La Bahía is a Puerto Rican bakery through and through, so if you're from the Caribbean or Hispanic,…read moreyou already know what to expect. But Florida is a melting pot -- you've got folks from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, everywhere -- and they walk in asking for Cuban bread. It's kind of funny because... this isn't Cuban bread. It's Puerto Rican bread. Different taste, different texture, different soul. And that's not a knock on anyone; it's just one of those cultural things that's hard to explain unless you grew up with it. With that said, the sandwiches here are solid. The place gets busy -- packed, actually -- which tells you everything you need to know about how the community feels about it. The food is authentic, the flavors are familiar, and nothing tastes watered down or "tourist‑friendly." We've been coming here for years, and the consistency is what keeps us returning. Same quality, same service, same comfort‑food feeling every time. It's the kind of spot where you walk in and instantly know you're getting the real thing.

Not impressed with the sandwichs both the Corazon Criollo and Cubano a lo boricua we're very dry…read moremy drink was lukewarm so I actually had to ask for a cup of ice.. the place is pretty but I've eaten at better Puerto Rican Bakery in Tampa

A coworker recommended this spot, so I had to check it out--the fresh chicken empanada did not…read moredisappoint! Located in a food corner with a variety of Latin American cuisines, this place offers plenty of options, even just for empanadas. Sticking to my original plan of empanadas, I went with pollo, carne molida, and pabellón. Freshly cooked!!! Amazing! Payment was easy with a credit card, and the menu is simple and clear in both English and Spanish. It took about 10 minutes for my order, with a few people ahead of me. Highly recommend! They have tables right in front of the truck, so you can sit, relax, and enjoy your food. Plus, they serve coffee! If Venezuelans tell you it is good, you must add it to your list!

Muy grasosas las empanadas. La grasa escurría l por mi…read moremano. Y las servilletas no servían de nada. Y en dia de semana no tienen cachapas disponibles.

I've never tried this business until I started babysitting my grandson. I walk him in his stroller…read moreand would pass by always wondering if it was good. I checked Yelp and they have rave reviews! Now I know why! The staff are lovely, the empanadas are delicious! They are cooked to order which is great. They offer several different kinds of empanadas. They have delicious salads as well. The place is small and I've only taken out from there. I believe they have approximately 6 tables to sit at. During the work week it's extremely busy at lunchtime! I would not hesitate to return for more empanadas!

Came here at lunch time on a Wednesday. Place was very busy…read more Lots of to-go, dine-in and food delivery orders. The empanadas are cooked to order. Expect a little wait to get your food. All the different empanadas we tried were delicious and not greasy. I will suggest the basic beef is the best. But the other flavors such as the sausage & cheese was a close second. Two are filling, but big appetites should get three. Price of $4-$5 each are reasonable. They also serve cuban soups, salads and sandwiches.

La comida estaba muy rico. Pero nessesita mas espacio en el restaurante . Mi gente maravilloso!…read moreGracias!

Driving down Armenia a sign with "Columbiana" in the name caught my eye. Not sure why I had missed…read moreit before, but a quick turnaround into the parking lot confirmed what I suspected....another Columbian restaurant in the ranks of good Latin dining options on this street. El Fogon Columbiano is located in Veena's Plaza, just south of Sligh on the west side of Armenia. This small storefront has just 18 seats and a small counter at the back with drinks and what looked like empanada-type baked/fried items. There's a flat screen TV that was tuned to a soccer game. Speaking with the kind woman at the counter, my limited Spanish revealed they had no menus, but among the choices she listed, I made out that on that day they were serving chicken soup, rice and carne asada (steak). I asked about sandwiches (as the glass in front prominently advertised), and she said they offered a steak sandwich as well. My order for the sandwich with lettuce, tomato and red onion was served up about 10 minutes later in a huge roll, which looked like about 12+" of Cuban bread pressed extraordinarily flat and toasted. The abundant pieces of carne asada looked about 1/4" thick from a combination of thin slicing and likely a good pounding flat as well. The steak was moist and very flavorful, and the mix of lettuce, tomato and onion along with the thin toasty texture of the pressed bread made for a great mix of flavors. The steak was just a bit tough to bite through in a few places, as I've found in most carne asada serving less-costly cuts of beef, but it didn't affect any of the flavor or overall chewability. What's incredible is the $5.50 price for this gargantuan sandwich. I would have expected it to be considerably more expensive using steak, and at that price it's a great value. If you're looking for a beef alternative to the Cuban sandwich, El Fogon's steak sandwich is a good choice. I'm confident that my very limited Spanish meant I likely missed some other menu options. Next time I'll bring my Spanish dictionary and check out some other choices. Atmosphere: 3 Service: 4 Food: 4 Value: 5

