I had my lunch there, and I thought the food quality was acceptable and in fact good. Had steak (sorry can't remember the exact name as I was rushing), and it was nicely cooked and fravored, also came with three sides which was awesome - white rice, beans and yuka, I think. I agree with other review that the bread was really sorry looking and mine as well not serve them, yaknow? Why bother. service was fast and friendly, price was right and food was good, I give 4. I will come back again anytime. read more

This place is a neighborhood Cuban restaurant that is not fancy but a comfortable atmosphere. The Cuban sandwiches are tasty. The Chicken, Beef & Fish plates are delicious. The large portions are fairly priced. The desserts, in particular, flan is awesome and the Cuban coffee is strong. The only reason I don't give it 4 stars is the wait for the food. The wait can be 20-30 minutes for a party of 4. If you are not in a hurry and would like a friendly dinner than this is your place. read more

Love love this place! There super sweet and best oxtails, beans and rice in the area! This pls r might be small but the food is Godzilla! Orders going out left and right!!!! read more

Don Carlin - Yummy fried fish and home made salsa. So good! - Cuban Near Me - Sunrise, Florida

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Wanted to eat some Cuban food and decided to give this place a try. I ordered the grilled chicken whom the guy stated it was a grouper but tasted nothing like a grouper. Not only that it was very salty and soggy. My girlfriend ordered the grilled chicken and it was loaded with onions and very salty. To top it all off, we were charged $25 for half of a carafe of Sangria costing more than both the grilled chicken and and grilled fish combined. The price of the half of a carafe of Sangria is not listed on their menu and they have a responsibility to let people know the price. We left most of the Sangria because the wine used tasted very cheap like Manischewitz. I wouldn't have minded paying $25 for the Sangria if it was worth it. I barely touched my food. The waiter was overly nice but I found him very annoying. By the way, I specifically chose this restaurant because I wanted to support a local and family owned restaurant during these hard times but walked away feeling robbed. Needless to say I will never go back there again. read more

Really not sure why this restaurant has a 4.5 star rating. Went there last night and all the meals were average or worse. The Yuka was bitter which means the root was too young or old. The fish I had with garlic sauce was just OK and so was the pork my sister had. The worse was the steak my son had. So chewy he had a hard time swallowing it. I'm not saying it's bad food, but Las Vegas that had a 3.5 star rating is slightly better. read more

Best Cuban food in south florida hands down. So flavorful and fresh and consistent. Family owned and operated as well! You won't be disappointed! read more

We have been to this restaurant many times. They serve outstanding authentic Cuban food, better than the local regional chains. It's nice to support a local business with such outstanding food. Ask for the homemade hot sauce and be prepared to be impressed with the owner/family that is there helping nearly every day. read more

This is the place you want to if you want real Cuban. The Roast Pork is really good. But the best is the Roast Chicken. Don't miss it. Wait staff is super friendly. And the lunch specials are super affordable and big portions. I finished it off an espresso. And as expected, it was like candy! Classic Cuban. Hole the wall. Off the beaten path. The kind of place locals don't like tourist like me knowing about. Glad I found it! read more

Have ordered to go on a few occasions- guy running the counter/front very friendly- have tried steak Milanese, Cuban sandwich, soups, moros (black beans & rice) portions are small for the price Not authentic Cuban but it's ok- I believe there is Not any real Cuban food out west to talk about- read more

Don Carlin has the best cuban food I've ever had at a restaurant. Everything I've had has been amazing, but my all time favorite is the pork chunks. They are so tender and practically melt in your mouth. Their rice is cooked just right and the bread (thats FREE!!) is amazing too. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone. If you eat here, I guarantee you'll eat well!! read more

Small restaurant, simple decor that they overcomlensate with good food and great service. Try the fish chunks with garlic sauce, delicious and no bones! Vaca Frita had that crunchy side to it that we expected. read more

Was able to grab some lunch take out. But I wouldn't say it's rated five stars. The food was OK. the rice was a little hard and the steak sandwich was not a traditional steak sandwich with Cuban bread. The bread was more of a Hawaiian bread. The steak also didn't have much of a mojo taste; it was more bland. If it's a quick stop and you need a quick bite to eat it will satisfy your "Cuban" craving. I personally think la carreta is better :) read more

Did take out soup wAs very good empanada was soggy and inside was dry. Ordered pork chunk dinner for my husband with red beans yellow rice and tostoned they gave us black beans which happens frequently or at least it used to happen frequently when we did a lot of ordering from there all in all it was just an OK meal read more

Don Carlin - Cuban Near Me - Sunrise, Florida

The only Cuban restaurant in my area but it does cure the cravings for lechón, vaca frita, MARIQUITAS etc. FYI the kids ham & cheese sandwich is HUGE!!! It's an adult sized meal or two kids meals in one. I rolled in on a week night @ 6pm on a last minute dinner decision. Ordered two meals at the counter & the waitress/cashier said it would take 10-15 minutes. I'm pretty sure it only took 5 minutes. read more

Great place. Food was delicious service was friendly and attentive. We will definitely be going back.

