El Cilantrillo expands its footprint, opening new restaurant in East Orlando

El Cilantrillo Restaurant, one of the region's best-known Puerto Rican dining brands and Central Florida's largest Puerto Rican-owned restaurant has invested $450,000 in the project, employing approximately 70 people.

El Cilantrillo Restaurant, Central Florida’s premier Puerto Rican dining destination, has opened the doors to a new Orlando location at Rio Pinar Plaza, 431 South Chickasaw Trail. 

With four full-service locations in the region, the beloved island eatery is the largest locally-owned Puerto Rican restaurant group in the Greater Orlando area. 

“Every new door we open carries the same love and tradition our family brought to our first location almost a decade ago,” said owner Hiram Turull. “Seeing El Cilantrillo grow into the largest locally-owned Puerto Rican restaurant group is a dream realized with hard work and passion to share our culture. We can’t wait to welcome our extended family to Rio Pinar Plaza on June 18.”

The new restaurant will consolidate operations with the 2500 S Semoran Blvd. El Cilantrillo location while addressing long-standing challenges at the older store, such as limited guest capacity and scarce parking.

“The decision to consolidate and fold the older, smaller store into this fantastic new prototype was driven by our goal to improve the overall guest experience,” said co-owner Dianne Turull. “We want our guests to know that we’ve heard them. Our new store will offer the same great food and exceptional service that has made El Cilantrillo their favorite destination for Puerto Rican cuisine in a more comfortable, spacious, and vibrant environment.”

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A $450,000 investment supports the development of the 4,470-square-foot restaurant that will serve a rapidly growing, high-density residential area with a median household income of $100,574, according to U.S. Census data.

Located in Rio Pinar Plaza along Chickasaw Trail between Lake Underhill and Curry Ford Roads, in a space previously occupied by Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, the restaurant has a capacity of 154 guests, with indoor and outdoor seating, and features a stylish tropical design complete with a full-service bar. 

It will support a total workforce of about 70 employees, including new positions and employees transitioning from the S. Semoran Blvd. location, which will cease operations. 

The new location will continue to offer the brand’s signature favorites that have made El Cilantrillo a household name. Guests can look forward to dishes such as El Afrentao (a 14-pound shareable platter that combines a variety of seafood and meats with favorite Boricua sides), El Esmayao (an assortment of traditional Puerto Rican appetizers like sorullitos corn fritters, crispy popcorn chicken and tostones), El Parrandón (a shareable platter that includes chuleta kan kan, pork chop with a crispy fat layer, and churrasco), mofongos filled with a variety of proteins, deep-fried snapper (chillo frito) and several rice dishes including the house’s signature cilantro rice.

El Cilantrillo is a family-owned and operated business. Multiple members of the Turull family, including founders Hiram and Dianne Turull and all five of their adult children, are actively involved in the daily operations and long-term strategy of all five restaurants. The first El Cilantrillo store opened in Kissimmee in 2017.

Further expansion plans include opening stores in other Florida cities and Puerto Rico in 2027. The family also owns Turull’s Kitchen and Bar and Nona’s Urban Pizza, as well as Don Turull Cafe, a premium Puerto Rican coffee brand. 

Follow the restuarant on social media @ElCilantrilloRestaurant for updates and grand opening announcements.

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