La Madre
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La Madre is a Mexican -stlye resturant nestled in the heart of Old San Juan. It is a small space with about 8 tables and a bar, with outside seating. There was about a 35-minute wait, but we were able to get a table within 15 minutes of arrival. Today was a hot day filled with periods of rain. When we sat at our table, we were promptly greeted, and the server returned to take our order. The music is loud enough that we can't fully understand each other when placing an order. Side note: Bathrooms can make or break an experience for me, and their bathrooms were clean. La Madre is a bit of a boutique mexican resturant. The menu features familiar Mexican items with a twist. I had the seared tuna steak, shared a duck quesadilla, and had a limonade. Two things to prepare for: the air conditioning is on full blast, and it gets cold quickly, particularly after it rains and your clothes are damp. Also, it may take a bit longer than expected to receive your order, and water refills seem to require more effort. The place has a nice decor with tables and chairs that are nice. I had to leave three times to go outside to get warm. The lemonade was nicely made, and I enjoyed it. It has a lemon-lime flavor that catches you on the first sip. The duck quesadilla was well prepared, and the duck flavor was nice. The quesadilla had a nice crunch, and the pico de gallo was very fresh and tasty. This is tricky because my brain goes to my varied experiences with quesadillas, but this is different. There is an opportunity to be bold with the flavoring here, since it is quesadillas. The seared tuna steaks and salad were well-presented but ordinary. The tuna is well prepared, but the flavor is very, very mild. I'm now convinced that wasabi would have been a nice option, given how mild the flavor of the tuna was and the mildness of the crust around the seared tuna. This salad was plentiful and came with a very mild dressing that was underwhelming, given how mildly flavored the tuna dish was. Please keep in mind that this place is moderately expensive and, in my opinion, needs to have a reason for people to want to come back; the experience was that good. If you are looking for bold Mexican flavors, the tacos may have it, but other dishes don't, and this was a bit disappointing. I'm on the picket fence about whether I would return.
Vacation Day 1 in Old San Juan was met with a power outage throughout Old San Juan. We stopped into La Madre for drinks and appetizers as we noticed that they had (generator) power. We were seated inside with a nice window seat by a cheery hostess. My wife had a watermelon margarita (just a touch of fresh watermelon which she said was perfect) and I had a fresh squeezed hibiscus lemonade which was a lovely treat for a recovered alcoholic that usually just gets an iced tea. We ordered a fondue (basically chips and queso) which had a nice amount of cheese and as many tortilla chips as you need. I also ordered the Ahi mini tacos which were EXQUISITE. Perfectly seared and beautifully presented, which was also well complemented by their house made hot sauce.
The ambiance of la madre is a bit more modern especially being in old san juan. Service is super nice but was a bit on the slow side overall. I LOVED the ahi tuna tacos - it was meant to be an app but i had this as my main. 6 small but delicious and flavorful mini tacos marinated in a delicious sweet soy sauce - YUM. worth a try in old san juan!
Another hit spot on my PR trip, which is located in Old San Juan. This is a fusion restaurant of Mexican and Puerto Rican. The inside decor is very cool and inviting. We started off with margaritas: tamarind, which was new to me, and mango, both of which were good and strong. All the drinks in PR are strong, btw! As for food, we got the Mini Burrito Rolls, Chimichanga, and Tacos Mexico. Everything was delicious and fresh! Our server was very friendly and explained the dishes to us and gave us a mini background about the restaurant as well. I recommend trying the food with the spicy sauce he offered; it added a bit of spice to the food and made it even better! Definitely recommend them if you're ever in Old San Juan; don't let the outside fool you!
We stumbled across this little restaurant and immediately fell in love! The server was so lovely and friendly and answered all our questions. The food was absolutely fantastic, we both cleaned our plates! Vibes are immaculate outside with the light, colors, and cobblestone. Check this spot out, you won't be disappointed!
