Thanks to FB events I saw El Taino was having a guest singer for Valentine's so I invited some friends and we joined for a early dinner. The singer had started so the restaurant had a energetic feeling already as I walked in.. The place was decorated all adorable for the occasion..red tablecloths and cute balloons. I ordered a chicken empanada and Sorullo de Maiz.. they are like corn fritters with cheese..sweet and perfectly cooked..my fav now..mmmm I had the Cubando sandwich which came with a nice side of crispy fries. The bread of the Cabano was melt in your mouth delicious.the sandwich was so big I took half home. El Taino has a Miami feel.Its full of family's, couples and friends. It felt more like I was at a party than just having dinner. The service was friendly and those around us also gracious. It's a fun spot and if you know me I like FUN! read more

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The food was absolutely delicious and the service was excellent! The restaurant was clean and ambiance was very pleasant. The owners were super polite & friendly. I can't wait to go back to try other things on the menu! read more

El Taino Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

This place has so much potential but the service is lacking. We sat and waited forever to get food and to get checked on. I even got up from the table to sit outside a few times. The food is ok, there is nothing that great about the food here, It tasted a little bland for me. I had the steak, white rice and beans. Their Mondongo is sooooooooooo good though. The establishment is clean with a nice seating area outside. The servers are nice and the music is good. read more

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Fantastic food! Great service. Delicious!! Sabroso!!! If you're ever in the Jacksonville area, stop by. It was worth the drive! read more

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Food was really good and the portions are big. I got the octopus with tostones and arroz mamposteado.. the pulpo was delicious! I definitely will get it again. The only thing, the tostones were too thick so they weren't too crunchy. The edges were crunchy but the middle lacked crunchiness. The arroz mamposteado had a very good flavor, but too many peppers for my taste. The jugo de parcha wasn't fresh and tasted syrupy. Next visit I would try the mofongo read more

Friday night was invite for dinner birthday was bad experience the waiter got my drink and took my order after 30 later food arrive after 2 hrs later I was ignore the table they was aware was a birthday guess took off seen took for ever to it's our food was the bad horrible experience! Never going back no starts read more

I had the grilled chicken with peppers and onions rice and beans. OMG flavorful and the portions can feed 2 people. The staff are amazing. Gives you family vibes with amazing food. read more

Listen to the one star reviews! The customer service wasn't bad; the food however, was. I ordered Pernil with white rice and beans, amarillos and a pastel. The pastel was bland, so bland that I almost asked for hot sauce. The beans were okay, but if I've ate at 10 Puerto Rican restaurants, they would be ranked #11. The pernil? Unseasoned and tougher than a $2 steak bought in a Lowe's parking lot. The amarillos were burnt and tough and not sweet, and apparently they were also an extra cost, but appeared to be included as a side item with the meal. Also included in the meal was a 91¢ fee for using a card instead of cash. (I am pretty sure the menu price for my meal was $11.95 and I was charged $12.95.) I really don't like to drop negative reviews, but this place was bad. The charges for the amarillos and card fee were the toppers. ****update; I completely forgot they don't serve fountain drinks, so be prepared to pay $2 for a can of soda. In short, stay away from here, unless you want to overpay for bland, mediocre food. There are other Puerto Rican restaurants in the area that are a better option. read more

El Taino Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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First time here; nice small business, customer service was good & dinner was similar to home cooking! White rice, beans & creole sautéed steak! Thank you read more

El Taino Restaurant - Menu - Latin American Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Good atmosphere customer service and Puerto Rican food. The owners are really attentive and love to make people feel welcome!!!!

We recently had a delicious Saturday afternoon lunch here. The food was absolutely amazing. Hands down the best Cuban food we've had in Jax, and the staff was very pleasant. Unlike other reviews said, there was NO charge for using a card instead of cash. We had Pechuga de Pollo Salteada, sweet plantains and La Tripleta Taina sandwich. The portions were huge. Half of this sandwich is a full sandwich in most places. Everything was so tasty. I'd run in any time just for the beans and rice as a quick meal. It would be very helpful if you're even semi-fluent in Spanish because the staff didn't speak a lot of English, but that's ok because the menu explains most of what everything is. The frozen sangria was to die for, but it was actually a rum and passion fruit drink. I saw the frozen drink machine and our server said sangria. Again, no biggie to me and if my Spanish were better I could have asked more clearly. They do sell the drinks in packages, cookies you definitely won't find in Publix and Cuban bread all to go. We're originally from south Florida and have had plenty of allegedly Cuban food. This is the real deal and we will go back soon. read more

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Great menu for Puerto Rican food. And people are very friendly and the service is excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are interested in Puerto Rican food. read more

Súper rica la comida , muy bueno en general el restaurante , solo necesitarían un poquito mas rápido el servicio read more

El Taino Restaurant - Morcilla - Latin American Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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the food and the service! Every time I've gone the food has been delicious and the service fast. Highly recommend to everyone, even those that think they don't like Latin food, they will change your mind read more

