Eat · Santurce and the Mercado
Lote 23
An open-air food-truck park in Santurce: casual plates from several trucks, beer and picnic tables; go for a late lunch or an early dinner, take a car both ways, and check the trucks and hours first.
- Several food trucks
- Shared tables
- Take a car
- Order: A food-truck plate and a beer
- Walk-in window: 12:00–14:00
- Queue risk: 18:00–20:00
- Bring cash
- Vegetarian options
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 10Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bah…Old San Juan's blue cobblestones are slippery when wet an…
- Caribbean ↗Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bahamas and Jamaica) jail visitors for a single stray bullet or cartridge in their luggage; empty every bag and pocket before you pack.
- Caribbean ↗From August to October keep a free last day before your flight home and check the national hurricane centre daily; airports close when a named storm approaches.
- Caribbean ↗Wearing camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians in several islands, including Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica; leave it at home, children's clothes included.
- Puerto Rico ↗Entry follows US rules: international visitors need a US visa or ESTA as for the mainland, and US citizens need no passport from the mainland.
- Puerto Rico ↗Road distances are signed in kilometres but speed limits are in miles per hour; fuel is sold by the litre.
- Puerto Rico ↗Ferries to Vieques and Culebra sell out and are often disrupted: book ahead and have a small-plane backup.
- Puerto Rico ↗El Yunque National Forest uses timed-entry reservations for the main road (PR-191) at busy times: book on recreation.gov before you drive — check current rules.
- San Juan area ↗Hurricane season runs June to November: keep flights and hotels flexible and follow official advice.
- San Juan ↗Old San Juan's blue cobblestones are slippery when wet and heavy for bags: rolling suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- San Juan ↗Hurricane season runs June to November, peaking August to October: check the National Hurricane Center outlook, keep flights flexible, and follow official advice.
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Map & directions
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Plan
Open now, when you can walk in, what to order
Go now?
Open?
Usually afternoon into evening; check the current days and hours
Busy this hour
Estimate by hour below
Easiest walk-in
12:00–14:00
Reservations
Walk-in, no reservation
Paying
Bring cash
Per person
US$12–282026 estimate · check
Walk-in windows
Tip
Format
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
How to order, tip and pay, allergies, and booking
How to order
- Walk the row before you order; menus and prices are on each truck.
- Find a shared table; keep your bag on your lap or in front.
Tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 15–20%, close to US habits.
Allergies and diets
- YesVegetarian · Some trucks offer vegetarian plates; check each menu. · say: “Soy vegetariano. Sin carne ni pollo, por favor.”
- AskVegan · Limited; ask each truck.
- AskHalal · Ask about pork and alcohol; no certified halal (check). · say: “No como cerdo, por favor.”
- AskGluten-free · Depends on the truck; ask.
- AskNut allergy · Ask each truck; show a written card.
- AskAllergy · Show a written card in Spanish; ask about wheat, dairy, nuts and shellfish at each truck. · say: “Tengo alergia a ___. ¿Lleva eso?”
Paying
Bring cash
- Order and pay at the window; they call your name or number.
- Tip a dollar or two at the window, or 15 to 20% on larger orders.
- Mixed: most trucks take cards; keep small notes for tips and cash-only stalls.
Booking
- Booking
- Walk-in, no reservation
- Reservations
- Not taken
- Note
- Walk-in; long tables and picnic seating.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where this place is, how to get there, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
How to order here, in full
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
- 1Walk the row before you order; menus and prices are on each truck.
- 2Find a shared table; keep your bag on your lap or in front.
No shared language? Tap dishes in the order builder below and show the waiter the full-screen list in the local script. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| How much is this? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? | KWAN-toh KWES-ta |
| Not spicy, please | Sin picante, por favor | seen pee-KAN-teh por fah-VOR |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favor | la KWEN-ta por fah-VOR |
| Hello | Buenos días | BWEH-nos DEE-as |
| Thank you | Gracias | GRAH-syas |
Extras, condiments and what costs extra
- Card minimum: Some trucks set a minimum card spend — Ask before you order.
Paying and tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 15–20%, close to US habits.
- Order and pay at the window; they call your name or number.
- Tip a dollar or two at the window, or 15 to 20% on larger orders.
- Mixed: most trucks take cards; keep small notes for tips and cash-only stalls.
- Tipping: 15 to 20% in restaurants and bars if a service charge is not added; a dollar or two for drivers, baggage handlers and housekeeping.
- Tip 15 to 20% unless a service charge is added; check the bill.
