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We came here on a Saturday evening as a party of five and had about a 15-20 minute wait, and boy it was absolutely worth it. From the start, our waitress was friendly, energetic, and clearly proud of the food. She brought our table a sample of the Masitas en Salsa de Plátano (pork cubes in plantain gravy), and wow...what a great introduction. The pork was incredibly tender and juicy, and the gravy was rich and savory. The best way I can describe it is like eating a pastel soup. It was so good that a couple of us ended up ordering it as our entrée. We also tried the Christmas Plate, which came with pernil, pastel de masa, yellow rice, and plátanos maduros. Everything was flavorful and tasted like a typical PR holiday meal. To drink, we had guava mojitos, which were refreshing. The service was fast and attentive throughout the meal, and what really made the evening special happened at the end. We were quietly singing "Happy Birthday" to my boyfriend when our waitress overheard us and immediately rallied the staff to come over and celebrate with him officially. It was such a thoughtful gesture that made the night even more memorable. For dessert, I had the flan and my boyfriend had the chocolate tres leches cake. Both were delicious and a great way to end the meal. Between the welcoming service, casual atmosphere, and outstanding Puerto Rican food, We left happy and full.
Loveddddd this place in Old San Juan! Jeremy was an amazing server. The beef stew was so flavorful and moist. It paired so well with the trifongo. We had come here for an afternoon snack and drinks as we were walking around old San Juana and the forts all day and had gone to one fort and ready to move to the next after a bite. This was the perfect meal to hold us over. Not so greasy and not too filling. The drinks were just average but refreshing after hours in the sun. The atmosphere is casual and busy and loud. However, the service was quick even with them being busy. I highly recommend the beef stew with mofongo and coming here even if it's just for that!
First time visiting El Jibarito! What an amazing experience, delicious homemade food with lovely staff members. Even the locals come here of how good it is. You get tons of food for the price and would definitely come here again hands down. Feels like my fam is cooking back there in the kitchen haha. Highly recommend!
We selected this restaurant based off of other reviews. We weren't super hungry, but knew we definitely wanted some Mofongo. This quaint family owned restaurant is close to the ocean, but it does not have an ocean view. It's kind of hidden with a small sign. Nothing really signifying the restaurant from a distance. We ordered the Alcapurrias / Fried Beef Plantain Türnover and the Bistec Encebollado / Cube Steak with Onions with a side of Mofongo. I also had a pineapple Mojito. The food was good. I do wish the fried plantains had a little more beef in them. Some didn't have any at all. The drink was average. The ambience was very casual, warm, welcoming and locally decorated. Our server was very friendly. She had several recommendations and our food came quickly.
I really wanted fried fish in San Juan and got recommended El Jibarito. We went almost near their closing time, unknowingly and still got to be able to sit and got my craving in for fried fish! It's a casual restaurant with limited seating that I think is also a bit popular. When we walked in to dine and we did have to wait a bit and put our name down on the waiting list. However, the time flew by I think it was maybe 20 minutes max and we were able to be seated at a table. My partner ordered the steak, but I wasn't the biggest fan of it. it did come with the plantain side. That was super delicious. Overall, for the both of us and a couple of drinks we spent US$90 with tip and each entrée was about $35-$30.
This restaurant comes up in many lists of recommended places to try in San Juan so I decided to try it myself. Walked in at ~7pm and had to wait for 15 minutes to be seated. Ambiance was very casual. Restrooms are at the back of the restaurant and you have to go out to a small uncovered space to get to the restrooms, which are not the cleanest. Masitas en salsa de platano (pork cubes in plantain gravy) comes with green salad and tomato and a side. Choices for the side are white rice with beans (arroz blanco y habitchuelas), yellow rice (arroz guisado), tostones (green plantain), sweet plantain (amarillos), mofongos de platano, yuca, trifongo y pana. The salad did not come with dressing; it was dry and sad. Got mofongo as the side; it was also dry and not flavorful. The pork cubes was tender but not as flavorful as I was expecting. Tres leches was not that sweet which was okay. Overall, the food was disappointing. In addition, wait times can be long; the place can get very busy and loud.
