First time here. Amazing food. Family place. I'll be back! The milk cake and coffee topped it off perfectly!

The flavor of Cuban cuisine is alive and well at this small restaurant but with a big menu of exquisite Cuban culinary masterpieces. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Cuban Island Restaurant, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Founded in 2010 by Cuban immigrants, Estela Gonzalez-Perez and Manuel Hidalgo, after three years of owning and running a successful food truck by the same name, today in its 16th year as a physical restaurant, Cuban Island continues to operate as a family business using recipes passed down from Estela's grandmother. Speaking of comfort food, I consider the cuisine of Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, one of the most comforting of them all. And here on Williamson Road, in the Hollins area of Roanoke, Virginia, we have a restaurant that though small in size, has gained a National reputation for autentic, home-cooked Cuban staples. I invite you to read my first review of this restaurant which I consider one of my best reviews ever, and to view my photographs accompanying that review to get a better sense of the place and its food. Today, I decided to do a follow-up review of this restaurant, even though I have continued to dine here and order their food through DoorDash. I arrived on an early Wednesday evening to the place, and it was as sparkling clean as ever. Bright and colorful, with a casual, welcoming, and family-friendly atmosphere. One of the walls of the restaurant is filled with framed articles and well deserved awards that the restaurant has received throughout the years. I was greeted by a friendly gentleman who invited me to take a seat and handed me a copy of their colorful menu with tiny illustrations of their main meals and drinks. To drink I ordered a Batido de Mamey (Mamey Shake). Mamey is one of my favorite tropical fruits, and when ripe it is very sweet and creamy. As appetizer I ordered three Croquetas de Jamon. They were so crispy on the outside and so soft and tasty in the inside. And for my main entrée, I had their Puerco Frito (Fried Pork). These are also called "Masas de Puerco Fritas." They are chunks of pork fried to perfection. Where the outside is crispy and inside is soft with the pork natural juices. For the two sides I had Rice & Beans and Sweet Plantains. The food was served freshly cooked, in generous portions, and with its authentic flavors. What a meal! And to top it off, at very reasonable prices. For dessert I had a traditional flan, which was given to me in the original container where it was made. I would recommend that it be turned around and placed on a plate and served this way. By doing so you get a better look of the flan and can appreciate its taste even better. The food was so much, that I got full and still was able to take home part of it, to heat up and have for a meal on the following day. And that is precisely what I did. I highly recommend this restaurant. Once you try it once, I can assure you it will become one of your favorite restaurants and food. read more

See all

I was super excited to try this authentic Cuban restaurant, especially after seeing all the amazing reviews and seeing that it was marked as one of the top best Cuban restaurants in the USA. I added it to my trip itinerary months ago. After driving for 5hrs on my route, I stopped in. I arrived around 12PM and there were 2 people sitting inside the restaurant. My greeting was lukewarm and I was seated in a cold corner and provided with a menu. After about 7 minutes, no water, no check in. Seeing the staff talking to each other and joking during that time period, I decided to take my service elsewhere. They did not seem like they cared, and I definitely did not want to be eating anyones food who is not genuinely present. It was a nice try. Yall, please implement the Southern hospitality. read more

I stopped in with my family for dinner on our way to a national park, and I am so happy we did! As a recent transport from Miami, the food was fresh and authentic. As soon as we walked in, the owner José greeted us and invited us to sit where we'd like. The service was timely and polite, and the restaurant is adorned with a massive, REAL philodendron! I can't wait to come back on another trip with more family members! read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Pollo con papa, arroz con frijoles Rojas, and yuca. - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

The service is great and the restaurant is super clean. I had something new today: the bistek palomilla. It was delicious. I like that it came cut. Also got an order to go and that was perfectly packed and delicious. read more

See all

Love this place! The service was so good, he checked in several times and asked us what we wanted. We got the tamale, fried tilapia plate and chicken and potatoes plate. Everything came out fast and the rice and beans was delicious. Highly recommend read more

