The Ropa Vieja from here was quite good. It came as a very large amount of shredded beef, a smaller helping of rice, and fries to go along with it. I'll start with the beef, as it was the primary component of the dish. Despite it being flank steak, it was clearly simmered for a long time - and displayed none of the traditionally chewy or dry properties associated with the tougher cut. The sauce also helped - it was very well spiced, and had a slight tomato-like flavor. Mixing this with the yellow rice yielded something that was really satisfying to eat. The combination of sauce, beef, and rice was quite enjoyable, even with mixing the vegetables in for some extra crunch. The portion size of beef was crazy. When combined with the rice, the total amount of food here was solidly enough for two full meals. It is around 20 dollars for the dish, but I would classify that as a good value when you consider how much food you get. On the opposite side, I swapped the maduros out for fries. These...were not good. The fries tasted stale, hard, and not appealing at all. While the portion size was high, the appeal was not. The sauce that came with these was interesting at least. Overall, I think this is a very strong core dish at an impressive portion. Would recommend sticking with the plantains as a side though. 8.5/10 read more

Cafe Con Leche - ropa vieja - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I heard someone at my hairdresser mention this place having the only decent Cubano in the city. They had lived in Miami and found this place to be the most authentic - so we had to go. I haven't had a real Cubano but if it's like what we had at Cafe con Leche then I may need to book a flight. It was so good! We started with a small shot of espresso and moved on to a pair of tasty sandwiches. A Cubano for him and a marinated chicken sandwich for me. Our server was drifting between Spanish and English and greeted a number of the customers like old friends. Always an excellent sign. read more

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My wife and I were in the SODO district of Seattle, so decided to get carryout from Cafe Con Leche after a couple of stops at the nearby breweries and distilleries. We placed our order and got our packaged bag by the promised 15 minutes. Sandwich Cubano ($16.95) - came with fries. Having all the requisite ingredients (roast pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard) pressed together in a press to possibly create a flavor profile unlike anything else. Ropa Vieja ($19.95) - shredded flank steak, very tender. Served with a non-descript yellow rice, good fried plantains and a little bit of salad. The food was OK, decent but not really standing out amongst the good Cuban food I've had in the past. read more

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I ordered the Bistec de Palomilla and it was delicious. The flavor was so good, the green sauce paired well with the beef and onions. I'm a big fan of onions so I loved that some were added to the dish. My friend had a sandwich and she loved her food as well. The server was attentive and the restaurant was surprisingly not as busy for a late Friday afternoon. I'll be coming back here for sure! There is plenty of free parking on the side of the building which is a plus for Seattle! The restrooms were clean. If you're looking for authentic Cuban food you definitely need to check out the restaurant! read more

Cafe Con Leche - Bistec de Palomilla - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

As a Cuban, and someone who cooks this style of food, I had to stop by. It's not often you come across a Cuban restaurant while traveling. I ordered the Ropa Vieja and was pleasantly surprised by how authentic it was. You could really taste the wine and tomatoes used to marinate the flank steak. The meat was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. For me, the true test of a good Cuban spot is the black beans...and this place nailed it. Perfectly seasoned, rich, and balanced. In fact, nothing on the plate needed extra salt. The plantains were also on point: plump, sweet, and properly ripened, unlike other places that serve them too firm or underripe. The only thing missing was the selection of authentic Cuban drinks: Malta Hatuey, Materva, Jupina, Ironbeer. Can't wait to come back! read more

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This is a truly authentic Cuban restaurant with really nice staff. A big restaurant on one side and a classy bar on the other. I'm on the hunt for that perfect Cuban sandwich in the area and while it wasn't my favorite, it was the most authentic in flavor and style, so I would highly recommend it. read more

Cafe Con Leche - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Love this place. It's Cuban food and pretty close to authentic. Went here for brunch on a Saturday. Very friendly waiters and food is just amazing. read more

