Mi Viejo San Juan

Write a Review719-632-6619

CLOSED NOW - Opens at 11:00am

OPEN at 1821 S Academy Blvd

Had the Cuban Sandwich for lunch - it was very flavorful and big - definitely a full meal. The woman who runs the place is really friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere was nice. I'll be going back to try the entrees!

The food was delicious and authentic! Service was good and the owners were very friendly and passionate about their restaurant. I had the pernil with arroz con gandules and amarillos, and my husband had the empanadas special with arroz con habichuelas and amarillos. We both loved every bit of it! I left so stuffed and wishing I had room for dessert too! They cook orders to go as well! Their cooking is right up there with my Mom's cooking - My mom is the BEST cook in my family so that's really saying something!! I'm definitely going back.

Let me start with the pluses. The food in this restaurant (MVSJ) is good and it's authentic Boricua food. I know--soy Boricua. Additionally, the family who owns and runs this business are friendly and truly take pride in their business.



HOWEVER, (and I say this with reservations because I truly feel that as they gain more experience, the minuses will be corrected), most of their meat dishes are a bit salty. I want the salt to enhance and bring out the flavor, not dominate. Thus, after a while, it can ruin the original delight. Perhaps due to too much adobo?



Also, the food selection lacks variety. The menu offers a fair selection, but what's on the menu is all you will get. After going there four times, you sought of exhaust the choices and going there seems more routine than an adventure. True, they do have specialties, but they're basically for appetizers (which are very good frituras, such as papa rellenas, empanada--which are really pastelillos since empanadas are thicker crusts--personally I prefer the pastelillo as MVSJ cooks it). What's unusual is that such common and most demanded plates such as pollo fricase, pollo frito, carne guisada, bacalau en salsa, and mofongo are not part of the daily menu but treated like specialties, which you may have to wait weeks to be offered. So don't expect these very common and popular plates to be offered any time soon. Strange, but true. From Boricua restaurants in the US I've visited from N.Y, N.J., Florida, and Chicago, I've never seen these selections excluded as daily choices.



But as I stated, as they gain more experience and clientele they may open the selections more or at least alternate selections among the days of the week. The family seems to have a passion for the restaurant business. I hope this passion translates into a better selection for the many customers that I'm sure they will get.



PS: Their sancocho is to die for! Unfortunately, it's also treated as a specialty. They should at least offer it every Saturday when families get together to go to a good restaurant--which this one is destined to be.

THE FOOD IS EXCELENT , THIS RESTAURANT FEELS LIKE HOME , THEY HAVE ROTISERIE CHICKEN , RIBS, PORK SHOULDER, RICE WITH PIGEON BEANS , AND EVRYDAY SPECIAL , VERY AUTHENTIC PLACE , OMG ALSO FORGOT, THE YUCA IN GARLIC SAUCE , FRIES PLATAIN FRITERS, RIPE PLATAIN , ETC ,,,,,