See all

What a cool place to grab a meal, great staff and service. We were greeted like old friends walking in, our gracious host made us feel like we were at home having a meal with friends. A simple restaurant interior, open bright and airy with several tables and chairs. After a few minutes perusing the menu and talking my buddy and I landed on our lunch options and our server took our orders san pad, all memory. A true wait professional. A short time later, well under fifteen minutes our meals were presented at our table side. Fresh, well prepared and made to order. My Chicken and Shrimp plate was a nice serving of tender whole shrimp, tender chicken breast diced over a veggie medley with plantains and seasoned rice on the sides. A hearty portion, with great seasoning and flavor, a good traditional Cuban styled meal. Kind and quick service, solid food at a fair value and good folks running this eating joint. Definitely worth a visit. 4 Stars 01042 read more

See all

This is probably some of the best food you can get anywhere. The fried pork was amazing, the owner was amazing, everything about this place was amazing. read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Fried pork. Can't put into words how good it was - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

See all

Ropa vieja was delicious as were the black beans with rice. Service was good and the restaurant had an old school Cuban vibe.

Amazing - the fried pork was the best thing I've ever tasted!! Great ropa vieja, red beans and plantains - amazing service- oh my!! Just do it read more

Wonderful Cuban food!!!! Great appetizers. Huge portions of delicious food. We had the fried chicken, plantains and rice and beans. Service was very friendly and engaging. We enjoyed the whole experience. read more

I had the fried pork, beans and rice, and plantains. It was perfect. It reminded me of being back in Puerto Rico even though we're at a Cuban restaurant. Add the touch of the local Latin music, perfect! Makes you want to get and dance! Empty plate says it all! And if you like hot sauce, you must try theirs! read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Fried pork and plantain - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Been going here since 2015 still amazing just like the old days. The dishes are authentic, the service is wonderful. Really highly recommend the ropa vieja and the plantains read more

Food: Great! a different twist on Hispanic cuisine. Food was fresh, hot and flavorful. Sauces were home made and tasty. Service: Friendly and prompt Ambiance: Hispanic videos playing quietly in the background, clean and welcoming. The owner appeared to sincerely appreciate our business. I will come again soon. read more

Very clean and bright little place with great service and delicious, fresh food. The Cuban coffee was delicious, definitely recommend trying. read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Cuban coffee - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Very good service and the food was a 10 out of 10 very delicious each item is flavorful I tried 6 different items and they all was wonderful with each item packed with a different delicious taste . Very clean restaurant as well ,thank you cuban island for a wonderful and memorable experience read more

Delicious food, a warm hostess, a cute and clean set up with ample parking. What more do you want? Did I mention the food is DELICIOUS?! You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu! Our go to is the chicken tamale, the patata bravas, croquettes, and flan with Cuban espresso. Chefs kiss to each of these!! The restaurant itself feels like a holiday on the beach. It's bright, colorful, and welcoming! You will return for more! read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Chicken Tamale - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

A solid favorite of mine and really great tasting authentic Cuban cuisine. I've ordered large trays of items for our company Christmas party and they were a hit, especially with a few folks who have never tried Cuban food. They became instant fans and wanted to make sure I'd bring more next year. read more

Very large portions, great prices and extremely hospitable atmosphere. The food is delicious and authentic.

I had the chicken and shrimp with plantains and white rice - everything made fresh and they even left out the green peppers at my request and left in the red peppers - yum! Owners very friendly and welcoming :) read more

Where to go on our first night in Roanoke? We are a short walk to downtown but homestyle Cuban catches our eye so we jump in the car and head over. They seem to offer all the standard Cuban fare we've enjoyed while in Miami and we order the Fried Pork, the Pollo con Papa, Croquetas, and of course a Cafe Cubano. Beans and rice and Yuca are our sides....very good, flavorful food and you must ask for the homemade hot sauces. The hot is very hot and the medium is spot on. Mix both and you get a nice combo of spice and flavor to dip your pork and chicken in. The cafe cubano has such great coffee flavor...love it. Also love the homemade, mom and pop vibe here. So friendly and inviting... read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Pollo con papa, Fried Pork, Croquetas, Cafe Cubano...yum - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Delicious Cuban food almost compares to Cuban food in Florida Espresso was amazing. Will definitely be going back here. read more

Food is always amazing. Drive here from 3 hrs away. Anytime I am in Roanoke. So good.

