Cuban cravings = satisfied! If your taste buds are shouting for a Cuban sandwich, then El Jefe in Tampa has you covered. We visited during the Saturday lunch rush, and despite the crowd, we were seated, fed, and happily full in under an hour. The staff was in hustle mode taking orders, checking customers out, and despite all that, I still overheard our server greeting & hugging regulars by name just like in "Cheers," but with way better sandwiches. Our picks: the Cuban sandwich which had all the flavors you expect from the classic sandwich and picadillo with rice and beans (AKA my kinda comfort food). The restaurant is casual and cozy with a mix of booths and tables; we lucked out snagging a few of the last seats right before it was a full house. Parking is a breeze as it's located in the same strip mall as Planet Fitness and Global Golf (so you can justify that extra bite of picadillo), Whether you're grabbing it to-go or hanging out to dine in, El Jefe will satisfy your craving for Cuban food. read more

El Jefe's Cafe Tostada - Picadillo | Seasoned ground beef cooked with peppers and onions served with your choice of 3 sides. - Cafes Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Coming in after the PLANET FITNESS workout - was amazing - the water was great the food was very good - thanks again

I wasn't thoroughly impressed. The food tasted pretty basic to me but maybe I'll have to give them one more try before I completely rule them out. This location is very easy to find and parking is easily accessible. I was greeted immediately when walking in and they made recommendations for my first time which I appreciated. read more

Really enjoyed my visit! The atmosphere is cozy, the staff are friendly, and the breakfast options are excellent.

could improve on carry out, i called arrived at the 15 minute mark. waitress with glasses cashed me out. meanwhile i am waiting an additional 5 minutes with my order just sitting on the counter top getting cold. this place needs to work on efficiency. just paid 21 bucks for a lukewarm breakfast. read more

I've been coming here since I moved to the area and simply amazing! Starting with the food, the best Cubans ever are here, my usual is the media noche sandwich, that contrast with salty and sweet is my favorite! I also like de fried cheese, they put it with a guava jelly on the side, so good! The iced coffee is also great and very tasty. They have a little reward system, if you order 5 coffees they invite you the sixth. Melissa is so nice and attentive! She is always there! Shoutout to her! The place always looks cleans and tidy. They also have plenty of parking which is a great plus. If you have not come yet, you are missing out! read more

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They used to be good, what happened? 2nd time since back in this location that I've ordered the cuban, 1st time back I ordered & thought maybe a fluke but after today I would say Worst cuban I've ever had. if I wanted bread I would have gone to the bakery! not worth 11$! read more

Came in for at the recommendation of a friend who had been here. Upon walking in, it was PACKED! And while dining you could tell there were a lot of regulars. Seating is open so you can sit anywhere you want. We were quickly greeted and drinks ordered. There are so many different options on the menu so it was such a hard decision. But I'm down to try the hash and eggs. Omgosh they came out perfect!! The crisp on the hash and the eggs were perfectly over easy. I got a peach tea (green) and it was quite delicious. The flavored tea is not refillable. I also got me a deviled crab to go which is made in house and was very tasty. Overall great experience and I left FULL!! I'll definitely be back and next time I'll get the guava green tea. This is definitely a neighborhood gem. read more

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A friend of mine from Alabama went crazy about their cafe con leche, in my case particularly I will recommend their Cuban and their burger.

I had the Cuban sandwich. It's the best one in the area, you won't be disappointed iykyk

I ordered the 2 salads and a Turkey Cuban to go. I thought the extra chicken I added to my salads were prepared well and not overcooked but a bit salty. My sandwich, however, was pressed to perfection! Not overly dressed, not overly greasy... They clearly know what they are doing with the panini machine. I'd love to try their other pressed sandwiches. I'm sure they would be delicious. read more

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I love El Jefe's! I always order the media noche, so I can't speak on any other menu item. It's nice having a place like this in the Carrollwood/Citrus Park area. I've dined in the restaurant and ordered take out. No issues with either service. read more

Great food and service. The food was delicious and plentiful, waitress came by to check on us several times.

El Jefe instantly became one of our favorite places to eat when we moved to Carrolwood two years ago. The food and the service has always made us feel like family. Breakfast and lunch both great here. My favorite meal here quickly became their blackened fish which has always been the Friday lunch special. Until this visit the fish was bassi which I like but on this visit I saw the fish had been changed to cod which is one of my very favorites. What a great addition to the menu. No matter what you are after El Jefe will do it right. read more

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Super delicious food and great prices. We came on a Saturday so it was super busy but the staff was friendly and the restaurant is very clean. They have great vegetarian options and outdoor seating. read more