Great Food authentic and delicious! I definitively recommend anyone looking for authentic taste of Cuba

Wow! So many wonderful things to say about this place. First of all I'm of Cuban descent and grew up in Miami eating great Cuban food at many homes and many restaurants. This little restaurant has what you want at the right price with huge flavor. There's no doubt you will love it! read more

Don Carlin is the kind of place I'm always searching for. It is a family-owned restaurant that takes pride in its food. Authentic, delicious choices, from beef, pork, seafood, everything you could want. We had ham croquettes and empanada appetizers, which were excellent, roast pork entree (amazing) and a cuban sandwich (stuffed!). Great sangria too. Very fairly priced, and very clean restaurant and restrooms. A true gem in Sunrise, and a great alternative to Sawgrass Mills restaurants or on the way to the BB&T Arena. read more

Food is pretty good, decent prices and always good service. Husband had the oxtails special last time and it was really good. I usually always get the breaded chicken with Moro rice read more

Full of flavor (but too salty for my taste). Good portions and a good price. Very authentic cuban food. It taste like homemade food! Don't miss to try the DELICIOUS Guanabana drink with milk (out of this world!!!) SLow service but it was worth the wait. read more

We love their steak with shrimp! The sauce they put is amazing and with rice is so good. The garlic bread is really good too. Happy to have a good Cuban restaurant right around the corner read more

You will not be disappointed here. The Cuban bread to start is so soft. Their empanadas and the pork tamale is devine. I've gotten the grilled chicken with onions as well as the palomillo steak, both are delicious. Best Cuban around the Broward area. read more

Love this place. The customer service and food is exceptional. Authentic Cuban food. Great lunch specials and excellent coffee. I have been coming here since they opened and they are always on point. read more

Why wife and I went for lunch based on yelp reviews, they were right in the money, we ordered a tamal, stuffed potatoes, black bean soup, along with a Cuban sandwich to share, everything was delicious and fresh, the total bill came to $18.00, what a bargain read more

Moving to Broward, I often miss a good Cuban meal. Thank goodness for Don Carlin! My husband loves the churrasco and the Pollo a la plancha is my favorite! Although the beans aren't as authentic as I'd hope, it doesn't stop us from going back. read more

This is a wonderful place to eat. Highly recommend! Their food is fantastic. Their customer service is great. They are so nice and genuine. Always a smile. I come here about 1-2 times a week. Love it! read more

Amazing food and absolutey wonderful service. We had lechon asado, boliche, and ropa vieja, as well as some empanadas. Everything was delicious. Highly recommend. read more

Excellent Cuban food. We ordered the picadillo, ropa vieja, roasted pork, boiled yuca and flan. All exceeded expectations. Portion sizes were great. Only took 15 minutes to prepare. Definitely will be back. read more

This is a great local authentic Cuban restaurant! Service is very good and staff is friendly. Laid back environment that's not loud so you can enjoy your friends/family while eating. Food is phenomenal! Highly recommend Masas de Puerco and the Churrasco steak with rice and black beans. read more

First went to D.C. about 20 years ago at their original location. Still the same home cooked meal that I remembered from the first visit. Love ending the meal with a Cuban coffee and flan. read more

In my opinion, this food is not authentic Cuban. Recently, I ordered Caldo Gallego and got some brown bean stew. It looked and tasted nothing like real Caldo Gallego. At least the staff is pleasant. I will be looking for another Cuban place. read more

Our part of 4 arrived around 7 on Sunday. We were served quickly, food came very fast, and we were out of there in less than one hour. The food was delicious. I grew up in Miami and would consider myself a snob when it comes to Cuban food. This was great. The simplest thing to make and screw up is the beans and the black beans were some of the best I've ever had. The Yuca was full of flavor as well as the breaded steak. The place is very non assuming, almost like a cafeteria atmosphere but I was there to eat and in the food and service area, they excelled! read more

I have been looking for Cuban food in the area the google referred me to Don Carlin, I ordered the Arroz Relleno which is their yellow rice with chicken and cheese, it comes with delicious plantains. I worked in Miami for many years but this little restaurant beats any Cuban meal I've ever had. Definitely a little gem in the middle of Sunrise ... new favorite restaurant! read more

The only Cuban spot to go to in Sunrise. The food is always great. And the service is excellent. Our kids love coming in because the servers remember them and their orders. Friendly hidden gem in west broward. You cannot go wrong because everything on their menu is awesome. read more