It has been years since and they had a change of owners and new location. It is still just as good in food and service. The place is clean with plenty of parking. We had the tilapia, the shredded beef, pork with plaintains. We three have are well satisfied. Till we pass by again, keep it up! read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Inside - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

See all

Cuban taco appetizer was delicious. Fried chicken was amazing! Great service and friendly environment.

Cuban Island is on Williamson next to the Lamplighter Mall. The ambiance is casual; the restaurant is very clean. We had the fried pork with beans and rice and a Cuban sandwich with plantains.The pork was very good and the beans and rice delicious. The sandwich was huge. Unless you are really hungry, you could split it with someone. The plantains were very tasty. We got there before the evening rush on a Friday. Our food came extraordinarily quickly. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. I've never been to Cuba, so I can't say whether the food is authentic. It was delicious and simple. I could imagine that if you went to your Cuban aunt's house this is what she might serve. Unfortunately we were too full to try the cake (looked delicious) or the espresso. The only downside was that it took a little while to get our check. That was because a group of 15 or so Spanish students came in with their teachers. They were there to practice their Spanish, and the owner sat with them for a few minutes chatting with them and encouraging them to speak. Honestly, it was very sweet and charming. My husband speaks Spanish, so it was also entertaining. We left swearing to add this to our dining rotation even though it isn't convenient for us to get there. read more

Delicious food, very friendly owners, and great service. Reasonable prices and great for a quick lunch/dinner.

It has been a very long time since I have gotten to eat authentic Cuban food. I love a good Cubano every now and then, but there aren't a lot of authentic Cuban restaurants where I live. I was ecstatic to find this awesome place in Roanoke when I was staying in the area for the night. It was a great meal after a long day of hiking. We arrived on a Friday evening in October and there were only two other parties in the restaurant, so it was pretty quiet. We asked for some recommendations and ordered those for just the two of us, but it was way more food than we bargained for. The portions of these plates are huge and we could've easily split one between the two of us. Chicken and Shrimp with Plantains and Rice/Beans - The chicken and shrimp dish was delicious and that it was a heaping portion on my plate along with a ton of fried plantains and a large amount of rice/beans. The shrimp was cooked to perfection and the chicken was not dry; it was served with peppers and onions and I added some of the spicy sauce for an extra kick. Ropa Vieja with Yuca and Rice/Beans - The ropa vieja was also good, very similar to what I have had in the past. No sauce needed; it was spiced very well. The yuca are a little different than what most would expect, but my partner enjoyed them. Overall, delicious, authentic, and reasonably priced Cuban food is being served here!! I would definitely make my way here if I stop in Roanoke again. Great service, friendly people and amazing food! read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Ropa Vieja with Yuca and Rice and beans - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

See all

There's nothing quite like an authentic cuban sammy, and if you have a taste for one, this is the place to go! Service was prompt and friendly, they have a great menu, its a locally owned business and most importantly the food was excellent and the portions were generous. read more

This restaurant was recently named as one of the top 20 Cuban restaurants in the U.S., but we just heard of it in the last week. Such wasted opportunities! Our Cuban sandwiches and plantains were simple and delicious this evening. The tres leches cake with coconut and pineapple was excellent. The small restaurant was spotless with healthy plants and gracious owners. We will definitely return - lots more interesting dishes to try. read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Cuban sandwiches and plantains. - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

