The Cuban coffee is amazing. Exactly what I was looking for in Tampa. After seeing the food, I have…read moreto go back and eat

Leaving Tampa tomorrow and had to get one of my favorites, mojo pork. The pork was delicious and…read morefully marinated in mojo. Very friendly and courteous service. Please support local, independent businesses

One of the many things that I love about the YELP app is being able to introduce people to new…read morerestaurants. 99% of the time, the eateries we visit already have an existing listing on YELP, and it's our "job" to provide a review of whatever establishment we have the pleasure of eating from. It's those other 1 percenters that get me excited! It's like finding a needle in the haystack, and I consider it a privilege to be able to add a new restaurant to the YELP community. It's even more exciting when the owner of the small place you're adding hasn't even heard of YELP, is new to the restaurant game, and doesn't know about how the "YELP effect" can really drive their business to new heights. Today was one of those 1 percent days! One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a human being is to go food shopping at your local grocery store on an empty stomach. Since I am a male, I usually do this 9 out of 10 times and wind up spending $200 more than I initially planned. Such was the case today, but I was determined not to go crazy while steering my wobbly cart up and down the aisles of Publix, and also trying not to bring home the lovely Coronavirus. Pathetically, I was actually proud of myself as I was checking out because I had managed to fend off the hunger attack that was being waged by the Publix Deli sub stand. They made a valiant effort, but my will was strong this day, and I emerged victorious. Strutting my bad self out to the parking lot, I was ill prepared for the sneak attack brought upon me by this treacherous new villain! Coming out of the Publix lot I was behind a few cars at the light on Bell Shoals, when suddenly, as I peered across the street at the Circle K, I saw a tiny sign sticking out of the ground that read "El Cuba Cafe." I didn't know it at the time, but my stomach had already raised the white flag, surrendering peacefully to the thought of a Cuban sandwich. I've passed the hidden strip mall behind Circle K a thousand times, but I never recalled seeing a Cuban restaurant back there. I drove around aimlessly for about 5 minutes searching, but didn't see any kind of awning that resembled the sign I just saw previously. I did a quick search on YELP, and still nothing. I finally had to resort to a check on Google, where I noticed that the restaurant website had the same address as the Circle K, huh??? I pulled into the "K" parking lot, swung open the double doors, and low and behold, there it was, all tucked away in the back corner of this convenience store chain. Little did I know what awaited me. This place is literally the size of a snack bar on the 10th hole of the local country club, but don't be deceived, big things come in little packages. After getting aquatinted with the delightful owner Naida, I decided to try the Cuban sandwich, beef empanada, and stuffed potato balls (Papas Rellenas). Let me tell you, all three were the bomb !!! The Papas Rellenas were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, deep fried to perfection. The empanada was a little dry, but still delicious, and then finally, the amazing Cuban sandwich. I've lived in the Tampa area for over 30 years now, and this is easily one of the best Cubans I've ever had (I've got the gut to prove it!!). Besides the fresh ingredients and perfectly pressed bread, the kicker is Naida's mouthwatering homemade roast pork. She has the perfect blend of spices and mojo seasoning that gives it this out of bounds flavor, not to mention that it just melts in your mouth. The Cuban alone will make me a new frequent guest, and I also can't wait to come back and try one of her breakfast sandwiches as I hear that they too are legendary. Tell Naida that you heard about her place on YELP so that she can see what an impact we can have on her business. She deserves the traffic, I promise that you won't be disappointed (drop me a line when you do, I'd love to see what you think). Five stars all the way!!!

I didn't know about this place until my Yelp friend Tim wrote an awesome detailed review about it…read more It took me a while to try it, but I finally did last year. He was very right. Naida makes some tasty Cuban sandwiches here for a good price. The star of the sandwich is Naida's roast pork. It's well seasoned and it totally makes this sandwich shine. I usually get it with everything, but I keep forgetting that they'll include onions if you ask for it "all the way." It's good with or without it, but I prefer it without. Just keep that in mind and be specific if you don't want onions on your sandwich. Naida also makes the best café con leche. I sometimes go there just for Cuban toast and that awesome coffee. It gives me energy! They have a small hot bar area of daily offerings with some kind of rice and beans. It may change daily. I haven't ordered a platter, but I will one day. They do have a tasty arroz con salchichas side item. My mom used to make it sometimes with those little canned Vienna sausages. Yeah, it's a comfort thing for me. They also make wonderful breakfast sandwiches and ham croquettes. El Cuba Cafe is hidden inside of a Circle K convenience store on Bell Shoals Road. It's directly across the street from Publix at Bloomingdale Square. I know it has Cuba in the name, but their is a lot of Puerto Rican representation here. That may also be why I'm so fond of it. It's also super convenient, and the service is great. I usually drive in the back way to avoid all the construction nearby. There's no dining area. You just order your meal and take it with you. It's a no frills kind of place. A real hidden gem!

Great find! Authentic cuban food and coffee all cooked and served by a lovely lady (Owner)read more

What an awesome place! Food was incredible as well as the…read morecoffee and the owner is so sweet! Would definitely recommend.

