We drove by this restaurant and knew we had to stop! Super fun beachy cuban vibe. We ate outside and loved the decorations. I had Hemingway rice which is this chefs version of paella with a lobster tail on top. Good presentation. His and had the cuban sandwich. He loved it. I saw other dishes that looked good. I will go back read more

El Ambia Cubano - outside seating area with stage - Cuban Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

We went to see the Space X Demo 2 launch and stayed at Melbourne for a night and discovered this Cuban restaurant. Here are my ratings based on different criteria: Quality of food: Great. We ordered couple of empanadas which came out piping hot and full of flavor. For the main entree we got the Ropa Veija which had tender shredded beef in a tomato-based sauce, garlic, onions and peppers, with white rice. Everything tasted full of flavor and had a nice spice to it. Lastly, for desert, we got the Tres Leches cake which was as moist and spongy as it could be. Decor: n/a. We only got food for takeout and did not see the decor. Cleanliness: n/a. We only got food for takeout and did not see the decor. Service: ok. There was nobody that came to help us put in an order. We had to ask couple of waiters on where to go to place an order. Price: typical. Our entree was around $13 and the empanadas were about $5 for two. If you're in the mood to get some authentic cuban food then El Ambia Cubano will hook you up. read more

El Ambia Cubano - Outside - Cuban Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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Amazing! First time having Cuban food and it was delicious. The service was welcoming and attentive. I had the Cubano sandwich, coffee and mint lemonade. Two thumbs up! read more

El Ambia Cubano - Cuban Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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Having lived in Miami for the last 6 years I've never had a Cuban sandwich this good. And I've been too all the top tier sandwich shops in Miami. Even reheated it had every little ounce of flavor it did while fresh. Highly recommend. read more

Cuban food, period. Cannot go wrong with Cuban sandwiches. Fried plantains added the tasty. Slurped down with a mojito, out door seating , view of the river, upbeat live music, friendly service and funny staff. A little noisy, but expected. We tried the cannot be wrong Media Noche Cuban sandwich and the jokingly Fidel Castro plate. The shrimps are tasty, and the steak is ok with good flavor. If no room left for dessert , at least try the Cuban coffee for a good night out. Recommended read more

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I tried El Ambia Cuban restaurant the first time later on a Monday night and they took us in even though they would be closing in about 45 minutes. The staff was friendly, helpful, efficient got our drinks out quickly and kept them coming as we looked forward to the fabulous Cuban food. I had the Cuban Style Roasted Pork which was very flavorful with beans, rice, and sweet plantains. The restaurant is not fancy but the decor is fun and it is next to the river so great location. I highly recommend El Ambia. read more

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Food is super delicious You can't go wrong with the roasted pork. Really enjoyed the live music read more

El Ambia Cubano - Roasted pork - Cuban Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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I thought the food was good! My bf..... he said he has had better. Now, to be honest, I have had better lechon asado. BUT theirs was still good, and I enjoyed my time here. The margarita on the rocks was good! I tasted a bit of orange flavor in it. Not super strong but strong enough. I got the roast pork. Instead of beans I got a side of yellow rice and also white rice. I love rice. My bf got the Masa de Puerco. Both were good! The beans he had were flavorful! Kind of wished I got beans too haha but wanted to try both the rice's. Can't tell which I liked better. Enjoyed them both! So next time I am in the neighborhood, I will just get both rice's and beans! OH I forgot we got this........ potato stuffed with beef? I think that is what it is. I really enjoyed it... but my bf said it didn't have much flavor. I agree the flavor was subtle ... but still I enjoyed it! read more

El Ambia Cubano - potato/beef... can't remember name - Cuban Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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We stopped in for a few starters and cocktails. We were met by a very friendly Hostess. I will say the service throughout our visit was outstanding. We chose to sit on the patio and enjoy the river view. My margarita was very tasty and complimented our food so well, I decided to owner another one. My husband ordered 2 Cuban beers and enjoyed them both. We will definitely be coming back soon to order an entree. read more

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Good location; tho be weary of the road you take to get there, some of nearby roads fill with potholes. Always busy. Food is good, prices/quantity standard for area read more

The food is amazing!! The staff is great! Loved the outdoor seating. I will be back for sure!

