We got the oxtail which had huge oxtail servings, the crispy fried snapper, with Jamaican spices which was excellent, and a Cuban sandwich. All super delicious and flavorful. I actually ate there 3 times in the week I was in town. read more

Francisco's Restaurant - crispy fried snapper, Jamaican style - Caribbean Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Traveling from out of town, I was so happy to come across this Caribbean gem. The curry was full of flavor, fall off the bone deliciousness. Beef Pattie's are a must, and the Cuban bread was on point making this cuban sandwich legit. The staff was friendly and helpful. I would eat here again!!! read more

Francisco's Restaurant - Jamaican Beef Patties -flakey golden crust and perfectly seasoned with curry and heatz - Caribbean Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

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We've lived here 6 years and this is the first time we had full meals here. My friends end once bought me empanadas, which were delicious, but I avoided going to the subway location as it's a hassle. The newer location is much easier for me. I got the Cuban sandwich and it was one of the best I've had. My wife opted for the pineapple BBQ chicken and liked it a lot. We also got empanadas and the guava cheese pastry, which was outstanding. We shall return read more

The food is amazing and the staff is so nice All the food we have tried has been top notch and so flavorful Thank you for always being great! read more

Jamaican Chicken Platter was super good only thing is rice could use a little more salt and the slaw was not that good. Chicken was super juicy and service was great. Food came out quick and the spot was pretty clean. read more

This is our SECOND time eating from here (we've only been in Rochester 3 days), actually we did get just the Cuban espresso once so ... lol 3X's. First time we had no clue what to order, ended up with amazing tacos, empanadas, coconut rice and papaya cheesecake!! All Delish!!! Last night we had to have more, at the suggestion of a kind young gentleman we chatted with on our first visit, we tried Jamaican jerk chicken AND... braised Oxtail ... not something either of us would ever ever thought to try. Each bite was more amazing than the last!!! The flavors are incredible, moist, fall off the bone tender! Finished with the leche cake ...WOW & yum!! My pics do not do it justice read more

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Located on the 2nd floor of a food court, you probably wouldn't expect to find much in terms of value AND quality. Surrounded by typical food court offerings like burgers and utility Americanized Chinese food is the "diamond in the rough" Francisco's Cuban Café. Not to miss dishes include the braised oxtail, curry goat, and brown stew fish. All served with your choice of rice and delicious plantains (yum!), Francisco's serves the best lunch you can get in Rochester. If oxtail and goat sound off-putting to you, leave your apprehensions behind and let your taste buds introduce you to a different culture. This is honest, ethnic cooking. Currently open Mon-Fri only, Francisco's will be opening a new location directly across from St. Mary's Hospital where its delectable morsels can be had 7 days a week. Come hungry, come curious, come with an open mind, and just plain come to Francisco's. read more

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I have been wanting to try this place for awhile now but haven't been able to because I work Monday - Friday and they're closed on the weekends. Thanks to the wonderful app DoorDash I finally got my chance! They just added Francisco's to their restaurant list so I was quick to order delivery and boy was I amazed! I got the Ropa Vieja special with yellow rice and plantains and my coworker got the Jerk Chicken Tacos. Omg it was all so amazing! We're both sitting here at work, stuffed, content, and finding it hard to get back to work after lunch lol! I'm a Florida girl and there are some pretty amazing Cuban places there. The dish I had today holds their own compared to the restaurants in Florida that I had it at. I cannot wait to try the rest of the menu. Thank you Francisco's and thank you DoorDash for allowing me to eat an amazing meal! read more

Francisco's Restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

We got a pineapple and a guava pastry, with a papaya and milk smoothie, and then a mango without milk smoothie. It was amazing they cook it when you get there so it's really fresh I recommend eating your pastry fresh 10 out of 10 makes a huge difference! read more

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Deliciousness that had my wife saying "oh now I don't need to go back to Miami,". Thats a ringing endorsement if I've cover heard one. For myself I love knowing I can get fried plantains and authentic Cuban sandwiches in a charming little neighborhood place near St.Marys hospital. Yum! read more

My friends have been raving about this place for months. Yesterday, I was perusing GrubHub for options when I discovered that Francisco's is still delivering amidst COVID! I ordered the Jerk Chicken with coconut rice and peas and.... my life is changed. The rice was so fragrant, I ate it alone. The chicken was incredibly tender. The jerk sauce brought tears to my eyes (mostly because it was divine, partly because it packs a nice kick too). The sweet plantains are beyond words. Maybe I am so overwhelmed because it's finals week as well, but truly, this was so good, I told every one of my friends about it. My boyfriend and I are both ordering Francisco's for lunch again. I'm looking forward to the Cuban pork sandwich already. read more

A hidden gem of Rochester! Right across from St Mary's, it's on the beaten path but overlooked for so long. The staff are amazing. The food is consistently great--we have gone back every day for a week it's so good! You can do carribean spicy or Minnesota nice. And the prices are quite reasonable, you would pay more at a chain fast casual. read more

Wonderful little place across from St Mary's hospital at Mayo Clinic. I LOVE the Jerked Chicken sandwich!!

