Friday night , we stopped into Flaco's for some late night eats after listening to our friend's band play at the bar/lounge next door. My first time at Flaco's but definitely NOT my last The person (who I assume must be the owner) working the register, taking the orders,and making the food was so kind, suggesting options for me given it was my first time there. I got the beef arepas and a cheese pastry cause I was not too hungry. The food was piping hot and delicious. Others in our group got their empanadas, Cuban sandwich, cheese arepas, quesitos, loaded nachos, and guava cheese pastry. As we sat there eating, the line was growing longer and longer, and out the door by the time we left. It was not due to slow service but volume of last night revelers. The one person working that night was incredibly efficient. Kudos to him. Clean bathroom is a good sign of a clean establishment. Flaco's bathroom was clean. I will be back for more tasty eats! read more

This was my first time at Flaco's and I enjoyed it! It's a very small place with some seating and a cute atmosphere. The prices are not bad for the amount of food you get and they have a lot of options. I got the sunshine burrito, which includes a variety of mixed vegetables in place of a meat. The burrito was huge and loaded with fillings, though the fillings were a bit unevenly distributed so some bites were dry and others were loaded with sauce. It was tasty though, I just wish it was a bit better mixed. The service was alright, the guy working was super nice but the food took a long time to come out. However it was definitely super fresh and hot when it came out, so can't complain too much! read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Sunshine burrito with avocado garlic sauce - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Has Flaco's quality gone down over the years, or was I just a drunk college student when I used to like it? We were driving up north and craving Cuban food, so we decided to quickly stop at Flaco's for a bite. The parking was horrendous, but that's expected of downtown Gainesville. Just as bad as the parking was their selection and quality of bakery snacks. The guava and cheese pastelitos were horrible; stale dough and barely any cheese. After my first bite I even thought they gave me the guava-only pastelitos... you couldn't taste the cheese. The empanadas were dry, and the dough was terrible as well, but the flavor of the filling saved them. The quesitos were the best of the bunch. If you're expecting South Florida quality Cuban dulces... you're in for a treat. Maybe I just had too high of expectations? read more

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I absolutely adore Flaco's I visit Gainesville annually for The Fest and I MUST eat at Flaco's while I am there. The portions and the prices are fantastic. All of the food comes out tasty and filling. The staff is always friendly and I love the touch screen ordering system. read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

they should specify which kind of arepas they're selling. imagine ordering an arepa and instead you get a cachapa. it wasn't bad though, but still, if you're gonna sell our food, it should say somewhere if we're getting like a standard white corn arepa that people are usually expecting, or not. read more

Came here with my friend after a night out in downtown Gainesville. Flaco's Cuban Bakery is located on the edge of the main attractions in the downtown area. Their menu consists of a variety of Cuban sandwiches, arepas, bowls, and Cuban pastries. They are open late and are a great spot to hit up for a late night munch. The inside isn't super big and there aren't a lot of seating options. The service was fine and our food didn't take too long to come out to us. My friend and I split the nachos with pork, while I also enjoyed a Cuban sandwich. The nachos included a tortilla chips topped with ample amounts of refried black beans, sour cream, shredded cheese, nacho cheese, lettuce, pico de galo, pickled jalapeños, and shredded pork. These were ok, not the best nachos I've had, but not the worst either. The chips reminded me of Tostitos. There was too many beans on the nachos, making them very heavy and soggy. We both appreciated the pork and thought it had a lot of flavor though. This wasn't our favorite and we thought ordering nachos from Taco Bell would have left us more satisfied. Now my Cuban sandwich was absolutely amazing. The sandwich included shredded pork, ham, mayo, mustard, pickles, and Swiss cheese, pressed on this delicious Cuban bread. The meat had immense flavor, the mustard added some tang, while the Swiss cheese was nice and melty. I really loved the bread it was on, so good! The sandwich was nice and warm when it came out, indicating it was fresh and made to order. I would 100% come back here just for the sandwich, definitely worth it! Overall, Flaco's is a super chill place that serves good Cuban food located downtown. The eatery is very chill and ordering is very simple. It is open late and is a great spot to grab some grub after a night out on the town. We didn't love our nachos, but I loved my Cuban sandwich. I would return to order that sandwich any day! I would recommend checking Flaco's out if you have a hankering for some Cuban cuisine. My rating would be higher if it weren't for the nachos. I would stick to their Cuban cuisine. Can't wait to come back and try more of their sandwiches, and maybe even some pastries too! read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Cuban Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Delicious, plentiful, and open late. The perfect late night meal. Great vibes too. Will be back!

