Wow, this place is great! We came here for dinner and were seated immediately. My husband ordered their fricase de cerdo which was $18, but came with a plate full of white rice, black beans, macaroni salad, huge pieces of plantains, and the pork in a thick stew with vegetables. The meat was cooked perfectly and the stew was very flavorful. I wasn't very hungry, so I ordered 2 empanadas, one was ham and cheese, and the other was beef, both were $4. The empanadas came with 3 sauces, a green, red, and white sauce. The green and red sauce were very good with the beef empanadas. I dipped the ham and cheese one in my husband's stew and it was delicious! My husband also ordered their plain mojito, which was really good. Overall, service was great! Food was great. Price was great. What more to say? We will definitely be coming back. This will definitely be one of our favorite places to frequent. 10000% recommend! read more

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Cuban food!! Oh my, have I missed you! Worth the drive into Austin to enjoy this authentic, delicious place!! Tropicana Cuban Restaurant HIT THE SPOT! The waitress we had was a HOOT! Bubbly, silly, sat down with us for a minute, great recommendations. Definite need to return to try their roasted chicken. We all started with fresh guava juice which was soo good, not too sweet and just a little pulp. We shared the croquettas, which were divine (creamy potatoes with garlic, seasonings and ham)... creamy tomato dressing served on the side elevated their flavor! Then on to entrees! I had the Lechon Asado - pork marinated with citrus, garlic and crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside with sautéed onions, black bean (Congri) dirty rice, crisp salad and perfectly cooked fried plantains. Incredible dish! My son ordered the classic Cuban sandwich which he enjoyed but he liked my pork better. He also had plantains and house made potatoes chips. His buddy had the El Cubanito Burger (which was a HUGE burger topped with ham, pulled pork and bacon & Swiss). I took home 1/3 my meal to have room for dessert. I had the choco-flan and my kiddo had a classic flan. Mine was an excellent creamy flan over a moist chocolate pudding like cake with caramel sauce. Portion were large, everything was rich in true Cuban flavors... beautifully presented too! Excited to go back. Menu is extensive and they have an in-house bakery! They make ALL their bread in-house. We took home some flakey pastries to try at home. Love the guava filled puff pastry. Colorful, vibrant restaurant with a full bar! read more

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Ok, No soy de Cuba pero vivi en Hialeah 15 años. Rice Maduros and a fry breast. $20.00 diet coke 5.00 Plus tip total bill for $30.00 Chicken breast empanizado, old like cardboard, arroz Moro old mushy, service, just ok I guess. What the heck happens with fresh food. This place smells old looks old and you might get sick with over salted food. With so many Cuban restaurants now, this will not be on my list anymore. read more

Today, I felt like something different for lunch...something with a little spice. Tropicana Cuban was my lunch de jour! Their menu has selections for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I landed on the Noche sandwich which was made with a sweet bread, pork, ham, pickles, and onions. The sandwich was so big, I could only eat one half (other half went home to the hubs.) Love the hint of sweetness of the bread contrasted with the savory taste of the meats. The cheese mildness also added to the overall balance of flavors. Service was excellent - two servers! Bother were friendly and accomodating. Loved the décor...sturdy wooden chairs, restaurant name carved into the chairs and colorful table design. It felt like you were transported to Cuba. In addition, the Cuba videos and music added to the ambiance. Tropicana Cuban restaurant was a great place to have an extraordinary meal. Definitely will be returning... read more

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The Cuban sandwich at Tropicana Cuban Restaurant was the highlight of our meal. The bread was nicely pressed and crisp, with layers of roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles that all worked together without one flavor overpowering the others. We also shared some tostones, which had a great crunch and paired well with the sandwich. It was a filling, flavorful meal that gave us a great introduction to Cuban comfort food. read more

