Cuban Foods & Bakery

This small, tidy spot of homestyle Cuban eats features hearty and gratifying traditional dishes that keep the restaurant’s Cuban, Colombian, and Puerto Rican patrons coming back on a regular basis. The Cuban sandwich is almost a rite of passage here, but there are other good dishes, too: Slow-cooked meats redolent with garlic, onions, and cumin; […]

Fe La Cubana

Fe La Cubana is a classic Cuban American-style cafeteria that deviates little from many of the best-known dishes of the island just south of Florida. Though there are Cuban sandwiches and fried foods, Fe La Cubana is all about the steam table offerings. These are soupy, stewy, and beautiful – ageless preparations like ropa vieja […]

Fuego Bistro

Tucked away in the courtyard of Fountain Court, behind Apollo’s Lounge on Seventh Street, Fuego Bistro is one of the best-hidden spots in central Phoenix. It’s tiny, too (there are only seven tables inside and a handful out on the patio) so it helps to call ahead. Though some of the entrees are more “bistro” […]

Havana Cafe

Even Castro would endorse capitalism like this. Authentic comidas Cubanas like tostones, paella and arroz con pollo served in an attractive, intimate environment. The black bean soup is revolutionary. After 5 p.m., sip sherry and sample tapas upstairs in Arriba.

Mimita’s Cuban Cafe

This family-owned restaurant in Chandler serves up classic Cuban comfort foods in a cheery, pleasant atmosphere and with service as friendly as the fare. For a snack or a light meal, try the empanadas or a medianoche sandwich (similar to the Cuban, but with sweet, eggy, challah-like bread). Exceptional entrees include the Cuban roast pork […]

Mini Mercado Oaxaca

The small store may have only 10 tables, but the menu boasts more than 100 dishes. Regional specialties are attention-grabbing once the menu (it’s all in Spanish, with exotic Oaxacan ingredients) is deciphered. Particular favorites: Botana Oaxaque

Sazon Bachata Restaurant

Family-owned and -operated, the eatery is one of a handful of Caribbean restaurants in the Valley. It’s inviting and informal, with the menu — which changes depending on availability of ingredients — written in chalk on the wall. If the writing is illegible, the staff will be more than happy to recite the day’s available […]