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Best lechon I've ever had. My partner and I had heard to show up early and we had seen videos of the place with a ton of people. The store opens at 6 am but we got there at 6:30 am and we laughed with the locals. It's too early! Don't forget that they run on island time! In any case, the workers were sweet and gave us a coffee on the house since we were there and enthusiastic. We tried lechon, the yellow rice, sweet plantains, tres leches, and a pastele. All of it was mind blowing and we washed with down with a cold Medalla! The lechon was phenomenal and reheated very well the next day !
The pork is amazing, half pound is perfect for 3 people; we got 1 pound which was plenty. We went here after eating at Los Pinos, down the road (1 min walk) -- this place is overall better, get the pork and BBQ ribs. It's more tender and flavorful. The BBQ ribs flavor is 10/10, it's a perfect balance of sweet and savory, different from typical bbq sauce in the states. Our order cost $25. They don't have pork sausage here, BUT Los Pinos does and it's AMAZING. Start at Los Pinos, get the sausage and since they also have free parking, then walk here. Cafeteria style! Just order and wait at the second stop in the line to pay once they have your food ready. It's a nice drive to reach here, but narrow roads.
Wonderful. Wonderful. What a wonderful family friendly atmosphere. Was completely welcomed by the customers who was eager to help me. The lecheron was so tasty and crispy. I was even more excited to eat it the next day because it was good portions. Seeing the huge lecheron was also a plus! And the place was nice too with a hut/garden in the backyard and I heard there's live band options on certain days. What a gem.
The food was fresh and the pork was flavorful. It lost a star because the skin was inedible. Other than that perfection. Service was good and fast and the woman understood my American Spanish. The ambiance was quiet because it was a Tuesday. DON'T GO ANYTIME AFTER OR NEAR 5pm, they are closed!
El Rancho Original en Guavate, Puerto Rico. I have been coming to this place since I'm a little girl. It has changed and grown a lot, but the food is always great. The staff is friendly and helpful. The place is clean. Music playing. Lots of places to sit and enjoy your food and the yummy mojitos. You can also go down the steps and sit in one of their gazebos by the river.
On vacation, I always try to go to Guavate and this trip was no exception as always it did not disappoint with great food and views especially on a rainy day no views like those where I come from. We had the Lechon a la vara with the pigeon peas rice and boiled bananas as well as the potato salad and all was delicious the island seasoning that I miss. there was a music band and dancing going on very happy atmosphere. Service was great as all the employees were very friendly and took care of you like family would.
The best lechón and arroz con gandules. Gandules are fresh not canned. They look so nice in color when cooked. The lechón was seasoned to perfection. The morcilla to die for. We sat in the Bohío in the back and enjoyed the water stream. It's totally worth the trip while in PR. FYI this is an entire strip of pig roast businesses but this one had the best review.
Oooooiiiii!!! The Legendary La Ruta de Lechon (Pork Highway) AMBIANCE Parking: Can definitely get busy during peak hours and weekends, but there's usually attendants and nearby parking options helping direct traffic. There's paid parking and street parking. All in all come early. Seating: Huge open seating areas with picnic-style tables and plenty of room for large groups, families, and celebrations. Take your pick, close to the live music or the local river for a more natural feeling. Vibes: The area keeps you busy from souvenir shopping, listening to music, or just Chinchorreo (like bar crawl but with pork)! The spot itself is alive on the weekend with music, people dancing, pig roasting and for a calmer pace, enjoying the scenery of the mountain, flow of the river and the chirps of animals around. Great place for a nice food adventure for families, friends, or just rolling through solo. FOOD / DRINKS Combo Plate (Recommend) I know it's important to save room to chinchorreo but especially if this is your first time, this should be your base. Lechon - Pick your protein, obviously I got pig - it was juicy, flavorful and tender slices of meat, and a nice piece of crispy skin. Morcilla - not your usual sausage but a rich flavorful with a chewy spiced earthy flavor. Pasteles - kind of like a tamale which was a savory soft doughy base. Arroz con Gandules - If they're out of their seasonal pasteles, then this is a nice savory with a lot of lot of lively flavors and seasoning. The portions overall were generous and very "family style" feeling. This is not tiny trendy food--you come hungry. CUSTOMER SERVICE Awesome! Props to the people that work the weekends for their consistent friendly service. TL;DR OVERALL 5 Stars. Good food, reasonable prices, and a one of a kind Puerto Rican vibe. From the mountain scenery, live local music, smoky aroma, and the general playful energy - this was a highlight of my trip I won't be forgetting for a while. When in Puerto Rico, La Ruta de Lechon is a must and make sure to stop by El Rancho Original. TIPS * Come hungry and come early (for parking and to get the best parts of the lechon). Weekends are the best as it is livelier. read more
