31 Best Restaurants in El Yunque and the Northeast, Puerto Rico

This laid-back spot has elevated Puerto Rican street food to an art form, thanks to two New Yorkers (one Puerto Rican) with restaurant pedigrees who decided to leave the big city and open a new spot dedicated to barbecue in an old gas station outside the Conquistador Resort. Highlighting products obtained from local fishermen and farmers, and smoking their own meats in an outdoor kitchen, Idalia García and Kevin Roth's awesome joint is one of Puerto Rico's don't-miss culinary treats. Settle into one of the mismatched patio tables—be it teak, cedar, or concrete—order up a cocktail, and get ready to feast.

This Spanish-style tapas restaurant has a variety of menu items and daily specialties. They pride themselves on a robust wine menu and have a selection of decadent desserts. From serrano ham to gambas al ajillo, they have tasty and fresh dishes that will make you feel like you're in Madrid. 

This steak-and-chop eatery attracts so many English-speaking tourists that management doesn't bother printing a Spanish menu. Nearly every dish on the expansive menu is made to be washed down with beer. Televisions broadcast the latest sporting events, and bands often replace the jukebox on weekends. Free Wi-Fi is available.

Chef Daniel Vasse's French country-style dishes are some of the island's best. The Marseille-style bouillabaisse is full of fresh fish and bursts with the flavor of a white garlic sauce. Something less French? Choose steak or fish simply prepared on the grill, and pair it with a bottle from the extensive wine cellar. A Sunday brunch buffet (including a brunch cocktail) offers a seemingly endless seafood bar, drawing people from all over the island.

A brunch spot with a twist, at Chupacabras you have the option of painting a canvas while you dine and take the souvenir home with you. Learn about the chupacabra legend while dining on breakfast staples like their namesake French toast and breakfast platters. The fresh-brewed coffee and flavored mimosas are a hit, with options like tamarind and Caribbean cherry.

A perfect place for a breakfast or brunch before heading out to watch the surfers and boogie boarders at Luquillo beach, Coffee Therapy & Brunch has become a local staple in the town. Nothing is rushed here, but you can still have a quick stop by if needed. Make sure to try the many types of French toast, or try one of the hot cereals if you're looking for something light and easy.

The passion for food, music, culture is strong here, with food that tastes like a Cuban grandmother made it. The food is so amazing that they serve it in to-go boxes, knowing that you'll want to take some home for later. The bar is creating unforgettable cocktails that mix of Cuban and Puerto Rican practices, and with friendly bartenders that can guess what you'd like next. Community is what is valued here and it shows on the weekends when one of the owners plays her live mixes while the town of Luquilo comes in to dance and salsa the night away. 

This ice-cream shop has more than 30 flavors available and is home of the fried ice cream. The chairs are swings and the walls are coated with newspaper clippings and pictures of famous guests over the years, chronicling its long history in the community. Chances are high you'll find the owner on-site, serving guests herself. 

An elevated vegan find on the island, this outdoor eatery features healthy smoothies, fresh juices, acai bowls, plant-based burgers, and more. The setting is an outdoor garden with board games and hammocks.

This bright and inviting corner café serves breakfast and brunch. You'll likely be greeted by the owner on the your way in. Tasty menu items include the Don Tito, a waffle sandwich with grilled ham, cheese, and bacon, and their indulgent pancakes, a feast for the eyes and stomach.

Best known for their brunch, the cuisine here is a blend of Puerto Rican and European influences. The arepa Benedict is a welcome twist on a well-known dish, and options like the guava French toast showcase island flavors. They also have a tapas menu with small bites like ceviche and croquettes.

Forget McDonald's and Taco Bell; in Puerto Rico, a beachside kiosk like this one is the place to go for fast food. El Kiosko Boricua ticks all the boxes for fried Puerto Rican goodies, with alcapurrias, arepas, and bacalaítos among the items on offer. Wash it all down with fresh coconut water or the local beer, Medalla.

One among the ever-changing cast of restaurants along Route 187, the New Aquarium, like its neighbors, won't win any awards for decor and design. The setting here is decidedly laid-back, with plastic tables and chairs serving as the humble backdrop for some stellar seafood. Vegetarians should request the special meatless mofongo. The service is friendly and attentive, and the location—a literal stone's throw from the Atlantic—can't be beat.

This family-owned and -operated restaurant serves breakfast and brunch. They have fresh squeezed juices, like passionfruit with a hint of lime. They also have decadent waffles piled high with toppings and baked goods for purchase. 

There's a string of seafood shacks in the village of Las Croabas, all serving delicious fried fish. This open-air eatery, with tables covered with straw umbrellas and anchored by a bustling square bar, takes things up a notch or two. It's almost across from the Balneario Seven Seas, making it a great place to refuel after a day at the beach. The only drawback is that it's pricey.

Panoramic views and classic Puerto Rican recipes take centerstage at this open air restaurant that is popular for events and photoshoots. The stuffed mofongos come in every variety, from skirt steak to octopus. It is family friendly with a children's play area. On occasion, they have live music. 

