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I’ve been keeping tabs on Cuban Guys for what seems like almost a year now. I loved the concept, a fast food Cuban restaurant that doesn’t cut corners on quality. It seemed like they might never open but just last week when I took a gander at their Facebook page I saw that the opening was less than a week away. So I wrote them through Twitter for specifics and was invited for their friends and family soft opening to try the food. In case I forget to mention it, they will be open for business as of Wednesday January 11th aka today.

I’m standing there checking out the menu and trying to figure out what to get, who am I kidding? I’m getting a Frita. My wife Marcela is with me and she opts for the Frita Bowl. I choose Yuca Fries for the side while she went the Plantain Chip route. There are 2 different Flans on the menu (Regular or Coffee), we also ordered these. Next to the register is an iced up cooler filled with water, Materva & Jupiña, 2 Cuban soda staples. Noticeably absent from the ice bath was Iron Beer which happens to have the coolest logo of the 3.

Cans in Rest Mode

Marcela’s bowl had all the important components of a Cuban meal. Let’s see there was Black Beans & Rice, nicely diced up Platanos Maduros (fried sweet Plantains), real Julianne Potatoes (not the Potato Stix canned version), diced white onions and a Frita patty. You can of course choose Chicken, Steak or Pork but when in Rome….

If you’re hungry and/or probably starving this is the route you wanna go. The bowl was delicious and filling. The plantain chips had a great crunch and were salted just as I like ‘em (most importantly not of the frozen variety). They were served with a dipping sauce that I overlooked since they were so perfect as is.

Plantain Chips

The menu includes all the Cuban classics like Sandwich Cubano (Cuban Sandwich), Media Noche (Midnight Sandwich, same ingredients as Cuban Sandwich on a sweet roll) and Pan con Bistec (Steak Sandwich) and at the top of the list, the Frita (Cuban Hamburger).

There are 2 things I look at before eating a Frita. First is that they are making their tiny shoestring (Julienne) fries and second that it’s served on a Cuban roll. From there I move onto an examination of what’s under the top bun. Are they trying to pass off  some ground beef or an over seasoned regular burger patty as a Frita? It’s also pretty nice if they toast the roll. Lastly a taste test of the goods. Make no bones about it, Cuban Guys’ Frita is the real deal, it’s legit. I asked about going “a Caballo” (with a Fried Egg) and the owner said it’s possible but not on the actual menu.

All Wrapped Up & Somewhere To Go

Cuban Guys Frita

These Yuca Fries were crispy and the dipping sauce (some Mayo/Ketchup mix) was actually perfect for it. I was hesitant to to try it since I prefer Yuca Fries sans anything else but glad I did. If I hadn’t ordered a Flan, I might have gone for a Pan con Tortilla (Omelette Sandwich) also. The cool thing is they serve breakfast all day. As someone who has eggs for dinner occasionally, I’m loving that.

Yuca Fries w/Pink Dipping Sauce

Flan is the classic Cuban dessert. Everyone has a mom, grandmother or aunt that makes the best Flan in Miami and/or Earth. If for some reason they’re not in Flan making mode, you have 2 options at Cuban guys. The regular Flan is good but the Coffee Flan is ridiculous and the one to get.

Coffee Flan

I’m looking forward to working my way through the Cuban Guys’ sandwich (the Pan con Bistec is unbelievable) menu. Now if they only had croquetas….. (Update: Croquetas were added to the menu)

Croquetas

Eat at:

Cuban Guys
Facebook: Cuban Guys
Twitter: @CubanGuys
3174 West 76 Street Hialeah, FL 33018
786-507-4494