Patience is a virtue and well worth the wait in this case. They are a small operation as most businesses are and we saw other tables get frustrated at the wait and leave despite their thorough and clear communication regarding wait times. The food was DELICIOUS. So fresh and the fondue was the best queso. We had the steak fajitas and the carnitas chimichanga. They also have lettuce wrap options for those with grain allergies which Is AMAZING. I would definitely come back but come with an hour to spare because it's a popular place! The cocktails were delicious including their mezcal bar next door while we waited. Fun and clean atmosphere in both places with live music in the mezcal bar. Recommend the candela and the jalapeño-colada for drinks if you like some spice. Our hostess Wanda was so kind and communicative. Our server Rubi was AMAZING. The bartender Kristal definitely knows what she's doing--great mixologists. And you can tell they all have respect for their manager Heidi. Together, they provided such great service. I truly believe the people who left just had no understanding of small businesses and zero patience. The food was 10/10 with everything fresh as could be and the service was equally as great.
We did a little research and then chose La Madre based on quality and taste reviewers reported. They were not wrong. It was quite toasty out today so we opted to sit inside. There is room for about 30 people in here +5 or six barstools and that was way more comfortable than outside. Jehan took very good care of us, made recommendations on the drinks and made sure he understood our order by repeating it a couple different times which was awesome. I would highly recommend the fish tacos, they come standard as fried, but we love them grilled and I think they were absolutely amazing. Make sure to add some of the creative sauces and guacamole that they serve on the side. The pozole was very close to what we have in Arizona, so was super happy to find something so yummy! lastly, we ordered the Elote as a side as I get this regularly at home as well and was very happy with the quality, they charred it just perfectly. This was a fairly light lunch for us as we shared everything and the total is $53 before tip. Lovely little spot can highly recommend here in San Juan Puerto Rico!!
Really cute inside but thats it. Two of us, we were on a cruise that stopped in Puerto Rico and we came here for a meal. The margarita I ordered I sent back because it tasted just like juice. I NEVER do that. Never send food back but I'm just exhausted with mediocre food and drinks. The chicken fajitas came out sizzling and the flavors were there but it just felt skimpy. Can't say it was worth the $23 we paid for it. Another server came out after I sent my margarita back and asked if they could make me something else, I declined. Expecting a good margarita from a Mexican restaurant is too much
La Madre in Viejo San Juan really hit the spot when we were all craving something other than hotel food--and specifically, good Mexican food. It absolutely delivered. The vibe was great, the food was fresh and well made, and the service was friendly overall. A fun bonus: we actually got to see the famous rock band Maná dining there, which was such a cool surprise! We ordered quite a bit--the chips and queso, chips and guac, hot sauce, tamale, rice and beans, kids cheese quesadilla, and veggie fajitas. The kids' quesadilla was a huge hit with our 5-year-old (who is a picky eater and devoured it). The veggie fajitas were decent and tasty, though for the price I would have liked a bit more on the plate in terms of sides. There was a small hiccup where cilantro was accidentally added to one of my dishes, and it did take quite a while for the corrected dish to come out, but they were very kind about it. That said, everything else was enjoyable and the overall experience was still very good. Overall, a great spot for solid Mexican food in Old San Juan with a fun atmosphere and fresh flavors. read more
After exploring Old San Juan, I'd say this restaurant really fits the artistic aesthetic. Both with the decorations and food. On to the specifics of the food. Duck Quesadillas: When I think of a duck quesadilla, I think of something that has a rich profile, but this was surprisingly humble. The duck, mushroom, and cheese all harmonized well to create a symphonic doughy pillow. Definitely recommend it. Grouper Fillet: I don't get the chance to eat Grouper often, but when I do it always hits. I can confidently say that my experience has continued. Despite the bed of sweet potatoes, you could still make out the distinct semi-sweet flavor of the fish. Also the creamy sauce paired perfectly with both the potatoes and fish. Of all the different restaurants I could've chosen, I think this was one of the best ones to end off my night in Old San Juan. Looking forward to coming back! read more
Alejandro was a great server we ordered all his recommendations - soles norteno, duck quesadilla and passion fruit margarita. The female bartender was also very nice. Enjoyed the ambiance and experience! The guava pineapple dip was amazing! read more
