Anybody who hasn’t experienced it cannot imagine what it is like, leaving your home and memories behind in Puerto Rico, and coming to start new ones in Central Florida. Orlando has the largest Puerto Rican population in Florida, and the fastest-growing, rising from 4 percent in 1980 to 14 percent in 2019. The cultural and political impact of Puerto Ricans in Central Florida is similar to that of Cuban Americans in South Florida. That’s one big reason why it’s so important to have a taste of home. And it’s definitely good news for everyone who isn’t Borinqueño.

From Orange County to Osceola, culinary adventure awaits, with dishes straight from the island. Put on your pava and pop open a cold Medalla, and get ready to loudly chat away with friendly strangers, as you get nice and jartito in these four and five-star restaurants, eateries and food trucks with some of Orlando’s best Puerto Rican food!

Gallery by Lillian Hernández Caraballo

 

 

 

 

 

El Cilantrillo Restaurant 3628 W Vine St., Kissimmee, (407) 201-4505 Located near Orlando airport, at the heart of the City Beautiful, this family-run restaurant offers a variety of both Puerto Rican traditional dishes and original takes on old favorites. The owners, a married couple who came to the Diaspora from the island, formed El Cilantrillo with a vision to stand out from the rest. Come and check out their varied menu and try dishes you forgot about, like arroz cilantro and mamposteado (a rice with seafood dish). Or some well-known international classics with a crillo spin, like chicken cordon bleu and stuffed chicken breasts. Ask about their kids menu and desserts! Photo via El Cilantrillo Restaurant/Facebook
Achiote Puerto Rican Restaurant 12325 S. Orange Blossom Trail, 407-219-4089 This place takes Puerto Rican cuisine to the next level of fine dining. Enjoy the foods you love like you’ve never seen them prepared before. The care in every dish is obvious. Achiote pride themselves on having Puerto Rican dishes found almost nowhere else off the island, including traditional alcoholic drinks that require special liquors and fruits. Come with a large party for live music and events, or sit at a quiet table. They cater, too. Photo via Achiote/Facebook
Guavate 422 S Alafaya Trail #20, (407) 281-4700 Colorful, cheerful eatery that serves traditional Puerto Rican dishes, such as chicharrones & mofongos, bacalao frito (cod friture), stuffed mofongo and more – all made to order and to perfection. With a fine dining flair, they have been repeatedly named one of the places for Puerto Rican food in Orlando. Come and see why. Photo via Guavate/Facebook
Melao Bakery 2001 Consulate Drive, 407-348-1777 With sandwiches, hot and sweet pastries, fresh-baked bread and delicious artisan coffees (melaítos), this joint has the perfect combination to open early for breakfast. They hot cereals, hot chocolates, and other traditional breakfast favorites like eggs and jamonilla. It’s like you went to your grandma’s house and she’s spoiling you. They also have fresh cold salads, a variety of soups, broths, potato dishes, and dinner entrees. Hands down, it’s one of the best places in town – don’t be surprised if it comes up next time you ask your Puerto Rican friends for a good place to eat. Often when thinking of Puerto Rican deliciousness, this place tends to come to mind first. Come for their live entertainment and Puerto Rican comedians, too. Photo via Melao Bakery/Facebook
Grillers Puerto Rico 9565 S Orange Blossom Trail, (407) 394-6445 If you are hungry and in the mood for a huge dish, this is the place. With a full bar and a spacious dining area that will make you think you are back in San Juan, their menu offers chicharrón de pollo en hueso (rinds of fried chicken on bone), arañitas (plantain spiders), churrasco con crema de ajo (steak and garlic cream), seafood and so much more. With happy hour, live music, and a rich history, you’re in for a good time. Try their chillo relleno (stuffed snapper) on special occasions. Photo via Grillers Puerto Rico/Facebook
Coquí 4004 South Orlando Drive, Sanford, (407) 732-4660 Specializing only in Puerto Rican flavor eatery and located in the heart of Sanford, food is cooked fresh for you. The daily specials are posted every morning, as they open early for breakfast and stick around for lunch and dinner. Mofongo con chicharrón is one of their specialties, as it is just making you happy, especially in the mornings. A lot of people seem to forget that it isn’t all about tostones at dinner, a lot of us value the heck out of a place that can serve a true Puerto Rican breakfast. Come and feel like family back at home in this place, where all that’s missing is the coquí. Photo via Coquí/Facebook
