Review La Cubana - Toronto

Always a great experience at la Cubana! I would recommend this restaurant to everyone, young, adults, old people. It has been appreciated by all the people I've brought to. Plus, they have a patio at the back which remove the noise from the street. The music is nice, the customer service welcoming & helpful and food has always been top quality for the two last years I've been. The only thing is that you would need time to enjoy the meal as it takes about 30min to prepare.

Nice spot! Sat in a booth and ordered a couple of drinks, apps (corn frituras and a bean and cheese empanada) and two mains (pork belly, and pork shoulder). It was all very tasty!

Great little spot, it's like walking into a Cuban diner from the 1950's. Food is fantastic. The Corn frituras are perfect, as was the Pork shoulder. Cocktails 🍸 are fab! Service is great, friendly staff, love the atmosphere!!

Obsessed with the food. Extremely friendly staff. Keep trying to convince my bf and friends to come. Love the atmosphere as well! Got the cubana sandwich with the yucca fries

Let me start by saying that the food was good and the service was decent! I gotta be honest though, I was disappointed because the back patio was so cramped. I understand wanting to make space for as many customers as possible, but the closeness of the tables made it so awkward and noisy to converse comfortably. I also want to bring up that I went to washroom to wash my hands, and they’re in a dingy basement that smells awful and the washrooms are not well maintained.

Fantastic back patio ( theres also a CafeTO street one) i had the vegetarian plate and it was fantastic. Fresh veggies, a black bean patty, rice and beans, tostones, slaw and avocado, tomatoes , cheese . Great cocktails and mocktails

Super nice. On a summers day, on the patio with the right cocktail and plate you could be convinced you were in the tropics. Service and food is very quick and traditional. Looking forward to going back.

Ordered the Guava BBQ Beef Short Rib Plate. $27. It's TWO RIBS AND A CONTAINER OF RICE. This place is a rip off. Buy rice at real Canadian, it costs less, and you get the same amount of meat. Namely, basically nothing

Love the aesthetic of this place. The service was very good and the staff were accommodating. I enjoyed their fish sandwich. Highly recommended

This outlet of La Cubana on Roncesvalles Avenue is clean, bright & minimalist with a good selection of Cuban fare delivered efficiently by cheerful staff with surprisingly accommodating choices for us veggies such as the pictured Plato Vegetariano. Delicious!

This place is very plain inside but service is quick and very friendly. The conch fritters and tostones (plantains) were really tasty. I particularly enjoyed the conch fritters- mashed up shellfish mixed with batter and fried, so good! The mango colada drink was only ok, it didn’t taste quite like mango. For entrees we ordered the guava bbq beef short rib and achiote roasted chicken. Both dishes were flavorful...the beef short rib was very tender. The chicken was a little disappointing because for that price you should get a full chicken leg not just 1 thigh. The rice and cabbage were enjoyable. Lastly we got the buttermilk donuts which reminded me of cinnamon and sugar coated timbits. Not a must try but i was curious what they were like. Overall a decent dinner with great staff but was too cold in there!! Turn up the heat, it’s winter time!

I love this place because the food is great, and the people are friendly. There are two things though that I think they can improve on: temperature and noise. The open kitchen is cool but it does make the place warm,especially in the summer. And the noise! The sound of the people chatting, I don't mind. However, the banging of plates and everything else from the back was too much. It makes every single person in our table wince! I am not sure if it was because we were close to the door that leads to the back but still! <br/><br/>Anyway, the food is good. We ordered the chicken sandwich, pork shoulder, and shrimp. Everything is awesome.

I used to find La Cubana quite enjoyable, but lately I've found that the quality is inconsistent at best. Today was the last straw and my family will not be returning anytime in the foreseeable future. <br/><br/>As per usual, we ordered the steak and eggs and for once they remembered the chimichurri. The accompaniments were fine albeit cold; however, the real issue was the steak. We asked the waitress for medium well, but she insisted that we get medium instead (not something we usually encounter even at this location).<br/><br/> When our dishes arrived, they were simply rare and in the midst of our shock we asked for it to be cooked longer before taking photos. Within a few minutes, they returned the dishes and there was a slight improvement in that they were medium rare instead of rare. Not only were the steaks cooked incorrectly, they were also full of inedible parts, possibly gristle or cartilage, while the other parts were chewy. The meat was clearly not butchered well and should not have been served. We tried taking a few bites, but it was ultimately impossible to eat.<br/><br/>We immediately asked the waitress for take-out containers and despite our evident displeasure she did not offer any kind of apology. It was so obvious that the diner beside us asked about our meal. We were not spiteful and we told him the truth. Normally this dish tastes quite good, but we would definitely not recommend ordering it on this particular day. <br/><br/>Our dining experience was fairly short today and so it did not affect us greatly, but be warned that the fruit flies in the restaurant can get tiresome and annoying as well. I've had food at both ends of the spectrum, but today was the most disappointing because of the drastic decline in both service and quality. I recently recommended this place to an international friend and now I deeply regret it.

