If you want authentic Puerto Rican cuisine (just like your mom) this is the place to go. Service was excellent, food was great and prices were affordable. Don't miss it!! read more

We walked in on a Saturday evening around 5:30. There was a ten minute wait. The woman who seemed to be in charge got us seated and took our order. Our 5 year old son was with us and super whiny because he was tired from traveling all day. While it was dinner time she let us order "the baby" pancakes which was so sweet. He fell asleep before the food got there. It took maybe 10-15 minutes for the food to come. My mojito was lovely as was everything we had. Couldn't eat it all so we took the leftovers back to the hotel. Definitely a casual locals place. Also incredibly accommodating and kind to us just stopping in for a meal. Also good price - it was right about $50. Would have been much more in the states. If you're at a hotel in the area, take the walk over. And after dinner, walk down a few blocks to the beach to walk off some of the food. I recommend. read more

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Passed by this place when I was exploring the area on my first day. Food looked good at the window and decided to dine here after I went to pick up some things at the drug store. When I got back, the place was packed. I waited on line and they really didn't have tables for solo diners. The first available table was a 4-seat table. They reluctantly gave it to me. I ordered pernil, arroz y gandules, maduros a side of steamed veggies and malta. The food arrived and the drink never did despite me asking my server. They were busy but the restaurant was small and there were enough servers to hold down the fort. There's definitely a management issue here. Anyway, the food was pretty good. Don't recommend the steamed veggies though. They were not fresh. I ended up getting takeout of ribs and rice & beans one night. I called ahead and it was over 20 mins before I went to pick up and still had to wait even though I ordered prepared foods that they had ready. Ribs were a tad dry but pretty good. Rice & beans were great. Also got breakfast one day. El tipico which was pretty good. Loved the mangu. The jugo de parcha (passionfruit juice) was pure sugar. Overall, pretty good food but the attitude from every single staff member is bad. Wait is long. Let's say 3.5 stars cuz food is good. Do with that info what you will. read more

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This place was amazing! Our family is originally from Puerto Rico, but do not live in the island. We came to vacation here and wanted home cooked food and this place did not disappointed. If you're looking for authentic food, this place is it! The rice and beans tasted like it came from my grandmothers kitchen. Service was also amazing! read more

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Ordered pernil al horno with mangu and beans. The pork skin had a lovely skin and crunch to it and the meat was moist! We enjoyed the excellent service. Plenty of indoor seating and it wasn't busy when we went on a weekday afternoon! read more

Lechonera Diego - pernil al horno y mango - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

Fantastic food and very friendly people!!! Loved the ribs. We went 3 times during the week we were here.

It's always really busy here for a reason! Great food and drinks. You can order the prepared food to go or sit down and dine in. There's also a bar. I like to come here and watch the game. They have a few tvs. The staff are lovely and always pleasant no matter how busy it is. Great prices. Delicious drinks and coffee read more

Lechonera Diego - Mojito de parcha - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

This place has really tasty food and friendly service. Laid back atmosphere close to everything. read more

Lechonera Diego - Chuletta kan kan - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

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This was a huge surprise! A very happy find. We ate in house the first night, lechón, chuleta, arroz con gandules. Everything was amazing, fresh and very, very authentic. We were in PR for 6 nights and ate from there 4 nights. Stayed in Marbella Condo & walked over for takeout. We got more pernil, rice & beans, potato salad! So very yummy muy Rico! Be prepared to stand in line to wait whether takeout or eat in! Well worth it! read more

The best Pernil y arroz con grandalues maduros I've had . The food is cheap and if you're ever in Carolina Puerto Rico the food is amazing . Short walk from Royal Sonesta and Fairmount Hotel . The service was quick and the spot is sit down but relatively small. They take cash and credit cards . read more

Lechonera Diego - Pernil y arroz con grandules y maduras . - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

