El Jibarito

During our recent visit to this restaurant, we were greeted by a waiting list. The duration of the wait can vary. The ambiance is warm and inviting, with authentic decor. However, parking is limited. The service was exceptional, and the cuisine was extraordinary. Our meal consisted of fried chops, arroz con gandules, garlic shrimp, fried plantains, white rice with beans, and cube steak with onions.

This is one of the most recommended places in Old San Juan. Of course you have to wait because the place is not huge and the service is not that fast, but once the food arrives, you understand why it took so long. I had the Plato Navideño (Christmas dish), which has a bit of everything. The food has a homey taste that you’ll love. Definitely would come back!

This spot was absolutely charming, with a warm and friendly server who made us feel right at home. The food was good—we had the bistec encebollado, which was tender, and the alcapurria, which was perfectly crispy and well-seasoned. A great little place with authentic flavors and a welcoming atmosphere.

Highly visited Puerto Rican gem. We loved everything about our food and drinks (worth the 45 min wait). They are traditional, family owned business. Depending on the time you go, it can be a long wait and you cannot make reservations. I also recommend shared vehicles or ride share because Old San Juan has very slim parking options. Below is my rating of the food and drinks: *Fried Red Snapper: BEST fried fish I’ve had in a minute… they get 10/5 for this one. *Arroz con Gandules: 5/5 *Piña Colada: 5/5 (best I had in PR) *Guava Mojito: 5/5 *Mofongo: 4/5 *Pastelillos De Pollo: 3/5 *Garlic Sauce: 5/5 Everybody was so kind and helpful. They really do work like a team! Recommendation for the restaurant: please renovate your restroom.

The staff were amazing and the inside of the restaurant is super fun. The food though was lacking for most of our group (mofongo was the winning meal). Everything was lacking flavor and the salads were just some clumps of lettuce with a tomato chunk with no dressing. No one in our group was happy with the food and we just ate because we were hungry but we didn't bring anything back with us. Steaks were thin, chicken had no flavor, the shrimp were sad, and the rice was so-so. The drinks were good and the restaurant is located in a popular location and was packed on our visit. Maybe their food will work for you but we'd recommend looking around because there are lots of restaurants nearby. Good luck 👍

We stayed in Old San Juan for 5 nights and had dinner here 3 times!!! It was the best Pastel ever!!! I already miss that taste. Everything was perfect. My husband is Puerto Rican and he loves it.

Great latin food. First time here. We were a group of 14. Everyone was pleased with what they ordered. The drinks were also good. Definitely coming back.

Juliana was our server and she was excellent. It is a popular place and quite busy at 130 when we arrived and it was still full when we left at 3:15. The corn sticks are basically tiny corn dogs without the hot dog in the middle. The cod fritter appetizer wasn't quite a fritter ...more like little pancakes. They didn't taste too much like cod. The alcapurrias were excellent. The garlic chicken is fantastic! (With the yellow rice). We also had a side of mofongo, a must if you are visiting PR. Add a little of their garlic sauce that comes with appetizers and it becomes an unforgettable authentic puerto 🇵🇷 meal. Everything is fresh and made to order. We highly recommend this place. It did not disappoint.

Hole in the wall with amazing food and service. Apps were cooked to perfection and the Beer was cold. PERFECT for a summer day.

The food was exceptional. It was all traditional foods and cooked to perfection. We asked our Uber driver for the most authentic place to eat in Old San Juan and he agreed that this was the place to go! We also ate appetizers that I forgot to take pics of. Alcapurrias, bacalaitos, sorullos y empanadas de pizza -- delicious!! The cocktails were great but I'd recommend the traditional mojito if you don't like super sweet drinks. Otherwise the Mango and coconut were great too.