This restaurant and another one close by were recommended to us by our Uber driver for being the spots where you can find good Puerto Rican cuisine in Old San Juan. We came in weary from all of the walking we had done that morning. This restaurant is large and is busy. We had to wait for a few minutes but were seated quickly. I got a cold beer to enjoy but many others were getting their cocktails, which looked good. The eating area, bar, and kitchen are all in the same area, which is pretty cool. My partner and I both ordered the pork tamale which came with salad and your choice of side. We both ordered the mufongo. While I can't speak to the authenticity compared to other restaurants, the food was very good. All of it was tasty and fresh. I also felt very reasonably priced, especially for being in the touristy Old San Juan area. We enjoyed the opportunity to rest our legs in the A/C while enjoying cold drinks and good food. This is a great place to stop in for lunch while you walk around Old San Juan.
So early warning the sign is not hanging out where it's visible. So look for that dark green building and the sign is on the building in black really high. Walked into a nice small local restaurant A/C is great in here after that walk to get here. The servers greeted us with a big beautiful welcoming smile which is always the best way to pull me in. Drinks- we got the mojito (classic) and the passion fruit margarita and they were both very nice. Drinks were mixed great where nothing was overwhelming the other. Beef turnover- nice and tasty. The beef was seasoned well with hints of herbal seasonings. It came with a little pepper sauce that wasn't just spicy but had like a sweet pepper and chives flavor as well. Baked pork ribs- got this with the white rice and beans. The beans was well seasoned and tasted really good. The rice was cooked well and with some salt where it's not too much but you can taste a hint of it with every bite. The pork was disappointingly dry. It had a nice flavor almost like smoked but too dry and hard. Fried snapper- this took the cake. It was cooked to perfection where it wasn't dry but soft and juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. It came with a nice tasting garlic sauce but honestly the sauce over powers the herbal flavor of the fish. Fried cod fish- this was a no no. It was fried like a chip but tasted like oil. There was no fish flavor at all.
This was worth the wait. We waited around 20 minutes. The host and servers were very friendly and hospitable. The vibe in the restaurant was very festive. We were seated upstairs and had a great view of the first floor. The pina coladas were delish and the food was so yummy. We had the snapper, steak, pork. We had sides of yellow rice and sweet plantains. So good! You name it, it was delish. We had the coconut flan and the tres leches for dessert and I must say the flan was the best one I've ever tasted. I understand the hype of visiting this long-established restaurant!
Found el jibarito by asking g chat gpt of some really good places to eat in san juan. El jibarito came up as one of the many places. We had a party of 5 and waited maybe 10 minutes. We were seated and scanned the qr code on the table for the menu. Our waitress showed up with a sample of pork cubed in plantain gravey. Must say that was absolutely delicious! We all enjoyed that very much! The pork was soft and the plantain sauce was very savory. I would describe it like eating a melted pastele. Super good! That's what atleast two of us ended up ordering. And I would recommend it! The service was fast and attentive and the ambiance was casual. I woukd definitely come back.
We enjoyed some typical Puerto Rican food. We had to wait a short while before we were seated but it was worth the wait. We started wit an order of bacalaoitos which were absolutely delicious. For my entree I had the ribs with tostones. They were very flavorful and good. My girlfriend had the Conch with mofongo de pana. She really enjoyed her meal. The food was good and the flavors were on point.
A little less attitude and a bit more of a smile would do wonders to the service of this place. I stood at the chained gate for a few minutes before I got even acknowledged. It felt like I was being done a favor being served. I had the pina colada, the bacalaitos, the red beans and rice and the side salad. Pina colada - too sugary and like a dessert, side salad - was $5 for a bed of iceberg with 3 slices of tomatoes. Bacalaitos was dripping with oil. All I wanted was some authentic Puerto Rican food and the beans and rice helped. The place is closed with no open windows, smells of cleaning product.