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This became our favorite place nearby to eat and probably some of the most fulfilling meals we had while in San Juan. Our first visit, was on our first night. We were staying in a hotel nearby and noticed Lechonera Diego was just down the street. I was feeling so exhausted from the sun and travels that I didn't have the best appetite, but the nourishing comfort food was so satisfying and set the tone for an early bed time almost immediately after. Over the next few days, we would drop but for staple meals of the day. We loved the energy of the women that work here - they seem to genuinely enjoy what they do. Every order of ours we made sure to include green bananas, rice and beans (often the Habichuelas Guisadas) as well as a Cuba Libre. I don't know why, but their Cuba Libres are SO good, but they hit. We had Cuba Libres al over the place, but there was never one that got close to being as good as the ones here. Idk, maybe it was the crushed ice but it was always a necessity. During my three visits, I ordered the ribs, the shrimp and the snapper as entrees. I think the snapper in garlic sauce was by far my favorite but all of the entrees are made with a simplicity of fresh, flavorful ingredients and seasoning. Each meal was always satisfying and reasonably priced as well. So grateful to have discovered Lechonera Diego on our trip! read more

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Food good and plentiful. Service excellent Ambiance is friendly, simple and home like. read more

Wanted local and authentic. Isla Verde being one of the main tourist strips I wanted to keep it small mom and pop style for dinner. But to If I could give this place zero stars, I would. I walked in when it wasn't even busy. The waitresses looked straight at me and then flat-out ignored me. I sat there for 15 whole minutes -- not a hello, not a glass of water, not even a quick "I'll be right with you." Just 15 minutes of dead silence. Meanwhile, two other tables came in after me and got immediate attention. By the time I finally walked out, nobody said a single word. No apology, no acknowledgment, nothing. Instead, I got the embarrassment of walking out while all the other tables just looked at me. This wasn't just bad service -- it was complete disrespect. But they won't see $1 of mine, though I do hope they see this one star. I guess I'll just take myself across the street to Metropol, where I should've gone from the beginning. I wanted to give this place a try... but there goes that. read more

The food here was labeled as cheap on the menu but I'm almost positive they uncharged me a little. Even beside this I thought the food was fine. My favorite were the BBQ ribs but overall I wasn't super impressed. My wife got a chicken parm dish and it wasn't very appetizing. Overall was an ok experience. Service was meh. read more

I was in town and looking for a local place to have traditional food and came across here. I came just before dinner time and picked up a to go plate of rice and beans with roast pork. The flavors were good however the meat was very dry. read more

Lechonera Diego - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

Great place. 7pm dine time and we had about a 10m wait for the table. The drinks were tasty and ribs were fantastic. The rice and beans, a PR specific bean, my wife insisted we try was delicious. Made even better with a little sauce. When you walk up, you can see everything through the window that's gonna be served up. It really looks great. Best part about these dishes is that you can get each item for one person, or 1/2lb orders, giving you a chance to try many things without getting stuffed. Like the person stated before, seating and waiting area is a little confusing, it's PR, patience goes a long way and it will work out. Definitely worth the stop. read more

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I love the staff at this spot. She was so sweet and welcoming. The food was amazing and very affordable. We ordered the two egg deal and the eggs were so flavorful. They have fresh juice options which were tasty too. Nice environment, close to the beach, great bang for your buck. The menu was very simple which was nice to order what you needed. read more

Lechonera Diego - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

Lechonera Diego - Amazing Food, Inconsistent Service Lechonera Diego nails it when it comes to flavor. I had the pernil, arroz con gandules, tostones, and a drink all for under $20 and it was excellent. The atmosphere is casual and typical for a lechonera, and everything was clean. Where they fall short is service. It's busy here, and sometimes that means you get overlooked. I've had both great and frustrating experiences: * Visit 1: An older gentleman served us promptly, kept an eye on our table, and the experience was smooth. * Visit 2: We sat for 25 minutes without anyone taking our order, so we left. * Visit 3: Service was slow again, and I noticed other families walking out after not being greeted. They stood there for 10 minutes and not even a simple, "hello" or a "Hello, we'll be right with you". They just ignored them. If you're expecting polished, attentive service, this isn't the place. It's hit or miss. Remember you're on "island time". But if you can get someone to take your order, you're in for a treat the food makes up for it. Pro tip: Ask for your check when your food arrives, or you could be waiting another 45 minutes for it. If you're used to more laid-back, European-style dining, you might not mind. read more

