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Look no further for authentic Cuban food. It gives diner vibes. Order to eat in for a quick bite or order to go. They give a discount to state employees so it is always busy but the food is cooked quickly. Perfection takes time. They are my go to breakfast spot in Miami. If the Cuban sandwich had a MOJO sauce it would be a 5!! I like my sandwich saucy and moist. My family all loved their Cubano as they were.
Good place to eat in Miami Beach and affordable prices as well. Love the Cuban sandwiches. Recommend this little gem. Popular with locals and tourists. Check them out.
Very unassuming place, but had delicious cheese pupusas! The ladies were very friendly and kind, and the bathroom was clean.
I'm back in after 10 years and it's as delicious and super local as usual. Came back for lunch later with my partner too. Cortadito and juices are always my favorite stop here with out all the tourists and touristy prices
stopped by for a quick breakfast and probably had one of the best cuban sandwiches ever! prices are super cheap too given the location. worker was very kind and also referred to me as papá which was nice
I went to this cafe late Sunday night, around 10:30pm. They are very reasonably priced compared to other places. We ordered the steak plate (comes with 3 sides per order) and the chicken breast plate. The food tasted great. The chicken was a little dry, but the spicy sauce and flavorful rice makes up for it. The steak was very good. I would have loved to return for their fresh squeezed juice the next day, but service was not good. The two-star rating is for the service. The food is a 4, the service was a 1. I didn't feel welcome in this restaurant. Not one server spoke upon arrival or while sitting at the bar for 15 minutes. We went to the register to order, and the woman was snippy and not friendly. We waited 30-40 minutes for the food, then I noticed that it had been sitting on the back counter for 10 minutes before she finally brought it over. Not sure what the purpose of the unfriendliness was, as we waited quietly and patiently; but I will not return. There are too many other Cuban options around the corner.
Best cafe in Miami. Go get your pastele tamale fix. Also, good soup. Make sure to get a tamale before they sell out.
A chill location to experience great Cuban food in South Beach. Easy to walk to and there is Bar top seating or you could easily take it to go. Everyone is extremely friendly and make great suggestions! Most agree that you can't go wrong with any option. I loved my chicken fajitas and the butter avocado and fresh tortilla gave it the extra mile. The fajita sauce was just too good. The yellow rice was a great side, very fresh rice too. My friends had the Cuban and chicken sandwiches. Both loved them and I definitely enjoyed the Cuban sandwich as well. Honestly you can't go wrong with any choice.
This is your typical mama y papa estilo Cubano sandwich shop. None of the South Beach I'm in Miami fufu vibes but on some real authentic Cubano vibe with the ladies cracking jokes and chisme behind the counter as you drink your cafecito con leche. We had the Philly Cheesesteak and the Sandwich Cubano. Both hearty and filling, reasonably priced without breaking the bank, and more satisfying than some of the other high priced restaurants nearby. You can tell its a local spot as the ladies behind the counter knew the customers by name and by order. I even got to know the man they call "El Profesor." Listen, whoever this man was, it was a moment and the ladies there love giving him a hard time in the most we appreciate and love you manner. To be a regular here would be nice. It's not fancy by any means, and is quite small with counter space in two areas. Def a place that is busy in the morning but so glad we tried it. Menu is large, I don't think you can go wrong with anything and there is def something there for everybody. We ordered a side of plantains and even that was enough to share with 4 people. They weren't sweet but that has nothing to do with establishment. May not have been the season yet for them. A place I'd come back to after a night of dancing to get a morning fix and cafe con chisme.
This family owned and operated Playa Cafe offers excellent home style cooking food, and friendly customer service thats populat to locals and tourists alike. Located in the heart of South Beach, this is an excellent choice if you're craving for Caribbean, Latin, Spanish, Cuban anf Central American Cuisine. They also serve their breakfast combos with fresh coffee choices and freshly squeezed orange juice. They also serve sandwiches, tacos, tamales, wraps, salads, croquetas, empanadas and desserts like flan, caramel cakes, arroz con leche, bread pudding and tres leches. One of my favorit meql is the Arroz con Calamares which is just rice cooked with squid meat and squid ink. It is very tasty and the meat is cooked to perfection. Beef and Chicken Fajitas were good too and it is served with your choice of 2 sides with these to chiose from, white rice, yellow rice, salad, plantain, french fries and black beans It is located in 15th Street Washington Avenue, a few minutes walk from the beach, hotels and Lincoln Road Shopping Center.