Yum! We enjoyed our meal here so very much. The interior is adorable! The staff were all friendly and helpful. The food was delicious! They were out of fried pork chops, so I got the Christmas special (in May). It was the best! We definitely recommend eating here as often as you can :)

We loved walking around Old San Juan and happy to have stumble upon an authentic and delicious Puero Rican food restaurant. The red snapper plate snapped with the rice and beans! So delicious. But do note, that the wait and service is super slow so if you're on a schedule-you may have to reconsider. But the food was definitely worth the wait! Also, they're pretty light handed on the drinks so you may have to request a double for the mojitos, lol.

I came across El Jibarito in my search to find an authentic place to eat in Old San Juan. Many people say that this place is a tourist trap, but I genuinely had some AMAZING food here which is why I'm giving 4 stars. Everything we ordered tasted 10/10. We started with the mini alcapurrias which I highly recommend. I ordered the fried snapper which at first glance doesn't look very special, but oh my, the flavors were on point! It was perfectly crispy accompanied by the best arroz con gandules I probably ever had and a pastels which I've been craving since the holidays. I'm docking one star bc the server "accidentally" pressed the wrong tip amount and we ended up tipping more than we expected to.

Came here right before it got busy. We were seated right away. Our appetizers came out quick, but the rest of the food took a while to get. The food had good and had flavor. I'd say it was very authentic. Prices were very affordable. My only complaint is after we got there, a lot of people started to come, and I felt like the busser (an older guy, not the younger waiters) kept trying to get us to hurry up and kick us out. At that point, we didn't feel welcome anymore and decided to take the remainder of our food to go. I'd say if you want to come here and enjoy your time and/or socialize, probably not the best atmosphere.

I did my research! And my research was accurate! Came to this place, in search of real Puerto Rican food and it did not disappoint. I had their Plato Navideño which included: arroz y gandules, amarillos (fried ripe plantains), pastelito (similar to a tamale), ribs and a small salad. OMG those ribs are unforgettable! They were so well seasoned and so well cooked, I was kicking myself in the @$$ for sharing one with my friend! Restaurant is very cozy and the temperature in there was very refreshing. Customer service ... was a okay. Food made up for it.

You know it's heaven when you're still dreaming about this plate a month and a half later. Planning to make a second appearance next week when the cruise I will be on makes a stop in SJU for a day. Yes, it is THAT worth it! Service is great, small place, but with very attentive staff. We were a group of 10 and they accommodated us quickly and on short notice. It was like walking into Mami's kitchen, cozy and feeling right at home. If you're in the area, I highly recommend stopping by for even just this plate alone. Everything was on point, even the pastele, which is a staple for Puerto Rico.

Local by the beach spot in old San Juan. The food was very homey and yummy. There was definitely a wait but the restaurant was huge so we grabbed a drink near by and it was perfect. The service was good and helpful

Great spot in San Juan! Very local and great ambiance- definitely try the pina colada

Home of one of the TASTIEST Pina Colada's (they offer alcoholic and virgin). As soon as you step foot inside, it feels as if you ended back outside again with the colorful walls and decor! Garlic Shrimp - Juicy and packed with flavor Pina Colada - The rum was not at all strong, Tres Leches - This was SO good, 10x better than the one on the cruise Anyways, I defintely recommend y'all stop by and check them out when you're in the area!

I think El Jibarito might be my favorite meal I've had in San Juan or be really up there. I'd been recommended this place from someone whose spouse is from the island and have been here twice now. The last time we got the bacalaitos, trifongo (cassava, green plantain, plantain), tamal, and alcapurrias and I probably loved everything in that order. I would order everything again - I could have the bacalaitos and trifongo right now. It was so crispy and well fried and delicious. The one downside was the service was struggling a bit - they gave one of our dishes to the wrong table and didn't realize until we asked about our food, so it took pretty long. I would go again regardless, but be prepared to wait haha.

Authentic Puerto Rican food in Viejo san Juan. I ordered the pastel with arroz y gandules and tostones, delicious. Unfortunately I ate it all before taking a picture. Quick service and reasonable prices.

Food was amazing !! Went there on all the recommendations mentioned here. They were not wrong. Place is not big but the food was amazing!