Omg this place is amazing!! Im in love with the chicken sandwich with avocados, tomato and EVERYTHING is freshly made! From the bread to the sauces<br/>

Loved this place. Lovely patio in the back and really nostalgic diner style dining area inside. The menu is strait forward and our waitress was very friendly and helpful ,explaining dishes to us and answering questions. We shared chorizo empanada,jicama salad,corn frituras,tropical chips and salsa and Cuban grilled corn. Soooo fresh and yummy!!! Wish there was a Kitchener location.

If you're looking for a fun Cuban place to eat, this is it. The menu is straightforward, has a big selection, and is all reasonably priced.<br/>The portions are very generous so make sure you're ready to eat. The staff are super friendly and very accommodating. This location in particular was also very kid friendly...also very indicative of the neighborhood.<br/>I had the Achiote Chicken Sandwich which came with a generous portion of roasted chicken slices, avocado, and tomato. It all melted together between the fresh bread it was served with. The Cod Croquettes were silky and smooth, not to mention delicious. The Yuca Fries were thick and crunchy starchy goodness drizzled with a garlicky aioli.<br/>Be sure to check out their daily Happy Hour $10 specials. I also heard that brunch on the weekends is a must-try as well!<br/>

4 stars mostly because this place is cute as a button and very 50s diner, casual, and clean.<br/><br/>The coffee I am told was fantastic but perhaps the food we selected not so much. We both found the fish sandwiches with avocado a little bland. <br/><br/>The donut balls were pretty good but then again so are Tiny Tom's :)

Delicious, Fabulous, Charming, Delightful! Went to visit someone who recently moved to the area.  She took us (5 girls) to this restaurant.  She had been before and raved about it. Had the Guava short rib sandwich.  WOW!  I was not expecting to love it!  Ate every crumb of it!  Have to go back again, can't wait!  Our waitress was awesome and cheery and suggested the sandwiches - thank you!!

La Cubana is fantastic.<br/><br/>Grilled Coconut shrimp, delicious. Chorizo Empanada, delicious. Guava BBQ Short Rib, fall of the bone delicious. Grilled Fish Sandwich with fresh avocado and pineapple salsa, simply magic.<br/><br/>Planning to go back as soon as I can :)

Having spent one week in Cuba at an all-inclusive resort, and having eaten exclusively at the buffet, I am eminently qualified to speak with authority on the state of Cuban food in Toronto. <br/><br/>La Cubana is not the first Cuban restaurant I've visited. Or rather, it is. So believe me when I say it's authentic. <br/><br/>Plates are piled high with delicately slow roasted shredded pork and gleaming fried eggs sensually dripping juicy golden yolk down their exposed sides. <br/><br/>Pressed sandwiches are crisped to toasty perfection, their crunch giving away to a finely balanced combination of meat, melted cheese, and mustard. <br/><br/>Take it from someone highly regarded as a local expert in Cuban cuisine (so much so, in fact, I was never asked to open my own Cuban restaurant or quoted in any credible third-party source): La Cubana is... how do the Cubans say it... "good".

Love this place! One of my go-to spots in Roncesvalles for a quick, cheap dinner. Try the short rib sandwich! <br/><br/>Brunch is great too. <br/><br/>Would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Increasingly dissapointing. I have been to La Cubana many times in the last year and a half, and in the beginning the experience was great. The vibe of the restaurant is great with the decor and menu presentation. Lately however things have gone downhill. Last time I ordered the bean and cheese empanada and it came back cold in the centre. By the time we were served a new one our main courses were also delivered to the table. Most recently I ordered the Molasses Roasted Pork Shoulder plate. I have had that dish at least twice before and the restaurant has decided to downgrade from an actual piece of meat cooked and flavoured properly to soaked slices of something like fatty cold cuts. The flavour is increasingly lacking across all departments, the portions downsized and the extra hot sauce removed. The food has lost it's magic and the service is not good enough to compensate. Im not sure if the ownership has changed or if the budget has made them cheap but La Cubana is more appropriate for a school cafeteria style lunch than a good dinner date. Too bad because they used to be a Roncy fav.

