A Taste of Cube: Miami's 10 Best Cuban Restaurants

Undoubtedly the best addition to the list of the best Cuban restaurants in Miami, Versailles occupies a place like the iconic Empire State Building in New York. For over 50 years this joint has consecutively featured in the top Cuban restaurants in Miami and drawn tourists and locals with its vast and varied Cuban cuisine. The décor is French but the name is pronounced in Spanish style- Ver-say-ez. The place is not as upscale as it sounds even though the ornate décor elements resonate with its French namesake place. Finely riding the line between classy and tacky, the cooking is Cuban all through. The menu is predominantly Cuban with croquettes, jus dishes, gratins and is famous for its deeply cut marinated roast pork plate. Patrons love the opulence of the dining room with gilt framed mirrors, candelabras and enjoy the delicious authentic food. Even with all this, the feel of the place is casual. The food on the menu is Cuban to the last “T” and there are also salad options for the health conscious. Ropa Vieja is a new addition to the menu with zesty shredded beef and the arroz con pollo will have you falling in love with this combination of chicken and rice.

Why do? Most well-known spot at Miami the crowd is a mixed bag of tourists, patrons from the vicinity and generations of Cuban families. The restaurant offers traditional and savory food almost 24 hours of the day.

Recommended Cuban because: You want a traditional plate of Ropa Vieja or just a shot of Café Cuba, then this is the place to feel Cuba in your existence for the time you are here. Also you could get to know what’s going on in the political circles of the exilio community.

Located all over Miami ( in Kendall. Little havan, Hialeah, Doral, Miami International Airport and several other places in Broward) this chain of restaurants offers nothing short of authenticity which is why it features on the one of the best Cuban restaurants in Miami list. Although the other branches are equally popular, this one at Calle Ocho remains the favorite. The uniqueness of this joint is the small counter, rotating dessert display and a buzzing coffee window that dishes our flaky pastelitos and strong cafecito. You need to brush up your Spanish skills before heading to one of the best Cuban restaurants in Miami as this abuela-style diner serves some comforting dishes with their staff speaking eloquently in Spanish. The breakfast menu can be ordered any time of the day and the lunch and dinner are equally good. The breakfast spread includes generous portions of steak, eggs, Cuban toast and has browns which are complemented by organic and freshly squeezed orange juice. No breakfast is complete without a Café Cubano and this place serves it the best. You could try the Pan con Bistec for lunch and round it off with a crème brulee.The dinner menu is a subtle one with fresh croquettes that can be enjoyed with pressed sandwiches but the biggest draw is the Cuban bread that gets people here.

Why go? Consistent for service, flavor and quality, La Carreta adds some specials every week. Their mean club sandwich comes in their own signature super-size.

Recommended for Cuban because: The versatile, convivial and warm atmosphere along with its amazing cuisine draws the patrons back and will be loved by anyone who sets foot on it. In fact it is the love of the locals that makes it one of the top Cuban restaurants in Miami.

A favorite at Coral Gables, Havana Harry is an Americanized Cuban restaurant with prime focus of food and quirky beverages. The feel is more upscale that other Cuban joints and is definitely one of the top Cuban restaurants in Miami. The palatable cuisine is a wonderful introduction to a menu that blends Spanish, Cuban and Latin American inspirations and influences. The Vaca Frita is what the whole city gushes about. The Tostones Guayaberos are fried plantains wrapped in pulled pork and barbecue sauce which the chicken “Tamarimango” is soaked in a tangy tamarind and mango sauce. The lunch plate is an ode to Americans who love to lunch with a large plate of salads and loads of dietary options. The traditional black beans and fried pork as are also delectable. On the beverages side, there are two main crowd pullers- the mojito and the milkshakes. Mojitos are muddled and just the perfect sweet blends and the milkshakes come loaded with desserts- slices of cake, ice cream or sometimes both on top. The highlight is the massice tres leches shake that does not disappoint. Patrons keep visiting the place and there is a long wait especially during dinner and with a warm and friendly atmosphere, this joint is a must feature of the best Cuban restaurants in Miami.

