Top 10 Must-Try Dishes on Your Puerto Rico Adventure

This piece is part of a series by United Voices, a new Dinogo initiative that unites local content creators with Dinogo editors for collaborative workshops, storytelling, and immersive experiences in destinations. We kick off our journey in Puerto Rico.

The culinary landscape of Puerto Rico has been shaped by the diverse cultures that have influenced the island throughout its history.

“[Puerto Rican cuisine] blends African heritage, Spanish traditions, and Indigenous influences, all of which are still vividly present in our food today,” says Luis Andres Cabrero, a Puerto Rican chef from Caguas with over a decade of experience in the cuisine.

Additionally, Puerto Rican cooking is deeply connected to its tropical climate, featuring fresh seafood, lush passionfruit, enormous avocados, and sweet guava. These elements create a rich culinary experience—here are 10 iconic Puerto Rican dishes you absolutely must try.

1. Arroz con gandules

Arroz con gandules is a beloved dish commonly found in Puerto Rican cuisine. As its name suggests, it primarily consists of yellow rice and pigeon peas, which resemble green peas in both appearance and flavor. This dish is seasoned with sofrito—a mix of green peppers, onions, garlic, sweet peppers, and culantro—creating a mild foundation that beautifully complements a variety of meats.

Arroz con gandules can be enhanced with additional proteins like sausage or vegetables; however, Cabrero notes that most Puerto Rican restaurants typically serve it simply as peas and rice.

Where to Enjoy It

Pair your serving of arroz con gandules with lechón asado, another essential Puerto Rican dish, at a lechonera such as Lechonera Los Amigos.

2. Limber

In Puerto Rico's warm, humid climate, the frozen delight known as limber is a popular choice. Its name is believed to be inspired by U.S. pilot Charles A. Lindbergh, who visited the island in the 1920s. Locals offered him this refreshing frozen juice dessert, which took on the name “limber” due to the way they pronounced his surname.

Limber consists of a blend of ice, fruit (or another flavor), sugar, and a creamy ingredient (like evaporated or condensed milk), all served in a plastic cup.

Where to Enjoy It

Street vendors offer a variety of flavored limbers, including coconut, guava, and strawberry, for about $1.50, making them a perfect treat to beat the heat.

3. Frituras

Frituras are the perfect snack for a beach day, available all over the island, especially along the coastline. With options like bacalaítos (crispy codfish fritters), alcapurrias (fried dough made from green bananas), or yuca stuffed with meat, there’s a fritura for everyone. Many fritura stalls also serve empanadas with various fillings, including delicious crabmeat empanadas for seafood enthusiasts.

Where to Enjoy Them

You can find frituras at most beach locations throughout Puerto Rico. Notable spots include Piñones in Loíza, the Kiosks at Luquillo Beach, and La Guancha, a scenic boardwalk in Ponce.

4. Tostones

Tostones are crispy, salty fried plantains found in nearly every Puerto Rican restaurant. To prepare this popular side dish, chefs slice unripened plantains, fry them, flatten them into round medallions, and fry them again. These golden treats are often served with a garlic herb or mayo-ketchup dipping sauce, enhancing their slightly dry texture from the frying process.

Where to Enjoy It

Visit any Puerto Rican restaurant, and you’ll likely find tostones on the menu, perfect for snacking or as a delightful side to your main dish.

5. Mofongo

Mofongo is a signature entrée of Puerto Rican cuisine, featuring unripened green plantains topped or stuffed with your choice of meat or seafood. The plantains are either fried or boiled until softened, then mashed with garlic and pork cracklings. The dish is usually finished with a savory garlic or tomato-based sauce poured over it.

Where to Enjoy It

Mofongo is quite accessible, especially at popular spots like Café Manolín and Bebo’s Café in San Juan.

6. Lechón asado

Lechón asado, or roasted suckling pig, is prepared by slow-cooking a whole pig on a rotisserie for hours. While variations of this dish can be found globally—from Spain to the Philippines—Puerto Rico’s version is typically seasoned with garlic, oregano, achiote oil (derived from annatto seeds), salt, and pepper. This subtle seasoning allows the pig’s natural flavors to shine through. While the tender meat is delicious, the crispy skin is often considered the hallmark of a perfectly cooked lechón.

Where to Enjoy It

You can find lechón asado at specialized restaurants known as lechoneras throughout Puerto Rico, especially along the famous la ruta de lechón, or “Pork Highway,” in Guavate.

7. Pastel

Pastel is a bite-sized dish typically enjoyed during festive occasions or holidays (though some restaurants offer these savory treats year-round). While they may resemble Mexican tamales, there are significant differences: the masa (dough) for pasteles is crafted from plantains and root vegetables like yuca, wrapped in banana leaves, whereas tamales are made from corn and wrapped in corn husks. Pasteles are boiled, while tamales are steamed. With countless combinations of vegetables and meats, each forkful of pastel bursts with umami flavor.

8. Morcilla

With European origins spanning over 500 years, morcilla is a staple in Puerto Rican cuisine. This dish is essentially blood sausage, made from ground pork and pork blood combined with rice, cilantro, garlic, and chili pepper. While the idea of this dark sausage may seem daunting to some, Puerto Rico also offers other popular sausage options like chorizo and longaniza for the less adventurous.

Where to Enjoy It

Delicious morcillas can be savored at Casa Vieja, a charming restaurant in Ciales, where they’re served as an appetizer. Pair it with a passion fruit sangria and enjoy the stunning mountain views.

9. Mallorca

While Puerto Rican cuisine is known for its savory dishes, a visit to a local café or bakery, called a panadería, reveals delightful sweet options as well. The mallorca is one such pastry, featuring a spiral center that resembles the Spanish ensaimada. (The name mallorca is derived from the island in Spain where ensaimada was created.) This fluffy roll is often enjoyed at breakfast, and its sweetness complements coffee perfectly. The bread can be savored on its own or sliced to make a sandwich.

Where to Enjoy It

A popular destination for mallorcas is Cafetería Mallorca, the iconic bakery located in Old San Juan. If you’re traveling along the island's west coast, don’t miss Ricomini, a local bakery chain renowned for its sandwiches.

10. Viandas

While some may argue that Puerto Rico isn’t a vegetarian-friendly destination, we believe otherwise. With a growing number of people embracing vegetarian and vegan diets, many traditional recipes highlight viandas. A vianda platter typically features root vegetables like yuca (cassava), malanga (taro), yautia (a type of taro), ñame root, and yams. You might also find green bananas and pumpkin included. These vegetables are not only rich and versatile but also very filling. While viandas often accompany lechón asado, they can stand out on their own as a satisfying dish.

Where to Find It

Viandas are linked to el campo, or the countryside. From the traditional boiled root vegetables drizzled with olive oil and vinegar to more innovative dishes, viandas can be discovered throughout the island. Bacoa, a creative restaurant set in the mountains of Juncos, features viandas in unique ways on its menu, including fire-roasted pumpkin and inventive dips made from root vegetables.

This article was initially published in March 2021 and revised in May 2023, with additional contributions from Chloe Arrojado.