A very nice place for authentic Cuban food This restaurant opened in 1978 and has been serving authentic Cuban food in the South of Downtown district for decades. One of our family recommended it to us and we decided to try it. I am very glad we did. It is at the north end of a strip center just off the east side of Orange avenue and north of Michigan St. It has a large Cuban Flag sign so finding it is not hard. The parking is to the north of the restaurant and only has about 10 tightly packed spots. I expected just a small counter area and was pleasantly surprise to find a very nice restaurant with tablecloths, real utensils and dishes. The murals and mirrors on the wall give a very nice feel to the place. Each table has glass platen over a white vinyl tablecloth with business cards, letters and notes from satisfied customers over the years. The waitress was very nice and efficient. We ordered a Media Noche, Cuban sandwich, Papa Rellanos and Ham croquettes. Everything came out within 10 minutes and was absolutely delicious. The price for all the food and drinks for 2 people was ~$50. It was well worth the price for great food in a very nice atmosphere from pleasant people. I definitely recommend it for fellow travelers who want real Cuban food. read more

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Everything I had was really delicious. The staff was friendly and efficient. I had the Fiesta Cubana and un cafecito. Flan for dessert.

Número uno cuban restaurant is a true gem! The lunch specials are flavorful and a great deal. I had the garlic shrimp with yellow rice,I always get the fresh avocado salad which is delicious!! and their refreshing fruit juices are a must. Friendly staff and an upbeat Latin ambience make it even better. Definitely a favorite spot! read more

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I got the bistec sandwich. It was bland it lacked flavor. The service wasn't good. The first lady who seated us was kinda but they didn't check on us at all. There was another lady who went around tables to ask how everything was going but not once did she ask us. We asked for napkins didn't receive them until i got up and asked for some. Then she wants to bring it to us. after we already got ourselves some napkins. Would not come back again. read more

It's been years since I visited this restaurant which used to be excellent! Sadly not anymore! Fried food was burnt and tasted bad from bad tasting oil! The cheese flan tasted like a cleaning chemical had spilled into it! Will never visit again! read more

First visit - the staff was friendly enough not that many Cubans work here, the food is below par for Cuban food - I ordered a staple of Cuban food friend Palomilla steak - which was not palomilla to avoid misleading that call it Numero Uno steak with onions with white rice which was old rice tasteless with black bean soup which were bland and tasteless the best part of my order were the ripe plantains. Sorry to say this restaurant can pass for Cuban if you only serve non Cubans or Cuban who didn't grow up in the states. Miami or Tampa read more

This restaurant is one of the early Disney era restaurants that is still in existence today, serving the same high-quality Cuban cuisine, including desserts, that it served some 30 or 40 years ago. If you want a nostalgic trip with exact duplication of foods that were prized then, this is a place to go without significant damage to your wallet. This is definitely a don't miss, if not for the younger set, at least with their parents.!! read more

Stopped by Numero Uno for lunch and it truly hit the spot! Their lunch specials are not only affordable but packed with flavor and generous portions. The restaurant has that "local favorite" feel and for good reason. The food felt like a slice of Cuba right here in Orlando. Everything was well-seasoned and comforting, just like a good home-cooked meal. Service was also on point--friendly, fast, and attentive without being overbearing. It's the kind of place you walk into once and immediately want to come back. Definitely a hidden gem for Cuban food lovers! Only heads up is parking, very tight and limited but expected downtown. read more

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The service was great. The waitress was very helpful explaining the menu. The food was amazing. I highly recommend you give it a shot!