There are dozens of kioskos, or food stands, along Route 3 on the way to Luquillo Beach, most offering humble local fare, much of it fried. This full-service restaurant raises the bar for its culinary counterparts. Open every day, usually satisfying at least one rowdy tourist bus, the open-air spot delivers sizzling seafood in generous portions. There are even a couple of steaks on the menu that are guaranteed to satisfy the most ravenous carnivores. Like its neighbors, La Parrilla faces the street, but there's a comfortable patio in the rear where you can kick back with an ice-cold beer or sangria and escape the traffic noise.

Enjoy the seafood catch of the day while sitting oceanside on the sand at this fine dining establishment inside Palmas Del Mar. They have an outside bar and live music on occasion. The lobster Thermidor and mahimahi are delightful. 

This seafood restaurant serves fresh-caught fish and is recommended during lobster season for a larger-than-life stuffed Caribbean spiny lobster. They have outdoor seating available with scenic swinging seats, as well as a bar on-site making popular concoctions from sangria to mojitos.

This rooftop café boasts 360-degree views, shaded by patio umbrellas and located by the ocean. The owner, Gladys Cuadrado, personally greets guests as they enter, starting them off with perhaps a seasonal assortment of fruit and simple syrup. The coco-banana pancakes, which can be made gluten-free, and Benedict Boricua with arepa are both scrumptious. 

Offering the best lamb gyros on the island, this is a casual breakfast and lunch spot serving Mediterranean dishes with a Puerto Rican flair. From falafel to baklava, there are large portions to ensure you don't leave hungry. They also have a variety of coffee options and natural juices made from Puerto Rican fruits like tamarindo, passion fruit, and acerola. 

This restaurant is locally owned and family run. They have a popular brunch menu with a variety of breakfast burritos, a waffle sandwich, and frittata for two. They recently completed an outdoor expansion to include a taco bar and pizza oven. The establishment is dog-friendly.  

When it comes to Mexican food, this place is the real deal. For lunch, grab a few tacos (soft or crispy), or try one of the classic Mexican entrées. There's a reason devoted travelers return regularly. Wash down the generous portions with oversize margaritas to match, or choose from a large selection of Mexican beers. The pleasant dining room, decorated with slightly kitschy paintings of simple village life, is on the second floor of a building just east of Luquillo. Parking is limited.

Northern Italian dishes—such as veal marsala or fillet of beef with a caramelized shallot Barolo reduction—are the star attractions at this top-notch restaurant, where the staff is attentive and amiable. The dining room, with its black-and-white checkerboard floor and dark-wood paneling, is elegant and refined. Before sunset, you can catch a glimpse of the sea through dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows. After dinner, specialty coffees are served in mugs engulfed in blue flames, a showstopper that has people at neighboring tables applauding.

At this beloved Fajardo restaurant, chef Myrta Pérez Toledo transforms traditional dishes into something special. Succulent cuts of meat and fish are presented in unexpected ways. A perfectly cooked flank steak rolled into a cylinder served on end has a slightly sweet tamarind sauce that brings out the meat's earthy flavors. If you're a seafood lover, start with the lime-infused red snapper ceviche and move on to lobster medallions broiled in butter. For dessert, order the Caribbean Sun, an ice-cream sundae that blends caramel, cinnamon, and chocolate toppings.

Humacao and its neighboring towns have plenty of humble spots where you can pull up at a table and order traditional Puerto Rican fare. While the name is more evocative of Costa Rica than Puerto Rico, the menu's heavy emphasis on all things plantain will reassure you of your Caribbean location. This place is nothing fancy, but locals rave about its mofongo and fish.

Perched on a mountaintop, this restaurant—a convenient option for Wyndham Grand Río Mar guests who don't want to dine on-site but are willing to pay resort prices—has a pair of open-air dining rooms with views to Vieques on a clear day. The atmosphere is festive; there's often a game playing on one of the big screens or a local band jamming on the weekend. Seafood is the specialty here—try the fried plantain appetizer, filled with shrimp, conch, octopus, or lobster, then move on to the whole red snapper or the pineapple rice with shrimp served on the pineapple itself.

Located in the Wyndham Grand Río Mar Rainforest Beach and Golf Resort, Roots Coastal Kitchen serves Caribbean comfort food. It was developed by executive chef Ramón Carrillo in collaboration with top chef finalists Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth. The grilled swordfish with coconut sticky rice and kataifi wrapped shrimp is a signature dish. They have a selection of ice creams available for dessert, in the restaurant or at a busy to-go window.

Sabor Boriitaly is known for their satisfying mofongo variations, like their namesake mofongo with chicken, steak, shrimp, and mozzarella cheese. This is also a place for casual fare like burgers and fries. The service is quick and attentive. The dining area is informal under a covered outdoor area. This is a convenient stop on your way to or from the ferry.