Eat Your Way Through Puerto Rico

    A huge part of our trip was discovering new restaurants and food. We loved it every opportunity we got! Although we both have allergies and intolerances, we were able to find things that fit our diets! If you're a foodie, like we are, then this is the post you want to tune into. Keep reading to find out our absolute favorite restaurants we went to. There were other restaurants we visited that I've seen on other blogs but were (in my opinion) not satisfactory. So, I hope you also find these spots to be as great as I did. 

1. Barrachina

    My mouth still waters thinking about the amazing Mofongo and Piña Coladas we had here! I ordered the chicken mofongo and my husband ordered steak. Both were complemented with a salad and topped with creole sauce. It was absolutely yummy! We came here for lunch to avoid the dinner crowd and did not regret it at all. Once our drinks came out, we saw a line form right outside of the restaurant. I'd recommend not going during the dinner crowd (around 6-6:30pm) if you'd like to be seated and waited on quicker. 

    I'd highly recommend trying their mofongo! However, I'm sure any other item on their menu is just as delicious and maybe even more. However, because we came on our second day of the trip, we wanted to try out this popular dish. 

I mean, how could you not want to try this!

2. La Casita de Rones

    This colorful restaurant, located in Old San Juan, is not only stunning on the outside but will leave your insides very satisfied! Yes, your stomach will thank you tremendously. From their skirt steak tacos to their yummy stuffed mamposteao, you can find delicious and affordable meals here. It's a very casual lunch spot but can also make for a fun dinner spot. One thing I loved about their menu is that you can find something for just about everyone! I'm not a big seafood person. Honestly, I'm pretty sure I'm allergic. So, I loved to see steak and chicken options. They even have vegetarian options too! 

    As for drinks, their spiced rum punches, pina coladas and mojitos make for a refreshing compliment to your meal. The greatest part about this restaurant is that it's not only close to the water, but it's close to the Cantaño Ferry Pier. So, if you take the ferry from Cantaño to Old San Juan, you'll find this spot within seconds as it's only a short walk away from the dock. After eating, you can stroll around Dársenas Square that's located right next to La Casita!

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3. El Jibarito

  

  If you want a true Puerto Rican dining experience, this is the spot! It's super low key in terms of looks and very small. But, the food is definitely made with love! I will admit, there aren't many options to eat from and the wait is LONG! But, the food doesn't disappoint. You can find this restaurant in Old San Juan right on Calle de Sol! It's also super close to Castillo San Cristobál (one of two of the historic fortresses located on the East and West side of the town). So it's a perfect spot to stop by after your visit.

    Like I mentioned, their menu selection is small. My husband and I both ordered their stew. I had chicken and he had beef. It was delicious and came with one side order. I got rice and beans (my favorite).  If you're craving an ice cold beer, this spot has a decent selection. They feature the islands popular Modella beer here which I think tasted okay but, honestly, not my favorite. 

    If I had to pick between eating here and Barrachina... I'll always say Barrachina. However, this is an option for good eats! And if you come at a decent time (perhaps for lunch), then I'd say to check it out.

4. Casita Miramar

 Casita Miramar, located in the Miramar section of San Juan, is definitely top on my list of places you should absolutely go to. It's a bit on the pricier side but the service is amazing and the food is just *chefs kisses*. I honestly wish we went there every day, but uh.. it wasn't in the budget. If you want to ensure a spot at this lovely restaurant, you should be sure to make reservations in advance. They book up quickly during the dinner rush hours! And if you have a large party, it's basically a must. 

    Because it was just the two of us, we were able to call and make reservations the day before despite their being a limited selection of available time slots. So, not only would I recommend just calling to make a reservation but also being aware of you party size because that definitely make a difference. 

    We ordered the beef stew and sweet plantain stuffed with beef. My-oh-my were they both DELICIOUS! They both came with a side order. My husband got the mamposteao rice ($1 upcharge) and I got regular rice and beans. For drinks, they had probably the most unique selections I had seen anywhere else. We both got their sangrias! My husband got white wine with passion fruit and I got the red wine with carribean cherries. Although, the Che Che Cole was tempting. 

