Rincón and the Porta del Sol Restaurants

If you like seafood, you're in the right place. Throughout northwestern Puerto Rico you'll find wonderful criollo (Puerto Rican creole) cuisine. Most local eateries serve deep-fried tapas, commonly called frituras (meaning "fritters"). Offering a break from fried food are dozens of foreign-owned eateries that serve everything from sushi and hamburgers to vegetarian and Thai cuisine. Farther south along the coast options are limited, so you may want to ask the chef to grill or sauté your fish. A trip to Puerto Rico is not complete without sampling Puerto Rico’s most iconic dish, mofongo relleno, made from fried, seasoned and mashed plantain or yuca stuffed with your choice of seafood or meat. Simply head to where locals from all over the island go for fresh seafood—Joyuda. When it comes to beverages, locals usually drink rum and coke or mix it with fresh-squeezed orange or grapefruit juice. You’ll also see people sipping on Medalla Light, Puerto Rico's most popular and affordable beer. All restaurants are no-smoking. Tips, normally 15%–20%, are usually not included in the bill, but it's always wise to double-check.

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  • 1. Estela

    $$$

    On weekends, patrons come from as far as San Juan to dine at this cozy restaurant. Operated by husband-and-wife team Juan and Nerylu, it's found a niche in Rincón offering dishes made using locally sourced ingredients—you may even see a fisherman pull up with a giant yellowfin tuna. The regularly changing menu by Chef Abel Mendoza might feature dishes such as queen-snapper sashimi with papaya and tiger's milk (the liquid used to cure ceviche), braised short ribs over root-vegetable mash, or duck à l'orange with roasted squash. You can't go wrong with any of the daily specials. The dining room can get loud, so ask to be seated outside on the terrace.

    Rte. 115, Km 14, Rincón, n/a Puerto Rico, 00677, Puerto Rico
    787-823–1795

    Known For

    • Fresh seafood
    • Farm-to-table dining
    • Good wine list

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations required
  • 2. CINCO

    $$$

    Although the menu at this family-friendly restaurant includes pizza and pasta dishes, it's a good place to dine on hearty Caribbean fare, including Puerto Rican specialties like mofongo, churrasco, and bistec encebollado. The wine list is short but well curated, and the cocktails are creative and affordable.

    Rte. 110, Km 32, Aguadilla, n/a Puerto Rico, 00603, Puerto Rico
    787-658–6078

    Known For

    • Mofongo
    • Churrasco
    • Friendly staff
  • 3. Downtown by José Carles

    $$$

    Former executive chef of the Royal Isabela resort, José Carles, is now the proprietor of this restaurant in his home town. His menu focuses on seafood, most of which he catches himself, and dishes might include fish crudo with passion fruit, grilled lobster, blackened shrimp, or octopus risotto. The wait may be long as Downtown is popular with locals, but the outdoor terrace with a full bar is a great place to relax until your table is ready.

    9 Calle José de Diego, Boquerón, n/a Puerto Rico, 00622, Puerto Rico
    787-366–6166

    Known For

    • Fresh seafood
    • Family-friendly atmosphere
    • Crudo specials

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
  • 4. Parrilleria Vacas Gauchas

    $$$

    Excellent cuts of meat—from filet mignon and rib eye to pork loin—are the draws here. Splurgeworthy dry-aged porterhouse and kurobuta pork are also likely to be on the menu. The service is excellent.

    Rte. 115, Km 11.8, Rincón, n/a Puerto Rico, 00677, Puerto Rico
    787-529–1200

    Known For

    • Family-friendly restaurant
    • Great meats
    • Fantastic service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 5. Restaurant at La Casa

    $$$

    Many things stand out at this picturesque resort restaurant: the emerald-green golf course in the foreground, the majestic cliffs on the coast, and the roaring ocean in the background. A fair amount of the fruits and vegetables used in the dishes here are grown at Royal Isabela's River Farm and Gatehouse Garden; all the fish is caught offshore.

    396 Av. Noel Estrada, Isabela, n/a Puerto Rico, 00662, Puerto Rico
    787-609–5888

    Known For

    • Freshest seafood
    • Caribbean lobster specials
    • Farm-to-table approach
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Shipwreck Bar & Grill

    $$$

    This pirate-themed restaurant has a laid-back vibe and a friendly staff who are always ready with a smile or a joke. Don't be surprised to see local fishermen making their way to the kitchen with their still-flapping catch. Entrées include juicy steaks, grilled mahimahi, homemade pastas, and stuffed mofongo. Although portions are large, lighter options are available, including fish tacos, a selection of wraps, and seared ahi tuna served on a pyramid of mixed greens. Don't miss happy hour (daily 3–7).

    Black Eagle Rd., Rincón, n/a Puerto Rico, 00677, Puerto Rico
    787-823–0578

    Known For

    • Fresh seafood and steaks
    • Kid-friendly dining environment
    • Large portions

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
  • 7. The Eclipse

    $$$

    Beautiful beachfront dining, farm-to-table ingredients, and fantastic service are worth the drive from San Juan. The setting is rustic yet elegant, and the view is unbeatable. Sweet and savory brunch selections range from coconut brioche French toast with caramelized bananas and nuts to pizza frittatas. Lunch brings delicious, classic, Neapolitan pizzas baked in a handmade brick oven. The catch-of-the-day ceviche—caught in Isabela—is perfectly marinated, and lobster is usually on the dinner menu.

    Rte. 4466, Km 1.9, Isabela, n/a Puerto Rico, 00662, Puerto Rico
    787-872–9554

    Known For

    • Great pizza
    • Weekend brunch
    • Unbeatable beachfront location

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