Coqui Restaurant — Restaurant in Sanford

An authentic Puerto Rican restaurant with the most welcoming staff. Jay, the very nice gentleman at the order counter was so kind, helpful and passionate as he explained the specials of the day and items on the menu. Fortunately, I’ve had real Puerto Rican food before and I knew what to expect.

What I got was the real deal. I ordered the beef stew and the meat was so tender and flavorful. It was stewed with potatoes and carrots. It came with rice and beans and my favorite, sweet plantains. The chicken was fall off the bone. The pernil was full of classic Puerto Rican flavor! The potatoes salad was top notch. The alcapurrias masa carne is like heaven with the complex flavors and contrasting textures. Seasoned beef is stuffed inside plantains and then it is deep fried! There’s nothing better!!!!! Their chicharonnes is amazing! Crispy, crunchy skin.

We got dessert to go. Quattro lesches cake and flan with rum cake. The Quattro lesches was so light and delicious. The flan cake was decadent and rich.

There was a lot of takeout while we sat and at there. There’s indoor and outdoor seating available. It was nice and cool in the restaurant because the ceiling fans were on. Modern decor.

Food and service is fantastic. I highly recommend this establishment and...

Was looking for a place to grab lunch after picking our car from service. We saw the Coqui Restaurant and decided to give it a try. Once inside we were greeted by the dining room manager and I assume co-owner with his wife who runs the kitchen. He was very friendly and explained the menu to us as well as the day's specials. They serve Puerto Rician cuisine which we didn't know. I have a food allergy and they were helpful at guiding me through what I could have on the menu. We tried some drinks we had never seen before while we waited for our meal. The dining room is small with maybe 8 tables inside and some additional tables outdoors. Some nice Latin music was playing in the background, not too loud, just a nice volume. Our meal was delicious, my wife had Mofongo Pernil and I had the Pernil special with roast pork, arrow c/ gandules and a green salad. Both our meals were served hot and they were delicious!!! Our server checked on us regularly which I really appreciate. So if you are in the Sanford area and looking for something good to eat in a friendly family atmosphere, this is...

So, my friend told me about the Coqui Restaurant in Sanford a while ago, and I finally made it there today.

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with such warmth and hospitality that it felt like we were visiting family. Since it was my first time, Jay (the owner) took the time to explain how the specials of the day change and vary from day to day.

We ordered the Carne Guisada and Pollo plates, and for my sides, I had arroz con gandules with maduros. To drink, we had Guava Juice and Mango Juice. Both were very refreshing and complemented the meal very well. His wife, Teresa (the Chef & co-owner), did an AMAZING job preparing the food.

We chose to sit outside, and the weather held up for us as it was already raining in a different part of town.

If you are passing through the Sanford/Lake Mary area and in the mood for Puerto Rico cuisine, then Coqui is definitely worth the stop. The service was excellent and the food was very flavorful. So if you have the opportunity to...