What to Eat in Puerto Rico
Famous for being the culinary capital of the Caribbean, Puerto Rico’s unique cuisine attracts foodies from far and wide. The local cuisine here brings together influences from Spain, America, and the Caribbean, resulting in a smorgasbord of incredible flavors and textures.
To first-time visitors, the many unheard-of dishes on the average Puerto Rican menu can seem intimidating at first. Some may remind you of other Latin dishes, but many are truly unique to Puerto Rico.
To truly experience the depth and complexities of Puerto Rican cuisine, here’s what you need to eat.
Mofongo
Mofongo was naturally first pick for this list, since just about everyone would agree that this is Puerto Rico’s unofficial national dish. You’ll find it on the menu of just about every Puerto Rican restaurant and street food stall, with this being a much-loved dish that locals will order time and time again.
What is it?
The key element in every mofongo dish is mashed plantains. These are picked while they are still green, before being fried and mashed. They are then shaped into balls, before being filled with a delicious selection of fillings.
The filling usually consists of shrimp or another form of seafood, but you’ll find mofongo made from everything from pork to steak to vegetables.
This is then topped with a traditional Spanish sauce, the sofrito, which is made from a mixture of peppers, garlic, and onions.
You’ll notice that there are a few different types of mofongo on some menus, which depicts specific variations of the dish. For example, mofongo mixto refers to green plantains mixed with another root vegetable, while trifongo sees the plantain mixed with two other starchy vegetables.
Where to Go for the Best Mofongo in Puerto Rico
You’ll find mofongo just about everywhere in Puerto Rico, but if you really want to sample the best, head to San Juan. There are a few places here known for their mofongo, including:
- El Jibarito – this bright and cheery restaurant is famous for its trifongo. In addition to green plantains, their dish also contains cassava and sweet plantains
- Punto de Vista – located on the rooftop level of the Hotel Milano, this chic restaurant specializes in shrimp and chicken mofongo
- Santaella – this exquisite restaurant really elevates the traditional dish with their lobster mofongo
- Oceano – this is another restaurant that serves up a more upscale version of the classic, this time a shrimp mofongo with a passionfruit reduction. This restaurant also does a delicious vegetarian mofongo
What’s There to Do Nearby?
From the Paseo del Morro to the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista to Castillo San Cristobal, there are so many different cultural and historic attractions to check out in San Juan. Old San Juan is also a quaint and charming part of the city to visit, and is one that will really take you back in time.
San Juan is also known for its shopping, with an eclectic mix of local vendors and international brands. Shop the independent designers at Paseo de la Princesa, before heading over to the Plaza Las Americas for a visit to the OROGOLD Puerto Rico store, where you will be able to pamper your skin with some of the most exclusive and luxurious skin care products around.
Bacalaito
Puerto Rico is famous for its seafood. The island has access to some of the best seafood in the world, meaning that the seafood dishes you eat here will be among the freshest you have tasted.
There are a few different seafood dishes that you need to try in Puerto Rico, but the first on your list should be bacalaito.
What is it?
Otherwise known as cod fritters, bacalaito is an extremely popular street food snack. It consists of cod that has been battered in a mix of flour and baking soda, along with garlic and various herbs, before being deep fried.
The resulting fritters are thin and ultra-crispy on the outside, but soft and chewy on the inside, with a strong cod flavor throughout.
Where to Go for the Best Bacalaito in Puerto Rico
There are plenty of fine dining restaurants that serve up their own upmarket version of bacalaito, but if you want to taste the dish that the locals first fell in love with, head on over to Kiosko El Boricua in Loiza.
This beach shack is known for cooking up some of the best fried seafood in the country, and the view can’t be beaten either.
What’s There to Do Nearby?
Loiza is known for being the Afro-Caribbean heart of Puerto Rico, making it a city worth exploring. After you’ve eaten your fill of bacalaito, take a stroll over to the San Patricio Church. Built in 1645, this landmark is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
For those interested in architecture, spend some time at the Maria de la Cruz Cave. This was excavated in 1948, when artifacts dating back to the archaic period were found. This cave was once a ceremonial chamber, as well as a hurricane and storm shelter, making it a fascinating piece of history to see for yourself.
Carrucho Ceviche
Here’s another seafood dish for this list, one that you’re guaranteed to quickly fall in love with. This one is another popular street food snack, with its light texture and bright flavor being especially refreshing on a scorching hot day.
What is it?
Carrucho ceviche translates to conch ceviche, with conch being a mollusk that’s known for its velvety and buttery texture. Many would say that it tastes like a mussel, but with a more scallop-like texture.