I love Cuban food... and am lucky there are a couple Cuban restaurants very near to where I live. I decided to try a new one today, instead of my usual. El Jefe's did not disappoint! As I walked up to the restaurant at about 11:45am I could see it was busy. Several people waiting for takeout orders, and all the booths and tables were full. Always a good sign! Good service... I was helped as soon as I walked in, and Natalie was friendly and helpful. I ordered a Cuban sandwich and an order of Platanos Maduros to go. I received my order quickly, and it was "El Jefe" that handed it to me... also very friendly and helpful! Got home, and unpacked the food... and took pictures. Sandwich was gorgeous, and nicely pressed with some nice browning on the crust. Platanos looked perfect! Started eating, and the sandwich was delicious... crispy Cuban bread, succulent meat in nice portions, just the right amount of condiments. The best Cuban sandwich I have had in a good while! I really love Platanos Maduros... I will always order them with any meal I can. And these were some of the best I have had... so soft and flavorful with a little bit of crunch from the frying pan. Really, really tasty! I will be going back to try other dishes... and wish I had started going to El Jefe's much sooner! read more

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This is a great local diner. We came for breakfast while in the area. Our breakfast sandwiches were perfect. Eggs were not overcooked which I was SO happy about!!! I can't remember the last time I had a breakfast sandwich with properly cooked eggs!! Wow! The cafe con leche was delicious as well. The service was fast and friendly. We would definitely eat here again. read more

El Jefe's Cafe Tostada - Cafe con leche and breakfast sandwich - both excellent - Cafes Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Café con leche! Legit Breakbowl! Legit Cuban toast! Legit (lightly buttered lite cheese) Very friendly staff good service I will coming back! read more

El Jefe's Cafe Tostada - Inside of the restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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For what they charge, the portions were honestly disappointing. Paying that much for so little felt like a rip-off, definitely overpriced.

This shouldn't be more than eight dollars. This is not dinner. This is breakfast. Y'all should be ashamed of yourselves, and I watched the cook go out to the trashcan and go back in and never even washed his hands. read more

I have had a lot of Cuban sandwiches in my life... This one was one of the best! Fresh ingredients, pressed and crunchy, the ham, The roast pork...this was truly tasty! If you pride yourself on knowing a good Cuban sandwich, go get to know one of these! read more

El Jefe's Cafe Tostada - First peek! - Cafes Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Natalie greeted us made sure we were ok during our lunch. She did an amazing job! The fries with the daily special were perfect. The El Jefe fish sandwich and fish plate were made with some of the best fish you can find. Make sure you order the fish grilled and blackened. A great group of local people eating and serving. Would recommend stopping by if you are in the area. read more

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Ok so first off lemme just say how much I looooove this place!!!! It is located in Carrollwood about a hop, skip and a jump from my house which makes it even more enjoyable for me. I have experienced dining in but I mostly use the drive through option because there is nothing better then when I have to get up early for a meeting and being able to stop and get a delicious made to order freshly made breakfast. And when I say the service is top tier I mean just that. I have never had a bad experience which is why I will be a forever customer. One of the things that I can acknowledge about this place is that they have had the the same people working there and even added a few new smiling faces since I started going there which to means they have what appears to be a good work environment. Turnover is something that I pay attention to whenever I eat places. In addition to that I always see the owner in there multiple times a week which shows that he cares about his business and likes to be hands on, which is few and far between with the chain restaurants. I always see him taking and packing orders, making coffee, serving the guest inside and I just love everything about it. Noooow lets talk about my food. I usually call ahead and place my order so I can just slide through the drive through and pay. I go so much that my girl Natalie knows my voice over the phone and knows my order by heart and always ask me if i want my cuban toast or if im opting out because it fluctuates.(Gotta watch the carbs lol). She has been there from day one and she is amazing and gives even better service. I usually go between 2 different meals: The 2 egg breakfast with double bacon, hash browns and a large oj or the Belgian waffle with a side of bacon. Whew that food is hot and delicious and full of flavor. you can tell it is made with love. I have tried some of the items from their lunch/dinner menu and they are lip smackin finger lickin' good. The also make their empanadas fresh in house so I usually order 3 at a time with some hot sauce. They have lemonades with flavor options such as kiwi and guava and a few more. I say all that to say that if want some hot fresh food with a lovely staff and great service please support this small business. The plaza it is located in does not get the traffic it deserves. My rating is a 10/10 across the board!!!! read more

El Jefe's Cafe Tostada - 2 egg breakfast with hash browns and cuban toast. Plenty of food and I do not recommend sharing lol - Cafes Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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This used to be Reubens Cubans. Very clean place. Good place for sandwich and Cuban coffee. Their Cuban Sandwiches are great. They also have other Cuban food. Service is very friendly. read more

El Jefe's Cafe Tostada - Outside - Cafes Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I've been ordering on uber or DoorDash should I moved near the area. It's really good finally tried the lemonade with strawberry and guava it was AWESOME ! Haven't been to sit and enjoy YET read more

El Jefe's Cafe Tostada - Loaded Loaded Cheesy Fries - Cafes Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Ordered take out which was Arroz con pollo. Got home and opened take out box and it was all rice. There was barely any chicken! Will never go back! read more

Great locally owned spot with great affordable food. I've only tried the breakfast sandwiches with cafe con leche but they have a wide variety of food on their menu. Great prices, decent food, and they even have a drive thru which is a PLUS. read more