Went here for lunch with coworkers, and had a delicious meal. I got the Cuban sandwich with fried plantains on the side. The sandwich was awesome, with excellent cheese pull and the fried plantains were just sweet enough. The dish also came with potato chips--I had plenty of food for leftovers, so I got to enjoy my sandwich a second time the next day! I forgot to snap a photo, because I was too excited and dove right into my meal. I also got a couple pastries to go--the Montecristo, which is a custard-filled pastry akin to an eclair, and not the sandwich I usually think of with that name. And I got a Chirivisco, which was flaky and delicious. Everything was reasonably priced, and our waitress was very helpful in describing the dishes for us. I'll be back! And hopefully next time I'll remember to snap a photo of my meal read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - The left pastry case, including the Chiriviscos on the left side, second shelf down. Everything looked delicious! - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Good Cuban spot in a strip mall on Lamar. I ordered the veggie plate and got to try a few things-plantains, yuca, rice and beans. There was also a warm piece of garlic toast and a side salad that really could have been left off as it was not as interesting as the other items. ;) The maduros (sweet plantains) were my favorite. The rice and black beans were just that and the yuca fries didn't have as soft a texture inside as I prefer. The sauces are the best part! The green sauce was spicy! The orange sauce had a touch of sweetness. I put both of them on everything! The vibe of this place is great with good Spanish playing throughout the place. Although I got my food quickly, it did take me some time to get my check and pay. Nonetheless, I'm a thankful vegetarian that found an affordable Cuban place nearby, so I will definitely return! read more

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First of all the service was amazing. The ladies were super friendly and welcoming with a big smile and a good attitude. The menu is really nice. Got the Ropa Vieja, congri & yuca al mojo and this just got me back to my family roots. Also ordered the stuffed potato. Everything had a great flavor. Clean and nice ambiance, nice Hispanic music playing loud. Definitely worth going! read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Ropa vieja, congri & yuca al mojo. - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Did an online order for the Cubano sandwich with the sweet plantains. The plantains were alright and the sandwich was okay. It was your average Cuban sandwich, and paired with there garlic sauce it tasted better. But honestly I was expecting a little bit better for taste. It's great for a quick meal on the go tho for $15 read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Cubano - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

Ashley was very pleasant and upbeat, I really enjoyed her and her service! She made the best piña colada and she was quick and attentive 10/10 The food was just as I remembered, I have been coming here since I was a kid with my dad and it's always very nostalgic for me read more

Very friendly staff and outstanding service. Food was delicious with huge portions. After traveling to Cuba last year we wanted to enjoy the flavors of Cuba locally and are so glad we found this restaurant! read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Shredded pork with onions, rice and macaroni salad. - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is one of my favorite places! I love the vibez! Amazing food and amazing owner this will always be one of my go toos!

It was okay. Not great, not bad. Ambiance was very meh. Service was fast and friendly. Food was good value for the price but I wouldn't go back. read more

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Moved to Austin a few months ago from Miami and it's not so easy to find Cuban food here. I can make it but sometimes it's nice to just go out and have some made for you. I was in the neighborhood and decided to try this restaurant. I only had the Cuban sandwich to go. Pork flavor was good, had a good amount of pork and ham, had all the right components of the typical Cuban sandwich. All it was missing in my opinion was a little butter brushed on top of the sandwich and plantain chips. It hit the spot though. I will definitely be back to try other things on the menu. read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

Super fast and friendly service, food came out not even 10 minutes after ordering. I had the ropa vieja plate with white rice, red beans, and maduros. Everything was delicious, I really enjoyed the meat and the sauce and loved the maduros. My boyfriend had the lechon asado plate with congri rice, maduros, and coditos. I really enjoyed everything on his plate as well! I also ordered a mazapan latte and my boyfriend had a cortadito, both of which were amazing. If you're looking for coffee that isn't as sweet, I'd highly recommend the cortadito. Would love to come back and try more plates read more

Food was good, service lacking. Questionable cleanliness, I wish I could be more detailed but that was the vibe read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Finally a good Cuban Restaurant that serves Pollo Frito with real chicken and not boneless grilled. Excellent flavor and value for the price. Friendly and helpful people as well. read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Pollo Frito & Maduros - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place was my second visit and yes I will be returning. We finished off our Friday night by eating here, so glad we did. They were able to accommodate a table of about 16 people. Get the Mojito, absolutely amazing! And they serve those in a tall glass! Yummy!!!! We all had a variety, the Cuban sandwiches, very popular and very good. I had the Pechora Empanizada, yes so very good. And so reasonably priced! It's a very laid back place. They also sell Cuban pastries. Beautiful display of sweets. I will be a returning customer. Everyone speaks English too. I gave a four star because someone in our group waited extra long for their Mango Margarita. Felt slighted for not ordering a Mojito. read more

