José Enrique

Amazing. Ambience, food, staff, all was great. We found it on Unilocal and went because of the reviews.
We are traveling as a party of 10. When we checked in with the host (awesome lady) she told us it would be an hour wait (perfectly fine … we could go to a bar next door) took our phone numbers and said she’d call when other table were leaving. Literally an hour later we got the call.
The menu changes nightly depending on what they catch that day. Our group ordered the following: Crab Appetizer, Swordfish App, De-​boned snapper (yellowtail), Crumb Fillet, Churasco, Chayote Rellano, Mahi Mahi, Ice Cream dessert, & flan.
Needless to say everything was delicious!!! Our server, who we don’t know his name was awesome. Young Puerto Rican with a mullet and tattoos. Very friendly, and knowledgeable.
Our party of 10 took approx an hour and half. The food came out very fast but you could tell it was freshly prepared. The prices were a little higher than other restaurants but very comparable to prices in the states. A bargain as far as I’m concerned for the quality of our dinner.
Next time in Puerto Rico definitely going back.

I came here for lunch and By far this is the best restaurant I’ve been to in PR.
This is a hidden gem. It was a bit hard to find since there was no sign of a restaurant name. It looked more like a house. but you will figure it out.
The restaurant is nothing fancy but they offer a wonderful fresh, local seafood choices and an authentic Puerto Rican food. If I remember they had no menus. specials of the day written on a board. And that’s your menu! I’m assuming the chef keeps changing it frequently. Depends on what fresh ingredients he has for the day.
The place was packed. And mostly with locals!. that’s a good sign!!! Locals always know better!
The food was excellent! the red snapper is a must to order! The best dish I’ve eaten!
It’s a deboned red snapper, well seasoned and fried to perfection topped with avocado and Papaya salsa! It’s a dish to diiiiie for!
Service was outstanding
I highly recommend this place. If you are visiting, make sure you are dining here. If you are planing for dinner I would recommend to take a cab.

The BEST food we’ve had in PR so far. Possibly one of the best meals I’ve had this year. We stayed in Old SJ the last 3 days and were underwhelmed by the food despite our efforts to find the best restaurants via Unilocal and local recommendations.
The deboned yellowtail was for sure the star of the show. The locals next to us got their food first (they ordered the salad, beef stew and rice, deboned yellowtail). When they saw me staring in awe of the fish, they said in his broken English how phenomenal the dish was and he was so right! I’m glad I ordered it. Something about the way the the fish was fried and flavored– not greasy, super light, and the sauce on top complimented the fish perfectly.
My boyfriend ordered the Tuna (he asked for it to be seated rare) and said he loved his dish.
We also had the cod fritters and wings which were good, but the yellowtail was amazing.
BYOB as they don’t have their liquor license yet
Dinner hours start at 630 so try to get there a few min beforehand to put your name on the list.

This will be the best dinner that you will eat in Puerto Rico!

I realize I’m in the minority’s here, but if Unilocal allowed half stars I would give this 3.5. I was so so excited to eat here, and it’s possible I built it up in my head. We ate here last Friday, arrived around 6:15pm and were able to out our name down for the first seating (party of 2). Gave us just enough time to grab super cheap medallas ($ 1.75 each) to drink with dinner.
I was surprised that there were so many appetizers. The waitress gives very quick descriptions and some of them sounded sort of similar (fish fritters, swordfish, and poppers). We went with the fish fritters which were nuggets of salmon breaded and fried, a much better fish stick. They were good but nothing amazing.
After finishing the fritters and thinking maybe I just ordered the wrong thing, I decided to add the soup, which was gazpacho. This was amazing. It was not only pretty, but tasted like a fresh garden in my mouth.
As for main courses I got the deboned yellowtail because of how cool it looked on Unilocal,I loved it but the breading was basically what I just had with the fritters. Again regretting those fritters. Husband had the NY strip steak that he ordered medium. I’m not sure if the waitress put the order in wrong or if medium means something else in Puerto Rico, but they brought out the rarest piece of meat I’ve ever seen in a restaurant other than steak tartare. It was so rare that the guy next to him said «wow that’s so rare!» Of course we sent it back and they were super apologetic when they brought it back.
At this point I still wasn’t feeling like the meal lived up to the hype so I decided to try dessert in hopes I would be blown away. We got the flan, which shouldn’t even be called flan. It’s like on Top Chef where the judge says if you called it something else I would have liked it so much more. The top had a layer of hardened sugar like a crème brûlée and the consistency was much thicker than flan. Almost cooked to a cake consistency. It tasted good, but definitely was not flan.
I wish they would provide regular menus. We got a detailed description of appetizers but not main courses, and vice versa for people sitting near us. I like to sit down, read a menu, think of what I want to eat. At the minimum they should show you both boards when you sit down so you can pick appetizers that complement the main dishes.
I would come here again, but there’s no way I would come here later in the night and wait hours for a table. It’s good, but not THAT good. Few places are.