The food was practically amazing, service was quick and friendly, the restaurant itself was very beautiful and the classic OSJ street look. Went on a Friday at like 6:30 and the food came out sooo quick even though the whole restaurant was practically full. The only thing I will say is that I ordered the skirt steak done medium and half of the steak was rare and some parts even still blue so that was a turn off, especially when the steak is 30 dollars and I can't eat half because it's blue. That's seriously my only complaint thought everything else was AMAZING. Very authentic Puerto Rican food but taxed the touristy prices bc of the area. I would definitely come back but prob order my steak medium well to well done. My boyfriend also got the mango mojito and said it was delicious! For both of us it was 67 pre tip so it's a little pricier but id probably be back.

The bistec encebollado was not that great , but arroz con abichuelas was great , staff had little attitude but at end was better , food really needs a big improvement, space is good and lots of space , is a ok place but not great

El Jibarito is a popular spot in San Juan, per both Yelp and Google reviews. However, I found it to be touristy vibes. I wanted to try this place for lunch, specifically for the photos of the red snapper. It did not disappoint - it was a standout, with tender meat and perfect frying, although the price was slightly higher than other local spots. It was still worth it. The restaurant does ask you allow 40 minutes for this dish, but ours was out in 15-20min. If I could give their rum piña coladas, a 6/5 star review I would! This is the star of the show. It's mouthwatering - the coconut base and whipped cream is perfection. Unfortunately, the mofongo fell short, lacking the expected love and moisture to it. I noticed the restaurant, to be packed with tourists, so I would assume it is a cruise ship recommendation...but that doesn't mean it is the best spot in town! Long lines, coupled with lackluster service - they forgot my drink despite multiple reminders - make it feel like a tourist trap. Prices are higher than average. While El Jibarito has its highlights, the dry mofongo and touristy atmosphere deter from a truly enjoyable LOCAL experience. Consider exploring other local gems for a more authentic taste of San Juan.

This is a must if you're in old San Juan. The food is amazing. The service is good and the ambiance is nice. I highly recommend them. Try everything you can't go wrong.

We had gone on a walking tour and the guy recommended this place for authentic Puerto Rican food. It was packed on a Monday (MLK) for lunch. The skirt steak was delicious. I decided on the breadfruit mofongo because I haven't had breadfruit before, and I loved it! It was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. My friend got the pork ribs, they were cooked okay. The mixed monfongo was great! Service is slow I think it's the island life, we enjoyed it and weren't in a rush but for those that are just remember that! The inside was nice and cooled and decor around was fun to look at while you wait for food. Online menu - https://www.icloud.com/pages/05Mqcy6xVOgadl5SfuJ_InaAg#MENUUUUU

Maybe they were having an off day? Either way, the only good thing about this restaurant was the appetizers. Entrees were average or below. I would not recommend, nor would i come back! Service was okay, our waiter had an attitude and seemed annoyed when I asked to explain what a certain item was. There's other, better authentic restaurants around.

Amazing experience the decor the food and service were first class. Try everything when you visit you wont be dissatisfied!!

TLDR: Good food, amazing ambiance, okay-ish service We visited El Jibarito while visiting San Juan and we were absolutely amazed by the interiors as soon as we walked in! The decor mimics the Old town with its small houses and wonderful colors. There was also live music when we visited. The food was really good. The Tamales were really well done juicy and flavorful. The desserts were amazing!

Food - 5/5 Service - 4/5 (fast, not much interaction) Value - 4/5 Ambience - 3/5 (small and nothing special but cute with and Old San Juan feel) If you are looking for a spot with authentic Puerto Rican food, this is a place to visit! They were super busy so I thought the wait would be long but the food comes quick, in some areas you can see the kitchen and they are constantly making the food and stocking up on the items you build your meal with. Also, GREAT mojito.

