Vaca Brava Photos
VACA BRAVA ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
Recommended Reviews - Vaca Brava
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Located in Old San Juan, this restaurant is conveniently located near the cruise port and came highly regarded by locals around town. Wife and I had an early dinner to avoid the crowds. The Mofongo Churrasco, local beer and fast friendly service made for a fantastic meal. The air conditioning helped with some much needed rest and relaxation from a hot walk around town.
I first discovered Vaca Brava in 2017 when assisting with Hurricane Maria relief efforts. It was the only restaurant open in the immediate area, so we went fairly often during the two weeks we were there. It's simple. I fell in love with Vaca Brava. And I never ordered anything but Mofongo with pork. And every time it was exactly what I expected. Tender, full of flavor, and soul satisfying. Fast forward to 2025. I was going to be in San Juan for one day, and my wife was excited to visit the restaurant I continually bragged about. So, we settled into our family style table and benches, and ordered mofongo with pork, add beans and rice, and aranitas (shredded plantain that is crispy fried, and quite tasty). We leisurely savored our meal, relishing every bite. It was exactly as I remembered, and I look forward to our next visit. Life is good in Puerto Rico! #traviswinmanauthor #todaysdiscovery
We were really excited to visit Vaca Brava after seeing all the hype, but sadly, it turned into a very disappointing and stressful experience. Upon arrival, there was no one to greet us inside. My son noticed the greeter outside, but instead of welcoming us, she seemed annoyed when I approached her to ask if we should meet her there. Her attitude made us feel like we were in the wrong for not knowing what to do--definitely not the way to start a dining experience. We were seated quickly, which was surprising for a busy tourist spot at 2 PM. However, this wasn't because of great service--it turned out the restaurant was half empty. Our server, Digna, made the experience even worse. Her attitude was awful throughout the entire time we were there. She was not only unwelcoming but also outright rude when we asked her questions about the menu and the sides. She acted as if we were inconveniencing her by simply trying to understand the options. I'm one of those who believes that not everyone is suited to work in the hospitality industry, and Digna is a perfect example of why. She made us feel like we were bothering her just by being there. For appetizers, we ordered the Plato de la Vaca. It was underwhelming--just average local fried grease saturated empanadas, most filled with guava. For our main dish, we ordered the Tendedero de la Vaca cooked medium well. The dish took forever to arrive, and when it finally did, the flavor was off, and the meat was dry and inconsistent--some cuts were well done, while others were medium rare. To make things worse, the sides (Arroz mampostea'o', tostones de pana, and tostones de plátano) took even longer to come out, well after the main dish had already been served. The tostones de plátano tasted like they were frozen, and the rice was awful, which was incredibly disappointing. The drink situation was bizarre. We ordered sodas and club soda from the fountain, but when we asked for a refill, Digna told us they don't offer refills. When I requested to speak to the manager, he didn't bother to come over. Instead, Digna informed us that he authorized refills after I raised the issue. If a customer asks to speak to a manager, it's usually a sign something is wrong, and it should be addressed directly--not dismissed through a server. We were initially drawn in by the pictures and the massive meat platters, but the experience is definitely not worth the hype, money, or stress. You don't go to a restaurant expecting to deal with rude staff, dry and inconsistent food, poorly timed service, and bad management. Save yourself the trouble--don't believe the hype.
One of the worst restaurants we have visited in a port. Huge, open restaurant, great decor, cold A/C, we were seated right away. Cocktails were horrible- syrupy and too sweet. Waitress was overworked- doing her best. Wings were unseasoned and dry. Our food order came all wrong after an hour wait! Horrible service, horrible food and way too expensive!! Don't go!
Horrendous service. Showed up with 4 of us around 7 on a Sat nite. Told a 45 min wait. Walked into bar and saw numerous empty tables full of dishes . Should have walked out. The concierge at Sheraton where we're staying at said this place was supposed to be great. Bartender super slow and a tad rude. Ended up eating at bar. Big Mistake ...Apps were mofongo and chix wings. Both came out cold. Wings overcooked and dry. Never had mofongo but it was dry and flavorless. Entrees were steak and shrimp ..steak tasted old and shrimp had zero flavor. Sirloin and a cheese burger called a Muu burger. All came out cold. Only thing good were the fries and they were cold. Sirloin came out undercooked. Muu burger was good. Overall I wouldn't ever come back here.
Service was lacking. The bartender was not very friendly. He and other staff were talking and acted like taking orders was an interruption. The fountain drinks were weak with flavor and carbonation. It took 3 tries to get a decent coke. The ice was practically melted when I got it. Just not a good start. I ordered the churrasco. It was delicious but a very small portion. I'm used to bigger strips of meat. The rice did not taste authentic. I barely ate it. The veggies were over cooked. Things were better with the manager who made sure the drinks were fixed, but the food quality and service is a no go for me.