Was there for lunch and The food tasted like it was left over from the night before. Very disappointed Service was fine and the atmosphere was ok, nothing to write home about read more

The location is small and easy to miss so just be sure to pay attention and look up for their sign. They have their own small parking space. Once you enter, the servers are very friendly and mainly speak Spanish. However if you only speak English, they can communicate in English. We got some espresso and coffee- strong! The churrasco was flavorful but a little on the dryer side for my taste. The Guyaba chicken is on the sweeter side but it's worth a try if you're feeling adventurous. read more

Numero Uno Cuban Restaurant - #20 Pollo a La Guayaba Dulce - Cuban Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Loved all the recommendations from our lovely and vibrant waitress. Our table had the numero uno, the arroz con pollo, the picodillo and the numero 13. We enjoyed every moment AND they have REAL butter -- thank you read more

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So there are some places I go to that deserve a great review but then you go to a place like Numero Uno cuban Restaurant and it deserves my time to give a review to make sure that noone visits this place. This place should have closed down years ago. The pernil was the worst I've ever tasted. The steak and chicken was dry. And the Ropa Vieja was ok but you can tell they do not use fresh ingredients. Surprisingly, the beans and white rice was good and the sweet plantains, but that's it. The service was ok. The place could have been cleaner. We should have known that if the parking is empty then most like it's no good but we gave it a try and it was a major disappointment. McDonalds is 5 stars restaurant next to this place. I don't usually leave bad reviews but this place was at another level of horrible cuban food. read more

Small, hole in the wall Cuban style restaurant. We stopped in for dinner after traveling for most of the morning from North Florida. Our daughter and her husband who live nearby recommended Numero Uno. The restaurant is small and cozy. I chose the Apollo Asado which was tasty but the chicken portion could have been a little more generous. My husband ordered the Bistec Saltedo . We both enjoyed our meals. Our server kept our drinks filled and checked on us throughout our dinner. Would probably try again next time we're in Orlando. read more

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Visiting Orlando I had high expectations for Cuban food. I'm sure there are other good spots out there but this place was the closest at the time. As you can see from the pictures I ordered togo. I can't really say much about the customer service but the waitress was nice. The interior was a bit outdated and the exterior is a bit creepy at night time. Right off the bat, the croquettes looked burnt, smelt burnt, and tasted burnt. So they were burnt! Also, the dough tasted doughy even though they were burnt. What an odd combo to experience! The sandwich was a nothing to rave about. At other Cuban restaurants, I've gotten twice the size with more meat. This was kind of a flat and sad sandwich. The only thing that was good but didn't take a picture of was the flan but that was probably store bought. Overall, not the best Cuban food. I would NOT recommend this place and don't intend on coming back. read more

Numero Uno Cuban Restaurant - Croquetas - Cuban Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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So good!! I've been twice now and each time gotten something different. This time I got the ropa vieja and it hits the spot! Also not pictured was chicken empanadas. The cortadito coffee at the end is always the best part! (The ropa vieja is closest to the camera. The back photo is "La Pareja") read more

Numero Uno Cuban Restaurant - #5 Ropa Vieja - Cuban Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I'm sure it's an off day but geees! Met an old friend I haven't seen in forever (6 years) to have a later lunch early dinner. Not crowded at all. My stepdad who was born in Cuba used to take us here when I was little so I was hoping to revisit childhood but this was not it. The papa rellenos were good. The Ropa Vieja was not. Not sure what I got but it was unlike any Ropa Vieja I've ever had. Basically soup spilling all over the plate. Congri was hard, tasteless and dry. Plantains were delish! It was quiet which was nice and I'm not sure why but while customers were eating - the server started mopping the dining floor. She tried to take our food twice when we weren't even close to finished. I double checked and they don't close until nine pm. We were there before 5pm. I guess some memories should remain in the past. Oh well! read more

Definitely not the Numero Uno from the past. Arrived around 3 PM on a weekday. We were promptly greeted and told we could sit at two specific tables, which were both on opposite sides next to the front door, even though there were plenty of seating throughout the restaurant. The service was rushed like on previous occasions, even though the dining room was not that busy. Two lunch specials were ordered and arrived promptly. However, the salad which included copious amount of vinegar dressing was on the same plate as the rest of the meal. Doesn't seem like a big deal until the stuffed potatoes, ground beef, rice and plantains become soggy with the vinegar affecting the flavor. By the way, just in case you're about to express your opinion that this is how Cuban restaurants serve their meals, in Miami salads are served separately. This is not only lazy/sloppy, but it completely changes the flavor profile of everything that is served on the plate. The taste of everything was average at best (not including the vinegar lol). We were finished with our meal when our server finally came by to ask, how was everything as opposed to how is everything soon after receiving our meal. Once you pay for the meal, the only receipt that you receive is the restaurant copy which is signed and given back to the server. This is the the third strike so to speak and as they say in baseball, you're out or in this case I'm out. read more