The food is delicious. I do think that it is a bit overpriced for the lunch portions and for what the food is. Most Latin food doesn't cost half as much as places charge for it, but it's hard to find good Cuban food here. I do prefer cafe con leche over any 'Cuban fusion' place in the Seattle area. I did take out and my order was prepared pretty quickly. read more

Cafe Con Leche - Ropa Vieja - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Hands down the best Cubano I've ever had. Stopped here on whim from antiquing. My god, I will have to make a trip to try everything else on this menu. Service: fantastic, the staff were friendly and keen on giving their recommendations. Food: Cubano: Crunchy fresh bread, moist and succulent meat(s). Not going to lie, every bite was pure happiness. Beef empanadas: perfectly seasoned and top it with that homemade chimichurri sauce. I don't normally rave about fries, but these were awesome with that dipping sauce Ambiance: it's a relaxed atmosphere, quiet and peaceful. I went there at an odd hour, not a lot of people but the establishment can fit a large gathering Come check them out! read more

Cafe Con Leche - Cafecito Cubano - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great food! Tried both the empanadas, both good but chicken was the favorite. Had the pan con lechón which was good and their cilantro aioli was excellent. The Cubano was great. Nice people, great service, check them out! read more

Came here to meet a friend for a lunch meeting. I had no idea of what I was going to get, and boy did it exceed my expectations! I got the Cubano sandwich. It comes with some deliciously seasoned french fries. There was a small container of green sauce which I had no idea of what it was. I dipped a fry into it and it had a cilantro aioli type of flavor. Perhaps some garlic too? I used it to spread onto my sandwich and continue dipping my fries into. I could have easily used another container of that sauce cause it was sooo good! And of course, the sandwich had a fantastic amount of smokey flavor with some epic cheese pull when I took a bite. There was a perfect amount of pickles with some delicious sauce. I appreciated how the sandwich was wrapped, to make sure I didn't lose all of the sandwich contents. Great lunch spot with friendly staff. Easy 5*s! read more

Stopped in for the first time. Arrived at 6:45pm. The place is open until 7:30. Ordered food at 6:55pm. The waitress was friendly and attentive. EXTREMELY LOUD television show started playing over the sound system directly after ordering. 112db according to the meter on my phone. I asked if that was going to go on during the entire meal as i could see others in the restaurant were equally as shocked. The waitress just gave me a simple yes. We left and will never return. read more

Pros: nice waitstaff, empanadas, easy parking, fun Cuban music, decent prices. Cons: fries - regular and yuca, a little slow despite not seeming busy. See photo captions for food breakdown. Summary: might go back if I'm the area but wouldn't go out of my way for it. read more

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Our service was quite great. We popped in for a snack while waiting for a wedding to start that we are attending. The music and vibe is great. They were doing sound check for the club, but it wasn't bothersome. The sauce that comes with the plantain is very good and the rice and beans were great. read more

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Highly recommend ordering Churrasco Timbero$24.67 (10oz) Grilled skirt steak served with moros and maduros!! The sauce that goes with the steak is delicious. The whole plate is phenomenal! Kinda pricey but worth trying, you might come back! The steak is also tender, easy to cut and eat. read more

Cafe Con Leche - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is fantastic cuban food, some of the best I've ever had, and totally hidden in SODO as part of what seems like a bar dance venue? I think there's only 2-3 people involved in this operation so it can be a bit slow but not THAT slow. Everything I've had has been great, highly recommend the classic cubano (best I've had), black beans, or really anything with their amazing marinated meats. Cafe con leche is also delicious, just a giant yummy latte. Cuban food is hard to find, let alone the good stuff, so don't sleep on this gem as it's already blowing up during lunchtime. Do be mindful it is only open during the workweek. read more

Had Cubano sandwich. Cafe con leche. Muy bien. Sandwich was classic Cuban, pulled pork, ham, cheese, pickles and mustard. Very tasty, big sandwich. Coffee was good. Not fast food, if in a hurry go elsewhere but the server lady was very nice and friendly. If in mood for Cuban, seems like a solid choice. read more

