Chef Josué Peña

Cooking with Pride, from Puerto Rico to Atlanta

By Daniela Cintron

Published May 22, 2025
Last Updated May 23, 2025

For chef Josué Peña, being Puerto Rican isn’t just about where he’s from — it’s about who he is. Born in San Juan and raised in Río Piedras and the eastern Carolinas area of the island, Peña carries his identity like a perfectly seasoned dish — rich, complex and rooted in tradition. Based in Atlanta as executive chef at The Iberian Pig in Buckhead, he brings that depth of culture to every plate.

Peña has called Atlanta home for the past five years, drawn in — again and again — by the city’s diversity, history and energy. “It’s always the same thing that draws me in. It’s the culture,” he says. “Atlanta is the place of the Civil Rights Movement, the hub for hip-hop and rap. There’s so much diversity in one of the biggest Southern cities in the U.S.”

At The Iberian Pig, Peña leads a kitchen steeped in Spanish-inspired cuisine, but he finds familiar notes that connect back to his island roots, especially in the rice. “I’m really big on rice,” he says. “Every meal I have usually has a bit of rice, whether it’s at home or in a restaurant.” For him, food is more than sustenance; it’s storytelling. And rice, like the Puerto Rican culture he represents, carries generations of history, flavor and memory.

To Peña, being Puerto Rican means knowing exactly where you come from. “You’re a unique blend of Taíno, Spanish and African heritage,” he explains. “That’s what being Puerto Rican starts you with — your DNA.” But it doesn’t stop there. What truly defines the Puerto Rican spirit, he says, is pride. “There’s a sense of pride in our culture that separates us from just feeling like U.S. citizens. It’s a happiness to embrace that we are Puerto Rican.”

That pride is generational, Peña adds — passed down like recipes in a family kitchen. “It doesn’t just start with one person. It spreads through generations, and every new generation still has that sense of pride.” It’s a legacy he honors in every dish he creates, blending his training with his heritage.

In a city like Atlanta, where so many cultures collide and coexist, Peña sees the opportunity to cook and connect. His food bridges his island roots and his Southern present, a celebration of flavors that reflect where he’s from and where he’s going.

“Being Puerto Rican means understanding you’re not just a single person,” Peña says. “You’re part of something bigger. You’re part of a beautiful island surrounded by water, filled with amazing people, amazing culture, amazing food, amazing music, amazing families.”

Through his leadership in the kitchen and the pride in his heart, chef Josué Peña is showing Atlanta exactly what it means to be Puerto Rican — one unforgettable bite at a time.

Check out Chef Josue’s interview featured in “Top Chefs To Watch Out For” and meet other Puetro Rican creatives in Atlanta.

Daniela is the content manager and bilingual editor for Discover Atlanta. As an award-winning bilingual journalist, she is passionate about shinning light on untold stories about culture, food and Atlanta.