Daily Archives: May 26, 2012

Luquillo Kiosks, Luquillo Beach

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After a day trip to El Yunque rainforest, experiencing the waterfalls and noshing on roadside empanadas, we made our way to the beach side and the Luquillo food stands for more eats. Luquillo has from burgers to pizza, as well as Mexican and Puerto Rican. Some of our favorite food kiosks are El Rincon del Sabor, Vejigante, La Parilla and El Jefe Burger Shack.

This Luquillo Kiosks are a strip of Latin food stands, trucks and bars. This restaurant row was such a unique experience and a must do again. I would definitely go back again for fried foods, cold coconut juice, pinchos (kebabs) and the beach.

As we were wandering the stands, deciding which items we wanted to try, we could hear solid reggaeton beats pumping out in the near distance. Some of my favorite reggaeton tunes include the collaboration between Nina Sky and Daddy Yankee Oye Mei Canto, Daddy Yankee’s Le Que Paso, Paso and Don Omar’s Dale Don Dale and Wisin y Yandel’s Rakata. As we listened to the base, we enjoyed our fried foods frenzy of bacalaitos (cod fritters), piononos (plantains with meat) and empanadas.

Rice and pigeon peas and shrimp, crab and lobster fried dough

Next time, we hope to stop by Ceviche Hut for fresh ceviche and authentic Peruvian Cuisine.

We had to get more mofongo, plantains fried in drippings and filled with meat. The mofongo was layered in flavors, but was a heavy, yet delicious dish.

The ground meat filling was bountiful, tender and flavorful.

Although we weren’t huge fans of the morcilla, blood sausage. We could taste the liver and rice flavor, however we are glad we tried it.

Our favorite beverage in most tropical islands is the coco friyo. The refreshingly cold coconut contained cold juice. After we finished, the proprietor split open the coconut for us to enjoy the white coconut meat.

A trip to Luquillo was not finished without a sampling of sorullitos de maiz. The fried corn fritters had a corn dog-like flavor and is true Puerto Rican carnie food.

In addition to the sorullitos, we had empanada with lobster filling. Unfortunately, the lobster filling was not to fresh, next time we will stick to pollo or carne.

Some of the best barbequed pinchos (bbq chicken kebab with bread) was located at the Luquillo restaurants. As we were waiting, the proprietor’s five-year old daughter sold us even more pinchos, while her father grilled them. We didn’t mind her saleswoman efforts because the kebabs were so good. The meat was super tender, well marinated and fresh. 

Agua Y Refresco, Coco, Parcha, Pina Helado, San Juan

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The heat of Puerto Rico warranted many indulgences in icy treats to counteract the warmth. We enjoyed multiple agua y refresco, crushed ice and flavor syrup. There were many exotic flavors to choose from including suriname cherry, sour sop, tamarind, anise, guava, raspberry, pineapple and coconut.

The stand owner scraping ice by hand.

Walking through Old San Juan and at the El Morro forts, we needed multiple breads from the beating sun. The helado (sorbetto or ice cream) carts labeled Coco, Parcha and Pina were difficult to miss.

They price of a helado was approximately $1.00-$2.00 for a plastic cup. Each taste, we tried different flavor combinations. By far, my favorite of the combinations was  coco and pina (coconut and pineapple). Although the sorbet’s melted so quickly, the remaining liquid was still satisfying.

The parcha or passionfruit flavor was a nice shade of flamingo pink and super sweet, syrupy and cooling.

Bebo’s Cafe, Condado, San Juan

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Bebo’s Cafe is a Puerto Rican institution and popular amongst locals and tourists, serving authenic Puerto Rican cuisine including mofongo and empanadillas.

Throughout the restaurant were colorful and surreal art pieces including our favorite one of Don Quixote.

The dining room is exceptionally spacious and filled with wooden chairs fit for families and smaller groups.

Bebo’s Cafe menu features rice and beans, pollo, pork, bistec, fish dishes with sides of plantains and tostones. We could not forget all the fried items and sweets.

The menu also has extensive jugos, frappes and batidas with papaya, mango, pineapple. We ordered a frozen pina coladas. The icy, sweet mix of coconut and pineapple was a great start to the meal and had a marachino cherry on top.

We loved sorullitos de maiz ($4.55). The lightly fried corn fritters tasted like an item you would enjoy at a carnival, it was similar to the exterior of a corn dog, but tender on the inside.

Our friend ordered the dorado fish which was very tender ($16.95). The pescado was full of flavor and surrounded by onions and colorful peppers.

The amarillos or fried ripe yellow plaintains ($3.25) were soft, lightly sweet and nicely caramelized.

My choripan sandwich ($5.50) was awesome. The lightly toasted pan de agua bread sandwiched bits of Spanish chorizo a la plancha. The slightly melted cheese, iceberg lettuce and tomato were great accoutrements for the flavorful and filling sandwich.

My friend’s pernil or oven roasted pork ($9.50) was a great combination of tender meat and delicious skin.This is definitely a favorite at Bebo’s.

I sampled my friend’s tostones or fried green plantains ($3.25) were lightly fried and nicely seasoned.

Bebo’s tantalizing dessert case included Cheese Cake Chocolates y Nueces, Cheese Cake Almendras and Flan de Queso. Although, we were too full for dessert, another time.