I don't know what that rub/flavor is that they put on the pork at El Rancho Original but I vote this is the best pork on the Pork Highway. It is the last lechoneras on the street but if you are driving and making the stops make sure to leave room in your stomach for this one. Loved it a ton although I would have liked the band volume to be a little lower. Also we had other friendly customers jump in and help us when we messed up during our ordering. Then our line neighbors made sure we knew how to pick up our food when we were at the pick up station. Everyone here was so nice. Def come here! read more
5 months ago
Went restaurant hopping in the area, and even though this is the most popular spot, it was literally the worst pernil we tried. The vibes of the restaurant were fun and we had a great time, but very glad we weren't hungry after trying the other spots on the strip, because the pernil wasn't good AT ALL! Flavorless, and almost raw pernil, and more expensive than the places around. I wouldn't visit this place again. Go eat somewhere else, and come here for a drink and dancing. read more
29 days ago
Best lechon I've ever had. My partner and I had heard to show up early and we had seen videos of the place with a ton of people. The store opens at 6 am but we got there at 6:30 am and we laughed with the locals. It's too early! Don't forget that they run on island time! In any case, the workers were sweet and gave us a coffee on the house since we were there and enthusiastic. We tried lechon, the yellow rice, sweet plantains, tres leches, and a pastele. All of it was mind blowing and we washed with down with a cold Medalla! The lechon was phenomenal and reheated very well the next day ! read more
25 days ago
8 months ago
It's one of the last lechoneras on the famous "ruta de lechón" in Guavate, but I'd say it's the best (save the best for last). Lechón is always on point, as is everything. Plenty of space. Live music. They have additional seating down by the creek. read more
The pork is amazing, half pound is perfect for 3 people; we got 1 pound which was plenty. We went here after eating at Los Pinos, down the road (1 min walk) -- this place is overall better, get the pork and BBQ ribs. It's more tender and flavorful. The BBQ ribs flavor is 10/10, it's a perfect balance of sweet and savory, different from typical bbq sauce in the states. Our order cost $25. They don't have pork sausage here, BUT Los Pinos does and it's AMAZING. Start at Los Pinos, get the sausage and since they also have free parking, then walk here. Cafeteria style! Just order and wait at the second stop in the line to pay once they have your food ready. It's a nice drive to reach here, but narrow roads. read more
2 months ago
3 months ago
2 years ago
Wonderful. Wonderful. What a wonderful family friendly atmosphere. Was completely welcomed by the customers who was eager to help me. The lecheron was so tasty and crispy. I was even more excited to eat it the next day because it was good portions. Seeing the huge lecheron was also a plus! And the place was nice too with a hut/garden in the backyard and I heard there's live band options on certain days. What a gem. read more
1 year ago
The food was fresh and the pork was flavorful. It lost a star because the skin was inedible. Other than that perfection. Service was good and fast and the woman understood my American Spanish. The ambiance was quiet because it was a Tuesday. DON'T GO ANYTIME AFTER OR NEAR 5pm, they are closed! read more
2 years ago
El Rancho Original en Guavate, Puerto Rico. I have been coming to this place since I'm a little girl. It has changed and grown a lot, but the food is always great. The staff is friendly and helpful. The place is clean. Music playing. Lots of places to sit and enjoy your food and the yummy mojitos. You can also go down the steps and sit in one of their gazebos by the river. read more
The most authentic Puerto Rican experience possible. Cooked pig and other meats right in front of you. All of the classics. A must stop experience, you shouldn't be allowed to come to PR without experiencing this. The little shops and the stray dogs gives you the real deal feel PR event. read more
6 months ago
Food was great. Atmosphere is fun with live music. The chicken was very moist and the skin of the pig super crispy read more