I always do my best to support small businesses wherever I go but especially locally. This was my first ever visit. I'm conflicted. While the food flavorings were amazing, the service was bland and disappointing. I came for take out, walking in I was not greeted at all, just stared at. As I looked at the menu, even though I came specifically for the braised oxtails, she woman behind the counter never asked if I had questions or offered any suggestions. Here's the worst part, the oxtails were listed under the caption "BIG BITES". When I arrived home, I found it to be quite the opposite. Now mind you, I'm not a big eater, I get full fast and always have leftovers. I didnt this time and was hungry several hours later, not snack size hungry either. My oxtail was all bones and grisly, literally came to less than 2 Oz of meat. My meal was all coconut rice (about 2 cups) with 2 small pieces of plantain and 2 tbsps of slaw. At $15, I well overpaid for the experience and food. read more

Got an inexpensive dinner of coconut rice and peas and a beef and cheese empanada. Really delicious and less than $8!

I've had the chance to try out a few more of their food options. The Po' Boy has quickly become one of my favorites. They jam pack this sandwich full of goodness (egg, kielbasa, ham, avocado, fried onions, a very mild chipotle sauce). It is fantastic, though you must eat it fast because it will get soggy over time. I also tried the shrimp tacos. This meal is full of value as you get 3 tacos, rice, and beans for around $9. They are not shy at loading your to-go box full with the stuff either. Unfortunately, the taco shells are very thin and they just collapse and everything falls out when you pick them up. The shrimp pieces themselves (2 to a taco) taste great with the sauce smothered on them. They should liberally apply that sauce to the rest of the taco as well, because separate from the shrimp, the rest of the taco tasted rather bland. I think they can improve on this meal and push it to pretty dang good territory with a couple fixes. read more

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Food was great : had the Jerk goat curry. Really loved it. Coconut rice was also good were the empanadas and fried plantains

We had the Jamaican Jerk Chicken and the Jamaican Curry Goat a few weeks ago. Both were flavorful and well-cooked. The saffron rice it came with and side salad were also solid. Wish they gave us a few more plantains. Looking forward to coming back to try other dishes! read more

Francisco's Restaurant - Jamaican Jerk Chicken* - Caribbean Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

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Delicious food, charming atmosphere, incredibly nice staff. Highly recommended.

Fresh and full of flavors! Spiced cilantro rice, black beans, plantains and jerk chicken was amazing. Be ready for the kick, but not over the top, just right. Authentic spices. The jerk sauce for the chicken hit the spot. Yum. Steak and onions, yellow rice and black beans and plantains was perfectly spiced and hearty meal. The mildly sweet slaw mellows the heat. We really enjoyed the food. Try a beef empanadas, filling was perfectly spiced. I dipped some of the flaky crust in the jerk chicken sauce. I'm not sure I was supposed to do it, but it was delicious. read more

Seriously excellent Cuban / Caribbean food in a tiny storefront on 2nd Street across from St. Mary's hospital. I'm working my way through their menu dish by dish and I still haven't found anything I don't love. Fish, Cuban sandwiches, & empanadas are particular highlights. read more

The whole fish Jamaican style was delicious! Flaky, spicy and I thought very reasonable.

This is probably one of the best places to eat in the entire city of Rochester, MN. The food is absolutely delicious and evidently homemade. I checked in 3 times, and all three times were delicious. The meat is tender, the rice is delicious, and the side salad could use a little work (my only complaint). Also the coffee is absolutely delicious. Definitely give it a try, you might get hooked like I did! read more

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We ordered Jamaican jerk chicken, and it was a super fast and delicious meal! The yellow rice is light, absorbs the chicken flavors, and with the black beans was the ultimate blend of Caribbean spices and umami bomb. The chicken was tender and juicy. I just wish I got another chicken leg instead of a huge bone. When looking for a quick and convenient meal do yourself a favor and stop into this hidden gem! read more

YES!!! I havent had pastelitos de guayaba (guava and cream cheese pastry) since moving from LA (the ones from the famous porto's were a weekly tradition). When Francisco's opened, I made sure to order one to see if it compared with the one I was used to! Thankfully, this did not disappoint. The pastry was perfectly flakey and the filling was sweet, a tad tart, and creamy!! I also got the cuban breakfast, which usually comes with cuban coffee, but I opted for tea. The cuban toast is homemade and delicious when paired with eggs over easy and bacon!! The prices for everything looked very reasonable. We spent around $6 for 2 large guava pastries, 2 eggs over easy, bacon, cuban toast, and hot tea! Definitely a great breakfast stop for those working in the area!!! I can't wait to come back to try the rest of the items. The owner is from Miami and seemed very passionate about her food! read more