Ceviche is a well-known South American dish. It’s made from raw fish, or conch in this case, which has been cured in citrus juice and a range of spices. Each country will have its own signature ceviche spice blend, with Puerto Rico known for its sweeter and more subtle spices, rather than a punchy heat.
Where to Go for the Best Carrucho Ceviche in Puerto Rico
It may look simple, but the flavors you’ll find at Ceviche House in Carolina are anything but. As you can tell from their name, this is a restaurant that specializes in ceviche, so you can be sure that the carrucho ceviche here is a cut above the rest.
Make sure that you also try some of the other ceviche dishes available – after all, this is an iconic Puerto Rican dish!
What’s There to Do Nearby?
Carolina is a busy city – in fact, it’s the fourth largest in Puerto Rico. It used to be a major sugar production hub, but today is known for its extraordinary number of factories – you’ll find more than 100 of them churning out goods here.
While this may be the case, Carolina is also packed with trendy stores and glitzy restaurants, along with several tourist attractions. The natural beauty here is exquisite too – try the Isla Verda Beach for miles of golden sand and turquoise waters, or the Balneario de Carolina for a busier yet family-friendly beach.
Alternatively, get your blood pumping with a hike around Julia de Burgos Park, where you will see some of the beautiful plant life that Puerto Rico is famous for.
Lechon Asado
Lechon asado is a traditional delicacy, one that many would travel to Puerto Rico solely to eat. Many would consider it to be the most popular holiday food in Puerto Rico, although you’ll easily find it available throughout the country at pretty much all times of the year.
What is it?
In English, lechon asado translates to roast suckling pig. Whole pigs are used and are roasted over charcoal, a process that takes many, many hours.
The resulting meat is smoky, tender, juicy, and full of flavor.
Where to Go for the Best Lechon Asado in Puerto Rico
This one’s easy – head to Guavate, where you will find a road called La Ruta del Lechon, otherwise known as the Lechon Route. Yes, that’s right, there’s an entire road dedicated to the dish.
Here, you’ll find dozens of street food stalls that make and sell lechon asado. You simply line up at various stalls and order different cuts, giving you a chance to sample the dish made with each vendor’s unique blend of spices and herbs.
This place is a favorite among both tourists and locals, with its reputation for the best lechon in the country known far and wide.
What’s There to Do Nearby?
Although Guavate is most famous for being home to the best lechon in Puerto Rico, it’s still an area worth exploring further. It’s often featured in the country’s tourism campaigns, not just for its food but also for its exceptional scenery.
The climate in this part of Puerto Rico is also generally mild throughout the year, making it a fantastic winter destination too.
Arroz con Dulce
This list deserves to be rounded off with a creamy, tasty, and ultra-satisfying dessert, which perfectly describes arroz con dulce. This is a dessert that’s usually eaten cold, making it so refreshing after a long day in the sun.
What is it?
Arroz con dulce is a traditional rice pudding.
Double-boiled milk or coconut cream, along with a selection of different spices, is used, and raisins are also added into the mix. The rice takes on all of these different flavors, which are then enhanced even further by a sprinkling of cinnamon over the top.
The rice pudding is then kept in the fridge for a while to firm it up, before being served.
Where to Go for the Best Arroz con Dulce in Puerto Rico
To sample the best arroz con dulce in Puerto Rico, head on over to Isabela, where you will find a shop called La Tiendita Tipica.
The storefront may look quite unassuming, but venture in and you will be delighted by the colorful array of local desserts, candy, and cheeses available.
In addition to trying the arroz con dulce, order up a portion of limbers. This is another traditional Puerto Rican desert, one that’s made from fresh coconut milk, and you’ll find 21 delicious flavors on offer here!
What’s There to Do Nearby?
Isabela is known for its natural beauty, so much so that it is nicknamed “the Garden of the Northwest”. This means that there’s so much to do nearby, especially for those who want to experience some of the best scenery on the island.
The sandy beaches here are some of the best you’ll ever see, and they’re also great for both swimming, snorkeling, and fishing. For those who prefer staying on firm ground, try some of the forest hikes around – much of the flora and fauna that you will see here is native to this area alone, and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
While Puerto Rico really does have so much to offer to every type of tourist, most would agree that the food here tends to be a highlight of their visit. Whether you’re looking for light and healthy or want to indulge in all things fried, taking the time to sample all of these Puerto Rican dishes will guarantee that your time in the country has been well spent!