On rainy days, over a holiday, at rush hour—there's no instance when this family-owned restaurant isn’t busy. The reasons are many but are not limited to approachable prices, homestyle Cuban food, an inviting dining room and warm, welcoming service. Need another reason to venture west to Islas Canarias? One word: croquetas. Its mouthwatering ham croquettes have a huge local following—us included. Bring us a few, will ya?
Sure, people may come to Miami for the beaches, sunshine and partying, but let’s be real: They also come for the Cuban food. With the largest population of Cuban-Americans in the country, this is without a doubt the best place in America to dig your fork into a plate of saucy ropa vieja, shred through a dish of vaca frita or graduate from a Cuban sandwich to a media noche—all with a side of plantains. Right now is a precariously exciting time for Cuban food in Miami, as first and second-generation Cuban Americans are putting their own unique twists on the dishes they grew up on from post-Revolution classics like La Carreta or Versailles. We’ve included both types of restaurants on the list, even the ones that come with salsa (the kind you can dance to!) on the side.
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