We were in South Beach and needed breakfast but wanted someplace low key and not really foofoo but still wanted that South Beach vibe. Get my drift? We found this little hole in the wall restaurant that was literally right around the corner from our hotel on Collins Ave but tucked away so it wasn't too busy. Definitely a locals spot! If you're looking for a good Cuban breakfast place that's nice on the pockets, you found the right place. We were pleasantly surprised by how good the food was here. My husband got the steak and eggs with a side of beans, plantain, and fried cheese. Delicious! I had to make him share with me because I just got bacon and eggs lol. Their bread was also surprisingly good - just buttered and toasted to perfection. Their orange juice is freshly squeezed along with the smoothies that they offer. I would definitely come here again!!
EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING HERE! I read reviews before going here and I had pretty decent expectations but wow what an incredible find. This is authentic and flavorful. The staff were kind and welcoming. From the outside looking in, it doesn't look like much but absolutely immaculate food. I have zero complaints and there's nothing I can think of that would have made it better. I will definitely return here when I visit Miami again.
Cramped no frills single counter diner serving up tasty Cuban food at a very reasonable price. The menu is pretty large, but it's basically permutations on sandwiches and thin meats that can be quickly cooked on the grill / griddle. Puerto Sagua is probably a better choice if you want more of the slow cooked stewed dishes or fish dishes, but Playa Cafe is good for quick and filling. Chicharrones de Pollo: Billed as an appetizer, but it comes out at the same time as your meal. So it essentially becomes a pretty meaty and tasty side dish. Despite using no batter, they are so crispy. They us bone-in chicken chunks. And really great with some fresh squeezed lime. I especially like how the chicken skin was extremely crunchy like a pork rind. Queso Frito: Also billed as an appetizer, but comes out with your meal. Essentially a lightly deep fried chunk of queso fresco. Pairs very well with rice and beans, even when you're eating a meal past breakfast. Bistec de Palomilla: Very thinly pounded steak nicely griddled. And lots of yummy onions on top. Not a steakhouse kinda steak, but a great value for the price. Especially filling with the white rice, soupy black beans and sweet plantains. Marinated Pork: A pork cutlet covered in spices and charred a bit on the grill. Really flavorful. Like you definitely need the rice and beans to counter it. But so delicious. Maybe even more personality than the palomilla steak. Maracuya: Frozen passionfruit pulp blended with water, ice and a healthy dose of sugar. Turns into a deliciously sweet and tropical smoothie to pair with the savory meals.
5 years ago
Yummy cubano sandwich! The service as a bit slow but worth the wait. There are not many seats, so be prepared to do take out just in case. read more
3 years ago
Medianoche sandwich was EVERYTHING! I absolutely loved it, moist, cheesy and flavorful! I will definitely be back whenever I'm in SoBe read more
5 years ago
Ba-Bay when I tell you this Place is a hidden gem only the locals know about it and if they share the secret with you then you have discovered GREATNESS! My husband and I visited South Beach for our 25th wedding anniversary and when we asked about some good food the front desk suggested Playa Cafe. It's a small diner like spot, they only have counter space to sit at or you can sit outside at one of the two table & umbrella seats. They sale a ton of different options from tamales, smoothies and beef stew as well as breakfast options at a very cheap price. The food was delicious and well seasoned, I couldn't just pick one so I had beef soup AND breakfast. Everything was so good we came back the next day for the same exact thing. Still crowded but the crowd moves quick. read more
Food was hand down some of the best I've had. The lady who served us was really hospitable and took care of us. We also got a mango smoothie that was also amazing and super refreshing! Would HIGHLY recommend and will try to revisit on our next trip. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
We came here as our last stop before heading to the airport. If you want authentic Cuban food, reasonably priced (for this area), and large portions then you must come here! Everything we ordered was amazing!! We tried the Cuban sandwich, caramel flan, skirt steak, whole snapper, and breaded chicken. All of the meals (except the sandwich) come with rice and beans and your choice of salad or plantains, we all chose plantains. I also ordered a pineapple empanada and Cortadito. The service was excellent. There's just something so endearing about being called Mami and Papi from the sweetest Cuban lady . When I come back to Miami (because I will be back!) this will be my first stop!! read more
