I never turn down a Cuban bakery! This Flaco's location is downtown and very popular with the late night crowd coming out of clubs. The line can be out the door after 1am. Its near Andaz Indian restaurant and has parking in the back of the building, but most people just walk here. There are two entrances, the back is for tacos with cash only. The front has the full menu including pastries and sweets (flan, tres leche cake). And of course your full range of Cuban coffee- cortadito, cafe con leche..so on. My favorite sandwich is the Medianoche which is similar to your standard Cuban sandwich. But medianoche is made with sweet bread. Yum!! I also really enjoy their Quesitos- cheese pastry. The arepas are good too. They have another location closer to Uf campus next to Study Edge. read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Quesito- so fluffy and creamy! $1.86 - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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This place is never a let down! Always friendly and a nostalgic cool atmosphere. I'll def spread the word! read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Errapu! - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

A little Cuban lunch in the swamp! Media Noche was just like growing up near Calle Ocho, the pork was cooked and shredded perfectly, the yellow mustard, ham, swiss cheese and pickle combo was right in the money. My tres leches was a little dry but the flavor was there. read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Only had the Cuban and it was wonderful. I am always on the hunt for a good Cuban and this one did not disappoint. It was hot on the outside and cool in the center, as it should be. Mustard only, no mayo, as it should be. Good roast pork, as is required. Made to order, friendly folks, hip vibe inside. I'll go back when in town. read more

Flaco's is a downtown staple. It has Cuban food like arepas, guava pastries and tacos. Nice vegetarian options too. Whenever I'm drunk downtown, Flaco's is the easy choice for food. There usually aren't any lines and the food comes quick. read more

This spot is a dive with pretty good food, but a really great vibe. It's also the only place that I've seen in this town that stays open past 10 p.m. I stopped by for lunch and got a bowl bowl with black beans, lentils, rice, ropa vieja and diced chicken. The meat could use a bit more seasoning, but overall it was filling and pretty good. I also ordered beef and chicken mini empanadas to enjoy later.. I forgot to order arepas, but my best friend told me that they were awesome. I'll have to check them out on my next visit. Apparently they also make really good tacos in the back of the restaurant. Might have to check those out next time, as well. The service here was surprisingly friendly. The guy behind the counter was really cool, very patient and happily answered all of our questions. I definitely plan to come back and try the arepas...and the tacos. read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Chicken and ropa vieja bowl with black beans and lentils, and 2 empanadas. - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Real deal- fast and easy. Sandwiches are pretty massive so you can share or have a late snack after crushing some beers. read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Cubano - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Really good food and good vibes nice seating area inside and out. Open super late and the food is amazing.

Flaco's has THE best cubano in Gainesville. That's right the only one worth trying and take this from someone who has tried them all in basically every part of the US and Carribean. This is my all time favorite sandwich and Flaco's is where I go in Gainesville. Flaco's has two small locations both on University Ave, one in midtown and one downtown. Disclaimer: I have only been here after a night out. The midtown location is usually packed with college students but they do have a walk up window to order from. The downtown location is bigger and their front counter is sandwiches and pastries while the back counter is their burritos. Outside of the cubano I like the quesito (sweet pastry with cream cheese) and their burrito with the siracha sauce! They also have a lot of other sandwiches and the Cuban bread is pressed to perfection. read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I literally just got back from Flacos when I open my meal it was warm to cold cuban sandwich. I have been to this place multiple times and it is a hit or miss. You can tell right away when the sandwich comes out fresh and hot or warm and cold. In addition the people in the front saw me for 5 minutes didn't attend to me and my meal was ready to go. I have tried their sandwiches fresh and I know they stay hot at the very least for 30 minutes it makes me wonder how long they had it sitting there and then recooking the bread again as it tasted hard to chew. I am pretty disappointed I only give it 3 stars because half time it is amazing but other times just NO. Sadly my Cuban Sandwich is going back into the oven. Having worked in the food industry, these are the things that make or break businesses. read more

The food, the people, and the vibes are incredible! I eat here weekly! *chef's kiss*!!!

