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    El Platanal

    4.3 (107 reviews)
    ModerateCaribbean
    Open Open 24 hours

    El Platanal Photos

    EL PLATANAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - El Platanal

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    Reviews With Photos

    Loquetta M.

    I love it here. Every time I come to Puerto Rico this is my first stop. Staff are friendly and welcoming. We always leave talking about how amazing the food and staff are. The location and the atmosphere is great.

    Sopa de marisco con maduros
    Jessie M.

    The food was amazing. Service was great. Ambience was really good. I will definitely be returning.

    Freshness: (Shrimp Salad)
    Mercedes C.

    El Plátanal has a few locations but since this one is conveniently close to the airport, we stopped here so my husband could get his lechón fix before our flight. The restaurant is decorated with you guessed it- plátanos, along with canvas paintings done by Puerto Rican artists and terracotta lamps hanging overhead. I wasn't super hungry, so I kept it simple: sweet plantains (Puerto Ricans say "amarillos"), a basic tomato and shrimp salad (and no, Caribbean folks don't add mayo to their seafood) and an avocado salad- because how can you not have avocado? My husband went all in with a plate of lechón and arroz con gandules. No complaints with our food. The amarillos were perfectly fried AND they were fresh, the shrimp were plump and tossed with diced onions and peppers in a light vinegar+oil dressing and my husband was very happy with his meal. Our only gripe was the service. Our main server was completely MIA and I had to flag down another server just to get things for the table. Her attitude seemed like she was bothered when we asked for a straw or asked if they had red onions available. Listen, I'm not here to make friends with servers anywhere period- but a little hospitality goes a long way.

    Special of the day: pastelon de pollo y amarillo y queso fue delicioso! Con el trifongo
    Kathy D.

    The food is always delicious. They have daily specials. The sangria is refreshing. The service is friendly and efficient. The ambience is relaxing. We love sitting outside with the breeze and fans. (Inside is too cold for my preference.) Love coming here!

    Pork chop

    This is a warm, inviting restaurant with large spaces, TV's ,full of bright beautiful pictures and Mariposas on the wall. There is plenty of space for larger parties and families. We visited at 4 on a Saturday it was about 1/2 full inside and empty outside. My family of six ordered the baby cheeseburger which was good , grouper with cream sauce which was pork chop fried and well seasoned , pechunga à la plancha was very mildly flavored and steak and onions was cooked well melted in your mouth but lightly seasoned..It reminded me of a homemade meal. We agreed we would all come back for a nice meal. Not fancy just good Puerto Rican cuisine. The waiter Clemis very friendly and attentive.

    Monfongo
    Ashley M.

    This place being 24/7 is very convenient when your hungry at any time. They have good tasty food and the place is nice and spacious. Came here at 2:30 in the morning and it was a great time.

    Canoa con arroz con gandules
    Lola W.

    We stopped here right after landing at the airport. We were seated pretty quickly and noticed the restaurant was buzzing with a good vibe and a great crowd. The food took awhile to get to our table, but that is to be expected with made to order food. Everything tasted great and what we loved the most was having the Maduros in the rice which gave it that extra "umph" if you were looking for it! Buen Provecho! The kids loved it and talked about it our whole trip! If you are in this area, I highly recommend this restaurant!

    Tostones rellenos.

    The food was really good, the service was okay. Ambience was good wasn't packed. 102$ before tip three plates, one appetizer and 2 alcoholic drinks.

    Chicken Milanese
    Brenda E.

    Off of a main road, but the place has nice green tall plants at the entrance giving tropical vibes , with indoor and outdoor dining, very inviting, there is outdoor parking. We came on a Friday evening around 7pm and there were people inside. We sat outside, the AC inside was strong and even from the outside you can see multiple tv (at least 6) playing the YES channel showing the baseball game. We watched the staff sing a fun happy birthday to a table with the Guido, tambourine, and small bongos. Our server was attentive and pretty quick with the drinks and appetizers. Drinks are good, bacalaitos (cod fish fitters) were round size and plenty (about 6) but do not have much cod in it --the taste was very light. Overall, the food is well portioned, hot, and tastes great. And the overall vibe was upbeat, friendly and family oriented.

    Margarita Corononita
    Will E.

    Went here for dinner and was not disappointed. Had a true, delicious Spanish meal, seating outside was very enjoyable and all the tvs around made watching the game feel so peaceful.