Donde Sea 1620 Premier Row Unit B, (407) 969-4250 Open only Thursday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to midnight, this is the place where your wife always wants to come to eat, “Anywhere.” With an item selection seldom seen in other Puerto Rican eateries, like pinchos, jugo de tamarindo (natural tamarind juice), el famoso dufongo con cuajo y morcilla – no te equivoques! (dufongo, with pig’s ears and tripe) -, tripleta sandwiches, jugo de acerola natural (Puerto Rican cherry juice), and otro montón de cosas that you’ll think you’re back in your old vecindario. This food truck is filled with friendly staff working hard on creative and traditional dishes, made just the way you remember them. Photo via Donde Sea/Instagram
Lechonera Latina Multiple locations: 9998 E Colonial Drive – (407) 249-0207 11229 E Colonial Drive #110 – (407) 507-6903 3806 Curry Ford Road – (407) 930-0663 With three locations, you can’t miss these guys. They bring the best of hot and ready Puerto Rican and Latin foods to you. With their hot food line, cafeteria-style, you can come in and choose from all the good-looking trays of aromatic dishes, ready to serve. You can sit around to enjoy, but many people pack it up as take-out. They also prepare sandwiches and other dishes to order, if you want something to go with your pork rib stew. Ask about their desserts, too! Photo via Lechonera Latina/Facebook
Mamajuana Latin Bistro 75 E Colonial Drive, (407) 601-2716 Formerly known as Vinyl Rum+Tapas Lounge, they have rebranded as MamaJuana Latin Bistro & Rum Bar. They offer a Latin-style small plates and entrees like Mama makes. We also have some unique Dominican-style rum cocktails that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Casual dining with an elegant flair, come to Mama Juana’s if you feel like Puerto Rican food but also something new and exciting. Photo via Mamajuana Latin Bistro/MamajuanaLatinBistro.com
Antojitos Boricua 477 FL-50 Clermont, (407) 497-5849 Owner and cook José will be laughing and joking around with you as he makes sure you get some good grub from his friendly food truck. He says the idea of Antojitos Boricuas is to bring the Puerto Rican kitchen to its fullest expression. “Antojitos” translates into “cravings,” so don’t expect rice and beans here. These are “picaderas,” finger foods for the most part. Chicharrón de pollo, carne frita, mofongo, empanadillas de todas clase con carne, pollo, queso, camarones, también tostones, alcapurrias, sandwiches boricuas como las tripletas y mucho más! Come and give yourself a gustito and jampéate a bunch of these little antojitos – with a Heineken, of course. Photo via Antojitos Boricuas/Facebook
Mi Viejo San Juan Restaurant 7229 E. Colonial Drive, 407-380-2061 Straight-up Puerto Rican meat & seafood dishes delivered in an intimate, family-run environment. They offer a soup of the day, and some of their specialities include: chuleta can can (which is a rib/pork chop), mofongo seasoned in house condiments, fried red snapper, and their Mariscada, a seafood salad of conch, octopus and shrimp. The staff says they work for your praise and aims to make sure your experience is flawless. They have a great reputation for bringing the authentic flavor and atmosphere that takes us back to the island. Photo via Mi Viejo San Juan/MiViejoSanJuanRest.com
Sabor del Caribe 3020 Lamberton Blvd, (407) 757-0578 Sabor Del Caribe is a 100% authentic Puerto Rican cuisine, specializing in all your favorite foods. They are considered a scratch kitchen, meaning all dishes are freshly made by hand and from scratch every day. Want chillo frito (fried snapper)? They will season and fry your fish fresh on the spot. They also open a fresh line of hot food ready-to-eat every day. So, come sit or grab a to-go box if in a hurry, At Sabor del Caribe, they run on your time. Photo via Sabor del Caribe/Facebook
Sazoncito Restaurant 4542 S Semoran Blvd, (407) 930-7315 A spacious dining area at this casual diner, with a hot food line, cafeteria style, or made to order food, the place has a little bit of everything when it comes to Puerto Rican food. Come check out live 21+ events with DJs and drinks all night. Wake up the next day with an appetite for some mofongo and carne frita and come back to this friendly establishment. Don’t forget to get your food with a side of fresh avocado! Ask about their $4.99 and $5.99 lunch specials!. Photo via Sazoncito Restaurant/Facebook
Pa’l Campo 13605 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, 407.778.4600 You’ll feel like you’re back at grandma’s. Voted best Puerto Rican food restaurant in 2017, 2018 and 2019 by Orlando Sentinel readers, the place holds up to its reputation. Not many Puerto Rican food eateries understand “delicious” doesn’t have to be over-salt, but this place gets it! (Denme un Aleluya, hermanos!) They simply know the ways of the abuelitas to marinate, season, and cook the food, so that it tastes like a piece of the island. Come see for yourself in this dining experience of Pa’l Campo, where they know how to treat a Boricua. Photo via Pa’l Campo/Facebook
