Clandestina Cocina opened in the vendor space closest to the wall. Maybe YoYo Treat was once here. Stall has minor decor. E14th Eatery has more. Soft drums & vocal music in background. Single associate on duty, very helpful & courteous. Ordered, pd. Food ready in 10ish minutes. Offerings (Cuban): pan con (bread with), Para Picar (snacks), postres (desserts), bowls, beibidas(drinks) Bites: pan con lechon (15) -moist semi-juicy lechon pieces mixed with lettuce, tomato slices. Topped with freshly deep fried toothpick sized crunchy fries. -grilled buns too small to contain lechon et. al. resulting in some contents falling out. -pan con lechon had no spreads nor condiments, leaving a dryish taste. Another Cuban eatery prepped their Lechon the same. Sips: Mango limeade (5) -refreshing it was. Had a slushy quality. Obviously Made in house. Had a little ice, naturally slightly sweet? If not, very little sugar added. 4.5 stars Worthy! *3 parking spaces + 1 handicap space in rear. Some street parking. read more

See all

https://www.instagram.com/clandestina.cocina/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== This is a one amazing lady operation, where she makes super tasty cuban. The Cubano is definitely a must get. The lechon bowl breaks down that meat over rice, beans, plantains and more. Also got her amazing guava pastry, her flan and her home made guava ice cream as a topper that kicks it up a notch. Current popup is in a shared market space with two other small foodie business, so check those out too. https://maps.app.goo.gl/29XJX4wE3LBvkS3f9?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy Parking, sucks with busy street parking, but there is a community teen center 1 block south that has good amount of parking. Again, 1 person, very slow and intimate with asking chef about each item and you know it will be good. No rushing the good stuff. Yes, this is a must go back! read more

See all

I remember seeing this place pop up on my IG feed and was interested since I had had really good cuban food before, but in Portland. I hadn't been able to find something similar back home so I really wanted to try this out. Turns out it was right by me and so I ordered the lechon plate and croquetas. The corquetas come three to a order and comes with a crema (I forgot what kind). But the croquetas were freshly fried and had a nice exterior while being soft in the interior. They also paired really well with the sauce. The lechon plate came with a pile of pork, black beans, white rice, maduros, and salad. I thought the plate was pretty good. The pork was moist and tender and I was honestly very surprised with the amount of meat that was given (it was way more than I was expecting). Definitely makes the meal worth it. Nothing to complain with the other items, but I do wish there was an option other than white rice, as I think it would add more to the meat. The wait was a bit longer than normal, due to a mixup with the ordering system. But staff was super nice and apologetic and offered a pastry on the house for the wait. Water is self-serve; food is ordered at the counter. The eatery has a few other food places as well, though none were open when we were there. Overall, I had a great meal here and would come back for other items. read more

See all

A little piece of the island with so much heart and an unmatched "sazón". We went on a rainy day and the special was ajiaco, a soup filled with chicken, potatoes and yuca and it's the kind of soup that gives you a hug and takes you back home. We then tried the Cuban, which even though it is of American origin (look for the article on Clandestina in the SF Chronicle) and it was like no other one we've had, the pork is perfect. A few days later we saw their pop-up at Berkeley Bowl and ordered the "ropa vieja" a Cuban specialty of shredded beef that came with beans, rice and plantains. So rich and flavorful. Just perfect. The owner is so nice and community-oriented and really elevates the Cuban presence in the Bay Area. The 14th street Eatery is a lovely space, with lots of tables and huge mural honoring the community and just good vibes. Go try out their food in San Leandro and now also every other Sunday in Berkeley Bowl West. --------- Un pedacito de la isla con mucho corazón y un sazón inigualable. Sabor casero que viene directo de Cuba. Clandestina definitivamente es un restaurante cubano que debes probar en la Bahía. read more

Clandestina Cocina - Ropa vieja from Clandestina. Comes with beans, plantains, rice and a salad. - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - San Leandro, California

If I could give this 10 stars I would. My meal here today was truly one of the best meals I've had in the last few years. The combination of flavors was so exiting and delicious. The loaded yuca fries are my favorite! The Cuban sandwich is excellent and LOADED with meat. The flan is so smooth! I can't wait to go back and try the bowls. The owner was working and she is a literal angel. The dining area is cute, cozy, and super clean. It's housed in a E15th Eatery Kitchen so there are 2 other vendors in there too which is super fun. read more

Clandestina Cocina - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - San Leandro, California

See all

Wow! The Cuban sandwich blew me away. Piled high with delicious lechon, it was a feast! Had a side of yuca fries and the limeade. Highly recommend !! read more

Clandestina Cocina - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - San Leandro, California