Only place I'll get empanadas from, with multiple different salsas and dipping sauces to choose from. Chaotic parking lot and loud music might be bothersome to others. Service has always been friendly. read more

I really, really like this place. I moved to Austin from Miami last year, and I miss the coffee so badly. They make a great Cuban coffee. I've also had the tostones and they were excellent. The place was cute inside and had a little coffee/alcohol bar area (pick your poison haha). Lady was super sweet and did not make fun of my poor Spanish :) which I appreciated. I cannot stress how perfect their cafecito is. read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

Food is amazing (Cubano especially) but the service was seriously lacking on our visit. Felt forgotten on several occasions

Ordered Catering for Thanksgiving, they have an a la carte menu or packages for larger groups. Do not skip out on the mojo ! read more

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I'm actually stunned that I haven't reviewed this place yet, y'all! Before we moved to Austin, Cafe Piquet's in Houston was our total go to for our Cuban fix! My beautiful mama is a full-fledged Cuban from Havana, and I was born in Miami, so I came as close as I could! LOL! When we got to the ATX, I went on the immediate lookout for proper Cuban, and Cafe Tropicana IS. JUST. IT. FULL. STOP. We always start out with the mojitos, of course! They're fresh, minty, and never too sweet! Next, I always bogart a couple of orders of croquetas because I love them so. I drench them in fresh lime, and my eyes roll back in my head! So, SO good! For my meal, I usually keep it simple with the veggie plate because I'm traditionally SO stuffed from the mega-delish croquetas, and the veggie plate has a choice of yuca (I always choose con mojo), a choice of plantain (I always choose tostones), and arroz con frijoles negros (separado, always), and an avocado salad (to feel good about my caloric intake! Akin to everything under the sun, plus a Diet Coke! LOL!) It's simply perfect for me! My hubby loves him the lechon (he describes it as the ultimate comfort food! The slow-roasted pork, the onions, and the mojo together are "the stuff of dreams," says he!), but, today, he's opting for the Medianoche! He loves that SO much, too! It's identical to a Cubano, but with semi-sweet bread. Pressed to perfection! My beautiful mama also got a sandwich today (the Cubano), so our pics won't be the most diverse in the world, but trust me when I say that there is not a single bad thing on this menu, y'all! They're both happy as clams! We finished with the classic pasteles de guayaba y queso and, of course, the Cafe Cubano! It's all like coming home! Big love! Calling all Cubans! Run! Don't walk! YMMV, but, to this tiny Cuban family, this place is EVERYTHING and wholeheartedly Cuban mama-approved! p.s. Ownership has recently changed, and my mama has been just a TAD bit skeptical of some of the menu authenticity, but I still, and will ALWAYS, find it worthy of the five stars that I'm about to give it! Gracias, Tropicana! We love you! read more

The other day, I had a huge craving for ropa vieja. So I googled Cuban food and this place came up. We came in and we were basically the only people dining in. The bartender/server greeted us and sat us immediately. She was super kind. Most of the food was incredible. The con gris could have used a bit more salt as the flavor was a little bland. But aside from that? We truly enjoyed ourselves in this literal hole in the wall joint. read more

