Río Grande is home to many wonders like El Yunque, premium golfing courses, and … authentic Puerto Rican food! From roadside cuisine to luxury dining, this picturesque destination has many gastronomy venues. When you visit, you’ll enjoy the rainforest, the beach, the greens, fun activities, and delectable dishes that imprint on your memory.
Here are our picks for the top nine restaurants in Río Grande, Puerto Rico:
1. EL Verde BBQ
El Verde BBQ is an iconic roadside spot on PR-3 (off Route 66) with no pretensions, loads of flavorful cuisine, and maximum satisfaction. Stop here for lunch, dinner, or a late-night pick-me-up.
This restaurant is conveniently on the way to El Yunque National Forest. It has a shop window display (a nod to Puerto Rican culture) where you can choose your meal.
Check out the baby back ribs, slow-roasted chicken, and arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas). Dive into the carne frita (fried pork chunks) with mofongo (mashed fried green plantain), yuca al mojo (boiled cassava with sauce), and more delicacies.
Can’t decide which to choose? How about trying all of them? Then wash down all that goodness with an ice-cold Medalla (a popular Puerto Rican beer).
El Verde BBQ is family-oriented and provides seating on an open-air patio. No reservations are required. So come hungry, have your delicious meal and choice beverage alfresco, and leave satisfied.
2. Don Pepe
Don Pepe is one of the best restaurants in Río Grande, Puerto Rico. Here, you’ll enjoy great food, exceptional cocktails and wines, and live music in a convivial atmosphere.
Since opening its doors in 2003, Don Pepe has served appetizing Puerto Rican culinary experiences. These dishes display the rich fusion of Puerto Rican and Creole (comida cRíolla) cuisine.
Explore the feast that includes seafood-stuffed red snapper with tostones (fried plantains), and chuletas can-can (large pork chops) with arroz mamposteao (bean stew cooked rice and ripe plantains).
How about mofongo stuffed with conch or chicharrones de pollo (Puerto Rican fried chicken)? Try the Don Pepe Sampler filled with chicken fritters, porkchop fritters, tostones, grouper nuggets, homemade bread, and arroz mamposteao. There’s much more to discover on the food menu.
Don Pepe’s wine menu is also impressive. Their red and white wine selections include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio. Sip the Spanish, Italian, Argentina, Chilean, and Australian vintages. Also, ask about the house’s wine cellar offerings.
Relax with cocktails while enjoying the live music amidst tasteful Puerto Rican memorabilia. An evening at Don Pepe is a memorable one.
3. W Sushi Bar
Craving some sushi in Río Grande? W Sushi Bar is your destination for Japanese sushi infused with Puerto Rican flavors and cooked in an Asian and Creole style.
Enjoy classic sushi rolls containing tuna, crab, yellow-tail, salmon, and shrimp.
But, you only live once, so indulge in W special rolls which include:
- Bacalaíto (tuna, crab, and cream cheese, deep-fried in a codfish batter)
- Criollo (chicken, churrasco, cream cheese, Amarillo, and avocado)
- Matador (shrimp tempura, cream cheese, crab meat, smoked salmon, panko, mayo, and white eel sauce)
Since you are at the W Sushi Bar, try their signature W Roll. It contains shrimp tempura, avocado, cream cheese, spicy tuna, spicy salmon, tobiko, avocado, eel sauce, white sauce, and panko flakes. Yum!
W Sushi doesn’t only serve sushi. You can get chicken, beef, salmon, and shrimp meals. Also, check out their beverage selections: sodas, beers, mocktails, margaritas, mules, sake, soju, mojitos, and wines. Pick up a dessert for your sweet tooth as well.
Immerse yourself in a culinary experience that transports your palate along a delightful flavor journey.
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4. Ekelekua
Ekelekua is a family-friendly restaurant. Enjoy the blend of American and Puerto Rican flavors while sitting beneath the covered patio amidst colorful murals.
The breakfast menu includes the familiar oatmeal, granola, yogurt, and fruits, with ham, bacon, turkey, sausage, and smoked salmon. But eggs are not just eggs at Ekelekua! Try out crowd-pleasers like:
- Arepa Benedicts (poached eggs over arepas or corn cakes, black forest ham, and house cheese sauce)
- Pulled Pork Benedicts (pulled pork over arepas, poached eggs, house cheese sauce, paprika sprinkle, and cilantro)
- Jibarito Omelet (pulled pork omelet with chopped sweet plantain, cheese sauce, local queso fresco, and cilantro topping)
Explore brunch’s palate-pleasing options. If you want more American fare, try the chicken and waffle, avocado toast, and steak and eggs. Then there are options like:
- Guava Cheese French Toast (local bread stuffed with guava sauce and queso fresco with fresh fruit, coconut flakes, and whipped cream toppings)
- Croque Madame (waffle stuffed with Swiss cheese, black forest ham, turkey ham, classic bechamel, topped with two sunny eggs, paprika sprinkle)
Also, tuck into savory burgers, sandwiches, tapas, tacos, wraps, soups, and salads. Pair every meal with their diverse beverages: coffee, milk, juices, soft drinks, smoothies, beers, and cocktails. Stop by any time for a delightful repast!
