You don’t need perfect Spanish to eat vegan in Puerto Rico. You just need a few phrases that remove confusion fast. Save this post and reuse these lines anywhere — restaurants, cafés, kiosks, bakeries, and food trucks.
In this guide
Core phrases (memorize these)
- “Soy vegano/a.” (I’m vegan.)
- “Sin carne, por favor.” (No meat, please.)
- “Sin queso.” (No cheese.)
- “Sin huevo.” (No egg.)
- “Sin mayonesa.” (No mayo.)
- “Sin mantequilla.” (No butter.)
- “Sin manteca.” (No lard.)
Quick tip: Use 2–3 “sin ___” lines together. It prevents the classic “vegetarian-but-not-vegan” outcome.
The best questions to ask
- “¿Esto tiene leche?” (Does this have milk?)
- “¿Tiene jamón?” (Does it have ham?)
- “¿Está hecho con manteca?” (Is it made with lard?)
- “El caldo, ¿es de vegetales?” (Is the broth vegetable-based?)
- “¿Se puede hacer vegano?” (Can it be made vegan?)
Shortcut orders (low-risk)
When you don’t want a long conversation, these are the easiest “build a plate” options:
- “Arroz y habichuelas, ensalada, y aguacate — sin carne.”
- “Tostones con ensalada — sin queso, por favor.”
- “Un jugo/smoothie — sin miel.” (No honey.)
Common misunderstandings
Watch for: “Vegetariano” items with cheese/mayo, beans cooked with ham, and rice cooked in meat broth.
If you want the easiest place to practice ordering vegan, start in San Juan first. Options are more consistent and staff are used to requests.