Where to Find the Most Iconic Cuban Dishes in Miami

From late-night ventanitas on Eighth Street to well-worn cafeterías and white-tablecloth dining rooms in Coral Gables that still feel like someone’s abuela is quietly running the kitchen, Cuban food moves to the same rhythm as Miami itself. These are the dishes I grew up eating, craving, debating, and defending with fierce loyalty. As a Miami native and first-generation Cuban American, this food isn’t just something I write about. It’s woven into my upbringing, my family history, and my sense of home. Every bite, from Calle Ocho to Westchester, carries a memory, a culture, and an identity. (And, yes, it was a challenge sometimes to narrow it down to a single restaurant!)

This guide is my love letter to the most iconic Cuban dishes in Miami and the places that do them best. Some are time-honored institutions that have fed generations. Others are newer favorites, obsessed with preserving tradition while getting every detail just right. Together, they tell the story of a city shaped by Cuban cooking, one perfectly pressed sandwich, silky flan, and a forkful of arroz moro at a time.

1. Cuban Sandwich (Cubano) – Enriqueta’s, Sanguich, or Tinta y Café

When it comes to the best Cuban sandwiches in Miami, the conversation always circles back to three heavy hitters: Enriqueta’s, Tinta y Café, and Sanguich. Each does it a little differently, whether it’s Enriqueta’s no-frills, late-night perfection, Tinta y Café’s expertly balanced, pressed-to-order version, or Sanguich’s obsessive, from-scratch approach in Little Havana. Pick a side if you must, but the truth is Miami wins no matter which Cubano you’re holding. Enriqueta’s: 186 NE 29th St., Miami; 305-573-4681; instagram.com/enriquetas_sandwich_shop. Sanguich: Multiple area locations, including 2057 SW Eighth St., Miami; 786-829-1381; sanguich.com. Tinta y Café: Two area locations, including 1315 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables; 305-285-0101; tintaycafe.co.

2. Croquetas – Islas Canarias

Every year, Miami tries to crown a new croqueta king, but let’s be real, the title has been held by Islas Canarias since 1977. Founded by the late Raul and Amelia Garcia, and currently ran by their daughter Nancy Andrade along with her children Eileen and Jonathan Andrade (they moved the restaurant to Tamiami in 1987, where it’s been ever since), their iconic croquetas are perfectly golden on the outside, impossibly creamy on the inside, and so beloved that Miami-Dade literally named the corner “Islas Canarias Way.” 13695 SW 26th St., Miami; 305-559-6666; islascanariasrestaurant.com.

3. Ropa Vieja – La Casita Cuban Cuisine

A Gables staple, La Casita Cuban Cuisine’s ropa vieja is rooted in generations-old family recipes that prioritize slow-cooked, deeply flavorful beef over shortcuts or modern twists. The shredded meat is tender, richly sauced, and perfectly seasoned, tasting unmistakably like true Cuban home cooking. Paired with the restaurant’s warm, white-tablecloth atmosphere, it’s the kind of ropa vieja that feels both comforting and special, just like a family meal meant to be savored and lingered over. 3805 SW Eighth St., Coral Gables; 305-448-8224; lacasitacubancuisine.com.

4. Pan Con Bistec – Mary’s Coin Laundry

The pan con bistec at Mary’s Cafe and Coin Laundry is a Miami legend for a reason, stacked with thin, juicy skirt steak, sweet sautéed onions, and crispy potato sticks pressed into buttery Cuban bread until golden and crackly. The balance of mayo and ketchup hits just right, soaking into the bread without overpowering the meat, making every bite deeply satisfying and unapologetically classic. It’s the kind of sandwich that tastes even better at 3 a.m., whether you’re waiting on a spin cycle or refueling after a long Miami night. 2542 SW 27th Ave., Miami; 305-443-6672; instagram.com/maryscafemiami.

5. Vaca Frita – Habana Vieja or La Carreta

Habana Vieja and La Carreta both make the best vaca frita in Miami because they nail that perfect balance of crispy edges and tender, citrus-marinated shredded beef that’s the hallmark of this Cuban classic. At Habana Vieja, the beef gets seared just right and served with fragrant onions and mojo that make every bite pop with bright, savory flavor. La Carreta matches that with consistent execution and soulful seasoning, turning its vaca frita into a Miami staple that feels like the kind of dish you’d find at abuela’s house. Habana Vieja Restaurant: 2475 SW 37th Ave., Miami; 305-448-6660; habanaviejarestaurant.net. La Carreta: Multiple area locations, including 8650 Bird Rd., Miami; 305-553-8383; lacarreta.com.

