6 Best Restaurants in Greater San Juan, San Juan

Huge platters of delicious comida criolla are constantly streaming out of the kitchen here. Low prices and a family atmosphere ensure that this longtime local favorite—located near the DoubleTree on the border of Condado and Santurce—is always packed. The extensive menu includes everything from grilled skirt steak to seafood-stuffed mofongo to barbecued ribs. Save room for one of the local desserts, such as flan or tres leches cake. Breakfast is also popular. Note that service, while friendly, can sometimes feel a bit rushed or distracted.

In addition to serving its signature Gustos coffee, grown in the mountains of Yauco, this café has simple sandwiches and pastries. You'll be lucky to get a seat, as it's wildly popular.

Families with kids, beachgoers in flip-flops, and businesspeople all flock to this casual, marine-theme restaurant, renowned for its seafood dishes. Grouper tacos, lightly fried and topped with a spicy slaw, are a best seller—don't leave without trying at least one. When in season, opt for the conch salad with tostones or the conch empanadilla, a local version of a turnover. For more substantial fare, order Caribbean spiny lobster, whole fried snapper, or arroz con mariscos, La Cueva's version of a paella. Ask for the homemade hot sauces; they pair wonderfully with the flavorful seafood dishes. 

People pack this playful café—where bustling servers wear cheeky "Eat Me!" T-shirts—to enjoy fresh wraps, sandwiches, salads, batidas (fruit smoothies), and coffee. You might not need another meal for the rest of the day if you finish the Drunken Pilot, a breakfast dish with four eggs, spinach, tomato, onion, mushroom, and goat cheese. At lunch, try the popular Surfer, a hot, pressed sandwich with turkey, mozzarella, basil, tomato, and pesto mayo. It's often nearly impossible to find a seat at lunchtime, but don't worry: order takeout, and head to the beach for an alfresco meal. Pinky's also has a branch on Ashford Avenue in Condado.

The three "B's" in this bright-yellow restaurant's name stand for bueno, bonito, y barato, a common saying that means "good, pretty, and affordable." Tasty and inexpensive—no wonder it's such a hit with everyone from beachgoers to artists to young professionals. Order at the window, and sit at one of the picnic-style tables on the wooden deck. The grouper ceviche is a favorite dish, as is the beef slider on a sweet Hawaiian bun with tamarind and coffee barbecue sauce. A bar and coffee shop are also on-site. Come back at night for cocktails; it's a fun place to mingle with locals.