This is the dummest place I ever been. My friend and I decided to go 392 Roncesvalles Avenue for a new place to try for brunch. They opened 30 minutes be fore we arrive. We walked in and waiting someone to sit us down. My friend was on crutches and waiting almost 10 minutes. None of the servant cared. We have to ask for a table going someone working in the kitchen.<br/><br/>Finally someone got a table for us. Waited 15 minutes again someone to come and ask what we were going to drinking. The waitress was keep coming and busy with next table but she didn't bother turning to us.<br/>We decided to order drinks and meal same time when some one comes.<br/><br/>They have only 8 meal choice in the menu. We liked only 3 of them. But the ones we wanted they were out of something. <br/>She wanted us to order something they have which we didn't want to eat anyway.<br/> <br/>How come you are out of things when you just open the restaurant. Menu has only 5-8 items anyway.<br/>Big disappointment!<br/>Because of the carelessness of the stuff and lack of menu choices not going back and not suggesting this place.<br/>We had to go to eat somewhere else.<br/>Price is also not cheap.<br/><br/>To the owner: Please train your stuff. We don't eat free.

Terrible. If you call this Cuban you should be embarrassed, the attitude and terrible food is just beyond what Cuba is not all about. The location on Ossington might as well itself be called McDonalds for its fast food and terrible food style. Please stay away, taken it from a Latin man who knows what Cuba is all about

Serving what may just be the best Cubano in town, we're happy to report that La Cubana has opened its second city outpost. The restaurant's new Ossington locale, set in a space reminiscent of an old-school diner with red leather couches, wood and steel swivel chairs and pretty mosaic tiles on the walls and bar, serves up the same mouthwatering roasted chicken and medianoche sandwiches as the original. It's also open late (till 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays), making it a great post-party snack spot. Be sure to order a café Cubano, no matter the time. —Julia Parfenyuk La Cubana Ossington, 92 Ossington Ave., Toronto, 416-537-0134, www.lacubana.ca © Copyright 2015 Comments NOTE: To post a comment you must have an account with at least one of the following services: Disqus, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ You may then login using your account credentials for that service. If you do not already have an account you may register a new profile with Disqus by first clicking the "Post as" button and then the link: "Don't have one? Register a new profile". The Vitamin Daily welcomes your opinions and comments. We do not allow personal attacks, offensive language or unsubstantiated allegations. We reserve the right to edit comments for length, style, legality and taste and reproduce them in print, electronic or otherwise. For further information, please contact the editor or publisher, or see our Terms and Conditions. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. comments powered by Disqus Email to a Friend Your Email Address: *

Delicious Food + Great Accommodating Staff = A Lovely Night Out. This is my first time ever reviewing a restaurant online, but I felt that the care and inclusive attitude shown by the staff at La Cubana warranted a review. A member of our party uses a wheelchair as a mobility aid which can make it difficult to find a great spot to eat in the city. The friendly manager on duty was understanding and tried her absolute best to accommodate us by providing an accessible table. The wait staff were upbeat and very attentive even though it was a busy Saturday night. The food was absolutely superb. We had the conch frituras and the chorizo empanadas as starters. The frituras were delicious, pillowy, and well-seasoned deep-fried balls of goodness. The empanadas were flavourful with a sweet-savoury flavour thanks to the addition of raisins. The entrees were on point (especially the grilled coconut shrimp platter). Hands down though, the key lime pie for dessert was a showstopper. All in all, my experience dining at La Cubana was one of the best I've had in a while. Not only was the food delectable, but the service was awesome as well!

A quick meal.... Had the bean and cheese empanada, chorizo burger and hubby had the traditional medianoche. The cabbage slaw was wonderful and spicy! Would recommend for a quick and light dinner.

Authentic Delicious Cuban Food. Went here on a Wed night and place was still quite busy but we were seated right away by a very friendly Irish waitress with a wonderful smile. We were provided an old-fashioned bottle of water and were given time to look over the menu, which had many great choices. We chose the fish platter and fish sandwich with Yucca Fritas and of course we had to order their famous Mojito. The food was amazing and so very delicious and seasoned to perfection. Everything made fresh and from scratch. The portions were perfect and and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The Mojito was one of the best I have had and they are not stingy on liquor. Thank you to the staff and chef for providing a most memorable dining experience. We will definitely be back, please say you will be part of Winterlicious 2014.

Best new(ish) place in toronto. Why oh why are you located so far west? I dream of your empanadas and braised short rib daily. Have you heard of the booming Danforth? There is foot traffic galore, patios are full even on weeknights and Pizza Libretto is packed to the rafters nightly. That could be you too La Cubana. Please look into a second Eastern location as soon as possible.<br/><br/>signed, <br/>Your biggest fan

Just what one needs!. Lovely place for a sandwich and beer midday. Great service in a small place.