Really good food at reasonable prices. Friendly and efficient service. My food was out in about 10-15 minutes after ordering...despite it being packed that night. There is seemingly a wait on most nights...especially during peak dinner (6pm - 7:30pm) hours. Visiting during the week, or a bit later in the night may decrease wait times. Dining area is pretty tight so there isn't much privacy and space between tables. Pay at register counter after receiving your bill. read more
1 month ago
El Jibarito is absolutely worth the visit if you're looking for authentic Puerto Rican food. We had the lechón con salsa de plátano, and it was absolutely delicious--full of flavor and cooked perfectly! We were a large group, so there was about a 30-minute wait for a table, but that's part of the fonda-style experience. Tables turn over as people finish their meals, and while you're waiting, you can relax with an ice-cold Medalla, which makes the time go by quickly. A special thank you to the staff for the excellent service and warm hospitality. The food, the atmosphere, and the friendly staff made this one of our favorite dining experiences in Old San Juan. We will definitely be back! read more
1 month ago
We came to El Jibarito for dinner after it was recommended by Yelp as it had a 4-star rating. We did have a bit of a wait, but it was worth it. The restaurant is absolutely adorable inside and has a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Once we were seated, the service was quick and attentive. There were four of us in our party, and we started with the pizza turnovers. They were delicious, although I do wish they had a little more filling. I ordered the tamale. While it wasn't quite to my personal taste, I could tell it was well made and I'm sure others who enjoy that style of tamale would love it. My husband had the baked chicken and really liked it. My friend ordered the salmon and said it was moist and very flavorful, and her husband had the garlic chicken, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Overall, everyone in our group was happy with their meals. Between the cozy atmosphere, friendly service, and tasty food, I would definitely recommend this restaurant if you're visiting Old San Juan. read more
2 months ago
We came here on a Saturday evening as a party of five and had about a 15-20 minute wait, and boy it was absolutely worth it. From the start, our waitress was friendly, energetic, and clearly proud of the food. She brought our table a sample of the Masitas en Salsa de Plátano (pork cubes in plantain gravy), and wow...what a great introduction. The pork was incredibly tender and juicy, and the gravy was rich and savory. The best way I can describe it is like eating a pastel soup. It was so good that a couple of us ended up ordering it as our entrée. We also tried the Christmas Plate, which came with pernil, pastel de masa, yellow rice, and plátanos maduros. Everything was flavorful and tasted like a typical PR holiday meal. To drink, we had guava mojitos, which were refreshing. The service was fast and attentive throughout the meal, and what really made the evening special happened at the end. We were quietly singing "Happy Birthday" to my boyfriend when our waitress overheard us and immediately rallied the staff to come over and celebrate with him officially. It was such a thoughtful gesture that made the night even more memorable. For dessert, I had the flan and my boyfriend had the chocolate tres leches cake. Both were delicious and a great way to end the meal. Between the welcoming service, casual atmosphere, and outstanding Puerto Rican food, We left happy and full. read more
Loveddddd this place in Old San Juan! Jeremy was an amazing server. The beef stew was so flavorful and moist. It paired so well with the trifongo. We had come here for an afternoon snack and drinks as we were walking around old San Juana and the forts all day and had gone to one fort and ready to move to the next after a bite. This was the perfect meal to hold us over. Not so greasy and not too filling. The drinks were just average but refreshing after hours in the sun. The atmosphere is casual and busy and loud. However, the service was quick even with them being busy. I highly recommend the beef stew with mofongo and coming here even if it's just for that! read more
First time visiting El Jibarito! What an amazing experience, delicious homemade food with lovely staff members. Even the locals come here of how good it is. You get tons of food for the price and would definitely come here again hands down. Feels like my fam is cooking back there in the kitchen haha. Highly recommend! read more
We selected this restaurant based off of other reviews. We weren't super hungry, but knew we definitely wanted some Mofongo. This quaint family owned restaurant is close to the ocean, but it does not have an ocean view. It's kind of hidden with a small sign. Nothing really signifying the restaurant from a distance. We ordered the Alcapurrias / Fried Beef Plantain Türnover and the Bistec Encebollado / Cube Steak with Onions with a side of Mofongo. I also had a pineapple Mojito. The food was good. I do wish the fried plantains had a little more beef in them. Some didn't have any at all. The drink was average. The ambience was very casual, warm, welcoming and locally decorated. Our server was very friendly. She had several recommendations and our food came quickly. read more
