Archive for El Mago De Las Fritas

Alberto Cabrera Cooking With El Mago De Las Fritas Wednesday June 12th

Bread & Butter with El Mago

Chef Alberto Cabrera of Bread + Butter (or Pan con Mantequilla for you Cubanazo types) was a little disappointed that I had not invited him to be part of the Frita Feast at the beginning of National Hamburger Month. What he didn’t know is that there was a good reason for that. I knew that he is a “Mago guy” as he likes to put it and I had been hard at work trying to convince Ortelio Cardenas better known by his nom de frita El Mago de las Fritas to invite Alberto into his kitchen. Now, what might seem like an easy task from the outside looking in, it is exactly the opposite when you’ve got someone who’s been doing things his own way for the last 29 years. You’re not just going to convince him to do something out of his regular routine. I’m pretty sure he’s still pissed at me for harassing convincing him to make me some Frita Fries 3 years ago, lol. After his daughter Martha and his son in law Barry wore him down too one night about it, Alberto showed up and sealed the deal.

Alberto Cabrera - El Mago

Alberto Cabrera with El Mago de las Fritas

On Wednesday June 12th from 7-PM El Mago and Alberto Cabrera will be cooking together at El Mago de las Fritas’ 29 year old joint. There is no pretense here, it’s 2 guys doing what they love and were meant to do, cook. They will each be doing 4 or 5 dishes that may or may not be disclosed beforehand. The menu will be à la carte which is great news for someone wanting a Frita from El Mago and an order of Platano en Tentacion from Alberto. It’s Ol’ School-New School, it’s Classico y el Invento and most importantly it’s gonna be a great meal for fans of great Cuban Comfort Food.

The Details:

El Mago de las Fritas & Aliberto Cabrera Dinner
Date: Wednesday June 12th
Prices: Every Food Item is Available To Order Separately, There is NO admission fee
Time: 7PM – 9PM
Address: 5828 SW 8th Street West Miami, Florida

#FritaCrawl Read All About It

When my friend Matt Meltzer asked me what I thought about doing a Frita Cubana Crawl with Thrillist Miami I said yes without any hesitation. I had done two Frita Crawls, one near the beginning of the Burger Beast Blog in 2009 with Miami New Times & Carlos Miller and one a few years later with Travel Channel’s George Motz. I thought this one needed to be different so I called up my pals at Magic City Casino who graciously allowed us to use one of their shuttle buses for the Frita Crawl. After a few more phone calls here and there we had Luis Galindo’s Latin American, El Mago De Las Fritas, and El Rey De Las Fritas lined up as stops. It didn’t end there. We capped off the Frita Crawl at Azucar Ice Cream Company. Plus everyone also received a “Free Frita” coupon courtesy of Cuban Guys in Hialeah. A great but filling Frita Crawl for all!

How exactly do you get invited to something like this? Twitter. Both Thrillist Miami and I tweeted that we were looking for some folks to be a part of a Frita Crawl a fews days before. We also reached out to some folks and others wrote us once they saw what was going on. The lesson learned is it pays to be vigilant in Social Media.

Our Frita Crawl Ride Arrives Courtesy of Magic City Casino

Our Frita Crawl Ride Arrives Courtesy of Magic City Casino

Melissa Elias, Owner of Luis Galindo's Latin American Tells Us About Their 14 Year Old Family Owned Business

Melissa Elias, Owner of Luis Galindo’s Latin American Tells Us About Their 14 Year Old Family Owned Business

A Croqueta Snack At Luis Galindo's Latin American

A Croqueta Snack At Luis Galindo’s Latin American

@LizaWalton, Oh no you didn't!

@LizaWalton, Oh No You Didn’t!

Carlos and Jackie Enjoying The Croquetas

Carlos and Jackie Enjoying The Croquetas

Luis Galindo's Latin American Chef Alberto Frita

Luis Galindo’s Latin American’s Chef Alberto Frita

@MiaTown Snapping A Picture While Carlos Looks On

@MiaTown Snapping A Picture While Carlos Eggs Him On

El Mago De Las Fritas

El Mago De Las Fritas

Frita Crawl Crew In El Mago De Las Fritas

Frita Crawl Crew In El Mago De Las Fritas

@Cuban_Bee_71 Taking A Shot

@Cuban_Bee_71 Taking A Shot

Martha Cardenas aka "Magita" Showing Off The Frita & A Batido De Guanabana

Martha Cardenas aka “Magita” Showing Off The Frita & A Batido De Guanabana

El Mago De Las Fritas' Frita

El Mago De Las Fritas’ Mini Frita

Inside Of El Mago's Frita

Inside Of El Mago’s Frita

El Mago De Las Frita's Mango Shake

El Mago De Las Frita’s Mango Shake

@LizaWalton And Her New Look At El Rey De Las Fritas

@LizaWalton And Her New Look At El Rey De Las Fritas

Part Of The Frita Crawl Crew At The Counter At El Rey De Las Fritas

Part Of The Frita Crawl Crew At The Counter At El Rey De Las Fritas

Gino & Mercy Owners Of El Rey De Las Fritas Showing Off What Made Them Famous

Gino & Mercy, Owners Of El Rey De Las Fritas Showing Off What Made Them Famous

El Rey De Las Fritas' Frita Original

El Rey De Las Fritas’ Frita Original

Last Stop At Azucar Ice Cream Company

Last Stop At Azucar Ice Cream Company

@MiaTown Says Azucar!