This large restaurant had a very touristy feel and service was a bit slow due to how busy they were, but the food was good. The bravas fries were the hit with our group of 6, massive portion, piled high with meat and lots of cheese. It was enough for all of us to dive into. The mofongo was also good but just slightly dry. Overall had a good experience here.
After enjoying a full day in old San Juan, our hunger started to get to us. We reached out to a few locals who recommended this spot. When we got there it was incredibly busy but when we got on the waitlist she quoted about 30 minutes. I set a timer while we sat outside and looked at the menu. Pleased to say they sat us down in about 20 minutes, around 3 o'clock-ish. Our waiter wasn't very friendly but honestly we didn't care we were just hungry and wanted food before heading back to our side of town. We ordered three Vaca Colada's (their version of a piña colada) and waters. They brought us back water bottles, which I was okay with since we had to walk back but they were an extra $2 a piece and it was Dasani :( Moving onto food, we ordered alcapurrias. They were oddly shaped almost like little mini gyozas but they were delicious and served with the traditional puertorriqueño sauce mayo-ketchup. For our actual dishes we all wanted mofongo so we ordered one each -- my mom ordered shrimp, my aunt ordered it with carne frita (little crispy pork pieces) and I got the churrasco. When the food was brought out, my mom's was also served on a churrasco so keep an eye out for all the pescatarians out there. Personally, we didn't mind so we dug in. Everything was tender, flavorful and the portions were great. Despite the few complaints I had, we would definitely come again. Bonus for visitors, they spoke English! We are lucky to be bilingual but don't let that deter you from eating some delicious plates in the heart of the city.
My boyfriend (PR native) and I came here for Saturday night dinner and it was a disappointment. When walked up to the door, we saw a sign that said, please wait here for the hostess. We waited about five minutes and no hostess came out, so we went inside to wait for someone to notice and seat us. The server was nice but very busy so we saw him about 3 times. I ordered a pina colada and that was delicious! For food we ordered queso frito con guava sauce. The cheese was thick but good. For our meals my boyfriend ordered mofongo con pollo in criolla sauce, I ordered the trifongo (plátano, yuca, maduros) con churrasco. My mofongo was made of only maduros and the meat was bistec encebollado. It was alright, my boyfriend did not like his. He says his mofongo had no flavor or sauce. Even though I told the waiter that my mofongo came out wrong they still charged me the extra $4.00 for the upgrade. Shortly after leaving my boyfriend got super sick, upset stomach and everything. I don't recommend.
4 years ago
Come here two hours before you're hungry, sit a while and wait for your drink to come maybe an hour after placing your order and then you might be able to give this place a better rating than I am giving it. All in all, service was horrendous. I mean, almost 25-30 minutes to get a drink is a nightmare. First, we came in and the hostess did not explain what's going on. She was seating parties of people presenting her some weird valet looking card. She did not acknowledge us, she simply kept seating people. Finally, we were seen and she puts us on a list! Five minutes later, we were seated. The restaurant floors were very slippery, I almost slipped going to our booth. We got a very spacious booth which I was thankful for. Our waitress came about 10 minutes later and frantically apologized for the delay. It was busy so I didn't care as much. However, we placed all our orders at once (drinks, apps and entrée) and it took her a good 25 minutes to bring our drinks over and again, frantically apologized. I've seen all the other wait staff on the floor more than I've seen her so not sure what the deal was. Twenty minutes later, our appetizers came and about 5 minutes later, our main meal was delivered to the table before we even got our second drink. What a debacle! So, on to the food. We started with some shrimp stuffed plantains. It had some good flavors but the plantain cups were dry and cold and not at all flavorful. I would give it a 2-star in the realm of food possibilities. And really, it wasn't stuffed. The shrimp was more cradled in the edible cups. I ordered the ropa vieja for my main dish with some rice and beans side. The combination was actually good. Dining partner had the carnitas frita and I ate some because they were what I originally wanted. They were a bit dry and too hard. Definitely nothing to write home about. The mashed potatoes were very plain and bland. My mojitos were OK (pretty weak). I've had better and served to me way faster. She came back another time and asked us if we were interested in anything else. Honestly, we were so tired at this point that even if we wanted dessert, we would have just opted to skip it anyway. Still, it took another 15 minutes to get our check and be done with everything and then told us she was really tired from a day at the beach followed by more apologies. I would have rather not hear the apologies to be quite honest because it means nothing to me after the 5th time hearing it especially when I'm still getting a low quality service on top of it. It just seems very insincere and annoying in the end. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
