Food

Some of the tastiest and cheapest food in Puerto Rico [1] can be purchased from street vendors, and the town of Utuado [2] is a great place to experience that. All along Carretera 111 going into and out of town, there are vendors selling grilled pinchos (meat kabobs), pollo al carbon (barbecue chicken), grandules (pigeon peas), and fresh fruit.

Joel Panaderia y Reposteria (Carr. 111, km 4.0, Utuado, 787/814-0715, and 54 Calle Dr. Cueto, Ututado, 787/894-0621, 6 a.m.–10 p.m., $1.75–7) is a casual modern eatery that serves a wide selection of Puerto Rican cuisine, barbecue chicken, burgers and sandwiches. But the real reason to go is fantastic selection of baked goods and pastries, including mallorcas (sweet buns), budin (bread pudding) and pastelillo de guayaba (guava turnover). There are also cakes, doughnuts, and cookies.

Jungle Jane Restaurant (Casa Grande Mountain Retreat, Carr. 612, km 0.3, at the intersection of Carr. 140, Barrio Caonillas, 787/894- 3939 or 888/343-2272, tarzan [at] coqui [dot] net, www.hotelcasagrande.com [3], daily 8–10:30 a.m. and 6–9 p.m., Sat.–Sun. noon–5 p.m., $12–20) is a pleasant casual restaurant serving an extensive menu of Puerto Rican cuisine and more contemporary dishes. Everything including seafood, steaks, pasta, and vegetarian dishes is available. There’s also a full bar.

Restaurante y Pizzeria La Familia (Carr. 111, km 12, Barrio Caguanas, 787/894-7204 or 787/894-7209, Mon. 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Wed.–Thurs. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun. 1–10 p.m., $5–15) serves Puerto Rican cuisine and Italian dishes including pizza in a simple salmon-colored building.