I love Cuban food! This was my first time at Palaus, and I loved the food. I had a breakfast sandwich & my friend had the egg/spinach omelette. Fresh food/wonderful flavor. Friendly, helpful quick service! Very clean-including the bathroom. We arrived at 1:30, so after the lunch crowd & it was quiet so we could talk w/o screaming. We will return & recommend to our friends! Thank you! read more

As a Tampa native I have been coming here for years and this hidden gem never ceases to amaze me. They've been serving up incredibly authentic Cuban flavors for over a decade and the secret to their success is clear the owner Tony is always the one in the kitchen. Because he handles everything himself you know your meal is going to come out fresh consistent and absolutely amazing every single time. Everything is made fresh à la carte from scratch daily featuring specials depending on the day or week. They have always been open for breakfast and lunch (I recommend the Cuban sandwhich!) but the biggest treat is that Tony is now offering dinner on Fridays and Saturdays! Usually my go to is the Paella but I went in for dinner this week and had the lobster special with shrimp. The flavors were literally out of this world perfectly seasoned and incredibly fresh. You also cannot leave without ordering the yuca fries. They are made fresh in house all the way down to the dipping sauce. Don't forget to try one of his delicious Flan! Palaus is a small inside and mostly to go but there are a few tables for in house dining. The girls that work there are always friendly and ready with fresh Cuban bread when you dine in. If you want true passionate Cuban cooking where the owner puts his heart into every plate you need to visit Tony. This place is an absolute treasure! read more

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A (not so) Good Morming. This day started with a latino food spot on Armenia called Palaus. A social media reel attracted me with the BLT on media noche bread. I was headed to a poultry farm for fresh chicken and wanted breakfast and drove out of my way to this place to try it. A stand alone house converted to a business with parking in front side and back. The 4th side had 3 picnic tables under a shady oak. Inside was clean and not yet busy at 7:15 am. I ordered pressed Media Noche BLT and a cafe con leche to eat in. I added a Honey Cuban, all the way, to take home. A lady there took my order, I offer no adjectives to describe service as the exchange was purely business. I took some photos inside and out for my review and waited. When my order arrived I noticed that like many products today, the media noche bread was smaller than it used to be. Can't say whether that is industry standard, due to the bakery that made it or if it's sold in different sizes. None the less, I knew I would still be hungry but solved it by asking for the cuban to eat in instead of to go. As I picked up half of my sandwich I could see no bacon, so I opened it and there was none. When I showed the lady my baconless lettuce and tomato sandwich, her response was that the bacon must be on the other side. !?! Photo enclosed. Well, I ate my half a BLT and by then the Honey Cuban was at the table. My first bite stopped me in my tracks. Something about the taste puzzled me. I had already swallowed the first small bite which was the pointy end of the sandwich. I took another bite and spat it out, something was funky. Took it apart and found wet lettuce past it's prime that should have been discarded. The pork was well seasoned and tasted great. In the end, it was the ham that was slightly spoiled and you could taste it. So, drank my coffee and walked up to pay. The owner asked how it was, I told him that it was a bad experience, to which he said "next time" and I stopped him. There would be no next time. He charged full price and told me I needed his permission to take pictures. All told, nearly $27 for one half of a BLT and a cup of coffee. Left the offensive cuban on the table and left. That's life folks!! In my opinion, based on food, service and ownership attitude, you are better off going somewhere else. read more

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WOW! Ordered lunch and dinner to take home and the food was incredible! The Chinese rice was so flavorful and filled with ham, pork chunks, peas and just delicious! The chicharrón de pollo was the best I've eaten in Tampa to date. Well done! My café con leche was prepared just as ordered!!!! The toast was pressed and crispy. I highly recommend this great spot for your real Cuban food fix! Bien hecho Sr Palaus! Gracias read more

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A very good local diner in the West Tampa area. Friendly service, tight space but it seems that most people dining here have known each other for years. I had the tortilla española with cheese. A little on the pricey side compared to other nearby locations $13 vs $9-10. Will be going back a bunch of times as I mix up places to eat breakfast read more

