I remember when the Latin Café 2000 sign went up on Bird Road a few month before the year 2000. I was still working at Best Buy then and wondered if this was another one of the lackluster Cuban restaurants all over South Florida.
We probably ate there a handful of times but didn’t think very much of it; years later, Marcela and I moved near the Miami International Airport and found ourselves near another Latin Café 2000.
It wasn’t always our go-to Cuban Comfort Food spot, but it never disappointed. It was a great late-night spot to get café con leche, tostadas, and croquetas. Of course, I tried the Chicken Milanesa, which was great, too.
Over the years, Latin Café 2000 has become a spot where we celebrate after a successful Croqueta Palooza or Hamburger House Party.
Recently, the owners opened Bored Cuban right next door, and we have become addicted, in particular, to their pixas and shakes
I felt it was time to hit up Latin Café 2000 once again. I did a deep dive into the menu and found that I should’ve been eating here way more than I was. So, let’s jump into this.
Deep Dive Into Latin Cafe 2000
It might look like the same queso frito appetizer you find at most restaurants around town, but there’s one difference: the sauce. Latin Café 2000 serves its fried cheese with a signature tropical rum sauce.
If you haven’t been acquainted with queso frito, it’s a popular side found at all Nicaraguan fritangas and restaurants. The squeaky white cheese is fried, usually in small slabs. Some enterprising person paired them with smaller cubes/strips with guava sauce, and a new Miami appetizer was born.
Latin Café 2000‘s sauce was a breath of fresh air in a sea of sameness.
Any self-respecting Cuban restaurant worth its weight in black beans serves great mariquitas. The fried plantain strips come with a side of mojo for dipping—or drizzling, in my case.
Another great starter that works well as a side when having a sandwich is the yuquita frita. These spear-shaped fries are made from cassava (yuca) and served with a cilantro aioli sauce. Don’t get carried away with dipping them in the sauce; it happens to the best of us.
Sandwich Talk
The Miami Sandwich is my go-to Cuban Sandwich, and Latin Café 2000 makes a great one. However, you’ll find the Latin 2000 Sandwich on their menu.
This fella comes on pressed French bread with bolo ham, roasted pork, Spanish chorizo, aged prosciutto, Swiss cheese, and olive oil. As you can see, it’s a thick sandwich and only made for sando warriors. It’s a sandwich that has found life between a Cuban sandwich and a Spanish tapa, freakin’ delicious.
My mouth just watered, looking at the chicken milanesa. The pollo empanizado a la milanesa is the crowd pleaser. I can’t imagine a world where someone would eat this dish and say, next.
The pounded thin chicken breast is breaded then pan fried. Of course it does not end there, Swiss cheese, ham and housemade creole sauce cover this beautiful creation. I eat milanesas all over town and the thicker flavorful breading on the Latin Café 2000 version makes it a standout.
Pasta Carbonara at Latin Café 2000?
Can we take a moment to discuss the pasta carbonara with chicken? Why is this on the menu and why is it so tasty. There’s a shrimp version which I have yet to try but I see a pasta carbonara with chicken and shrimp in my future.
I like to start my meals with a couple of their housemade ham croquetas. There’s a croqueta preprada sandwich on the menu but I have to order one.
The croquetas with the cilantro sauce are a knockout combo but you didn’t hear it from me. By the way, the housemade croquetas can be ordered next door at Bored Cuban.
Is The Burger Any Good?
On a whim I asked about the cheeseburger. The burger patty is ground in house from churrasco and skirt steak trimmings. I’m pretty sure they snuck seasoning in there but I have not confirmed that.
I order mine cooked to medium with grilled onions. It was perfect as is, no need to pile lettuce and tomato on it. I could take or leave the shoestring fries.
I’m gonna go ahead and say this out loud, Latin Café 2000 has no business having this great of a burger. And that’s not a complaint, it’s a proclamation of my excitement.
I can’t ever seem to make it to dessert but I always leave some space for espresso or a cafe con leche, oscuro of course. It’s the perfect way to end your meal at Latin Café 2000, now excuse me while I plan out what I’m eating next time.
Latin Cafe 2000
875 NW 42nd Avenue
Miami, FL
(305) 642-4700
Website – https://www.latincafe.com
Instagram – https://instagram.com/latincafe2000
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/latincafe2000
Monday 6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Tuesday 6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Wednesday 6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Thursday 6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Friday 6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday 6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Sunday 6:30 am – 11:00 pm