What’s The Significance Of The Pickles In A Cuban Sandwich? 🥪11 Best Cuban Sandwiches In Miami, Florida: A Culinary Delight

What’s the significance of the pickles in a Cuban sandwich? The pickles provide a tangy and refreshing contrast to the richness of the meats and cheese. They contribute to the overall flavor profile and balance of the sandwich.

Miami’s culinary landscape is rich and diverse, but one dish that stands out and has become synonymous with the city’s culture is the Cuban sandwich.

Packed with layers of flavor and history, the best Cuban sandwiches in Miami offer a tantalizing blend of ingredients that reflect the city’s cultural fusion.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, exploring Miami’s culinary delights wouldn’t be complete without savoring these iconic sandwiches.

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😋 Here is the List Of the 11 Best Cuban Sandwiches in Miami

After a lot of research and considering the traveler’s feedback we have shortlisted some of the best Cuban sandwiches in Miami.

1. Sanguich De Miami

Can a relative upstart enjoy Miami’s top Cuban sandwich? So believes Andrew Huse.

His book, The Cuban Sandwich: A History in Layers, which he co-wrote with Dr. Barbara C. Cruz and Jeff Houck, will be released in September 2022.

It details the sandwich’s introduction to South Florida, its development, and the arguments around its quirks.

Instead of purchasing the components and putting the sandwiches together, Sanguich “curates” its sandwiches, which he admires. All of Sanguich’s ingredients are made by hand. Clients will notice the effort.

What began as a shipping container conversion in 2017 has grown into a neat, permanent house with seats for 25 people. (Get there early to beat the lines.)

The traditional Cuban restaurant owned by Daniel Figueredo and Rosa Romero brines its ham for a week and marinades its lechon (pork) for 24 hours.

Rendered down lard is put on the bread and brushed on before being pressed till warm and crunchy.

The atmosphere at Sanguich gives visitors the impression that they are in Cuba, from the brass accents, floating tables, and Cuban tiling to the alluring smells coming from the kitchen and the jubilant sounds of customers devouring their sandwiches.

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2. La Carreta

The most widely accepted original Cuban sandwich recipe calls for ham and mojo roast pork served on “fluted” Cuban bread with Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles.

The meat is marinated in citrus (sour orange and lime), garlic, and dry oregano. Cuban bread is produced without lard or grease and is called “water bread” or pan de agua.

Since real Cuban bread doesn’t include preservatives, it goes wrong by the end of the day.

La Carretta’s Calle Ocho origins in Little Havana, located a mile and a half south of Sanguich, date back to 1976, making it one of the area’s leading providers of Cuban sandwiches.

Nine outlets have sprung up due to its popularity, including one at Concourse D of Miami International Airport.

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3. El Rey de las Fritas

Millions of Cuban refugees share a tale with Victoriano “Benito” Gonzalez and his wife, Angelina “Gallega” Gonzalez.

In search of better chances in Miami, the couple left the political unrest in their home country in the 1970s. They started their company in 1976 and built a restaurant on Calle Ocho.

The original has been expanded to include three more places. Although the Frita Cubana (a hamburger topped with shoestring potatoes) at El Rey de Las Fritas (the king of fruits) may be its most well-known dish, the Cuban sandwich has also won over hordes of fans.

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4. Mary’s Café and Coin Laundry

As Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing at The Nature Conservancy in Florida, Farris Bukhari devotes most of his time to the struggle to preserve Florida’s natural beauty.

That labor develops quite an appetite in a state that is being more and more overrun by development. Where does he get the courage to fight the hard fight to preserve Florida’s wildlife and wildlands?

“If you want a true local’s go-to, a hidden gem that does mouth-wateringly good Cuban sandwiches-and the best breakfast plates in Miami-is a joint called Mary’s Coin Laundry,” suggests Bukhari. Yes, there is a Cuban café and a coin laundry there.

He could tell. Only a few blocks separate his home from Mary’s. Even better comes next. Mary’s sandwiches are enormous, inexpensive, and available all the time!

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5. Versailles Restaurant la Ventanita

This is a tip from Miami-based cozy mystery novelist Raquel V. Reyes about where to find a Cuban sandwich: Mango, Mambo, and Murder.

“The best is always from a Ventana (little window) that uses an aluminum-covered brick on their plancha (press) to get the sandwich as thin as possible,” she claims.

Versailles, which is practical across the street from La Carreta on SW 8th, offers authentic

Cuban sandwiches from its la Ventana, regarding the media, highlight the most significant distinction between Cuban sandwiches from Miami and Tampa.

The bread used for sandwiches in Tampa is uneven, rough, and crusty. It’s broken and unkempt.