Disappointing. The papas rellenas tasted like old warmed over baked potatoes. The second meal at table, arroz con pollo, was visually unappealing with chicken mainly bone that left no desire to finish the meal. Third was ropa vieja which was shredded beef swimming in watery liquid. All of these meals I've eaten many times over the years but never been served ones prepared so badly. We just paid the tab eating way less than half and left to eat elsewhere. read more

Service is in the middle! Not bad but not great! A lot of English speaking people come through and even though the staff doesn't speak good English, they find a great way to communicate. Food is in the middle too. I found the rice needed salt. Beans were pretty good. Their roasted chicken needed more flavor too. The best thing was their cafe con Leche. Ambiance and Aesthetic is cool, very old school Look. Although I wasn't wowed! I will give this spot one more chance. read more

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Awful. I'm married to a Cuban from Miami and I know real Cuban food when I try it. This isn't it. The empanadas were half filled and they were 2 for $6 definitely not worth the price. The meat quality was poor and not flavorful. Asked for a cortadito with sugar and when I tasted it, it was bitter. I thought let me go ahead and stir it - nope. They didn't add the sugar. Had a burnt taste as welll. Definitely will not return and not at all worth the price. Take me to Miami ASAP. read more

I ordered takeout from Numero Uno as I arrived late in the evening from my last trip. I have eaten at this restaurant before as it is down the road from my house and the Cuban food never seems to disappoint - my takeout order was no exception. I ordered the Cheese Empanadas and the Ropa Vieja. The empanadas came with a spicy dipping sauce which enhanced their flavor. Zesty! The Ropa Vieja was excellent. You could tell it was slow cooked and the flavors exploded with each bite. I ordered it with yellow rice and yuca as part of the selection process, along with a side salad with house dressing. Two slices of Cuban bread and butter also came with the meal. I'm not much of a plantain guy so I decided to try the yuca instead. Yuca is like a white potato, but so much better. The taste of garlic, citrus, and onions made for a flavorful combination. I think it is my new favorite here. Overall, good meal. read more

Numero Uno Cuban Restaurant - 2 Cheese Empanadas and a side salad - Cuban Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I did not know about Numero Uno Cuban in Orlando. Its Cuban flag in its signage caught my attention. I was hungry for something to eat at about dinnertime and figured I'd go to Jimmy John's to get the one sandwich I've ever ordered there - the #5 (the Vito)! Numero Uno Cuban is about a block before, going up Orange, so #1 (Numero Uno) overtook #5. I drove around the block to think about this and figured I could get Jimmy John's sandwiches just about anywhere. Numero Uno is small but cozy and clean. The air conditioning worked well. It has the typical colorful and cluttered décor found in some Latin American restaurants, the most noticeable of which are the tables filled with business cards under their glass tops. There was a platter I was looking at. It was a trio sampler. I was told you'd get a little of this and a little of that. I wasn't familiar with some of the items in it, so I shifted over to the ropa vieja, the classic Cuban shredded and stewed flank steak entree. I saw that some people are saying that the prices are reasonable. They're not bad, but possibly a little more than what you'd have in the Miami area with so many Cuban eateries competing with each other. I think that the lunch specials here are really nicely priced. I glanced at that menu, and they appear to be a good value. However, I was eating later than that. The platter I ordered was excellent. The ropa vieja tasted just right, and, for the accompaniment, I chose congri, rice and beans mixed together, which was also very good. The platter came with sliced yuca. I had the server put together a 50:50 Coke:Diet Coke since they don't yet have Coke Zero. The service was excellent - a 5! Numero Uno is on Orange Avenue, just slightly south of downtown and where Orlando transitions from being one tacky strip mall and big box store after another on 6 lane roadways to having a more cohesive identity in its center. I believe this area is called SoDo, as in South Downtown. They have a small parking lot. One can find more parking on side streets if need be. Numero Uno's food was good and the service was excellent, but I left a little hungry. I'd still go back. This place would be ideal with coworkers or friends when they are serving up their various Cuban lunch specials. read more