5 days ago
La Madre is a Mexican -stlye resturant nestled in the heart of Old San Juan. It is a small space with about 8 tables and a bar, with outside seating. There was about a 35-minute wait, but we were able to get a table within 15 minutes of arrival. Today was a hot day filled with periods of rain. When we sat at our table, we were promptly greeted, and the server returned to take our order. The music is loud enough that we can't fully understand each other when placing an order. Side note: Bathrooms can make or break an experience for me, and their bathrooms were clean. La Madre is a bit of a boutique mexican resturant. The menu features familiar Mexican items with a twist. I had the seared tuna steak, shared a duck quesadilla, and had a limonade. Two things to prepare for: the air conditioning is on full blast, and it gets cold quickly, particularly after it rains and your clothes are damp. Also, it may take a bit longer than expected to receive your order, and water refills seem to require more effort. The place has a nice decor with tables and chairs that are nice. I had to leave three times to go outside to get warm. The lemonade was nicely made, and I enjoyed it. It has a lemon-lime flavor that catches you on the first sip. The duck quesadilla was well prepared, and the duck flavor was nice. The quesadilla had a nice crunch, and the pico de gallo was very fresh and tasty. This is tricky because my brain goes to my varied experiences with quesadillas, but this is different. There is an opportunity to be bold with the flavoring here, since it is quesadillas. The seared tuna steaks and salad were well-presented but ordinary. The tuna is well prepared, but the flavor is very, very mild. I'm now convinced that wasabi would have been a nice option, given how mild the flavor of the tuna was and the mildness of the crust around the seared tuna. This salad was plentiful and came with a very mild dressing that was underwhelming, given how mildly flavored the tuna dish was. Please keep in mind that this place is moderately expensive and, in my opinion, needs to have a reason for people to want to come back; the experience was that good. If you are looking for bold Mexican flavors, the tacos may have it, but other dishes don't, and this was a bit disappointing. I'm on the picket fence about whether I would return. read more
Vacation Day 1 in Old San Juan was met with a power outage throughout Old San Juan. We stopped into La Madre for drinks and appetizers as we noticed that they had (generator) power. We were seated inside with a nice window seat by a cheery hostess. My wife had a watermelon margarita (just a touch of fresh watermelon which she said was perfect) and I had a fresh squeezed hibiscus lemonade which was a lovely treat for a recovered alcoholic that usually just gets an iced tea. We ordered a fondue (basically chips and queso) which had a nice amount of cheese and as many tortilla chips as you need. I also ordered the Ahi mini tacos which were EXQUISITE. Perfectly seared and beautifully presented, which was also well complemented by their house made hot sauce. read more
The ambiance of la madre is a bit more modern especially being in old san juan. Service is super nice but was a bit on the slow side overall. I LOVED the ahi tuna tacos - it was meant to be an app but i had this as my main. 6 small but delicious and flavorful mini tacos marinated in a delicious sweet soy sauce - YUM. worth a try in old san juan! read more
Another hit spot on my PR trip, which is located in Old San Juan. This is a fusion restaurant of Mexican and Puerto Rican. The inside decor is very cool and inviting. We started off with margaritas: tamarind, which was new to me, and mango, both of which were good and strong. All the drinks in PR are strong, btw! As for food, we got the Mini Burrito Rolls, Chimichanga, and Tacos Mexico. Everything was delicious and fresh! Our server was very friendly and explained the dishes to us and gave us a mini background about the restaurant as well. I recommend trying the food with the spicy sauce he offered; it added a bit of spice to the food and made it even better! Definitely recommend them if you're ever in Old San Juan; don't let the outside fool you! read more
10 months ago
La Madre had some tasty drinks, like, the watermelon mojito. The shrimp tacos were lacking in flavor, nothing exciting. I wanted to ask them for some extra sauce to flavor them up. read more
We stumbled across this little restaurant and immediately fell in love! The server was so lovely and friendly and answered all our questions. The food was absolutely fantastic, we both cleaned our plates! Vibes are immaculate outside with the light, colors, and cobblestone. Check this spot out, you won't be disappointed! read more
6 months ago
My hibiscus margarita was beautiful, I added ginger and it was not my favorite, but that is just preference. They were exceptionally crafted. Fajitas were perfect I ate every single bite. We sat outside and it was so cool! Highly recommend this restaurant. Staff was amazing too! read more