Am so glad I did NOT leave Puerto Rico without trying the most amazing and tasty Puerto Rican food! Please do make it a priority to try this place!
The deep fried snapper was crispy and airy, seasoned to perfection and paired with some delectable sautéed sweet fruit and veggies
Wings were extra crispy tossed with a tangy buffalo sauce and fresh cilantro.
And friend small crab balls as the appetizer was equally amazing
And finally the dessert «muriendo soñando» ! The name translanted in English means dying in a dream, and it was a gourmet cremecicle dream

Overall: Great experience and food, wish they sold alcohol.
Service: come early to get on the list or you will wait a while. Friendly staff that answer questions and give great advice
Food: very fresh and tasty. Had the snapper which was fried, but not greasy or dry. The appetizers are great. Had the poppers and cuajito. Fantastic flavors on each
Drinks: There are none. Bring a couple from next door as they take forever to make them :)

This place is a must. Very unassuming location as it looks like a house and not a restaurant. No signage. We walked there but I would recommend a cab. Menu is on a dry marker board and constantly changing as items sell out and are added throughout the night.
We had a cheese fritter and crab appetizer. Unique flavor and just awesome. We ordered the skirt steak and yellowtail. We saw another couple there that looked like they ordered the whole menu. Easy to do as everything is done to perfection.
Let me put it this way… The server doesn’t come over to ask if everything is ok… he already knows.
Can’t wait to go back. HIGHLY recommend.
And honestly, there is no reason to give this place less than 5 stars. It’s all about the food here. Service is great. Staff very friendly. Arrive early if you don’t like waiting. Line started to form after 7pm

We heard from many sources that this was a great place and for the most part, it is.
Start with the negative — service was very, very slow. I don’t think that’s a typical experience but the meal took at least a half hour and the waiter wasn’t paying attention. And parking is a bit difficult, made a little trickier by the fact that the restaurant has no sign.
I would try this restaurant anyway because the food is pretty terrific.
We started with the appetizers, several of which were superstars. The minutas are small snappers, breaded and fried and served with a slightly spicy sauce that reminds me of the ketchup-​mayo popular in Puerto Rico, but with a nice little kick.
The house-​made sausage is terrific.
The best of the appetizers was a braised pork shank served with house-​made potato chips. I had more than my share.
On the slow-​to-​arrive but great entrees. The skirt steak and the hanger steak were deliciously beefy. The sides were unusual and very well designed accompaniments. Star of the hanger steak show was a fried celery root that seemed like a delicately flavored hash brown, shatteringly crispy, light and not at all greasy. It also had a mango salsa that was refreshing and balanced out the steak’s beefiness.
The skirt steak came with mashed yams and a vegetable mix that included papaya.
We also had swordfish which was perfectly cooked.
The desserts sound wonderful — but unfortunately, we were full.
So, yes, I recommend you go here and trust that time will be more on your side.

We were looking for a quick spot to eat at before dropping off our friends at the airport and this spot was perfect. It was a little difficulty to find because there were no sings on the building. We were literally across the street and didn’t know it was there. We walk in and were immediately seated. The charm of the menu’s on the whiteboards was perfect for this type of restaurant. One of our friends ran over to get a few beers from the corner liquor store. Everything we had was amazing.
Recommendation: BYOB, take your time

After driving around in circles for about 20 mins we finally found this non-​descript restaurant and it was well worth the headache! Jose Enrique is essentially a house converted into a restaurant but when you walk in, its not what you would expect or maybe you shouldnt have any expectations — just be completely surprised! Its completely open with a high vaulted celling, streamlined bar (no liquor served yet though) and a huge window looking into the kitchen where you can see Chef Enrique cooking up his magic. It was pouring down rain when we arrived and one of the hosts opened the door for us and provided a handful of towels for us to quickly dry off which was sincerely appreciated.
The menus are written on a dry erase boards because they change depending on the fresh ingredients available for the day (LOVE THIS!). We ordered minutas (flash fried mini snapper fillets) with this amazing dipping sauce, fried cheese balls topped with mango marmalade as apps and for entrees my wife ordered picadillo and I order the skirt steak which came topped with chimichurri sauce, white rice, habichuelas (which I was really craving) and tostones. They also provided us with an avocado salad which was good but just a tad too much EVOO. The steak, ordered medium, was cooked absolutely perfect! and the habichuelas so hit the spot.
Ok so the food was absolutely excellent but what I loved most was people watching. You can tell this is a local/​in-​the-​cut spot where the guys obviously know each other. The chef comes out and greets folks and sits and chats up the people — so personal and personable which is not something that can be taught; you either have it or you dont and Chef Enrique definitely has it. Hoping to return to this spot on our next trip to PR and hopefully by then it wont be overrun with tourists like us!
Oh yea, parking is a pain in the ass but you might be able to score street parking if you get there early enough. If not there is a lot right across the street from the restaurant.

