Neighborhood Staple Malanga Closes After 13 Years in Pinecrest

Malanga Cuban Café, a beloved neighborhood restaurant in Pinecrest known for its freshly made croquetas, malanga soup, and savory pan con lechón, has shuttered after 13 years of serving the community. Although no official statement was released regarding the unexpected closure, the restaurant had moved from its original location to a nearby shopping plaza, where it seems business didn't take off like it had once before.

Founded in 2011 on the corner of 123rd Street and U.S. 1, Malanga wasn't just your average Cuban restaurant. It was a community fixture with a loyal following, a soccer game always playing on TV, and enough abuela-style cooking to make even the most jaded Miami native nostalgic. It was also, for a time, a favorite quarantine takeout spot for Miami-born popstar Camila Cabello and her then-boyfriend Shawn Mendes. Cabello frequented the Cuban restaurant even before the pandemic, and was seen in photos with the owner's daughters in 2019.
During the height of lockdown, Mendes gave a shout out to the restaurant in an Instagram video, calling it his go-to Miami restaurant. "My favorite place to order food from right now, currently from Postmates in Miami, is Malanga," the Grammy nominee said, urging fans to support local businesses. "During this time, I think it's incredibly important to take care of each other and order food locally from businesses in your city you live in."

The pop star's endorsement turned Malanga from a neighborhood gem to a social media darling overnight.

Shawn wasn't the only celeberity who loved Malanga. Christian Slater, Jon Secada, and tennis star Martina Navratilova were fans too, and their photos lined the walls of the restaurant.

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Pinecrest Has Lost a True Neighborhood Staple with Heart and Soul

For owners Tony and Melissa Vias, the celebrity love was just the mojo on top. "Camila's family would come all the time," Tony told WSVN, adding that their kids even took pictures with the pop star. "When we found out about the post Shawn Mendes had done, we were ecstatic."

Celebrities aside, Malanga was never about flash. Black-and-white photos of Cuban legends lined the walls. Quirky idioms like le ronca el mango (that's just too much) added flavor beyond the plate. And on weekends, the smell of a 14-pound suckling pig roasting on the patio would lure regulars in like clockwork. The tiny dining room with lime-green tablecloths, burgundy red walls, and butcher paper tops was often packed. Locals swore by the velvety malanga soup, hand-ground tamales, and crispy boniato fries. Although the celebrity sightings added to the restaurant's appeal, it was always the food and the warmth from the family-owned business that kept people coming back.

No official reason has been given for the closure, though the restaurant's website and social pages have gone quiet, and Yelp has marked the business as closed.

For those looking for Cuban food in Pinecrest, thankfully, Sergio's is soon to open next to the Pet Supermarket along U.S. 1.