Lechonera Diego - Arroz con gandules and pernil - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

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Loved their food. Went there twice. Their Mofongo was the best Mofongo I tried in Puerto Rico. I loved their potato salad and pork chops were good as well. I'd definitely recommend this place. read more

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For our recent San Juan area trip, we stayed at a Carolina Beach side hotel in a sea of other tourist area hotels. It was not the best area for exploring cool local food. Lots of chain restaurants familiar to tourists. Except for, within walking distance of our hotel, Lechonera Diego. They have a small but comfortable dining area and bar. Service was very good. They also have a cafeteria style area for packaging to go orders quickly I presume. I ordered the Churrasco style skirt steak. The flavor was mind-blowingly good. So much juiciness and good garlic. The Arroz con Gandules, which was molded saucy rice with pigeon peas was terrific too. My only note is that the steak, which I ordered medium rare, was closer to rare in the middle. But the steak was so high quality and delicious, I just went with it. If you're staying in the hotels in Carolina and don't want to Uber to an area for good food, Lechonera is a fantastic option. It compares favorably to any of the great meals you will have in San Juan. 4.75 Stars read more

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May not look touristy or popular but if you like authentic, fresh everyday Latin cuisine, this is the place to go if in Carolina, PR. Hole in the walls have the best food. read more

Lechonera Diego - Bbq Ribs, Arroz Grandules and Yucca - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

Grouper in garlic with rice and beans were delicious! Service was good with a friendly waitress. read more

Lechonera Diego - Grouper in garlic, rice & beans - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

Came back again , food was outstanding . They were busy we went in about 7:30 pm so the lechon was little dry but still delicious ( it was pretty late ) . If you go when it's busy be prepared to wait , they have great staff but they all do everything bus tables , bartend , run food , prepare to go orders as well as wait tables . But they do it with a positive attitude and do their best , just sit and enjoy the music . Don't forget to have the flan de coco yummy ! Don't hesitate to go in , you'll have great food at a great value . We usually order by the 1/2 lb of each lechon , chicken , rice and an order of fried plantains and it is perfect for two . We leave wobbling out but very satisfied . read more

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Loved the food ! Ribs/chicken/pork/rice/beans/yucca. Delish!! But the waitress we had was meannnnn! Hard as nails yall! But great food haha

We were very fortunate to stay at a hotel only a 2 minute walk away from Lechonera Diego's and it didn't disappoint. This is just one review but we actually ate here at least 5 times or more. The service is great and very friendly. The steam table is excellent and the go to items are always available. I didn't take a picture of the kan kan, but order it! You will not regret it. Cleanliness 10/10 Service 10/10 Ambiance 10/10 Food 10/10 Value 10/10 Bathrooms 10/10 Will I Return? YES! read more

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Loved this place! Such a great vibe! I would totally go back- they are always full- I wish there was more space to sit and chill.

This spot is just a short walk from the Royal Sonesta -- we could've walked, but ended up driving and found free street parking nearby. It's a charming little place with a casual vibe and quick service. The food is all premade and served super fast, which was exactly what we needed. The staff was friendly and attentive, and both the portion sizes and prices were great. Definitely a solid choice for a quick, tasty bite! The beans are absolutely delicious and goes well with the rice! read more

Lechonera Diego - Bar - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

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Excellent spot for quick, no frills takeout of traditional, local Puerto Rican cuisine. We were looking for a casual place to grab food to enjoy back at our Airbnb. We walked in and there was just one group ahead of us order. Service was friendly and efficient and we were in and out with our food in maybe 10 minutes. We ordered pernil, morcilla, yucca, batatas and arroz con gandules as well as some sodas to mix with rum we had back at the Airbnb. The whole meal plus a generous tip was less than $35 and was one of the most satisfying and delicious meals we had in PR, even after dining at two James Beard award semi-finalist spots earlier. read more