Palaus Restaurant - Tortilla Española - Cuban Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The food and service was great I totally recommend this place for great great food. Its a small place but very clean. read more

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Food was incredible, service was amazing, and this is a small hole in the wall location where local Cubans go and I highly recommend it. The food did not disappoint! read more

Palaus Restaurant - Arroz con ropa vieja - Cuban Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Tampa certainly has a lot of Cuban restaurants to choose from. This place provided a really solid Cuban and Medianoche sandwich. I will certainly be going back! read more

I drove by six other Cuban restaurants just to eat here. Their food is incredibly fresh and delicious and the restaurant is super clean. Plus, everyone is really nice. read more

A nice mom and pop place where all the locals sit and chat w each other with ease and fun. we enjoyed this aspect the most. The food was good, staff nice...free parking lot. The maduros were ripe and good! read more

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This place was an absolutely hidden gem. Don't be discouraged by the surrounding neighborhood. This makes it all the better to try. The amazing flavors of all the food were far superior than any local Hispanic, or Mexican place we have ever tried. The staff was exceptional and explained everything. The ambience was a local hole in the wall but something you do not want to miss out on. read more

Palaus Restaurant - a plate of food on a table - Cuban Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Grits are so good today!!! Thanks for always being the best, everyday!!!!!! Yum yum yum read more

This review is for catering. My family ordered arroz imperial and salad from Palaus for a gettogether. Palaus is closed on Sundays, but they do catering for all 7 days (you just need to pick up the food by 3pm on Sundays). I showed up at 2:30PM, pulled up into the empty parking lot, and there were a couple of men in the back of the restaurant. One said "You have the arroz?", I said yes, and within 2 minutes, all the food was loaded into my trunk. So easy! The food was good. I admit, I don't love arroz imperial (I don't like mayonnaise), but I found the Palaus version to be good. The chorizo on top added a nice smokiness to the dish. My Cuban family members who do like arroz imperial thought this dish was great. The Cuban salad was excellent with plenty of fresh veggies, some umami from the Feta cheese (I think it was feta?), and not too much acidity from the dressing, which I find distracting from the Columbia's 1905 Salad. My kids and husband all ate an extra serving of salad, so yay! I look forward to returning to try their other dishes. read more

Incredible!! I added a photo but I didn't take the photo until AFTER I was done eating. This is what was left of my meal thats how wonderful the portion sizes are! I'm saving the rest for lunch. Haha. But I ordered the 'Palomilla with 2 eggs a Cabello' and a 'Carne Empanada' Omg best empanada I've had in years! I have a list I've curated over the years of my favorite restaurants for breakfast, and this has beat out all of them! The food is delicious, and so full of flavor, and large portion size. No wonder people recommend this place! The staff is so warm and kind and the food is so good that I'll probably get it multiple times a month and I don't even eat out like that. Lol. I just know I will crave it it's so good. read more

Palaus Restaurant - Photo taken AFTER I finished eating! :) food portions are great here! - Cuban Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I have a thing for Cuban food. And my morning rocks after dining on Cuban toast dunked in Cafe Con Leche. Finding the perfect combo is always a challenge. Cafe Con Leche without enough cafe or with lukewarm Leche or with imperfectly added sugar is so disappointing. Cuban bread that is barely pressed or stale enough to use a a door stop or not buttered on the outside causes sadness. Not here. Not at this tiny little cafe with its kind owners who ask all the right questions. Yes I want my toast crispy (double pressed for those places using timers). No barely warm and barely squished bread for me! And yes I must have sugar because like those who consumed Cafe Con Leche long before me, I need to get through a long day!! I loved my combo ($4.55) and know I will be back for the boliche or snapper or chicken or whatever is on the daily specials board. This is an unpretentious little place with basic tables, a tile floor, a hot food cafeteria style counter and the kind of exterior you might drive by. If you like Spanish food, don't. read more

Palaus Restaurant - Small cafe with open kitchen and kind people - Cuban Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Great, authentic food. My previous favorite Cuban place recently closed and I think I've found it's replacement. Large portions, great quality at a great price! read more

If your looking for the true old school Cuban West Tampa flavor look no further!!!! All meals are made fresh daily with that Lil touch of amor and sason just like your Abuela used to make it. The portions sizes are good and many daily specials to tempt you taste buds. They serve many of the old classic Cuban comfort foods that always brings me back... If your in the area and want some authentic classic West Tampa Cuban food stop in your tummy will thank you.. read more

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The Ropa Vieja is outstanding! Love the big slices of cooked onion and peppers!!!! So tasty and delicious!

