A spontaneous ferry ride is sometimes the best kind of plan. One afternoon, we decided on a whim to take the ferry from Old San Juan across the bay to Cataño. The crossing takes about ten minutes, and the view back toward San Juan, with El Morro rising above the water, is almost reason enough to go. Cataño sits just across the harbor and is best known as home to the Bacardí distillery. Beyond that, there is not much that pulls you in.
When we stepped off the ferry, it was strikingly quiet. Most restaurants and shops were closed, and the streets were nearly empty. Perhaps it was because we arrived on a weekday afternoon, but the town felt paused, as if waiting for something to happen. The only restaurant that appeared open was Chicky’s, so that is where we went for lunch.
Chicky’s is an unpretentious spot focused on fried chicken. The decor is simple, and the pace is relaxed to the point where calling it fast food feels slightly misleading. Service was slow, but the atmosphere was warm, and it had the easygoing feel of a family run place. When orders were ready, they were announced over a microphone, and you picked up your tray at the counter.
We ordered fried chicken served with fries and a small bread roll, along with Chinese rice and a Papa Asada con Queso y Carne, which turned out to be a baked potato stuffed with cheese and ground beef.
Our first impression was that everything was fine, but a little subdued. We both agreed the chicken could use a proper hot sauce. There were no condiments on the tables, so I went up to the counter to ask. It turned out they had a selection of sauces, ketchup, and mayonnaise available for 25 cents each. We got four little portions of pique, the local Puerto Rican hot sauce, and suddenly everything came alive.
The chicken in particular was excellent once it had a bit of heat. Crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside, and full of flavor when paired with the sauce. The rice worked well as a side, while the Papa Asada con Queso y Carne was not quite for us.
All in all, it was a perfectly decent lunch in Cataño. Chicky’s is not a place I would make a major detour for, but if you find yourself in Cataño around lunchtime, it is a solid option. Just remember to ask for the sauce.
Chicky’s, 182 Barbosa Ave #198, Cataño, 00962, Puerto Rico
