Ayestarán Restaurante

706 SW 27th Ave, Miami, FL 33135-3015 305-649-4982

Description: DOWNTOWN. The Little Havana neighborhood is known for its colorful restaurants that serve the ultimate in authentic Cuban dining, and this one is no exception. Many of the dishes here pack a spicy wallop, including zesty tamales and hearty beans and rice. Tender steak, pork and chicken are served with unforgettably flavorful sauces. The decor is simple and so is the service, but the crowd of Cuban customers proves you are getting the real thing.
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Bongo's Cuban Cafe

601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132 786-777-2100

Description: DOWNTOWN. For Cuban cuisine set to a pop beat, don't miss this cafe owned by singer Gloria Estefan and husband Emilio. Vivid colors, Latin beats, and plenty of bongos (of course!) get you in a festive mood, and the authentic Cuban cuisine is served with creative aplomb. Come early to enjoy a satisfying meal of roasted chicken marinated in orange and lime or the traditional Cuban strip steak. Wash it down with an exotic tropical drink, and then prepare to hit the dance floor, which starts hopping around 11pm. This is a great place to make a night of it. Reservations recommended.
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Casa Larios

7705 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33144 305-266-5494

Description: AIRPORT. This favorite is popular among the local workers as well as Cuban transplants seeking a taste of home. This one is a bit more upscale than some of the other Cuban eateries in the area, though the main attraction is certainly the food. The roasted meats are the top pick, and range from pork loin to lamb to boneless strip steak. The tender meat soaks up some of the zestiest sauces imaginable, like chimichurri, which combines savory herbs with the bite of vinegar.
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Casa Panza

1620 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135-5220 305-643-5343

Description: DOWNTOWN. Little Havana is crowded with great ethnic eateries, and this Spanish favorite is one of the best. The authentic décor, including colorful paintings, Spanish singers and flamenco dancing, transports you to foreign shores. The taverna-style ambience is backed up by traditional Spanish cuisine, including great tapas (try the fine manchego cheese and the garlic-sautéed shrimp), tasty paella and a broad range of filling tortillas. The well-stocked wine cellar offers the best vintages Spain has to offer.
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David's Cafe

1654 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-672-8707

Description: SOUTH BEACH. The simple ambience at David's ranges from the minimal yet colorful dining room to the bright, cheerful cafeteria counter, which draws throngs of hungry folks at lunchtime. Area business people and Cuban-native regulars sit side-by-side enjoying bracing cafe Cubano and plenty of delicious, spicy-fresh cuisine. Try the chicken in garlic sauce with white wine and herbs, or the fabulous Cuban sandwich, dubbed by regulars as the Cuban Big Mac, which features pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. Croquettes are a popular choice at lunch ­ one bite of the thick sandwiches, pressed between slabs of flaky Cuban bread, and you'll know why. No reservations.
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Enriqueta's Sandwich Shop

186 NE 29th St, Miami, FL 305-573-4681

Description: DOWNTOWN. Open for breakfast and lunch, this Cuban cafeteria keeps the Design District well fed on everything from bacon and eggs (along with café Cubano, of course) to handmade sandwiches.
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Havana Harry's

4612 S Le Jeune Rd, Coral Gables, FL 33146-1815 305-661-2622

Description: CORAL GABLES. A Coral Gables favorite, Havana Harry's is often packed at lunch and dinner with happy patrons enjoying tropical cocktails and everything from palomilla steak and yucca to plantains and grilled dolphin. The atmosphere, warm and friendly, has changed little despite the fact that they've moved out of their old digs and into a newer building next door. Tables are usually hard to come by, but do yourself a favor and wait it out ­ your taste buds will thank you.
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Islas Canarias

285 NW 27th Ave, Miami, FL 33125-5131 305-649-0440

Description: DOWNTOWN. Spanish and Cuban cuisine is offered in a casual ambience at this family-friendly eatery. Always packed with local devotees and travelers seeking an authentic Latin dining experience, this is a great choice for a crowd or if you are eating late in the evening. The food is home-style and comforting, with large portions and a variety that includes moist and tender top sirloin, spiced generously and served with the addictive Latin version of French fries, papas fritas.
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Larios on the Beach

820 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-532-9577

Description: SOUTH BEACH. This is Cuban done South Beach-style ­ that means with glitz, bright color, and ultra-chic decor. Young Cuban-Americans and trendy folks of all colors, creeds, and ages make this restaurant a mob scene on weekends. If you want to commune with the elbow-to-elbow crowds, Friday and Saturday are ideal. But if you want to dine on Cuban specialties in relative peace, come earlier in the week. The beans and rice is flavorful and hearty, as are the roasted chicken and the Palomilla steak. The prices are a bit higher than at many Cuban eateries, but the party crowd says the ambience and hip clientele are worth every penny. Reservations recommended.
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Las Culebrinas