Had a few meals from here while I was in GNV for Fest. Cuban, Ropa Vieja, pastries. I love Cuban food and could have eaten here multiple times a day over the weekend. Service seemed slow but I guess that is to be expected with how packed the shop was. If I'm ever in town not during Fest I'd love to come and have a real sit down meal. read more

Food is bomb dot com. And atmosphere is crazy fun! Just vusy but what do you expect when it is so delicious

Idk what else to say but wow. Came in to drop off a flyer owner posted it up on his wall cool guy, before leaving I grabbed a couple of pastry things he had and on my walk back I dug into the bag and had a chicken pastry of some sort and when I say I wanted to turn back for another one I wish I would have. The ambiance fits the theme for sure if the food resembles the pastry in any way shape or form I know that it's gunna be fire. Will for sure be coming back probably today for lunch honestly. read more

Flaco's has some of the best Cuban food in Gainesville, and it's one of the only restaurants downtown open really late at night. I stopped by around 10:30pm for a super late dinner, and they still had plenty of delicious food cooking and a line to the door. I tried the ropa arepas and the chicken plantain arepas, which were both cooked to perfection. The chicken plantain one had a unique sweetness to it. I also got the cheese pastry for dessert because a friend said I just had to try it. I liked it for sure, but I can't say that it really wowed me. It may have been sitting out a little bit. The only real negative thing I have to say is that it was a bit dirty with all the open tables having a little bit of old food left on them and the occasional fly, but it is summer in Florida. Overall, I think this place is worth a try. Thanks, Flaco's! read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Inside - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

This is my favorite Cuban sandwich restaurant. However the last time I was there I ordered two sandwiches, got charged for two and only got one. I have left over 3 messages on the answering machine wanted a refund for the missing sandwich and it's been over two months now. Maybe this will get their attention?? I love this place and their food but that kind of customer service is a major turn off. read more

Absolute worse customer service waited over hour to be told we shouldn't have order from Kiosk then after inquiring about the food which was only suppose to take 45 mins this place has went way down hill!!!! read more

I just had the most disgusting chicken tacos I have ever eaten in my life. I am an adult that was here for homecoming. I think this influences my opinion because the line for food was super long and filled with college students. I think that's why they feel comfortable passing this garbage off for tacos because these kids likely can't afford to be choosy. Nothing about the food even remotely tasted like Mexican/Latin American/ or any variation of it. The chicken tacos I ordered were served on a very cold flour tortilla. Shredded cheddar cheese, which looked to be from the bag you can buy at the grocery store. My friends and I were so confused by the flavor of the " pulled chicken " . It tasted more like tuna than chicken. The seasoning used left much to be desired. If you actually know what a taco should taste and look like you will hate this food, not to mention the interior is dirty and very poorly maintained which I would have been okay with had the food tasted good. Do yourself a favor and eat elsewhere. read more

Absolutely phenomenal. I'm in town for a three day music festival and have been checking out all sort of spots in the downtown area. Got the Cuban (I would have called it a Cubano in california) and it was top notch. I'm a medium food snob. I'll eat whatever, but I have some strong preference for places that are standout delicious. This place is standout delicious. My second time here, got the chicken burrito and I love it. Grilled outside and more rectangle than cylinder, it's got a nice heavy black bean and cheese element but still plenty meaty. Strongly recommend this place if youre in the area. read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Cuban sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Owned by Joe Flaco, the QB of the Ravens. The best thing about this Cuban bakery is that it's open until the middle of the night, which is absolutely awesome and great for late-night snacks. I like their stuff but I'll have to try more so I can award them that ever-elusive five-star rating. But the Cuban food in Florida and general is amazing, so I recommend trying as many of these types of places as you can when you're down here. read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Owned by Joe Flaco - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

