Pernil is pork leg or shoulder that's marinated, then slow roasted, a dish common in Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and other parts of Latin America. At Sofrito Latin Cafe, a Cuban and Latin cafe on Palm Parkway five minutes from Disney Springs, Pernil is something more specific: a handheld of seasoned roast pork and cilantro-garlic mojo on Cuban bread.

Key Takeaways

Pernil is marinated pork leg or shoulder, roasted slowly under cover, then finished uncovered so the skin crisps.
It's common in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, usually comes with rice, and is often shared at Christmas.
The name ties to "pierna," Spanish for leg, and there's no clear story of where the dish started.
At Sofrito Latin Cafe, Pernil is a handheld on the lunch and dinner menu: seasoned roast pork and cilantro-garlic mojo on Cuban bread, tagged Cuba.
Roast Pork is a separate plate in the Main Event section, described as 36 hour braised and tagged Gluten Free.

Pernil, Defined: Slow Roasted Pork Leg or Shoulder

Pernil is pork leg or shoulder marinated a day ahead, roasted slowly under cover, then finished uncovered at higher heat so the skin turns crisp. According to Wikipedia's entry on pernil, the classic marinade is sofrito, salt and pepper. Yes, sofrito: the same word in the name Sofrito Latin Cafe.

The roast starts covered and slow. The cover comes off at the end, and the higher heat is what crisps the skin. Wikipedia also lists "roast pork" among pernil's other names, next to pernil asado and pernil al horno. In plain English, pernil is a style of roast pork.

Where Pernil Comes From, and Why No Single Country Owns It

Pernil is common in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, and there's no clear story of where it started. Tasting Table makes that point and ties the name to "pierna," the Spanish word for leg.

Wikipedia's entry also notes that pernil usually comes with rice and is commonly shared at Christmas.

Cuba is on that list, and Cuba is the tag Sofrito Latin Cafe prints next to its Pernil. If you know pernil from a Puerto Rican Christmas table, the version here reads differently: it's tagged Cuba, and it comes on bread.

What "Pernil" Means on the Sofrito Latin Cafe Menu

On the Sofrito Latin Cafe menu, Pernil is a handheld, listed on the lunch and dinner board and tagged Cuba, not a plate with rice. The menu describes the Pernil handheld in one line: "Seasoned roast pork & cilantro-garlic mojo on Cuban bread (Cuba)."

Three details are worth knowing before you order:

It sits in Handhelds, the section where the menu groups its sandwiches.
The sauce is a cilantro-garlic mojo, named right in the description.
No dietary tag is printed on the listing.

Pernil Sandwich or Roast Pork Plate: Reading the Two Menu Rows

The Sofrito Latin Cafe menu has a Pernil handheld on Cuban bread and a Roast Pork plate in Main Event, described as 36 hour braised. Here's how the two listings compare:

Menu detail	Pernil	Roast Pork
Section	Handhelds	Main Event
Description	Seasoned roast pork & cilantro-garlic mojo on Cuban bread	36 hour braised pork, seasoned with coriander, garlic, cumin & other spices
Origin tag	Cuba	Cuba
Dietary tag	None printed	Gluten Free

Both carry the Cuba tag. Only the Roast Pork plate shows a printed Gluten Free tag, and its description names coriander, garlic and cumin. The menu doesn't say whether the two rows start from the same pork, so ask when you order if that matters to you.

The simple way to choose: pick Pernil for pork on Cuban bread, or Roast Pork for a plate from the Main Event section. For a related sandwich question, see our Cuban sandwich vs medianoche comparison.

How to Order It Near Disney Springs

Dine in or order Pernil online for pickup at Sofrito Latin Cafe, on Palm Parkway in Orlando, five minutes from Disney Springs. Look for it under Handhelds on the lunch and dinner menu, then order pickup online, or order in person when you arrive.

Check today's hours on our Google Business Profile before you go.

Planning a full sit-down meal instead? Our guide to Cuban and Latin lunch near Disney Springs covers the plates.

The Short Version

Pernil is pork leg or shoulder marinated a day ahead and slow roasted, common from Puerto Rico to Ecuador and often shared at Christmas. At Sofrito Latin Cafe, Pernil is a handheld of seasoned roast pork and cilantro-garlic mojo on Cuban bread, tagged Cuba.

FAQ

How do you pronounce pernil?

Say "pehr-neel," with the stress on the second syllable. That's the pronunciation Tasting Table gives. The word ties to "pierna," the Spanish word for leg, which fits a dish made from pork leg or shoulder. On the Sofrito Latin Cafe menu, it appears as "Pernil" in the Handhelds section.

Is pernil the same as pulled pork?

Not quite. Pulled pork usually starts with pork butt, while pernil is most often made with the picnic, the lower half of the shoulder, sold with the skin on, according to Delish D'Lites. Pernil also gets a crisp skin finish in the oven.

Is pernil a Christmas dish?

Often, yes. Wikipedia notes it's commonly shared at Christmas and usually served with rice. The same entry describes a whole shoulder, skin on, marinated a day ahead and slow roasted. At Sofrito Latin Cafe, Pernil is a handheld on the lunch and dinner menu, not a holiday roast, served on Cuban bread with cilantro-garlic mojo.

Is the Pernil sandwich gluten free?

Don't assume so. The Pernil listing prints no Gluten Free tag, and it comes on Cuban bread. Of the two pork rows here, Roast Pork is the one with a printed Gluten Free tag, and our guide to gluten free options near Disney Springs covers more. Guests with celiac disease or a serious sensitivity should ask about shared fryers and cross-contact before ordering.

Visit Sofrito Latin Cafe on Palm Parkway

Sofrito Latin Cafe sits on Palm Parkway in Lake Buena Vista, five minutes from Disney Springs, with Pernil on the lunch and dinner menu.

Sofrito Latin Cafe

8607 Palm Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32836

(407) 778-4205

References

Pernil, Wikipedia
What Is Puerto Rican Pernil, And How Can You Use It?, Tasting Table
Puerto Rican Pernil (Roast Pork Shoulder), Delish D'Lites

What Is Pernil? The Roast Pork Behind the Sandwich