Vaca Brava on Calle del Recinto Sur in San Juan is a great place to go for a delicious and flavorful meal of different meats and much more. I really like the atmosphere and the way that everything is prepared. The staff here is very friendly and accommodating to make sure that you have an enjoyable meal. read more
We stopped here as part of a food tour on Royal Caribbean. This was a very tasty stop. We got to sample food and drink. The one thing they are famous is the ribs. Sadly we did not get to try them. Others around our table were eating them and many of us on the tour know we missed out as they looked amazing. read more
5 years ago
Made reservations in advance & our group of 5 people were brought inside restaurant at our scheduled time. The appetizer pictured below tostones w/crab meat were delicious crunchy tostones and sauce on top of crab meat was perfect. I ordered the for main course NY skirt steak and had leftovers the food was average priced for the area of Old San Juan. There's a public parking lot where you can park right next to restaurant just bring cash to pay before you leave at booth with only 1- person to take payment for cash parking. read more
7 years ago
4 years ago
The chicken was very juicy and tender i got it with a small side of fries and it came with those vegetables on the side. The mofongo lacked a bit of flavor as well as the carne frita. The place was nice inside. read more
7 years ago
I would put this restaurant down in the category of interesting and lots to see. The way they present their food is special and enjoyable. Now let's get down to the details of the meal. we ordered the large platter of ribs and they were impressive looking and tasty. Yes This could've fed three people, however the ribs were quite fatty and the amount of meat and the ability to get to that meat made the dish less desirable. In addition even though we ordered the large full rack it only came with one side. My attempt to split that family style side into two caused them charge me for a second side and not tell me. My son ordered the mahi-mahi and it was wonderful probably the best dish of the night. The vegetables were quite overcooked but the fish was delicious and well seasoned. The pork nuggets were kind of gross. The tan tan is a huge piece of fried pork that was interesting to look at but had very little meat and was not my kids favorite meal. The side side was a pile of lettuce with two slices of tomato on it. I'll admit we wanted to just order water but I selected soda water and they brought pitcher of soda water and charged us $12 for the pitcher. read more
7 years ago
3 years ago
Very friendly staff. The wait was not very long at all. We went on a Monday afternoon around lunch time. The food presentation was very appealing, and the flavor of the ribs were great. The pork mofongo was extremely dry. Not sure if that's the norm at Vaca Brava, but if it is, find a local spot for authentic mofongo and give it another try. Overall, not a bad place to eat! read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
4 years ago
4 years ago
Delicious food!! Cannot complain. When we entered the spot we thought it was going to be like a chain Latin restaurant, but the food was very unique and delicious. I had the plátano mahi mahi and it was huge! The mamposteao was also delicious! read more
I'm not sure how we found this place (I wasn't driving the Yelp app today), but it turned out to be a good choice for lunch. It felt like PR's equivalent of a mainland steak joint, with the same bright and glossy menu, waiters singing an "off" version of the birthday song and even a silly paper hat. The language barrier was there somewhat but we got past it. I ordered the skirt steak with red peppers. It arrived on a sizzling metal platter, like what you might get with fajitas at a Mexican restaurant. I asked for it medium and it arrived closer to rare but as it continued to cook on the platter, it turned out great. The steak had a very good flavor and the sauteed peppers worked out well too. There are probably better restaurants in the Old Town, but when you're dealing with five people who really don't want to be walking around on uneven sidewalks and tripping over cobblestones, it was ideal. If you're nearby, go here. If you're further away, I wouldn't say it's worth a long trip. read more
3 years ago
13 years ago
After passing the creepy mannequins near the entrance, get ready to embark on a meatventure. The table next to ours ordered the clothes line of random meats for $75. It was a sight to see! Per my friend's recommendation, I ordered the Can Can. It was a HUGE piece of pork chop attached to bacon, with the look of a dinosaur spine. It came with a flavorful side of mofongo. For $15.99 I received single largest piece of meat that I have ever seen. My food arrived after the rest of my table was done eating. It was a little awkward tearing apart my foot high piece of meat while trying to hold a conversation. In the end, our table had an awesome meal for our last night in Puerto Rico. I would recommend this place to all meat lovers! read more
4 years ago
Our family of four went to this restaurant and it was an all around terrifible experience. We waited over an hour just for our appetizers, then our food took another hour or so. The food came out all wrong as the waiter did not write anything down. Meat was cooked well done when we asked for medium, ribs were so dry I couldn't even eat it, mash potatoes tasted like something straight out of a package (dry with no flavor) had to use ketchup just to eat it as I was hungry. We spoke to the manager (Evanna) she didn't have any customer skills, no eye contact, etc. Then when we final decided to ask if she could at least take something off the bill for out terrible experience she took of $10 , like a slap in the face. read more
