Skip to main content
Donate

The Best Cuban Restaurants in Los Angeles

By Cynthia Dea
December 17, 2014
Support Provided By

This morning President Obama announced plans to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba after more than 50 years of isolation between the two countries. To mark this new era of openness, we've gathered a list of Cuban restaurants in L.A. that best reflects the cuisine.

La Caridad Restaurant
According to the 2010 Census, the L.A. area has more than 50,000 Cubans, making it the fourth largest Cuban community in the U.S. La Caridad's Echo Park location is a historic reminder of the first wave of Cuban immigrants to settle in in L.A. in the 1960s. Here, the national dish of ropa vieja is slow-cooked for hours, shredded, then served with beans, rice, and a side of garlicky yucca. 2619 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Versailles
This may not be the most beloved Cuban restaurant in Southern California, but it is perhaps the best known. With three locations, this is often most people's introduction to Cuban cuisine. Its glossy, comprehensive menu also makes it easy to explore Cuban cuisine and their specialty garlic chicken is a crowd pleaser. 1415 South La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA; (310) 289-0392; 10319 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA; (310) 558-3168; 17410 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91316; (818) 906-0756

El Colmao
There are usually two types of customers who come here: nostalgic Cuban-Americans who ate here as kids in the 1970s and '80s and Jonathan Gold disciples who are bent on trying every remaining restaurant in his 2000 food guide "Counter Intelligence: Where to Eat in the Real Los Angeles." Still, El Colmao is an L.A. institution, and their Pollo El Colmao chicken stewed with tomatoes, olives, peas, and chili powder is their signature dish. 2328 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006; (213) 386-6131

El Cochinito Restaurant
This tiny restaurant located in a Silver Lake strip mall on Sunset is a no-frills outfit. Folks rave about the Lechon asado dish: slow roasted pork served with a side of rice and beans or as a sandwich. 3508 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026; (323) 668-0737

Baracoa Cuban Cafe
Atwater Village is the entry point into a vast array of Cuban restaurants that starts from Glendale Boulevard and stretches through the city of Glendale all the way to North Hollywood. The arroz con pollo, or chicken and rice, is their most popular dish -- they're usually out of it by the end of the day. 3175 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039; (323) 665-9590

Mambo's Café
This Cuban diner was featured in "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," and host Guy Fieri gave his seal of approval after scarfing down the Tostones rellenos, a starter of fried plantains made into edible cups filled with shrimp ceviche. 1701 Victory Blvd, Glendale, CA 91201; (818) 545-8613

Porto's Bakery
This is a great place for a lunch or snack. It can get chaotic in here, but if you manage to navigate the line system, start by ordering the signature Cubano sandwich and guava cheese roll. Then get in the other line for a fantastic cup of coffee. 315 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203; (818) 956-5996; 3614 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505; (818) 846-9100; 8233 Firestone Boulevard, Downey, CA 90241; (562) 862-8888

Crispy Cuban Food Truck
The Cripsy Cuban Food Truck may not be "El Jefe" -- the fictional food truck from the film Chef that became a real food truck during the movie's promotion -- but it's a lot less meta and just serves lovingly-made meat sandwiches and other Cuban specialties.
Check @crispycuban on Twitter for locations

Support Provided By
Read More
A black and white photo of an adult dressed as the easter bunny with a giant costumed head, holding a little girl on their left who gives it a kiss on the cheek and, with his right arm, holding a little boy who brings his hands to his eyes as though wiping away tears.

Behold the Bunnies and Bonnets of L.A.'s Past Easter Celebrations

The onset of the spring season heralds the arrival of fragrant flowers in bloom — and all the critters that enjoy them, including the Easter bunny and families who anticipate his arrival with egg hunts, parades and questionable fashion choices.
By Sandi Hemmerlein
A black and white image of an elephant holding a broom with its trunk. A man is seen near the elephant, walking towards the animal.

Lions and Tigers and Cameras! How the Movies Gave Los Angeles a Zoo

The early days of the movies in Los Angeles inadvertently allowed visitors to experience the largest collection of animals in the western United States. When animals weren't appearing in a movie, they were rented out to other film companies, performed for studio visitors, or in the case of filmmaker William Selig's collection — an opportunity to create one of Los Angeles' first zoos.
By D.J. Waldie
A vertical, black and white portrait of a blonde woman wearing a sparkly four-leaf clover costume as she holds her arms out and extends a leg as though in a curtsy.

Irish for a Day: L.A.'s History of 'Going Green' on St. Patrick's Day

Whether it was a parade, dance, tea party, home celebration or just enjoying a good ol' wee dram of whisky, here's a photo essay of how Los Angeles donned its green apparel to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and embrace the luck o' the Irish over the years.
By Sandi Hemmerlein