    We knew we wanted to go to a fancier restaurant during out last night in Puerto Rico and this exceeded our expectations completely. The ambiance was very romantic and we enjoyed a satisfying meal! What more can a couple ask for?

 

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5. El Vagón

    Basically everywhere we go, we find a good Mexican Restaurant. It's one of our favorite types of Hispanic food! El Vagón features an open air dining concept and delicious Mexican comfort food. Each entrée is served in the cutest paper plates that remind you of high school (but in a good way). 

    My husband ordered their chicken fajitas and it was very yummy! Yes, we're that couple that shares food from each others plates. I ordered their Texas Chicken Tacos and honestly, it was one of the best things I've ever tasted. It was simple bread-crusted chicken bits inside of a soft shell taco, but it made such a lasting impact. It was drizzled in guacamole sauce and chipotle mayo. It also came with a side of chips and refried beans. MMH MMH GOOD!

     We also really enjoyed their large selection of drinks. We both ordered strawberry margaritas with salt frosted cups. It was delicious! If you plan on taking a trip to El Vagón, I'd say go earlier in your trip rather than later. It's the type of restaurant that leaves you wanting more! Out of all the restaurants, this one was the one we wish we went back to multiple time because they are just THAT good. 

6. La Terreza

    

    This lovely outdoor restaurant was the first place we went to in Puerto Rico. Of course, we had to get the famous mofongo with creole sauce. Boy was it delicious! I got the chicken mofongo and my husband got steak with an onion & slight garlic sauce. One thing to note when traveling to PR is that you will be eating lots of tomato based products and steak (potentially). 

    This chicken & creole mofongo was EVERYTHING! It was just the pick me up we needed coming from the airport. I love that it was encased in traditional wooden mortar used to crush the unripe plantains. It reminded me of the same mortar used to crush beans & grains in Nigerian culture.

    

     Be sure to go upstairs so you can be seated in their vibey balcony area! There's a nice breeze and the prettiest lights that stretch across the balcony. It's a great spot to hang out or have a romantic date night at. I will say to be careful as we had a bird fly across the balcony causing us to knock over one of our drinks. It's a funny memory we still laugh about. But, in the moment it wasn't too great!

7. Katrina 

   

Easily one of my top three favorite restaurants in the Dorado area. This (also outdoor) restaurant has the best selections. They have just about everything on their menu. From empanadas to chimichurri steak, anything you order will be a delight. Chase and I both ordered their steak with chimichurri. I got mine with mamposteao rice and he got french fries (his favorite). Each dish comes with a basic side salad. We both really enjoyed our meal!

    At times the wait was a bit long. It took us forever to even pay for our check because it got a little busy and they seemed to be understaffed. However, it didn't sway our overall experience. Especially since our waitress was so pleasant and helpful. But I would still advise you to go to Katrina before the dinner rush.

7. Edelweiss Bar & Grill

    This was a spot we stopped at briefly before ziplining at El Yunque. It’s located on the Luquillo beach kiosko strip. We weren’t sure what to expect but actually enjoyed our meal. We split a dish of stuffed avocado for lunch and I’m so glad we did. Not only were the portions big, but the quality was actually pretty good. We asked for hot sauce (just incase) but didn’t even end up using it. 

    If you go here, I’d highly recommend their stuffed avocado (a popular dish in the area). Ours was filled with chicken, peppers, onions and I believe their creole sauce. It was yummy! If you can't tell in the picture, I already began eating prior to taking the photo. I almost forgot to even take one at all!

8. Metropol Restaurant

    I wish I had taken a photo of this meal, but it was one where we ordered out and just ate in our room. They specialize in traditional Puerto Rican food as well as Cuban food. We ordered their mofongo and llomeo saltado (pepper steak with rice, beans & fries). They were both really delicious! And when I tell you that you get your money's worth, I mean it. Both in quantity and quality, Metropol was definitely one of the best restaurants in the area. We went to the Dorado location, however they have one right by the airport in San Juan.

    There was a bit of a wait for our food, but it was SO worth it! They even have daily specials with decreased pricing as well. No matter what day you go, there will be a deal!

In Conclusion,

      I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing. I’m honestly getting hungry thinking about all this food. Be sure to check out my other blog posts about Puerto Rico. Comment down below your favorite food!