Lechonera El Jibarito 1985 S John Young Parkway, (407) 935-0035 The name says it all – true traditional Puerto Rican dishes, made like by someone who has never left the island. Barbecue pork on premises, lechón a la vara (the tradition of a whole pig cooked over fire, or pig on a spit) – ask for a cuajo (pig’s ear)! There will be music playing on the weekends, typical sounds of the motherland, along with aromas and tastes that will make you think (or wish) you never left. Photo via Lechonera El Jibarito/Facebook
787 Mofongo 6715 Narcoossee Road, 6715 Narcoossee Rd You know that area code! One of Orlando’s most beloved food trucks brings you tastes of the island! They set up tables and chairs right outside, so you can sit and stay a while enjoying hot, delicious food with a cold can of Coke. A friendly staff, playing music and talking with you while you savor the food, will make you feel like right at the beach or the local placita. That’s what it’s all about right there – just bringing a little piece of home, a little bit of who we are, and what we know to do – make each other happy through laughter, love, music and food! Come order and enjoy Puerto Rican cuisine classics! Photo via 787 Mofongo/Facebook
Willie’s Pinchos 1718 N Goldenrod Road, (407) 486-5485 If you’re looking for pinchos (shishkabobs) made the right way: barbecued slowly in tin foil, then you’ve come to the right place. One bite of these and you’d swear you’re chilling on the beaches of Fajardo with your panas. To complement the pinchos, Willie’s offer tostones (plantain fritures), homemade garlic bread made with Puerto Rican bread slices, salad, mofongo, papitas, seafood, and even Kola Champagne and jugos naturales to drink! It’s an all-in-one chill spot that makes you feel right at home. Photo via Willie’s Pinchos/Facebook
Mi Pan Boricua 4063 S Goldenrod Road, (407) 207-3399 Don’t let the name fool you. They have a little bit of everything. Opening early at 7 a.m., they bake their own bread and offer a number of traditional breakfast items, as well as lunch and dinner. From a variety of sandwiches and frituras (fried goods), just as you remember them, to dishes like mom used to make for dinner, arroz con carne guisada (white rice and stewed beef). Check out their steak and onions! (Bistec encebolla’o!) Photo via Mi Pan Boricua/MiPanBoricuaCafe.com
Piñones en Orlando 8650 East Colonial, (321) 594-0116 Easily the most famous Puerto Rican food truck in Central Florida, you can find seafood delicacies and fritures here that will make you think you’re standing right at Piñones. Reminiscent of the famous spot on the island, the cook offers seafood as their main game but they have a little bit of everything, like the ”Bellaquín,” which has amarillitos (sweet plantains) with a chicken or shrimp in salsa, over rice, and a party of mozzarella cheese melted on top. Or the “Mofongo Mixto,” which is the perfect combo for your palate. Pair it with conch, octopus and shrimp for an island experience that is authentic and fresh! Photo via Piñones en Orlando/Facebook
Taínos Bakery & Deli 5806 Lake Underhill Road, (407) 482-2404 For our foodie friends out there, get the cake for your next party on your way out, after you’ve had a banging tostonwich (or jibarito, a gluten-free sandwich of churrasco with tostones in place of bread) and a side of quesitos and a coffee…. What? Yup, you got it all, here at Taínos, where they remember what Boricuas like to eat when they’re out and about. You will find tripletas, mofongos, sweet Puerto Rican bread, and all sorts of desserts. It all smells as good as it looks and tastes even better! These guys know what they’re doing! Photo via Taínos Bakery & Deli/Facebook
El Primo La Casa de las Alcapurrias 1618 Pleasant Hill Road Kissimmee, (407) 785-1856 This cute little food stand specializes in alcapurrias of all kinds. Stuffed ones, plain ones, with meat, seafood, made with plantains, yuca… all fried to perfection and served with dipping sauces. El Primo also offers other Puerto Rican finger foods, like pinchos, tostones, tiny stuffed mofongos, carne frita, longanizas, morcillas and much more. Don’t forget to order a Malta India to go with it! Photo via El Primo La Casa de las Alcapurrias/Facebook
Sofrito Latin Café 8607 Palm Parkway, (407) 778-4205 Enjoy Puerto Rican and other Latin foods uniquely brought together to perfection. When’s the last time you sat down to enjoy a plate of pastelón y potato salad? Colmbian, Cuban, Venezuelan, Argentinian and Caribbean – here, they’re all family! Come and try something different, maybe find a new favorite complement to chuletas, and leave happy. Photo via Sofrito Latin Café/Facebook