I would have walked right by this place if it weren't for yelp! I found this place on yelp and the reviews live up to the real deal! We went on a Saturday for lunch. We got two seats at the counter. This place was full of locals. You hear Spanish and English being spoken. The menu is in both languages and has pictures. I had the roast pork with tostones, red beans and rice for $9. It is a large portion. You have an option of tostones, sweet plantains, salad, fries, etc. The tostones are very greasy. They are very large. The red beans are delicious. The pork is well seasoned and tender and moist. They pan fry it before serving. It had sauteed onions mixed in. My guest had the philly cheesesteak. The sandwich was amazing. It is large enough for two people to share. It was served on a fresh sub bread. The meat was tender and seasoned. It had sauteed peppers on it and shredded/melted mozzerella cheese. The mixture of ingredients was great. The staff is friendly. It took a while to receive our order. I received my roast pork 10 minutes before my friend received his sandwich. We noticed other people who came in after us being served before my friend. The desserts are homemade and looked yummy. We were too full to try any desserts. There is seating at the bar counter facing the servers and a counter with high top seats behind the bar. They have a variety of American and International sodas. Overall, the food was great, but I deducted a star for the service and greasy tostones. The prices are very reasonable for the quality and portion size served. read more
Yelp Fam!!!!! I'm back with more HOT Miami Reviews. This place has a special spot in my heart. Because as most of us know the hole in the wall spots have the best grub! He playa cafe isn't much to look at but the food and the service is what you're going for. Had the pleasure of dining here twice while in Miami. It had to be done, after the first visit I had to go back. The ladies inside of PC are amazing. We sat down and looked over the menu. The order (combined from both trips): Cuban sandwich , fries & pineapple soda- this was a solid Cuban sandwich and it was generously stacked high , large fries portion & you cant got wrong with pineapple. Chicken sandwich , fries, Huge sandwich, juicy chicken & a bunch of fries. Mango-Pineapple smoothie Bruh! This smoothie was everything, so good, I almost danced when I took the first sip. Cafe Cubano Is quickly becoming my favorite coffee drink. It was quite good. If you are in South Beach and you want good cheap eats look up the playa cafe. read more
4 years ago
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4 years ago
Went here today and I would highly recommend for a great Cuban sandwich! The price was a little high to me but what you get is definitely worth the cost. I could have split this with my partner. Dine in at the counters or take out. The ladies running the shop were also friendly and attentive. read more
7 years ago
Came to this cute spot with my boyfriend while we were in Miami and I'm so glad he discovered it! This place has a really good brunch menu and I especially loved my meal! I got the Palomilla Steak which included a steak with white rice, beans and sweet plantains. I enjoyed the dish but what really stood out was the steak because it wasn't dry at all and when paired with the beans it was like a match made in heaven!!!! My boyfriend ordered the Whole Fried Fish with white rice, beans and tostones which he very much enjoyed and so did I because I like stealing his food :) LMAO... The fish was very well prepared and was super fresh which who wouldn't love! Drinks: I ordered fresh orange juice since it was being prepared right in front of me and man I'm glad I did! We also ordered the Cuban coffee con leche with no sugar and it was SO Yummy, definitely a must go! read more
2 years ago
9 years ago
Hole in the wall type of place! You know it's good when the locals come here!! Started off the cortadito and a fresh orange juice for my friend. I ordered the steak and eggs and she ordered the Cuban sandwich meal. The meal comes with fries and a soda while the regular Cuban sandwich order only comes with potato stix. Steak and eggs came out first with a fresh toasted bread. Made my steak and egg sandwich and first bite in...HOME RUN! The egg yolk bursted out and paired so well with the steak. The bread was so crispy. Next came the Cuban sandwich in which I had to take a bite. Wow...amazing...it was stuffed with ham, their marinated pork shoulder, and a bunch of goodies that paired so well...I have to say...this is definitely one of the best Cuban sandwich I ever had...and I have tried 3 other places in Miami for Cuban sandwiches. The fries were not crispy so I would pass on getting it next time. It was so good that on the day of our flight, my friend and I had to order two more to take it home with us. read more
