25 of the best Central Florida restaurants serving Puerto Rican food

By Orlando Weekly Staff on Sat, Feb 22, 2020 at 5:57 pm

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

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25 of the best Central Florida restaurants serving Puerto Rican food

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