Craving your favorite Puerto Rican dishes? Try these restaurants in South Florida
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Puerto Rico is the smallest Caribbean island of the Greater Antilles, but size has never limited the great things it offers the world.
This archipelago has proven to be the cradle of legendary musicians, athletes and abuelas who keep its culinary history alive with their delicious recipes.
With influences from Taino, Spanish, and African cuisine, Puerto Rican dishes headline festivities and family reunions on and off La Isla del Encanto.
Here we present a list of the best Puerto Rican restaurants in South Florida, those that have managed to cross the ocean without losing that Puerto Rican flavor.
Mofongos Restaurant
In the heart of Little Havana is Mofongos Restaurant, a space that promises to transport you to Puerto Rico with its typical music and authentic dishes.
Upon arrival, diners are greeted by the friendly staff dressed as jíbaros, as the peasants who worked the land in the island’s mountains are called. The name of the restaurant alludes to Puerto Rico’s celebrated dish made of fried green plantains that are mashed with garlic butter, spices, and served with the protein of your choice. Served in a giant wooden pot, the available filling options are churrasco, shrimp, chicken, lobster, octopus, fried meat, chicken pork or vegetables. Choose between creamy garlic sauce, creole sauce or cream of mushrooms to bathe this delicacy.
Accompany the meal with a refreshing piña colada served inside a large fresh pineapple. For dessert, choose between the flan of the day or the fluffy tres leches. At the end, the bill is brought out with a shot of coquito, so you can transport yourself to the Christmas season on the island any time of the year.
1644 SW Eighth St., Miami; 786-542-1645 or https://www.facebook.com/mofongosrest
Sunday to Thursday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
The Kanbumbo Food Truck
This little food truck features great tasting cuisine and an outdoor space perfect for the whole family.
We recommend the picada, a dish to share that includes a wide variety of typical Puerto Rican fried foods such as corn sorullitos, tostones, fried chicken, pork rinds, mofongo, among others. If you go on a Saturday, you can’t leave without trying the alcapurria, a typical Puerto Rican fried dumpling made from plantain and yucca dough stuffed with beef or pork.
17100 SW 184th St., Miami; 305-747-3963 or https://www.instagram.com/elkanbumbofoodtruck
Monday to Wednesday: Closed; Thursday: noon-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: noon-10 p.m.; Sunday: 2 p.m.-9 p.m.
El Bayú de Wela Sara
Inspired by the cooking of his grandmother, chef Iram Ayala set out to bring authentic Puerto Rican flavor to South Florida.
One of the most popular orders is the cheese-filled mofongo croquetas with guava sauce. This reinterpretation of the traditional Puerto Rican dish has captivated diners. Other delicacies include the typical Kan Kan pork chop, the mofongo stuffed with lomo saltado, and the bacon wrapped chicken breast stuffed with mofongo.
1917 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; 954-367-2706 or https://www.elbayudewelasara.com
Closed Monday; Tuesday to Thursday: noon-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: noon-11 p.m.; Sunday: noon-10 p.m.
The Bori Food Truck
This food truck is the perfect place to satisfy late-night cravings. It has a wide range of empanadillas to choose from stuffed with pizza, pionono, lasagna, tripleta, meat with cheese, and guava with cream cheese. Try their famous pastrami sandwich or the traditional tripleta that contains chicken, steak, ham, mayo-ketchup, cheese and potato sticks.
If you fancy seafood, try their Surf N’ Turf, a bed of French fries covered with shrimp, steak, onion, peppers, lemon, bathed in a spicy cilantro and mayonnaise sauce. It also offers a variety of mofongos and tacos. Keep an eye on social media to find out about the inventory of Donas Aymat, a Puerto Rican confectionery delicacy loved by everyone on the island.
3814 NW Second Ave., Miami; 305-778-1111 or https://www.facebook.com/ELBORIFOODTRUCK
Monday and Tuesday: Closed.; Wednesday to Saturday: 5 p.m.-midnight; Sunday: 3 p.m.-11 p.m.
La Empanada Loca
This restaurant specializes in traditional homestyle dishes. It is the ideal place to visit if you miss abuela’s food.
Try the rice with pigeon peas accompanied by pasteles, pork loin and sweet plantains. White rice with stewed beans and fried meat promises to transport you to Puerto Rico. In addition to mofongo, they also serve trifongo, made with green plantain, yucca, and ripe plantain. This version has a smoother consistency and a sweet finish. For dessert, order a piece of Puerto Rican-style cake or bread pudding.
4820 N Dixie Hwy., Oakland Park; 754-200-6151 or https://www.laempanadaloca.com
Closed Monday.; Wednesday to Saturday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
This story was originally published March 28, 2022 at 12:42 PM.
