Rancho Choli — Restaurant in Isla de Vieques

Tucked one narrow block off Esperanza’s malecón, Rancho Choli looks like a humble roadside joint from the front—but walk past the order window and you step into a leafy, open-air patio laced with passion-fruit vines and picnic tables. The setting is casual enough for sandy flip-flops yet feels unmistakably Borincano—roosters crowing, salsa on the speakers, and the smoky perfume of a whole pig turning on the spit. 

Food • Lechón asado: skin shatters like glass, the meat is glossy and porky—easily the best bite I had on the island. • Mofongo con cerdo: garlicky plantain mash crowned with chopped roast pork and a ladle of jus; ask for a squeeze of their house pique. • Pulpo con tostones: surprisingly tender octopus seared on the plancha, served with twice-fried plantain disks. Portions are generoso; two mains fed our family of three with leftovers for the beach. Prices run $12–$18 per plate—good value on Vieques. 

Drinks No full bar, but they blend a killer parcha (passion-fruit) mojito and keep Medalla on ice. Non-drinkers should grab the house-made limonada fresca.

Service & vibe Ran by a local family who treat you like cousins: the cashier patiently walked us through the rotating menu board, and the owner made the rounds to be sure everyone was happy. Orders arrive in biodegradable trays; buss your own table. Expect island time—our food took about 20 minutes, worth every second.

Good to know • Open Tue–Sun, 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m.; closed Monday.  • Cash is king (they do take ATH Móvil if the signal cooperates). • Plenty of parking on Calle Almendro, but the road is rough—go slow in a rental. • Come early or call ahead if you want ribs; they sell out by mid-afternoon on weekends.

Bottom line Rancho Choli nails the trifecta of Vieques dining: honest Puerto Rican cooking, warm hospitality, and fair prices. If roast pork and mofongo are on your edible bucket list, make this your first lunch stop after the ferry. I’d return in a heartbeat—and next time I’m saving room for the pastelillos everyone was...

BUYERS BEWARE. Cash only. We stumbled upon this spot since it was the only one open during the off-season (2nd week of August). They do not indicate prices for their dishes, and we should have asked but they insisted on us paying after the meal which should have been our first hint. We ended up have to pay for $20 for grouper filet, $20 for shrimp, side of rice (not included ) is $3, water $1. They ended up charging us for an extra grouper!! The grouper was sweet, flavorful, presentable. The shrimp was very meh. Rice was full of flavor. So overall the taste of the place was good but we were expecting a lower dollar point for the quality / quantity. Our bill came out to $173. There is a nice patio in the back with several tables and also bathrooms (with no running water to flush or wash your hands). Appeared like their dog was also nearby the tables, not begging but...

For real-deal local fare, this has to be one of the best places on the island. We had the crab pasteles (kinda like tamales) with a side of rice and pigeon peas (arroz con gandules), and chicken legs with tostones (flattened slices of starchy plantains, fried with garlic). The pasteles were divine, with masa, red pepper of some sweet variety, and plenty of crab. The rice and pigeon peas were flavored with smoked pork and sausage, and were amazingly good! The chicken was properly seasoned (something other places seem to forget), and smoked to perfection, where the bones just pop out. They managed to keep the meat from drying out, a common issue when smoking — theirs was juicy and flavorful! Will definitely come back. I was hoping for the lechón (slow-smoked pork), but it was destined for the dinner menu and we came by for lunch....