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El Meson Sandwiches

Logo: El Meson Sandwiches, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

Fast-casual restaurant chain based in Puerto Rico

El Mesón Sándwiches (marketed in Central Florida and sometimes in Puerto Rico as Meson Sandwiches) is a Puerto Rican fast-casual restaurant chain that primarily sells sandwiches, salads and breakfast items, which it serves all day long. Based in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, it is Puerto Rico's largest restaurant chain. In 2012 it was named one of the world's top fast food chains by Travel & Leisure magazine.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1972Founded1

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El Mesón Sándwiches (marketed in Central Florida and sometimes in Puerto Rico as Meson Sandwiches) is a Puerto Rican fast-casual restaurant chain that primarily sells sandwiches, salads and breakfast items, which it serves all day long. Based in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, it is Puerto Rico's largest restaurant chain. In 2012 it was named one of the world's top fast food chains by Travel & Leisure magazine. The chain is family-owned and operated and began franchising in 2018. It has 42 locations in Puerto Rico and four in Central Florida, located at The Florida Mall, in Kissimmee, at Lee Vista Promenade, and in Lake Nona. El Mesón Sándwiches units average $2 million in sales per year; system-wide sales in 2015 were just under $80 million.2

The story

El Mesón Sándwiches was founded by Felipe Pérez Valentín in 1972, with its first restaurant in the beach town of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The original restaurant was known primarily for its home-style sandwiches in a family-style atmosphere. Many of its early customers were mainland American surfers who came early in the day asking for big, healthy breakfasts. Their requests prompted Pérez Valentín to create a sandwich stuffed with fresh vegetables and soy-based protein, dubbed "The Surfer". In 1987, El Mesón's second location opened and rapid growth followed shortly after Pérez Valentín's son returned from college.

From Wikipedia’s article on El Mesón Sándwiches, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Products and brands

  • sandwich

Listed on Wikidata.1

El Mesón's sandwiches are mostly served on criollo bread, a sweet, French-style bread with a Caribbean flavor. Most are pressed on a hot grill and served with cabbage, tomatoes, mayonnaise and margarine. The Delicioso sandwich comes with turkey and bacon. The White House is grilled with roast beef, turkey and mushrooms. El Mesón also serves sandwiches on baked potatoes.

From Wikipedia’s article on El Mesón Sándwiches, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 1972Founded Founded in Aguadilla1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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