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Numero Uno is a perfect lunch spot. It's a small and cozy little restaurant. The lunch specials are a great value and packed with flavor. The servers were very prompt and helpful. I had a media noche sandwich with a side of black beans. It was the perfect portion for $7.99. My husband had a Cuban sandwich with congri and it also was $7.99. My husband said his sandwich was good and he felt full with his portion. We also took an order of arroz con pollo for $8.99 to go and the container was full of food and had a lot of flavor. The prices and quality of food are amazing. You get a lot of food cheaper at Numero Uno versus any fast food places in the surrounding area. The only negative I have is that the parking lot is horrible, there's on a few spots and they are super tight and awkward. read more

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I'm from Miami and moved to Sarasota for another 10 years. Well I live in Sarasota I would drive up to Tampa and Ybor to get Cuban food. When I move back to Orlando, I was desperate to find a Cuban restaurant to fill the void. Black bean deli is pretty good, but it's pricey. Someone suggested numero uno to me and swore by it. I guess I had the wrong thing. I make Picadillo at home so I ordered the closest thing they had yo palomilla on the menu. That came with white rice and maduros. No bread. My steak was very dry. Rice is good. Plantains are rationed. I wanted more onions. I also got a tres leches. It was fine but coconuty. I probably won't go back unless I had to. read more

I have 2 1/2 Stars because I was looking for authentic Cuban food and this was not that! The food looks to me to be Puerto Rican menu more than a Cuban menu. Cuban menu has Moro ( black bean mixed with white rice) type rice and Congris (red beans with the white rice) or just white rice with a side of black beans, not the plain yellow rice! The food was not bad but it was not the trues Cuban food I am use to eating. The service was great, very helpful. The ambiance needed up dating. Looks old! read more

The service is excellent! The food is spectacular and we love the ambiance. We are regulars and have been coming here many years. The owner is pleasant, hard working, and goes out of her way to make sure her customers are happy. Please try this restaurant. You will not be disappointed! read more

For this one, we were having a lazy night in. Therefore, we decided to get take out. We picked it up ourselves, brought it home, and unpacked it. We ordered the papas rellenas, Pernil De Cerdo Asado, and the Pollo Asado. Starting with the papas, I was expecting something more flavorful. It just didn't have that wow factor for which I was hoping. The rice, beans, and maduros were all quite tasty and exactly as good as I had hoped. The chicken was seasoned well and I enjoyed that a great deal. I was , however, a bit disappointed in the pernil. I do love a good pernil, but, sadly, on this day it was a bit dry. I would probably give it a try one more time with the anticipation of a better outcome, as I did find the flavor to be very pleasing. I'll let you know how it goes next time! read more

Solid Cuban Restaurant! I finally decided to drop by after months of planning and the place did not disappoint! This is a Family owned restaurant that has been open for more than 40 years. The food is absolutely delicious and authentic. I had the Currasco with white rice, black beans and yuca. It was outstanding. The steak was cooked to my chosen temperature and the seasoning was on point. This dish was so freaking good. My companion had the "Fiesta Cubana" plate, which had Ropa Vieja, Boliche and Masitas de Cerdo, it was delicious and very flavorful as well. They also bring you a few slices of Cuban bread with butter as an appetizer, which was great. Their prices are very reasonable and they also have daily specials. This restaurant is definitely a must try. The decor is great and the service is outstanding. I had a great experience here and will definitely return. read more