A great Thursday night comedy show. Amazing staff, a nice drink selection and a great menu. A must. Definitely a hole in the wall but definitely worth it. read more

Whoaaaaa buddy!!! You can never go wrong with a good Cuban and Flaco's has it!!! Well at least the best I have had in Gainesville. As a Cuban should be enough for two and they nailed that part. I also tried the quesito abs that was note worthy as well. I would recommend you call ahead of time to eliminate the wait. But either way it's well worth it! read more

Gainesville lacks a great Cuban restaurant but Flaco's offers some small options. The Cuban sandwich is very good. Bread is fresh, soft on the inside, crispy on the outside. The tacos come in soft flour shells. We ordered the ground beef. They weren't bad for Cuban tacos. We bought a couple meat empanadas, again pretty good and prices are very reasonable. Service was quite slow but luckily we weren't in a hurry. Overall it's okay. read more

Best tacos in town! Not only do I love the food here, but the staff is also amazing! Perfect for lunch or dinner, I love the variations you can make on tacos, burritos and more! Each time, I swear it gets better. My favorite meal? 2 chicken tacos, plantains and a Sexy Pastry They have some yummy sauces but I won't lie, I never actually need them! But they're all definitely tasty. Affordable, fresh and incredibly delicious, Flaco's is my go-to taco spot in the swamp! read more

I've been watching "The Chef Show" in Netflix, and I was craving a Cuban like the one that Fraveau and Choi made. The next day as soon as I woke up I went to Flacos and got two; The pork was tender and sweet, the sauce mixed perfectly with the pickles and the jam was the perfect complement. Love Flaco's, love their Empanadas and now I love their Cubans! read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Have only gotten takeout thus far, but I love it. I'm obsessed with good maduros (fried sweet plantains) and can't find them in my other hometown in north Georgia. So I was delighted to find Flaco's serves chicken and maduro arepas. They're just want I wanted--decadent, cheesy, a perfect blend of sweet and savory. One doesn't look like much but will do for a meal! And with a side of extra maduros, I was in heaven. I'm definitely going to come in and check out the vibe, but the food already gets my vote. read more

As many could agree, no other food quite compares to a warm heavy Flaco's burrito at 2 in the morning. However, their burritos are so good you'll find yourself craving them at every hour of the day. You can't beat the quality of this burrito for the price of $6. Not only is it quite filling, but it tastes awesome! I always get the avocado garlic sauce and it balances well with the richness of the cheese and other ingredients. 4 stars instead of 5 because Flaco's definitely needs to improve their cleanliness especially with the influx of drunk/tipsy people coming in every night once the clubs close. P.S. I've had their tacos, but the burritos are better! read more

Flaco's Cuban Bakery - The legendary Flaco's Burrito - Bakeries Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Gotta love flacos!! Great for any time of day. 100% worth the wait if there is one. The guava and cheese Pastry and Cuban are my favorites. Only thing I'm sad about is that I paid $2.25 for a side of plantains (only included 3) read more

Rude staff members. Tried to order an egg and plantain arepa (which I've ordered several times via Uber eats) and they told me they don't sell that. Told them I ordered it 2 weeks ago and the cashier lied and said they stopped selling it. The cashier with the pink hair and nose tattoos looked disgusted because we were there but was happy go lucky for the white couple ahead of us. Never coming back. read more

The food was yummy and great for late eats. Don't expect the most stellar service because this is a quick eat and loud drunks will make the environment strange. The folks working are doing their best to churn out meals as quickly as possible: but it gets busy. So good though! read more

Flaco's is my favorite restaurant in Gainesville because of how delicious and cheap their meals are. Love this place to death. They even have vegan and vegetarian options, and if you're health oriented they have meals that are pretty lean. Easily 5/5 read more

Portions too small for the price. It would be helpful to know how small the sandwich was before ordering.

Amazing food and good vibe after shooting pool. Would recommend after going to silver q

Flaco's is truly a Gainesville institution and one of the best restaurants downtown. If you like quick Cuban sandwiches and pastries, this place is for you. This is the only location in town, as the midtown location sadly closed a little while ago. The restaurant is spacious with multiples large tables. It can be a bit warm due to the kitchen being open to the dining area, but it's not too bad. Get a ropa arepa and a guava and cheese pastry and enjoy the food! read more

I believe Flaco's was where I first tried an arepa and since then, not many places have topped it! Flaco's flavors are always consistent and it continues to be one of the best late night spots for hot and tasty comfort food. It's consistently made fresh, so cheese is always super melty and the meat has lots of flavor. My favorite is a classic cheese arepa or the ropa vieja arepa! A little too greasy at times, especially when they're heating the arepas on the griddle, but maybe that's what makes it that much better! I have only visited the other location in Midtown once, but I have to say that this Downtown location has always tasted a lot better. Downtown is a bit bigger, and they have a section in the back where they serve tacos! Through the space, they also feature art for sale - great pieces adding to the theme of the place! read more

Jill rectified this super quickly and was very helpful we really appreciate that! Thank you very much!