    Sampler
    Clarice L.

    Fresh and delicious food! Fast and kind service. The ambiance is local laid back and loud, but it was great music! They spoke English very well!

    Amaia S.

    Very tasty food!!!! The restaurant was beautiful , clean , and service was good. Mojito was excellent aswell! We got a shrimp mofongo and one beef mofongo. Was it the best mofongo I ever had ? Probably not , but it was very tasty i just felt like it was missing something. The empanadas were good and the bocarones were just how i like them ! I had the El Pantano mojito and i don't know what was in it but it was not good at all. Luckily the server was nice and he didn't charge us for it.

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    7 months ago

    Great food and ample menu selection. Service was also great even when restaurant was full.

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    1 year ago

    Stopped here for lunch on our way to our AIRBNB. Food was average. Quick and friendly service.

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    2 years ago

    The staff here are super friendly and the food is absolutely amazing. You definitely get your moneys worth.

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    El Platanal Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - El Platanal

    I had the mofongo with carne frita, the appetizer platter had a bit of everything, delicious!

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

    Read more highlights

    La Cueva del Mar - Mofongo with Ropa Vieja

    La Cueva del Mar

    4.4(526 reviews)
    8.9 km
    $$

    I highly enjoyed La Cueva Del Mar! I wanted a mix of Latin and seafood and this was the perfect…read morechoice. It was recommended by one of our tour guides so it is a great option for both locals and tourists. It had a nice atmosphere and very large menu with many different types of options. The Frutti di mare was one of the best pastas I've ever had! It had almost every type of seafood you could want. A great option for someone who wants to try a bit of everything. It was large enough to satisfy you but not too large where you have to take leftovers it back to your hotel. It also came with a salad and delicious bread. My husband ordered the yucafongo pollo, and was very impressed. It was also filling and well made. The drink menu also had a lot of options. I went with the sangria which was super tasty! It's more on the fruity side. Our service was great and we didn't have to wait long for a table or our food, although it seemed busy. Whether you live in the area or are just on vacation, I would recommended trying it out!

    We visited La Cueva del Mar for my wife's birthday dinner during our family trip to Puerto Rico,…read moreand despite a few minor issues, the meal itself was absolutely outstanding. The service was a little confusing at first. We were seated and expected to access the menu through a QR code, which wasn't immediately explained to us. We initially expected traditional menus, so there was a bit of uncertainty before we realized how the ordering process worked. We were also seated near one of the air conditioning units, which made some members of our party feel a bit cold during the meal. However, once the food arrived, all of those concerns quickly disappeared. The food was incredible. Rich, flavorful, and beautifully prepared, every dish at the table was delicious. The arroz con pollo was honestly the best I have ever had in my life. It was perfectly seasoned, comforting, and packed with flavor. Every bite felt like authentic Puerto Rican cooking at its best. Our family thoroughly enjoyed the meal, and it made for a wonderful birthday dinner for my wife. While the service experience could be a little clearer and some seating areas may be colder than others, the quality of the food more than makes up for those minor issues. I would absolutely return on a future visit to Puerto Rico.

    Photos
    La Cueva del Mar - Inside

    Inside

    La Cueva del Mar - Fish tacos & Sangria

    Fish tacos & Sangria

    La Cueva del Mar - The bar area

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    The bar area

    Mar Del Caribe - Variedad de mariscos. The best seafood in town!!

    Mar Del Caribe

    4.4(70 reviews)
    7.5 km

    This little hole in the hell yeah! will leaving you feeling like island royalty. In the mood for…read moresuper fresh, well-prepared seafood? Want a little white tablecloth treatment? Do you enjoy being waited on with the utmost care and attention to detail? This is the spot!! The service here is impeccable! I mean I have never seen food and drinks come so seamlessly while plates and silverware were cleared by the invisible man. The ceviche was an abundant pile of gloriously fresh fish. I asked for more bread to finish it off. I also had the Lobster Thermidor. It was as big as my head and delicious down to the last bite. My margaretes were strong and tasty. Treat yourself to this adorable, authentic place.

