Wanna talk old-school Cuban cafeteria? Located in the warehouse area near the old Rowland Coffee Roasters (Cafe Bustelo and Pilon) in a pretty nondescript building, you will find Los Bobos (5600 NW 79th Ave, Doral).
They’ve been doing their thing here for over 30 years. There are no seats and only standing counter space. You will find a great cross-section of Miamians eating here, anyone from truckers to guys in suits stopping in for a cafecito.
There is no pretense here, just great home-cooked Cuban food with friendly service. It’s important to mention that Los Bobos is cash-only, but there is an ATM inside.
*Before I say a few words about the food, I’d like you to know in the spirit of full disclosure that I am friends with the Llizo family, who own Los Bobos.
El Serafin Sandwich
I have been eating at Los Bobos since I was a kid who could barely reach the counter. There’s even a sandwich named after my father, el Serafin (fried eggs, bacon, cheese & hot sauce), on the menu.
The Serafin is delicious, the sandwich, not my dad, but then again, I guess you could ask my mom that. I’m sure he will find this comment funny; my mom and sister, not so much.
Since Los Bobos is only open till 3 PM on weekdays and 2 PM on Saturdays, I always have breakfast here. However, if you’re an early bird, the good news is they open at 5:30 AM.
The Pan con Tortilla (omelet sandwich) is excellent, but make sure to get the swiss cheese, ham, and chorizo combination. It’s a morning home run.
The Chicharrones are crunchy with that piece of squishy pork I long for, not in a romantic way, but I love them. Unfortunately, you can only get these fellas Monday through Friday, so plan accordingly.
The Medianoche (what is a Medianoche?) is one of the best in the city, so I invited them to be a part of the Medianoches & Mixology event that I curated at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
Bobos Daily Specials Alert
Of course, there are daily specials, as any top-notch Cuban joint will have. Saturdays, you can find Pan con Lechon (what is a Pan con Lechon?) and Tamal en Hoja (served on the husk). The Pan con Lechon from Los Bobos is the real deal.
These guys know pork. This sandwich deserves to get scheduled on your calendar for a visit.
What’s a cafeteria without homemade desserts? The Flan or Dulce de Leche Cortada (curdled) would be my two suggestions, creamy but not overly sweet.
You can assume that Los Bobos makes a mean cafecito or expresso; they do. So, if you are afraid to say the word publicly, let’s practice together: Ca-fe-cee-to Ca-fe-cee-to.
Got it? Good, now stop messing around and eat from Los Bobos, a part of the real Miami.
P.S.: It might help to speak a little bit of Spanish.
Los Bobos Menu
Los Bobos Food Pictures
*The best part is that I’m known as Serafin’s son at Los Bobos; nothing has changed in thirty years.
Last Day at Los Bobos
After 42 years of serving the Miami community, Los Bobos served their last breakfast and lunch on Friday, December 30th, 2022. After co-founder Antonio Llizo passed in December 2018, we were unsure if they would sojourn on.
Lucky for us, his wife (and co-founder) and their son Tony keep the party going for another four years. But, there comes a time when you know what must be done.
The legacy of Los Bobos is the little cafeteria that could and did. I featured Los Bobos in my Real Deal Guide to Cuban Sandwiches in Miami, and they had one of the Best Chicharrones in town.
There was a vibe there, that would be impossible to duplicate. Miami, we lost another great one.
Thank you, Antonio, Lidya, and Tony “Bobo,” for all the great food and memories…you folks are legends.
Vintage Los Bobos Pics
Crema de Vie from Los Bobos
Los Bobos was the spot to get Crema de Vie during the Holidays. Here’s to hoping that you can still order some bottles from them!