Going out to eat is one of聽those luxuries that is just so nice every now and then. Living in Rinc贸n we have some of the best聽food around, but it is not always cheap. Food in general聽is expensive in Puerto Rico due to聽shipping costs and so聽eating聽out is often even more expensive. In Rinc贸n it聽can be聽really pricey聽because it is a tourist聽town and you can easily find yourself in a “tourist trap” paying聽outrageous prices like聽around $20 for聽just a聽hamburger if you aren’t careful.聽Even in聽more moderately priced聽locales, if you have a couple of drinks, add in the tax and tip, two people could easily spend $50 on a night out! So in order to still be able to enjoy going out in our own town, eat something fairly healthy and not a chain聽(AKA聽not聽Churches or Burger King) and spend聽under or around $20 for two people, here’s what we聽do.
Firstly, we don’t go out聽anywhere聽feeling famished. We eat a couple of boiled eggs, bananas聽or some聽chia seeds to fill up on our way out.聽That way we can often聽just order one entr茅e and share it!
Here are our top 8 + stops聽when eating out on the cheap. Also note that businesses are always coming and going in Rinc贸n so keep your eye out for new places and realize that many of these may not exist in a year or two. (Editor note: This is current for March of 2017.)
1) Nopales. This place just opened up in the new Econo聽strip mall聽and we love it. It is聽basically a Chipotle or Qdoba concept of burritos or tacos. We order one burrito and聽split it. $6 plus tax. The women who work there are also super friendly and nice. Definitely聽our current #1 favorite place to eat out聽on the cheap in Rincon.
2) Panaderias. Pretty much any panader铆a in town (or on the island for that matter) you will find lunch or dinner specials. Try聽EC, Calvache, Rincoe帽o or Econo’s cafeteria. A huge stryrofoam container full of chicken or lech贸n, and rice and beans will聽set you back about $6 plus tax. Or sometimes we order a sandwich for about the same price. I like the pollo asa’o.
3) Food trucks. These can聽actually sometimes be a little more expensive because they are聽run by the owners themselves and often with fresh, local ingredients. Sometimes they聽later become brick and mortar locations like Mi Familias and Jack’s Shack. 聽Pizza Truck on the 413 is a聽quick, easy and cheap聽stop, but聽maybe not the healthiest fare. We love all the trucks on the聽corner by Mama Mel’s.聽Generally, most of these have shareable courses for around $8-12.
Calypso during an event
4) Calypso.聽You just can’t beat the happy hour聽rum punches,聽sunset聽view, music聽and聽decent聽bar food聽here. We usually聽share some nachos and a couple of rum聽drinks聽and can get out of there for around $20. One note: bring your own water. They will not provide tap water but will sell bottles.
Sunset on beach by Tamboo
5) Tamboo. Another favorite mainly for the location, but the food is really good too. It is located right on Sandy Beach where we have witnessed sea turtles hatching as well as whales waving their fins at us. We like Mexican Tuesdays where they have really good Mexican food that changes every week. We’ve had awesome chimichangas and stuffed bell peppers. Entrees are usually about $13-14.聽With a margarita and a beer or two we can walk away about $25 lighter and a belly full.
Downtown Rincon (la plaza)
6) Downtown. There are now so many options聽in Rincon’s聽plaza area. Some are much more expensive than others, but if you are willing to share you can still get out of most of them for $20. Try all of them if you have time:聽Rinc贸n Beer Company, Rinc贸n Gyro, Caf茅 413, Roots, Cappriccio, Mangia Mi, De Bocas, Brother’s Pizza. Note for those really on a budget: A pizza slice and a Medalla聽beer will be less than $5 at Brother’s!
7) La Cambija. Kind of a weird location right on the road down from the balneario, but they have some of the freshest fish at decent prices.聽The聽parking situation is聽also a little awkward because they have a little golf cart that will ship you back and forth. I like their fish ceviche, pinchos, tacos and burritos. About $8-10 per course or $4 for a pincho. Another place to bring your own water to avoid paying for it!
8) Villa Cofres铆. Right on the water, it’s a great place to watch the sunset and drink Piratas which aren’t cheap, but pack a punch and are served in a coconut! We call this place the cruise ship of Rinc贸n because it has that sort of feel. There is a fancier, air conditioned restaurant but to eat on the cheap, order from the bar and sit outside. A burger and fries is less than $10 I believe. Note: drink the piratas at happy hour and it’s about $2 less than regular price.
Honorable Mentions: These places are not very cheap, but they are really good, beautiful and/or different. You can still get out for聽around $30聽if you are careful of your selections and share food.
Having fun at “Secret Thai” or “Thai Lady’s”
Secret Thai: Ask around and you will find it through a series of strange directions that include two snakes. The very best authentic Thai place that everyone knows about but…hush, doesn’t! Bonus: You can bring your own beer!
Bar area of Copa Llena
Copa Llena: Right on the water by the marina. Romantic and beautifully lit. After a fantastic meal you can sit out on the Adirondack chairs and put your feet in the sand.
Surfer’s Spot聽during the day
Surfer Spot: This is the place for the best cheeseburger I have ever eaten and we are from beeflandia Colorado! They have great pies and other food too, but the cheeseburger is just divine especially at $9 including fries that we can share. I don’t even really eat beef, but I make an exception for this cheeseburger in paradise! The only drawbacks are that it is only open really late at night to serve the night scene and right on a busy road (the 413).
English Rose: Up in the hills overlooking the ocean you can have a wonderful breakfast. There are not many breakfast places, and this is the best both in聽food and ambience.聽It’s really not too expensive either.
View from the English Rose