What a great addition to a already nice neighbourhood!. Food is great and doesn't disappoint. The squid is to die for. Love the pork belly sandwich and key lime pie to end it all? What more could you ask for! We have been here 3 times and have enjoyed every morsel. <br/>The shrimp in coconut milk are super good! Enjoy!

Great Food. My buddy and I decided to hit a restaurant after taking in the bike show and headed over to Roncy as I had walked by La Cubana and noted the nice interior. My buddy had recently been to Cuba and were he had taken the opportunity to dine in a Cuban persons home which was very good. He wanted to see how things compared. He had the steak breakfast-brunch menu - and I had the fulled pork breakfast. As we have been regulars to BarbQ we thought lets see; yes the service might be a little more polished at BQ the pork and steak was better at La Cubana..moister and everything was piping hot. Food came quickly and unfortunately desert had sold out..We will both definitely going back after our two lunchs with 2 appertizers came in at $45 tax in .. recommend as long as I can get in before you..its still very busy

Some style, no substance. 'La Cubana' looks much like the new 'Roncy' clientele. I was troubled at the amount of people eating with their hats on, as well as the sheer amount of bespectacled yuppie-hipster hybrids. All their tattoos just screaming for attention-- much like the decor of the restaurant, which wasn't necessarily bad, but they reeked of trying too hard to impress. If only the same amount of effort was put into the food, or to make the prices justifiable.<br/><br/>I came in with my girlfriend at 4:30 only to be told we would have to wait until 5:00 because the kitchen was closed. We didn't mind too much and ordered a beer and mojito to pass the time. I was hoping for a Cuban beer, but apparently there are no Cuban beers sold at the LCBO. I got some kind of a locally made brew which tasted like a forgettable English ale and really didn't fit the whole Cuban shtick-- $7. The mojito was nothing special, but thankfully wasn't too sweet-- $10. I was in a state of minor shock when I saw that the small unremarkable mojito came at such a hefty price. The beer could have been $1.50 cheaper as well, and seemed smaller than a regular pint-- 0.4, not 0.5. The waiting time was average, but we were in no rush.<br/><br/>Once the kitchen opened we were promptly attended to and ordered the mussels in coconut sauce as an appetizer to start. The mussels ($6) were very soft, not overcooked, and the sauce was tasty. I was very disappointed that we weren't given even a single slice of bread to enjoy them with. The fact that there were maybe 8 small mussels in the entire dish really didn't help matters-- a few more would have made a huge difference. I get it, it was an appetizer, but some bread or a roll would have been great.<br/><br/>For our mains I decided on the 'famous' cubana sandwich ($9) and my girlfriend had the pork shoulder dinner ($15). We always sample each others dishes. The sandwich was supposed to come with the same pork shoulder meat, but I had a hard time locating any of it. In fact it seemed like most of the meat was a couple of slices of plain black forest ham. They didn't skimp on the cheese, but this left for an extremely greasy affair. I was again shocked that the sandwich came completely bare-- not a pickle, not a slice of tomato, not a single leaf of lettuce-- nothing. You'd think that for 9 bucks you'd get something more than just an extremely greasy and very basic grilled cheese sandwich.<br/><br/>The pork shoulder came in a 'pulled' form-- you know, looking like it was just chewed up by a dog. We were surprised not to find to a single piece of meat with a bone in it as it wasn't specified on the menu that this would be 'pulled'. The amount was nothing short of laughable and the taste forgettable, but what truly made it a joke of a meal was the tiny amount of (admittedly tasty) rice it came with-- rice is inexpensive, no need to be cheap with it . The slaw was OK. None of it justified a $15 price tag, and if it cost half the amount I don't know if we would order something like that again. I would love to say I expected more, but my expectations of the food were low based on the decor-- I wasn't surprised.<br/><br/>Judging by the amount of traffic this place gets, it has succeeded in attracting the crowd it wants and deserves. However, If your tastes are a little more sophisticated than that of wearing-a-hat-at-the-table attention seeking children and you expect something authentically Cuban (there was not a Cuban in sight, and the music playing was Mexican) from a place called 'La Cubana'-- stay away. We should all have reasonable expectations, but when the bill comes out to $60 and two people (who weren't overly hungry to begin with) leave the place still hungry, you know something ain't right about the place or the clientele. <br/><br/>If you're easily impressed by red font and green wall tiles, and can't wait to show off your new hat or tat, go for it.<br/><br/>If you're in (what used to be a charming Polish) neighbourhood (with character) and want something a bit more authentic, much tastier, and a whole lot more reasonable-- try Cafe Polonez a couple of blocks south for some Polish, or Shangrilla on Queen just east of Roncesvalles for TIbetan (huge Tibetan community there). At the very least you'll likely be spared the sight of all the 'hip' people. Better yet, go right across the street to gate 403 and listen to some great live music-- you get a lot more for your $.<br/><br/>3/10