I really wanted fried fish in San Juan and got recommended El Jibarito. We went almost near their closing time, unknowingly and still got to be able to sit and got my craving in for fried fish! It's a casual restaurant with limited seating that I think is also a bit popular. When we walked in to dine and we did have to wait a bit and put our name down on the waiting list. However, the time flew by I think it was maybe 20 minutes max and we were able to be seated at a table. My partner ordered the steak, but I wasn't the biggest fan of it. it did come with the plantain side. That was super delicious. Overall, for the both of us and a couple of drinks we spent US$90 with tip and each entrée was about $35-$30. read more
This restaurant comes up in many lists of recommended places to try in San Juan so I decided to try it myself. Walked in at ~7pm and had to wait for 15 minutes to be seated. Ambiance was very casual. Restrooms are at the back of the restaurant and you have to go out to a small uncovered space to get to the restrooms, which are not the cleanest. Masitas en salsa de platano (pork cubes in plantain gravy) comes with green salad and tomato and a side. Choices for the side are white rice with beans (arroz blanco y habitchuelas), yellow rice (arroz guisado), tostones (green plantain), sweet plantain (amarillos), mofongos de platano, yuca, trifongo y pana. The salad did not come with dressing; it was dry and sad. Got mofongo as the side; it was also dry and not flavorful. The pork cubes was tender but not as flavorful as I was expecting. Tres leches was not that sweet which was okay. Overall, the food was disappointing. In addition, wait times can be long; the place can get very busy and loud. read more
This restaurant and another one close by were recommended to us by our Uber driver for being the spots where you can find good Puerto Rican cuisine in Old San Juan. We came in weary from all of the walking we had done that morning. This restaurant is large and is busy. We had to wait for a few minutes but were seated quickly. I got a cold beer to enjoy but many others were getting their cocktails, which looked good. The eating area, bar, and kitchen are all in the same area, which is pretty cool. My partner and I both ordered the pork tamale which came with salad and your choice of side. We both ordered the mufongo. While I can't speak to the authenticity compared to other restaurants, the food was very good. All of it was tasty and fresh. I also felt very reasonably priced, especially for being in the touristy Old San Juan area. We enjoyed the opportunity to rest our legs in the A/C while enjoying cold drinks and good food. This is a great place to stop in for lunch while you walk around Old San Juan. read more
So early warning the sign is not hanging out where it's visible. So look for that dark green building and the sign is on the building in black really high. Walked into a nice small local restaurant A/C is great in here after that walk to get here. The servers greeted us with a big beautiful welcoming smile which is always the best way to pull me in. Drinks- we got the mojito (classic) and the passion fruit margarita and they were both very nice. Drinks were mixed great where nothing was overwhelming the other. Beef turnover- nice and tasty. The beef was seasoned well with hints of herbal seasonings. It came with a little pepper sauce that wasn't just spicy but had like a sweet pepper and chives flavor as well. Baked pork ribs- got this with the white rice and beans. The beans was well seasoned and tasted really good. The rice was cooked well and with some salt where it's not too much but you can taste a hint of it with every bite. The pork was disappointingly dry. It had a nice flavor almost like smoked but too dry and hard. Fried snapper- this took the cake. It was cooked to perfection where it wasn't dry but soft and juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. It came with a nice tasting garlic sauce but honestly the sauce over powers the herbal flavor of the fish. Fried cod fish- this was a no no. It was fried like a chip but tasted like oil. There was no fish flavor at all. read more
This was worth the wait. We waited around 20 minutes. The host and servers were very friendly and hospitable. The vibe in the restaurant was very festive. We were seated upstairs and had a great view of the first floor. The pina coladas were delish and the food was so yummy. We had the snapper, steak, pork. We had sides of yellow rice and sweet plantains. So good! You name it, it was delish. We had the coconut flan and the tres leches for dessert and I must say the flan was the best one I've ever tasted. I understand the hype of visiting this long-established restaurant! read more