In Old San Juan...this is my favorite place to come for a quick lunch when all you want is classic food from Puerto Rico. I recently found out my in-laws used to come here before moving to the States back in the 70's...so in a way it's a family tradition. What to get...whatever the daily special is. The pastel is always perfect. Never too salty or soggy. The bistec encebollado is the same...well done, but not too tough. The arroz con gandules is always perfect here, never too greasy or over seasoned. Perfect texture and flavor every time. For those not familiar with Puerto Rican food...one thing that's super unique that you have to try is the trifongo. Words don't do it justice, so I won't even try to explain the flavor...just please promise me you'll order a side of it (2 people can easily share) and then dm me to say "thank you". Price...for the area, this place is very reasonably priced. Figure for two people having lunch and some drinks + tip...you're going to spend between $50-$60. Good service. If you're there on a day when the cruise ships are in port, you might have to wait 20-30 minutes for a table. It gets busy...but that's because it's good. Enjoy!

The place was packed but we were seated immediately. The ambiance is like a small town dinner. Nothing fancy. But it looks authentic. The restrooms needed more attention from the management. They were not clean! The food was good. The service was fast but was not attentive. The food really needed some salt and to find a salt shaker I had to walk around the place to find the waitress and ask her! Generally, good food, mediocre service, some cleaning problems.

No frills, super authentic - which wasn't really our vibe. The portions were pretty small and the service was slow. Our flight attendant recommended it, so I was expecting a spot that had a bit more, but was a bit disappointed. We got the shrimp and the garlic chicken dishes. The flavors were pretty bland. I would skip this place.

Our second time eating at El Jibarito but it's been about 5 years since. I very much loves the Pollo Al Ajillo and would recommend. It was nice and cool inside compared to how hot it was outside. Was just not a fan of the outside bathroom which was hotter than just being outside.

El Jibarito was our first restaurant stop upon arriving to Old San Juan, and what a wonderful welcome. Perfect cozy ambiance and great vibe as everyone is here to enjoy great food and company. My son enjoyed ordering his first alcoholic drink (LOL). The pina colada was delicious. I loved the octopus salad and mofungo. Shrimp, beans and rice were also excellent. My son loved the tres leches cake. Service was prompt and friendly.

The food was super good & drinks as well. The service was not great. Place is cute & a bit loud. We waited a long time to be seated & for our order to be taken. It's a small busy place which is understandable but the servers were not nice, friendly or caring. They weren't fazed by how busy they were, took their time for everything.

My cousin and I came for dinner on a Wednesday night and it was packed. We waited roughly around 45 minutes to get a seat. There is a small vestibule for you wait (w/ AC) or you can wait outside. I would try to get there early to get seats because it's a popular restaurant. The food was surprisingly delicious. I had the salmon fillet and the photos looked bland, but it was savory and flavorful. I devoured the whole dish. The service was rude. You can tell they just hired some high schoolers to work for the summer. Our waitress was busy so we asked another worker if we can get the check and she put her hands up to wait even though she was a foot away from us. Not a single word was spoken and then it took another 15 minutes for us to finally get the check. Overall, the food was good but the service was not.

The extra star is for the pina colada. While it's nothing to die for it was good. The place is overhyped for sure. We did make the mistake of coming on day the cruise boats were in town so we waited about 30-35 minutes to be seated. The prices are gauged and the food doesn't match the pricing. Tourist trap for sure. Tried the trigfongo and did not care for it. The garlic chicken had no garlic whatsoever. The grilled chicken was given bc they didn't have the baked chicken. It a nice portion and worth the price and cooked very well. Try it if you must while in town but it isn't a place of return for me.

During my visit to Puerto Rico, I was looking for authentic, local cuisine and El Jibarito was recommended by multiple locals. My friend ordered the cubed steak which was pretty solid and I had the skirt steak. My steak was PERFECTION! It was juicy, perfectly seasoned and the chimichurri sauce that went with it was so delicious. We also ordered a cocktail and it was fresh! The only downside was the long wait time but it's well worth it. The service was also great!