For and a half stars, actually. The food is very good, although some items are a bit bland. It reminded me a lot of the food I enjoyed in Panama when I lived there. My favorite are the ham croquettes! The owners are very friendly and service is decent. The flan was a major disappointment, as I like mine creamy and this was textured, but its flavor was still excellent. Be sure to try the pineapple soda - muy rico! Bathroom report: one seater, but large, airy and immaculately clean. No changing table. read more

So I haven't had good Cuban food since I left Florida and I am so happy I found this place. Everything we had yesterday was delicious, spiced just right, with tons of flavor. I had the chicken and shrimp and a double order of beans and rice with the mild sauce on the side. I wound up using the hot sauce in the rice but only a small amount because it is EXTREMELY hot. There was only one person running the register, taking orders, and filling drink orders so don't go here if you are in a hurry unless you call ahead to place you order, but even at that the food is well worth the wait for your drink refills and to order. read more

See all

Food and service were excellent. We had the ropa vieja and vaca frita with plantains and yuca as sides and everything was very tasty and well seasoned. read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

See all

What a cool little place!! Outstanding food. I'm glad I looked through all the restaurants in Yelp's Roanoke list and settled on this gem. It should be a lot higher! Clean, cozy setting, beyond friendly folks, and fairly-priced, delicious food. What on earth more could you ask for? read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Dining area - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

I stumbled on this restaurant while on a long road trip, and I am so glad that I did! The service and food were amazing! I love Cuban coffee and theirs was fantastic The ropa vieja, rice and beans, and plantains were all flavorful and perfectly cooked. My only disappointment is not knowing if or when I will be able to come back! read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Ropa vieja - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Probably one of the best cubano sandwiches that I've ever had?? I love the bread that they used and the cheese came out extra melted! It was delicious and came at a good value! The restaurant is located more towards the edge of Roanoke instead of in downtown. So it's definitely worth a visit whether you're heading into or out of the city! read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - cubano sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Black bean soup was great. Papas rellenas (stuffed potatoes) was also very good. Wife got the steak. It needed some more mojo sauce, but was tasty. Rice-n-beans were flavorful. Plantains were not caramelized like we normally eat them, but they were okay. read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Black bean soup, and a papas rellenas - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

See all

When driving by I was drawn to this beautiful, bright building. We decided to stop in and give it a try. The inside is beautiful and very clean with lots of attractive plants. The owner was there and so nice and helpful! She gave us great recommendations. We decided to start with the Papas Rellenas. They were a delicious! I want them as my meal next time. They are crispy outside, with soft seasoned potato wrapped around a gummy beef filling. We had two Pacifico beers with our plates. I cannot speak on the Cuban Tacos, but the Ropa Vieja was so tender and flavorful. The plantains were cooked very well, and the beans and rice were perfect. They had an optional spicy sauce that was very hot and very good! The food is not usually spicy, so anyone could try it. We are excited to go back! I would highly recommend to anyone. read more

Cuban Island Restaurant - Ropa Vieja, Pappas Rellenas, and Cuban Tacos - Cuban Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

It served delicious delicacy, clean environment & awesome friendly staff! Definitely dine in when you're in town.

Such an amazing restaurant! Estella is super sweet and when we came early she chatted with us about her belief that food should be fresh and how she never microwaves anything in her restaurant. She also told us she starts cooking super early for the restaurant. We got one of each of the appetizers and a pork sandwich the first time we came. The yucca was so good! It tasted super garlicky and delicious. The empanada is hot and crispy. The croqueta de jamon was good. The stuffed potato was delicious!! The taco is juicy and wonderful. The fried plantains are my favorite, but I am biased for plantains. Everything was so good! I highly recommend the apps. The pork sandwich was a little disappointing because it was literally a pork cutlet in between two slices of bread and I was expecting some vegetables and sauce. Sauce is not included! We learned our lesson and the next time we went, we asked for the green sauce. I highly recommend getting it! It's super fresh and compliments all of the dishes. Overall great cuban food! Highly recommend checking it out! read more