12 Florida Latin Food Spots Locals Consider Their Best-Kept Secrets
Florida’s Latin food scene is full of bold flavors, vibrant spices, and dishes that transport you straight to the heart of the Caribbean and Latin America.
Some of the best spots are tucked away, known mostly to locals who savor their authentic flavors and secret recipes.
From sizzling meats to fresh, zesty sides, these hidden gems prove that Florida’s culinary treasures are often found off the beaten path, waiting for adventurous taste buds to discover.
1. Sanguich de Miami — Miami
Sandwich royalty lives in this cozy Little Havana spot where every Cuban sandwich gets the royal treatment. Hand-cured meats and house-made condiments elevate the humble sandwich to art form status.
The owners, a husband-wife duo, perfected their recipes for years before opening this brick-and-mortar location.
Their medianoche (midnight sandwich) regularly causes lunch lines around the block.
2. El Mago de las Fritas — Miami
Burger lovers, prepare for a Cuban-style revelation! The frita cubana here, a spiced beef patty topped with crispy potato strings on Cuban bread, will make you question everything you thought you knew about burgers.
Run by the same family for decades, this humble joint serves Miami’s most authentic fritas.
The nickname “El Mago” (The Magician) perfectly describes how the owner transforms simple ingredients into something magical.
3. Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop — Miami
Morning commuters line up at this no-frills counter spot for café con leche that packs more punch than your average espresso.
Family-owned since the 1960s, Enriqueta’s serves Cuban comfort food that tastes like someone’s abuela made it just for you.
Their pan con bistec (steak sandwich) deserves its legendary status among locals. The tiny ventanita (window) outside serves quick Cuban coffees to regulars who’ve been coming for decades.
4. El Palacio de los Jugos — Miami
Fruit juice paradise meets Cuban food heaven at this Miami institution.
Bright yellow buildings house an explosion of tropical flavors, from mamey shakes to fresh guarapo (sugarcane juice) pressed right before your eyes.
Food counters offer everything from roast pork to tamales.
The original location on Flagler Street started as a fruit stand in 1977 and has grown into a mini-empire with multiple locations, but locals swear the original spot still makes the best chicharrones in town.
5. Doggi’s Arepa Bar — Miami
Venezuelan food gets the spotlight at this family-run gem where corn-based arepas come stuffed with combinations that’ll make your taste buds dance. The Reina Pepiada… shredded chicken mixed with avocado and mayo, converts first-timers into regulars instantly.
Started by three Venezuelan friends who missed their homeland’s flavors, Doggi’s expanded from a food truck to multiple locations. Their secret weapon? House-made sauces that range from mild garlic mayo to fiery picante that locals hoard in extra containers.
6. El Balcón de las Américas — Fort Lauderdale
Colombian flavors shine at this unassuming strip mall restaurant where the bandeja paisa platter could feed a small village.
Crispy chicharrón, ground beef, plantains, avocado, rice, beans, and a fried egg create a mountain of deliciousness that locals drive miles to enjoy.
Family recipes passed down through generations make every dish taste authentic.
Their empanadas, golden-fried corn pockets filled with seasoned meat, pair perfectly with their homemade aji sauce that customers beg to buy by the bottle.
7. Black Bean Deli — Orlando
Cuban food gets a modern twist at this Orlando hotspot where traditional recipes meet contemporary presentation.
Their Cuban sandwich rivals Miami’s best, with perfectly pressed bread that achieves the ideal crisp-to-soft ratio.
Founded by a Cuban-American who learned cooking from his grandmother, this spot started as a tiny takeout joint and expanded through pure word-of-mouth.
The picadillo (seasoned ground beef) over rice with a side of sweet plantains has saved many Orlando locals from boring lunch breaks.
8. Melao Bakery — Kissimmee
Puerto Rican bakery heaven awaits at this family-owned treasure where the quesitos (cheese-filled pastries) sell out daily by noon.
Locals set alarms to grab these flaky, cream-cheese filled delights before they disappear.
Beyond pastries, their mofongo (mashed plantains with garlic and pork cracklings) transports Puerto Rican transplants straight back to the island.
The bakery started as a tiny window-service spot and expanded to multiple locations after Central Florida’s Puerto Rican community made it their unofficial gathering place.
9. Pio Pio Latin Cuisine — Orlando
Peruvian rotisserie chicken steals the show at this family-run spot where the secret marinade recipe remains under lock and key.
Crispy-skinned, juicy pollo a la brasa comes with addictive green sauce that locals attempt (and fail) to recreate at home.
Started by Peruvian immigrants who missed their homeland’s flavors, Pio Pio grew from a tiny takeout counter to a full restaurant.
Their ceviche, fresh fish “cooked” in lime juice with red onions and cilantro, rivals anything you’d find in Lima.
10. Mi Apá Latin Café — Gainesville
College students and locals alike flock to this Cuban café where the café con leche fuels late-night study sessions.
Far from Miami’s Cuban food epicenter, this Gainesville gem serves authentic island flavors that surprise first-timers with their authenticity.
Founded by a Cuban family who settled in North Florida, Mi Apá serves vaca frita (crispy shredded beef) that rivals anything in Havana.
Their tres leches cake, a sponge soaked in three milks, has become the unofficial celebration dessert for University of Florida graduates.
11. El Siboney Restaurant — Key West
Hidden in a residential neighborhood away from Duval Street’s tourist traps, this Cuban institution has fed locals since 1984.
The roast pork falls apart with just a gentle fork prod, marinated for days in a family recipe mojo sauce. Fishermen bring their fresh catch directly to the kitchen door for the daily fish special.
While cruise ship passengers crowd overpriced waterfront restaurants, locals pack this unassuming spot where the Cuban coffee comes sweet, strong, and served with a side of island gossip.
12. Havana Restaurant — West Palm Beach
Late-night cravings meet their match at this 24-hour Cuban diner where the ventanita (window) never closes.
Palm Beach socialites and construction workers stand shoulder-to-shoulder at 3 AM, waiting for Cuban sandwiches that perfectly balance ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard.
Operating since 1993, Havana Restaurant’s croquetas de jamón (ham croquettes) achieve the perfect crispy-outside, creamy-inside texture that Cuban grandmothers spend lifetimes perfecting.
Their cafecito window has fueled the West Palm Beach workforce for decades.