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Ordered Arroz con pollo. Chicken quite dry, although sauce was good. Friendly and nice atmosphere

Really good Cuban food for Orlando. We come from Miami home of Cuban cousine. But awesome pick and ropa vieja. The Cuban sandwich was very good also and pan con bistec is a must. The natural juices are awesome also. read more

This place does have potential Old fashioned needs better service, some upgrade in dinner area

First time here. I wanted this to be so good, so bad and it was mediocre. I ordered the fried chicken chunks, rice, black beans and plantains. The Bean were bland, which is OK. I can add salt or pepper. The rice was good but common, I hope that would be the case. The chicken was good but not what I expected. This was a breaded piece of chicken that was chopped up. That's fried chicken. Not chicharon de pollo. The plantains were good. Not too fried and fresh. The bread, ah, what a total disappointment. This was their chance to make things right but they failed. The bread wasn't toasted. WHAT? Now, I will give them another chance since I'll be in the Area for a while. They have a big assortment of meals so I'm sure something is excellent. I just have to find it. (See menu below). Service is good and the cook did come out and said hi. Parking is iffy. Small lot. Tight spots and just a few. I will try again and update my review. I'm still hoping for i great experience here. I will let you know. I recommend read more

Numero Uno Cuban Restaurant - Menu back - Cuban Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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This could easily be a 2 star review but I am feeling generous. I got an "Arroz con Pollo", which is really a "Roasted Chicken w/ yellow rice", and even though it was edible, it was far from memorable and remotely acceptable in Cuban cuisine. Yep, this is one of those black holes in which people can get trapped. But, at least I was able to eat it and to be honest, it did have a little something, like red peppers... but the canned tomato paste flavor was too strong to deem it good. I hoped to rescue something out of this place, so I got a coffee and a flan, TRADITIONAL in Cuban gastronomy, so this cannot be messed up, but this was the worst flan I have had so far in Orlando. The coffee was decent. Service was hmm, somewhat friendly, but the school cafeteria vibe was very heavy. Some people seemed to enjoy their food, I'll give them that also. For me, just a hick up on the road... read more

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Honestly after years of coming here, I forget to keep writing reviews. We LOVE this locally owned spot and will continue to come as long as they are open. If you love Cuban food and good people stop in. If you're like me and love a good deal come for lunch. You cannot beat a full meal with multiple parts for 8 bucks. I took home half my meal last time. Try their papa rellenas ( potato balls) they have such a wonderful texture and minced meat topping. It's my favorite dish, and I can get it as my appetizer! The media noche was perfectly cooked and filled. Hadn't had it there and I couldn't get enough. My fiancé wasn't loving that he had to share.. oops. If you have a chance get an espresso for desert and you won't regret it. Continue supporting the local restaurants you won't regret it. read more

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Excellent service, great food...a little chilly. Adorable atmosphere decore and music make the meal. read more

Numero Uno Cuban Restaurant - Steak - Cuban Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Food is always amazing!! 10/10 for everything on their menu. I would recommend the empanadas and the fried chicken with white rice, black beans, and sweet plantains. read more

You want authentic Cuban? Want to leave a restaurant stuffed with amazing sandwiches, entrees and dessert? Numero Uno will satisfy any Cuban delight craving you have. Every time I have eaten her the service has been exemplary and the food delicious! It is not a fancy restaurant- it is affordable and what some would consider a "hole in the wall", but you will always leave the place HAPPY! Their Cuban sandwich is one of the best on Orlando. read more

Numero Uno Cuban Restaurant - Pork lunch special masitas/cerdo - Cuban Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Some ups and downs but otherwise pretty good. Small and crowded with very tight parking and a bustling lunch rush. Better to park nearby and walk over if you can't snag parking. Love, love love the tamales! Well intentioned hospitality noticeably spread thin sometimes. Loathe having to wait to pay at the counter. read more

Numero Uno Cuban Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Very good Cuban sandwiches and ham croquettes! Everything we had was delicious. Arroz con pollo, stuffed plantains!!