The food is bland! Puerto Rican food has strong good flavor there is no seasoning at all and the price you pay for bland food is crazy . I should've went to the La Gran Parada but wanted to try something new! Service was good and the restaurant is nice and clean! read more

Went here on a Sunday because puerto plata was closed, placed a to go order. Waited about an hour for my food. We asked for our drinks up front while we waited. There was a bug in my passion fruit juice, horrible customer service, unseasoned food. All I can say is, I wouldn't recommend to anyone and if you want a well seasoned steak or mofongo go to puerto plata. We threw our food out after the first bite. read more

El Taino Restaurant - Mofongo & steak - Latin American Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Great Food and great service!! the Chef came out to ask each table how the food was and everyone was super happy about the food and customer service! read more

Their food was bland mediocre and terrible it's better to go to big crab and actually use your money better there, 160 dollars for 4 plates that you don't get full from. Their service was middle. This place's atmosphere is not well. read more

The place has a good location and Puerto Rican food always tasty. But this place just misses every-time I try it, service given leaves to be desired. Food doesn't fee like they care about seasoning, no wonder that at prime dinner time the place is empty. read more

New Management has done this place well!!! Went there with my whole family and we all enjoyed our time:) Food was just like home. Mofongo was my favorite read more

Way over priced for 10 chicken wings and some red beans and rice $20 oh and they charged me for water to $1.25 lol I would have tip better but figured I done spent enough money I will not be back.. read more

I order a mofongo de bistec the meal was horrible the steak had no seasoning looks like they cooked it with boiling water in the microwave and the mofongo had no salt. I called the store and to tell them about the serving and the just hung up on me. read more

El Taino Restaurant - No seasoning on steak - Latin American Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Great food!! Very traditional menu Currently under construction with a patio being built for outdoor seating other than that clean a nicely decorated The mufongo was DELICIOUS I will definitely be back read more

Love this place they have great food . Wish they went back to the lunch special though read more

El Taino Restaurant - This was so good - Latin American Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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Food is ok but very dirty bathroom no soap The have dirty mop in front of restaurant near kitchen door read more

My SO and I tried out this place 2 weeks ago and I'd have to say it was really good. You will definitely bang for your buck here. My SO had the "buffet" which was basically you're typical yellow rice, meat, beans, and plantains. It's in the small corner of the restaurant and you can grab however many plate you want. On the other hand, I ordered the chicken mofongo. And truly, I could have easily fed 3 people. The mofongo wasn't hollow so there were lots of plantain to share around. I took one star away because we had ordered 2 beef empanada and right off the bat, you know these weren't fresh. It tasted kinda sour to be honest. We each took a bite and knew that it wasn't worth trying to salvage. Overall, our experience here was great. It was super affordable, I want to say, I spent under $25. We will definitely be coming back! read more

Good food and great service. Everyone there made me feel like family. I have been looking for a close Puerto Rican restaurant which u c an imagine was hard enough here in Jacksonville but this place hit the spot for me. read more

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They took 45minutes with 2 people in the whole restaurant, i eventually asked for the food to go to then find out they my order wrong and they gave me cold beans from the frigerator literally. Their mofongo tasted like it was fried the night before to then frigerated then microwaved and served worst Puerto Rican food I've ever had RIDICULOUS read more

We had planned to go to Bowlegz next door but they were closed for the day so we decided to walk into this establishment on a whim. No one seem interested but me. Considering I have been to Puerto Rico and have had direct family members cook this type of food I kind of knew what I was getting into. My coworkers just decided to trust me. Everything was fresh and the portions were large. I had the tripelta sandwich (decent) but really wanted the pernil (next time). I ordered the yuca appetizer for the guys to try and everyone loved it. They only thing I was missing was a garlic sauce to dip them in. Overall everything was great and the service was friendly even if the Salsa music was a bit too loud. read more

The food was very good. I must reiterate the food was good. The service was sub par. So I doubt if I go back here. My mom and I didn't feel welcome. No I'm not Hispanic and my Spanish is that of a three year old so I'm not confident in using it. So does that mean we can't eat here? It was like they had to have a meeting on who would serve us. I guess I will limit my visits to such establishments when I'm with my Puerto Rican, Dominican, Spanish speaking friends or when I'm on vacation. I love mufongo and I was craving it. My coworker told me she and her husband tried this place out and they loved it. She suggested I give it a try. There was an older woman who was nice and pleasant. She translated what we wanted to the server. There was trifongo on the menu which I'd never had before or seen before. I inquired about it and she said it was delicious. So why not? I gave it a try. She then asked if I wanted it separate or mixed in the Trifongo. Hmmm? What do you suggest I asked? Every time I'd had it the meat was mixed in the Mufongo. Maybe Trifongo is best separate? She spoke to the server in Spanish and the server rolled her eyes. Really? Most establishments encourage one to ask questions and opinions but I guess not this one. Lastly, the thing that disturbed me the most is that the server just came and took out plates before we were finished. No asking at all. I had to stop her and ask for a box. I was still eating and she came a second time on her phone and took my plate. Wait I wanted that plantain! Oh well it's gone now. She gave us our check...on the phone. She brought the receipt back...on the phone. She came to get the signed receipt and her 20% tip in cash...on the phone. Wow. Not even a thank you...because she's on her phone. Not an impression that makes me want to go back. Food is good at more welcoming places. read more