A new twist to breakfast. I really enjoyed my experience at :La Cubana. It's a funky diner/greasy spoon and the atmosphere is lively. If you're in a hurry, I would probably pass this as it's a busy place and the food is prepared with quality (definitely not 'fast food').<br/><br/>I read other reviews on the service, and personally I didn't expect to be in a fine dining atmosphere. I was treated politely, was patient for my food, and recognized that all the servers had a full house to look after. I had no issues asking a passing server if I needed something. <br/><br/>Anyway, it's a place to go to if you're sick of the same of breakfast. Love it, and will brag that I've been there.

Great Service. We went this evening to La Cubana. What a great experience. The food was fantastic and Olivia our server was simply wonderful. She was attentive, made great suggestions, personable and left us with a 'great food experience.'<br/>We will be going back... hopefully we will get Olivia!

Good Food - Terrible Service. As a local I am always excited when a new restaurant with promise opens up in the neighbourhood. I am happy to report the brunch menu at La Cubana does not disappoint. The service however is AWFUL. As a table of two guests- we watched and waited while everyone else in the brunch line up who arrived after us was seated before us. We had to ask for everything. The espresso-like cafe Cubano did not arrive with a spoon. We weren't offered fresh ground pepper with our food, and when I asked for it, I got a lesson from what appeared to be a 17 year old girl about the food being seasoned already. She then stood there and expected me to taste it in front of her before bringing me any seasoning. Listen, I understand that some chefs create their dishes in a such a way that they discourage substitutes or changes. But seriously, salt and pepper? You're pretty presumptuous to think that you can season your food perfectly to tickle my taste buds. I wont be going back. Prefer the Westerly and the Ace and have been treated courteously at both places numerous times.

Skip this place. This is an unfortunate situation. Food is good BUT ther service is awful. You can get great food AND service at many other places on Roncesvalles. Why support a place that thinks they're too good for their customers?

Terrible. Trying to be hip..... Terrible.<br/>Trying to be hip. Hostess seems annoyed to have to take your name and number to call you once a table is available. You are meant to feel like an inconvenience. Skip this place and grab a burger at Rudeboy across the street. <br/>La Cubana = snobs

Amazing food!!!. We had to wait an hour to get a seating, but it was so worth it. We just went and had drinks across the street. I suggest calling and making a reservation. <br/><br/>We did several appetizers for the table. All of them were very good. Chorizo empenadas, habenero glazed squid and the coconut shrimp were my personal favorites.<br/><br/>I have had 100 dollar entrees that were not as good as the 15 dollar entree I had @ LA Cubana. I had the grilled fish, with pineapple salsa. It was beautifully balanced and cooked perfectly. <br/><br/>My girlfriend had the Traditional, ham, beef and gruyere sandwich. It was also excellent. <br/><br/>The prices are super reasonable. The portions are very good. Note: I hate disgusting American style massive portions. The service was top notch. The food took a little bit to arrive, quality more than made up for that.<br/><br/>Overall, this restaurant is the best culinary find of the last year for me. I will drive out of my way to eat here.<br/><br/>To the staff of LA Cubana, I say thank you and please keep up the amazing work!

