Puerto Rican Cuisine: An Overview

Puerto Rico’s diversity extends to its menus as well. There is the spicy but sumptuous Creole cuisine, comida criolla that literally means food of the island. The juicy barbequed beef, a speciality of the South American restaurants should be sampled. There are a variety of good local dishes that you must taste such as the mixed stew, beef stew, empanadillas (dough filled with fish or meat) and Pastillas (banana leaf stuffed with peas, yucca, meat and pork and then boiled). If you’re not looking for a complete meal but a little respite from the heat, step into the one of the cafes that offer arrays of delicious pastries accompanied by a cup of strong Puerto Rican coffee. Other than this, you can also bite into one of the ripe and often juicy tropical fruits that are available all over. As most food items are imported, you’ll realise that browsing through super markets is as cheap or expensive as eating at a restaurant.

As one of the major rum producing country, no food talk is complete without an accompanying discussion on drinks. There are a variety of rums that are produced and served. Don Q is the local favourite and even beats the world famous Bacardi rum. If you’re looking for something lighter, you can always opt for beer.