Been going there for years. The best Cuban sandwiches in the area. Not the best ambiance, but great Cuban food at reasonable pricing.

We sat outdoors, and liked the vibe of their outdoor space. The service was good. The food was good and the portions were generous. We had chicken and pork dishes with black beans and rice and plantains. The lemonade with mint beverage was refreshing. We recommend! read more

Delicious, authentic Cuban food, a big menu with all the favorites, & excellent service. Great patio & easy parking. We've been to many Cuban restaurants from Victors in New York, many in Miami, in Cuba as well, and this is just as delicious as the rest. read more

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Beautiful spot near the river with comfortable tables outside and in. Fun decorations on the walls and lawn kept my son occupied while we waited for our food. Palomilla steaks were huge and onions carmelized perfectly. Ropa vieja was SO tender and flavorful. Service was fast and friendly. I can see why this is a local favorite! read more

El Ambia Cubano - Ropa vieja & palomilla steak - Cuban Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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This restaurant is a must visit if you're by Melbourne,FL. This was our 4th time visiting!! Every time we visit Melbourne, we eat here. We've had the Tostones, Cuban, Roasted Pork, Surf and Turf, Fruit Shakes,& coffee. Every item ordered was delicious and flavorful !! The best Cuban food ! The gentleman was our server last night (8/26/24) plus a few times in our previous year's visits He was so attentive and pleasant! Thank you for your patience with us!! See u again! read more

I was in town from AZ and stopped by to get dessert, Great flavors. Only thing I regret was not staying longer to see the band

Amazing Food! GREAT location. Hipster vibes! Come as you are or dress up and enjoy the out door seating! Covered and uncovered. Single bathroom. Now to the Food! Pork Empanadas, YASSSSSS. They were fresh! The porknwas juicy and flavorful. The pastry had good flavor. Second must have is a Pineapple Milk - Shake. This is not ice cream based... && wow! What a way to wash your food down. THIRD must have - BREAD PUDDING !! I had the Red Snapper as well... it was good. An experience for sure, but one and done. See photo. My husband had the Hemingway and Wow!!! That had some yummy flavor. We also tried the iced coffee (semi sweet) and the Curdadito (super sweet) Please see the photos read more

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We had lunch here today and had great service , great food And enjoyed dining outside looking at the river. my beef empanadas and sweet plantains were delicious!!! read more

We were excited to try this place based on the reviews and the looks of the atmosphere. The atmosphere was nice and we loved the decoration , music and feel. The waitress was also good. The food however was disappointing for us. We tried five different items from the menu and they just felt like they were lacking seasoning. Overall we are glad we tried it but would not return. read more

did a take-out on our recent visit to Melbourne, FL. We went on a weekday for lunch it's a great Cuban Restaurant with a nice view and great food, service was friendly and quick. decided to sit outside since it was just take-out and the view was nice. the food tasted amazing and the quality was good. waiters were friendly and gave us suggestions as we told it's our first-time visit to a Cuban restaurant. I liked the Cuban Coffee and the Beef Empanadas. everything we ordered tasted good. read more

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I ordered the beef empanadas with a café con leche and an upside down pineapple cake for dessert. The ambiance was pure tranquility. The food was amazing. The empanadas had the perfect texture and seasoning. The upside down pineapple cake was off the chain, and the Cuban coffee was fantabulous. The server was very nice and responsive. I will definitely return to explore other entrees on the menu. read more

El Ambia Cubano - Café con leche - Cuban Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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Ok this is really good Cuban food. If you go try the Red Snapper. Super tasty. Went here with a group of seven and everyone liked the food. They also had live music, this addition really gave the feeling of being transported. read more

So I gave 4 stars cause my server was on the less social side. The location is great it's right next to the river and ample parking.They have good hosts and a good selection of Cuban food. The Cuban sandwich is the bomb. read more

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Having a wonderful experience eating in Florida. Having been to Cuba with my wife I agree with my wife. "Best Cuban Food I have eaten".

