Chico’s has been serving Hialeah crowds for more than 40 years now. Once upon a time, it was open 24 hours a day.
It can be best described as a Cuban diner. It’s currently undergoing renovation, and everything probably looks better than the year it opened.
Many years ago, I worked at Best Buy in Hialeah, and we would come to Chico’s for some late-night eats after our shifts were over. We’d order anything and everything from cafe con leche & tostadas (toasted & buttered Cuban bread) to Cuban sandwiches and palomilla steaks.
I remember enjoying not only the meal but the servers and, of course, the company; great memories.
My wife Marcela and I were looking for local restaurants to beef up our event, Croquetapalooza, and a few people on the Burger Beast Facebook had mentioned that we should hit up Chico’s. I was like, Wow! Chico’s, it’s been years, but I was excited to return.
We walked right in and took a seat, and before you knew it, we had two glasses of water and pansito on the table. My standard go-to is either a palomilla steak or milanesa de Pollo, but it was a pollo a la plancha (grilled chicken breast) kinda day this time.
Chico’s Croqueta Talk
Please remember I had only come here to eat croquetas and couldn’t resist ordering a few other things when I looked through the menu.
After those croquetas arrived, I was just floored. This is probably the most pure ham-tasting croqueta I’ve ever had. I had struck up a conversation with the gentleman who had brought us the bread, and it turns out he is one of the two owners of Chico’s, Luisito.
He brought out the other owner, the man behind the scenes in the kitchen. Jesus spoke of how the croquetas are pure ground ham with little filler. They use the same ham that goes into the Cuban sandwiches. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Chico’s croqueta is legit.
Frita Cubana Talk
We had a lengthy conversation about Fritas, and both mentioned that their Frita Cubana recipe is old-school Cuba. It was settled; I also need to try one of those.
I’m very critical of Fritas, so I was totally invested. They do not use house-made julienne potatoes or a Cuban roll, but yes, the flavor profile of the patty fits right in there with the chorizo-heavy Fritas I’ve had in the past.
Who am I to disagree with an old Cuban recipe?
We closed out the meal with a good and not overly sweet flan; no cafecito this time, though.
I had a great time at Chico’s and found a new croqueta to add to my meat stick rotation. Drop in and give them a shot if you’re in the Hialeah area.
Chico’s
4070 W 12th Avenue
Hialeah, FL
(305) 556-8907
Website –
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/people/Chicos-Restaurant/100031485379640
Monday 5:30 am – 12:00 am
Tuesday 5:30 am – 12:00 am
Wednesday 5:30 am – 12:00 am
Thursday 5:30 am – 12:00 am
Friday 5:30 am – 1:00 am
Saturday 5:30 am – 1:00 am
Sunday 5:30 am – 12:00 am
