Bongos Cuban Caf

The restaurants at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino are not exactly known for their subtle architecture. On giant two- and three-story fa

Cafe Paraiso

Downtown day workers have been grabbing a quick lunch at this Cuban sandwich stand along Andrews Avenue for years, since it was known as Sury’s. But recently, the walkup counter has been taken over by the property’s original owners, who have cleaned the place up and revamped the menu. Where the old stand was dirty […]

Cielito Lindo

This long-standing restaurant serves Tex-Mex dishes in a quaint setting that looks like a Mexican cottage. It’s named after a classic Mexican tune played by Mariachi bands and not the famous Los Angeles restaurant. You’ll find platos tipicos like enchiladas, chimichangas, fajitas, and burritos along with Latin/Cuban dishes like masas de puerco, chicken and steak […]

Don Carlin Cuban Restaurant

This busy, sun-lit restaurant feels like a small Cuban café straight out of Miami. But Don Carlin is way out west in Broward, near Sawgrass Mills Mall. Area workers filter in for filling lunch specials, none more than $8.99, that for rabo encendido, or stewed oxtail. Steak palomilla, thin and cooked on the griddle till […]

Havana Hideout

Surrounded by tiki torches and a canopy of foliage, directly off of the well-trekked Lake Avenue, Havana Hideout feels more like a relaxed backyard party than a stuffy culinary destination. Sit with the sand in your toes in one of several folding chairs and dig into plates of empanadas seasoned with ground beef, shredded cheese, […]

Havana’s Cuban Cuisine

Havana’s Cuban Cuisine should not be mistaken for Havana, the sister West Palm Beach favorite with the walk-up window. Yet this place, and its sibling in Cooper City that opened in 2010, is no less congenial. A sliding door recedes to usher customers into a room framed by espresso wood, corrugated metal accents, and plate-glass […]

Las Colinas Restaurant

This reassuringly laid-back Cuban joint serves up a hot cheap breakfast from its walk-up window; $5 and you’re happily on your way to a great morning. The sandwiches are filling and fresh (served with a basket of toasted Cuban bread), and the lunch dishes (carne asada, ropa vieja, etc) have their devotees as well. The […]

Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine

This Fort Lauderdale Cuban restaurant has several locations across Broward County, the first of which has been in operation since the early ’90s. As a result, the menu offers a taste of Cuban fare at its finest. The Cuban sandwich it delivers is thick and meaty, with plenty of cheese, pickles, and mustard to balance […]

Little Havana Restaurant

The original of this Cuban staple is in Miami, and the Deerfield restaurant features a fountain and an outdoor patio where die-hard cigar smokers can stretch their legs. A bright interior is decorated with wood mementos, gewgaws, and color-saturated murals of Havana street scenes. But even with every word and snort of laughter echoing against […]

Mario’s Catalina Restaurant

You’ll have the time of your life at Mario’s busy, happy Cuban/Spanish restaurant, but don’t fool around: Make a reservation. You don’t want to have to wait a second longer than necessary for that steaming, ground-beef empanada, a hefty corn-scented tamal, or a feather-light ham croquette. The crowd here is lively; tropical flavors redolent of […]

Padrino’s

One of the oldest Cuban restaurants in our area, family-owned Padrino

Tropical Cafe

When you walk into a local joint and encounter a table of cops tucking into the grub, it’s generally a pretty good sign. After all, peace officers, like couriers, often have a leg up on some of the best out-of-the-way places to score a solid meal at a good price. Cuban sandwiches are a big […]