Why go? Havan Harry’s has been drawing tourists and locals with its innovatie and contemporary cuisine and the quaint blend of a restaurant and café style draw celebrities and makes it a popular place for weekend dining.

Recommended for Cuban because: Creative twists to Cuban favorites like the spicy oxtail and mojito chicken, served with a generous portion of side and coupled with a wide array of desserts makes it a must visit.

Another staple on the best Cuban restaurants in Miami, this elevated place offers an affordable cuisine with a pristine white ambiance. An old-school kind of restaurant, there is a piano that plays in the background as your gorge into your food. The prime attraction is its location- close to the heels of the airport with regulars and throngs of tourists adds to its popularity. The menu is still reminiscent of the 60’s with two-mojito lunches. The menu has something for everyone’s sensibilities and the empanadas still remain the first order of every customer.

Why go? La Rosa beckons those who live in the nostalgic era- where hospitality was all about white table cloth dining, lice music and delicious food.

Recommended for Cuban because: Authentic and complicated preparation of Cuban fare-the ones that grandmothers would pour over for hours to give it their inimitable taste and touch. Go for the lobster thermidor, oxtail and crab-stuffed snapper.

Head to this Coral Gables joint for a delicious Cuban brunch. Their egg benedict on Cuban toast is what makes it one of the best Cuban restaurants in Miami. You need to add lechon to it rather than ham or bacon. Your brunches should be combined with Cuban coffee varieties or couple it with unique mimosa flavors that come in guava berry or watermelon bellini. Sergios, with its large presences across South Florida has the Cuban food market monopolized and comfortable made its way to the best Cuban restaurants in Miami. The casual ambiance caters to the millennial generation and the menu sways towards the Americanized or Latin influenced Cuban cuisine. For nearly over 49 years this Cuban chain of restaurants has been serving usual favourites like the vaca frita empanada with special cilantro sauce, tostones rellenos and croquettas. The newest addition to the menu of cauliflower rice with fire-grilled and roasted vegetables is the biggest draw for the health conscious.

Why go? The menu with its usual Cuban staples and the La Flaca menu which is a low calorie indulge to any healthy eater with fine taste buds is reason enough to put it on the best Cuban restaurants in Miami list.

Recommended for Cuban because: Creative and inspiring appetizers, tapas and the “Skinny Menu” for the health conscious coupled with a rustic yet modern décor is what sets Sergio apart and perfect to enjoy Cuban cuisine.

EL Palacio De Los Jugos embodies the spirit of Latin American influence in Miami since the time they opened in 1977. More of an outdoor barbecue kind of setting it is a no-frill, low on fancy and no dress code joint where one can enjoy some delicious Cuban food. The name literally means “the juice palace” and the menu is complemented adequately by its array of freshly made exotic juice that come in generous servings. The cuisine served has home feel Latin fair that includes juicy pork sandwiches in a large serving with Cuban rice. This is also served with bean variations that fill the air with a captivating aroma. Once your devour the meal just order a tropical purchase by buying a cool coconut water that is chopped by a man.

Why go? El Palacio de los Jugos serves the best chicarones which are fried pork rinds, mariquitas and cold sugar cane juice. They are known for their large portions of food and jucies.

Recommended for Cuban because: Uniquely Cuban, the place is the secret hideout for inexpensive but top notch Cuban food and cuisine. The place simply makes it to the list of best Cuban restaurants in Miami because of its price and portion of food served.

Started originally as a small cafeteria with a seating capacity for 16 patrons who frequented the place, El Exquisito has grown in leaps and bounds to feed and accommodate over 70 people at a time. Voted as the one of the best Cuban restaurants in Miami it is singled out as serving the best pork chunks, best tamales and other phenomenal dishes. Ropa Vieja, Pan con Lechon, Arroz con Pollo Imperial and Picadillo are some of them. If breakfasts are your things then you must visit to take advantage of their great deals which include two eggs served in your preferred style with croquettes, ham and Cuban toast. Make sure you taste the authentic Cuban coffee which is priced at USD 3.75.