After waiting for almost an hour at another restaurant we stumbled across this gem. El Jibarito offers cool air conditioning from the Caribbean heat, aromas of delicious meals being served, and authentic feel of Puerto Rican culture. They accommodated our party of six easily and without fuss. Our server Wanda was helpful with recommendations and just incredible all around. The food tasted as if it had been prepared by your favorite abuelita (grandma). I managed to snap a picture of my carne guisada (beef stew) before devouring the entire plate. We ordered the Pastel, Carne Guisada, Bistec Encebollado, Parcha juice, flan de queso & tres leches. Everything was delicious! 10/10 recommend eating at el Jibarito in Old San Juan. Ask for Wanda!!

Wow. The local experience and flavor my wife and I have been searching for. While we had been experiencing very lackluster service in other places, the wait staff at El Jibarito treated us with professionalism. Slightly off the main streets but within reach of the center of old San Juan, this place is truly a gem. The ambiance is vibrant and the energy is colorful. We ordered the Christmas plate and Camarones al ajillo - very tasty. It was giving...food prepared by an experienced grandmother - delicious, authentic and made with love. We liked the food so much we ordered the sandwich and stewed carne to go back to our hotel. Five stars would recommend!

Food (4/5 stars): I ordered Bistec Encebollado because I love the Filipino version of this dish. The marinade was delicious; I just wished the beef was more tender. Great start and introduction to Puerto Rican food! Experience (5/5 stars): * Price: reasonable * Wait Time: minimal on a Thursday for lunch * Service: very good and friendly * Ambiance: I love the Puerto Rican decor

Another gem that we found in Old San Juan. This restaurant is closer to the El Morro area and is not easily seen. The place is clean. Service was good and we got our food pretty fast. The food is delicious. Puerto Rican dishes is really hearty.

This was a great stop for lunch on a hot day after shopping in Old San Juan. The AC was welcome. The restaurant is a bit off the hustle of area, and looks quiet from the outside. Inside, they were hustling for the lunch hour, they filled up fast. It's diner style with cooler than average decor, we liked how they replicated the colorful buildings. They have a lunch special section that comes out quickly. The fare is Puerto Rican, straight forward, done well.

This restaurant was recommended by a couple of people and went to check it out. It is located in Old San Juan. It was pretty busy and seemed like a popular spot. Staff was friendly. I ordered pasteles de pizza for appetizer and it was good. Looks like empanadas. For entree I ordered pollo al AjIllo with plátanos maduros which was good but wasn't amazing. For dessert, I ordered Tres Leche with guava and enjoyed that. Originally, I wanted to try Flan de vanilla, but they ran out. Still, I'm not disappointed. The dessert was good. Would definitely recommend this spot to try out Puerto Rican food.

We came to Puerto Rico for Puerto Rican food and we GOT Puerto Rican food! I got the pernil and ribs plate with yellow rice. My husband got mofongo and shrimp and my son got garlic chicken. Our dessert was tres leches cake. I've never been a fan of mofongo growing up, being Puerto Rican, so I cannot comment on it. My husband loved his dish. My son who is picky AF, finish his chicken and the tres leches was so good, he barely wanted to share with me! :( It was very melt in your mouth good-sweet; not OMG I got a cavity and need a dentist STAT sweet. My dish was good. My pernil was very crispy and I enjoy more of the fat rather than the crisp part. My ribs were tasty but didn't have much meat on them. I LOVED the rice! Service was great! Oh and if you go this place is popular so there is a wait. The ambiance is loud like family loud! We sat at a table with other families, during our stay two families sat at the same table as us. The second family was too close for comfort. It felt like they were trying to drive us out and wanted the table to themselves. The first family was fine. A-ok! So be aware you might sit with another family on a busy day!

My favorite restaurant in San Juan! We came here on our last night and we were not disappointed. We made it before the dinner rush, at 5:30PM. We ordered the fried red snapper (25 min wait - so order this right away if you're hungry!) with white rice and beans. We loved the rice and beans so much, we ordered extra! While we waited, we sampled the appetizers: fried pizza and chicken turnovers, delish!

