Puerto Rican chain to open 3rd Central Florida eatery amid pandemic
El Cilantrillo Restaurant is celebrating a new milestone in 2021. The chain will open its third location in Central Florida by February with a 6,300-square-foot establishment that will be its largest yet.
The Puerto Rican sit-down dining establishment will occupy the former Outback Restaurant building in the Florida Mall area.
The decision in the midst of a pandemic required entrepreneurial guts and a $250,000 investment, according to owners Hiram and Dianne Turull.
In an interview with El Sentinel Orlando, the pair admitted the expansion might seem risky to some, especially after COVID forced them to temporarily close their locations in Kissimmee and Orlando.
“We are not afraid. I figured we’d have to learn to operate under the new normal. The new normal is to operate under a pandemic,” said Hiram.
The move will position the restaurant chain close to State Road 528 that connects the theme parks with Orlando International Airport.
“There is always fear in all types of business. With or without a pandemic. Different things can happen. No one was expecting a pandemic at the beginning of the year [2020], “said Hiram, former vice president of Banco Popular de Puerto Rico.
In fact, both existing locations still operate under security measures that have limited the number of customers that can enter the place.
“Now we have less capacity, but people still visit us, and they wait to sit down and have their dish from El Cilantrillo,” Dianne stressed.
El Cilantrillo opened its first restaurant in Kissimmee in 2017 and its second location on Semoran Boulevard in February 2020.
“We are blessed, especially when many restaurants had to close their doors this Christmas. We continue to receive the same number of people although we had to change [the way we position] tables” explained Dianne.
How did they stay afloat in the face of COVID-19?
The demand for Puerto Rican dishes such as churrasco, and stuffed mofongos kept them afloat “especially on weekends, during the [Christmas] festivities as well,” Hiram said.
“Chuletas kan kan” (also spelled chuletas can can) is their most popular dish. A unique cut of pork chop (chuleta) with the rib meat, fat, and skin all still attached and transformed into a crispy work of art.
“It is a completely different dish from what you are used to seeing in other restaurants, and even in Puerto Rican establishments,” Dianne added.
This, combined with bar offerings such as Medalla and mojitos, have broadened their clientele beyond Hispanics.
“We try to impress [them] with the kan kan pork chop. That dish is so big and looks so impressive on the tables,” said Dianne.
El Cilantrillo is also known for its huge portions. “El Afrentao” for instance can feed up to six people and includes the kan kan pork chops, skirt steak, chicken crackling, fried pork, fried snapper, conch, octopus & shrimp salad, cilantro rice, fried, mashed plantains, and a salad.
The new restaurant will continue these traditions: huge portions, Instagram-worthy dishes, and an exclusive menu offering that the owners are not ready to reveal. “Its a surprise,” Dianne said.
“I am confident in my product, and with God leading the way as well as our clients who always support us,” said Hiram.
El Cilantrillo Restaurant is located at both 3628 W Vine St., Kissimmee and 2500 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando.
For more information visit elcilantrillo. com or follow them on Facebook.com/elcilantrillorestaurant or Instagram.com/elcilantrillorestaurant