If I were to sum up Flaco's in one short sentence, that sentence would be, "Flaco's tastes bad." Simply put, they take absolutely no pride in their food, or providing quality food for that matter. You can get better ingredients from the Five Star Pizza around the corner, getting it take-out and eating it on a dirty park bench. However, since Flaco's is one of the only places open in the area for the late night crowd, they really own the late night food scene. Since the city of Gainesville in now allowing food trucks past 10:00pm and everyone is too lazy to walk or too drunk to drive down to Taco Bell, this is it. I give them props for putting up with drunks, but damn. Their pastries are bone dry, and the sandwiches are completely flavorless. Even the pork. I am so confused. read more

Great hole in the wall that's open late. Been a few times and I've always enjoyed it. Definitely recommend!

Flaco's claims, "best Cuban sandwich in Gainesville." I hope their claim is not true. I can only criticize this sandwich as sandwich, not as a Cuban sandwich, because according to my husband, what they are serving is a sandwich in the cuban style, rather than a "Classic Cuban Sandwich," with essential ingredients being sliced roasted pork and pressed Cuban bread. Not a good sandwich. The pork was kind of like potted pork or pulled pork, and the ham was salty deli ham. Both meats were dry. The sandwich on the other hand was swimming in Mayonnaise. I did not detect mustard, and mustard and pickle are critical to a Cuban sandwich, -- as is the bread. The bread should be Cuban bread. I assume this Flaco's is related to the Flaco's Cuban Bakery so I would think they would get the bread right. They did not. Cuban bread is a firm floury kind of bread that stands up well to pressing. This was a soft kind of eggy bread that did not stand up to pressing. The bread was also heavily buttered, and it had an odd flavor that I could not identify. I am by no means an expert in Cuban sandwiches, I would not even know what they were if it were not for my husband who orders them EVERYWHERE WE GO! And, I think the only reason he orders them is to criticize the sandwich and then transition into telling stories about living in Miami, "in the old days." I love sandwiches and this sandwich I did not love. So I very much hope that this is not the best Cuba Sandwich in Gainesville. If you are going to claim you have the best in town of something, you better be ready to back it up. I feel tricked into making a special trip. I may have liked Flaco's, but the expectation was set too high, and the singular thing that I was sent there to try was a fail. read more

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Cuban Gators at 2am. Sometimes you wait a while. Sometimes the quesito isn't as fresh as you'd like it. (Still delicious, try the guava and die a little.) The plantains are always dependable. The tacos, too. It's just that... Cuban Gators. Anytime, really, but most divine in their consumption as a goodnite tuck-in after losing your sweat at the Atlantic. Best Cuban in town for my money. Bonus, the staff here is funny and kind and the wall art is always kinda gross and weird but in a wholesome sorta way, like a kindergartner who smells like cigarettes but has some sort of knowing crackhouse wisdom: funny and a little concerning. Cuban. Gator. read more

I usually love them but this worker was fucking dumb, I ordered a media noche and they didn't have sweet bread so I asked for a Cuban and she said that was a completely different order. So now I pay the same more for what she fucking gave me, a Cuban. read more

OK, you're out for a few drinks with your friends that live in Gainesville (Melissa O. and Robert O.), then all of a sudden it hits...need FOOD...now. But late night, where to go and get relief? Flaco's Cuban Bakery, that's what I was told. It was right on the money, I had a great experience (and no...I was not hammered or even that buzzed yet, thank you very much). It's a simple modest bakery/cafe type of setup. Lots of goodies visible in the case and a great, diverse menu to choose from even later at night. I guess I opted for something basic, but it was great. I got the ham and swiss pressed sandwich on Cuban bread. It was AMAZING. The bread made it. If the bread is a prime example of what Flaco's does daily, they hit it out of the park. How many times to you get to say the bread MADE the sammich?!? True, the combo of all the great components made the sammich but the bread was the standout. Fresh, tasty, and just perfect for sandwiches in thickness and texture. Definitely color me amazed, the word to go here for a good bite late night was the good word, and I have to recommend it as well. Bottom line: Great bakery/sammich experience, even late night, or should I say especially late night. The Cuban bread made the experience, and that can speak volumes for a bakery. I highly recommend a trip here to try them out. read more