Why go? Inexpensive yet incredible Cuban food served at the highest quality is the restaurants forte. Located centrally in the Little Havan, the Lechon served here does not taste good anywhere else.

Recommended for Cuban because: Each item served is uniquely and genuinely Cuban to give you that experience at an affordable rate.

The crown of Edgewater, this sandwich place is the photo finish to the best Cuban restaurants in Miami list. It has been voted to serve the best Cuban sandwich consistently and performs well at the pricing aspect as well. Their pan de bistec- the steak sandwich is undoubtedly the best in the area. A small sandwich shop tucked in the lanes where the staff primarily work on shifts and the tourists, hipsters and locals of Wynwood area commiserate and deliberate about the richness and uniqueness of the Cuban fare, Cuban coffee and Cuban beverages.

A small sandwich shop where working stiffs and Wynwood hipsters commiserate over straightforward Cuban fare, cafecito and fresh juices. Service is fast and friendly; speaking Spanish is a huge plus here.

Why go? The service is fast and friendly and the staff speaks largely in Spanish. So if you speak Spanish then you can be assured of some great service.

Recommended for Cuban because: The sandwich is not just an ordinary sandwich- it is a Cuban delight with buttered Cuban bread, roasted pork slices, ham and holey cheese that is not served at all joints

Havana 1957 another one on the best Cuban restaurants in Miami serves some traditional Cuban fare that is combined with the fine and finesse of the 50’s. The classy restaurant with a throwback décor serves the typical breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert course with a fine selection of wine, beer and spirits at their hip bar. The highlight is their bilingual menu where you can order traditional Cuban breakfast, staples for lunch like Pollo a la Plancha ( grilled chicken garnished with onion and parsley). Vaca frita ( grilled shredded beef), croquette preparada ( ham, cheese and pork sandwich topped with croquettes), freshly –squeezed juices and mouth-watering desserts.

Why go? Apart from the striking menu, you can also try the Cuban cigars after you round off the Cuban feast offered at the restaurant.

Recommended for Cuban because: Menu is filled with Cuban cuisine to cater to your palate and craving along with a fine selection of rums and Cuban inspired cocktails.

Puerto Sagua is located in an expensive neighborhood but no one really talks about it. One of the best Cuban restaurants in Miami, this beach diner draws the crowds with its traditional Cuban comfort food and fuss-free décor. The décor has some splendind murals of Cuban street life that complement the vaca frits and ropa vieja served. The venerable sea fare is a delight with its authentic shrimp in garlic sauce and the grilled Cuban sandwiches stuffed with pork, ham and cheese make the crowd throng to the place. The oxtail is the perfect antidote to the cocktails with tender beef falling off the bone in a flavored stew.

Why go? Located in the South Beach where restaurants come and go in very high frequency, Puerto Sagua pleases the fickle masses with its late opening hours and is a perfect stop over after a late night show or club hopping.

Recommended for Cuban because: Known for its laid-back service, Puerto Sagua serves authentic Cuban home style food amidst a cool ambiance. The no frills restaurant without a wifi service lets you enjoy traditional Cuban fare by relaxing and focusing on what’s on your plate.

Miami is filled with dime a dozen Cuban restaurants. You can walk two feet and be assured of finding a joint that is serving some Cuban fare or serving medianoche sandwiches by the cart. The Cuban culinary influence is resonant in the grocery stores, road side eateries, high end restaurants and everywhere in between. Restaurants offer different interpretation of Cuban cuisine with their own staples of beverages or freshly squeezed juices. Miami is more of a sizzling than a melting pot of Cuban culture and influence. The Cuban culture is deeply engraved in Miami’s way of life and the culture comes alive with the culinary offering that are typical to the community. While there are plenty of places offering Cuban cuisine in the city it is the star places that you would want to visit to experience the genuine and authentic taste of the culinary delights that are peculiar to the culture and the city.