5 years ago
Playa café every time I come to Miami I make it priority to stop at eat here food is delicious and the service is amazing read more
7 years ago
Your hotel concierge will send you to Havana 157. Do yourself a favor - walk across the street to Playa Cafe. This is where real people, not tourists, eat Cuban food in Miami Beach. If you don't speak Spanish, don't worry, because there is a picture menu AND the staff speak some English. The food is good, authentic, tasty and affordable. This place is lunch counter service with late hours. Beer is available but nothing craft-beer, fruity or top shelf. I'd recommend it and I'd definitely come back. read more
We came by to get a cortadito before we left Miami. The place was packed, which is a good sign for me. We didn't have time to eat, so I can't write a review on the food. But by the looks of everyones plate, the food looks good and come in hefty portions. The coffee was perfect and strong! Will definitely come back here and update my review. read more
I liked this spot, I had the carne asada, it was good and at a good price for the area too. The restaurant is cosy and you might have to practice your Spanish a little. Food feels Authentic. I would definitely go again! read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
The food was great, people were friendly. Nothing special about bar seating so if ur looking for comfort skip this place. Coffee was outstanding. read more
5 years ago
Not really off the beaten path and not a tourist trap. Solid Cubano sandwiches and tacos, add in a well done cafe Cubano for good measure. If I lived here, I'd eat at Playa Cafe regularly. read more
We only had 36 hours in Miami and I was determined to find the best value Cuban. As a Tampian, I also wanted to compare the coveted sandwich from each coast. Wow. Delicious. I'm still thinking about it a week later. My boyfriend and I split a Cuban, fries, and a drink for about $13. We are moving to Miami in August and apartment shopping next month.... I can't wait to go back. read more
5 years ago
So glad we ended up coming here after a disappointing dinner that we had nearby... look how stacked this Cuban sandwich be! Must try! You will not be disappointed! Price is so cheap. Literally was satisfied from this sandwich and it was 20x cheaper thn our dinner! read more
I had my first Miami Cuban Sammie at the Playa Cafe. It was stuffed with meat, and the cheese was perfectly melty. However, I wish the bread was a bit toastier. My BF ordered some pork cutlet with rice and didn't really care for it. I've had better Cuban sandwiches after this in Miami, so I doubt I would come back if I'm ever in town again. read more
I was at South Beach today and saw that this place got good reviews. I'm visiting from NY and was aiming to try some sort of Cuban food while I was here. Not sure if this was the best place to do so, but my meal was definitely satisfying. I ordered the Cuban sandwich combo ($7.50). This place is basically a very cramped diner. Very no nonsense, just the way I like it. The combo was a lot of food, even for a bottomless pit like me. I actually ate only half the sandwich and saved the other half for later. Flavor-wise, I didn't find the Cuban sandwich to be anything really out of the ordinary compared to any other sandwich. However, it was still very satisfying! They really pack the ham and shredded pork in there, so it is very dense. The fries were good too; pretty crisp. All in all, I see why this place gets good reviews. No bells and whistles; food is solid and the price is right. Service was solid too; the young lady behind the counter was efficient. 4 stars. read more
**FAVE SPOT FOR CUBAN HOOD CUISINE IN SOBE** Cheap eats, people. Cheap Cuban eats. Lunch for $6 with a drink? In South Beach? YES. Possible. Here. We sat at the counter. ORDERED: *BEEF FAJITAS ($7) - One of their specials, I ordered it with rice and plantains. With many douses of hot sauce, this was a solid meal. *CUBAN SANDWICH ($4.50) - My favorite Cuban sandwich. Toasted bread, melted cheese, and two different kids of meats. I was in love. *BEEF SOUP ($6?) - Another incredible Cuban dish. Lots of flavor. Potatoes, carrots, the meat fell off the bone, etc. Loved every morsel. Service was slow, but we didn't care. We spoke broken Spanish and it was fine. No ambiance here. Straight HOOD, but omg, the food was delicious. AND CHEAP. RECOMMEND. read more
What is the real Miami Beach? It depends on who you ask. Beach lovers would say the beach (duh). Tourists would say either those few blocks on Ocean Drive for partying, or the Lincoln Ave. pedestrian mall for shopping. Your grandfather would say "Jackie Gleason". Miami residents would say the apartments and houses around Alton and north of 41st Street. And Miami's sizeable Cuban population would say . . . well . . . Playa Cafe. I stopped in here