Best Authentic Cuban Restaurants in Miami

Cuban cuisine is a huge part of Miami culture. If you are looking for authentic Cuban dishes, there is no better place than a family-owned business. We asked our local staff and their families for their favorite Cuban restaurants in the area and compiled them for our list of “Best of Miami” when it comes to Cuban food. If we missed your favorite authentic Cuban restaurant, don’t hesitate to contact our team and we’ll be happy to add it to our list of the best in Miami.

“Mmm… Cubano” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by jeffreyw

ENRIQUETA’S SANDWICH SHOP

The Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant loved by Miami locals. Surrounded by towering condominiums, this diminutive Miami favorite opened in 2001 by Jose Luis Pla and his family. Enriquetas has a small dining room with tables and counter seating but does brisk business through their take-out window. Breakfast options include a variety of omelets, empanadas, and croquettes. Locals rave about Enriquetas’ Cuban espresso, latte, cafe con Leche, and cortadito (half espresso and half milk). The menu also includes a wide variety of freshly pressed juices, including guava, orange, watermelon, and guarapo (sugar cane juice).

If visiting Enriquetas for the first time, you must try their authentic Cubano, made from Cuban bread, juicy pork, ham, pickles, Swiss cheese, and mustard pressed to crispy perfection. Enriquetas is also known for its Pan Con Bistec (steak sandwich). Chicken, cheese, and green plantain sandwiches are also available. Other popular menu items include goat stew, roasted pork, oxtail stew, and red bean soup. Enriquetas also has several Cuban dessert items on the menu. Maduros (sweet plantains), milkshakes, bread pudding, and coconut flan are just a few of the delicious sweets available.

You can visit Enriquetas on 29th Street in Miami. They are open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

EL PALACIO DE LOS JUGOS

El Palacio De Los Jugos (“Palace of the Juices”) has been family-owned since 1977. All menu items are founder Apolonia Bermudez’s recipes. El Palacio De Los Jugos is known for its batidos (fruit smoothies) and refreshing fruit juices, including soursop, guava, papaya, blackberry, and tamarind.

The El Palacio De Los Jugos menu includes home-style Cuban dishes such as oxtail soup, churrasco (skirt steak), ropa vieja (shredded beef), and sandwiches. Be sure to try the wildly popular chicharrones (fried pork belly rings), empanadas, and croquettes. El Palacio also makes hand pies from homemade pastry and stuffed with guavas, cheese, or meat.

El Palacio De Los Jugos has a small bodega inside the restaurant, offering daily necessities such as eggs and ripe, delicious tropical fruit. You can visit El Palacio De Los Jugos at any of their ten Miami locations, including West Flagler Street, 24th Street, and 107th Avenue. Look for the signature red and yellow awning. Most locations are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

ISLA CANARIAS

Isla Canarias was opened in 1977 by the Garcia family. This casual, friendly Cuban restaurant is best known for its croquettes. The fried, cigar-shaped dumplings are filled with ham, chicken, or fish, and can be ordered alone or as part of a meal. Breakfast menu items include waffles, pancakes, egg sandwiches, and fried pork chunks. Check out the natural mango, pineapple, or watermelon juices for a refreshing start to the day. Mamey, puffed wheat, and malted milk smoothies are also available.

The lunch and dinner menus are expansive and feature traditional Cuban appetizers such as fried cassava, malanga fritters, tamales, and stewed plantains. Grilled pork steak, paella, grilled fish, and a variety of beef dishes are always available. Be sure to try one of their delicious desserts, including the Cuban flan, tres leches cake, bread pudding, and Natilla Quemada (caramelized vanilla custard).

Isla Canarias has two Miami locations. The Islas Canarias Restaurant and Bar on 26th Street serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. Restaurant hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and weekends from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The Ventanita (“Little Window”) is open for take-out every day at 7 a.m. The Islas Canarias Cafe, Restaurant, and Baker on 137th Avenue is open Monday through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

PUERTO SAGUA

If you are looking for an old-school diner experience, check out Puerto Sagua. This Miami Beach favorite opened in 1962. Puerto Sagua is known for its delicious Cuban food and friendly service. Puerto Sagua has a large menu full of traditional Cuban favorites such as ropa vieja, croquettes, roast pork, and spicy black bean soup. Don’t miss out on the cassava with garlic sauce, fried plantains, yuca, and moro rice. House specials include paella, mariscada (yellow rice with seafood), and Cuban-style chicken and rice. A large variety of beef, chicken, and pork dishes are also available.

Puerto Sagua offers Hatuey, a Cuban-style beer that pairs well with just about anything on the menu. Puerto Sagua also offers several fresh fruit juices such as mango, papaya, and soursop. You can find Puerto Sagua on Collins Avenue. They are open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day.

LA CARRETA

Known as Miami’s “Original Cuban Kitchen,” La Carreta is known for its home-style dishes, Cuban espresso, and friendly waitstaff. La Carreta has been in business for over 40 years, expanding over the years into a chain of nine local restaurants. The original La Carreta on 8th Street is hard to miss with the signature rooster statue out front.

Popular menu items at La Carreta include ropa vieja and a chorizo-stuffed pot roast known as boliche. Other menu items include fried chicken chicharrones, fried pork Masitas, and classic “Palomilla” (Cuban thin steak). If you are new to Cuban cuisine, check out La Carreta’s Cuban sampler. The Cuban sampler includes ground beef Picadillo, roast pork, ham croquette, tamale, yuca, white rice, black beans, and sweet plantains. Drink options include freshly squeezed juice, smoothies, milkshakes, and espresso. Authentic Cuban mojitos are also available.

La Carreta has several Miami locations. Besides the 8th street original, you can visit La Carreta at the International Mall, Miami International Airport, 40th Street, and 88th Street. Hours vary depending on the location.

DISCOVER THE BEST OF MIAMI WITH OUR LOCAL STAFF

These are North Miami Mitsubishi’s top five mom-and-pop Cuban restaurants in Miami. We hope that our staff is able to recommend to you a new spot to check out or a reminder to revisit your old favorite spot. Do you have a favorite Cuban spot that we missed? If you have a favorite family-owned Cuban restaurant, drop us a line and let us know. We will be sure to add it to our list.