Great decor,pretty staff but.... My wife and I decided to try this place on the basis of decor and glowing review or two as well as a love of tapas type food. We got there 8ish and got a place at the counter. We were told it would be a 45 minute wait for a booth. We ordered from the selection of Bocaditos. To be specific; conch croquette,chorizo empanadas,grilled coconut shrimp,habanero glazed squid,guava bbqed short rib,and the tostones relleno. My wife ordered from a selection of wines. We also could have ordered from a vast selection of rum based cocktails. I ordered the sole beer which is light quasi pilsner brewed by Junction Brewing. I did not like it. When asked if I wanted another I answered in the negative and queried about some bottle water. None available but did I wan't club soda? No.<br/>But What of the food?<br/>Conch croquette was void of any taste or texture resembling conch. <br/>Chorizo empanadas were pretty good. nice pastry and the chorizo filling was spicy without a burn. My wife appreciated that. She has no tolerance for heat but likes her spices. I like both.<br/>Grilled coconut shrimp were tasty. As the name implies,four grilled shimp with coconut cream sauce underneath. Problem is that there is a lot of sauce left over after noshing on the shrimp. Forking it is futile. We ordered a medianoche(a cuban bun. Pretty tasty too) to cope with this.<br/>Habanaro glazed squid were very tasty(cooked to a tender goodness) but lacking any heat at all. This assesment comes from my wife who(as I mentioned earlier) has an aversion to heat. I read another review that mentioned the same thing and hot sauce was offered. I mentioned nothing to the staff because I wanted the squid to stand on its own. Perhaps they use the same amount of habanero as they do conch in the fritter.<br/> Guava BBQed short rib was tasty but cold on the inside. As was my wife's,but then we were sharing the same plate.<br/>Tostones Relleno,or spiced meat on a fried piece of flattened plantain,were very tasty.<br/>All the Bocatitos we ate were $7. Staff were young,hip,friendly and somewhat attentive.<br/> Overall it was a pleasant enough experience to try once. Would I go back? Maybe for take out. A sandwich perhaps.

La cubana. We ordered the habanero fried squid - it was decent but not spicy at all (we like spice). To remedy this, the server brought us some pretty awesome house made hot sauce. We also ordered the guava beef short ribs, which were awesome, very tender, and the chimichurri they were served with was soooo good. <br/>We also had the tostones which were pretty good. Our cocktails were decent as well, I had the periodista and my fella had a mojito. Mojito could've been a bit sweeter. And could've been filled to the top of the glass for 10 bucks.. :)<br/>Lastly we had the corn frituras, which were alright, not really my bag. <br/>Loved the atmosphere, we'll try it again.

Amazing place!. This hidden gem on Roncesvalles is phenomenal. We ordered several different dishes and none of them was a disappointment. We had a hard time agreeing on which dishes to re-order. We loved everything from the savoury flavours, the variety of different dishes, the service, the decor and the prices. Nothing less than an orgasm in your mouth. Can't wait to go back!!

This place is amazing ! Each dish was better then the last. We reordered a few of the dishes because we enjoyed them so much. Everything was fresh, savoury and delicious. I'm going back soon for sure!

...I haven’t been to Cuba. But I have been to La Cubana.  And after one visit, I’m convinced it’s the closest experience to authentic Cuban food I’ll have until I get on a plane

Veggie Menu: Baked Eggs with Sofrito and Yuca, Breakfast Sandwich (tomato, avocado, fried egg, and queso fresco), french toast with banana and dulce de leche. Sides include grilled corn, rice and beans, sweet plantains, tostones, french fries, and yuca frita. Most dishes also come with a side of beet slaw. First, a lesson in Spanish: Sofrito is a sauce that consists of garlic, onion, paprika, peppers and tomatoes cooked in olive oil. Yuca is similar to a sweet potato, native to South America. Queso Fresco is a mild, unaged white cheese, often used in Latin American countries. Dulce de Leche is slowly heated, sweetened milk. Plantains are bananas that I will actually eat (cooked). Tostones are fried plantain slices. Thank you, Wikipedia and La Cubana, for the lesson. La Cubana is a great brunch place for carnivorous eaters and vegetarians alike.

The words ‘pineappe-glazed pork belly’ on the menu caught my eye and wouldn’t let go so I came to my decision fairly easily (rare!). Served with rice and beans, purple slaw and fried tostones, I wished I wore my sweat pants.

Inside the aroma from the grill hits me like that first touch of tropical air when the planes doors open after a long needed vacation –  mmm, I missed

Overall, we had an enjoyable meal at La Cubana - I'm still thinking about that shortrib medianoche. You'll definitely find me back at this Cuban diner!

I don't know how I had not really heard of La Cubana until now but I am certainly glad that I have found it. We went for lunch on the recommendation of a good friend who regularly goes there to eat the guava shortrib sandwich, expect that my husband thought it was a kimchi shortrib sandwich so I was expecting Korean lol. <br/>I was happy as soon as we walked inside - the decor is bright and fresh and we both loved the modern twist on a fiftie's diner going on. There were lots of tables but we both like sitting at the bar, which ended up being dangerous, indeed. We ordered the shortrib sandwich for him and I got a black bean soup with chorizo jerky but while we were waiting for our orders, we had front row seats to watch the chef make everyone else's food. <br/>We ended up adding a red cabbage slaw, the habernero glazed fried squid and the tostones rellenos with beef picadillo along the way.<br/><br/>My black bean soup was one of the best I can recall eating but it was actually so thick and filling that I couldn't finish it if I wanted to try anything else. I loved the finely minced chorizo jerky and the level of heat was perfect.<br/>My husband loved his shortrib medianoche (a medianoche is served on a bun that is closer to challah than the usual thin, crusty bread on a cuban sandwich) and the tostone rellenos was another delicious but very filling dish and I would only order it again if we were sharing amongst a couple more people.<br/>The crispy, habernero glazed fried squid was the dish that we couldn't stop talking about on the entire drive home. I will go back just for that (well and because I want to try tons of other stuff that I watched being plated but lacked the stomach real estate to order)<br/>All of the apps are between $5 and $7, the sandwiches are mostly $8 or $9 and the sides are all $4 so you can go here with a small group and eat your face off and not break the bank.

