Following recent stories featuring the best waterfront restaurants, favorite burgers, and tastiest chicken wings, our USA TODAY Network's Florida Dining and Entertainment Team focused on one of the Sunshine State's greatest culinary contributions: the Cuban sandwich.
There are several credible theories regarding the history of the Cubano, but we're sticking with the origin story that begins in the Tampaneighborhood of Ybor City. That's whereCuban, Spanish andItalian immigrants worked in cigar factories and built up big appetites for the hulking, hand-held, meat-and-cheese masterpiecethat premiered there probablyaround1890.
Themost famous purveyor of Cuban sandwiches,in fact, still operatesin Ybor (pronounced EE-bor),servingthe same winning combination ofham, pork, salami, Swiss, pickle chips, yellow mustard and soft butter on traditional Cuban bread, which is made with the assistance of fresh palmetto leaves.Of course, the beloved sandwiches are served throughout the state now, everywhere from public school cafeterias to fine-dining establishments, both Tampa style (with salami) and the Miami version (no salami).
To discover the restaurants offering the most delectable Cuban sandwiches, explore the selections from our dining team, located in communities across Florida. Presented in alphabetical order, here are approximately a dozen of our favorites for you to consider before National Cuban Sandwich Day, which is Aug. 23.
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Café Con Leche
2761 S. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach; 386-999-0035,cafeconlechedaytona.com
If you’re in Daytona looking for a quick bite that will satisfy your comfort-food cravings – but won’t break the bank – then this authentic Cuban restaurant has got you covered. Café Con Leche is small – but mighty – with only a handful of tables available inside. It can certainly be easy to miss if you aren’t looking out for it. This local gem serves an array of Cuban options and the Cubano was everything I expected and more, stuffed with every classic ingredient – ham, pork, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles. The combo comes with fries and a drink, and all for only $12. — Helena Perray, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
More:My 5 favorite restaurants in the Daytona Beach area – so far!
Café de Havana
409 Delannoy Ave., Cocoa, 321-390-3859, on facebook.com.
Inside the courtyard of a German biergarten might not be the first place you'd look think to look when searching for a great Cuban sandwich, but think again. Walk through the lush, bougainvillea-draped entry to the Village Biergarten in Cocoa Village, then turn right. There you will find Café de Havana, a tiny building with a to-go window through which are passed the delicious flavors of El Caiman.
The menu, like the café, is small, with an assortment of croquetas, coffees and pastries. (You'll be said if you leave without a guava pastry.) Breakfast is available all day, with various combinations of bacon, eggs and veggies served on Cuban bread.
The Cuban sandwiches, though, are the star of the show, served warm, crusty and with just the right touch of cheesy gooeyness. Stick with tradition and enjoy the El Cubano, or be bold and opt for the Media Noche (midnight sandwich) with the savory pork, ham, Swiss mustard and pickles from the El Cubano tucked inside soft, sweet Cuban bread. — Suzy Fleming Leonard, FLORIDA TODAY
More:A taste of Little Havana: Here are 10 of the best Cuban sandwiches in Brevard
Columbia Restaurant
Multiple locations throughout Florida including Ybor City in Tampa, St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, and the historic district of St. Augustine. For more information, visit columbiarestaurant.com.
Recognized as the oldest restaurant in Florida, the original Columbia opened in Tampa's Ybor City in 1905, and it now thrives throughout the state, including alluring locations on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota and the historic district of St. Augustine. In 2021, Food & Wine magazine named the Cubano at Columbia the best sandwich in Florida.
Biting into a warm, freshly pressed Cuban sandwich at Columbia is like traveling back a century in time, to when immigrants were leaving indelible footprints in Florida communities such as Tampa's Ybor City.
"Tampa was like the sandwich, a mixture of cultures and food," Columbia Restaurant once notedon itswebsite. "The Spanish brought the fine ham, the Sicilians the Genoa salami, the Cubans the mojo-marinated roast pork, the Germans and Jews the Swiss cheese, pickle and mustard."
It must also be noted that the brilliance of the sandwich ($14) begins, like all superior sandwiches, with the bread. At Columbia, that means using freshly baked Cuban bread from Tampa's La Segunda Central Bakery, established in 1915. Yes, it's a smartly balanced sandwich, best experienced at the Columbia with the restaurant's equally appealing, and perhaps equally famous, Original "1905" Salad ($15).