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This is not your typical fancy restaurant in Austin. Instead, it is a casual, nicely decorated restaurant in an older shopping center near Lamar and Rundberg. We loved the atmosphere and, of course, the food. The prices were also good, which is a plus. I highly recommend trying out this Cuban restaurant. We had the Cuban sandwich and ropa vieja. read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Ropa Vieja. As delicious as they come. - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I was missing my friends back home, so I took myself out to Cuban food as a treat. My stupid GPS kept screwing up after that intrusive fema blast, and it took me forever to find this place. I was hungry, my foot hurt, and I was cranky after a call with my Dad, but this place turned my attitude around within minutes. The music is relaxing, yet upbeat and fun. The variety of drinks is fun. And my meal was perfect. And the server was very good at his job. I think my liking their food made him as happy as it did me.:) I also had a sneak taste of their new apple pastry with Carmel, and it was a perfect fall sweet. I'm toying with getting some Cuban sweets to take home... My only bummer, which I couldn't edit until now is that I felt I was drastically overcharged, but due to being tired didn't fuss with changing it when the server smilingly claimed the prices had increased from the menu. I didn't expect to get the 'gringo tax" and probably won't return. But it was tasty. read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Roja Vieja I believe - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

Finding a good Cuban restaurant in Austin is HARD. Unfortunately, Tropicana just didn't cut it for me. Look, I'm not expecting Miami-level Cuban cuisine - I just want to be able to enjoy some of my traditional favorites. Let's start with how greasy everything is at Tropicana. From their Cuban sandwich, to the ropa vieja, to the vaca frita - everything is so heavily drenched in oil. The ropa vieja in particular tasted watered-down as far as flavor goes and even resembled more of a stew in the container they served it in. Honestly, the highlight of my visit was their mamey batido (fruit milkshake). The service was really good, though! Our waitress was very perceptive and considerate to speak to me in English despite both my boyfriend and FIL speaking Spanish when ordering. The shopping area in which the restaurant is located in didn't feel very safe that late at night, either. Looks like I'm going to have to explore further south of the city, since there aren't many Cuban options up north where we live. read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

Good, better decor than previous owner, great, the service, exceptional. The food.... Not authentic. Cuban sandwich was not cuban!!! Tamal neither read more

Cute little place for lunch. I really enjoyed the sandwiches here. They also have some dessert selections in the case. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. read more

It was my first time trying Cuban style sandwiches. I got the medianoche and the Cuban one. The sandwiches comes with lays chips. I think out of the two, the medianoche one was the best. Our waiter likes that one too. Overall, I think sandwiches were good. It was packed well with meat, and there was pickles in there too. I also ordered their tamale too. I think the tamale flavor was really good. It's a bit different from the regular Mexican tamales, but the flavor was similar. I think the one I got was pork. They also have a bakery in there, but I haven't tried the desserts. Our waiter was friendly too. read more

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Disappointed that this place has been open so long and yet a fried fish to go is packed in Styrofoam, alone, which arrives home as melted Styrofoam -- rather unappetizing on fried fish. Also ordered two fried sides and only got one tiny container of garlic sauce. then I overheard the bartender stating that they don't have soda, an essential ingredient of Mojitos. On Saturday. Early in the day. ?? Food is good. Disappointed though. Also, the fish was not properly cleaned on the inside. That's an important part of food prep. read more

Okay, we are not talking Havana Harry's in Miami here. But about 20% of the menu is really really really really good. Everything else is meh. But the stars of the menu are fantastic. One star of the menu is the Cuban Sandwich. Multiple informants including my male partner in crime claim it is the best Cuban sandwich in Austin. One star of the menu is the Pollo Frito. I will vouch for this being absolutely positively one of the best chickens in Austin bar none. Pick the best. Leave the rest. You will eat great. read more

Nice Cuban spot in North Austin. Okay, I lived in Miami as a child and the vibe hit like home. The music playing in the background with the Cuban decor brought me back. Everyone serving was pleasant and cheerful giving a welcoming feel. The menu has LOTS of options but, of course we order the Cubans! These sandwiches were delicious, the role was flaky,pressed with that buttery flavor & the pork was tender. I have to say that it wasn't exactly as I remember from Miami (but over the years there have been some variations) I'm use to a bit more tropical flavors too the pork and the punch of those pickles. I also enjoy the role a bit more chewy. But, this was still an enjoyable lunch. I have every intention to returning and trying something else. This is a solid 3.5s with potential to be more after my next visit! Give Tropicana Cuban Restaurant a try! read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Cubano and chips - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

Can't beat the food, and at a great price. Had super service, some tremendous price. Had the Ropa Vieja and a few other things and loved it. Plantains were super. read more