Francisco's Restaurant - Friday entree special!! Steak, rice, plantains, garlic bread, and black beans! $8.95 - Caribbean Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

I wouldn't be so bold as to refer to this as authentic. But what did I expect from a Cuban place in Minnesota? The sandwich was good but by no stretch of the imagination the real deal. The meat wasn't seasoned right and the bread laces the same texture and taste. The empanada was not good. Maybe because I ordered curry chicken. The pineapple shake was bitter. read more

Absolutely LOVE Francisco's!!! Family owned Cuban restaurant, with the authentic Cuban atmosphere, even though it is located at a food court! What I like the most is that they make only so much of the special of the day, if they run out of it, that's it. It guarantees fresh food every day. Their picadillo is amazing! The special of the day comes with rice, black beans and amarillos (fried plantains). You can replace the amarillos for tostones. Love it, highly recommend it! read more

I was ready to come try everything they had. I flew down here speeding from work when I heard a latin restaurant exists out here. I came down from miami, Fl. Im puerto rican and i was dying to find a latin spot. Here I am thinking i was going to find a gem to keep coming to. But nope I get here at exactly 5:40 pm , i wanted a dish to go just because every site says they close at 6pm. Well what do you know, they were closed. Cubans aint shit out here. Its a disgrace to know that I even bothered, but there is plenty of amazing american restaurants in the area. Mind you, i thought I was going to some fine dining restaurant. Its a cuban spot in a food court. Tho most wouldnt eat at a food court, I was ready to enjoy it. But I refuse to even come back a little earlier to even bother looking for this place. What a joke. read more

I've had many many Cuban sandwiches over the years and I have to say this is in my top two (maybe top one). I ordered it with the slaw and the side didn't disappoint. Will definitely be ordering from here again! read more

We love love love Francisco's! Warm inviting environment and staff, the food is always delicious and fresh, unique flavors you can't find anywhere else in Rochester. We have tried the empanadas, curried fish fillet, Cuban steak and onions, the jerked chicken meal, and the jerked chicken tacos all of which were amazing! I just ate the leftover flavored rice (you can get coconut, cilantro, or veggie rice) for breakfast this morning with an egg- good to the last morsel! read more

Came back after 9 months to eat at one of our favorite hidden spots in Mayo Clinic. The service was not good and the portions have cut in half of what they use to give us the last time we came. It use to be one of our regular spots because the food is wonderful. It's full of flavor and one of the best Cuban spots I have been too. I would have given 5 stars if the cashier was friendly and they were not stingy on their portion size. read more

Food here is amazing. The staff are very friendly. I highly recommend this gem in Rochester.

Amazing little place. Had cuban sandwich, empanadas, white rice and black beans. The food was perfect!! Full of flavor and one of the best places to eat. Highly recommended. A bit busy. But worth the wait. read more

Some of the best food I've ever had, and very affordable! The jerk chicken with coconut rice was so amazing, I could hardly slow down when I was eating it. And the guava and cheese pastry, and Cuban coffee yumyumyum! Very authentic flavors, and a lot of food for the price! I wouldn't go anywhere else in the area! read more

I'm from out of state visiting Mayo and stopped in for dinner to take back to my hotel. Ordered the Jerk Chicken Tacos with saffron rice. It was AMAZING! Just the right amount of spice and a great taste that hit the spot on a chilly Minnesota night. I knew by the time I was finished, that it would be a meal I would crave again once I left Rochester. The lady working the front was very friendly too. I will definitely be back next time I'm in town! read more

The jerk chicken is the best I've had anywhere that wasn't actually in Jamaica--spicy, tender, and not too sweet. Generous portions of everything made for a great value. read more

Wow, this is some of the best food in Rochester! Be patient with the phones as they are down to bare bones staff, but boy was it worth it! Things we had that were all dynamite: steak & onions, Cuban sandwich, Cuban beef empanada, Jamaican beef pastry, tostones and sweet plantains. Yum yum! Portions were huge so also a very good value. DEFINITELY plan to continue ordering from them and supporting this small business. Plus the family who owns it are the sweetest people in the world - we at St Mary's love and miss you, Frank. read more

A Cuban restaurant in SE MN and they try to get their ingredients from Miami - the city of Cuban Americans. Great varied menu that likes to promote Latin American and Caribbean cuisine, great pastries and the portion sizes are great. Very friendly staff. I recommend the empanadas and guava pastries. read more

We got Francisco's tonight for the very first time and I wish I would have known about this place sooner. It was to die for! I can't wait to explore more of the menu, because we will definitely be coming here regularly now!! read more

I ordered takeout because of covid. They had my order ready soon after I arrived at the restaurant. I tried the jerk chicken plate, a curry chicken empanada and a guava filled pastry. The portions were very generous. Delicious jerk chicken with a smoky spiced flavor (not hot) and very tender. The empanada had a great flavor also with a flaky pastry. I'd never had guava flavor before and it was a very yummy dessert. I will definitely be going back to try more things! read more