The difference is evident. Cuban sandwiches in Miami are made with soft bread that is put through a press to make them crispy.

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6. El Palacio de los Jugos

The first El Palacio de Los Jugos (the Palace of Juices) establishment was established in Miami in 1977 near NW 57th Avenue and West Flagler Street. Due to their distinctive red and gold roofs, their ten locations across the town are indiscernible.

El Palacio de Los Jugos has small bodegas inside their stores where customers may buy fresh produce and essential items and prepare meals. Since every venue is outdoors, take precautions whether it’s hot outside or pouring.

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7. Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop

Danny Rivero’s responsibility as a reporter for Miami’s WLRN is to be informed about the city. You can get his favorite Cuban sandwich at Enriqueta’s.

“It’s a crowd favorite that has been there forever before it was a trendy place,” he claims. Enriqueta’s, crammed inside with counter and table-top seating, has been called a “funky dive” and a “hole-in-the-wall joint.” A walk-up Ventana is also available at Enriqueta’s when the noon crowds spill out of the dining room.

How fantastic is this place’s food? Even though it doesn’t have a website, the restaurant is always busy. Enriqueta’s is a relic from the era when social media replaced word-of-mouth.

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8. Las Olas Cafe

Indulge in the delectable delight of our Empanadas at Las Olas Cafe. Delicately crafted, our empanadas feature a tender, flaky crust enveloping a flavorful blend of warmly spiced ground beef and vegetables.

These crescent-shaped, savory pastries showcase a medley of options, including beef, chicken, pork, tuna, shellfish, cheese, and vegetables, all seasoned vibrantly.

Baked or fried to perfection, our empanadas promise a satisfying culinary experience that captures the essence of Latin American cuisine.

Join us at Las Olas Cafe to savor these mouthwatering creations that bring together tradition, taste, and quality in every savory bite.

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9. Manolo & Rene Grill

The Cuban sandwich started as a meal for society. Cuban bread cannot be prepared at home due to the hot temperature and high cost of the imported ingredients.

After Cuba’s independence (1898), its popularity skyrocketed to the point where it became a status symbol.

Late at night, carriage riders might proudly display their little, white paper bags with red stripes inside that contained sandwiches.

House explains, “You’re going out, and that’s your last stop of the night after you’ve been drinking rum and dancing.

They changed the sandwich to the medianoche, a smaller sandwich suited for a lady after the theater to eat by herself because, for many individuals, that became the life-saving bite at the end of the night.

It was traditionally served atop softer egg bread. “You can eat that at 1:00 in the morning and not have indigestion at the night’s end,” Huse continues.

Today, the only distinction between a medianoche and a traditional Cuban sandwich is the time it is served. For those who want to partake in the classic “midnight” Cuban sandwich, Manolo & Rene Grill serves both seven days a week.

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10. Tinta y Café

Try Tinta y Café’s Patria (homeland) sandwich for a contemporary take on the traditional Cuban, which includes mortadella, a pig sausage with fat cubes from Italy. The most classic Cuban sandwich, nevertheless, would be this one.

Despite having its origins in Cuba, the Cuban sandwich “became the Cuban sandwich when it migrated to the United States,” according to Huse. In Cuba, it was simply a mixed sandwich or mixed to—many people referred to it as “the” sandwich.

The Cuban sandwich was initially an amorphous composition, as suggested by the mix to the moniker.

Today, why not Italian pork? Pigs, after all, were brought to Cuba by the Spanish, who were not native to the island. Tinta, a reference to the café’s literary aspect, translates to “ink” in English.

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11. Las Dos Palmas

Las Dos Palmas (the Two Palms), another family-run neighborhood restaurant, is conveniently located on the south side of the city and offers authentic Cuban cuisine to both tourists and locals.

Are you going to Zoo Miami? Make a stop here for lunch. Even from a distance, a typical Miami Cuban sandwich may be recognized.

“(In) Miami, the top of the bread is smooth, pressed thin,” says Huse. In Miami, bread is prepared in a pan rather than over a fire.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Miami introduced the electric press, which is now the norm.

Before then, sandwiches were squashed by placing a hot pan or tailor’s iron on top of them. In Miami, the toastiness of the bread required the press.

Unlike the Tampa version, which may be served at room temperature yet preserve its crispy crunchiness, Miami Cuban sandwiches are typically served hot.

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🙋🏻‍♀️ FAQs For Cuban Sandwiches in Miami

There are a lot of questions that come to mind while searching for the best Cuban sandwiches in Miami, some of the commonly asked questions are answered below.

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✉ Which do you think is Miami’s best Cuban sandwich? Let us know in the comments.

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