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 (simple)
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.
San Juan's current listing depth gives you more places to practice these questions, but each kitchen still needs a direct check.