15 Best Traditional Puerto Rican Foods

Old San Juan is filled with delicious food in Puerto Rico to sink your teeth into. From soft mofongo and a loaded-up tripleta to a refreshing piña colada and everything in between, one thing is for sure — you won’t struggle to find traditional Puerto Rican food as you wander the old town. Still wondering, what are traditional Puerto Rican foods? Simply follow the aromas of sizzling meats and savoury sauces through the streets. You might even stumble across morcilla Puerto Rican food, a blood sausage that's a common delicacy around the holidays. 

What are some Puerto Rican foods you should try? The variety is endless, so trust your nose and your taste buds, and you’ll soon discover famous Puerto Rican foods that will keep you coming back for more. And if you’re still stumped on what to order, here are some of the best suggestions to add to your Puerto Rican foods list.

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1. Mofongo

2. Tripleta

If you’re on a foodie vacation looking for a monster of a sandwich, then you have to dig into a tripleta. This authentic Puerto Rican food favorite is usually made with chicken, ham and beef — yes, all three! It’s the perfect late-night (or early morning) snack to soak up a night of heavy drinking. Because of this, the best places to find this colossal wonder are at a late-night food truck or bakery. Finish your night off right with one of the most famous Puerto Rican foods!

This Puerto Rican cuisine can also be stuffed with Swiss cheese, lettuce, ketchup, cabbage, tomatoes, onions, mayonnaise and potato sticks. If you’re looking for added crunch, ask the cook to grill your bread once the sandwich has been assembled. This will result in the most delicious drippy, meaty, cheesy meal, and make it a frontrunner for the best food in Puerto Rico.

3. Lechon Asado

4. Quesitos

Start your day off the right way — that is, with a quesito. The warm, crunchy, flaky pastry is usually stuffed with cheese, but not always. Flavors can include guayaba (guava), dulce de leche, salted caramel and even bacon. This is a great choice for kids, making it a family-friendly option. 

The deep-fried snack is filled with the flavored paste and cream cheese and then stuck in a deep fryer so that every bite you take has the perfect amount of crunch. Be sure to add it to your Old San Juan food tour and try every flavor you can. It definitely belongs on any Puerto Rican foods list if you’re looking for something sweet.

5. Alcapurrias

Like some of these other favorites, you can often find alcapurrias at stands on the side of the road. To prepare this typical Puerto Rican food, the fried fritter is made with a batter (called the masa) of green bananas and grated yautia, or Xanthosoma. It’s often stuffed with crab, shrimp or lobster and deep-fried to achieve its delicious flavor.

If you’re feeling adventurous (or just particularly hungry), you can also sample cuchifritos, which are stuffed with pork; almojabanas, which are cheese-filled rice flour fritters; and bunuelos, which are yam fritters. Try taking them along for a delicious lunch when you head to one of San Juan’s beaches. You can pick some up on the way and then enjoy them while soaking up the sun (and try pairing it with a local beer or piña colada for the full authentic Puerto Rican food experience).

6. Bacalaitos

7. Tostones

8. Arroz Con Gandules

9. Asopao De Pollo

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10. Tembleque

11. Flan De Queso

12. Tres Leches

13. Mallorca Bread

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14. Cafe

Because of the numerous coffee bean plantations scattered along the island of Puerto Rico, you know you’re going to get a fantastic cup of coffee wherever you go. Sip on a hot cup of cafe in the morning before you begin exploring the city. Enjoy the smooth, sweet blend while you wait for the caffeine to kick in and wake you up for a beautiful day exploring everything San Juan offers. 

You can also pair your cup o’ joe with a crispy, flaky breakfast sandwich or a hot-out-of-the-oven pastry. Enjoy your coffee alfresco or in a trendy cafe with the locals who know exactly how to appreciate Puerto Rico traditional food and drink.

15. Pina Coladas

Cool off after an afternoon of sightseeing in the sun with an ice-cold, frosty piña colada. The official drink of the island since 1978, these are served up just about anywhere — find them in bars, restaurants and even roadside kiosks, and order them with or without rum. 

If you’re interested in trying the “original,” two spots claim the rights to that title. The Caribe Hilton says they’ve been serving it since 1954, when Ramon “Monchito” Marrero mixed up his first one. However, the staff at the Barrachina Restaurant say the original piña colada was created by Ramon Portas Mingot in 1963. Whoever is right, the delicious cocktail is a must for your Old San Juan food tour. Pair it with typical Puerto Rican food, and you have a perfect afternoon refreshment.

Whether you’re sampling pernil Puerto Rican food (roast pork), sipping on piña coladas or seeking out morcilla Puerto Rican food, these dishes are a perfect introduction to traditional Puerto Rican foods. Still wondering what are traditional Puerto Rican foods? This list is a fantastic place to start exploring the national dish for Puerto Rico and other popular Puerto Rican foods that have made this Latin American cuisine world-famous.