This bakery is the GO TO spot after going out on the weekends! The food is always piping hot and it smells delicious. I recommend getting the ropa vieja arepa! That's my absolute favorite thing to get and it hits different after a long night out. read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Flaco's is one of my favorite food places downtown! The food is always delicious and a great price. Since they're open late, I love coming here to end my night whenever I have a night out. My go-to dish is the ropa arepa. It is the best arepa I've ever had! The arepa can get pretty greasy, so make sure you grab extra napkins before you eat it. Although the ropa arepa is my favorite, their other dishes are just as amazing. I love their pastries like their quesitos. The ambiance of the place isn't anything fancy. The restaurant can get pretty smoky, and I usually leave smelling like fried/ smoky food, but it's worth it for the great food! I would suggest checking their hours before visiting as they are closed on Sunday's and Monday's. Overall, Flaco's is an amazing Cuban bakery that everyone should try! read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Ropa Arepa - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

My husband and I ordered delivery from here for the first time and really enjoyed the food. We recommend the Cuban sandwich and Pulled Pork Bowl. The bowl included black beans, white rice and plantains. read more

Went out drinking and ended up here. Forgot my wallet on the bench, and some kind soul in the kitchelooked me up on Facebook and left a message. Came over in the morning, anf my money and credit cards were still there! I am a customer for life now!! THANK YOU FLACO STAFF!! See you soon... read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - I like this one! - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Best Cuban sandwich in town. We get this every time we visit. The sandwiches are fresh and the protocol is interesting

They say hunger is the best sauce, so that helped my experience at Flaco's. Food was good and satisfying but , their hygiene standards were a little lacking behind the counter. When I was waiting to order, one worker was braiding the other one's hair in the kitchen area. Another worker was counting the tip cash and preparing food without gloves. I know people don't come here for an impeccable white tablecloth dining experience, but since we are not completely out the pandemic, it's not worth taking risks with hygiene. read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Menu - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Solid four for this highly recommended good eats. What a fun eclectic bohemian vibe and good food. Veggie bowl was interesting enough to be good with its very small menagerie of hardly discernable roasted veggie bits rounded out with a hearty portion of rice and beans. Pork arepa was generously sized with a fair bit of pork and these wonderful sauteed onions. Was a touch greasy but delicious for it. Also went in for the chicken empanada which was really rather nice. read more

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Very good sandwiches if you like meat. My favorite is one called the Scarface (if they still have it) . Great place to go after a night at the clubs. Only complaint is that they got rid of the Ciders :( read more

I came here specifically for the quesitos [cream cheese pastries]. The counter lady recommended the guava pastry as well so I grabbed one of those. For just under $2 each, you can have Heaven in your mouth. They are made with the traditional puff pastry baked and sprinkled with sugar. They were very fresh and go great with a hot cup of coffee. I absolutely love Cuban food, but it was a little too early for lunch. I went straight for the pastry case and ended up buying one each of their flaky beef and chicken empanadas. The filling was very flavorful with perfect spices and although they are not enough for a meal, they definitely made a great snack. Make sure to eat them on a plate or have a napkin handy because you will have crumbs all over your shirt. :) So many goodies - I just wish I had more time.... Overall, it can be a bit of a hassle parking since it's located right on University. However, they do have a private lot in the back. Flaco's offers a variety of delicious options for breakfast and lunch. I look forward to going back to try the tacos and Cubans. Solid food. read more

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The sandwiches and the tostada with cheese is SO DELICIOUS highly recommend. Also I love the Cuban Gator and Media Noche sandwiches :D

A great place to get a bowl or tacos. The pastries are also fresh and served with love. Highly recommend!

I had the opportunity to try some of the items off of the Flacos menu recently. I think that the best description for Flacos is truly "Dive". And I mean that in the best of ways. This is the kind of place that you will find to be very popular late at night and in the wee hours of the morning, when the college crowd has flooded the downtown bars and other night life and they are looking for a quick bite to eat. If the sign stating that there is a limit to the number of tacos you can purchase after a certain time of night doesn't convince you of this, nothing will. I got in there earlier in the evening, so there wasn't really a line. I went for a taco and a burrito, because that is what you do. There were a number of other things on the menu, but these seemed to be some of their specialties. The taco? 'Twas excellent! I would definitely go back for more of those! The burrito wasn't bad either, though I found the taco to be significantly tastier. The burrito did remind me a bit of the burritos we used to get from Burrito Bros. Not exactly the same, mind you, but reminiscent. I don't get into the downtown area all that often, so I probably won't get here very often, but it is definitely on my list of places to go to for food when I am down there! read more

Flaco's is what I miss most about Gainesville! There's very few places to eat late at night and Flaco's was always amazing, whether it's 1pm or 1am. They really did amazingly with the cards they were dealt with COVID. I loved their outdoor seating when I came back to visit. It's at the top of my list every time I come back to Gainesville! read more

Dank Cuban, would recommend you eat it. They sell alcohol too, so why wouldn't you go?