Okay so as an American born to Cubans and having moved from Miami, I'm well ensconsed with the good and the bad of Cuban cuisine. The restaurant is super clean, the decor is very sofisticated a la the 1950's Spanish Cuba, not the 1990's Miami art deco and pastels flavor. The smell of the food as soon as I opened the door was the distinct aroma of a Cuban restaurant, i don't know if it's the onions, mojo or the lechon but, I knew exactly were I was. The service was very good as well, my wife and I were sat down, we perused through the menu which, by the way, is not too extensive, I think this might be one of Don Carlin's strong suits since they can concentrate on their 30 (more or less) signature dishes and not have to worry about appeasing the full spectrum of the Cuban palatte; I've gone to great Cuban restaurants that try to have way too many dishes for customers and in turn, their Sandwich Cubano - a staple of ANY Cuban dinery - suffers. I ordered the lechon asado and washed it down with a malta, my wife ordered the plantain soup and a chicken ceasar salad with a Materva. While we were waiting, we noticed that the place was packed with a mixture of different ppl, white, latino and black were all enjoying some good ol' cuban food and it seems that Don Carlin does take-out as well, at least a half dozen patrons came in and sat at the counter to wait for their order or came in to pick up a to-go meal. My wife's plantain soup came out first with a basket of bread, the bread should've been more toasted and the soup itself was, unfortunately, sent back. For some reason, it was too oily, sipping it tasted like it should've been called "oil soup with pseudo-plantain flavor." Definitely a miss. When our main entrees arrived I went to work on my lechon. Delicious, the pork was tender and succulent! The white rice was firm and the black beans had enough flavor to complement the rice also, I had 4 maduros which could've been cooked (fried) a little longer but, personally, that's excactly how I like them - I mention this because a lot of ppl really like their maduros fried with crispy, burnt edges. One small gripe though, had to be that the malta I ordered was in the small 7 oz. bottles instead of the full 12 oz. ones I know and love, as such, I had to order another one. My wife, however, got the short end of the stick again. Her chicken ceasar salad was, blah. How hard is it to make a ceasar salad? Let's see, Romain lettuce...no. Don Carlin used SOME (a little really) Romain but it was mostly head lettuce cut into strips. Ceasar salad croutons...no, instead there were small house salad croutons which can be found in a Pepperidge Farm Box next to the dressing at Publix. A ceasar salad should ALWAYS have large, over sized croutons due to the fact that it is supposed to pick up the creaminess of the dressing as well as the garlic, which BTW, it didn't have. Dressing was rather sparse too, my wife had to ask for extra. In all, the salad was missing pepper and olive oil, the grated cheese itself was more than likely from a Kraft Parmeasan Cheese tube than a block of actuall cheese. Basically, I could've made Don Carlin's Chicken Ceasar salad at home. To their credit, however, the grilled chicken was pretty good, which leads me to believe, that they must have some descent grilled chicken dishes. Would I ever order what my wife ordered, no. Would I go back to Don Carlin's? Maybe, if some one asked me were is there a decent Cuban restarant, I would be inclined to send them there with a warning not to try the platano soup or the Chik. Cea. salad and instead try one of their specials. read more

I've dinner here multiple times and I don't know why I haven't wrote a review before.. Little mom & pop Cuban restaurant located in Sunrise. You can either dine in or take out. They have a nice variety of Cuban dishes on their menu. They serve beer and wine. They offer nice portions, I can never finish my meal. They always bring fresh Cuban bread with butter to the table. I can literally eat a whole basket of bread and be fine with that. And don't worry, you can ask for more & it's free. Whether we are dining in or dining out, we always start an appetizer - the plantain chips, with garlic on the side. Be aware - the garlic is strong & you'll have garlic breath the rest of the day. I usually order the pork tamale dinner with white rice, red beans and sweet plantains. The pork on the tamale is so moist, you can taste the fresh lime and mojo. I really LOVE this dish. They offer the pork tamale as an appetizer - I'd recommend ordering it if you don't want that as your meal. Or I order the palomilla steak with white rice, red beans and sweet plantains. This meal is always great. The steak is always huge, taking up your whole plate. You really can't go wrong with any dish. I also want to mention that I've had their Cuban sandwich, which is also tasty. You can't go wrong with this place. The food is always fresh and the service is alway good. read more

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The waiter takes our order. Half an hour later when the rest of the restaurant that came in after you gets their food and you asks about yours, the waiter comes back to take your order for the second time. How do you forget someone's entire order and not realize it? Food was mediocre. The vaca frita comes out as one piece and lacks flavor. Do not come here if you are hungry... Your food may never come. read more

I order food from here maybe once a month. The people are friendly and the food is good, I usually stick to the same thing but I tried the breaded steak for the first time and I have to say it was NOT good. The steak had no flavor it was very bland and dry. Other than that everything else we have tried was good. read more

Always delicious, portions are very sharable! their empanizado is yum, their lechon (roast pork) is amazing and even their garlic shrimp is great! Only problem with this place is knowing what to order...everything is good. We are Realtors and will often take our customers there for lunch when selling or renting homes in the plantation to coral springs area! read more

Service started out shaky ( snail's pace) for our beers. But when food arrived : amazing. Nothing we sampled was below excellent. I can't tell my mom that their Boliche (Cuban pot roast) is better than hers ! She'll kill me. Masas de puerco, were to die for . I only wish I had left room for the tempting desserts. We cook this at home everyday, but I think I'm changing some of my methods. read more