For full disclosure, I haven’t been to Cuba. But I have been to La Cubana. And after one visit, I’m convinced it’s the closest experience to authentic Cuban food I’ll have until I get on a plane.<br/><br/>La Cubana is located in the High Park/Roncesvalles village. The area is known for its Polish community, but ironically, this Cuban restaurant is sweeping up local patrons by storm. Be careful though, if you’re looking for Cuban cuisine in the Roncesvalles village, you can easily walk by La Cubana without noticing: they don’t have a big, bright sign, just the name on the door.<br/><br/>When I walked into the restaurant I felt like I passed through a time warp. I was back in the 1950’s, at a diner in Miami. With pastel green-coloured walls and mambo music in the background, I had to fight the urge to shake a hip or two on my way to the table.<br/><br/>Looking over the menu you’ll want to order everything, it all sounds AMAZING! We compromised and ordered what caught our eyes, along with a few recommendations from our friendly server.<br/><br/>We started with the Bean & Cheese Empanadas ($7), Habanero Glazed Fried Squid ($7) and Guava Short Rib ($8). Honestly, everything tasted like a slice of Cuban heaven. The empanadas were crispy and packed full of cheesy gooeyness; the squid had a killer spicy/sweet kick; and the short rib was pure fall-off-the-bone goodness.<br/><br/>After devouring those plates, we decided to share the Pineapple Glazed Pork Belly Medianoches ($8) and the Grilled Fish with Pineapple Salsa ($15), and a side of Yuca Frita ($4). A medianoche is a sweet milk bun, similar to Chinese bakery buns filled with BBQ Pork.<br/><br/>If you thought that was it, think again: I never ever skip dessert, it’s as important as breakfast!<br/><br/>We asked the server what her favourite dessert was, and she recommended getting the donuts ($5) and to dip them in the Cuban Coffee Natilla ($5) – mind blown! It was the perfect end to an incredible Cuban dinner.<br/><br/>Overall, my experience at La Cubana was amazing. The food was full of flavour, the service was on point, and the décor/atmosphere really made me feel like I was in Miami (because I have no idea what Cuba is really like). I plan on coming back soon and letting my inner fat kid run wild, possibly for their brunch.<br/><br/>Food: 4/5<br/><br/>Service 4/5<br/><br/>Atmosphere: 4/5<br/><br/>Price: 4/5<br/><br/>Overall: 4/5<br/><br/>392 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto ON M6R 2M9<br/><br/>Phone: (416) 538-7500<br/><br/>Hours: Monday to Friday 11am until late; Saturday & Sunday brunch 10am-3pm

Went to La Cubana for brunch on Saturday. The place was packed. I had the Chorizo Empanada. Very tasty & different than your usual bacon & eggs brunch.  Service was good & price we fair. I recommend.

