Where to Find Puerto Rican Takeout

Milwaukee’s South Side has always been a hub of culture and food. During normal times this part of town offers many places to eat, ranging from hole in the wall take out spots to fine dining and late night eateries. Scores of trucks offering cuisine from all over the world are parked along many curbs. You won’t go far before spotting one.

Although some were briefly lived, Puerto Rican restaurants have left indelible marks on the city. El Farol was a longstanding Milwaukee stalwart. The building that doubled as a restaurant and grocery store lived on 14th and Washington for decades but closed sometime in the mid 2010s. Since then, more Boricua spots have opened, creating happy places that transport you from Santurce to Patillas to Piedras Negras, villages in towns in Puerto Rico, la Isla de Encanto (island of enchantment). The smells of simmering  garlic, fried plantains and roasted pork lure you in like a beckoning finger in an old Looney tunes cartoon. 

Once inside, the sounds of Hector Lavoe’s vocal belts of passion and colorful walls will take you somewhere where you will feel as if you are surrounded by water, breathing the ocean air.