See all

I can't believe this gem is right here in San Leandro! I first heard about them through pop-ups at Berkeley Bowl-- so I was thrilled to find out they have a San Leandro spot. On my visit, I ordered the loaded yuca fries, Cuban sandwich, the rice and beans bowl, and a guava and cheese turnover-- and every single bite was incredible. The yuca fries were crispy and indulgent, piled high with flavorful toppings (that mint sauce and "coleslaw" are chef's kiss!) The Cuban sandwich was perfectly pressed, with that classic combo of juicy roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard. Absolutely delicious. The rice and beans bowl? Comfort food at its finest -- hearty, well-seasoned, and super satisfying. And I can't forget the guava and cheese turnover -- flaky, lightly sweet, and the perfect balance of tart guava and creamy cheese. A perfect finish to the meal! The owner is incredibly personable and welcoming, which just adds to the great experience. You can tell there's real passion behind the food -- everything feels homemade and authentic, like something straight out of a Cuban kitchen. I think this is a one woman show. **Pro tip:** Check her Instagram for current hours, since the Yelp page isn't up to date. (The owner is unable to take her page back or something.) If you're in the East Bay, this spot is a must. So happy to have a place like this in the neighborhood! read more

This is a one woman shop that sells delicious Cuban favorites! Came in on a Saturday at 3pm and the food hall was pretty empty. The owner warmly greeted us and provided great service. The food took a little longer (20-25 min) but it was worth the wait! Everything was tasty and had great flavor. My favorite was the loaded yuca fries while my partner loved the rice & beans combo. Definitely recommend and will come back again. read more

See all

The owner has a great menu, which she cooks and serves. I went a little overboard the first time I came here and tried most menu items. I can't say anything stood out because everything was great. If I had to choose, I suggest you try the ham croquetas, yuca fries, guava/ cheese pastries, and limeanade. The place itself is chill and small with some nice tunes. read more

Great place & nice service. The plantains & pickled onions were amazing! The overall taste & seasoning of the chicken, beef, & lechon was good, however it was a bit on the salty side, for me. Hoping to try them again & see if it was just an 'off' day for them. read more

Phenomenal Cuban food. Been waiting years for a Cubano sandwich like this in the Bay. The owner is super nice too. Also fyi: the hours on yelp are wrong. Check their IG for proper hours. The owner explained she's been having trouble taking ownership of the yelp page. read more

Saw this place featured as a pop-up from a local East Bay food reviewer on YouTube. Finally had a chance to stop in hoping to try the Cuban sandwich, but they had ran out of ham for the sandwich. Fortunately, the owner recommended the Cuban bowls. We ordered the chicken bowl and the pork bowl. Shared both. One of the best meal I've had in the East Bay hands-down. The chicken was vibrant and flavorful. The pork was crispy and tender. Nice balance of fat and acidity. I can't recommend this place enough. Great job. I'd love to see them grow! In the end I am glad they were out of ham and we were able to try the bowls. I'll be back for the Cuban sandwich another time. read more

We drove about half an hour to have lunch here for my birthday, and I am SO happy we did. This was one of the best meals I can remember. My husband and I shared a Ropa Vieja bowl and a Cuban sandwich, with a side of loaded yuca fries and a guava limeade each, and I couldn't stop talking about how good it all was after each bite. I'm already planning bringing friends and family out to eat here. The dishes each had a unique flavor profile that complimented each other so well, and the limeades tasted so fresh and not too sweet. There's nothing better than a fantastic meal to celebrate a birthday, and I am so happy we drove out to Clandestina Cocina to celebrate mine. read more

Cuban girl in San Leandro here! Was SO excited when I heard Clandestina Cocina would be cooking up flavors of home right here in my backyard! And CC did not disappoint! Ordered lechon bowl, ropa vieja bowl, croquetas, and pastelitos (these are quintessential Cuban dishes). The lechon was a star - tender, garlicky, and a little tangy- just like abuelas noche beuna lechon (IYKYK). Ropa vieja was equally on point - broken down and cooked perfectly in its juices alongside delicious green and red pepper ribbons. Both served atop your typical black beans and rice, with a side of classic maduros and a delicious slaw with a minty sauce that was a pleasant surprise. Croquetas were generous in size; rich, creamy, and complex in the center with a lightly battered, perfect golden crust. Can't miss celebrating the guava and cheese pastelito! Tasty, flakey, and gooey in the center! Excited that I can get my pastelitos fresh, and won't have to have them shipped in from Porto's every time I have a craving! Thank you, Lilian, for bringing the flavors of home to the East Bay! Can't wait to try more of your menu, and to bring mi mami and mis hermanos by to celebrate the culture! And can't wait to meet you when I get to you in person (you can get delivery, folx!). Run, don't walk, to your new go-to Cuban eatery! read more

Clandestina Cocina - Pop-Up Restaurants Near Me - San Leandro, California

See all

Delicious food and generous portions! I ordered the Yuca fries and the cubano sandwich and everything was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Will definitely come back to try more from their menu! read more