Cuban Food

[Jersey Boss]

Does anybody know of, or recommend a place that offers Cuban food?

[metro]

Nope but let me know if you find one, that is about the only ethnic food I haven't really seen in Oklahoma.

[Bigrayok]

Back in the 1980's after Castro opened up his prisons and thousands of former Cuban prisoners came to the United States, some ended up in Oklahoma City. I remember about three Cuban restaurants that opened and later closed. There was one on Council and about 8th Street where a bar is now and another on Northwest Expressway off Rockwell that is now a Chinese Bufffet. There was another but I do not remember the location.

The owner of the Northwest Expressway location had been an engineer in Cuba and had a pretty nice restaurant. He told me that people would come in expecting Mexican food or Tex-Mex which is very different from Cuban food. I have seen the same thing happen to an El Salvardorian restaraunt in the Bethany area, Guatamalan restaurants, etc. That is why a lot of non-mexican latino restaurants will have tacos and enchiladas on their menus.

Interurban of all places, has a pretty good Cuban sandwich which is similiar to what is found in Florida. That is about the only Cuban food in Oklahoma City I know of, except for dishes like Paella, fried plantains, and black beans which is found in some of the latino restaurants around town.

Bigray in Ok

[MGintheBLC]

I've never been to Cuba, but I like the food at the restaurant "1492". Not sure how authentic the food is but the cuban sandwich there is one of the best I have ever had. Here is a link to their yelp.com reviews: http://www.yelp.com/biz/1492-new-wor...-oklahoma-city

[metro]

You can get a Cuban sandwich about anywhere, haven't found anything close to what you can find in Miami, although good reason for that. There are still some great Guatamalan restaurants around, particularly Cafe Antigua which is a regular stop on the local foodie scene.

[icecold]

The cuban sandwich at the lobby bar is good and the paella at zorba's is good as well. (only offered on weekends)....But to your point, I do not know of a Cuban restaurant, see some on the food network every now and again and the food looks great.

[redone2010]

Unfortunately, there are no "authentic" Cuban restaurants in the OKC metro area, at least none that I know of. I've heard good things about 1492. I was born and raised in Miami, FL, so I am familiar with Cuban cuisine. In fact, I have learned how to cook several Cuban dishes and I've been told that I make a killer Cuban sandwich. I would tell people that if they want to get close to Cuban food, go to Mamaveca's in Norman. They offer a Peruvian menu. Some of the items on the menu are common to Cuban food, like yuca (a root type vegetable similar to a potato, but much better). Anyway, it is not Cuban, but it's all we have. You can always contact a marquesa in Miami and have them overnight you some Cuban pastries, like croquettes and empanadias. I've done that just to satisfy my love of Cuban food.

[redone2010]

I don't know of any Cuban restaurants in the OKC area. I was born and raised in Miami, FL, so I am very familiar with Cuban cuisine. I have learned to cook several Cuban dishes. I would recommend buying a good Cuban cookbook and learning to cook the food yourselves. It will be your best bet. I know the problem with that is getting certain ingredients common to Cuban cooking. I would direct you to http://www.cubanfoodmarket.com. I have bought from them before and have been completely satisfied.

[progressiveboy]

When I lived in Florida, I lived about 2 blocks from a Cuban bakery that would bake fresh loaves of Cuban bread and they would have a "hot" sign on their window letting patrons know the delicious bread was hot right out of the oven. It was wonderful with a cup of Cafe con Leche Cuban coffee. I miss that alot. Also, I miss my plantains and "pressed" Cuban sandwiches and roasted pork with black beans and white rice. I also acquired a taste for Yucca. Gloria Estefan has a great Cuban restaurant in Miami that has awsome food as well.

[metro]

redone, there is also a Mamaveca's in Edmond.

[metro]

The Estefan's have many restaurants in Miami but most are a tourist trap, Bongos, Lario's, etc.

[okclee]

What, no amazing Cuban food in Dallas?

[TheTravellers]

Zarate's in Edmond (about 7th and Broadway) have some Cuban dishes on their menu. www.zarateslatingrill.com is their website. Haven't tried their Cuban sandwich yet because I don't want to sully my memory of the great ones we had at a Cuban restaurant in Illinois (of course, Zarate's version could be great, but I always find something else on their menu to get).

[progressiveboy]

What, no amazing Cuban food in Dallas?

LOL, funny

[BoulderSooner]

the cuban at 1492 is very very good

[HOT ROD]

I know this isn't in OKC, but if you guys are ever in Seattle, we have a nice Cuban restaurant in Freemont, called Paseo. haha

http://www.paseoseattle.com/