Valisa Bakery 1654 North Semoran Blvd, (407) 250-6050 The ultimate Puerto Rican bakery! Come to Valisa’s to get a flan de vainilla o de queso (vanilla or cream cheese flans), pastelillos de carne (meat pastries), pastelillos de guayaba (guava pastries), pan de agua (Puerto Rican bread) and pan sobao (sweet Puerto Rican bread), sandwiches (hot or cold), tres leches, tembleque, arroz con dulce, sorullitos (cornmeal rolls), empanadillas and incredible coffee. Plus, many other foods on a hot food line, cafeteria style, like rice, beans, pernil, and stews. This is the one-stop place to get your fix. Ask about their $5.95 lunch special! Photo via Valisa Bakery/Facebook
El Cerro Restaurant 811 HWY-50, Clermont, +352 24 24 66 9 Named after one of Puerto Rico’s characteristic points, our historical mountain range, this place brings the honor of the island to Orlando. With pride in their professionalism and their work, watch experienced chefs turn ordinary house dishes into masterpieces. Your favorites that you don’t see everywhere, like arroz congrí (black bean rice) and pechuga encebollada (chicken breast and onions), since 2007, the place stands as one of the best. Order from the store front, or come on in, you’re the boss at El Cerro, and you’ll notice in the quality customer service. Open early for breakfast, lunch and dinner, come and jampéate your favorite meal and leave jartito and satisfied. Photo via El Cerro Restaurant/Facebook
El Cafetal Bakery and Restaurant 6125 S Semoran Blvd, (407) 270-5904 In a convenient spot of town, a perfect cup of artisan coffee awaits you. Paired with artisan bread, start your day the right way, the way you wish you always could, with Puerto Rican delights. Every day El Cafetal uses fresh ingredients to promote the heritage that fills our community with pride. Come and try the foods that keep happy customers coming back and has built a reputation for this elegant yet homey establishment. Don’t miss special events at this city-recognized treasure! Photo via El Cafetal Bakery and Restaurant/Facebook
El Flamboyán 12141 S Orange Blossom Trail, (407) 857-8008 Every Puerto Rican knows that when you leave the island to come here, Puerto Rican food and the store at the esquinita, are not the only things we leave behind. One thing people seldom talk about is how we leave behind our own version of Chinese food. See, going to your local “China Garden” in Borikén is not the same as going here – the menu is actually different and it’s legit one of the things some of us miss most. Well, miss it no more, Orlando friends! Here is one of the only fusion restaurants that recreate the art of Puerto Rican Chinese food just for you! With rich, new and luscious flavors, for over 20 years, El Flamboyán, named after our native tree of fire flowers, has offered a perfect blend of taste and quality with fresh, made-to-order meals. The delicious food is also a healthy treat. Not only do they offer Puerto Rican Chinese, but they specialize also in Chifa (Peruvian Chinese)! If you’ve ever had chifa before, you know you’re in for a delicacy, as very few Hispanics know how to make Chinese food as well as Peruvians. Never had it? Come try it, or order online from this fusion dream! Photo via El Flamboyán/Facebook
El Chinchorro 75 5565 Old Cheney Hwy., (407) 927-7672 The official chinchorro Orlando. Though temporarily closed for renovations, they do plan to return soon and with a grand opening! The old place used to have outside lighting and seating, in an environment where you are part of the party. More of a social gathering than a restaurant, when you come eat at Chinchorro 75, you are coming to meet new neighbors and make new friends. So grab a pava and a pandereta while you wait on your weekend sancocho, and play the day away with some bomba y plena rhythms with everybody else. Inside or outside, the party and dancing keep going while everyone eats and laughs, like you’re back at the island and nothing ever changed. Fresh-made food brings an authentic taste and aroma, like they’re bringing the best memories of the island to Orlando. Try stuff you haven’t had since you were a kid, like potato balls, limbers, empanadas, chinchorro plates, moricallas, alitas, sancocho, frituras, cerdo a la vara, longaniza, tostones de pana – and much more! Photo via El Chinchoro 75/Facebook
Trópico Mofongo Restaurant 3160 Vineland Road Suite#2, (407) 397-7666 Puerto Rican and Dominican food at great prices. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily in a simple and cozy setting. Open to all who enjoy good latin food. Family-owned and operated since 2012, offers only fresh & natural ingredients. The chef prepares an extensive menu of colorful and exotic dishes to dine-in or take-out ….all with that home-like flavor for those who love and enjoy Latin culture. Photo via Trópico Mofongo Restaurant /Facebook