My husband and I spent a month in Puerto Rico recently for work, and while we were there we really grew to love the island as kind of a second home. The people we met there were so hospitable and kind to us, the island itself is absolutely stunning, and the amount of high-quality restaurants was *ridiculous*.
Admittedly, my husband and I ate A LOT in Puerto Rico, and we were blown away by how delicious everything was. I wanted to recap all of our eating adventures, but writing about all of the good food we ate would have taken up an entire novel. So, I’ve narrowed it down to my top-three favorite spots! This was a hard list to put together – I’m telling you, Puerto Ricans can throw down in the kitchen. But these standouts were some of my favorite food memories and are the ones my husband and I always come back to when we reflect on our adventures in PR. 馃嚨馃嚪
Hacienda Carri贸n Caf茅 de Altura
Bayam贸n, Puerto Rico
After an all-night shift during a job in Bayam贸n, we stopped into the Hacienda Carrion for what most people would call breakfast, but we called dinner. We were greeted immediatey with a giangantic smile by the owner, Richie, a man with the towering physique of a line-backer who was artfully pulling fresh espresso in the cafe area. He said he would be right with us, while an exceptionally swaggy associate of his led us to our table.
The place instantly felt like you just stepped into a friends house, with an open kitchen and super laid back, quaint and homey dining room. We ordered a Caf茅 con leche which was soon brought over by the swaggy, hospitable gentleman from before.
Now friends, I am a (Donald Trump Voice) HUUUUUGE lover of coffee. I’ve had a lot of it, I’ve spent a lot of money on bougie coffee beans and even bougie-r coffee makers. This Caf茅 con leche was unlike anything I have ever had. The espresso was smooth, balanced, with no hint of acidity. The milk was the perfect temperature and was steamed beautifully. It was the kind of coffee that required no sugar to enjoy…though I happily plopped a spoonful in mine anyway.
Soon after, Richie came back to take our order. He pulled up a chair and sat down at our table like he was a part of our crew. He guided us through the menu, told us about his love for coffee and how he oversees the sourcing of all his own espresso beans. As we talked, he told us all the cool local spots we should check out and he never once treated us like we were weird sweaty Americans covered in dust (which we were, after changing light fixtures all night).
On to the grub. My husband I split two dishes, as we always do. He went for Richie’s recommendation and got the “Rellenas de Queso Creama y Salsa de Guayaba”, which is Brioche French toast stuffed with guava cream cheese and topped with Nutella and sliced almonds.
I went for the special – the “Dark Croque Madame” – a play on the Croque Madame sandwich featuring a local dark bread instead of brioche and Ropa Vieja instead of ham. Even though these pictures speak for themselves, I will just go ahead and confirm: both of these were 10/10. My husbands French toast was easily one of the best we’ve ever tried, and my “Dark Croque Madame” was the right amount of rich for a savory breakfast. All in all, Haceinda Carri贸n was so good that my husband and I ventured back for a second time – even though we were staying a good hour away from Bayam贸n. Richie, his inviting space, and delicious breakfast food made for a great experience that I can whole-heartedly reccomend to anyone staying remotely near Bayam贸n, PR.
Hacienda Carri贸n Caf茅 de Altura: Urb. Rexville Ave. Las Cumbres BB18 Bayamon, Puerto Rico 00957 |Facebook|Instagram
Terruno
Luqillo, Puerto Rico
Our next favorite spot is located within the kiosks of Luqillo, which is basically a sprawling strip-mall of all sorts of restaurants and shops overlooking beautiful Luqillo Beach. We visited a few restaurants in the kiosks, but Terruno was the one we returned to multiple times during our stay. My husband and I loved the chill, laid-back, but still upscale, beach vibes and the fresh, authentic Puerto Rican fare.
The place itself is cozy and just spacious enough, with a slightly elevated casual vibe. They had live music every night we were there, and we really enjoyed listening to the talented local musicans who played a great mix of Spanish and American tunes. The service is friendly, but runs a little bit on Island time, so relax and don’t rush to finish your drink.
As far as food goes, everything we had here was really solid. The standout entree was the 12 oz. Churrasco with Chimichurri sauce. I mean it when I say this is right up there as one of my favorite steaks. It was cooked a perfect medium-rare with a deliciously crispy outside. The chimichurri we ordered alongside it was the perfect accompaniment to this top-notch steak. But as much as I loved the steak, the standout of this dish ended up being the Mamposteao rice we ordered as a side.
This dish, which looks like your classic red beans and rice, is loaded with chunks of thick-cut bacon which gives the rice a deliciously comforting smokiness. We loved this rice so much, that we’ve tried to recreate it at home. We have gotten close, and as soon as we perfect it, you better believe I will be sharing that recipe with you!
What I also loved about Terreno is that they didn’t skip on plating. It made the whole experience feel a lot more upscale and worthy of the price-point. I ordered Mofongo with crispy pork and it came out looking like a work of modern art!
The pork was salty and the plantains were garlicky and rich – everything you want from a good mofongo. We took advantage of the $5 mojito special while we were there, and the fresh Passionfruit Mojito was the perfect accompaniment to my meal and the spectacular view of the beach. For a chill date-night, Turreno is the ideal spot in Luqillo.
Terru帽o: Kiosko #20, Kioskos de Luquillo, Luquillo, Puerto Rico 00773 | Facebook
Princesa Gastrobar
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan is a magnificent city. The historic backdrop of the ports and Castillo San Felipe del Morro are such a cool contrast to some of the more modern spots in the city. My favorite of those spots was the Princesa Gastrobar, a comfortably modern spot that is great for a chill lunch or a vibrant night out.
The hub and I visited around lunch time on our first day off after a very stressful week of retrofitting. We automatically vibed with the laid-back atmosphere: the string lights, natural wood, and greenery made it feel like you were dining outside, even though you were chilling in the comfort of the A/C. We settled into our table, located right by a window with views of lush trees and a courtyard. The restaurant’s ambiance reminded me of dining in a treehouse somewhere in the rainforest. Even though it’s located right off of a busy strip in Old San Juan, the trees and the “outside/inside” feel made it feel very removed from the hustle and bustle outside.
We each got one of their signature rum drinks and decided to split an entree, since both of us had unusually light appetites that day. My “El Yunque” cocktail featured cucumbers and local rum. It was crisp, refreshing, and really pretty to look at.
For lunch we picked the “La Garita” – a chicken breast stuffed with mofongo in a creamy basil and sun-dried tomato sauce. It was served alongside a Maposteao rice and saut茅ed squash.
I’m a sucker for mofongo, but this one was made with Cassava, a dense root using in Puerto Rican cooking, instead of the traditional plantains. Even though I love me some platinos, I was all about this dish. The mofongo was so creamy, almost like mashed potatoes. The sun-dried tomato sauce was a very non-traditional addition to Puerto Rican flavors, but it worked surprisingly well.
All in all, our lunch was flavorful, light and super comfortable. This spot is great for those who want to experience the flavors of Puerto Rico in a fresh, new way. I would recommend this as a great spot in Old San Juan for a romantic date night, because I am sure this spot turns up at night time. My husband and I really enjoyed our relaxing lunch at Princesa. It was the perfect upscale lunch break while exploring the historic sights of Old San Juan!
Princesa Gastrobar: Paseo La Princesa San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901 | Facebook
Have you been to Puerto Rico? Which spots did I miss? What should check out next time? Comment below & let me know! 馃尰
Leave a Reply