Fun fact: Columbia’s Original Cuban Sandwich is only listed on the lunch menu at all of the restaurant's non-airport locations. However, you can order it at dinner, even though it’s not listed. — Wade Tatangelo, Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor
More:Sarasota’s best Cuban sandwich restaurants: Where to go and what to order
Cuban Connection
11090 FGCU Blvd. N, Fort Myers (In the Cohen Student Union at Florida Gulf Coast University) and at food truck events; follow on Facebook and Instagram
Ask Cuban Connection owner Onil Martinez what makes his Cuban sandwich so extraordinary and there are a few things he might mention. Like the 300-mile roundtrip he makes each Saturday to see the folks at La Segunda Bakery in Ybor City. He buys their bread - with a signature palm frond lovingly placed on each loaf - which gives his sandwich the perfect balance of crunch and chew, bite after bite. He may talk about his tender and flavorful slow roasted pork that cooks for nine hours. Or he might say how his Cuban – a 2023 Ford Cuban Sandwich Festival of SW Florida award winner – is authentic with mustard and no mayo. One thing he’ll always mention, however, is how it's made with love – for cooking, for the recipes his mom and grandma taught him, for his loyal customers, for getting to create this hand-held wonder every day. One bite and you’ll love it too. — Robyn George, The News-Press
More:Best restaurants for Cuban sandwiches in SW FL: Here's our favorites
Enriqueta’s
Enriqueta’s: 186 NE 29th St., Miami; 305-573-4681
Enriqueta’s sandwich shop has survived Miami’s fads, waves of hype, neighborhood transformations and a 2001 ownership change, holding on to what’s true and authentic: Cuban food for the masses. The no-frills spot was one of my regular lunch stops as a young newspaper reporter in Miami in the early 1980s, when the Sandwich Cubano was $2.40 ($2 without the cheese). That toasty “regular” Cuban sandwich ($9 today), which layers ham, pork, Swiss and pickles on Cuban bread that’s spread with yellow mustard and mayo, is one of three variations offered at Enriqueta’s.
The Cubano Preparado ($10.25) stuffs two ham croquetas into the sandwich. And the Cubano Doble (double Cuban, $12.75) is an overstuffed Cuban sandwich with pulled pork, onions and mojo. That one’s like a love child of a Cuban sandwich and a pan con lechón.
Located in the area of Miami’s Wynwood, Edgewater and Midtown communities, Enriqueta’s has fed its share of passing celebrities, from David Beckham to Nick Jonas. Before you go: Enriqueta’s opens at 7 a.m Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch only. — Liz Balmaseda, The Palm Beach Post
Flaco’s Cuban Bakery
200. W. University Ave., Gainesville; 352-371-2000; flacosgnv.com
A late-night institution in downtown Gainesville since 2006, Flaco’s Cuban sandwich —made with bolo ham, pulled pork, mayo, mustard, pickles and Swiss cheese on pressed Cuban bread — is sure to satisfy any craving. Its popular twist, the Cuban Gator, drops the ham and is instead made with shredded beef and homemade pulled pork. If you’re not feeling the downtown vibe or looking for a more family-friendly place to eat, head to owner Sara Puyana’s other restaurant, Abuela’s, 125 NW 23rd Ave., for the same great sandwiches. —Alan Festo, The Gainesville Sun
HavAnna Cafe
195 Smallwood Drive, Chokoloskee; 239-695-2214;havannacafe.com
Smithsonian Magazine’s list of "The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2022" included Everglades City, home to airboat tours that are a must-do for any visitor to the region. While there, I would argue detouring to neighboring Chokoloskee for lunch al fresco atHavAnna Café. No, that’s not a typo, merely a renamingin honor of Anna, the mother of co-owner David Ardelean who bought the "Cuban-Cracker" fusion caféin 2022 with partnerAaron Tabor. Their take on the Cuban: Ginormous and substantially stuffed. The lush garden’s zen vibes make it the most serene dining experience I’ve enjoyed in a very long time. Tip: check hours before going as they fluctuate. September is vacation month for the team. — Diana Biederman, Naples Daily News
More:Best restaurants for Cuban sandwiches in SW FL: Here's our favorites - JLB
Growler Country
3305 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee; 850-765-7771; growlercountry.com/
Growler Country is best known as a craft beer pub but its Cuban sandwich is one of the unexpected gems emerging from the kitchen. The highlight of Growler’s sandwich is the juicy pork, marinated in a fragrant Cuban mojo sauce, which has a citrusy tang. The sandwich — made like a pressed South Florida, not Tampa, version — has layers of pork, ham, Swiss cheese, thinly sliced pickles and mustard tweaked with Caribbean flavors, served on Cuban bread (which the owners note is not always easy to get). Mario Fernández, co-owner with wife Vanessa and the De Valle family, said he can count his 80-year-old mom, who left Cuba at age 17, as a fan of the sandwich. A second Growler’s will be opening in Northeast Tallahassee as part of a larger food/entertainment complex. A bonus: ovens that will bake Cuban bread for both Growlers. — Rochelle Koff, Tallahassee Table / Tallahassee Democrat
More:Where to find the best crispy, juicy Cuban sandwiches in Tallahassee
Joe’s Caribe
6624 N. Ninth Ave., Pensacola; 850-760-2512; joescaribe.com
Joe’s Caribe is somewhat of a Pensacola hole-in-the-wall. The shop itself doubles as part sit-down restaurant, part-bakery where you can order a Pastelillo Guayaba, or guava turnover, on the go after your meal is finished.
