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From Fried Plantains to Fresh Caught Fish: San Juan Food Tour

 
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San Juan is a popular tourist destination in the Caribbean, both as a cruise stop as well as a beach destination. With a diverse food scene, any stop here wouldn’t be complete without a sampling of the local cuisine that you can’t get anywhere else. Fried plantain dishes, fresh caught fish, and irresistible street food are just a few of the staples that this iconic port town is known for.  To make sure you don’t miss out, we’ve got our picks for the best food to try during a trip to San Juan.

Mofongo

Miniature monfongo dishes are prepared in little wooden bowls

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While the rest of this list is not in any particular order, Mofongo certainly is at the top of the list of things you need to try at San Juan. This traditional dish is made from green plantains that are fried and mashed together with olive oil, garlic, and chicharrón. It is then molded into a shape, usually a ball or cylinder, and can be served with all kinds of sides, like shrimp, octopus, pork, or veggies. For the complete experience, get yours with salsa criolla, a tangy relish made from marinated red onions that is the perfect topping for this iconic dish!

Jibarito Sandwich

A jibarito steak sandwich entices with its golden brown crust

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The jibarito is a sandwich like any other, with one key difference: instead of a bun, it uses fried plantains that have been smashed into thin, crispy pieces. A typical jibarito will come with some kind of aioli sauce, standard veggies like lettuce and tomato, and some kind of protein like pork or steak. Pictured above is a steak jibarito and one glance at it should be all the convincing you need to add this to your list of foods to try in San Juan.

Pastelón

Fresh baked patelón with a portion on a serving plate

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Next up, we have Pastelón, which is a layered casserole made with plantains (yet again), picadillo made with either beef or pork, and cheese. It is then baked until the top layer of plantains is golden brown and slightly caramelized. The sweetness of the plantains contrasts with the savory picadillo, and the layered textures throughout the dish make for a very balanced flavor profile. You will sometimes find this as a side item, but it is a very worthy entree all on its own!

Pastelillos

A row pastelillos have been cooked to perfection

(Photo provided by Adobe Stock)

Any visit to a major city should come with a sampling of their street food, and pastelillos are here to “fill” that role! If you aren’t familiar with pastelillos, you can basically think of them as little empanadas. They are made of a flaky dough that is stuffed with a filling, typically made from something savory like beef or pork, and then fried. San Juan is renowned for its diverse pastelillo fillings, from lobster to guava and cheese, so try a few different kinds and pick your favorite!

Bacalaítos

A cluster of cod fritters sitting on a plate

(Photo provided by Adobe Stock)

We had to make room for another street food on our list, because bacalaítos are just too good to pass up on. They start with salted codfish that is boiled and shredded, then mixed with a savory batter that is then fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. A mix of herbs such as cilantro, oregano, and pepper combine with a slight fishy taste for the perfect seaside snack that you are likely to find any major beach or boardwalk.

Tembleque

A delectable tembleque is topped with cinnamon

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For our final recommendation, we have the sweet dessert known as tembleque. This is a pudding made from coconut milk and cornstarch that is sweetened with sugar. These ingredients are cooked until they start to thicken and then cooled in a mold. What you end up with is a light, creamy pudding that jiggles when you shake it. This Puerto Rican staple is the perfect way to cool off after a hot day at the beach!

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