My mom and I walked walked here from Condado (it was a tad of a sketchy walk, oops) and weren’t even sure we were at the right place when we arrived since it looks like a large house. But there were tons of people eating inside which clued us in. We were lucky and only had to wait for 45 minutes (tip: get here early) but it was SO worth it.
We started with the fish fritters (SO good, who knew fried fish could be so tasty?). My mom’s swordfish was the best I’ve ever tried. They would have gotten five stars but my beef stew was only so-​so. It’s clear that the specialty here is seafood.
Excellent service, a bit of a rowdy ambiance (inside) and slightly pricey for Puerto Rico but honestly SO worth it. Even if there’s a wait, make sure to come here when you’re in San Juan!

This place was the best meal we had while in Puerto Rico. I got the whole fish and it was heaven. I was unsure if I was like the mashed yams and garnish that came with it well let me tell u I cleaned my plate, excellent. My boyfriend had the break stew and was very impressed with his meal as well. Don’t expect much from the décor or hour. Get there early sitting is very limited.

Food made with love.
Oh what a delight this non-​commercial, no-​signage-​tucked-​away-​in-​the-​heart-​of a-​residential-​neighborhood, it was to dine here. The menu changes daily and has limited options. Clearly they know their specialty and boy! The chef is FANTASTIC!
We ordered the fried minutas (mini red snappers) that were fried to perfection. The plate came with an order of 7. Not bad considering it’s also wild caught fish.
For the main course I ordered the Picadillo, a traditional Puerto Rican dish, and my wife ordered the skirt steak accompanied with rice, and tostones. Our waiter asked if we wanted to try the avocado salad, and since we loveeee avocado, we decided to go for it.
There was no denying how perfectly fresh the food was. The mesh up of flavors complimented everything to perfection. Half way through the meal I was just shaking my head in awe of its deliciousness. We topped our meal with desert by ordering the sampling of home made ice cream — chocolate (amazingly rich), condensed milk, vanilla with lime zest and passion fruit. I wish they sold the chocolate by the pint! Yum!
Over all our experience here was everything we had hoped. It’s a small restaurant which from what we saw, only locals frequent and it seems the staff here have built great relationships with its regulars.
I am so grateful to have experienced this place and truly hope those seeking an authentic experience; can also. I will absolutely be back if I make it back to PR.
Blessings to the chef’s talented palate and much Success to this restaurant!

Highly accoladed restaurant Jose Enrique located at La Placita de Santurce was on our lunch bucket list. A native Puerto Ricon, Chef José Enrique, CIA graduate returned to PR in 2007 to open his eponymous restaurant incorporating natural and organic products, focusing on fresh Puerto Rican produce.
One bite of the Deboned Yellowtail Snapper was all it took to recognize Chef Jose’s culinary brilliance. Staying true to his roots, each dish is an exemplary example of PR’s tropical flavors. Served with creamy yams, papaya, avocado, mojo, the local fish yellowtail snapper was freshness served in a plate with a side of island flavor. Healthy and delicious, the avocado salad drizzled with EVOO, garnished with thin red onions and coriander was the ideal pick me up. We thoroughly enjoyed the house made Pork Sausage and Steak with Chickpea Rice. Chef Jose’s philosophy of «fresh is flavorful» resonated in each dish. Bookmark restaurant Jose Enrique to your must do list.

By far the BEST restaurant I went to during my visit to Puerto Rico. This eccentric little restaurant is what’s making me plan another trip to San Juan in the near future.
There are a couple of quirks about this place. It’s a tiny little place and you can only put your name on the wait list in person. They start putting you on the list for dinner starting around 6:00 p.m. that evening. And just a heads up, you will have a wait. My coworkers put our name down for a party of 4 around 7 p.m. and we didn’t get seated until 9. But let me assure you, it is SO worth the wait!!! Their menu is put together daily and written on a white board. When they run out of that dish, it gets erased from the menu. That’s the only downfall — if you’re dining later in the evening, you won’t get to see or choose from the entire menu, just what they have left. Regardless, the food was soooo delicious. Everyone got different items on the menu so we got to try different things, and my god everything just melted in your mouth. Food was amazing. Service was great too!
Also, this restaurant is BYOB. Yes, you read that right. You can bring your own 6-​pack of beer or that mojito you were sipping on from the bar next door. I thought that was pretty neat-​o.
Overall, a great experience. Since we were the last ones there, we cracked open a beer for our server and chef at the end of their shift. Hats off to Jose Enrique!

