Where to Eat in Coamo

Stop by one of Coamo's many food trucks to try charcoal-grilled chicken accompanied by baked root vegetables, like yams and sweet potatoes or yucca with mojo — a staple marinade made with herbs, olive oil, and lots of garlic. If you prefer something with more service, there are many charming restaurants to visit. Be sure to try mofongo, a Puerto Rican specialty dish made with fresh plantains and stuffed with a variety of succulent meat cuts, products of the cattle raised just outside of town.

Any of these dishes combine perfectly with a refreshing mojito, sangria, or freshly squeezed juice made from locally grown guanábana, tamarind, or grapefruit.

Here are some must-try restaurants in Coamo.

La Gota de Rojas

This family-owned restaurant located in a historic building close to Coamo’s town plaza is known for its excellent service and delicious Caribbean and Puerto Rican cuisine. Don’t miss the mamposteao rice with chuletas can-can (deep-fried pork chops) and tostones (fried plantain wheels), or the ever-popular homemade mojitos and sangrias. La Gota de Rojas is open Wednesday through Sunday, and features live music on weekends.

La Ceiba Bar & Restaurant

Did you get to Puerto Rico and fall in love with mofongo? If the answer is "yes," then this is the place for you. Go ahead and try the trifongo, made with yucca, green plantain, and ripe plantain, stuffed with chicken and bacon, and bathed in a creamy white sauce. If you prefer to keep things simple, opt for the mofongo stuffed with grilled skirt steak and topped with mushroom sauce — two examples of the numerous variations you’ll find of this Puerto Rican staple. You’ll find La Ceiba on the main road that leads to Coamo’s town square.

Dining at Restaurant Hacienda Don Juan. — Mountain views while dining at Restaurante Hacienda Don Juan.

Restaurante Hacienda Don Juan

Fine meat cuts are the specialty at Restaurante Hacienda Don Juan, located in the Los Llanos neighborhood of Coamo. Among the gastronomic offerings here include La Hacienda, a puff pastry filled with juicy steak, smothered in mushroom sauce, and served with chorizo risotto; or the Mar y Tierra, a sirloin steak combined with a lobster tail and tostones. Other offerings include flame-grilled filet mignon, rib-eye steak, and lamb ribs, or ripe plantain lasagna stuffed with veggies for the non-meat-eaters in your party.

Sip on seasonal cocktails with house-made syrups at BarMuseo.

BarMuseo

Coamo's BarMuseo brings top-notch tapas, cocktails and pizzas to the table. The restaurant's trendy, fresh take on classics lend the menu an elevated feel perfect for a nice dinner out — and if you're looking for a light bite or an intimate bar experience, here's our pick. From seasonal wines and cocktails to appetizers like artisan flatbread, baked mac and cheese, and sushi, you won't leave disappointed.

Patria: Fondita Criolla Creativa

Patria: Fondita Criolla Creativa specializes in mofongo. Popular across the Island, this side dish is served dozens of ways — no better than at Patria, where you can enjoy it with tender skirt steak drizzled in bright chimichurri or with cornbeef and garlic sauce. For an appetizer, snack on crisp sorrullitos, or cornmeal fritters, savored best with a tangy house-made dip.

Coamo Golf Bakery

Often, a cup of coffee is in order — especially after a full morning exploring Coamo. Swing by Coamo Golf Bakery, a quaint shop known for its fresh, hot coffee, pastries, and sandwiches. Consider ordering a coconut ball, a sweet, tender treat flecked with bits of crunchy shaved coconut.