Every time Mike and I go down to Miami, we always make sure to get a good fix of Cuban food since Toronto is definitely lacking in that department. So, I was definitely ecstatic when I heard that the owners of the now-closed Delux announced they were opening up a Cuban diner.<br/><br/>La Cubana opened up last fall on the Roncesvalles strip to plenty of fanfare. Mike and I finally dropped by for a casual Friday date night and the place was pretty busy – particularly on their cute patio located behind the restaurant.<br/><br/>The hostess informed us it would be a half hour wait for the patio but they had a free table inside the restaurant. Since we were starving, we chose to just sit inside. A word of warning though – it gets VERY hot and stuffy inside the restaurant with the open kitchen. Thankfully it was a cool evening so it was bearable but I can only imagine how uncomfortable it’d be on a sweltering day.<br/><br/>I’m a big fan of the décor at La Cubana which has a retro diner feel to it. The floors were made of mosaic tiles and I particularly loved the mint green tiles which lined the walls and counter. The narrow restaurant features an open kitchen and counter seating in the middle of the space. Booths and tables fill the remainder of the space. <br/><br/>Given the neighborhood it’s located in, it’s no surprise that the restaurant is family-friendly. They even have separate kid menus for the little ones. It’s clearly a selling point as we saw plenty of families there with young children. <br/><br/>La Cubana’s (adult) menu is divided into several sections: Bocaditos aka appetizers ($5-$8), soups/salads ($5-$7), sandwiches/medianoches ($7-$9), Cuban plates ($15) and sides ($4).<br/><br/>As far as drinks go, they have a small selection of Cuban cocktails for $10 each, one beer (brewed specifically for La Cubana by the Junction Craft Brewing House) and several non-alcoholic options. <br/><br/>I went with something non-alcoholic, the Guava Fizz ($5). Light, refreshing and just what I was looking for.<br/><br/>Mike also opted for a juice cocktail, the Mango Colada ($5). <br/><br/>We started off with an order of the Chorizo Empanadas ($7) which came with three small empanadas. While they were on the greasy side, they were pretty damn satisfying and well worth the calories. The chorizo filling had a nice kick and I loved the addition of the raisins which gave it a nice sweetness. The empanadas also came with a generous amount of aioli which complemented them perfectly. <br/><br/>After reading some great things about the Habanero Glazed Fried Squid ($7), we decided to go with an order of them. The crispy fried squid rings were coated in a sweet glaze which was missing the spice. I expected more of a kick but it turned out to be pretty mild. Overall, I thought the squid was good (despite the lack of spice) but I wouldn’t say it’s a must-order. <br/><br/>For my main, I ordered the Guava BBQ Shortrib Medianoche ($9). A medianoche is a type of Cuban sandwich which uses a sweet milk bread. It’s similar to brioche but a little denser and held up very well against the heavy toppings. <br/><br/>The bun was topped with tender pieces of shortrib, fried onions, pickled red cabbage, crema and jalapenos. I loved the shortrib – particularly the delicious bbq sauce. It was no doubt a messy sandwich and for a small-looking sandwich, it certainly packs a punch. Loved it!<br/><br/>Mike went with the Molasses Roasted Pork Shoulder ($15). The portions certainly weren’t anywhere as large as the ones in Miami (like at El Palacio de los Jugos) but they’re still pretty filling. <br/><br/>The pork shoulder was tender and wonderfully moist but I found it a touch too salty (Mike thought it was fine though). All Cuban plates come with rice, beans, slaw and tostones, all of which were delicious. The addition of the cabbage slaw helped balance out the heaviness of the rest of the dish. Mike particularly enjoyed this dish and didn’t leave a crumb on his plate.<br/><br/>Dessert offerings ($5 each) include mini donuts which were one of my favourites at Delux. We decided to try something new and ended up with the Key Lime Pie ($5). Arriving in a mini mason jar, it was topped with cream and a sprinkling of granola. It was a solid dessert but nothing particularly memorable. Next time, I’ll just stick to the donuts. <br/><br/>Overall, we had an enjoyable meal at La Cubana – I’m still thinking about that shortrib medianoche. You’ll definitely find me back at this Cuban diner! <br/><br/>At a glance:<br/><br/>• A casual Cuban diner located in Roncesvalles<br/><br/>• Same owners as the now-closed Delux<br/><br/>• Gets very hot inside the restaurant from the open kitchen; not ideal on a hot day<br/><br/>• Nice patio at the back of the restaurant<br/><br/>• Family friendly<br/><br/>• Prices for mains range from $7 for a sandwich to $15 for the Cuban plates<br/><br/>• Favourites: chorizo empanadas and guava BBQ shortrib medianoche<br/><br/>Ratings (out of 5):<br/><br/>• Food: 4 stars<br/><br/>• Service: 3 stars<br/><br/>• Atmosphere: 3 stars

Habanero Calamari is AMAZING!<br/>Cassava fries werent good. <br/>Sweet plantaine is great.<br/>The sandwiches are very good, but the Guava BBQ doesnt taste like guava at all...<br/>Prensado cubano is fantastic.<br/>Very friendly staff.<br/>Will go back as soon as possible!

Cute ambiance, great service, food was typical cuban, but a little on the heavier side, no light options, many items are fried, but overall tasty. Best menu item was the key lime pie

The Achiote roasted chicken at La Cubana is amazing! The place was bustling with energy, the servers were very friendly and it was one of them who suggested I try the Achiote chicken. One of my friends had ordered Chorizo Empanadas, the serving seemed a little small for the price they charged, but the taste was great. The Pineapple Glazed sandwich was pretty awesome as well, said my friend. I'd definitely go back to try the other dishes on their menu.