6. Pan Con Lechón – The Butcher Shop

The pan con lechón at The Butcher Shop & Deli in Palmetto Bay might be Miami’s best-kept pork secret, especially when you realize it costs less than $9 out the door. Off-the-bone garlic pork shoulder is chopped and mixed with crunchy chicharrón, piled generously (we’re talking nearly a pound) onto footlong Cuban bread, then pressed until everything melts together into crispy, porky perfection. It tastes like abuela-level home cooking, deeply seasoned, wildly comforting, and so consistent you’ll wonder why you ever order anything else. 14235 S. Dixie Hwy., Palmetto Bay; 305-253-9525; instagram.com/thebutchershopdeli.

7. Medianoche – Cubatón Sandwich Shop or Sanguich

When it comes to Miami’s best medianoche, it’s a dead tie between Sanguich and Cubatón Sandwich Shop, and I refuse to choose between them. The medianoche, essentially a Cubano’s softer, sweeter cousin, swaps crusty Cuban bread for pillowy, eggy bread that’s richer and more indulgent. Both spots absolutely nail it with slow-roasted pork, ham, melted Swiss, and pickles pressed until everything melds together. Sanguich wins with obsessive in-house precision and Little Havana soul, while Cubatón delivers a tightly packed, ultra-toasty South Beach version, proof that Miami can crown two kings at once.
Cubatón Sandwich Shop: 413 15th St., Miami Beach; cubatonsandwichshop.com. Sanguich: Multiple area locations, including 2057 SW Eighth St., Miami; 786-829-1381; sanguich.com.

8. Congri / Arroz Moro – Molina’s Ranch

Molina’s Ranch makes the best congrí and arroz moro in Miami because they get the fundamentals exactly right: fluffy rice, deeply seasoned black beans, and that perfect marriage where every grain tastes like it actually cooked together, not just mixed at the end. They also add little pieces of chicharron on top, making it even more palatable and savory. It’s soulful, comforting, and wildly consistent, the kind of side dish that quietly steals the show from everything else on the plate. Eating it feels like stepping into La Cuba de tu alma, where the cafecito has perfect espumita, the food is honest, and one spoonful instantly takes you home. 4090 E. Eighth Ave., Hialeah; 305-693-4440; molinasranch.com.

9. Flan – Rio Cristal

The flan at Rio Cristal is the best in Miami because it’s old-school perfection, silky, custardy, and just sweet enough, with a deep caramel that tastes like it’s been made the same way for decades. Established in 1974, this Bird Road institution understands that great flan doesn’t need reinvention; it only needs patience, balance, and tradition. It’s the kind of dessert you order even when you’re full, because at a place this Cuban, skipping the flan would feel almost disrespectful. 9872 Bird Rd., Miami; 305-223-2357; riocristalmiami.com.

10. Frita Cubana – El Rey De Los Fritas

The frita cubana is best at El Rey de las Fritas on Calle Ocho because they’ve been doing it the right way since 1982, with a beef-and-chorizo patty that brings just enough spice without needing any extra fuss. Freshly made shoestring potatoes add crunch in every bite, while onions and ketchup keep it classic, messy, and deeply Miami. Cheese debates aside, this is the frita in its purest, most satisfying form, especially when chased with a batido and eaten exactly as intended. Multiple area locations, including 1821 SW Eighth St., Miami; 305-644-6054; elreydelasfritas.com.

11. Tostada – Puerto Sagua

Puerto Sagua makes the best pan tostada in Miami because they understand that simplicity, when done perfectly, is everything. Their Cuban tostada comes out hot, buttery, and impossibly crisp on the outside while staying soft inside, the ideal companion to a café con leche. A South Beach staple since 1962, Puerto Sagua has quietly served timeless Cuban comfort food without the frills, where everything from ropa vieja to masitas de puerco tastes like it came straight from abuela’s kitchen, proving that old-school consistency still wins in a neighborhood obsessed with reinvention. 700 Collins Ave., Miami; 305-673-1115; puertosaguarestaurant.site.

12. Pastelitos de Guayaba – Versailles, Pinecrest Bakery, or Vicky Bakery

Versailles makes the best pastelitos in Miami because they’ve been perfecting the art of flaky, golden Cuban pastries since 1971. Each one is perfectly flaky and rich, with buttery layers giving way to classic guayaba or guayaba and queso fillings that taste unmistakably delicious. Honorable mentions absolutely go to Pinecrest Bakery and Vicky Bakery, but when it comes to setting the standard, Versailles still leads the pack. Versailles: 3555 SW Eighth St., Miami; 305-444-0240; versaillesrestaurant.com. Pinecrest Bakery: Multiple area locations, including 12101 S. Dixie Hwy., Pinecrest; 786-732-2269; pinecrestbakery.com. Vicky Bakery: Multiple area locations, including 8290 Bird Rd., 786-212-1281; vickybakery.com.