Little Havana Dining Guide

Our dining guide is divided into four sections

1. Describing the cuisine
2. Popular menu items
3. Cuban food glossary
4. Places to eat

How to describe Cuban cuisine

Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba on October 28, 1492. As a result, Cuban food is influenced by Spanish, Jamaican, Haitian, and Chinese cuisine. Cuban cuisine is simple and nourishing. The flavors are savory, a little salty, but never spicy. Because of the island’s climate, tropical fruits and root vegetables are used in many dishes (plantains, yucca, boniato, malanga, potatoes, beans).Pressed sandwiches, stews, and rice dishes with chicken and pork are the basis of most meals.

Our favorite Cuban dishes found at these local restaurants

El Pub ~ El Cristo ~ El Exquisito ~ Old's Havana

* Prices are approximate

Appetizers

CALDO GALLEGO - White bean soup $3
‍EMPANADA - Baked pastry filled with shredded chicken, ground beef, or spinach & cheese $3
‍CROQUETTES - Filled with ham and cheese $3
‍MARIQUITAS - Plantain chips with garlic dipping sauce $4
TOSTONES RELLENOS - Stuffed green plantains with Beef or Shrimp $10
‍HOUSE SALAD- Greens, tomato, onion, oil & vinegar dressing $5
‍AVOCADO SALAD- Sliced Florida avocado, onion, oil & vinegar dressing $5

Side orders

ARROZ BLANCO - White rice $2
‍FRIJOLES NEGROS - Black beans $3
‍ARROZ MOROS - Rice and beans mix $3
‍MADUROS - Sauteed sweet plantains -$3
‍TOSTONES - Fried plantains $4
‍YUCA CON MOJO - Mashed yuca with garlic sauce $3
‍YUCA FRITA - Fried yuca $3
‍PURE DE PAPA - Mashed potatoes $3
‍VEGETABLES - Steamed vegetables $3

Pressed sandwiches

CUBAN SANDWICH - Roasted pork, sliced ham, melted Swiss cheese, mustard, pickles on toasted Cuban bread $10
‍STEAK SANDWICH - Famous grilled steak sandwich on toasted Cuban bread, with grilled onions, lettuce, and tomato $10
‍PORK SANDWICH - Roasted pork on toasted Cuban bread, with grilled onions. $10
‍MEDIA NOCHE - Ham sandwich with melted Swiss cheese on a sweet egg roll, with mustard and pickles $10

Beef

PALOMILLA - Grilled flank steak with grilled onions. $13
‍ROPA VIEJA - Cuban-style shredded beef stew with potatoes, onions, carrots, and peas $13
‍VACA FRITA - Shreaded flank steak topped with sauteed onions $13
‍CHURRASCO - Grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce $15
‍PICADILLO - Sauteed ground beef with tomatoes, peppers, and green olives $13

Pork

LECHON ASADO - Roasted, savory pulled pork. $11
‍MASITAS DE CREDO - Diced pork, seasoned with tropical spices, served with garlic mojo sauce. $12

Chicken

ARROZ CON POLLO - Yellow rice casserole with shredded chicken and peas $11
‍BISTEC DE POLLO - Grilled chicken breast topped with grilled onions. $11
‍CHICKEN MILANESA - Breaded chicken breast topped with ham, melted mozzeralla cheese, and tomato sauce. $14
VACA FRITA DE POLLO - Grilled shredded chicken breast topped with grilled onions. $11
‍POLLO SALTEADO - Sauteed chicken strips with peppers and onions. $12

Seafood

FISH OR SHRIMP - Your choice of Creole-style or garlic sauce $14 P
AELLA - Yellow rice casserole, with seafood and shellfish, allow 20 minutes. For 2: $45

Desserts

FLAN - Baked custard with caramel syrup $4 T
RES LECHES - Pound cake topped with sweet milk, topped with merengue and cherry $5
‍AROZ CON LECHE - Rice pudding with sweet milk and cinnamon $5

Cuban food glossary

Spanish foodie terms you should know:
‍‍
‍AZUCAR - Sugar
‍BONIATO - Sweet potato mashed
‍CACAHUATE - Peanuts - listen for the peanut vendor shouting "kaka-wate"
‍CAFE CUBABO - Espresso coffee and sugar
‍COLADA - 5 shots of espresso served in a styrofoam cup, along with smaller cups, meant to be shared
‍CORTADITO - Espresso coffee with steamed milk
‍CHIMICHURRI SAUCE - Garlic, parsley, olive oil, red wine vinegar sauce
‍CUBA LIBRE - White rum, lime juice, Coca-Cola
‍DULCE DE LECHE - Sweet caramel sauce
‍FRITA - Cuban-style hamburger with shoestring potatoes
‍FUFÚ - Mashed plantains, with garlic and shredded pork, similar to mofongo
‍GUARAPERA - A sugarcane-grinding machine to make sugarcane juice, a main precursor to rum
‍HATUEY - Cuban beer (bottled in USA)
‍HELADO - ice cream
‍MALTA - Carbonated soft drink, brewed from barley and hops
‍MAMEY - Tropical fruit, with a flavor described as a mix of pumpkin, sweet potato, and maraschino cherries
‍MOJO SAUCE - Orange juice, garlic, onion, and cumin
‍PAN CON BISTEC - Steak sandwich
‍PAPAS FRITAS - French fries
‍PASTELITO - Pastry filled with cheese and guava fruit
‍PURE DE PAPAS - Mashed potatoes
‍SANGRIA - Spanish fruit punch, made with red wine and chopped fruit
‍TORTILLA - In Latin America, a “tortilla" refers to an egg omelet
‍TRES LECHES - Pound cake, with meringue and sweet milk.
‍YUCA (CASSAVA) - Starchy root vegetable, pronounced “joo-kah”

Six places to eat

Listed by who we drive by first:

‍‍1. El Pub - 1548 SW 8 St; Phone 305-642-9942
2. El Cristo - 1543 SW 8 St; Phone 305-643-9992
3. El Exquisito - 1510 SW 8 St; Phone 305-643-0227
‍4. Ball & Chain - 1513 SW 8 St; Phone 305-643-7820
5. Old's Havana - 1442 SW 8 St; Phone 786-518-2196
‍6. Pollo Tropical - 1277 SW 8 St; Phone 305-856-9221

More places in walking distance

• Cuban Bakery – 1356 SW 8 St; Phone: 305-856-8141
• Sanguich Miami – 2057 SW 8 St; Phone: 305-539-0969
• El Rey De Las Fritas – 1821 SW 8 St; Phone: 305-541-8949
• Ahi Sushi Bar – 1527 SW 8 St; Phone: 786-99-0779
• Market Deli – 1305 SW 8 St; Phone: 305-854-1916
• Azucar Ice Cream – 1503 SW 8 St; Phone: 305-381-0369
• McDonald’s – 1400 SW 8 St; Phone: 305-285-0974
• Fruit Market – 1334 SW 8 St; Phone: 305-85-1135

Noteworthy Cuban restaurants (not within walking distance)

• Puerto Sagua – 700 Collins Ave; Phone: 305-673-1115
• La Carreta – 3632 SW 8 St; Phone: 305-444-7501
• Versailles – 3501 SW 8th St; Phone: 305-441-2500
• Café La Trova – 971 SW 8 St; Phone: 786-615-4379
• The Local Cuban at Timeout Market – 1601 Drexel Ave; Phone: 786-753-5388

Join us at La Carreta, our favorite Cuban restaurant, and discover what authentic Cuban dining is all about. Come see—and taste—why it’s a must-stop on our Miami food tour!