@MiaTown Says Azucar!

Do Your Own Crawl:

Luis Galindo’s Latin American
898 SW 57th Ave, West Miami, FL
305-267-9995

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El Mago de las Fritas
5828 SW 8th Street, West Miami, FL
305-266-8486

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El Rey De Las Fritas
1821 SW 8th St, Little Havana, FL
305-858-4223

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Azucar Ice Cream Company
1503 SW 8th Street Little Havana, FL
305-381-0369

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Cuban Guys
3174 West 76 Street Hialeah, FL
786-507-4494

Easy To Get Hooked On Savory Fritas Story From June 1984

It is easy to get hooked on the savory Frita, Barbar Gutierrez was right. Back on June 13, 1984 this story ran in the Miami Herald. It’s one of the stories I used for reference when I wrote “Let me tell you about the Frita” for edible South Florida in 2011 (Pages 1-2 and 3). Most importantly and why I thought I should repost it, it mentions that El Rey De Las Fritas cook Ortelio Cardenas was the 1st to add Cheese to the Frita Cubana. Just a few short months later in September of the same year, Ortelio would leave El Rey de las Fritas and open up his own Frita joint named El Mago De Las Fritas. And the rest as they say is Frita History.

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

The Viewing Party For Burger Land At El Mago De Las Fritas

On Monday April 22nd El Mago de las Fritas hosted a viewing party for the new episode of Travel Channel’s Burger Land hosted by George Motz which was shot in Miami and features El Rey De Las Fritas, El Mago De Las Fritas & Pincho Factory. I make an appearance in the segments about El Mago and Pincho Factory. Thank you to everyone who came out to the party and to everyone who watched at home!

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Read All About the Cuban Frita in English or Español

Pictures by Droolius

Burger Land Miami Episode Viewing Party At El Mago De Las Fritas On Monday April 22nd

George Motz's Burger Land

In early January Hamburger expert George Motz was in town filming the 4th episode for his new Travel Channel program “Burger Land”. The Miami episode which airs on Monday April 22nd at 10PM features El Rey de las Fritas, Latin Burger & Taco Truck, Pincho Factory and my bud El Mago de las Fritas. I was lucky enough to be included in the Pincho Factory and El Mago de las Fritas segments of the show.

To celebrate the Miami episode, El Mago de las Fritas will be hosting a watch party at his restaurant from 8PM – 11PM. There will be Frita specials, there will be giveaways and of course it all culminates with the watching of the episode at 10PM. It sounds like a perfect night to me.

A couple of years ago George Motz was in town and we did an impromptu Frita Crawl, WATCH:

Saturdays at El Mago de las Fritas

El Mago de las Fritas

One of the first things that cross my mind when I wake up Saturday mornings is that Ortelio aka El Mago de las Fritas is starting on his weekly masterpieces, Ajiaco and Chicharrones. Ajiaco is a stew filled with different vegetables and meats. Chicharrones (made from Pork Belly) are known as Pork Rinds but this is not the supermarket puffed up versions of them. Quantities on both of these guys is very limited so you need to get with the program (ponerse las pilas) and get here early enough that they’re not sold out of either.

What I like to do is arrive right around the 10:30AM mark when he’s putting the final touches on the 2 specialties. I sit at the counter and order a Tortilla Callejera for breakfast. The Tortilla Callejera is an El Mago-style Omelette Sandwich. Imagine an Omelette Sandwich with Julianne Potatoes, Onions, Ham (optional) and El Mago’s Secret Sauce mixed right in with the Egg before cooking. It’s then placed  on a toasted piece of Cuban Bread and topped with more crispy Potatoes. He might sneak in some Ketchup on some occasions and Cheese is also an option.

Tortilla Callejera

Tortilla Callejera

By the time I’m finishing my Callejera, the Chicharrones have been placed under their heat lamp throne. Life expectancy on these guys is usually a couple of hours which is why you must hurry.

Chicharrones Waiting For You

Chicharrones Waiting For You

The Magical Chicharrones

The Magical Chicharrones

I order a portion of Chicharrones to have while I’m waiting for the Fritas and Ajiaco I’m taking to go. I love these fellas but be very careful when eating them that you don’t crack a tooth. It’s never happened to me but these guys will give your teeth a workout.

And yes, they are as good as they look.

Chicharrones Go Time

Chicharrones Go Time

So…..should I save you a seat for next Saturday?

Go Get Some Magic:

El Mago De Las Fritas
Facebook: El Mago de las Fritas
Twitter: @MagoDeLasFritas
5828 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL
305-266-8486

El Gordo & “Obama” Visit El Mago de las Fritas

When Obama visited El Mago de las Fritas back in October of 2010 it started a whirlwind of press activity for him which continues to this day. El Gordo from Univision’s El Gordo y La Flaca visited El Mago with “Obama” in tow. Unfortunately if you don’t understand Spanish you won’t find it as amusing although El Mago does a good bit of acting. Someone call Martin Scorsese! My favorite line is when El Gardo tells “Obama”, “No vaya a subir los taxes” on his way out which translates to “Don’t raise taxes”.


If you wanna view a longer where El Mago sidesteps the questions about what’s in his secret sauce, check it out here. To see more pictures from El Gordo and “Obama”‘s visit check out their slideshow.

Enjoy Fritas At:

El Mago De Las Fritas
Facebook: El Mago de las Fritas
Twitter: @MagoDeLasFritas
5828 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL
305-266-8486