We’re switching up a little bit today! Today, I’m bringing out a Puerto Rico post!
In January, we went to Puerto Rico. When I was planning our trip, I was looking for restaurants that were near our activity for the day, hiking and going through a cave river on innertubes. I found this place and watched an amazing YouTube video about it, and I knew instantly that this was somewhere I HAD to try.
Mi Escondite a la Leña is a beautiful restaurant in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by forest. We drove on the tiniest back country roads to find this place. We almost wondered if we were going the right direction, because we were basically passing tiny mountain farm towns that made it seem like we were in the middle of nowhere. Finally, we saw a sign that directed us to the restaurant. We were there! Hidden down inside of a little valley, surrounded by the mountainous jungle, we found this gem.
This restaurant was definitely worth the drive. When you arrive, you’ll see all open outdoor seating at covered patios. There is a giant pool with a small waterfall on one side of the property and lots of room to look around. There are benches around the property, there is a really great bar, and there is nature all around you. You can hear the birds and wildlife in the trees while you eat, and the restaurant plays great music, as well.
Let’s get to the food! This place had the best smoothies and milk shakes. Did I mention… they can be alcoholic smoothies and milkshakes?? I chose mine without alcohol, as I was the driver that day. But seriously, look at this. It’s a mango milkshake with whipped cream and sprinkles. It was absolutely amazing. This was real mango flavor in every sip. My friends all had similar experiences, but with alcohol.
Next, came the lunch. I ordered this amazing sandwich. This is a delicious chicken sandwich with tostones instead of the bun. That is fried plantain instead of the bun. Inside was some lettuce and a really nice sauce that was kind of like a ketchup mayo mix. This sauce is really common with fried plantains in Puerto Rico. For my side, I chose mofongo. This is a fried and mashed plantain mixed with lots of garlic and seasoning. Mofongo is a must-try Puerto Rican food, and this one was cooked just right! I’ve tried mofongo many times, and if not done correctly, it can be a bit bland. But not at Mi Escondite a la Leña! This mofongo was so flavorful, and the garlic and spices really made it unforgettable.
My friend ordered this incredible churrasco steak with arroz apastelado. Arroz apastelado is rice cooked with some spices, capers, and usually some pork or chicken. It was served with a salad and of course, he drank it with a Medalla, probably the most popular beer in Puerto Rico. He also really enjoyed his meal.
The service was great and the staff was really friendly. The views were amazing and relaxing. This was the perfect meal after such an action-packed hike that morning. I definitely recommend this restaurant. Get outside of the big cities and visit this local hot spot, Mi Escondite a la Leña. You’ll be so happy you did.