Mi Tierra Latina, one of the best Colombian restaurants in Tampa Bay, offers delicious and…read moreplentiful food at very reasonable prices. The restaurant is located in an unassuming strip plaza off of Hillsborough Avenue, near Veteran's Expressway. While the place isn't fancy by any means, the generous, favorable traditional dishes make up for it. As the place is known to get packed very quickly, especially around normal meal times, the petite waitstaff is highly attentive, friendly, and helpful in getting customers seated as soon as possible. Also, despite the sometimes loud din in the restaurant, patrons are jovial and just glad to be served. Among the best tostones/patacones I've ever had are those here. As opposed to being cut round, these plantains are cut on a lengthy diagonal, and they are never overcooked, so they remain soft and crunchy. Also, there is a lot of flavor in their frijoles (red beans), and they also add pieces of plantain to them. Having a daily Sancocho soup on the menu also earns them bonus points.

I have been excited to try Mi Tierra Latina after hearing from people around town that it's a great…read moreplace to go for great Colombian food. And I can say, they were not lying. We ordered the beef stew, empanadas, fried yuca, black beans, rice, and plantains. The soup was great with lots of toppings. The empanadas were beautifully crunchy and the sauces on the side for them were divine. My favorite bite of the night though was the black beans; oh my gosh the flavor was there. Our server was excellent. Very friendly, gave us great recommendations and went over the menu with us as first timers. I went with her suggestion to get a frozen drink and I'm so glad I trusted her. The frozen lemonade tasted so fresh and no artificial flavor at all. She said you can adjust the sugar on any of their fresh juices as well. The atmosphere was great, I would love to come back here and try different rotations of soups they offer!

Decided off a google search to order sandwiches from here. We had Cuban sandwich and a bistec…read moresandwich. The sandwiches are not your typical Tampa sandwich. They both had potato sticks on them. I enjoyed both sandwiches. I will definitely order from here again.

Today I stopped into box of Cubans for the first time. I was born and raised here in Tampa and I am…read morealways looking for an authentic Cuban sandwich. Immediately as I walked through the door, I was greeted by a lovely young man behind the counter. He asked me if I have been here before and I told him it was my first visit. He took the time to go over the menu and explain in detail what they offer and some of their latest creations. It was a wonderful start to my first visit. After his recommendations I decided on the classic Cuban sandwich and the beef and cheese empanada. Hands down one of the top 10 Cuban sandwiches I've had in quite some time. Especially in the new Tampa area. The Cuban sandwich was absolutely delicious. Pressed perfectly with amazing quality ingredients inside. The beef and cheese empanada was equally delicious. If you are in the area and looking for authentic Cuban food, done, right I highly recommend giving them a visit. I will definitely be back and this will be a regular staple for me. Looking forward to trying many of their other dishes. Now that I know I have a solid Cuban sandwich place in my neighborhood!

Box of Cubans 17512 Dona Michelle Dr…read moreTampa, FL 33647 @therealboxofcubans Delicious Cuban Food and Cafe. This place is your Go To Place for Fast Food Cuban Cuisine and Cuban Coffee delights.. Great place to eat with your Family and I Friends. Don't miss out on this place. Go and visit them and find out why this place is getting very popular with locals. You can Order Online or do Uber/ Door Dash.

¡Este lugar es un verdadero tesoro escondido! Llamé el sábado para pedir una picadera para llevar,…read morey desde el primer momento la experiencia fue maravillosa. La muchacha que me atendió por teléfono fue súper amable y simpática, me explicó todo con paciencia y buena actitud. Cuando recogimos la comida, nos sorprendimos con lo generosa que era la porción. Por $25 nos llevamos una picadera que fácilmente daba para más de dos personas, y aún nos sobró. Venía con un poco de todo: pollo, chicharrones, chuleta o jamón frito, tostones, queso frito... ¡una delicia! Todo estaba bien sazonado y fresco, con ese sabor casero que te hace sentir como en familia. El food truck es pequeño y está algo escondido, lo cual nos sorprendió porque vivimos cerca y nunca lo habíamos notado. Pero ahora que lo encontramos, definitivamente será nuestro nuevo spot favorito. Estoy embarazada y este lugar fue un verdadero salvavidas para satisfacer mi antojo. ¡La picadera me dejó feliz y satisfecha, pero ya sé que la próxima vez voy por el chimi! 10/10 recomendado.