Hands down best meal we had in Old San Juan. This food tasted like my Tia made it. I'm Cuban American and my partner is New Yorican. I'm also a vegetarian. She has the churrasco at other places and this was the best; great flavor and texture. They have a vegetarian plate as well so that was awesome. Maduros (amarillos) we're best so far. Juicy inside and caramelized outside. Mangu was best I tried. Ensalada was fresh and tables have the classic oil and vinegar. Tres leches totally outshines the flan. Food was so good, we bought two plates para llevar. And we got arroz con gandules so we could try more. The other restaurants in town all seem to have Americanized and turned down their food to accommodate the "white mans pallet" and as a Latina, we could tell. Other places are mediocre. But El Jibarito's was fantastic. I know those Tios were Cheffing up in the kitchen! Also the price was waaaaaay better than other places in town. Now, it's not a $12 plate, it's still like 17-19 but other places are wild charging upwards of 28. Price was good in comparison. We also saw people get the red snapper and it smelled great. Server was nice! Don't remember her name. Skinny, pretty lashes, straight medium black hair, tan. Spoke English and Spanish. Was perfect amount of service, perfect amount of presence without being overbearing or completely missing. Also, the other reviews say there was a crazy wait so we expected that but to our surprise, we walked in at 7pm and got sat right away. When we were leaving, there was a little line. Maybe we just got lucky but upon reflection, it's worth the wait. Gracias por todos!

first timers here and food was amaaaaaaaaazing! We had drinks and dessert too omg! so flavorful! very nice ambiance that was so colorful as they have the outside look on the inside. Great service as well! we will return for sure!

They were open but didn't let us use then bathroom. Ambiance was bad. They told us to leave. Very rude.

If i could give it zero stars i would. Asked for chicken breast was the darkest chicken I've ever seen. Switched it for shrimp plate had hair. Place was a joke save your time go else where.

Okay food, decent drinks, and a nice retreat from the outside heat. Inside is clean and decorated with vibrant colors. Air-conditioned environment is a huge plus when it's super hot outside. Staff is friendly. The food was okay, but not the freshest or best we've had in the area. We ordered red snapper, cubed steak, and pork masitas in plantain gravy. Red snapper was fine, but not as fresh tasting as other places. Definitely not bad though. Fried pretty well and seasoned just right. The cube steak was very salty, not quite cubes, and of okay quality. The masitas with plantain gravy was delightful. A tad salty, but otherwise very tender and delicious. Mofongo could have had more garlic flavor and was not mashed well enough. Overall not a bad meal, and very relaxing.

One of the most amazing meals we have ever had. Recommend by a local as his favorite place, we came here for lunch and then later we recommended it to our entire travel party. Clearly made fresh and with family experience & love, El Jibarito is a must-visit in San Juan.

My favorite mofongo in Puerto Rico! The shrimp was cooked and seasoned well and compared to all of the other mofongo I ate in one week this one was a clear winner. It was very savory and honestly had enough flavor to stand on its own. The space was bustling but my group of 3 only had to wait about 20 min to get in.

Our hotel was less than a 3 minute walk from here. Not was it always very busy during dinner time... The reviews made it seem like a must try place. Unfortunately. It was a huge let down. Three of the dishes we wanted to try was not available. We decided to order what they did have since we were already seated and ordered our drinks. I think the staple of our meal was the beans. Everything else disappointed from the pizza, chicken and beef pastelillos to the cubed steak and mojito.

Previous Yelp reviews didn't disappoint. I'm here to confirm this place is a good spot to try out in Old San Juan. The neighborhood is residential so away from the touristy streets. I loved the inside decor, bringing the OSJ vibes in. The staff is friendly, ready to answer any question.

Food was good. Very busy restaurant and popular. Pina colada was great. Service was average.