Puerto Rican alcapurrias

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A Second Puerto Rican Restaurant Opens In Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Old San Juan Restaurant, Los Angeles

Puerto Ricans and Angelinos have a new restaurant to enjoy.  Old San Juan, a new Pueto Rican restaurant has opened in Los Angeles.  Old San Juan Restaurant is the second Puerto Rican restaurant in Los Ageles.  The first one was Mofongo restaurant, in North Hollywood, which we wrote about sometime ago. 


Old San Juan Restaurant is located in the area of Los Angeles called Atwater Village.  The exterior of Old San Juan Restaurant, is painted gray and white just like La Fortaleza, the Governor's Mansion in Puerto Rico.  The restaurant is comfortable with tables and booths, and is decorated with pictures and decorations of Old San Juan and Puerto Rico.  Old San Juan Restaurant offers all the traditional Puerto Rican dishes you expect: pasteles, arroz con gandules, lechon, alcapurrias, etc.  


When we visited we tried a number of entree and appetizers from their extensive menu.  We had: Bacalaitos, alcapurrias, sorullitos, pasteles, camarones al ajillo (garlic shrimp) with arroz con gandules, carne guisada (beef stew) with white rice and amarillos, pastelon (plantains and ground beef) and arroz con gandures and arugula salad.  For desert it was flan de queso (caramel cream cheese custard).


We enjoyed the ambiance, the music and everyone was very friendly and attentive.  When you are in the restaurant you forget that you are actually in Los Angeles and not in Puerto Rico.  The owner and executive chef of the restaurant is Chef Luis Castro who used to be the chef at Madres, the former Jenefer Lopez restaurant in Pasadena.  Old San Juan Restaurant has live music, lechon a la varita (pork on a stick) on Friday's, a daily buffet of Puerto Rican food on weekdays and an area for private parties.  Call the restaurant for more information.


If you have plans to visit Puerto Rico, go to Old San Juan or Mofongo restaurant and try some of the Puerto Rican cuisine before your trip.


                                                               

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Puerto Rican Food In Los Angeles

Mofongo

If you live or are visiting  Los Angeles, California, make sure to stop by Mofongos Comida Caribena, the only Puerto Rican restaurant in Los Angeles.  If you are looking for authentic food from Puerto Rico, this is the spot.  Mofongos Restaurant is small (they are currently expanding), and Puerto Rican decorations are proudly displayed.  The restaurant is located in the North Hollywood Arts District.  Their signature dish is mofongo, a bowl of mashed plantains where seafood, meat, or vegetable is added.  I went to the restaurant on a recent visit, their mofongo was delicious with a homemade taste, as well as the other items on the menu:  
Steak and onions with rice and pigeon peas/arroz con gandules, pasteles/Puerto Rican tamales, sorullitos de maiz/cornsticks, and alcapurrias.

Arroz Con Gandules

Pastel

Sorullitos De Maiz

Alcapurria

                                            
So, if you are having cravings for Puerto Rican food, or if you have never tasted food from Puerto Rico, head over to Mofongos Restaurant.            


                                                                          

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Top Four Things Not To Do While Visiting Puerto Rico

Top four things not to do while visiting Puerto Rico:

Only Visit San Juan -  There are many places to visit beyond San Juan.  Make sure to explore other areas of Puerto Rico.  Discover other towns like Rincon, Patillas, and the islands of Culebra and Vieques.

Eating Only Foods Your Familiar With -  Have a taste of the typical foods of the island.  Try fritters like Alcapurrias and Bacalaitos.

Leaving Common Sense At Home -  Although you are on vacation mode, do not forget your street smarts.  No matter where you travel in the world, safety comes first.

Being Impatient -  Keep an open mind, the island of Puerto Rico is on "Caribbean" time.  Life in Puerto Rico, runs at a slower pace.  In Puerto Rico is not all about work, but appreciating life, family, and friends.

Go ahead, enjoy Puerto Rico to the fullest, and discover why Puerto Rico Is The Place...

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Fritters: A Must Try In Puerto Rico

When visiting Puerto Rico, have a taste of the local fritters (cuchifritos).  Some of the popular ones are:

Alcapurrias

Sorullos de Maiz

Bacalaitos

• Alcapurrias - Made with yuca, green bananas, crabmeat or ground beef, and deep fried in oil.
  
  
  
• Sorullos de Maiz (corn sticks) - Made with corn and deep fried.
  
  
  
• Bacalaitos -  Made with codfish, flour, water or beer, sofrito, herbs and deep fried.
  
  
  
  Vendors sell these fritters at street side stands or kiosks (kioscos) throughout Puerto Rico.  A favorite place with locals and tourist to eat the fritters, is Pinones Beach.  Pinones, is east of Isla Verde and during the day is when everything is open.  You will find many kiosks (kioscos) where you can eat, and see them preparing, Alcapurrias, Bacalaitos and many more.
  
  
  
  Enjoy a fritter by the beach, but you are warned, you will be drooling to have more...... 
  
  
  
                          
  
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