Flaco's is such a nice lunch or dinner spot for when you're craving burritos or rice bowls but with the best sauce. I always get the ropa burrito or the ropa vieja, and they make it so juicy every time. The pineapple chipotle and mango habanero sauces are the BEST. I'd recommend mango habanero if you like a little kick of spice. There's not much seating inside, but there's an outside area with pretty lights if you choose to go. I always crave Flaco's you have to try it. read more

So delicious! I was craving Cuban food at 10pm and Flaco's was open! And it was quite busy! The Media Noche was so delicious! Question and guava cheese pastries are to die for! So flaky and love that sweet cream cheese. I also got the beef and chicken empanadas. Good crust but the filling wasn't super flavorful. A bit disappointing, but the rest of the food was so good! read more

Still great. I've introduced my fiancé to Flaco's and this is now his go-to place when we visit Gainesville.

This was a favorite of mine in college. Their sandwiches were life at 1am. Lol Today I stopped by for lunch when in town for a long weekend and was happy to find it's as amazing as I remember. The Cuban bread is perfect. Sunshine sandwich was delicious. The plantains were caramelized heaven. And the quesito was to die for. read more

I've always heard of Flaco's and finally came during my final year of undergrad, and I'll say that I wish I came out earlier! I see why this place is THE go-to spot for those coming from a night out, and even though the lines can get terribly long, it doesn't feel that way and the food comes out so quick. I'd recommend the ropa vieja arepa, and it definitely hits different late at night after a night out. read more

Walked in to get a late dinner with friends, the music was so loud we could not hear each other or the cashier. To add to the difficulty of not being able to hear, the cashier repeatedly stopped taking our order to text on his phone. Part of our order was two vegetarian items, the sunshine sandwich and sunshine arepa. The arepa was missing the tempeh completely. The sandwich had minimal tempeh and was poorly mad. The ingredients only covered half the bread. Overall, the quality of the food wasn't bad, but nothing extraordinary or unique. Had the service been better, might had returned to try the few other items on the menu we didn't get. read more

The girl at the window, adorable as ever! Bowls and Nacho's, what a life saver! This is the one and only spot that's open late ...That you won't hate. Drinks, yummy yes please. Queso? Say more cheese. Arepa, You betchya! Yummy. Indeed. In my tummy! Gluten free options are available. Grab some grub and a table! read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery is located right in the heart of downtown Gainesville and is open late to satisfy any late night craving. FOOD (4/5): The food here is pretty good! My recommendations are listed below: - Cuban Gator ($9) - Any of their pastries (these are my favorite. They have vegetarian options, beef, and chicken options). - The Guava pastry is very good if you want something sweet. SERVICE (4/5): Most of the time the service here is great. You order at the counter and then can either take your food to a table or take it to go. LOCATION/HOURS (5/5): Easy walk from downtown or midtown bars. Stays open late read more

I never turn down a Cuban bakery! This Flaco's location is downtown and very popular with the late night crowd coming out of clubs. The line can be out the door after 1am. Its near Andaz Indian restaurant and has parking in the back of the building, but most people just walk here. There are two entrances, the back is for tacos with cash only. The front has the full menu including pastries and sweets (flan, tres leche cake). And of course your full range of Cuban coffee- cortadito, cafe con leche..so on. My favorite sandwich is the Medianoche which is similar to your standard Cuban sandwich. But medianoche is made with sweet bread. Yum!! I also really enjoy their Quesitos- cheese pastry. The arepas are good too. They have another location closer to Uf campus next to Study Edge. read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Quesito- so fluffy and creamy! $1.86 - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Only had the Cuban and it was wonderful. I am always on the hunt for a good Cuban and this one did not disappoint. It was hot on the outside and cool in the center, as it should be. Mustard only, no mayo, as it should be. Good roast pork, as is required. Made to order, friendly folks, hip vibe inside. I'll go back when in town. read more