At the table
- Take a car back after dark; do not walk through Santurce side streets.
- Lunch is the best value meal; many restaurants have a set plate of the day.
- Some Old San Juan restaurants close on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- The busiest places are not always the best value: ask the price of a plate before you sit.
Price and paying
- Typical spend
- $12 to $28 per person (2026 estimate)
Paying, diet and allergies
Paying
Keep small notes for tips.
Most trucks take cards.
Apple Pay at some trucks (check).
Varies by truck.
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetarianyes
Some trucks offer vegetarian plates; check each menu.
Show: Soy vegetariano. Sin carne ni pollo, por favor.
- Veganask
Limited; ask each truck.
- Halalask
Ask about pork and alcohol; no certified halal (check).
Show: No como cerdo, por favor.
- Gluten-freeask
Depends on the truck; ask.
- Nut allergyask
Ask each truck; show a written card.
- Allergyask
Show a written card in Spanish; ask about wheat, dairy, nuts and shellfish at each truck.
Show: Tengo alergia a ___. ¿Lleva eso?
Who it suits, booking and the kitchen
Who it suits, booking, closures
- How to book
- No bookings; walk in.
- How far ahead
- Not needed
- No-show / cancel fee
- Not applicable
- Dress code
- None; casual and sun-ready.
| When | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Some weekdays | check before you go | The park may be closed early in the week; check. |
| Storm days | check before you go | Closed for rain and hurricanes. |
Show the kitchen
Tap a need to get a large screen you can hold up to staff. The wording is the guide’s; a helper who reads the language should confirm it if your allergy is serious.
Hour by hour, with queue times
Quietest listed hour: 15:00 (quiet).
- 12:00lightlittle or no wait
- 13:00lightlittle or no wait
- 14:00lightlittle or no wait
- 15:00quietlittle or no wait
- 16:00quietlittle or no wait
- 17:00lightlittle or no wait
- 18:00busya short wait is possible
- 19:00heavyexpect a lineFriday and Saturday peak
- 20:00heavyexpect a line
- 21:00busya short wait is possible
- 22:00lightlittle or no wait
Desk estimate of crowd on a weekday in season; weekends and cruise days run one level higher. Not live data. No line length is on file, so waits are in words.
Comfort, facts and cons
Hygiene and comfort
- Air
- Open-air: hot at midday, wet in rain
- Seating
- Chairs at tables
- Kids
- kids' menu: no · stroller: caution · Casual seating suits kids
- Access
- step-free: check · An outdoor lot; check the ground surface
Hygiene
- Trucks are licensed; the main risk is heat, so choose hot food that is cooked to order.
- Wash hands or use wipes before you eat; sinks are limited.
Facts
- Reservations
- Not taken — Walk-in; long tables and picnic seating.
- Capabilities
- food
- Getting there
- Santurce, near Calle del Parque (check the address) · ~2 min walk
Cons
- Outdoor: hot at midday and open to rain (some cover, check).
- Cash and card mix; lines on Friday and Saturday evenings.
- Santurce side streets are not for walking at night.
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Camión de comida | A food truck. | Look for the menu board on the side. |
| Para llevar | To take away. | Use if the tables are full. |
| Cerveza | Beer. | Ask for local brews. |
| La cuenta | The bill. | Usually paid at the window when you order. |
Price check
- locals pay
- A truck plate is about $10 to $20 and a beer about $5 to $8 (2026 estimates).
- tourist price
- Prices are close to a casual restaurant; drinks are the biggest cost.
- rule
- Tip a dollar or two at the window, or 15 to 20% on larger orders.
| Extra on the table | Typical charge | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Card minimum | Some trucks set a minimum card spend | Ask before you order. |
Deep dive
Questions, alternatives, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Is there shade?
Some cover; check on arrival and wear a hat at midday.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
What is Lote 23?
An open-air food-truck park in Santurce with several trucks, a bar and shared tables.
Is Lote 23 safe at night?
The park itself is busy in the evening; take a car both ways and do not walk through Santurce side streets after dark.
What should I order?
Walk the row and pick the truck with the freshest line; menus change.
How much is a meal?
About $12 to $28 per person (2026 estimate).
Is it open every day?
Not always; check the hours before you go.
If it is closed or full
All places to eat in San Juan, with filters →
Used as a seated rest node in San Juan in 4 days.
Sources
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Source: Price per person
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates from the menu or the price line on file. Check on the day.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best time
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The easiest walk-in window or the quietest hour in this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.