28 days ago
8 months ago
Patience is a virtue and well worth the wait in this case. They are a small operation as most businesses are and we saw other tables get frustrated at the wait and leave despite their thorough and clear communication regarding wait times. The food was DELICIOUS. So fresh and the fondue was the best queso. We had the steak fajitas and the carnitas chimichanga. They also have lettuce wrap options for those with grain allergies which Is AMAZING. I would definitely come back but come with an hour to spare because it's a popular place! The cocktails were delicious including their mezcal bar next door while we waited. Fun and clean atmosphere in both places with live music in the mezcal bar. Recommend the candela and the jalapeño-colada for drinks if you like some spice. Our hostess Wanda was so kind and communicative. Our server Rubi was AMAZING. The bartender Kristal definitely knows what she's doing--great mixologists. And you can tell they all have respect for their manager Heidi. Together, they provided such great service. I truly believe the people who left just had no understanding of small businesses and zero patience. The food was 10/10 with everything fresh as could be and the service was equally as great. read more
We did a little research and then chose La Madre based on quality and taste reviewers reported. They were not wrong. It was quite toasty out today so we opted to sit inside. There is room for about 30 people in here +5 or six barstools and that was way more comfortable than outside. Jehan took very good care of us, made recommendations on the drinks and made sure he understood our order by repeating it a couple different times which was awesome. I would highly recommend the fish tacos, they come standard as fried, but we love them grilled and I think they were absolutely amazing. Make sure to add some of the creative sauces and guacamole that they serve on the side. The pozole was very close to what we have in Arizona, so was super happy to find something so yummy! lastly, we ordered the Elote as a side as I get this regularly at home as well and was very happy with the quality, they charred it just perfectly. This was a fairly light lunch for us as we shared everything and the total is $53 before tip. Lovely little spot can highly recommend here in San Juan Puerto Rico!! read more
2 months ago
5 months ago
Sorry I was too excited to try it when it first came out. Carnitas chilaquiles and carnitas platter! Mezcal mule and cucumber margarita! 10/10 absolutely amazing all around! read more
Really cute inside but thats it. Two of us, we were on a cruise that stopped in Puerto Rico and we came here for a meal. The margarita I ordered I sent back because it tasted just like juice. I NEVER do that. Never send food back but I'm just exhausted with mediocre food and drinks. The chicken fajitas came out sizzling and the flavors were there but it just felt skimpy. Can't say it was worth the $23 we paid for it. Another server came out after I sent my margarita back and asked if they could make me something else, I declined. Expecting a good margarita from a Mexican restaurant is too much read more
We stopped by La Madre and had a great experience! I ordered four margaritas-- 2 originals and passion fruit and mango. All were delicious, although the fruit ones tasted very similar. Still, no complaints--they hit the spot! For food, we shared a mini chicken burrito and I had the savory pork tacos, and they were absolutely satisfying--I'd definitely order them again. My husband went with the fish tacos, and he was just as happy with his choice. The flavors were fresh, the vibe was laid-back, and we left full and happy. Can't wait to come back! read more
5 months ago
Sweet little restaurant with outdoor seating if you get there early. Was not overly impressed with their gluten free/vegan options. The service was great though! And as with everything in San Juan, super expensive. read more
We love this place! Have been here twice now when we come to visit PR. Nestled in the heart of Old San Juan, this quant, yet open space is very welcoming. The food menu is diverse with different flavors of PR inspired dishes. Everything we tried was wonderful and flavorful with a clean plate to show for it! Service is friendly and efficient but you can eat and mingle as slow or fast as you want. Will always go here when we visit PR now. It's a staple read more
1 year ago
Casual but upscale Mexican eatery. The menu was plant based/vegan friendly and the helpful went above and beyond to accommodate. It's a small establishment so I suggest making reservations as it gets very busy. Food was very tasty. I really enjoyed the tropical salad they have. It's refreshing on a warm day. read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
Really tasty. We both had the fish tacos on corn tortillas. Very fresh all around, including the tortilla. Good salsas. Seemed to be reasonable prices at about $14 for three tacos. read more
