• Puerto Rican food is a combination of Spanish, Cuban and Mexican fare that is rich with spices, rice and plantains. Seafood, pork and chicken are all common proteins in this style of cooking. Locals refer to Puerto Rican fare as cocina criolla, or Creole cooking. Across the state of New York, diners can find numerous restaurants serving up authentic Puerto Rican fare.
  
  

Bronx

• Fans of Puerto Rican food often dine at the El Nuevo Bohio in the Bronx. This eatery is an authentic Puerto Rican lechonera (pork market and diner). When walking up to this East Tremont restaurant, diners notice the tumble of pork shoulders in the window. A pig wrangler cuts up the roasted pig into half-pound, pound or platter allotments. Each piece combines the local ideal equation of fat to meat ratio along with the crispy outer skin. The menu at El Nuevo Bohio features sandwiches, salads, fried plantains and a variety of soups and entrees that include pork and chicken. El Nuevo Bohio is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  
  El Nuevo Bohio Restaurant
  
  791 East Tremont Ave
  
  Bronx, NY 10456
  
  718-299-4218
  
  

Geneva

• In Geneva, New York head to El Morro to enjoy Puerto Rican fare. El Morro, which stands for "the bluff," is an affordable restaurant named after a fortress in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The food at El Morro is homemade. You can find everything from rellenos de papa to arroz con habichueles on the menu. It helps if you have a working knowledge of Spanish when dining at El Morro because much of the menu lacks English translation. El Morro serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, and lunch and dinner on Sundays.
  
  El Morro Restaurant
  
  1 Franklin Square
  
  Geneva, NY 14456
  
  315-759-5999
  
  elmorro-restaurant.com
  
  

Troy

• Diners in Troy, New York can enjoy traditional Puerto Rican and Spanish food at Old San Juan Cuisine. This restaurant, which is located on Third Street, is a family owned and operated restaurant. Old San Juan offers dine in and carry out options. Old San Juan's menu is filled with an array of sandwiches, fried and grilled meats, seafoods and the house specialty: green plantains filled with a selection of meats. Daily, Old San Juan offers a combination platter in small, medium or large that includes rice, beans and a choice of meat. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from noon to 9 p.m.
  
  Old San Juan Cuisine
  
  387 Third St
  
  Troy, NY 12180
  
  518-273-1330
  
  oldsanjuancuisine.com