You can’t come to Puerto Rico without trying the local cuisine. Whether you are planning on eating at local restaurants or buying food at local markets, it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of the Puerto Rican names of food and dishes.
Learning some of these (if not all) will help you enjoy your trip here, even more.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Desayuno | Breakfast |
| Almuerzo | Lunch |
| Cena | Dinner |
| Antojito | Snacks |
| Carta | Menu |
| Tenedor | Fork |
| Cuchillo | Knife |
| Cuchara | Spoon |
| Cuenta | Check / Bill |
| Types of Puerto Rican Cooking | |
|---|---|
| A la Parilla | Grilled |
| Al Horno | Baked |
| Asado | Roast |
| Frito | Fried |
| Guisado | Stewed |
| A la Brasa | Braised |
| Ahumado | Smoked |
| Tostado | Toasted |
| Typical Puerto Rican Dishes | |
|---|---|
| Alcapurria | Taro fritter stuffed with meat or cheese |
| Amarillo | Baked plantain |
| Arroz con Grandules | Rice with green pigeon peas |
| Arroz con Pollo | Rice with chicken |
| Arroz y Habichuelas | Rice & Beans |
| Asopoa | Soup |
| Bacalito | Codfish fritter |
| Chicharrón | Pork crackling (fried pork skin) |
| Croquetas de pescados | Fish croquettes |
| Empanada / Empanadilla | Fried pastry turnover stuffed with meat |
| Mofongo | Fried and mashed green plantain |
| Pasteles | Shredded root vegetable tamales |
| Queso Blanco | Puerto Rican white cheese |
| Relleno | Ground beef and mashed potato fritter |
| Tostones | Fried green plantains |
| Pescados & Mariscos | Fish & Seafood |
|---|---|
| Albacora | Swordfish |
| Atun | Tuna |
| Bacalao | Codfish |
| Calamares | Squid |
| Camarones | Shrimp, Prawns |
| Carrucho | Conch |
| Chillo | Red Snapper |
| Dorado | Mahi-mahi |
| Jueyes | Crabs |
| Langosta | Lobster |
| Pulpo | Octopus |
| Robalo | Sea Bass |
| Sardinas | Sardines |
| Salmón | Salmon |
| Carne & Aves | Meat & Poultry |
|---|---|
| Albóndigas | Meatballs |
| Bistec | Steak |
| Cabrito | Baby goat |
| Cerdo | Pork |
| Chorizo | Spicy Sausage |
| Chuleta | Pork chop |
| Chuletón | T-bone steak |
| Churrasco | Skirt steak |
| Conejo | Rabbit |
| Cordero | Lamb |
| Filete | Beef tenderloin |
| Gallina | Hen |
| Guinea | Guinea hen |
| Gandinza | Pigs liver |
| Jamon | Ham |
| Lechón Asado | Roast Pig |
| Molida | Ground as in ground beef |
| Pato | Duck |
| Pavo | Turkey |
| Pinchos | Kebabs |
| Pollo | Chicken |
| Ropa Vieja | Shredded beef |
| Salchicha | Sausage |
| Ternera | Veal |
| Tocino | Bacon |
| Verduras / Vegetables | Vegetables |
|---|---|
| Apio | Celery |
| Berenjena | Eggplant / Aubergine |
| Calabaza | Pumpkin |
| Cebolla | Onion |
| Garbanzos | Chickpeas |
| Habichuelas | Beans |
| Maíz | Corn |
| Papa | Potato |
| Papas Fritas | French fries |
| Pimiento | Bell pepper |
| Repollo | Cabbage |
| Tomate | Tomato |
| Frutas | Fruits |
|---|---|
| Aguacate | Avocado |
| Cereza | Cherry |
| China | Orange |
| Coco | Coconut |
| Fresa | Strawberry |
| Guayaba | Guava |
| Guineo | Banana |
| Limon | Lemon |
| Lima | Lime |
| Piña | Pineapple |
| Toronja | Grapefruit |
| Ulvas | Grapes |
| Dulces & Postres | Sweets & Desserts |
|---|---|
| Arroz con dulce | Rice pudding |
| Flan | Custard / creme caramel |
| Galleta | Cookie / biscuit |
| Limber | Frozen fruit juice |
| Tembleque | Coconut milk & sugar custard |
| Tres Leches | Cake made with 3 milks |
| Bebidas | Drinks |
|---|---|
| Agua | Water |
| Batidas | Fruit shakes |
| Cafe | Coffee |
| Cafe con leche | Coffee with milk |
| Cafe negro | Black coffee |
| Cerveza | Beer |
| Coquito | Rum eggnog (Christmas drink) |
| Jugo | Juice |
| Mavi | Fermented drink from Mavi bark |
| Piragua | Shaved ice drizzled with fruit syrup |
| Refresco | Soda / fizzy pop |
| Ron | Rum |
| Té | Tea |
| Vino tinto | Red wine |
| Vino blanco | White wine |
The above list is just a sample of what you can eat and drink here in Puerto Rico. If you think that one of the translations may not be correct, please add to the comments section below. Also, if there is anything that I have missed off that you think should be there, again, please add to the comments below.
Photo resource: booleansplit, cocola88, nikonvscanon, bigberto, nataliemaynor, heydrienne, sophiea and rajuvaidyazuiq
