There is a wonderful restaurant in Lakewood serving authentic Puerto Rican food with wonderful service that makes the customer feel like they are on vacation in the Caribbean.
Old San Juan serves a variety of authentic Puerto Rican dishes in a small but homie restaurant. It has table that goes around the kitchen, one of which is specifically for those waiting for take-out.
At Old San Juan the owners want to make the customer feel like they are eating with family; they always come out to see how everyone likes the food, and sometimes sit down for a friendly conversation.
They take the sign on their door seriously, “Come as a strangers, and leave as a friend.”
When customers walk into the restaurant, they are greeted with a menu and their daily specials. They give their costumers a chance to experience something new every day besides what’s on the menu.
Customers can call ahead to ask for the special, and even give suggestions as to what they might want to see as a special.
Specials range from white rice and black beans with fried pork chops, to ribs in sauce or steak with sauté onions.
Their daily menu offers a variety of delicious dishes. The meal could start with an appetizer like a pastelillo (fried turnovers) filled with cheese, meat or pizza ingredients. The pastelillo are deep-fried to golden brown and are crunchy and warm with every bite.
The also serve alcapurrias on the weekends, which are made of grated plantain and yucca dough filled with ground meat and deep-fried. They come in orders of two, ready to share.
When it comes to entrees, Old San Juan gives a variety to choose from. Every dish ordered comes with rice and bean or fried smashed plantain with a sauté garlic dressing.
Two of the most notable things on the menu are the fried pork chunks “Carne Frita” and marinated chicken cracklings “Chicharrones de Pollo.” The chicken cracklings are marinated in caribbean seasonings, breaded and deep fried to golden brown but still really juicy.
One of the most famous things on their menu is the Mofongo. Mofongo is fried green plantain mashed together with garlic, seasonings and some pieces of crispy ham. It is serve with a side of hot chicken broth to dip, and a choice of meat.
The mofongo is really soft and rich in flavor, but is very filling, so if customers are going to order a mofongo, they might consider not getting an appetizer.
Old San Juan also offers a variety of mouth-watering desserts from coconut flan, to a smote filled fried turnover and tembleque.
The restaurant has reasonable prices for the quantity of food and the service you get. They are open from Monday to Saturday, have a military discount and do take-out orders by phone.
Old San Juan is currently working on expanding to a bigger restaurant. Same location just combining two restaurant spaces, they want to make a bigger space where family and friends can feel like their home.
You can visit Old San Juan on their Facebook page, or give them a call at 253-584-0528.