Food · San Juan · Puerto Rico
What to eat in San Juan
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define San Juan, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Mofongo, Lechón asado and Arroz con gandules. Work your way along the Piñones road eating alcapurrias and bacalaítos at beach kiosks, with a coconut or a cold beer. Dinner is eaten fairly late, especially at weekends; reservations help at popular Santurce and Condado restaurants.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Mofongo
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- Tip 15–20% at restaurants unless a service charge is included, $1–$2 per drink at bars…
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Dish
1.Mofongo
Green plantains fried and mashed with garlic and pork crackling in a wooden pilón, then shaped into a dome and served with shrimp, chicken, steak or a garlic broth.
Where: Criollo restaurants in Old San Juan, Santurce and roadside spots island-wide.
Dish
2.Lechón asado
Whole pig slow-roasted on a spit over charcoal until the skin crackles, served with rice and pigeon peas and boiled root vegetables. A weekend institution.
Where: The lechoneras of Guavate in the mountains south of San Juan, and some restaurants in the city.
Dish
3.Arroz con gandules
Rice cooked with pigeon peas, sofrito, pork and olives; the national rice dish, especially at Christmas.
Where: Almost every criollo restaurant and lunch counter.
Street food
4.Alcapurrias
Fritters of grated green banana and yautía (taro) stuffed with seasoned ground beef or crab, deep-fried until crisp.
Where: Beach kiosks in Piñones and Luquillo.
Street food
5.Bacalaítos
Thin, crisp salt-cod fritters, often bigger than a hand, eaten hot with a cold drink at the beach.
Where: Kiosks in Piñones and along the coast.
Snack · Vegetarian
6.Tostones
Green plantain slices fried twice and flattened, served salted with garlic dip or 'mayo-ketchup'.
Where: As a side or starter in nearly every restaurant.
Drink · Vegetarian
7.Piña colada
Rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice blended with ice; Puerto Rico's national drink. Both the Caribe Hilton and Barrachina restaurant in Old San Juan claim to have created it in the 1950s–60s.
Where: Bars across the city, including the two places that claim its invention.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
8.Mallorca
A soft, spiral sweet bread dusted with powdered sugar, often split and toasted with ham and cheese for breakfast.
Where: Bakeries (panaderías) and long-running cafés in Old San Juan and Santurce.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Quesitos
Flaky puff-pastry rolls filled with sweetened cream cheese and glazed with sugar, eaten with coffee.
Where: Panaderías all over the city.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Puerto Rican coffee
Coffee grown in the central mountains, served as a strong 'café' or as café con leche; local beans are a popular gift.
Where: Cafés in Old San Juan and bakeries citywide.
Drink · Vegetarian
11.Coquito
A creamy Christmas drink of coconut milk, condensed milk, rum and cinnamon, made at home and sold in bottles during the long holiday season.
Where: Bars and markets from about November to January.
Food experiences
Piñones kiosk crawl
Work your way along the Piñones road eating alcapurrias and bacalaítos at beach kiosks, with a coconut or a cold beer.
Guavate's Ruta del Lechón
Drive to the mountain lechoneras of Guavate in Cayey on a weekend for roast pork, live music and dancing.
La Placita by day and night
Buy tropical fruit and juices at the Santurce market by day, and return at night for dinner and dancing.
Food tour in Old San Juan
Guided walking tours combine mofongo, local rum and coffee tastings with the old town's history.
Quick bites and street food
- Alcapurrias — Beach kiosks in Piñones and Luquillo.
- Bacalaítos — Kiosks in Piñones and along the coast.
- Tostones — As a side or starter in nearly every restaurant.
- Mallorca — Bakeries (panaderías) and long-running cafés in Old San Juan and Santurce.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Tostones, Piña colada, Mallorca, Quesitos, Puerto Rican coffee and Coquito. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Dinner is eaten fairly late, especially at weekends; reservations help at popular Santurce and Condado restaurants.
- Many restaurants add a service charge for groups; check the bill before tipping.
- Kiosk food is cheap and good but often cash-only.
- Ask for 'mayo-ketchup', the standard dipping sauce for tostones and fries.
- Lechoneras in Guavate are busiest on weekend afternoons with music and dancing.
Tipping
Tip 15–20% at restaurants unless a service charge is included, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15% for taxis, and a few dollars a day for hotel housekeeping.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| Gracias | Thank you |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| ¡Wepa! | Hooray! / Let's go! |
| Boricua | Puerto Rican |
| Chévere | Cool, great |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is San Juan famous for?
Mofongo, Lechón asado, Arroz con gandules and Alcapurrias. Green plantains fried and mashed with garlic and pork crackling in a wooden pilón, then shaped into a dome and served with shrimp, chicken, steak or a garlic broth.
+Is San Juan good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Tostones, Piña colada and Mallorca.
+Do you tip in restaurants in San Juan?
Tip 15–20% at restaurants unless a service charge is included, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15% for taxis, and a few dollars a day for hotel housekeeping.