La Madre is a great restaurant to visit in Old San Juan. It's in a very walkable area and was on our walk back after we visited Castillo San Felipe del Morro. We were seated very quickly and our server Javier was very informative and attentive during our dinner. I ordered the steak fajitas as well as the octopus tacos. Flavor wise these were both very good, but not at all unique or outstanding. Javier brought me some hot sauce to try on my tacos which I loved since it was fruity and hot. This did significantly improve the flavor of both the tacos and fajitas. I will say that the in terms of texture the octopus tacos were wonderful since the meat wasn't overcooked or rubbery like a lot of places do it. Great vibes and service so I'd probably come here again to try other items on the menu if I was in San Juan again. read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
FIVE out of freakin FIVE! hands down!! Absolutely everything about this place was incredible! From the moment we walked in, the service was top-notch--everyone was incredibly friendly, especially our server Javier. The food was nothing short of phenomenal, with quality and flavors that completely exceeded our expectations. My gf got the japanese-style steak and I got the enchiladas. Every bite was so so sooo good! On top of that, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. It wasn't too full and their playlist was on point for the younger folk. This place truly blew our minds and we cannot recommend it enough! Please do yourself a favor and visit! read more
Visited La madre during our PR trip and was a good place for a dinner with friends and to share food. It does get busy and the area inside is not that large so be aware of that because we were sat outside and got bit a lot by mosquitoes. It is however right off of Calle de San Francisco, a major street in old San Juan so good location when ur around the area. The staff over all was attentive and standard. For food I got mini chicken burritos, fish tacos, and the queso. The mini burritos were fine but lacked flavor, there was a sauce underneath it but is lot of the flavors were just muted. The fish tacos I think were the best out of what we ordered. They were a good size and had good flavor and the sauces they came with elevated the dish. The queso was alright, but they did refill the chips which was nice. read more
4 months ago
We loved this restaurant! We sat outside in a cute, shaded alley. The server was friendly and had great recommendations for spice level. The portions of food were big and dishes are full of flavor. I highly recommend La Madre when coming to Old San Juan! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Absolutely must order the pork belly tacos! The most flavorful, delicious bite of the evening, they have a great crispy crunchy texture and overflowed from the taco shell. Impeccable flavor almost an Asian-Mexican fusion you won't want to miss. Service was great! The enchiladas tasted homemade and really good but could have used a tiny bit more sauce to them, I like enchiladas to be really really saucy. The rebranded queso appetizer "fondue" was a good blend of cheeses and tasted much more elevated than the super yellow queso. It's not authentic Mexican but for the price and the location and ambiance everything was great! read more
9 months ago
Delicious food! We had the Sopes, tortilla soup and a coconut margaritas. Slightly different than you would get in the 48 but in a fantastic way. The soup was more rich than broth. Everything was super fresh. The margaritas was not from a "mix". read more
2 years ago
Food was amazing! Location is beautiful and very chic and modern. Everyone in my party (5) loved their food. We ordered fish tacos, quesadillas, burritos and pork belly tacos. Pork belly tacos were recommended by the waiter. He was spot on! Absolutely a delicious interesting sexy meal. I loved every second of it. I did get an elote after our food came but it took over 30 minutes and we actually had to wait even tho we were all ready to go. However, they still deserve all stars bc they were busy and I did order it after we had all received our food. Service was good. He was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. read more
2 months ago
10 months ago
Food was very mediocre. We had the fondue, duck quesadilla, and the pork tacos de madre. Fondue was not hot and was also flavorless. Only saving grace was the pico de gallo. The duck quesadilla was just okay. Not flavorful. Also wish it would've been corn tortilla instead of flour. The tacos de madre were also just okay. The pork was very fatty and not flavorful at all. The guacamole, crema sauce and pico de gallo were good though. Server Sue was very attentive and friendly. read more
9 months ago
Excelente servicio y calidad de alimentos. Me encantaron los platos seleccionados. Recomendado read more
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More info about La Madre
Calle San Francisco 351
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
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(787) 647-5392
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