What to Eat and Drink in Puerto Rico

In Spanish, we have a saying that says “Barriga llena, corazon contento,” meaning full belly, happy heart. On a trip to Puerto Rico, your heart won’t just be happy; it will be overjoyed with all the delicious flavors you can find on the island. 

Like in many Latin American countries, Puerto Rican cuisine revolves around rice, beans, and a protein. The national dish is arroz con gandules, which is a yellow rice with peas. But, honestly, I rarely order rice when visiting Puerto Rico. There are so many other tasty sides, mains, and snacks that you can find on the island. 

This is by no means a comprehensive list of Puerto Rican cuisine, but this highlights my favorite bites and drinks to get while visiting the island. If you don’t speak Spanish, hopefully, this guide will teach you some and help you order at any restaurant or bar. 

Dishes and drinks you can’t miss when you visit Puerto Rico

You’ll find fried plantains across Latin America, from sweet maduros to crispy patacones. Tostones are my favorite way to enjoy plantains. They are smashed and double-fried to create crispy golden discs. 

While tostones are most commonly made from plantains, in Puerto Rico, you can taste tostones de pana made from breadfruit. Tostones de pana are fluffier and a bit sweeter, making them a Puerto Rican delicacy. It’s hard to find tostones de pana on the mainland, so make sure to enjoy them as much as you can while in Puerto Rico.

Speaking of plantains, mofongo (mashed plantains) is a Puerto Rican staple. You can enjoy it as a side or as a full meal by ordering it with a protein.

In the Caribbean, pork is a big deal. Lechón asado is typically cooked over coals and served with rice and beans. You can order rice and beans pretty much anywhere by asking for arroz con habichuelas. There’s a highway in the middle of the island known as La Ruta del Lechón (or Pork Highway), lined with restaurants dedicated to serving pork. These spots are called lechoneras.

The fresh catch of the day is typically Chillo, a local red snapper. It’s best enjoyed fried and whole with a side of plantains of your choice.

Queso frito is fried cheese that turns golden brown. It’s served in small cubes to easily dip into guava jam for a sweet and salty combo. It’s the Caribbean version of halloumi, but better. 

You’ve possibly never eaten anything like a sorullo outside of Puerto Rico (I hadn’t at least). These fried cornmeal sticks are the perfect bar snack. They’re often served with mayoketchup, which is a very Puerto Rican condiment that’s just a mix of mayo and ketchup.

A tripleta is a hangover cure in sandwich form. It has three types of meat: steak, pork, and ham (or sometimes chicken). All the meat is sandwiched between two pieces of Puerto Rican bread called pan sabao. The sandwich is topped with lettuce, tomato, and papitas (little shoestring potato chips). And you can’t forget the mayoketchup.

Tripletas are served at gas stations 24/7, so you can eat them after a night out or in the morning. 

There’s no direct translation for sobao, but this is the Puerto Rican bread. It’s fluffy and slightly sweet. If you’re going to the grocery store, pick up a loaf of pan sabao from the bakery to make sandwiches for the beach. 

An even sweeter bread than sabao is mallorca bread. More than bread, you’ll often see mallorca sandwiches listed on breakfast menus. A popular way to enjoy mallorca bread in the morning is with ham, cheese, and egg. Mallorcas are typically topped with powdered sugar for a sweet and savory breakfast combo.

Puerto Rico invented the piña colada. It’s rumored to be first served at the bar at the Hilton Caribe in San Juan, so it’s a must-order when you’re on the island. The default for a piña colada at many local places is without rum, so make sure you order it with rum if you want it with alcohol.

Coconuts are abundant on the island. On the beach, you can order a coco frío, which is coconut water straight from the source in a real coconut. In many places, you can add whiskey to it and make it a “whiskey coco” if you’re feeling crazy.

When in doubt, order a mojito at a bar. It will never disappoint. In Viejo San Juan, there’s a place called Mojito To Go where you can grab a mojito pouch and hit the town.

While most Spanish speakers call passionfruit maracuyá, Puerto Ricans say parcha. You can get many cocktails with fresh local passion fruit juice from the island. Before you order, ask if the passion fruit juice is fresh. If it is, you’re in for a treat. You can pair parcha with Don Q, which is a local rum. Just order “Don Q con parcha” at any bar and tell them I’ve sent you. 

Places to eat 

Puerto Rico has a great culinary scene, from local hole-in-the-walls to elevated restaurants. These are some of the best spots to eat in San Juan, Puerto Rico. By no means is this list exhaustive, but it’s a great start to planning your trip:

Planning a trip to Puerto Rico? Check out more guides below.

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