Although it is not Pensacola’s best-known restaurant, it’s the place you want to pull over for to snag a $15 Cubano that passes the seal of Caribbean authenticity. For this sandwich, the “pernil,” or slow-roasted, seasoned pork shoulder, is the mouthwatering ingredient that sets the sandwich apart from its competitors. It is off-set with a succulent ham, melted swiss, thinly shaved pickles and a dabble of mustard that complements — but avoids being domineering. The restaurant also chooses to add salami to the sandwich for additional flavor. A bite in the sandwich provides just the right amount of crunch on the outside, while still getting the fresh flavor of the bread.Pro tip: You don’t want to pass on the squeeze bottle filled with Joe's creamy, house made garlic sauce served on the side that is nicknamed the restaurant's “everything sauce." Pair it with a glass of guava sangria and enjoy the trip it takes you straight to the shores of Havana.— Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal
More:Love Caribbean food? With 8 options, the Pensacola area is the place to be.
J.R.’s Old Packinghouse Cafe
987 S. Packinghouse Road, Sarasota; 941-371-9358;packinghousecafe.com
Originally opened during Labor Day weekend in 1999, in the same building that owner J.R. Garraus estimates has been around since the '50s, J.R.’s Old Packinghouse Cafeis a funky slice of Old Florida found just out of sight from I-75, about six miles east of downtown Sarasota. While now boasting a full-liquor bar and live music six nights a week, OPC remains most renowned for its food — and among the culinary creations of South Florida nativeand trained chef Garraus, none are more famous than his Miami-style Cuban sandwich ($12.95).
Sink your teeth into the crusty Cuban bread exterior, and you'll discover a generous serving of gooey Swiss cheese. Accompanied by firm, thinly sliced spear pickles and sweet ham, the true highlight of this experience lies at the bottom: a mound of slow-roasted, expertly seasoned shredded pork. In fact, you'll find yourself contemplating ordering any item from the menu, or any of the daily specials, featuring that succulent pork.
Indeed, O.P.C. incorporates the pork into its utterly distinctive and delicious creation called the Blackened Ybor Burger ($16.95), a fusion of a Cuban sandwich and a cheeseburger.One of the best burgers in Sarasota, this masterpiece features Cuban bread cradling a half-pound chuck patty, draped in melted Swiss cheese, J.R.'s exquisite shredded pork, and grilled onions. It arrives with a side of Thousand Island dressing for dipping, ensuring a delightfully messy yet unforgettable experience with this exclusive innovation — a culinary gem that could only have emerged from our greater Tampa Bay region. — Wade Tatangelo, Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor
More:Sarasota’s best Cuban sandwich restaurants: Where to go and what to order
Mervis’ Café & Grille
402 S. Fifth St., Fort Pierce; 772-462-6600; merviscafe.com
Ivel Sierra’s parents and grandparents, all born in Cuba, moved from Miami to West Palm Beach in 1970 and opened a convenience store with Cuban food. His grandfather named it Mervis’ Grocery after Sierra’s mother. Sierra’s brother moved the cafeteria-style restaurant to Fort Pierce in 2001. Sierra took over in 2008, helped by wife Ivelisse and sons Evan and Ethan. The Cuban bread comes from a Miami bakery. Sierra created the Cubanada, with all the traditional Cuban sandwich ingredients stuffed inside an empanada. — Laurie K. Blandford, TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers
More:Best Cuban sandwich? Try these Cuban restaurants for a traditional handheld favorite
Mirna's Cuban Cuisine
7980 N.Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-316-9793;mirnascubancuisine.com
Located just across the street from the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, Mirna's Cuban Cuisine is the cozy little cafe where 64-year-old Mirna Gonzalez has been serving her delectable and inexpensive Cuban cuisine since 2016. There's nothing fancy about Mirna's, but that sure has not stopped it from being a crowd pleaser. The popularity of the place, even when visiting in the early evening on a Thursday in the dead of summer, can cause you to wait longer than usual for your food or the next cold beer. But trust me, it's worth it.