    We selected Mar Del Caribe from internet reviews for a Tuesday evening dinner as we were heading…read moreback to the Isla Verde area after visiting Old San Juan. My wish that night was to find a place offering fried whole snapper and it was on their menu - and I even called ahead to be sure it was available that night. So I was hyped to try their snapper version, and it didn't disappoint. The vibe of the restaurant was that of a friendly neighborhood joint, possibly a bit retro time-wise. Service was prompt and informative. We both had cocktails, and Paige said it was one of the best whisky sours she's had. With the snapper - which was HUGE - I had an order of mamposeao, a rice and bean stew that was amazing. My wife's chicken parm also got a great review from her. We parked in the small lot directly in front of the restaurant, and there was an attendant to help with parking.

    Photos
    Mar Del Caribe - At Mar del Caribe

    At Mar del Caribe

    Mar Del Caribe - The best food in San Juan

    The best food in San Juan

    Mar Del Caribe - Storefront for Mar del Caribe

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    Storefront for Mar del Caribe

    Contra Viento Y Marea Restaurant & Beach Bar - Appetizer

    Contra Viento Y Marea Restaurant & Beach Bar

    4.8(8 reviews)
    9.1 km

    Talk about a hidden gem. This place is a local favorite located in Loiza just past the neighboring…read morePinones beach front strip. We got recommended here from our hotel concierge and she did not disappoint. This place is highly frequented by the neighborhood regulars but it's hard to hide such a delightful gem like this. So not surprisingly you have a steady stream of tourists who are constantly trickling in the entire time as well. The ambiance is a lot to do with the experience here. It is all outdoor seating with 5-6 different spots you can choose to sit. The seats and tables are set up in bare minimum style and they focus more on the food and the local chill vibe they flow through this place. Apparently, the food we ordered were mostly street food appetizers. This was mainly because they had so many delectable options in the app section that we ended up solely ordering a wild medley of their assorted apps. We tried their Risotto & Chorizo Croquettes, Stuffed Fried Plaintains (Spicy Crab, Beef, & Shrimp), Spicy Crab Eggrolls, & Fish Tacos. Everything was good but the Shrimp Stuffed Plaintains were the most delicious. The bonus to this place is that they rock upbeat electronic music like an upbeat lounge you'd come across in New York or LA. It doesn't hurt that you are seconds away from an unoccupied beach front where you can dig your toes in the soft sand and the cool water splashes up to your ankles all afternoon long. It is a mini paradise spot that you must check out.

    When I go to the Piñones area, I don't usually drive past into Loiza. Well, it seems I was missing…read moreout. This place is located right off the street and by the ocean. We parked and sat ourselves and were quickly told the kitchen would not open for an hour - that explains why there were no customers. That was okay and there is nothing wrong with sipping on a few mojitos while the stove warms up. The drinks were good and our waitress was fantastic and very helpful. We ordered several food items to try and enjoyed each one. By the time we left, the place was packed. Contra Viento y Mearea is now on my list.

    Photos
    Contra Viento Y Marea Restaurant & Beach Bar - View from the dining area

    View from the dining area

    Contra Viento Y Marea Restaurant & Beach Bar - Fritters

    Fritters

    Contra Viento Y Marea Restaurant & Beach Bar

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    Caña  - Fried pork

    Caña

    3.9(148 reviews)
    5.6 km
    $$

    ​My wife and I had an incredible dinner at Caña by José Enrique during our stay at the Fairmont. We…read moreopted for a table on the outdoor patio after dark, and it was the highlight of our trip. The temperature was absolutely perfect with just a slight breeze--it really set the stage for an elevated dining experience. ​The drinks were excellent and expertly crafted. We started with appetizers that were both unique and packed with flavor; you can really taste the creative touch José Enrique brings to the menu. The service was top-notch--attentive without being overbearing. ​It is definitely on the pricier side, but for the quality of food and the atmosphere, it was very worth it. We've already marked it down as a "must-visit" for our next trip to Puerto Rico!

    Came here with my family during our trip to PR based on the strong reviews and its proximity to our…read morehotel and the food did not disappoint. Our waiter gave great recommendations, and we thoroughly enjoyed both our meals and drinks. One thing I've noticed while visiting PR is that service tends to be a bit slower across the board, so I was expecting that here as well. I was slightly hopeful it might be quicker since we came later in the evening as the crowd was clearing out, but there was still a bit of a wait for our food. We dined on the outdoor patio, which was a great atmosphere and added to the overall experience. I'd definitely recommend this spot if you're in the area and looking for an upscale take on traditional Puerto Rican cuisine.

    Photos
    Caña  - Casino chandelier

    Casino chandelier

    Caña
    Caña

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    El Platanal - caribbean - Updated July 2026

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