Puerto Rico For The Gourmet Traveler

Popular Foods & National Cuisine

Arroz Con Pollo, Asopao, Bacalao, Cocina Criolla, Lechon Asado, Plantains, Seafood, Tostones

Popular Beverages & National Drinks

Rum

Best Dining Destinations

San Juan

Foods

Arroz Con Pollo

Like many other islands and nations in Latin America, arroz con pollo is one of the national dishes of Puerto Rico. Arroz con pollo is basically chicken and rice cooked with vegetables, spices, and saffron. Peas are usually the most common and popular addition. This simple yet flavorful dish is listed on almost all local restaurant menus and is served very often on the tables of many homes.

Asopao

Probably the most traditional dish of Puerto rico, asopao is a chicken or seafood stew. Each person who creates this delightful dish has their own variations and special added touch. Usually the meat used in Asopao is heavily seasoned, then stewed to a hearty consistency.

Bacalao

Bacalao, codfish, is another popular item in the Puerto Rican diet. Usually bacalao is offered dried and heavily salted for various uses. One of the most popular dishes created with this cod is bacalao salad where the dried fish is soaked in water overnight to decrease the saltiness, shredded, and then placed on top of greens. Another way to enjoy bacalao is from the various street vendors throughout Puerto Rico who serve them deep-fried as a street food.

Cocina Criolla

Cocina Criolla is basically the style of cooking found in Puerto Rico and most all other Caribbean and Latin American locations, however each place has their own style and influences. In Puerto Rico's case, cocina criolla is largely influenced on the local ingredients as well as the mixture of cultures between long ago native indian populations and the explorers who set food on the island. Puerto Rican cuisine uses a lot of saffron, garlic, oregano, cilantro, and citrus juices. A lot of dishes are seasoned with what is called adobo, which is usually a mixture of these ingredients.

Lechon Asado

No true trip to Puerto Rico is complete without a sampling of lechon asado, or roasted pig. Many tourists who visit this Caribbean island on cruise ships or at resort stays, often miss out on the chance, simply because you have to travel around outside of the touristy areas to enjoy this succulent roast. On most weekends many small restaurants, usually off the beaten path, slowly roast large pigs on huge bbq pits for customers to enjoy on outdoor patios. Lechon asado is tender and juicy with the outside being crunchy and flavorful.

Plantains

Plantains are large starchy bananas that do not have the same qualities that regular bananas you find in the supermarket have. These bananas are used exclusively for cooking and depending on how ripe they are, different dishes can be prepared. Unlike regular bananas, plantains are most often used when they are green. This gives them are more starchy potato-like flavor and they are then fried or mashed, then fried and served as a side-dish to meal. The more yellow and browned the plantain the sweeter and softer it becomes and many will fry them to a where the outside has a crispy caramelized crust. Plantains are very popular in Puerto Rico as a side dish and as a common street food served at road-side vendors. If you ever visit one of the road side vendors along some streets in Puerto Rico, try alcapurrias, which are meats that are wrapped in plantains then deep-fried. Delicious!

Seafood

Fresh seafood is abundant and quite inexpensive in Puerto Rico. From vendors selling street foods to resort buffet lines, you will never find yourself far from sampling the local fruits of the sea. Street vendors are plenty and their offerings include various deep-fried shellfish and fish as well as conch, lobster, and shrimp vinegar salads. If you are craving for a large seafood platters, head over to one of the major resort hotels and indulge your self in an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet that more often than not includes plenty of lobster meat!

Tostones

Tostones, fried sliced of green plantains, are like french fries in the U.S. and make the perfect snack or side dish to many platters of Puerto Rican dishes.

Drinks

Rum

Rum and Puerto Rico are synonymous. Many of the world-famous rums around the world, like Bacardi, are produced on this island. If you have time when traveling to Puerto Rico try to make a stop at the Bacardi Rum distiller for a wonderful tour on how their beverages are produced. Afterwards they take you to a bar area where you can sample many of the selections they have to offer.

Destinations

San Juan

If you are staying at a resort try to get out and enjoy what San Juan has to offer at many of the restaurants around town. San Juan is composed of two sections, the main city area and Old San Juan, the colonial district. Both areas offer foods from around the world as well as more local restaurants than you could imagine. Some places in Old San Juan can be a little too touristy so ask around for some great local hot spots to enjoy real Puerto Rican Cuisine