Cafe Con Leche - Cubano - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Lunch on Weds 05 April. Service was amazing - the woman running (owning?) the restaurant was incredibly helpful and friendly. Really fantastically observant, in tune with where we were in the meal, great hospitality. Also she let me know when my empanadas from Maria Luisa Empanadas were ready - it was perfect timing, actually - a great lunch at Cafe Con Leche and then empanadas to take home. So nice and friendly! Hubby was very happy with his nice strong rum and Coke to start the meal (shopping at Second Use for doors was quite an adventure.) My lunch was a simple salad of lettuce, avocado, pickled onions, and tomatoes, perfectly fresh, with delicious Caribbean marinated chicken breast and a very light but very tasty citrus mustard dressing. I was in the mood for a simple clean salad and this was exactly right for the moment in time and I'd get it again in a heartbeat. Hubby was also very happy with his Pan con Lechon sandwich - he said it was a great sandwich. We got the picky teenager a Cubano to go and it was vaporized within moments. He reported "Best Cubano I've ever had"*. * note that we have not been to Miami or Cuba, so we may not have a frame of reference. read more

If you are ever craving Cuban food, Cafe Con Leche is where you need to go! I love Cuban food and I just remember eating all the delicious Cuban food when we visited Miami and I can't believe we didn't try this place until now! Their Pan con lechon sandwich is so good and flavorful and the bread soft yet crispy and chewy! The cilantro aioli is so yummy!! Also the steak dish with the side of chimichurri sauceeeee -- sooo good! The rice was so flavorful too! I loved their empanadas as well. So basically loved all the dishes we tried! Definitely can't wait to go back! read more

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I have been driving by this place for a few years to and from work and finally made it in. The staff was super friendly and gave me a water while I waited for the to go order I placed. The cubano is a MUST, it's perfect and so delicious! The tostones were also delicious! They came with Pedro's Green Sauce which is a cilantro aioli and this stuff alone I want to put on everything! My only reason for 4 stars is I ordered my spouse a Cuban bowl and they forgot the black beans which are pretty crucial to a Cuban bowl. read more

Cafe Con Leche - Tostones with Pedro's Green Sauce (cilantro aioli and its unreal) - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I get random cravings for Cuban food (you know...the plantains, beans, rice, pork kind of cravings) and Cafe con Leche definitely hit the spot! When I went, I ordered the Puerco asado, empanadas, and yucca frita. The puerco asado was served with rice, beans, plantains, shredded onions, and tomatoes and it definitely satisfied my Cuban food cravings! I'm rarely out in the SoDo area so I was a bit nervous navigating around there. Fortunately, Cafe con Leche is pretty visible from the street, and there was a good amount of street parking immediately by the restaurant. Do keep an eye out for time limits and payments. I was a bit confused when I walked in because to the right there was some sort of night club, but we were helped right away, and the wait staff was super friendly. If you're around SoDo and want some good Cuban food, I would definitely give Cafe con Leche a visit! read more

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Fairly authentic Cuban food. Not like south Florida but as close as I can get out here in Seattle. And friendly, good service.

I'm from Miami & saw this spot driving by. Stopped in & grabbed a Cuban sandwich & was stoked it was authentic & made with real Cuban bread. Staff was super friendly & provided stellar service. read more

Cafe Con Leche - Cubano Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

In my opinion, I think this Green Sauce is everything at CAFÉ CON LECHE. I LOVE it so much and can never only have one serving. I am so obnoxious and would ask for as many as I could get my greedy little hands on. At least I actually use every drop. Forget any other sauce that comes with your dish and slather this magical, addictive, perfectly creamy and garlicky sauce on all your food here. I'm serious, it's that good!!! Like crack?!?! The last time I ate here, about a week and a half ago, I ordered their Bistek de Palomilla which is a lime and garlic marinated sirloin steak served with grilled onions and a side of Moros and Maduros. Believe you me, I doused my steak with that yummy green sauce and everything else on my plate, lol. It was worth every additional calorie and the garlicky dragon breath I got after. Life was extra good that day!!! read more