One of my favorite meals during my time in PR. Boyfriend and I got here at 6:15 and were the first people in line — though that may be because it was pouring just a few minutes before. Line quickly stretched down the block as people came out of the neighboring bars. We put our names down and were told to come back at 6:30 to be seated. Definitely come early or be prepared to wait; the entire restaurant was packed within 10 minutes of opening. The front is also an unassuming house with no obvious signage. We got lost our first time trying to find it and missed out on seats — got quoted a ~90 minute wait on a Wednesday night at 7PM.
Restaurant is currently BYOB, so we were encouraged to buy a bottle of wine or some drinks from some of the other bars in the area. I also left during the meal to get extra drinks from the bar next door, and nobody batted an eye.
The menu is written down on whiteboards and changes pretty often. We started off our meal with the house-​made pork sausage and crab appetizers. Sausage was amazing, perfectly seasoned and not too heavy despite being basically a pound of meat. Crab app was basically a shredded salad in plantain cups, could really taste how fresh the ingredients were.
For our mains, we got the whole fried snapper and the skirt steak. The snapper was great, crispy fried coating giving way to tender, flaky meat. I loved the bed of polenta that it sat on. Skirt steak was a perfect medium rare and had a nice chimichurri sauce on top. Sides for the steak included rice, beans, and fried plantains.
Sadly they didn’t have the coffee flan that everyone on Unilocal raves about that night, but the orange flan was delicious. The caramelized sugar coating was reminiscent of a crème brûlée, and the orange flavor was not overpowering but still shone through.
Go for a stroll in the La Placita area afterwards — it’s like a giant block party!

Lucked out so hard here. Unilocal hasn’t been working correctly for me so it was hard for me to find the best places to eat during my visit. I had originally planned to eat else where but then stumbled upon this place. I was only able to get a spot because another person had cancelled moments before I approached the hostess. I later learned many people where turned down before me.
Tips: they have a bar but they don’t serve alcohol. You’re encouraged to go to the neighboring bars to get a drink and come back.

Came back a few months later with a bigger group of friends. The food wasn’t as great as it was the first time I went. I had too high of expectations since it was so delicious the first time I went. I think it’s because their menu changed.

When in San Juan, you’ve gotta build up the patience to go to Jose Enrique. So, eat a good lunch, head out early, put your name and number down and head over to the local dive bars while you wait.
Once your in, you will be pleased. The wait is worth it. Every item we had was amazing. The crab cakes were so good, we ordered them again after we finished the main course. The desserts and drinks were great too. Our waitress was spectacular.
We met some nice people while we ate; locals on our right and female US tourists on our left. Our three tables were having a blast… and then the shots came. They were brought out by the manager/​owner (?) and was only for our lady friends from the U.S. He interrupted our conversation with them and inserted himself between our tables. Our table and the table of locals: WTF. Talk about a bitter end to dinner.
We told him later that it was rude… hopefully he get’s it.
Overall, the food was amazing. Ding’d one star for the bozo. Would I come back? Likely.

La comida fue deliciosa, todo lo que pedimos estaba excelente.
Pero si eso no fue suficiente, el servicio fue increíble. Llegamos un sábado en la noche, estaba completamente lleno el lugar, así que tardamos una hora en tener una mesa. Generalmente sería un problema, pero nos recomendaron ir a algún bar en la placita y nos llamaron cuando estuvo lista la mesa.
Nuestro mesero fue muy atento, al decirle que era el cumpleaños de mi novio, nos llevó pastel, tragos gratis y estuvo con nosotros celebrando. Al llegar la cuenta nos sorprendió lo barato del lugar.
Volvería sin dudarlo!!!

El restaurante es bueno, en términos de comida y servicio. Creo q en los comentarios está un poco glorificado. La comida es buena, pero ciertamente tiene espacio para mejorar. Los aperitivos un poco pequeños. Los rellenos de king carb (q real e te no es king crab, si no q crab meat) estaba bien bueno. La carne ahumada no fue nada del otro mundo. Comi un dorado al ajillo con mamposteao con chorizo. El pescado un poco seco. El mamposteao estaba bien, pero el «chorizo» era mas bien salchicha o longaniza. La realidad es q la comida es buena pero no me impresionó. Creo q los precios son muy razonables y por eso a la gente le gusa. También hay q aceptar q la oferta de restaurantes en el área es pobre y pues en comparación este restaurant resalta. El servicio fue muy bueno y por eso le doy 4 estrellas. También hay estacionamiento gratis con seguridad, lo cual es un atractivo.