When I moved to Puerto Rico, I was expecting the food to be similar to Costa Rica, but unfortunately I was wrong. Typical Puerto Rican fare is fried fried fried and then probably fried one more time for good measure. There are also a lot of really unhealthy fast food joints like your typical McDonalds, Burger King, Popeyes, etc. It really is hard to find a good meal around here, but that is something Stefan and I have accepted and perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise because it gives us an excuse to cook at home more. But, oh what I wouldn’t give for a good sushi joint…
Any how, we were in San Juan last week and went to check out Plazas Las Americas (the biggest mall in the Caribbean). We got a bite to eat at the food court and came across “La Vaca Frita” and it made us laugh. For some reason that just doesn’t sound appetizing to me, but then again I’m a weirdo, I guess because plenty of people were eating there.
This sign was posted at The Hot Potato, and it also made me laugh. I had to take a picture:
In the San Juan area, I suggest Ponte Fresco. There’s 3 locations that I know of, Guaynabo (Garden Hills), Hato Rey (Financial District), and Plaza Las Americas.
It’s like like a non-fried Puerto Rican Souplantation… without the all you can eat.
I’ll be the first to admit that a lot of street food in Puert Rico has a date with six inches of grease, but not all food in Puerto Rico is fried. Arroz con habichuelas aren’t fried, neither are ensalada de pulpo, carrucho, and camarones (octopus, conch, and shrimp salad), the same is true of sancocho, asopao, arroz con gandules, lechon, pinchos, media noche sandwiches, sandwiches cubanos, or pollo a la barilla. The list goes on and on. As for fast food that isn’t fried perhaps you should try El Meson sandwiches. They are a local sandwich chain that started on the west coast and is now found throughout the island.
In puerto Rico we fry out of tradition, just as the Spanish do in southern spain and west africans. Remember Puerto Rico is a hybrid of these cultures, and cultural traditions from these areas do not die easily.
As for sushi–there are several places in San Juan and two in Fajardo on the east coast. I can recommned none, as I usually eat Puerto Rican food in Puerto Rico and save my sushi for LA. Yet come to think of it, since the selling of my favorite sushi place I still haven’t been able to find a decent, reasonably priced place here in LA–and no I am in no mood to pay for Nobu or other such sushi-chic places. Guess I’l have to go back to the bay area to try some of my old haunts.
My suggestion is eat more rice and beans, enjoy pinchos and the various seafood salads–although I usually add more vinegar and lime juice. One thing though, the sea food really does go well with tostones, fried green plantains.
Robert - Ponte Fresco sounds like it’s right up my alley! I will be on the look out for one, definately.
Chris - I have been able to find things to eat here and there, and trust me, anywhere I can get rice and beans, I’m all about it! I was raised by crazy hippies, so I never developed a taste for fried foods and too much grease just grosses me out. I’m a picky eater, what can i say :). With that being said, Stefan and I have had some good food in Puerto Rico (Dragonfly in Old San Juan was really good), but we live in Rincon, which is a pretty small town and consistency is a problem. Almost everytime I find something that I like on a menu, it changes by the next time I order it. For example: Shipwrecks was serving this awesome hummus/tapatia appetizer with pita chips (non-fried). Next time we ordered it, it came with fried tortilla chips. Apparently they ran out of pitas and could find them any more. Smiling Joes had an amazing summer shrimp wrap that was a spring roll with a rice paper wrap…2nd time we ordered them, they were sold out and the third time we ordered them, they were fried. They apparently ran out of the rice paper wraps and never bothered to get more. Cie la vie en Rincon! We have had some really great ceviches in PR though! And all the Subway’s have a good veggie patty sandwich, which is great when we are out running around. I’ve also been able to find good pastas and whatnot, but like I said, consistency is a problem. My favorites in Rincon are:
Shipwrecks: Tuna tamari salad and veggie pasta - Consistently amazing (although pricey)! All of their salads are good too.
Bungers Bon-Acord: The wilderness salad is my new favorite. Rice and beans are also really yummy (homemade beans, not out of a can).
The Rum Shack/Smiling Joes: They have sushi during the season that is comparable to CA sushi. Currently the mahi-mahi on their menu is fab.
Calipso - I like their ensalada verde and vegetariano burrito. Quick, cheap and yummy.
Casa Verde - Good chicken sandwiches.
Tamboo - I like the vegetarian wrap and they will substitute mashed potatoes instead of french fries or tostones, although Tamboo is quite over priced.
Happy Burger - Good veggie burgers and veggie tacos, but probably not all that healthy ;).
The English Rose - Fabulous breakfasts, although not really healthy aside from the fruit plate.
The Natural High - Has decent food, but it takes forever, which is ironic since it’s a raw food place.
Sounds like I have a bunch of choices, huh!? Trust me. There was plenty of trial and error finding decent food in Rincon.
Summer: Where is Happy Burger? We’re still going through the “trial and error” phase…
Miri - Happy Burger is the little joint connected to Brisas. It’s on the 413, down the street from The Lazy Parrot/Smiling Joes/The Rum Shack. It’s run by Trina and Mike and I think they are usually open from 6pm - 2am.
Thanks. We’ll have to check them out. On another note, you might have discovered this, but the BEST thing for ant bites is Benadryl Spray Extra Strenght Itch Relief. You can get it at Walgreens. We always have a bottle in our back pockets when we work in the garden. If you get the bites quickly enough, you can avoid the itchy little blister stage.
Definitely check out sushi night (thurs) at Smilin Joe’s.
Tell Joe, Pete Bozick from MD sent ya!
Also, El Flamboyan Rest is killer, but yes lots of fried there too.