Ordered take out from here for the first time! My boyfriend picked it up! It was easy and convenient! Ordered Ropas Viejas and Roasted Pork! Def recommend these dishes to all who dine in. Will be back for more! read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

Cuban bread authentic Thin seasoned flank steak Friendly girls Good Cuban coffee Missing vaca frita Pastry section doesn't seem to be very Cuban. Costa Rican or something else? There's another influence there - not anything like i normally see in Miami. read more

Came across this hole-in-the-wall restaurant one night when I was craving Cuban food and it hit the spot! I always try the Cubano whenever I see it on the menu. The bread was nice and crispy and the inside was to be expected from any Cubano. Bonus points to our waitress who brought over a spicy sauce, a non-spicy sauce, and a garlic sauce and told me to mix it all together and add it to the Cubano. Definitely upped the flavor! Tangy with a bit of a kick. The ropa vieja is a shredded beef cooked in a tomato sauce. I ordered it with a side of congris. While it was very hearty, it was lacking in flavor for me. There were pork skin bits in the congris, but they were overcooked leading to them being chewy and an almost black color. I had yuca frita as an additional side as recommended by the waitress and it was delicious. The sauce it came in was citrus-forward and perfect for my palate. I also tried the lechon asado and highly recommend it. The meat was was tender and moist and you can't go wrong with the fried plantains as a side. read more

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Five stars for authenticity Tropicana Cuban Restaurant is a great place to go with a group of friends which is where I spent a long afternoon of Spring Break. A good friend wanted to treat us to Cuban sandwiches and whatever else we wanted. He decided to order a sampling of things from the menu so I was lucky enough to try the Cubano, the empanadas, the croquetas, tamales Cubanos, the pollo frito, and the Ropa Vieja. Because I absolutely love yucca con mojo, I ordered a bowl just for me, as well as the fried yucca con mojo de ajo. If I were coming here to eat by myself, I'd order the tamales and the yucca con mojo as my meal. The tamales have that lovely fresh corn flavor rather than the typical masa and I'm craving them while writing this. The sleeper dish of this sharing meal was the pollo frito. It was ASMR crispy and I have the video to prove it. If you've enjoyed the Korean fried chicken trend then try the pollo frito at Tropicana with an extra side of mojo for dipping for a comparison. Lastly, I'd say that of the drinks we had: Cuba Libre, piña colada, and mojito, the mojito was the perfect accompaniment for this afternoon feast. Buen provecho! read more

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Wonderful staff that make it feel homely, incredible food options, and damn good food make this place one of my Austin faves. I learned about it from my Puerto Rican friend and crave it often. The Rope Vieja was delicious! read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Ropa Vieja - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas

Keeping it short and to the point everything is tasty but what sticks out is the Lechon ,Ropa vieja and of course the Cuban sandwiches. You can get your choice of sides but I recommend either Tostones or Maduros . I love the mojo sauce to either dip my tostones or pour all over my Lechon which is super traditional but for some reason I cannot find at other Cuban restaurants I've been to in Austin . But if going with a Cuban sandwich I gotta have a side of Maduros for a balance of sweet and salty heave in your mouth . I will say I used to frequent the Texas Cuban food truck back when it was on Collier and Lamar but when it closed I found myself in search of Cuban sandwiches once again . Luckily this place is just as good and hits every note I love about a proper Cuban sandwich. Crunchy pressed outer bread soft inside but not to thick as to overwhelm the sandwich , nicely seasoned pork and ham mustard ,pickles giving that perfect tangy ness to cut through the rich meats all in each bite . This place is worth the visit although if you haven't been here please try one of the dishes I mentioned as I rarely stray from them . The staff is pleasant but sometimes you have to remind them if you want a refill on your drink because they are pretty busy at times but nothing majorly wrong with anything I've experienced here . Lastly there is also a bakery inside the restaurant that sells Cuban bread and pastries you really cannot go wrong . read more

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant - Lechon plate with black beans,black rice side salad and Tostones with mojo to dip is outstanding. Pour the mojo on the pork & WOW ! - Cuban Near Me - Austin, Texas