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Wow! 10/10 this small hole in the wall gem did not disappoint! Stumbled on Cafe Con Leche on accident and it was meant to be! Meredith - our server was extremely nice and so helpful! Their food is definitely full of flavor and they offer great portions! Must have the ropa vieja and beef empanada!! You won't regret it! If I ever come back to Seattle I'll be returning!! read more

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We had just stepped off our flight after flying all night and wanted to get a bite before having some lunch time whisky at Westland. Fortunately Cafe Con Leche was on the same block just steps away. I've actually been craving a good cubano since watching episode one of The Chef Show on Netflix. Food: Ordered a Cubano, side of fries, and a coke..oh it was perfect. The sandwich hit the spot, loved melted cheese, mustand, pickles, and the porky goodness. Everything melded perfectly held together by the toasted loaf. I'm not an expert on these and maybe I was just super hungry but this really hit the spot! Service: Good, solid service. We got arrived a little after noon, seated right away at a high top. Service was fast, friendly, and we were checked on often. Atmosphere: Interesting space, behind where we were sitting in the restaurant was a very large event space which hosts live music events. Clean, open, the dining room was comfortable with a mixture of low and high tops. Great place to grab a tasty meal. Value: Great value with most menu items coming in sub $15. My sandwich was $11.95 and worth every penny! Overall: Really good food, friendly service, at reasonable prices make this a very solid recommend in my opinion. read more

Cafe Con Leche - Cubano - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Stopped in on a Wednesday morning right as they opened at 11 am. I had a 12 noon meeting to be at a few blocks away and was able to easily get in/out and make it to my meeting on time - huge kudos there! I ordered the namesake drink (Cafe con Leche - perfectly made and sweetened) as well as the Cuban Sandwich w/ Fries. The cilantro-y sauce that it comes with is amazing, and the cubano has both ham and carnitas on it and plenty of PICKLES, which I get shorted on even in southern Florida. Nice work on the pickles, team! Sandwiches are around $10, my drink was about $4. Everything was excellent, the service was prompt and friendly, and it's convenient as all hell if you're in the area already. Next time I'm in town for Seattle PD training, I'll be back! read more

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Took two of my coworkers here for lunch that were from out of town and they loved it! It was close to our work so it was convenient. I've always wanted to go here since I drive by all the time. We all got sandwiches and some apps. The Croquetas de Jamon was an odd texture of ham that was grounded up and mushy. Not my favorite. One guy liked it so he ate them all. The Yuca was my favorite and I loved the aioli sauce. I couldn't get enough! The sandwiches weren't as juicy as I like them. I want them messy and all over the place. The meat was dry for my tasting but still had really good flavor. I ate the Pan con Lechon. My coworkers enjoyed theirs very much. They also have a back bar with a huge stage. I want to go back when they have live music. Looks like a great place to have a few drinks and a good time! read more

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Stopped by with +2 for dinner. -2 for the 15 min wait just to place an order and another 45 min for our food to arrive. The hostess who was overwhelmed did apologize to us on multiple occasions. Food arrived lukewarm. The Cuban coffee is definitely worth a try. One tweak to this is to ask for half the sugar and a stronger coffee. Maduros (sweet plantains) is a must try. Perfectly done and golden brown. As for the Cuban sandwiches, I love the cilantro aioli on the side but wish I could have more for the vegetariano and pollo sandwiches (which by itself is pretty bland). This place closes early if they have a concert night. So get there before 6 pm. read more

They have good food at a decent price. Some portions are a bit small, but overall the food is tasty. The Cubano sandwich, in particular, is easily one of the best in the city (likely Top 3). If you're picking up there is no need to arrive early... read more

