From traditional Puerto Rican empanadas and tostones to the ever-classic national dish of arroz con gandules, the best Puerto Rican restaurants in New Jersey showcase all of the flavourful favourites you’d expect to see wandering the streets of San Juan.
Delightful ingredients range from plantains and salt-cured pork to tasty, tantalising sweets. And, when seasoned and cooked just right, the range of flavours in Puerto Rican dishes are overflowing with flavour. Drooling yet? You’re about to be.
From Jersey City down to Trenton, we’ve scoured the state to bring you the seven best Puerto Rican restaurants in New Jersey. You’re going to want to try each one of them, as they all showcase their own unique flavours.
Best Puerto Rican Restaurants In New Jersey
How do these rankings work?
1. LaLa’s Puerto Rico Kitchen – Old Bridge
Here, you can enjoy a taste of true Puerto Rico. While dishes are prepared using the finest ingredients, it seems to be the passion behind the scenes that adds so much flavour. The most popular dish here is the Pernil served over their traditional Arroz con Gandules. But, make sure you head here hungry, as there’s no way you’re going to be able to resist ordering seconds.
2. El Palmar – Elizabeth
For traditional Puerto Rican food in New Jersey, head to El Palmar Restaurant. While they’ve been serving quality Cuban food since the 1970s, they added Puerto Rican dishes to their menu a while back. Sample any one of their sandwiches, sides, and main dishes to experience authentic flavours that taste as if they’ve just come straight from the island.
3. El Lechon de Negron – Union Township
If you’re after authentic Puerto Rican pig roast, there’s no better place to get your fill than at El Lechon de Negron in New Jersey. Their Pernil is delicious, for instance, but their Chuletas Fritas are equally as divine. Our best tip is to head here extremely hungry and try to eat your way through as many menu items as possible.
4. Taino’s Kitchen – Newark
From the ambience to the food and straight through to the superb service, there’s nothing that diners don’t like about Taino’s Kitchen, one of the best Puerto Rican Restaurants in New Jersey. While their menu sticks to the basics, they offer weekly specials that guests seem to really love. Each day of the week you can enjoy something delightfully delicious and special.
5. Buen Provecho – Hamilton
Authenticity oozes out of every single one of the tantalising dishes they make at Buen Provecho, easily one of the best Puerto Rican restaurants in New Jersey. Their in-house recipes are made using only the finest ingredients and they somehow manage to infuse a true passionate blend of flavours straight from Puerto Rico. There’s nothing here you won’t love.
6. BQN Grill – Newark
At BQN Grill in Newark, they make and bottle their own delicious Coquito. So, you know it’s authentic Puerto Rican food. On top of serving some of the best drinks in town, count on delightful twists on traditional recipes. Their Mofongo Burger, for example, is inventive and delicious. However, their loaded plantain chips are also worth a try. It’s all so tasty.
7. Old San Juan Restaurant – Camden
Count on a casual buffet-style setting at the Old San Juan Restaurant in Camden. And, count on enjoying some of the most authentic Puerto Rican flavours in all of New Jersey. From the codfish empanadas and their scrumptious fish in garlic sauce to the ever-classic Jibarito, you’ll love everything you try.