6 years ago
The bar tender is nice, served us while we waited for a table. The rice and trifongo were amazing. I am not giving 5 stars because I wasn't expecting a $3.50 charge for the trifongo; waitress said to pick a side dish so I did, from the list. Also the pork my BF got was tasty, but 1/3 of it was fat. So... atmosphere is great, food was good. Would return. But prices were kind of high for what we got. read more
5 years ago
Terrible to start, I wasn't seated for a whole 45 minutes and it wasn't even that busy. On top of that, no one came to greet us or take our orders for another 20 minutes! (And when you're hungry, 20 minutes feels like 2 hours) The appetizer took another 15 minutes to arrive. When the food FINALLY came out, the only truly edible dish was the fish. The meat and chicken tasted of charcoal and the Moro was horrible. Like if it were stored for days and then recooked. Overall, terrible experience. Highly disappointed. read more
8 years ago
Another Gem that everyone has recommend us to visit. The food is a bit pricey but def worth it. My BF and I ordered app loaded fries. I also ordered the shrimp mofongo and my BF the pork chop. Quality of the food was on point even our serve was very attentive. They also have their own hot sauce and different kinds that you should def buy there instead of the airport. Their hot sauce is Pique. This restaurant is in old San Juan. read more
6 years ago
Amazing!! The food was so good and the service was pleasant and attentive. My friend and I had the lobster. It was HUGE and the rice was hands down the best I have ever had in my life. I could eat it every day. My husband had the shrimp with mofongo which was also delicious. The drinks we great as well. Worth the price and stress of parking. We were seated promptly and tables were socially distanced. Great spot for dinner!! read more
9 years ago
I was extremely skeptical on trying this place because of the reoccurring negative reviews and some reviews were true but not completely. We ordered our drinks right away when we sat down and it did take long to get them, it took even longer though to receive our water and longest when we ordered our entree. We shared a surf and turf platter which comes with everything. Steak, chicken and lobster with mofongo bites, beans, rice and I think a salad. The rice was on the salty side but everything else was delicious! Steak was cooked right as well as the other proteins, was relieved to say the least. But I did knock off a star because the restaurant was empty and it still took forever for us to get our orders. But overall not a bad place! read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
5 years ago
Usually a busy place, so expect a wait during dinner time. The serving sizes are huge and will leave you feeling satisfied. I've visited Puerto Rico twice and ate here three times.. it's a great place for families. Their sharing dishes are the best, but the mofongo is good too if you're looking to feed one. The rice had platanos maduros in it and wow, it was amazing!! Good prices and good food. Service was a little slow, but it is to be expected in a very busy establishment such as this one. read more
7 years ago
We was looking for the local restaurant with Puerto Rican traditional food. This place is great! Lots of tasty food, superior fast Service! We arrested appetizers sample and Shrimps, Chicken and Steak Mofongo ..... delicious! read more
5 years ago
5 years ago
Came here on a recommendation. I usually go to the place across the street for my kan kan. But this time I wanted to try somewhere different. We were seated right away upon entering. Of course I had to order the kankan. It does have a nice presentation when it came. I was comparing it to other tables that ordered the same, mine looked like it shrunk and a lot smaller. It didn't look like the picture at all. I'm glad I got to try here but I will go elsewhere if I'm ordering kan kan. read more
6 years ago
I would highly recommend staying away from this place the food is unseasoned and just mediocre the only thing saving it from one star is the fact that the staff was nice plus I'm pretty sure I contracted food poisoning from her just stay away. read more
7 years ago
More info about Vaca Brava
Calle Recinto Sur 253
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
Directions
(787) 723-3700
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.restaurantvacabrava.com
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
Vaca Brava Reviews in Other Languages
Review Highlights - Vaca Brava
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
14 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
1 year ago
2 years ago
10 years ago
5 years ago
7 years ago
13 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
8 years ago
9 years ago
11 years ago
3 years ago
7 years ago
Vaca Brava - latin - Updated May 2026
Browse Brands
Browse Articles
People who viewed Vaca Brava also viewed
La Mallorquina
153 reviews
$$
Platos
750 reviews
$$
Genesis
117 reviews
$$
Sazón Cocina Criolla
172 reviews
$$
La Danza Restaurant
65 reviews
$$
La Picadera Bar & Restaurant
73 reviews
$$
Metropol Restaurant
147 reviews
$$
Ropa Vieja Grill II
599 reviews
$$
El Patio de Sam
203 reviews
$$
THE CAVE , CUBAN RESTAURANT
207 reviews
$$