I was born and raised in Florida & have Cuban parents, so the Cuban flavor is something I look for everywhere I go. It's been hard trying to find somewhere that resembles that seeing as Seattle is very diverse but Im not familiar with as much Cuban restaurants. The waitress was very friendly and quick to attend to us and take our order, the food is delicious and flavorful & they even have a night club for those of us missing our roots and wanting to get a little nice reminder of where we came from! read more

Cafe Con Leche - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is a great Cuban restaurant. The space is HUGE, bright (on the restaurant side), well decorated, fun, and inviting. It's a clean space and is family friendly (despite having two bars). The Club Sur nightclub is attached (home of the second bar) and part of the same business. My review is just about the restaurant, but I have posted photos of the entire place. The food is perfectly seasoned and well prepared. It's a bit greasy, but I expect a little grease from authentic Cuban food. The Bistec de Palomilla was tasty, and the accompanying sauce was amazing. The maduros (extra rip plantains) were excellent--most places don't know how to make these. The moros (black beans mixed with rice) were great. The Ropa Vieja was perfect. Probably the best I've ever had. It was flavorful and mouthwatering. The yellow rice accompanying it was a nice touch. The Bistec de Pollo Empanizado was also good. We had the flan for dessert, and this is the reason for four stars instead of five. The flan was too eggy and overcooked--kind of like sweet scrambled eggs. It really was an embarrassment and should not have been served. But it was one hiccup in an otherwise amazing assortment of food. Can't wait to try more of the dishes from this place. The staff is friendly and helpful. Service can be slow and could be improved. But once you have a server, it's a great experience. We will return. read more

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Bistec de palomilla! Good choice! I showed up late and someone else ordered for me! The flavor profile was very good! If I had it my way I would have tried the beef medium rare rather than medium well (it was too done) but the charbroil on the steak was amazing! And the sweet fried plantains! Yum!!! I will be going back for a planned outing and meal! They close early so early dinner here would be worth it! read more

Ordered the Cuban and it was FIRE! I would definitely recommend this place, their fried plantains are amazing too. My wife had the veggie bowl and said it was delicious as well. read more

Yum yum yum! I had the garlic shrimp, tostones, and croquettes with a margarita on the side. Everything was delicious. I wish the tostones were more crunchy and the croquettes had more flavor but everyone at my table loved their entrees. I hear they have salsa night. Will have to come back to dance. read more

Authentic and friendly service. My only suggestions are to bring back the "Vaca Frita", and add salt to the tostones, as it is traditional to serve salt on top of them, otherwise they are BLAND. Otherwise (for the "sodium conscious), what I would suggest is that the servers inform their customers, as many won't be aware, that tostones are traditionally served with salt. That's what they (should) recommend they be eaten with, otherwise it isn't (actually) authentic - and guaranteed, they will NOT be that great otherwise. read more

Best Cuban food in Seattle hands down!! I've lived here n the Florida Keys and this is the best I've had since moving.

Service was great. Very attentive and extremely friendly as soon as we entered the restaurant. Atmosphere was nice. Food was exceptional. Definitely enjoyed dining here and will be back for future meals. Can't wait to try other things on the menu. read more

Cafe Con Leche - Bistec de Palomilla - Cuban Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great great food!!! I had the churrasco timbero, excellent meat, done right. I ended with flan!!! This place has a venue section so don't be surprised. The restaurant is on the front, there is parking on the side of the restaurant. If you are not from Seattle don't be alarmed, it is located on the SODO district, it's very industrial; as reference it's a couple blocks south of Starbucks headquarters. Come for the food, it's great!!!! read more

This is the place for Cuban coffee and Cubans. I love that it's a traditional Cuban at that. Not someone's take on the Cuban. It feels authentic and tastes amazing. I'm the person that when I find something I like that's the only thing I get. So let me repeat myself- you have to get the Cubano! read more