What happens when you're hungry and it's a late night in Gainesville? You end up at Flaco's, because that's one of the few things open. A small group of us stopped in on a Saturday night, around 10 or 11 for a bite to eat. I ended up ordering a chicken bowl and I sort of regret it. The service is nonexistent here, which isn't a huge issue. Make order, sit, wait for your name, pick it up at the counter, return to seating. This place was packed with drunk college kids. This isn't such a huge deal but it gives you an idea of what they cater to and the standards deemed acceptable. My order is called and I collect the aluminum foil container and I'm underwhelmed just looking at it. Pile of rice, add some beans, a small pile of all but pureed chicken, and two plantains. There was pretty much no seasoning. The boything looked at his bowl and said "this isn't a meal." There was much disappointment. I've had better late-night meals courtesy of Wawa. I guess on the plus side, at least I didn't en up sick? read more

First off, I'm a Tampa native. I've had some of the best Cuban food that has ever been prepared - in private homes and in restaurants. I'm also aware of, and need to state, that Tampa Cuban and Miami Cuban are two different animals. Flaco's is more Miami Cuban, with a bit of a local Gainesville flair. That said: Their pressed cubans are superb. The meats are right, the bread is good and the guava/cheese turnovers (LOVE) are perfect. I see some others here with issues over the empanadas - I have no opinion since I have never ventured past the pressed sandwiches. Media Noche? Yes, please. Lechon? Oh yesssss. Cuban with extra pickle? Gawds yes. Drunk or sober (they are open late) a properly pressed Cuban, dressed with swiss, mayo, mustard and pickle, is one of the greatest pleasures in life. My only complaint is their incomprehensible hours. Thats the only thing that keeps me from eating there more often. Well, and the A/C is really lame in the summertime. Not that its costing them any business, but still... read more

Always a pleasure. I get the Cuban, which is as good as I've had. I normally don't like pickles, but I actually like them in this sandwich because it cuts the heaviness (mustard also helps). It's very filling. The quesitos are my favorite pastry--better warm and straight out of the rack but also good for breakfast the morning after. If I'm in the vicinity, I'll usually stop by to grab one. The guava and cheese is also decent but not amazing. The beef and chicken pastries are also good for a snack if you're not feeling a whole sandwich. Depending on how crowded it is and how many people you come with, the wait can be very short or very long. I take everyone who visits me in Gainesville to Flaco's, and everyone's loved it so far! read more

Chipotle who???? Flacos is hands down AMAZING!! I always look forward to coming to Flacos when I visit my friend who goes to UF. I don't and will never have anything bad to say about this place! I tell everyone from Tampa that this place is THE place to go for burritos and bowls! read more

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Absolutely fire. They recommended the burrito and I went chicken burrito and it was amazing. It was clearly a popular spot with lots of locals stopping by for a late night bite after the bars. Had a dj outside as well to create a fun atmosphere. Left off one star for lack of chips or a side being included. read more

Talk about great tasting food at a very inexpensive price. I come to Flacos at least twice a week for lunch and I'm never disappointed. I first stumbled upon the place at its downtown location and the midtown one measures up equally. Compare it to its neighboring competitors of Tijuana Flats and Chipotle and neither of them can best Flacos. It is that good! In terms of Taco to Taco comparison and diversity of its menu, this small shop is what you'd consider that hole-in-the-wall kind of spot. I'd recommend trying the Ropa Arepa or Tacos (chicken, beef, pork and ropa). I haven't sampled their entire menu yet so I can only vouch for the tacos, arepas and pastries. I would highly recommend this place for lunch or that after-midtown spot if you're feeling some grub. It's worth the try and not a big dip into your wallet either. read more

I live for their arepas, their lentils, and when I'm eating low carb their bowls can be put on a bed of lettuce and will still beat out your dining mates' food as the best meal ordered. Love living near this place and 10/10 would sell my pinky toe to get their recipe for lentils. read more