You’re headed to Miami and you’re determined to eat at only the best restaurants. You know the city is swarming with authentic Cuban food, and you want to try the best. Our guide to Cuban restaurants in Miami will send you to the best rated Cuban restaurants in South Beach and beyond.
Tintya y Café is located on SW 8th Street in Miami near the end of the infamous Calle Ocho and Brickell. It is the highest rated Cuban restaurant in Miami Beach. The price range is pretty decent, garnering only one $. They are open Mondays through Fridays from 7 to 7 and are open Saturday from 9 to 6. Tintya y Café is supposed to be good for kids, and the dress is casual. One proponent of the café said they were “overly amazed at everything from start to finish including the service, food, and decorations.” Tintya y Café welcomes tourists with open arms.
268 SW 8th St
Miami, FL 33130
305-285-0101
Exquisito Restaurant is also located on the infamous Calle Ocho. It has been noted to be one of the cleanest Cuban restaurants on the street. One diner says that “just by the presentation you can tell these guys are doing their thing with love.” Exquisito is split into two different sections, the restaurant on one side and the cafeteria on the other side. This is an excellent stop if you are looking for the flavor of the locals.
1510 SW 8th St
Miami, FL 33135
305-643-0227
Papo Llega y Pon is another delicious Miami Cuban restaurant. The price range is also in the one $, but they do not accept credit cards, so bring some cash. The casual attire restaurant is also good for kids, so be prepared for a family good time. This little hole in the wall can be difficult to find and navigate into, so take your time finding it. Papo Llega y Pon is very packed during normal lunch hours, signaling the amazing food found inside. For $22 you can get a loaf of Cuban bread filled with chicarrones, hot sauce, lichen, and onions, as well as plantain chips, guanabana juice, a mammy milkshake, and Cuban coffee. They close around four in the afternoon, so find that delicate balance between the lunch crowd and closing time and you’ll have a perfect pork sandwich on your hands.
2928 NW 17th Ave
Miami, FL 33125
305-635-0137
Oasis Sandwich Shop boasts one of the best Cuban sandwiches. This stand is located at 19 Harbor Drive in Key Biscayne. The prices are reasonable, garnering only one $, and the crew working the shop are notable for their friendliness. A native Cuban who had grown up eating pork his entire life said the pork served at Oasis Sandwich Shop is among the top three porks he’s ever tasted. Oasis Sandwich Shop sports some of the best Cuban coffee around. Whether you want to stand at the corner and eat your food, sit in the shop and eat, or take your food to go, you won’t be disappointed with Oasis Sandwich Shop.
19 Harbor Dr
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
305-361-5709
The Little Havana Restaurant located on Biscayne Blvd in North Miami is a little pricier than other Cuban restaurants. The meat is very tender and juicy, with the chicken chunks and pork chunks being a favorite. They do take reservations, and the attire is casual. The décor in Little Havana Restaurant is enough to make the atmosphere reminiscent of Cuba and the wait staff wears guayaberas. During the lunch hour the wait can be slow, but once food is ordered, your food is served promptly. Little Havana is a great restaurant if you want something a tad classier than a hole in the wall but don’t want to pay too much.
12727 Biscayne Blvd
North Miami, FL 33181
305-899-9069
Karla Bakery in Miami is one of the best Cuban bakeries in Miami. Not only does Kara Bakery offer baked goods, but also offers a variety of other Cuban foods such as emanadas, croquettas, pastelitos, and pasteles. A part of the neighborhood for 20 years or so, Karla Bakery has a website that explains what each of their wares is and what is in them. For amazing Cuban pastries and other dishes, Karla Bakery is the spot.
6474 W Flagler St
Miami, FL 33144
305-267-9000
La Rosa Restaurant on NW 7th Street in Miami serves generous portions of delicious lamb shanks with plantains and moros, just to name a few items on the menu. The family-owned restaurant has been a Miami staple since 1970. If you have a layover in Miami for a few hours and need to get out of the airport, La Rosa Restaurant is just two miles away from the airport. The atmosphere has been described as feeling like you were “in someone’s living room with their grandma cooking in the back. Cute old man to say hello and open the door on entry.” Often a woman can be found at the piano playing traditional Cuban songs with Happy Birthday or Old McDonald thrown in the mix. If your Spanish is rusty, or non-existent, it’s not a problem at Las Rosa Restaurant.
4041 NW 7th St
Miami, FL 33126
305-541-1715
Do not expect fast service at Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop. Why, you ask? Because an elderly woman makes the sandwiches and does it RIGHT. She takes her time to build each sandwich with a true inborn love for Cuban food. Interestingly enough, it’s the breakfast sandwiches that have many raving about how scrumptious the food is. For about $5 to $6 you can buy a sandwich that will last the entire day. If you tip them well enough, the staff (cooks included) will get rowdy as a thanks. Be adventurous and try something different at Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop. A warning – they are not open for dinner, and once you try their food you might wish they were!
2830 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33137
305-573-4681
Islas Canarias Restaurant is located on SW 26th Street. It is a favored Cuban restaurant in Miami. The croquetas (a fried potato ball or roll filled with a meat) served at Islas Canarias have been raved as some of the best found in Miami. The food is not too expensive and the portions are on the larger side. Islas Canarias is the place native Miamians take their out-of-towner friends. It has a nice blend of casual and fine dining, and exhibits good services. It is always clean and generally packed. You can call in and pick up your order, go through the drive through, or just walk in and sit down and dine. An excellent choice if you are looking for amazing croquetas.
13697 SW 26th St
Miami, FL 33175
305-559-6666
The Rio Cristal’s signature dish takes a detour from the famous Cuban sandwich. It’s the “Rio Cristal Super Steak Special” that gets all the attention in this Miami Cuban restaurant. A huge slab of Palomilla steak that covers the entire plate, some rice, black beans, and fries, $15, and you’re set for the rest of the day. Or take a date and split the plate. The Palomilla steak is not too thin or dry as in some other establishments, but juicy, tender, and just the right thickness (not too thin but not so thick it takes you days to chew). The service is great and the staff is friendly. Patrons who have been going to Rio Cristal for 40 years say it’s the best kept secret of Miami.
9872 SW 40th St
Miami Fl, 33165
305-223-2357
Oasis Sandwich Shop boasts one of the best Cuban sandwiches. This stand is located at 19 Harbor Drive in Key Biscayne. The prices are reasonable, garnering only one $, and the crew working the shop are notable for their friendliness. A native Cuban who had grown up eating pork his entire life said the pork served at Oasis Sandwich Shop is among the top three porks he’s ever tasted. Oasis Sandwich Shop sports some of the best Cuban coffee around. Whether you want to stand at the corner and eat your food, sit in the shop and eat, or take your food to go, you won’t be disappointed with Oasis Sandwich Shop.
19 Harbor Dr
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
305-361-5709
If you’ve come to Miami for the culture, there is no doubt you should spend your vacation at the very least at two or three of the Cuban restaurants in Miami listed above.
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