the staff was very pleasant. It was our first times trying Puerto Rican food. The Food: Roasted Pork - 4/5 The portion is BIG! It's very meaty, comes with a ton of pork. The pork is cooked well and my boyfriend liked it. The plantains were delicious. Mofongo with Shrimp - 3/5 Admittedly I'm not sure what mofongo is supposed to be like, but mine was quite dry and therefore not super pleasant to eat. But it was still an interesting concept and I'm glad I tried it. The shrimp was definitely very overcooked. Perhaps they just had an inconsistent day that day we went. read more

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Food is amazing....Authentic and fresh!!! Staff was friendly and establishment was clean. Please check them out! read more

El Bajareque Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Miami, Florida

Just ate my to go order of chicharron de pollo and tostones for $16. Received 5 pieces of battered bone and 5 thin Tostones.

Another Puerto Rican hole in the wall north of Wynwood in NW 36th st. Food is very delicious. Had the flat iron grilled chicken which was on point along with rice, beans and sweet plantains. Couldn't ask for better than that. Service was punctual and the restaurant very clean. read more

El Bajareque Restaurant - Pollo a la plancha con arroz, habichuela y plantano maduros - Latin American Near Me - Miami, Florida

Delicious Latin cooking and fantastic quality! Very affordable and nice service! You'll like it

Its got a good cozy local ambience. The staff was friendly and greeted us with bread which was delicious. Where this nice spot fell short was 1. They messed up both of our orders. We even had an english speaking man at our table while we were ordering. I had ordered the smoked pork chop and it was clearly fried. Bear ordered the crispy chicken sandwich which was grilled. Okay whatever not big deal. But my rice was bland, and frying a pork chop is just wrong. Her chicken sandwich was mostly lettuce but otherwise not that bad. I guess sometimes you get what you pay for but slap some seasoning on that shit! read more

I visited this restaurant a while ago.... This small casual restaurant is located near midtown just a few blocks away from the Shops at Midtown. I was delighted to find a Puerto Rican restaurant near Brickell and not all the way in Kendall. Although they have some other Latin dishes from other Caribbean islands, the menu is pretty good offering many traditional Puerto Rican dishes. They have pasteles, arroz con gandules, guineitos, bacalaitos, chuletas, alcapurrias, and Medalla beer!!!! I was surprised that I didn't see sorullitos de maíz (corn meal sticks) on the menu, which I was expecting since they are very traditional. Their lunch specials are definitely great deals. First of all, I loved the gesture of serving complimentary toasted bread with sauces for the table. Bread with butter and strong garlic sauce is very commonly served in restaurants in the island. For Puerto Ricans, this gesture of offering bread is a way of saying welcome to our humble establishment. The roasted pork with rice (lechon y arroz con gandules) was the stellar dish of this visit. Pork was perfectly cooked with a moist texture and dressed with some grilled onions. Unfortunately, the mofongo with skirt steak was not the best dish because my steak was burnt and the mofongo was a bit dry. I like my meat medium rare and juicy and the mofongo soft and moist inside. I didn't get that. However, the food was well seasoned with a true boricua flavor. Unfortunately, they are not opened on Sundays but there weekly lunch specials look like a very good deal. read more

Worst customer service ever. You can call all day 10 times in a row just to be put on hold and then hung up on. Then in the restaurant they take ur order and never come back. The FOOD IS AMAZING THOUGH so I sometimes very rarely Put up with it. Until I get tired of it I was calling 20 min in a row no answer legit called 12 times was placed on hold and hung up on after 6 min read more

El Bajareque Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Miami, Florida

This place has excellent, authentic Puerto Rican food. Reminds me of the restaurants back in El Barrio in Spanish Harlem. So, so good. The menu isn't as big as other Puerto Rican restaurants, but what they do have on the menu, they mastered it. Can't wait to go back. read more

Great food clean and friendly good service been there since the beginning of time my grandpa & father use to go there in the 70's

Hoy por primera vez, decidí ordenar de éste lugar, usando el servicio de Uber. Mi orden consistía en DOS pollos a la plancha. Pues vean la foto y juzguen por su cuenta. No solo mandaron uno, sino, solo fijense en la presentación. Intenté probarlo, pero es simplemente incomestible!!! Al llamar y hacer el reclamo, entendí todo. La mujer que atendió, no me permitió explicarle, y aparte de insultarme, colgó el teléfono. Asi que, sí usted, desea ser maltratado, humillado, ofendido y perder su dinero, entonces, éste es el lugar. Por mi parte, más nunca!!!! En Miami existen, restaurantes latinos de muchiiiiiiiiisima mejor calidad, atencion y servicio. read more

El Bajareque Restaurant - Comida del El Bajareque. Juzgue usted....... - Latin American Near Me - Miami, Florida

I get a coffee here every morning. So Good!!! & great service every-time!! All the servers are mad nice and the food is top tier!! Just like Wela use to make!! read more