Listen!!! If you are looking for home-grown, authentic Puerto Rican/Cuban food, this your spot! Recently opened off University Blvd about 8months ago. The food is so fresh and just absolutely delicious, you will feel like you are on the island eating this amazing food. Very affordable prices, everything from Monfongo to Empanadas, Yellow and White rice with beans.. the whole nine! They even have like a little banquet area for private parties. Hoping they are successful and stay in business for years to come! I will definitely be going back! read more

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We were in the vicinity and craving Puerto Rican food after a long week of fast food and a variety of other big restaurant chains. We greeted by our waitress and were asked to sit down where ever we liked. She brought with her, menues for all and took our drink orders. We were not familiar with many of the drinks and she did a poor job at explaining what they were, assuming we knew. Most of the group went for the typical coke and sprite since we remained confused. The menu had plenty of choices and they all sounded delicious. My boys had the chicken strips and French fries. My little one said his fries tasted like peanut butter and did not eat them. I had the mofongo with fried pork chunks and an order of arroz con gandules. The mofongo was delicious and the meat was ok but the rice has a weird taste, old taste if you ask me. My husband tasted and said it tasted like soap. My husband had The mofongo with fried pork and a side of white rice and red beans. The mofongo was great and his rice and beans were his favorite. He didn't like his meat much either. My mother in law had just a mofongo and she was pleased. My father in law was pleased with whatever he ordered. The service was ok, I was definitely not impressed with ehir food nor their service and will more than likely not return if in the area again. read more

This rest has been opened for only two weeks, therefore it has to get a partial pass. The food didn't have the Puerto Rican "sazón". I needed to add flavor at home. The price for lunch seems to be in the higher end if you don't order the lunch special. We don't have many Puerto Rican restaurant in Jacksonville, so this one can improve and turn into the go-to place for Latin food. It has a very spacious salon and it feels comfortable. read more

I have to say, it wasn't bad food but could it be better, I ask for pork and told the girl serving the food to give me skin also and she pulls some meat scissors and cut a piece that wasn't bigger than 1 1/2 by 1 1/2 inch. Not much rice and the 3 half pieces of fried sweet plantains. I wasn't happy with the portion, and the service could it be a little better. read more

To begin with they dont speak English. At all. They dont even try. I speak Spanish but my husband does not. There was also an Asian lady sitting behind me who had the same issue. The place is clean, but the decor was old. The tv was playing a spanish telenovela at a very audible volumen. The empanadas (beef) were so bad. The meat tasted horrible. The bistec was dry. The tostones were soak in grease and soggy. The one good thing was the carne frita. Every plate comes with a pathetic iceberg lettuce and 1 slice of tomato split in half. When we were done the waitress was having a conversation and we had to kind of wait for her to be done in order to bring us the check. She then proceeded to teach me how to use and sign my receipt. Not worth the money at all. read more

I ordered the rice with pigeon peas and it was made cuban style (very mushie). My husband ordered pork sandwich that came with fries. He had large chunks of pork that were difficult to eat in sandwich form. The waitress we had was not very attentive. I observed that the folks there mostly had seafood. Shouldn't advertise as PR food when you cook cubanlike. read more

If you're looking for good quality Puerto Rican food, check this place out. Their food is delicious, highly recommend the trifongo.

Growing up in the Bronx and Puerto Rican, I have had and made my fair share of awesome homemade Puerto Rican dishes. I enjoyed eating here so much. My taste buds were dancing. You will not be disappointed. Excellent food, excellent service, excellent prices. I will be back with my family and friends. read more

Went in to check out the newest Puerto Rican restaurant in town. Started with empanadas. We actually ordered one chicken and one beef but ended up receiving one chicken and one pizza. The pizza empanada wasn't on the menu but okay. They weren't bland or salty. For the main course, I ordered octopus salad and mofongo along with a gasolina sangria. The octopus was soft not chewy and it had the perfect amount of vinegar in it. We ordered their super creamy flan for dessert and it was one of the best I've had in a restaurant. The layout was a little odd and they seemed short staffed on the floor. However, everyone was warm and friendly and the food was tasty and came out quickly. We will definitely be back. Sidenote: bathroom smelled like fabuloso. Just like in PR. read more

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Small mom and pops restaurant. Came to eat with my Puerto Rican husband and this is as authentic as it gets. The good was fantastic and the service was great. Very casual atmosphere with great music. If you like good Karin food you must come here. The portions are huge and you will leave satisfied. I guarantee I will crave this mofongo within a week. This is Puerto Rican food to make us proud. read more

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