On vacation, I always try to go to Guavate and this trip was no exception as always it did not disappoint with great food and views especially on a rainy day no views like those where I come from. We had the Lechon a la vara with the pigeon peas rice and boiled bananas as well as the potato salad and all was delicious the island seasoning that I miss. there was a music band and dancing going on very happy atmosphere. Service was great as all the employees were very friendly and took care of you like family would. read more
The best lechón and arroz con gandules. Gandules are fresh not canned. They look so nice in color when cooked. The lechón was seasoned to perfection. The morcilla to die for. We sat in the Bohío in the back and enjoyed the water stream. It's totally worth the trip while in PR. FYI this is an entire strip of pig roast businesses but this one had the best review. read more
1 year ago
Delicious lechon asado, arroz con gandules and yucca! Service was fast and there is a nice eating area. read more
1 year ago
Alright food here. Lechon asada was decent but I thought meat was a little dry. Good one time eat but would probably not return if at Pork Highway. read more
Stopped by the famous El Rancho in Guvate. Beautiful location with old time vibes. They are famous for the lechon. You order when you get to the line and they have a variety of other delicacies if you're not in the mood for Lechon. Food was very good and it definitely lives up to the hype. read more
This lechonera was recommended to us and glad we came early, the lines were winding by 1pm. The lechon was good, some may find it a bit salty, I did not have a problem with that at all, but if you are sensitive to salt, choose the accompaniment well, something plain. The bohio seating areas in the back with stream views just enhanced the experience. read more
2 years ago
we arrived as they were getting to close and they made alcaparria that was delish... it was with the drive to go Customer seriven is A+. They were quick and happy to service. We will return. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
I made it a point to visit because my Uber driver told me it was his favorite. Once I arrived I realized I'd seen the restaurant on the Food Channel when Andrew Zimmern visited. The dining is in covered outdoor dining areas. There are dogs roaming around the dining area. They were well behaved and only stared at you while you were eating. I had the roaster pig which included a large piece of crispy skin. I enjoyed it. The roasted pork was juicy and flavorful. The house seasoning blend was almost perfect. I prefer a little less salt but that's just me. The yellow rice and peas was a little dry for my taste. I also had a pastelas de masa with pork. The pork was overcooked and tough. The last thing I tried was cuajito guisado. It was a unique flavor and I only ate a small portion of my serving. It was fresh and I would try it again. I recommend this place but I would probably try one of the similar places if I find myself back in Puerto Rico just as a comparison. read more
1 year ago
Given all the positive google reviews, I was severely disappointed after eating the traditional pork platter. The ribs were significantly better and I loved the maduros. Be sure to watch the dancers and live music and take a walk along the creek while here. The vibe can't be beat and you're sure to have a great time! I also highly recommend grabbing a Pina Colado from one of the vendors - they are so TASTY read more
3 years ago
After a thrilling and winding drive up the mountain. We arrived the the establishment, empty but we did arrive early. The already cooked whole pork looked beautiful and inviting. We were so excited. The PORK was amazing and flavorful. Moist meat and crunchy pork skin. Should have been the only thing to order because the rest was just OK. The oiña colada was spot on and despite me barely tasting any alcohol, it had the taste of a homemade piña colada, not too sweet and creamy. I can only imagine how fun and entertaining this place is during peak hours. Will be back for sure. read more
2 years ago
A great experience! The place is very local, which was nice. You can see the pig roasting and slowly cooking when you enter the restaurant. Place vibe: The layout is more food court type, where you stand in a line to order, pick up your food and then go find a spot to sit and eat. Food: the pork was obviously delicious and very tender! I got yucca, fried plantain, sweet potatoes and a pork tamale as sides, along with some beans and rice. I absolutely looooved the sweet potatoes, everything else was good, and I would probably skip the tamales next time. Overall, a nice experience! Would recommend this place more for the experience than the food. read more
3 years ago
I don't speak any Spanish but managed to point to what I thought looked good and was not disappointed. They also have a sidebar where they make drinks and sell sweets. The place is massive but very limited parking, it's a bit of a drive to get here but worth the trip. read more
2 years ago
