| Your experience of a place would not be | | | | participating restaurants throughout the island will |
| complete without a taste of its culinary offerings. | | | | all serve traditional Puerto Rican fare. It doesn't |
| In Puerto Rico, its criolla dishes are a must-try | | | | mean though that you can only taste authentic |
| although international and fusion cuisines are also | | | | criolla cooking in these dining places. Smaller |
| served in a lot of restaurants. Dining options run | | | | restaurants that offer native cuisines abound in |
| the gamut from upscale places to casual diners. | | | | San Juan and the rest of Puerto Rico. |
| The capital, San Juan, offers a wide and | | | | Other upscale restaurants specialize in what is |
| interesting variety of restaurants and is the | | | | called the Nuevo Latino cuisine, a culinary style |
| perfect place for the ultimate Puerto Rican food | | | | similar to criolla but predominantly uses fruits, fish, |
| experience. | | | | and tubers as main ingredients with tropical |
| Comida criolla or creole food refers to the local | | | | marinades and dark rum sauces as primary |
| cuisine in Puerto Rico. It's a melting pot (no pun | | | | flavors. Most ingredients in Nuevo Latino cooking |
| intended) of traditional Taino food, Spanish culinary | | | | are locally sourced so as to maximize the fresh |
| influence, and African cooking. Some of the most | | | | flavors of the produce. Restaurants serving this |
| popular criolla dishes are lechon asado (roasted | | | | cuisine are mostly found in San Juan and other |
| pork), adobo (seasoning made of vinegar, paprika, | | | | bigger cities of Puerto Rico. Tourists who crave |
| oil, garlin, and oregano), asopoa de pollo (stewed | | | | for international cuisines won't be disappointed as |
| chicken), habichuelas (rice and red beans served | | | | well. There are a lot of dining areas in San Juan |
| with meat), and sofrito (a sauce made of cilantro | | | | that serve Italian, French, Arabian, Mexican, |
| onion, garlic, pepper, and other seasonings and | | | | American, German, and Latin American dishes. |
| spices). Criolla cooking also features several | | | | Along with the sumptuous food, another major |
| manners of cooking plantains. There's tostones | | | | part of Puerto Rican food is the beverage. This |
| which is mashed green plantains, platanos which | | | | Caribbean island is also known for its strong |
| slightly varies from tostones in cooking style, and | | | | drinks, its national beverage being the rum. There |
| mofongo which is a ball of crushed plantains mixed | | | | are about 20 different varieties of rum here. |
| with meat or seafood that were fried and | | | | Puerto Rican coffee also packs a strong punch. It |
| flavored with seasonings such garlic and | | | | can be served as espresso, sweetened or with |
| tomato-based sauce. | | | | milk which is known as cafe con leche. If you're |
| Being nestled in the abundant waters of the | | | | looking for a milder drink, you can try coco frio |
| Caribbean, Puerto Rico certainly cannot do without | | | | which is served on a chilled coconut and a |
| seafood cuisines. The tastiest seafood dishes can | | | | selection of fresh fruit juices. |
| be found in the coastal cities. The Caribbean | | | | Budget meals in Puerto Rico usually range from |
| lobster is one of the premier catches in | | | | $5 to $15 while higher end dining can go up to |
| restaurants although the dolphinfish and red | | | | $35. Upscale restaurants often require a dress |
| snapper are popular as well. The most well-known | | | | code such as collared shirts for men and stylish |
| seafood specialty however would probably be the | | | | apparel for women while the most expensive |
| conch stuffed with tomato for a fritter or served | | | | dining venues are usually black tie. Making a |
| with a ceviche salad. | | | | reservation is recommended especially from |
| To further promote criolla cuisine to travelers, the | | | | mid-November to April when tourists are usually |
| government has created the Mesones | | | | flocking to Puerto Rico. |
| Gastronomicos program. In this project, the 30 | | | | |