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Why 4 stars? Because this is another solid eatery in the area. --- --- --- I'd driven by El Jefe's a few times but just never had the timing line up for me to stop in. Recently, I knew I needed to find a spot for lunch, so I specifically planned to finally check El Jefe's out. My wife and I ordered Cuban sandwiches, yucca fries, regular fries, cafe con leche's and we also tried out the torrejas. I'd never even heard of torrejas before, but it's Cuban bread, strawberries, cream cheese, powered sugar and syrup - all things that are great individually and possibly even better when combined. I will definitely order this if I ever see it on a menu again. In addition to the food itself, the menu is huge, the people are friendly and they even have a drive-thru window, which I took advantage of. My only regret about this experience is that it took me so long to stop in when it's so close to my house! read more

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While the inside is cozy, clean and really cute, we enjoy the drive through. The Espresso is Devine...the machines must be cleaned often. We have ordered just about everything on the menu, but the breakfast burritos are a Saturday morning ritual! Made just for you all fresh and tasty! The customer service by Monique ( I think that's her name) who works the window is amazing. Our orders are placed via phone and she always remembers my voice and calls me by name. She is always smiling and friendly. It's like a small town spot in a big city. Love it! read more

Great go to neighborhood Cuban eatery. Great service and generous portions. There's a variety of food, try the fish and grits.

Best Cuban food in town! Great service as well. Feels like you are at home here with the yummiest food. read more

Super cozy, family friendly. The staff is so kind and welcoming. The food is delicious, they have dominican, cuban, puerto rican, Mexican, and Colombian food. The queso frito was great, I also had salchipapa and a cuban sandwich and loved it all! Next I want to try a walking taco! read more

Recommend the Cuban sandwich, breakfast cuban, and breakfast burrito. Service is great especially with a drive thru window for ordering and pickup. It makes it very convenient and efficient to grab some good food and keep going on your way. read more

Awesome addition to the Gunn Highway Plaza right next to Lofton Apartments. Cuban sandwich rocks! Tuna salad is delish & they definitely have the best cafe con leche read more

No ambiance noticed, picked order up at drive up window. I order here all the time and food is usually great. Breakfast item and coffee was outstanding; however, today's visit included a devil crab for lunch. It was way over cooked. The breading way overcooked. The cook had to know the devil crab was way overcooked because crust was almost black instead of brown. I thought I had found a close place with good Devil crabs but today's was a severe disappointment. Service is always pretty good at pickup window. read more

Fantastic food! Always a pleasure. I've been visiting El Jefe for many years all around Tampa.

Buenas esto es una queja. . Mejoren el personal malos días tenemos todos pero no por SUS malos días uno debe pagar personas que no tienen nada que ver. ME EXPLICO llevo trabajando para Uber eat más de tres años y NUNCA he tenido algún problema tipo como hoy. La mujer me reclama a mí porque yo acepté una orden en su localidad y yo le explico que para yo aceptarla fue porque el mismo personal le dio para que alguien la recogiera porque yo eh trabajando también y se como es esa vuelta. Uno tiene que aceptarla para que otro conductor la reciba pero ellas con una mala actitud feo arrogante y estúpida disculpando la palabra no deberían tratar así a un cliente ni tener personal tan ridiculo, no molesto con los esfuerzos de los demás pero que tampoco quieran venir a molestar mis esfuerzos yo estoy trabajando al igual que ellas y respeto sea mutuo aquí doy mi queja para que mejoren ese ambiente laboral que lástima tener que venir a dar bad review. ATT:SarynellRosadoTrabajadoraDeUberEat read more

Fantastic coffee!! And the food was so good. Had breakfast of eggs and corned beef hash with some cuban toast. Such good homestyle service, that we went back another day for lunch! Cuban sandwiches are HUGE! Would definitely be enough for 2 people. Absolutely a go-to spot for me whenever I visit Tampa!! You should check it out too! read more

We have lived in the area for 10 years and did not know about this gem! While they've only been open for 3 years, we got the recommendation from a family friend. She was correct! Best Cuban breakfast in Tampa and we've tried them all and have been very disappointed. El Jefe is the exception...seems clean, well managed and good food. We will be returning! They're only open to 3PM and closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly. read more

I've been coaching kids nearly 15 years. One of the requirements throughout all those years was to maintain CPR certification. In the CPR classes, they also taught the Heimlich maneuver. In those 15 years, I've never had to use the Heimlich maneuver. That is, until today after ordering your steak sandwich. My wife and I each ordered one. We picked them up and brought them home. I ate mine right away and while the flavor was terrific, I certainly did notice the steak was tough and almost rubbery. I hadn't eaten in about 36 hours (had to fast for a medical procedure), so I wasn't too worried about texture, I was just happy to eat. My wife, on the other hand, ate her sandwich a few minutes after I finished mine. She took one bite of that steak and began choking. We've been together over 10 years and have eaten all kinds of food, mostly meat and Italian dishes, and she's never once choked. This was the first time I had to use the Heimlich maneuver. She's fine but will definitely never eat your steak sandwich again. That was a very scary situation. I'm a 5th gen born/raised West Tampan, so I've had some good cuban sandwiches and the occasional steak sandwich. Your cuban is ok, but I think your steak sandwich has more potential. Please work on that steak. Thanks. read more