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    El Platanal

    4.3 (98 reviews)
    ModerateCaribbean
    Open Open 24 hours

    El Platanal Photos

    EL PLATANAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - El Platanal

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    Reviews With Photos

    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!

    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.

    Food was great service was amazing.. I'm here on vacation for the next 2 weeks and this is the 2nd place I've eaten and I was very impressed.

    Beefsteak with onions
    Bianca C.

    Great food that feels like home. Staff was all welcoming and friendly. Relaxed environment and family friendly.

    Queso Frito con salsa de guayaba
    Juni H.

    The food was incredibly flavorful and filled with variety. The service was very professional and very welcoming and the interior of the restaurant was very inviting, very culturally Puerto Rican and very comfortable.

    Mofongo relleno de churrasco

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    11 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

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

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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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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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Food was amazing, service 10/10 love coming here when I come home to the island! Ambiance gives pr perfectly

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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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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Page 1 of 3

    El Platanal Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - El Platanal

    Try the avocado stuffed with pernil and arroz con gandules or the fricase de pollo!

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    La Casita Blanca

    La Casita Blanca

    4.4(682 reviews)
    8.0 km
    $$

    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.

    Keepin' it a buck! Eating here is like eating the ultimate home-cooked Puerto Rican meal…read more Rating places in Puerto Rico is tough. There are so many spots that are authentic and incredible, but La Casita Blanca stands out in its own lane. It's gotten more popular and touristy over the years, but that's because they've stayed true to who they are. The authenticity here hasn't changed, and that's exactly why people keep coming. This is the kind of place where the menu brings you right back to your upbringing. You'll find dishes like corned beef, tostones con bacalao, and other classics that just hit differently. And the vibe? It feels like family. Someone who looks like your aunt might be cooking your food, your cousin might be serving it, and everyone treats you like you belong there. Food-wise, everything we had was fire. One of the people I was with is basically an "aguacateologist," and even he said it was one of the best he's ever had. That alone says a lot. Chuletas fried to a perfect golden crisp. The pollo fricasé (pollo guisado, if you know, you know) was on point and even came in a little pot that made it feel extra homey. Arroz con gandules? Off the hook!!!! And to top it all off, they had salsa playing in the background... which honestly had me sold the moment I walked in. Disclaimer/Warning; There will be a line!!! And if you're lucky enough to get a table, sit back and enjoy every second of it.

    Photos
    La Casita Blanca
    La Casita Blanca
    La Casita Blanca - Sangria

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    Sangria

    La Cueva del Mar - Mofongo with Ropa Vieja

    La Cueva del Mar

    4.4(518 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!

    This is the "main restaurant" in the Embassy Suites Hotel and Casino…read more It's seafood based and has a pretty extensive menu. We got the Tuna nachos and the shrimp tacos to share. Everything was fresh and delicious! The portions were perfect for sharing and had a wonderful flavor! The shrimp tacos were lightly breaded and had a good flavor. The nachos had fresh ahi tuna and a great flavor with the seaweed salad! The service was good and fast too! The price was a bit high, but it's what you expect in a hotel lobby.

    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

    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 restaurant

    View from restaurant

    Contra Viento Y Marea Restaurant & Beach Bar - Fritters

    Fritters

    Contra Viento Y Marea Restaurant & Beach Bar - View of ocean

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    View of ocean

    Caña  - Happy birthday dessert: Copa de Caramelo (salted chocolate mousse, raspberry marmalade, chocolate crumble) (YUM!)

    Caña

    3.9(147 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  - Dining room

    Dining room

    Caña  - Fried pork

    Fried pork

    Caña  - Casino chandelier

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    Casino chandelier

    Metropol Restaurant - Coconut flan

    Metropol Restaurant

    3.8(1k reviews)
    5.2 km
    $$

    Came here for dinner with the family. We walked in around 6PM and were able to be seated within 5…read moreminutes. Our waitress was friendly and provided good recommendations. The one dish that got us all talking was the Churrasco 8 oz (Skirt Steak), ($25) which we ordered medium rare. Something about how they prepared the steak where it wasn't dripping blood, but still perfectly pink in the middle and also really tender and enjoyable to consume. Other items we ordered worth noting as they were also tasty was the Zarzuela de mariscos (Seafood Zarsuela) ($27) and the Ropa Vieja (Shredded Beef) ($18). The Fish Tacos ($13) were also good too.

    This place was highly recommended by the hotel owner and was walking distance from…read moremy hotel. It was early on a Friday evening around 6 PM. I figured walking in should be fine. When I arrived, the restaurant was pretty packed already. The 2-seat tables were all occupied, leaving a few 4-seat ones open which I knew the staff was hesitant to give to a solo diner. But they did seat me right away. I ordered a ceviche and a grouper filet with rice & beans and maduros. The ceviche took over 30 minutes to come and the entree also took another 30 minutes to come. It was busy but that was a bit much. Both items were fine. Nothing blew my socks off. Definitely not what I was expecting since it came highly recommended by a local. As the kids say, the food was mid lol. Prices were reasonable.

    Photos
    Metropol Restaurant
    Metropol Restaurant - Onion soup

    Onion soup

    Metropol Restaurant - Fish Tacos

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    Fish Tacos

    El Platanal - caribbean - Updated May 2026

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