Authentic and delicious! Me and my husband were looking for some authentic Cuban food during our short Florida visit. The ambience gives a neat cultural vibe with a very nice owner that serviced us. We ordered the Hemingway, Cuban sandwich, and Cuban coffee. The Hemingway was delicious with the lobster cooked just right. The rice was very flavorful and complemented the dish nicely. The coffee was sweet and like an espresso. From the other patrons also dining, you can tell that this is a hub for the locals in the area. Next time we're in Florida we know where are coming next read more

El Ambia Cubano - Cuban sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

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We are from California but wanted to try some Cuban food. Service was good and the food was great. We tried the potato balls, the chicken and the shrimp. The chicken was marinated and the flavor was present through the chicken was good. I didn't have any of the shrimp but the person who got it said it was good. read more

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Good experience and tasty food. We were looking forward to going to this establishment and we are so glad we finally made the trip.

Love this place! My daughter always has her top restaurants to go to when I come to town. If I get a choice, this is mine! Love the food, staff, and ambiance. Wish I could eat here more often. Yum! read more

A secret little spot, with some amazing Cuban food and a beautiful vibe. A spicy little place and the energy good. read more

El Ambia Cubano - Cuban Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

Great service, Hemingway rice and lobster was great. Good view of the inlet from your seat.

Great food and drinks!We had lunch on Saturday and it was so good that we went back for dinner and took a guest on Monday night. The whole fried snapper and the Hemingway was incredible. Highly recommend! The Cuban sandwich and grilled fish platters were so good too. The strawberry batido with milk is highly recommended. Outside seating was very comfortable. Just like all restaurants right now staffing is an issue so be prepared for food to take a little longer than normal. Remember to be kind to your servers and enjoy the experience and enjoy the great food! read more

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My husband and came in for a late lunch. It was about the third time we've dined here. He ordered the Cuban sandwich because he knew it was delicious. I wanted to try something a little different so I ordered the Pan con lechon, and let me tell you it was out of this world. We recently stopped at another Cuban place out of town and I ordered something similar with high expectations and it was not good there. El Ambia sets the bar with food, service, and atmosphere. The owners were there the last time we were in and they treated us like family. We look forward to coming back an evening when they have live music. read more

This authentic Cuban restaurant is excellent. Not only is it a fun ambiance with live music in a relaxed setting, but the food is incredible. As a latina myself I was thrilled to taste the authenticity of the dishes. My family loved it so much that we decided to have El Ambia cater my father's celebration of life. The owner (Alfredo), his wife and staff went truly above and beyond to provide excellent customers service and made the day memorable with the absolutely delish food and excellent service. This is one of the most impressive customer service experiences I've had. Alfredo was responsive, passionate, kind and extremely fair with pricing. A true professional. Fun fact, the owner is also an extremely talented vocalist/musician who also provided entertainment on our special day. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this small business. I will be back certainly. If I could give 10 stars I would. Try the pineapple upside down cake for dessert!! I will proudly give this establishment my business whenever I can. read more

We hadn't been here in awhile. Celebrated our anniversary and I'll say this place doesn't disappoint. Great service (Leah). Great food, among the best Cuban food I've had. Nice friendly staff. Kitchen staff even thanked us for coming by. Definitely made us feel welcome and like family. We had the roast pork, ropa vieja and ham croquettes. And mojitos. We ate inside, enjoyed the video of Cuba and the music playing. Great place! read more

El Ambia Cubano - Cuban Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

Food always very good! great atmosphere! Highly recommended Great service and great food! read more

My last visit was 5 years ago, so I was really excited to come back. My pork was still excellent, plantains still perfect, and yellow rice was, well, still a let down. But the black beans - God, the black beans! - will haunt my dreams until my next visit, hopefully before another half-decade passes! read more

We are driving on 95 and decided to detour to try this place. It was amazing and definitely worth the money & adding 30 minutes to our road trip. Really great service and an overall good vibe. I would come here again. read more

El Ambia Cubano - Cuban Near Me - Melbourne, Florida

A gem. Great vibe, talented kitchen. Get you some deep friend pork cubes (first thing on the menu)! Friendly service. There was some competent fish on offer as well. The tres leches cake seemed to be well received by the children. Inside dining room is smaller and cozier than you might expect. Bathroom is exotic, and there is only one for the whole place. read more

Had Hemingway rice, shrimp criolles and masas(pork). Tasted pretty good. Flan was overdone and had lots of caramel sauce. A little too sweet for me. read more

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