The Best Budget-Friendly Restaurants In San Juan Puerto Rico

Good food doesn’t always have to come at a high price, and the following budget-friendly restaurants are proof of that. All of them are located in San Juan, Puerto Rico’s picturesque and interesting capital city. Stop by some of these restaurants where your money will be well spent, and your wallet will thank you.

Pinky’s

Fried conch on a white plate with potato wedges, half a lemon, a dipping sauce and salad

Pinky’s is a diner-style eating establishment that primarily serves breakfast and lunch. Located in the Condado area of San Juan, nearby attractions include beautiful beaches, scenic cycling routes and the Old San Juan district. Home to a casual dining experience, head over to Pinky’s after spending time at the beach or walking down Ashford Avenue which is where you can find the diner.

El Jibarito

El Jibarito in Old San Juan serves delicious, traditional Puerto Rican dishes inside an environment that resembles colorful Old San Juan. The menu includes churrasco (steak), mofongo, and chicken fricase. The restaurant’s name is a nod to Puerto Rican culture, since the word “jibarito” is the diminutive form of the word “jibaro“, which is the name used to describe a certain Puerto Rican demographic.

Café Manolin

Opened more than 70 years ago, Café Manolin is just a short walk from the Paseo de la Princesa, Plaza de Armas and the Jose V. Toledo Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, which is an architectural landmark. The menu is varied and the breakfast items include cheese flan, many sandwiches, fruits, coffee and espressos. Among the dishes served for lunch are Puerto Rican onion steak, turkey breast fillet, garlic shrimp, and a knickerbocker hamburger. Without a doubt show up at Café Manolin with a large appetite.

El Vagón

Serving Latin and Mexican food, El Vagón is a food truck-restaurant hybrid with an open eating area. Tacos al pastor, beef quesadillas, burritos and Texas chicken tacos are just some of the dishes on the menu. Due to the unique setting in Puerto Rico, it’s likely you’ve never had Mexican food quite like this before.

Istanbul Restaurant

Moussaka with rosemary in the ceramic pan in the hand on the white wooden table top view

Istanbul Turkish Restaurant serves up Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine in Old San Juan, not far from the San Juan Bay. Moussaka, chicken curry, lamb chops, and dolma are among the many menu items.

Bebo’s Café

There are many dishes to choose from at Bebo’s Café, including seafood such as salmon fillet and octopus, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, mofongos with different stuffing, and steaks. Sangrias, beers, and vodka are also on the menu. Regularly receiving many glowing reviews from visitors, don’t just take their word for it, visit Bebo’s Café yourself.

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