Taste of Puerto Rico: How family-owned El Cilantrillo expanded to 4 Central Florida locations

The Brief

  • What started as a single leap of faith in Kissimmee in 2017 has grown into El Cilantrillo, a successful chain of four authentic Puerto Rican restaurants operating across Central Florida.
  • Founded by Hiram and Dianne Turull, the family-run business relies on multiple generations to handle daily operations while offering a comforting taste of home for displaced islanders.
  • Looking ahead, the Turull family plans to expand their footprint to Florida’s west coast to continue sharing their vibrant culture and heritage with a broader audience.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. Since opening its doors in 2017, El Cilantrillo has grown into four restaurants across Central Florida with a mission of bringing authentic Puerto Rican cuisine to everyone.

How El Cilantrillo got its start

For Hiram and Dianne Turull, opening a restaurant was not always part of the plan.

“I didn’t know that I was gonna open a restaurant,” Hiram said. “I just wanted to be an entrepreneur.”

The couple took a leap of faith in 2017, opening the first El Cilantrillo in Kissimmee.

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