Two notes on this list: I've ommitted Italian restaurants because there are so many of them in San Juan, and I've stayed away from those eateries that offer a fusion of Puerto Rican and international flavors.
Bangkok Bombay
Photo © Zain Deane
Cuisine: Thai and Indian
I know what you're thinking ... Indian and Thai aren't exactly culinary siblings. I thought the same when I first walked into Bangkok Bombay, a swanky restaurant in fashionable Condado. I figured there was no way that the chefs could get both menus to work. But they do.
Part of the secret of their success is that they've kept the Thai and Indian menus separate and authentic. You can order tandoor dishes, or a bowl of tom yung goong, and they'll each be true to their native land. What you don't get is a blend of the two, a smart move in my opinion. What else do you get? A chic-looking restaurant, terrific food, and a lychee martini to help you polish it off.
Contact:
787-721-1470
58 Caribe Street, Condado, San Juan
Ceviche House
Photo © Zain Deane
Cuisine: Peruvian
Most people who know Peruvian cuisine know it for one main dish: the ceviche. So it follows that Peruvian chef and owner Daniel Sorogastúa named his restaurant in Isla Verde "Ceviche House." And you can certainly get a mean ceviche here (served with tostones to keep a 'Rican flavor in the food). But you'll also get other excellent seafood dishes. Try the Pescado a lo Macho, an absolute overload of fresh halibut, mussels, shrimp, conch, and octopus. The restaurant is small, casual, and pleasant, and the food is a light, refreshing departure from mofongos.
Contact:
787-726-0919
79 Isla Verde Avenue
Che's
Cuisine: Argentinian
Anyone familiar with Argentinian cuisine knows that it's a meat-fest, and in San Juan, no one does that better than Che's. Their parrilla, or "grill," has been offering up tender, delicious, heaping helpings of beef, pork, chicken, sausage, lamb, and fish for over 30 years. In laid back Punta Las Marías, the restaurant has an informal, boisterous atmosphere that stays hopping until midnight and attracts a devoted clientele.
Contact:
787-726-7202
35 Caoba Street, Punta Las Marías, San Juan
Divino Bocadito
Photo © Zain Deane
Cuisine: Spanish
As one would expect after centuries of Spanish rule, you'll find a lot of Spanish influence in Puerto Rican cuisine. But if you're looking for authentic cuisine that includes tapas, paella, and jamón serrano, then head straight to Divino Bocadito. The restaurant has recently moved from Old San Juan to the Hato Rey district of San Juan, but it's worth the trip for excellent food and a vibrant atmosphere that includes live flamenco shows on the weekends and sevillana classes on Wednesdays. Take it all in with a glass, or jug, of sangria.
Contact:
787-765-8282
574 Avenida Ponce de Leon, Hato Rey, San Juan
Trois Cent Onze
Cuisine: French
Strictly for the purists, you won't find a single amarillo in Trois Cent Onze (which means "311," their address on Fortaleza Street), the standard for French cuisine in Old San Juan. Rather, come here for the foie gras, the magret (duck), the bouillabaise, and the excellent selection of wine. Combine it with the elegant decor and impeccable service, and you have one of San Juan's best restaurants, no matter what cuisine you enjoy.
Contact:
787-725-7959
311 Fortaleza Street, Old San Juan
El Zipperle
Cuisine: German/Spanish
If you've got a craving for schnitzel and you're stuck in Puerto Rico, don't worry; El Zipperle will take care of you. This longstanding institution (it's been here since 1950) actually has bothe a Spanish and German menu (along with some Puerto Rican dishes), and the Spanish side of the kitchen actually gets better reviews ... still, the place looks like a beer hall in Munich, and if you want Sauerbraten, knockwurst and breaded veal, this is one of your few options.
Contact:
787-751-4335
352 F.D. Roosevelt Avenue, Hato Rey, San Juan