On our last day in Puerto Rico we drove from Aguadilla to Guavate to visit the "Ruta de Lechon" (aka the pork highway). I figured it was a must see place and I was right! I did a lot of research before our trip and this spot is absolutely wild on weekends. Lots of music and dancing plus all the great food. We were there on a Monday late morning and it was super quiet and not many people. So we didnt get the full experience but we did get to explore the place and eat food without waiting and had plenty of places to sit. I have had lechon many many times. I lived in Puerto Rico for a couple years and had it at friends houses during the holidays and even here in Florida we eat it often but in Cuban cuisine. The pork I had here was fantastic. The skin was crispy and flavorful. The pork was seasoned very well and tasted great. The star was the habichuelas (red beans). They make it like a stew witch chunks of potato and other things in it. Get a large bowl of beans and some white rice and pour the beans over the rice and ENJOY! My wife and I shared a plate and we ordered a rellena de papa (fried potato ball stuffed with ground beef, Empanada, and a pastele stuffed with pork. Everything was so good. Thsi place has a bunch of covered seating scattered throughout their yard. Their is a creek that flows through the yard and its a very beautiful place. Its also a bit cooler up in the mountains so we enjoyed sitting outside and eating the delicious food. read more
Lechon was so moist and not dry at all, but ate a little too salty. Skin was crispy but a little thick and tough to bite all the way through. The macaroni salad was a great pairing to the salty lechon. We wanted a guayaba frappe but they were out, sadly. Maybe we should come by during the lunch rush or at least earlier than 4pm. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
Located adjacent to Lechonera Los Pinos, and seemingly more popular with locals than the spot Bourdain made a destination, El Rancho Original is a worthy additional stop along La Ruta del Lechón for those willing to take the 45 minute drive from San Juan. Easily differentiated from the other dozen-plus Restaurants on a winding road in Guavate, El Rancho Original's sheer size suggesting long lines and a jovial atmosphere pre-pandemic, it was shortly after 10am that staff was found happy to serve an even larger bevy of options than next door. Open air with interconnected buildings and an annex, the sort of place already designed for spreading out long before "social distancing," it was after watching an older man hack bits of Pork from the whole Hog with a machete that seats were taken, El Rancho's Lechon less seasoned than Los Pinos and a bit fattier which thus sees Skin break less briskly and instead eat like Chicharrón. Certainly more than just Lechon Asado, Rice with Pigeon Peas and sides including porky Pastel plus fried Alcapurria and Surullito performing well, fans of Morcilla will find El Racho's smoother with bolder aromatics than most while thick slabs of housemade flan are creamy with a faintly-bitter finish not dissimilar to traditional Crème Caramel. read more
3 years ago
This is it just a standard pig roasting place. This is probably the BEST pig roaster in the area. The title kind of leads i to that's it's the original ranch. The servings are generous. The flavor is beyond comprehension. The crunchy rind is to die for. The blood sausage is exceptional. The yuca al mojo is on point. The arroz con gandules is downright delicious and the beer was ice cold. Although there are many of these places in the area this one is a MUST go to. It's loud, friendly, great time eating and enjoying a local favorite meal. Service was quick and food was fresh. read more
Such a fun experience and delicious food in a lovely setting. Lechón on the spit greets you before you order. Tender and delicious. Spot is a drive through the mountains and the restaurant is comprised of little pavilions spread across a mountain creek. Worth the out-of-the-way drive read more
Came here during a visit to PR. Saw that Anthony Bordain had dined here and was super excited to try, but I was underwhelmed. The line took about 20 min, and they took my order while I was in line. The employee was kind enough to patiently go line by line and explain what things were in English. Thought the lechon (roast pork) was very dry, although the skin was tasty. Wasn't a fan of the blood sausage. read more
2 years ago
Amazing, live music , great food and good people. Puerto Ricans are good people, fun dancing and family friendly. Friendly read more
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More info about El Rancho Original
Carretera 184 KM 27.5
Cayey, Puerto Rico 00736
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(787) 747-7296
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http://elranchooriginalpr.com
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3 years ago
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