Found el jibarito by asking g chat gpt of some really good places to eat in san juan. El jibarito came up as one of the many places. We had a party of 5 and waited maybe 10 minutes. We were seated and scanned the qr code on the table for the menu. Our waitress showed up with a sample of pork cubed in plantain gravey. Must say that was absolutely delicious! We all enjoyed that very much! The pork was soft and the plantain sauce was very savory. I would describe it like eating a melted pastele. Super good! That's what atleast two of us ended up ordering. And I would recommend it! The service was fast and attentive and the ambiance was casual. I woukd definitely come back. read more
19 days ago
Food was great, service was awesome, and the bar had a TV for the World Cup. Must try in San Juan read more
We enjoyed some typical Puerto Rican food. We had to wait a short while before we were seated but it was worth the wait. We started wit an order of bacalaoitos which were absolutely delicious. For my entree I had the ribs with tostones. They were very flavorful and good. My girlfriend had the Conch with mofongo de pana. She really enjoyed her meal. The food was good and the flavors were on point. read more
A little less attitude and a bit more of a smile would do wonders to the service of this place. I stood at the chained gate for a few minutes before I got even acknowledged. It felt like I was being done a favor being served. I had the pina colada, the bacalaitos, the red beans and rice and the side salad. Pina colada - too sugary and like a dessert, side salad - was $5 for a bed of iceberg with 3 slices of tomatoes. Bacalaitos was dripping with oil. All I wanted was some authentic Puerto Rican food and the beans and rice helped. The place is closed with no open windows, smells of cleaning product. read more
15 days ago
This place was recommended to me and we are so glad we went. There was a bit of a wait but it was fine. The server was very nice and she spoke English--but I had Google Translate just in case. It was raining outside and to get to the restroom, you had to walk thru a courtyard. The restroom was bare bones but I'm not a snob so it was okay. Our food was good--my stew wasn't hot though--temperature wise. It has happened before at restaurants that when it's warm outside, the food isn't hot. But I prefer it hotter than it came out. read more
3 months ago
2 months ago
10 days ago
I drove around the whole island trying to find the perfect mofongo -- that mission will continue on my next trip to Puerto Rico. I was always drawn to the plantains, the bistec, the beans, and the rice. That may be the Guanaca in me -- but it did not disappoint. There's always a line, so make sure to get there, put your name on the list, and be prepared to wait (though not for too long). It's community seating, so say hello to your neighbor! The vibe is loud, but very pleasant. You'll leave happy. read more
7 months ago
Great place to sit and get a delicious bite in Old San Juan. I really liked my ceviche in the giant avocado. My guy got tacos. He enjoyed them. read more
3 months ago
The restaurant has the ambiance of a small town PR restaurant that you would find tucked away in the 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! read more
7 months ago
Ok so when I'm telling you ... grandma may be cooking here ... it was so delicious . Home made food literally. The service was excited and I loved the ambiance and overall I'm glad I tried this place out. I had a piña colada, with bistec de carne con arroz y abichuelas and maduritos. We also ordered a carne guisada .omg must have this next time . Soo flavory and perfect. read more
I genuinely hoped to enjoy this restaurant, but it fell short in a few important areas. The service was below expectations, and the food didn't seem to reflect the authentic flavors of Puerto Rico that I've experienced firsthand. The dishes lacked the depth and vibrancy I associate with Puerto Rican cuisine. Although the atmosphere was pleasant, I'm not sure I would choose this location over other nearby restaurants. read more
1 year ago
My husband had been raving about the first restaurant we ever ate at in Puerto Rico about 10 years ago. We couldn't remember the name of the place for the life of us. For our second trip to PR, decided to go here for lunch and lo and behold it was the same restaurant we went to 10 years ago! lol It was not as popular when we first went, now there's a line outside waiting for them to open up! Food is fantastic! Brought back the best memories! Loved their arroz con gandules and mofongo. A lot of the food we had in PR was very salty, this place was perfectly balanced for us. Skirt steak was overcooked even though we asked for medium. Service wasn't great but at least efficient. Would highly recommend trying this place. read more
1 month ago
9 months ago
Wowwww what a hidden gem in viejo San Juan (old San Juan). Service was great, food very authentic and home style like abuelita used to make. When you're inside it's painted up nice like it's a street right outside. Very colorful! Food was top notch read more
4 months ago
Walking around san juan and found this delicious place! Our food was so tasty and service was great . This place was packed but the wait time was not too bad! When you see line out the door it has to be good food ! It was !! read more
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