Central Florida is home to one of the largest Puerto Rican communities in the United States, and the food scene reflects it. From Kissimmee to South Orlando, you can find authentic Boricua cooking that rivals anything you'd find on the island itself. Whether you're new to Puerto Rican cuisine or you grew up eating it, here are the 10 dishes you need to try — and why each one matters.
1. Mofongo Relleno — Puerto Rico's National Dish
Start here. Mofongo — mashed green plantains with garlic and chicharrones — is the dish that defines Puerto Rican cuisine. Stuffed with garlic shrimp, oxtail, churrasco, or any of a dozen other proteins, mofongo relleno is a complete experience in one plate. At Grillers Puerto Rico, we offer 9 varieties — each one made fresh to order.
2. Chuleta Kan Kan — The Most Spectacular Pork Chop in the Caribbean
The Chuleta Kan Kan is Puerto Rico's most dramatic dish — a three-cut pork chop that includes loin, belly, and ribs in one enormous plate with legendary crackling skin. It's the dish that gets shared on social media, ordered for birthdays, and talked about long after the meal is over. Grillers Puerto Rico's Chuleta Kan Kan is consistently called the best in Central Florida.
3. Pernil — The Soul of the Puerto Rican Table
Pernil is slow-roasted pork shoulder — tender, deeply seasoned, and utterly comforting. It's the dish at the center of every Puerto Rican holiday table. At Grillers, pernil is made fresh daily, roasted in-house with our signature spice blend. Pair it with white rice and beans for the definitive Puerto Rican comfort meal.
4. Bacalaitos — Puerto Rico's Favorite Street Fritter
Bacalaitos are crispy codfish fritters — one of the most beloved street foods in Puerto Rico. Grillers Puerto Rico's Bacalaito Grillers goes beyond the classic, blending the codfish batter with shrimp, conch, and octopus for a signature fritter you won't find anywhere else in Florida.
5. Arroz con Mariscos — Puerto Rican Seafood Rice
Arroz con Mariscos is a Caribbean classic — seasoned rice loaded with a medley of fresh seafood. At Grillers, our version includes octopus, shrimp, squid, clams, and mussels in every serving. It's one of our most celebrated house specialties.
6. Camarones al Ajillo — Garlic Shrimp, Puerto Rican Style
Puerto Rican garlic shrimp is not subtle. The sauce is bold, aromatic, and deeply savory — the kind of dish that makes you want to soak every last drop out of the bowl. At Grillers, you can order it as a main dish or stuffed inside a mofongo for the ultimate combination.
7. Churrasco — The Puerto Rican Skirt Steak
Puerto Rican churrasco is Angus skirt steak marinated in island spices and grilled to perfection — different from Argentine churrasco, with a Caribbean flavor profile that is uniquely Boricua. At Grillers, our 12oz Churrasco Angus is one of the most popular entrées on the menu.
8. Tostones — Twice-Fried Plantains
No Puerto Rican meal is complete without tostones — thick slices of green plantain, fried twice for a crispy exterior and soft interior. They're the perfect side for almost every dish on the menu, especially when paired with mayo-ketchup or garlic sauce.
9. La Chorrera — The Ultimate Showstopper
La Chorrera is Grillers Puerto Rico's most dramatic creation — a Chuleta Kan Kan with garlic cream shrimp cascading over a fresh mofongo. It combines three of Puerto Rico's most iconic culinary traditions in one unforgettable plate. When it arrives at your table, every head in the room turns.
10. Fritanguita — The Puerto Rican Sampler
Can't decide? Start with the Fritanguita — our shareable sampler platter of Puerto Rican fritters and bites. It's the perfect introduction to Boricua cuisine and one of the best ways to share the island's food culture with friends who are trying it for the first time.
Where to Find the Best Puerto Rican Food in Orlando & Kissimmee
Grillers Puerto Rico has three locations across Central Florida — in Kissimmee, East Orlando (Chickasaw Trail), and South Orlando (Orange Blossom Trail). With 80+ dishes spanning every category of Puerto Rican cuisine, our menu is one of the most complete expressions of Boricua cooking in the state of Florida.