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$$$ | Santurce |
Dining at chef Natalia Vallejo's restaurant in the heart of Santurce is a magical experience. The restored home is simply yet tastefully decorated and leads to a large outdoor patio in a lush and vibrant setting. The small kitchen churns out tasty Puerto Rican dishes with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The James Beard nominee and her friendly staff will make you feel right at home.
658 Calle San Juan, San Juan, n/a Puerto Rico, 00907, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Award-winning chef
- Creative Puerto Rican cuisine
- Charming outdoor patio
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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Located behind a pawn shop, Acapulco doesn't have the most inspiring location, but you should seek out this tiny restaurant for some of the best Mexican food in Puerto Rico. The tacos and guacamole are always made from scratch, and the owners pride themselves on authenticity: you won't find iceberg lettuce or a chimichanga slathered in cheddar here. Instead, expect delicious tacos al pastor, with meat carved from a spinning rotisserie in an open kitchen, and equally tasty cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork). Many dishes are topped with pickled onions, cilantro, fresh pineapple, and radishes. The margaritas are great, and the juices couldn't be more refreshing. The staff is friendly, and all speak perfect English.
2021 Calle Loíza, 00911, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Delicious tacos and guacamole
- Friendly service
- Excellent margaritas made with fresh juices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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Standing discreetly just off Avenida Ashford, Ali Baba turns out delicious, meticulously prepared Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food, thanks to its Turkish chef-owner. Given how unpretentious this small place is, the presentation is surprisingly elegant. Start with hummus, served with steaming, homemade lavash (flatbread), or the grilled cheese with fresh herbs and tomatoes. Entrées include an iskender kebab drizzled with browned goat butter, and moussaka, served beneath a warming flame. Sandwiches and vegetarian options are also available.
1214 Av. Ashford, 00907, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Tangy, smooth hummus
- Iskender kebab
- No reservations
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations not accepted
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Under the direction of noted chef Ariel Rodríguez, one of the city's more celebrated restaurants is popular with the local elite for its old-school, fine-dining atmosphere and its international cuisine with strong French influences. A prix-fixe menu is available with or without wine pairings. Begin with a classic cocktail like James Bond's Vesper Martini, or chat with the sommelier, who can help you choose one of the roughly 300 bottles on the list. Local works of art decorate the walls of the formal dining room, giving it a lively, modern touch. Brunch is served on Sunday.
801 Av. Ponce de León, 00907, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Well-executed European cuisine
- Sunday brunch
- Superb and extensive wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun.
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Huge platters of delicious comida criolla are constantly streaming out of the kitchen here. Low prices and a family atmosphere ensure that this longtime local favorite—located near the DoubleTree on the border of Condado and Santurce—is always packed. The extensive menu includes everything from grilled skirt steak to seafood-stuffed mofongo to barbecued ribs. Save room for one of the local desserts, such as flan or tres leches cake. Breakfast is also popular. Note that service, while friendly, can sometimes feel a bit rushed or distracted.
1600 Calle Loíza, 00911, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Large portions
- Family-friendly atmosphere
- Breakfast
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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This café is wildly popular and doesn't take reservations, but the offerings are worth the wait. Order the pancakes with Nutella, and the mocha coffee with whipped cream and a rim of Oreos.
29 Calle Júpiter, 00913, Puerto Rico
Known For
- All-day breakfast
- Large portions
- Creative coffee drinks
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Located at the end of Calle Loíza, this family-run restaurant specializes in Roman dishes. The open kitchen turns out dishes like spaghetti carbonara, penne puttanesca, and bucatini all'amatriciana.
1059 Calle Loíza, 00911, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Roman-style dishes
- Italian comfort food
- Carbonara
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Modern light fixtures, exposed walls, and repurposed decorative accents give Cocina Abierta one of the coolest decors in Condado. Chef Martin Louzao prepares eclectic, multicourse omnivore, pescatarian, and vegetarian menus. Grilled Spanish octopus terrine, duck-confit-stuffed mofongo, and ripe plantain carpaccio brûlée with tuna tataki are house favorites. Vegetarian options might include roasted butternut squash soup or mushroom ceviche Peruvian causa. Behind Cocina Abierta are Atelier, a cooking school, and Oriundo, a pop-up restaurant also headed by chef Louzao.
58 Calle Caribe, 00907, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Tasting menus
- Octopus terrine and mofongo with duck confit
- Great wine list
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Tasty sandwiches and burgers are available all day long at this small joint. The onion smasher comes with two beef patties, finely shredded onions, and cheese on a warm brioche bun, and specials may include a perfectly crisp, chicken-tender sandwich or a decadent pork belly with fried egg and sweet-and-sour chipotle sauce. Order at the counter, and grab a seat overlooking the street, or get your order to go and enjoy it at Ocean Park Beach.
1802 Calle Loíza, 00911, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Burgers
- Tater tots
- Excellent sandwiches
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After a day at Playa Escambron, grab a bite and a beer at this hole- in-the-wall joint, where a tiny kitchen rapidly custom-charbroils burgers. You might want to order two, as they're small, like sliders; regardless, you can top them with Roquefort, cheddar, or American cheese. The sweet-potato fries are tasty, too; add a side salad for $1 more. This place is always packed with locals, so there might be a wait to get a table, but the turnover is quick.
