Cuban Food is Having A Moment In Arizona. Here are 4 New Spots to Try

Cuban food is having a moment in Arizona. Four new spots have opened in the last two months.

October 31, 2022

Image: A Cuban sandwich and tostones from Cubanitas Kitchen.

A Cuban sandwich and tostones from Cubanitas Kitchen. Mike Madriaga

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Over the last two months, two new Cuban restaurants and one Cuban-themed bar have opened across metro Phoenix. On October 30, a new Cuban restaurant opened in Tucson. The food of the island is having a moment in Arizona.

At these new spots, the menus feature dishes including ropa vieja, Cuban sandwiches, empanadas, and plenty of rum. Here are four new bars and restaurants to try Cuban food in Phoenix and beyond.

click to enlarge

It took Lennis Montero more than two years to reach Phoenix. She's now serving foods from her Cuban homeland at Cubanitas Kitchen.

Mike Madriaga

Cubanitas Kitchen

3001 East Washington Street, inside the 76 gas station
480-925-5840
Originally a food truck business, Cubanitas Kitchen opened a permanent location on September 19. The little spot is hidden inside a 76 gas station on Washington Street a few miles north of Sky Harbor International Airport. There, co-owner and chef Lennis Montero cooks recipes from her home country, including ropa vieja, Cuban sandwiches, and tostones. Look for the food truck parked outside to let you know you're in the right place.

click to enlarge

Bodega is the newest addition to Westgate in Glendale.

Lauren Cusimano

Bodega

6751 North Sunset Boulevard, #209, Glendale
623-877-7673Bodega is the newest addition to the Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale. The upbeat restaurant and bar opened on September 21, and features brightly colored tropical decor that reflects many items on the menu. Expect an eclectic mix of fresh ceviche, tacos, sandwiches, and pizza. An impressive cocktails list includes more than 20 options with seven different varieties of mojitos.

Coabana

1 East Washington Street, #124
480-747-7973Located in downtown Phoenix, new cocktail bar Coabana is now serving up a taste of Cuba and Miami. Golden banana leaves arch over the bar in this beautifully decorated spot. Pull up a stool at the bar or sink into a leather sofa to order your favorite rum cocktail. The menu includes a build-your-own mojito, a frozen Miami Vice, and a selection of snacks including ceviche, croquetas, and empanadas.

Mojo Cuban Kitchen and Rum Bar

1929 East Grant Road, Tucson
520-650-6656Down in Tucson, new restaurant and bar Mojo has opened bringing a taste of the island to the Old Pueblo. Owner Nick Schaffer teamed up with Cuban chef Patricia Espinosa and chef Janet Valderas formerly of Tanque Verde Ranch to create a menu unique to the area, according to This Is Tucson. Try fried empanadas, ropa vieja, and the dish that inspired the restaurant's name, mojo chicken served with chile verde salsa.

Tirion Boan is the Food Editor of Phoenix New Times where she’s worked since May 2022. Tirion keeps a close eye on restaurant openings and closings, offers dining recommendations and reports on metro Phoenix food news and trends. She also publishes major annual lists like Top 100 Bars and Top 100 Restaurants, and contributes to the Best of Phoenix project. Tirion previously worked for publications including The Arizona Republic and The Tucson Weekly. She holds a bachelor’s of arts in journalism from the University of Arizona.

A message from Tirion Boan: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of Phoenix's evolving dining scene and the chefs and restaurants that serve our community.

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