I've eaten here for breakfast and lunch and both meals were amazing. Very authentic, fresh food with flavor to die for.

Excellent food and service. Tony and Beatice were great. Tony has a great selection of available choices on the menu. Don't pass tbis place by because it looks small on the outside. Loved the Ropa Vejeha..! Daily Specials too! We will be back soon! read more

Palaus Restaurant - Tons of food. Exceptional Value! - Cuban Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Where do I start. I typed in Cuban food and stumbled across this gem. Food was absolutely excellent. There is nothing I love more than home cooked style food. You can tell they take a lot of love and pride in their food they cook. Excellent food all around, excellent espresso!! Next time I am in Tampa I will be back. read more

Great Cuban food restaurant. Know for their breakfast and lunch specialties. Limited daily menu with a great selection, freshness, taste. All serve very casual. You can eat in or take out. Friday's they have delicious fish soup, fresh fish prepared to your liking. No liquor. Modest prices and great service by the owner and his staff. read more

Palaus Restaurant - Fried red snapper - Cuban Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Hidden gem in Tampa Bay! Delicious authentic home cooked Cuban food that is not heavy air loaded with oil. The portions are perfect and the taste is amazing. We will definitely be going back very soon! read more

Best Spanish restaurant in town! Very fresh and delicious tasting. Inexpensive and large portions. read more

Palaus Restaurant - Pork chunks, yellow rice, Moro and green beans. - Cuban Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Not sure what happened here but this is the "cheese grits" I received today from this place along with under cooked fries and chicken tenders. I have never felt the need to leave a review before but for this I felt like I had to. I didn't even eat any of my food I just threw it all away. What a waste of food, time and money. Never ordering from here again! read more

Palaus Restaurant - Not sure what happened here but this is the "cheese grits" I received today from this place along with under cooked fries n chicken tenders - Cuban Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Tony is just as fantastic as the food! My family and I needed food for 30-40 people for a Celebration of Life and he was so helpful, efficient and kind. We ordered pork, chicken, white rice, black beans, cuban bread and pork rinds. The food was DELICIOUS! The chicken was falling off the bone, the pork was juicy and the flavor was incredible. All of the guests asked where the food was from because they couldn't get enough! Another thing I appreciated was how the food was packed. It was boxed up so nicely where I wasn't worried I would spill food in my car or while carrying heavy dishes! Highly recommend! read more

Excellent Cuban and cafe con leche. Unimpressed with deviled crab, lacked freshness and taste. Handle steam tabled food without gloves. Not smart in this environment no matter how often one washes their hands. Very small but well established busy neighborhood Hispanic eatery where everyone knows owner and he knows them. read more

Excellent food. Consistently fresh, flavorful, and always a fan favorite. Tony and his crew do an amazing job. Highly recommend.

This is truly a hidden gem in West Tampa! The food is excellent, very small restaurant with good service. A must try on your trip seeking a Cuban restaurant with an even better menu and specials daily some are as authentic Cuban as you can get. read more

Excellent cuban food. Friendly staff! Reasonable prices. Every entree that I have had there has always been good

Was looking for an authentic Cuban place that served the whole fried snapper and we found it here. Super friendly staff and food tasted great. Good portion sizes and prices were very fair. Extensive breakfast and lunch menu so hope to be back soon and try some other items. Decent amount of parking and casual dining. read more

Ordered food for 20 people for work and everyone loved the baked chicken, yellow rice, black beans and picadillo. They have delicious, fresh and affordable cuban food served by friendly staff and the owner Tony. They take good care of their customers and offer a great daily variety of hot dishes to keep us going back for more! read more

No one does traditional Spanish cuisine better. Great quick lunch spot. Very reasonable prices.