One of the best parts of eating vegan in Puerto Rico is the ingredients. The island is packed with tropical fruit, starchy roots (viandas), and bold seasonings that make plant-based food feel rich and satisfying.
Viandas (starchy roots) - the real MVP
You’ll see these in many places, especially in traditional home-style cooking:
- Yuca (cassava) - great boiled with garlic + olive oil
- Yautía - creamy texture, awesome mashed
- Ñame - hearty, filling, perfect in soups
- Batata - Puerto Rican sweet potato
Tropical fruits to try
- Mango (in season it’s unreal)
- Guayaba (guava) - look for fresh juice
- Parcha (passionfruit) - tart, bright, refreshing
- Papaya - often in smoothies
- Piña - in many places, and worth checking when in season
Seasonings that make plant-based food taste Puerto Rican
- Sofrito (ask if it’s made without ham)
- Adobo + sazón (confirm ingredients if packaged)
- Ajo (garlic) + cilantro + recao
What to watch for: jamón (ham), manteca (lard), and “caldo” (broth) that isn’t veggie-based are common in otherwise vegan-looking dishes.
San Juan currently has GoVeganPR's largest published listing count, which makes it a practical place to begin exploring.