Truth be told, it's amazing that something like Puerto Rico's pork highway still exists. You see, we learned something very early while in Puerto Rico: it is almost impossible to find Puerto Rican food anymore.
In the city, there are Popeye's Chicken and Burger Kings as far as the eye can see. Wendy's, Applebee's, and Outback Steakhouse were no problem to find, same with high quality but non-Puerto Rican restaurants you can get back home(i.e. "should we get Mexican tonight, or Italian? Ooh, maybe sushi??") but local food places were nowhere to be found.
The coffee of Puerto Rico is supposed to be something of legend. It's so good, say the guide books, that it's almost impossible to buy off the island because the locals drink it all. Well in San Juan, we couldn't get Puerto Rican coffee - not because it was all taken, but because no one knew what they were serving.
Luckily for us, the answer lay with our trusty wheels. If you're going to find real Puerto Rican food, you're going to have to get away from the cities and head for the mountainous interior. This is where you'll find your Puerto Rican Foodie destination: the porcine nirvana - La Ruta del Lechn, aka the Pork Highway.
Basically, if you want authentic, genuine Puerto Rican food, you're going to have to get out of San Juan and go look for it. It's hidden back in the mountains and jungles and it can be hard to find, but it's there. Happily the pork trail that is la ruta de lechon is much easier to find than most other local cuisine.
Head towards the town of Guavate. This is the town that highway 184 leads to, but it isn't your destination - you're just going towards it. No, the town isn't your destination - Highway 184 is.
As soon as you turn off of Hwy 52 to 184, you'll find lechoneras all along the road serving the most delicious spit-roasted pork you've ever come across. If there is a pig on a metal tube in the window, chances are good you've found a lechonera.
Now that you've arrived at your destination, you just have to order up some pork. Tell them at the counter how many pounds you'd like, and they'll get you a wide assortment of different parts of the pig to enjoy. After that, just get a tall, cold refreshment, and enjoy.
In the city, there are Popeye's Chicken and Burger Kings as far as the eye can see. Wendy's, Applebee's, and Outback Steakhouse were no problem to find, same with high quality but non-Puerto Rican restaurants you can get back home(i.e. "should we get Mexican tonight, or Italian? Ooh, maybe sushi??") but local food places were nowhere to be found.
The coffee of Puerto Rico is supposed to be something of legend. It's so good, say the guide books, that it's almost impossible to buy off the island because the locals drink it all. Well in San Juan, we couldn't get Puerto Rican coffee - not because it was all taken, but because no one knew what they were serving.
Luckily for us, the answer lay with our trusty wheels. If you're going to find real Puerto Rican food, you're going to have to get away from the cities and head for the mountainous interior. This is where you'll find your Puerto Rican Foodie destination: the porcine nirvana - La Ruta del Lechn, aka the Pork Highway.
Basically, if you want authentic, genuine Puerto Rican food, you're going to have to get out of San Juan and go look for it. It's hidden back in the mountains and jungles and it can be hard to find, but it's there. Happily the pork trail that is la ruta de lechon is much easier to find than most other local cuisine.
Head towards the town of Guavate. This is the town that highway 184 leads to, but it isn't your destination - you're just going towards it. No, the town isn't your destination - Highway 184 is.
As soon as you turn off of Hwy 52 to 184, you'll find lechoneras all along the road serving the most delicious spit-roasted pork you've ever come across. If there is a pig on a metal tube in the window, chances are good you've found a lechonera.
Now that you've arrived at your destination, you just have to order up some pork. Tell them at the counter how many pounds you'd like, and they'll get you a wide assortment of different parts of the pig to enjoy. After that, just get a tall, cold refreshment, and enjoy.
About the Author:
Want to take budget and exotic trips around the world? Or read a vacation guide detailing the beautiful city of Charleston, SC? Check out DiscoverWithAndy.. Also published at Dreaming of Puerto Rico's Pork Highway.
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