Plaza Borinquen — Restaurant in Lancaster

UPDATE: 5/25/25 It’s been months since I left a thoughtful and honest review, hoping it would prompt some form of customer support or acknowledgment from this establishment. I chose not to leave a one-star rating initially, even though that would have been easier. Instead, I gave the benefit of the doubt and shared my experience in detail—factually and fairly—hoping management would care enough to respond. Unfortunately, I’ve received no reply, no apology, and no attempt to make things right. This complete lack of accountability is both upsetting and disappointing. Given their silence and unwillingness to address a genuine concern, I feel compelled to update my review to one star. Not just because of the original experience, but because of their failure to show even the most basic level of customer care afterward. It’s incredibly frustrating to be ignored after trying to give a business the opportunity to do better. I had hoped for more, and they let that chance pass. ORIGINAL REVIEW: My husband is Puerto Rican, and we’ve had trouble finding a good restaurant here in Lancaster.There used to be a Puerto Rican restaurant on the Blvd called Borinquen that we liked, and I even recognized some of the same staff at this new location. However, while the food was good, we found the prices to be too high. Still, we understood because it was the only option for this type of cuisine. That restaurant closed down over a year ago, leaving us with no Puerto Rican food options at all. So when we found out Plaza Borinquen had opened—and so close to home—we were beyond excited! My in-laws happened to be in town and told us great things about this new place, so we decided to try it the very next day. We ordered takeout and brought it home. The food was delicious, full of flavor, and we ate every last bite. We had Pollo Empanizado with rice and black beans, tostones, yuca fries, and maduros. The chicken portion was very shareable and juicy, but the side dishes were not generous. Still, we enjoyed our meal. Just like the previous restaurant, the prices were on the higher side, but we understood—this is the only place around serving this cuisine. A week and a half later, we decided it was time to have it again, but this time we wanted to try the Bistec Empanizado, along with everything we got last time plus an empanada. Unfortunately, this visit was completely different. I called in our order at 12:32 PM, and the call lasted two minutes. I was given an ETA of 20–30 minutes, which seemed reasonable since it was Sunday during lunch hours. We arrived at 12:55 PM—21 minutes later—and were told it would be a few more minutes, which was fine since we were still within the estimated wait time. After waiting 10 more minutes, I asked if they could check on our food. They came back and said it would be another 10 minutes. I waited, and still, no one updated me. I asked again, and this time they said 5 more minutes. At this point, we were already 20 minutes past the original ETA, and I was debating whether to keep waiting or just give up. I didn’t just give them the 5 minutes—I waited an additional 10 minutes before asking again. Still, no one had come back to check on me or say anything about my order. By this point, I was beyond frustrated. It had been 55 minutes since I placed my order, and it still wasn’t ready. What was most disappointing wasn’t just the long wait but the complete lack of attention from the staff. At one point, I noticed that the side orders were ready, but the main dish was not—and at that point, it had been 40 minutes since I placed the call. It was incredibly disappointing and honestly sad because, as I mentioned before, there aren’t many options for this cuisine. This restaurant hasn’t been open for long, and I really hope they figure out how to better manage their kitchen so they don’t get overwhelmed by a simple “lunch rush.” We really wanted to love this place and continue supporting it, but this latest experience left us frustrated. We hope they work on consistency because we truly want to see Plaza...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this incredible restaurant, and I cannot rave enough about my experience. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warmth and friendliness. The atmosphere was inviting and cozy, with a family-oriented vibe that made me feel right at home. It's the kind of place where you can relax and truly enjoy your meal.

The service was exceptional, and my server, Icey, was absolutely fantastic—attentive, personable, and always ready with a smile. She made sure I had everything I needed, and her hospitality really added to the overall experience.

Now, let’s talk about the food—WOW! The pork chop with rice and beans was absolutely to die for. Every bite was packed with flavor, and the seasoning was just perfect. The empanadas were a delightful starter—crispy on the outside, bursting with savory goodness on the inside. It’s clear that the chef takes great pride in her craft. In fact, she even came out to introduce herself and personally check if I was enjoying my meal. That level of attention to detail truly made the experience feel special.

The entire meal was a delight, and I’m already planning my next visit. This restaurant has earned a loyal customer in me, and I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know. Thank you to the staff for making this such a memorable experience. I can’t wait to come back and enjoy even more of what this amazing place has to...

So glad that they are back. Best Puerto Rican food I have ever had and we are fortunate to have Plaza Borinquen in Lancaster. A must place to eat!!!! In the last month, my family and I have dine 4x.

I tried the Pollo empanizado, my folks had the bistec empanizado, we shared an order of Tostones and each had Empanadas. More than enough, but so glad we tried them all as the food was delicious.

In the past (when they were in the Blvd.) We had their Pollo Guisado and La Borinquena (recommended by the waitress). Mom an Dad, love them and both dishes are also two of my favorite.

The owner/chef comes by and greets everyone. She even gives insights on your meal and shares information about Puerto Rican cuisine.

The ambient is friendly. The food is to die for. The prices are reasonable. The hospitality is amazing. Has to be within my top 5 if not my top 3...