Stopped in for lunch. It has been a while since I've eaten here because I don't eat pork or beef,…read morebut my SO wanted a Cuban so I figured I'd get a turkey sandwich. Well to my surprise they have added bowls to the menu so I got a chicken bowl and MAN!!!! It's delicious! My SO got a Cuban and he said it was really good.

Alright y'all, here we go with the official review for Box of Cubans - 10451 Gibsonton Dr…read more First things first -- the customer service? Absolutely loved it The guy at the front was on point the whole time. Even coming in right after the lunch rush, he made sure everything stayed clean and organized while still taking care of customers. That kind of attention to detail does not go unnoticed They were out of the sweet teas (I was hurt a little bit ), but overall the experience was still really good. Now let's get into the food because you already know that's what we're here for The chicken empanadas? Delicious. No complaints. The Cuban sandwich? It was good... but I'm gonna keep it real like I always do. The meat was flavorful, but it could've been more evenly distributed, and it didn't have that crispy bread texture I look for. Overall, it just didn't hit that top-tier level for me. So for this location: 8/10 Still a solid experience, still worth the visit -- but as of right now, the Wesley Chapel location is still holding that 10/10 crown And you already know I'm not done... Valrico, I'm coming next. That's Just How Life Goes... and of course, Just How Food Goes

Perfection! Everything I've tried has been spectacular. So…read morefar...chicken empanadas, guava empanadas, rice and beans, plantanos, potato croquettes... Delicious! Can't wait to try more.

This is a hidden Gem! The food is authentic, delicious and plentiful! The service is impeccable and…read morethe Ambiance makes me want to go to CUBA! Island Fever... Stop in and taste the local cuisine... you'll be happy you did!

Absolutely, the best bakery. Not only in the Valrico-Brandon area, but Florida in general…read more The environment is always very lively here, and the food is delicious. I love spending my time viewing all the beautiful pastries in the glass case while I wait for, quite honestly, the best breakfast sandwich I've ever had to be prepared. Moreno's will always have my business. Hot, fresh, food: Made with love. Not to mention the orange juice only has one ingredient.

My favorite bakery in the Tampa Bay area! They literally…read morehave everything you could ask for in a bakery. The ambiance of a pretty general- seating if you want to eat in. There is a hot food bar and the bakery space. In regard to the hot food, I have had the oxtails. I was not in love with the oxtails. They could have been more tender with a better flavor profile. The bakery is where it's at. Dubai brownies, danishes cakes and cookies. Come get some

Great Spanish restaurant. Good salad ! Deviled crabs are…read moregood also! Would definitely recommend!

They have some very good sandwiches at the establishment. I have only been here for the lunch…read morespecial. I got half a sandwich and soup that was pretty good, you also have choice of salad instead. I like the dipping gravy for the sandwich also. They also give a military discount too. The staff are always friendly. Find some free time and come visit them for lunch.

Excellent Food!! Excellent Prices!!…read more This is a must-stop. Great variety of latin food, great customer service, always!!

My review is from DD perspective. I order from here a lot! Their food quality is superb! Love their…read moremofongo n Mangu options. The steak is real good n my favorite is their sancocho! It's always delicious! Love the Tres golpe best! Comes with mangu, 2 fried eggs, sausages and two large fried cheese slices. I need to show up in person one day. I cant believe is so close to me though, hiding behind walgreens in parsons.

I came to Cali Viejo with my family and had a really great experience! We ordered the fried…read morechicken, and it was delicious. It came with rice, beans, and plantains, and the portion was really big for the price. I also got the natural soursop juice, which was really good and refreshing. I tried the Colombian tamal too, and it was HUGE! It came with rice and was very filling. We also got a sandwich with smashed fried plantains, an empanada for my little sister, and some pandebono. Everything was really good! My parents are from Colombia, so they really enjoyed this place and loved the Colombian food. The service was great, the atmosphere was nice, and it's a very family-friendly restaurant. Overall, we had a great experience. The food was delicious, the portions were generous, the prices were reasonable, and the service was great. I would definitely come back and give Cali Viejo 5 stars!

This place was amazing! This is my first time ever having Columbian food, but I genuinely think…read morethat it won't be my last at all! I got the paisa, and when it came out, I was shocked with how much food it was. Definitely worth the money, and a friend of mine got the sampler as a main dish, and it was fantastic! My favorite was the blood sausage for sure! The service was kind, but I will say that there was a good amount of wait for the food. Honestly, I didn't mind it at all. The ambiance is more fancy than I expected but it was a pleasant surprise!

I came back into Latin Grill to have my favorite soup, Asapado de Camarones and take home a Cuban…read moresandwich for my husband. They have an extensive menu of Latin dishes and they are all good but if you splurge a bit and try this soup you won't be disappointed I promise. The bread for the sandwiches is the best. I will be back again soon.

In town for work and looking for food, we stumbled on this spot. It's got more of a club vibe than…read morea restaurant feel, but the food was so good! We ordered the picanha and chicharrones--both delicious--and the lychee margarita was amazing. Our server was super attentive and assisted with accommodating some requests with no issues. Definitely more of a special-occasion place (a little pricey, but worth it). If you're with a big group, definitely book a reservation. Since it was just the two of us, we got seated right away, but we only had about an hour and fifteen minutes to eat before the live music and shows started.