El Meson Sandwiches (Santurce) — Restaurant in San Juan

El Meson is usually great: best sandwiches and corn fritters, yummy fries, vegetarian options (although tasteless) and so so pastries. BUT service at this location the morning of Saturday, August 20th was THE WORST EVER! This is the second time that I order through MESO PICK UP and they tell me they ran out of food after waiting for almost 30 minutes!!!! This is supposed to be fast and 34 minutes is SLOW! And to not even give you the food you PAID FOR. Also, there is no parking anywhere nearby, hard to find or accessible. I don’t mind paying the garage, but that takes about 5 minutes in and 5 minutes out if there is no line to get in (10 minutes MINIMUM just to park). So we ordered through MESO PICK UP and husband gets out of the car and waits for 34 minutes watching how the employees are wasting their precious time packing a bunch of takeout boxes for some big order that overrode everything everyone else ordered. About 20 other people waiting in line for their food. Whoever manages this location is an inept. We never got our food as my husband was told that they had ran out of hot cereals way early (they are supposed to serve it until 11 and we ordered about 40 minutes earlier and told that they never had our food a bit after 11). And just now I received a notice that they will refund my money paid. At least, since last time I didn’t even got my money back: no food and no refund....

We arrived to a line snaking out the door, a hungry crowd thick with locals and sunburnt wanderers. It was a wait, sure—but a wait that whispered worth it. This place doesn’t fake the funk; it feeds you fast, feeds you well, and feeds you like you matter.

El Meson is no white-linen establishment. It’s the McDonald’s of Puerto Rican flavor—but in the best possible way. Affordable, consistent, and honest. Sandwiches come stacked and proud, pressed to golden perfection. You get bread with backbone and fillings with soul.

The staff? Smiling like they just saw an old friend. That sort of cheer isn’t trained—it’s real.

And in a district teeming with overpriced ceviche and boutique cocktails with rosemary sprigs, El Meson stands as a refreshing rebellion.

Come for a sandwich. Stay because you feel...

The food here is decent. The service and attention to detail is horrible. My girlfriend is very allergic to lactose, we mentioned this twice when placing the order, In writing I must add. Her sandwich, contained cheese. Horrible, horrible, horrible. They will not care about your allergies.

If you have no allergies, this place is a better version of subway, barely. If you do have allergies, go somewhere else. Not worth being sick because they are to lazy to read simply...