402 Av. Muñoz Rivera, 00901, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Cheap burgers
- Local favorite
- Sweet-potato fries
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Here, the wines are reasonably priced, and the menu is varied, with favorites like osso bucco, beef carpaccio, grilled octopus, lobster risotto, and Wagyu-and-foie-gras dumplings. Portions are large, service is excellent, and brunch is served on weekends.
6150 Av. Isla Verde, 00979, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Affordable and varied wine list
- Large portions
- Weekend brunch
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In addition to serving its signature Gustos coffee, grown in the mountains of Yauco, this café has simple sandwiches and pastries. You'll be lucky to get a seat, as it's wildly popular.
Miramar Plaza, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Great coffee
- Popular with locals
- Artisanal products for sale
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Parmesan-crusted tacos are the draw here, with favorites including the fish, pulled pork, or vegetarian-friendly falafel versions. Pair yours with a margarita or mojito, and sit outside on the small terrace. Breakfast service starts at 8 am, and brunch is offered on weekends.
1104 Av. Magdalena, 00907, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Fish tacos and margaritas
- Prime people-watching from the terrace
- Breakfast and weekend brunch
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$$ | Santurce |
It's an exciting time for pizza in San Juan and one of the newest and most delicious additions to the scene is La Santurcina. Brought to you by the owners of the upscale restaurant Vianda, this full-service pizza joint is a pizza-churning, bustling machine that's always packed. Start with the fried olives and wings followed by any of the creative pies. Don't miss the zucchini with ricotta. They don't take reservations so get there early.
1250 Ponce de Leon Ave, San Juan, n/a Puerto Rico, 00907, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Creative pizzas
- Vegetable-forward menu
- Family-friendly vibe
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$$ | Santurce |
Chef Kelly Piro perfectly executes such Thai dishes as som tam (papaya salad), drunken noodles with barbecue pork, and green curry with shrimp. The bar serves excellent cocktails, although it's best known for its large gin selection.
303 Calle Canals, San Juan, n/a Puerto Rico, 00907, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Reservations are recommended
- Gin cocktails
- Drunken noodles and green curry
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch Mon., Wed., and Thurs.
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Celebrity-chef Mario Pagan dazzles diners—among them businesspeople trying to impress their counterparts—with his creative, modern Puerto Rican fare and a setting that's reminiscent of a sleek, midtown-Manhattan restaurant. An attentive, professional waitstaff serves dishes like Gouda croquetas with sweet papaya, Chilean sea bass with yuca-truffled mousse, and lamb-shoulder confit.
1110 Av. Magdalena, 00907, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Trendy patrons
- Sophisticated dining
- Well-known chef
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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Proprietor Yareli Manning runs this food-truck park in the heart of Miramar, where seating is at communal picnic tables. Though the roster of vehicles changes, regulars include Meatball Company, Yummy Dumplings, and Pa'l Pita. One truck sells beer and mixed drinks.
1006 Av. Ponce de Leon, 00907, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Variety of quick-bite options
- Outdoor dining
- Family-friendly atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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This cozy spot does a wonderful job with traditional Italian dishes of the kind that your nonna (grandmother) might have made. The ravioli di anatra, filled with braised duck and pear in a port-wine reduction and topped with truffle butter, is great. There is also a nice selection of specialty pizzas made with Caputo flour from Naples.
103 Calle San Jorge, 00911, Puerto Rico
Known For
- All house-made pastas and mozzarella di buffala
- Cozy ambience
- Creative cocktails
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Pastry chef Paulina Escanes brings a fresh and refreshing concept to the heart of Condado. Her restaurant turns out dishes inspired by her travels, and many have a Mexican touch, paying homage to her roots. Try the torta de elote, a soufflé-like corn cake stuffed with cheese and charred chile poblano. For dessert, don't pass on the exquisite key lime pie. You can dine outside on the busy, pet-friendly patio or in the dining room, where Scandinavian design meets tropical chic.
1451 Av. Ashford, 00911, Puerto Rico
Known For
- Patio dining
- Healthy dishes with a Mexican touch
- Fantastic desserts
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People pack this playful café—where bustling servers wear cheeky "Eat Me!" T-shirts—to enjoy fresh wraps, sandwiches, salads, batidas (fruit smoothies), and coffee. You might not need another meal for the rest of the day if you finish the Drunken Pilot, a breakfast dish with four eggs, spinach, tomato, onion, mushroom, and goat cheese. At lunch, try the popular Surfer, a hot, pressed sandwich with turkey, mozzarella, basil, tomato, and pesto mayo. It's often nearly impossible to find a seat at lunchtime, but don't worry: order takeout, and head to the beach for an al fresco meal. Pinky's also has a branch on Ashford Avenue in Condado.
1902 Calle Loíza, 00911, Puerto Rico
Known For
- A variety of batidas
- The Surfer sandwich with turkey, mozzarella, basil, tomato, and pesto mayo
- All-day breakfast
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, Reservations not accepted