5. Richie’s Restaurant
Do you feel like dining with spectacular views? Richie’s Restaurant sits on a mountain overlooking Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort’s golf course, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean’s crystal clear waters. Plus there’s the magnificent side view of El Yunque rainforest.
After being awed by the views, it’s time to eat! Start the fiesta with tasty appetizers like stuffed tostones (chicken, shrimp, or octopus), queso frito (fried cheese), chorizos (sausages) in red wine, and chicken wings (BBQ or spicy).
The stuffed mofongo specialties are a must! You can choose chicken, fried pork, octopus, shrimp, conch, or lobster stuffing. Also, dig into meat dishes like pork chops, steak, grilled chicken breast, and ribs in BBQ guava sauce.
Feeling the seafood vibes? Then you’ll enjoy selections such as mahi-mahi or salmon filet, seafood-stuffed red snapper, jumbo shrimp, and tuna steak in passion fruit glaze. Throw in an octopus or shrimp cocktail for good measure.
You can also get rice, pasta, soups, salads, and desserts. Check out their drink menu: local beers like Medalla, imported beers, sangrias, mojitos, and margaritas galore!
Visit Richie’s restaurant for great food, ocean breeze, and stunning views!
6. Marbella Restaurant
If you’re staying at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort, start your day at Marbella Restaurant. It’s only open from 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM, so don’t sleep in!
Take your seat, gaze at the morning views of sunlight dappling the ocean, and breathe in the fresh air from the lively gardens. The breakfast buffet has several dishes, so sample away!
The breakfast classics include ham-and-cheese and turkey sliders, apple-smoked bacon, french toast, sausage links, assorted cheeses, and various sliced cured meats. You can also customize your own omelet.
There are diverse tropical fruits, yogurts, cereals, freshly squeezed juices, mimosas, and hot beverages. Make sure you get some fresh-brewed Puerto Rican coffee!
7. El Yunque Treehouse
El Yunque Treehouse is among the popular restaurants in Puerto Rico’s East Coast. It is conveniently located on the way to the rainforest and is a good family restaurant with a kid’s menu.
Sit inside or under the covered patio. Enjoy the surrounding greenery and the chatter of macaws and cockatoos. Relax. Unwind.
The food options include mofongo stuffed with fried pork chunks, fried snapper, grilled chicken breast, skirt steak, and crab rice. You can also get alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.
Stop by on a Sunday and enjoy your meal with live music.
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8. Iguanas Cocina Puertorriqueña
Iguanas Cocina Puertorriqueña is a Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort restaurant. It overlooks the golf courses, scenic forests, and ocean vistas. It’s open from 5 to 10 PM every day (except Wednesdays) and requires reservations.
Want to watch how your meal is prepared? Then this is your spot! The open-view demonstration kitchen can entertain and serve up to 104 guests.
Start with a refreshing Caribbean caprese salad. Follow with Puerto Rican appetizers like plantain cups filled with beef, garlic shrimp, and fried local cheese with guava sauce.
For the main course, you have delectable selections which include Angus skirt steak, free-range chicken breast, pan-seared salmon, pork chops, and mofongo with chicken, shrimp, vegetables, or steak stuffing.
Good news: Iguanas Cocina Puertorriqueña also has plant-based meals.
The drink menu features tropical fruit punches, coladas, mojitos, mules, mocktails, beers, and red and white wines.
If you’re staying in the resort, book a reservation for a delightful evening.
9. Terraza Monte Mar
Terraza Monte Mar is your happy hour joint! Come for the good vibes, drinks, and authentic Puerto Rican food.
Apart from your cocktail and alcoholic selections, you can get food and desserts. Savor the crowd favorites like soup, fish, pork chops, empanadas, and mofongo. Stop by for a drink or two and a quick bite to eat.
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Get a Taste of Río Grande!
We’ve shared our picks for the top restaurants in Río Grande, Puerto Rico. So whether you’re visiting or planning to move to the area, you have the food scene covered!
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