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    El Cuba Cafe

    4.8 (16 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 2:30 pm

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    EL CUBA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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    New hours
    Bloo O.

    Traffic this morning was hell, but the food is worth it. Café con leche was perfect, cuban sandwich is filled to the brim, put some of their hot sauce and you have MY perfect breakfast!

    What's left of the delicious Papas Rellenas
    Tim C.

    One of the many things that I love about the YELP app is being able to introduce people to new restaurants. 99% of the time, the eateries we visit already have an existing listing on YELP, and it's our "job" to provide a review of whatever establishment we have the pleasure of eating from. It's those other 1 percenters that get me excited! It's like finding a needle in the haystack, and I consider it a privilege to be able to add a new restaurant to the YELP community. It's even more exciting when the owner of the small place you're adding hasn't even heard of YELP, is new to the restaurant game, and doesn't know about how the "YELP effect" can really drive their business to new heights. Today was one of those 1 percent days! One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a human being is to go food shopping at your local grocery store on an empty stomach. Since I am a male, I usually do this 9 out of 10 times and wind up spending $200 more than I initially planned. Such was the case today, but I was determined not to go crazy while steering my wobbly cart up and down the aisles of Publix, and also trying not to bring home the lovely Coronavirus. Pathetically, I was actually proud of myself as I was checking out because I had managed to fend off the hunger attack that was being waged by the Publix Deli sub stand. They made a valiant effort, but my will was strong this day, and I emerged victorious. Strutting my bad self out to the parking lot, I was ill prepared for the sneak attack brought upon me by this treacherous new villain! Coming out of the Publix lot I was behind a few cars at the light on Bell Shoals, when suddenly, as I peered across the street at the Circle K, I saw a tiny sign sticking out of the ground that read "El Cuba Cafe." I didn't know it at the time, but my stomach had already raised the white flag, surrendering peacefully to the thought of a Cuban sandwich. I've passed the hidden strip mall behind Circle K a thousand times, but I never recalled seeing a Cuban restaurant back there. I drove around aimlessly for about 5 minutes searching, but didn't see any kind of awning that resembled the sign I just saw previously. I did a quick search on YELP, and still nothing. I finally had to resort to a check on Google, where I noticed that the restaurant website had the same address as the Circle K, huh??? I pulled into the "K" parking lot, swung open the double doors, and low and behold, there it was, all tucked away in the back corner of this convenience store chain. Little did I know what awaited me. This place is literally the size of a snack bar on the 10th hole of the local country club, but don't be deceived, big things come in little packages. After getting aquatinted with the delightful owner Naida, I decided to try the Cuban sandwich, beef empanada, and stuffed potato balls (Papas Rellenas). Let me tell you, all three were the bomb !!! The Papas Rellenas were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, deep fried to perfection. The empanada was a little dry, but still delicious, and then finally, the amazing Cuban sandwich. I've lived in the Tampa area for over 30 years now, and this is easily one of the best Cubans I've ever had (I've got the gut to prove it!!). Besides the fresh ingredients and perfectly pressed bread, the kicker is Naida's mouthwatering homemade roast pork. She has the perfect blend of spices and mojo seasoning that gives it this out of bounds flavor, not to mention that it just melts in your mouth. The Cuban alone will make me a new frequent guest, and I also can't wait to come back and try one of her breakfast sandwiches as I hear that they too are legendary. Tell Naida that you heard about her place on YELP so that she can see what an impact we can have on her business. She deserves the traffic, I promise that you won't be disappointed (drop me a line when you do, I'd love to see what you think). Five stars all the way!!!

    The counter inside Circle K

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    Photo of Karen V.
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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Very good sandwiches nice and big and fresh there inside the Circle K Coffee is excellent

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    4 years ago

    i loveee this place. i go here with my mom every morning they make everything better in here

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    4 years ago

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    Cali - Brandon - Lean & Clean

    Cali - Brandon

    4.3(825 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Food 5/5 Service 5/5…read moreAmbiance 5/5 This is my mom and I's go to spot when I make it into town. Their chips, salsa and guacamole is fresh and delicious and we love their bowls! Both of us got the hot & crunchy with the ahi tuna. So yum!! Our waitress was kind and attentive and I love the live plants they showcase around the seating area. We of course will be back! :)

    At a shopping center in Riverview is Cali. It is very modern looking inside with high top tables…read moreoutside. It has a nice overhang that keeps you cool during the hot weather. The service is amazing. The staff was attentive and helpful. I wish the food was better. I was in the mood for a salad. The first disappointment was that they only gave 3 choices. I am on a gluten free diet and didn't have a problem with that. I did have a problem with the fact that 2 out of 3 salads had cheese in it and is not for someone who adheres to a dairy free diet. Yes, I could have asked if the cheese could be left out. But these salads had multiple kinds of cheese. I never wanted to be that person who asks to leave out half of the ingredients because of dietary restrictions. I would have had to do that. Maybe the answer is the choice to have a custom salad for people like me. The second disappointment was that the salads had a price without any protein. When you added one of the proteins, the salad became very expensive. This was a huge turnoff. The last disappointment was the ice tea. Although there were 3 choices, two of them had ingredients to which I am allergic. The third choice had caffeine. There was really no choice other than to drink water. I chose the restaurant because it was midway between us and friends. I looked at ratings and the number of stars when I travel out of town. This was not really what I expected.

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    Cali - Brandon
    Cali - Brandon - Hot & Crunchy with seared ahi tuna

    Hot & Crunchy with seared ahi tuna

    Cali - Brandon - Soo... Buff

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    Soo... Buff

    Metro Diner

    Metro Diner

    4.3(86 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    Woww! Generous portions and delicious. Our gang ordered a cinnamon swirl pancake, carrot cake…read morewaffle, crab cake Benedict and a couple of breakfast platters. We also got a side of biscuits and gravy to share. The five of us had enough left to feed another couple of hungry people. The waffle and pancake were perfect. The Benedict was a plate cleaner. The platters had perfect over easy and over medium eggs, crisp bacon, Generous hash browns and a choice of toasts, both of which we got were delicious. The real star of the show was the side of biscuits and sausage gravy. The biscuits were crispy on the top and perfect in the middle. The gravy was scrumptious and seasoned perfectly for a group with varying tastes. Definitely going back. Our only regret is that most of us don't live in the Tampa area! The restroom could use a little attention. Lots of paper on the floor.

    I came here for breakfast with my sister and we had such a great experience. Even though it was…read moresuper busy, the service was friendly, organized, and surprisingly quick. We were seated fast and our food came out much sooner than expected. I ordered the chicken and waffles, which were perfectly crispy, flavorful, and paired so well with the fluffy waffles. My sister had the veggie omelette, and it was fresh, filling, and cooked perfectly. Everything tasted amazing, and the overall atmosphere made it such a fun and relaxing spot. We left happy, full, and already excited to come back again.

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    Metro Diner - Seasonal Menu

    Seasonal Menu

    Metro Diner
    Metro Diner - Spicy syrup. Served warm with a dash of hot sauce

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    Spicy syrup. Served warm with a dash of hot sauce

    El Cuba Cafe - cuban - Updated May 2026

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