Lechonera Diego - Amazing food all this for under $35 including a generous tip - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

Food was delicious and service was excellent! Highly recommend if you are in the Carolina area. read more

This place is amazing!!! The food is amazing! The pulled pork, the ribs, the chicken... can't go wrong! It's all so good! You need to be patient as puerto ricans are about the experience and enjoying the time. You will enjoy anything you order! So good!!! read more

Food was ok, food is pre cooked and displayed it in the window. The waitresses are not on top of your orders. We had to wait a very long time and my friend asked why was our order taking so long since the food is already cooked? She gave us a very nasty attitude and said they are very busy! The waitress literally yelled at the table. The time we spend there was very uncomfortable after that.. the ambiance is very busy with tourists which was ok.. over all the food was med and the prices is not worth it.. three stars not sure if I recommend this spot.. read more

The food is very good, service is great. The pina coladas were delicious. Highly recommended. Ambiance is loud with good music. Love this place. read more

What a great little hole in the wall. Was at the San Juan Hotel and asked a bar tender if he knew of a good PR food spot that was close. He Lead me to this place and said you will not be disappointed. Everything was right on point with flavors. The pork and Mofongo was outstanding. And Criollo and Garlic sauces in the chicken were phenomenal for the mofongo. When in Isla Verde, go look for this hidden gem. read more

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Not only is this the best restaurant in Isla Verde for dinner, but for breakfast as well. Three personable, happy women wait on you. Meals are delicious, plentiful, and half the price of the restaurants down the road. Bueno! read more

Lechonera Diego - Breakfast - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

Amazing, amazing, amazing! Rebekka our server was friendly and happy Food top notch with local PR sabor - the pork and Mafongo were EXCEPTIONAL We will be back - Diego's is the bomb ! read more

Lechonera Diego - Roast pork - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

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3.5 Stars - Has Potential, But Timing Matters Lechonera Diego has a lot of potential, and I could tell this place has the ability to serve up some great food. Unfortunately, I think I came at the wrong time. I stopped by around 4 PM, and the lechón was pretty dry--not what I was hoping for. That said, there were definitely some highlights. The rice was flavorful, the tostones were perfectly crispy, and the French fries were surprisingly excellent--hot, golden, and crunchy. The service was also great; the staff was friendly and attentive. If you're planning to visit for the lechón, I'd recommend going earlier in the day when it's fresher. I'd be willing to give it another try, just at an earlier time next time around. read more

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Very good service and very good food, we came here 3 days straight for dinner wanna try everything. The pork, pork belly and ribs are awesome can order 1/2 lb for 1 person or 1 lb for 2. Entree comes with side, we wanna try kan kan pork as this is Puerto Rico food, this is cheaper than other restaurants. Place is small big group may need to call ahead or waiting for the table. read more

Best pernil, arroz mamposteao, morcilla, mangú and all the other local food just entering the Condado area but at Carolina's prices and you can see them in front of your eyes. We are blessed they just opens steps away from our home!!! read more

Upon reading a great review here on Yelp, I found Lechonera Diego and decided to give it a try. Upon walking in, I was greeted by the person in charge of the food and another gentleman (Wilfredo), and they explained how the system works. Once I asked for a sample of the pork intestine Stew (Cuajo ?) they gave me a small portion and it was delicious! I ordered Lechon/pernil, rice and beans and blood sausage (Morcilla). Wilfredo offered to crisp up my skin portion of the Pernil and it came back crunchy and was what I called pork Candy! The restaurant was squeaky clean, the service was very friendly and prompt I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

Lechonera Diego - Roasted Lechon/pernil, rice and beans, morcilla, and cuajo. And of course a Madella to wash it down - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

La comida estaba deliciosa! Un servicio increíble con un personal excelente. Fue atendido muy rápido read more

Lechonera Diego - Piña Colada - Mexican Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico