Monday Munchies is supported by Botanica.
For the savory lovers, think of crunchy pork belly. Puerto Rican style with plenty of sautéed onion. Order the Chuleta Kan Kan at Batey Puerto Rican Gastronomy.
Unlike most restaurant pork chops, this one is fried with the skin on, leading to a satisfying crunch. Get the mofongo as the side for a hearty, garlicky filling bite.
Carlos Garcia, owner and culinary director of Batey Puerto Rican Gastronomy, spent years internationally honing his craft.
“I came into Tucson in 2007,” Garcia said. “I was working for the Ritz-Carlton in Puerto Rico and got transferred to the JW Marriott. From there, I worked at different luxury hotels before deciding to step out from the hotel industry.”
He also served as executive chef at Tucson Medical Center, then cleared out his 401(k) plan to open his food truck.
After launching his food truck, Boriken Modern Puerto Rican Cuisine, he saw a growing demand for authentic Puerto Rican cuisine in Tucson. That success inspired him to open Batey, a full-service restaurant dedicated to traditional dishes made from scratch.
“We make sure everything is the way my grandma would have done it or my standard,” Garcia said.
For more information, read our March 2025 article Batey Puerto Rican Gastronomy: Where Tradition Meets Modern Technique.
Batey Puerto Rican Gastronomy is located at 4230 N. Oracle Rd. #100. Keep up with Batey Puerto Rican Gastronomy on Instagram.