The Cuban sandwich costs a mere $9.95, is 12 inches long, and could easily feed a hungry couple. It contains some of the best baked ham I have tasted anywhere. Everything except the bread, which Mirna's gets from La Segunda in Tampa, is made in-house. This includes the other star ingredient of her Miami-style Cuban sandwich: the roast pork. During my visit in late July, I paired the sandwich with Mirna's soup of the day, which turned out to be my favorite: her superior garbanzo bean soup ($3.95 for a bowl), laced with chunks of the baked ham that I adore. — Wade Tatangelo, Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor
More:Sarasota’s best Cuban sandwich restaurants: Where to go and what to order
Molly Maguire’s of Ocala
17 SW First Ave., Ocala; 352-401-0260; facebook.com
This downtown Ocala restaurant is well known for its St. Patrick's Day celebrations. But it also offers up the Molly’s King Cuban: slow-cooked pork loin, ham, salami, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles served on pressed Cuban bread that is brought in from Ybor City. — Danielle Johnson, Ocala Star-Banner
More:Who makes the best Cuban sandwich in Marion County? Locals point to these 13 spots
Tommy Bahama Restaurants & Marlin Bars
Multiple locations; tommybahama.com
Why is TB’s Cuban not designated among the restaurant’s top 10 menu fan favorites? For a sandwich nerd like me, it would be at the tippy top. At the restaurants, the sandwich ($17) is served with fries and is exclusively available at lunch. At the Marlin Bars, it's available all day sans fries for $4 less. Layers comprising house-roasted pork, Black Forest ham, Gruyere and house-made pickles, whose cucumber’s crunchy raison d’etre makes an impression. Siracha mustard, a hint of garlic and spicy chipotle aioli add oomph. The caramelized melted-gooey-cheesy effects spill onto pressed loaves from Tampa Bay’s legendary La Segunda Bakery in a very tasty, tangy way. Creative co*cktails in a fun atmosphere elevate the experience. — Diana Biederman, Naples Daily News
Related:Tommy Bahama marks 30th anniversary with an idea that began on Bonita Beach
Tropical Bakery and Restaurant
Tropical Bakery and Restaurant: 4068-1 Forest Hill Blvd., Palm Springs; 561-439-2100;TropicalBakeryRestaurant.com
When it comes to Cuban sandwiches, the bread is just as important as the layering of ingredients it holds. And nowhere in Palm Beach County is the Cuban bread more fresh than at the family-owned Tropical Bakery.The authentic loaves and buns are baked onsite overnight at this 34-year-old Cuban café that’s located in the county’s most Latino municipality, just north of West Palm Beach.
The top-selling Sandwich Cubano here boasts a nicely balanced layering of slow-roasted pork, thinly sliced ham and Swiss and pickles. It is warmed in the oven before it goes into the sandwich press for proper toasting. The usual smear of yellow mustard? It’s replaced by a touch of mojo that’s applied to the bread. But the folks at Tropical are happy to make your Cuban sandwich with mustard, if that’s what you prefer.
Tropical’s Sandwich Cubano sells for $10.95. In cash, por favor. Although the business is now managed by founder Armando Cabrera’s granddaughters, they follow his cash-only (and sandwich-making) traditions. — Liz Balmaseda, The Palm Beach Post
Related:What makes a great Cuban sandwich and where to find one in Palm Beach County
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