before going back to the airport, and quickly found out that the Playa Cafe is the earthy cousin of Havana 1957. While the latter dresses itself up nicely and presents good, tasty food, the former lets its hair out and says "here's the grub, take it or leave it." And right on Washington Ave., in the heart of downtown Miami Beach, one block from the Collins Ave. scene. What a difference a block makes. I have no picture of the interior to share, so I'll do a word picture: Imagine, if you will, a small storefront among the Art Deco-style stores. It's only 20 feet wide, with a narrow kitchen on the left side open for all to view. There are countertops on the right and against the kitchen, and people sitting on stools eating their lunch. The only music is the Spanish conversations going on between the diners. The wall shows pictures of what's available, most for under $10, cash and cards accepted. It feels like it's been here for 60 years and unchanged since then, and the diners look like regulars. Got the picture yet? Basically, a Cuban greasy spoon. I'm so glad I came here early; it took me 25 minutes to get my to-go lunch of fried chicken chunks with rice & beans, salad, and Inca Kola. I ended up eating it at the airport, and it wasn't hot anymore, so it didn't taste as good, but it was still good. Pretty good seasoning on the chicken skin, and the sauce that got dipped onto the chicken was *spicy*! Too much rice & beans for me to finish. Quite a different experience from what is expected by out-of-towners. It's worth a visit for that reason alone. You get a feeling that you're seeing a real part of Miami Beach that the tourists miss. If that's important to you, then go to Playa Cafe. read more
3 years ago
If you're looking for a hole in the wall, this is the place. It's very basic and cheap, but it gets the job done. This cafe is usually filled with a lot of who I assume to be locals. I've been to this place several times over the years, and it's always the same friendly staff working there. I ordered a Horchata (almond-y/ cinnamon-y drink) and a Desayuno Cubano (Cuban breakfast). My horchata, even though made from powder, was very good and tasted nothing like powder. The breakfast came with rice, plantains and eggs. The only thing that I truly liked were the plantains; the eggs tasted weird. Cool, cheap and chill place. read more
Cuban and Midnight sandwiches were delicious! Near the top of my list as far as sandwiches go. The difference between the 2 sandwiches is the midnight uses an egg based bread. I think. The staff are friendly, the place is full of locals and the prices are great! The picante sauce is also great. Not sure if it is homemade but it seems like it. read more
Omg!!!! If you are looking for a homemade food, stop everything that you are doing and come to this place! I am not Cuban, but the flavors of every single thing was just amazing. The best part you can have a whole meal for 10 bucks. The place is small and they don't have many staff, however it was worth to wait. Very affordable, very tasty, it feels like home! Gracias. read more
We're in MIAMI, BEACH! A couple of Chicagoans land in not-so-sunny Miami Beach for a weekend where the sand is flooded with monsoon rain. Starving, we look up on Yelp to find a cafe that was not completely submerged in water and had some Cuban flavors for us to enjoy. Luckily, this cafe was not playing us when it came down to cheap and delicious Latin cuisine! Playa Cafe was a fab first stopover in Miami. Inside, you could tell there were locals and tourists alike, with Spanish being the definite lingua franca of the restaurant. Every item on the menu had a photo so your eyes can do all the deciding. Simply put: place your order, pay (and note that gratuity is NOT already included), and then wait for the food to arrive. I ordered myself a $9 plate of fried pork chops with beans and plantains. The pork chops were nicely done with a smokey flavor left behind, and the plantains were what you'd expect anywhere on the island. The real winner here were the beans! Rather than simply being little lumps to munch on, the beans here were flavored with meat, mushrooms, and other veggies that made it nearly a stew! Highly recommend. So while Playa is small, it packs a punch. Definitely an authentic experience that is open late for any curious palette. I will return one day! read more
4 years ago
Long wait...but worth it. Forget PA, come to Miami for your Philly Cheesesteak! Unbelievably delicious! Forget the cheap fries & pop. read more
More info about Playa Cafe
1515 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Directions
(305) 538-1551
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http://playitacafe.com
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Are they BYOB?
They serve beer so I'm not entirely sure if they are but my guess is that they are not!
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