4700 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33134 305-445-2337

Description: WEST MIAMI. A perennial family favorite, Las Culebrinas offers lively atmosphere and hearty helpings of Cuban comfort food. The choices are so vast that groups often make a meal sharing several appetizers rather than ordering larger individual portions. Main-dish servings are huge, and standouts include sautéed shredded beef and onions, fried pork in avocado sauce, and rabbit in garlic sauce with deep-fried green plantains. Desserts are fabulous as well ­ flan lovers should save room!
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Las Culebrinas ­ Coconut Grove

2819 SW 27th Ave, Coconut Grove, FL 33133-3701 305-448-4090

Description: COCONUT GROVE. While the dining scene at Coconut Grove doesn't lack for its share of options, it's difficult for many tourists to find a place that serves up good food but doesn't wipe out the trust fund in the process. 27th Avenue's Las Culebrinas is one of these places. Live calypso and salsa music filters through the restaurant, whose sophisticated decor bears a distinct tropical lilt. Upstairs, patrons may sit at the upscale bar and enjoy a little bi-lingual interaction with the band. Meanwhile, the smartly clad waitstaff swarms around the main dining area, bringing delightful offerings of sautéed shredded beef and onions, fried pork in avocado sauce, and rabbit in garlic sauce with deep-fried green plantains. Reservations are accepted.
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Little Havana Restaurant

12727 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami, FL 33181 305-899-9069

Description: NORTH MIAMI. While the rather mundane decor probably doesn't earn this neighborhood treasure a second glance from most tourists, locals know that the kitchen at Little Havana serves up some of the most delicious and reasonably priced eats around. Traditional Cuban fare is the specialty, and menu favorites include the likes of fried pork chunks, lamb, chicken croquettes, and lobster ­ all of them served with healthy portions of black beans and rice, plantains, and yucca on the side. Of course, a perfect accompaniment to any meal here is their potently famous sangria, which can always put you in that Havana frame of mind. Reservations are not accepted, so it's best to arrive early if you don't want to wait for a table.
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Los Ranchos

125 SW 107th Ave, Sweetwater Holiday Plaza, Miami, FL 33174-1496 305-221-9367

Description: What started as one restaurant has grown to a chain of six bustling eateries. The success has been exceptional, and it's a fitting tribute to the award-winning menu that folks often come back for more ­ and recommend Los Ranchos to their friends. The cuisine has hints of Latin American, Cuban and Nicaraguan styles. Sample the delectable Gallo Pinto, spicy fried rice and red beans, or go the traditional route with their claim to fame ­ the churrasco. This center-cut tenderloin, chargrilled to perfection, is a favorite with regulars. Early-bird dinner specials are an impressive bargain.
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Mark's South Beach

1120 Collins Ave, Hotel Nash, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-604-9050

Description: SOUTH BEACH. Luxurious Mark's greets guests with rich mahogany furnishings, linen wallpaper and finely upholstered seating. Then they're treated to chef Mark Militello's New World fusion cuisine, which capitalizes on South Florida's excellent seafood and tosses in a dash of Caribbean spice. His creations range from Chilean sea bass with fresh white sardines to yellowtail snapper with couscous and shellfish. Perfect for an intimate rendezvous or a business dinner. Great bar, too.
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Molina's Ranch Restaurant

11995 SW 26th St, Miami, FL 33175 305-207-8600

Description: Tasty, authentic Cuban eats are the draw at this modest eatery, where fans sip margaritas and munch on meat dishes with scrumptious sides like black beans, rice, plantains and yucca. Try the Cuban-style roast beef or pork, or a seafood dish, such as the impressively tasty whole fried red snapper. Great prices, too.
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Puerto Sagua

700 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-673-1115

Description: SOUTH BEACH. No-frills Puerto Sagua is a long-standing institution in South Beach, where restaurants come and go with frequency. This one has continued to please the fickle masses with traditional Cuban comfort food and unfussy decor. Native Cubans savor authentic shrimp in garlic sauce, fried plantains and grilled Cuban sandwiches stuffed with ham, pork and cheese. Late hours also make Puerto Sagua a perfect stop-off after a show or a night of club-hopping.
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Rio Cristal

9872 Bird Rd, Miami, FL 33165 305-223-2357

Description: WESTWOOD LAKES. This Cuban treasure makes a quick road trip out to West Dade more than worthwhile. Don't expect much in terms of flashy decor and SoBe-esque neon ­ the emphasis is on home cooking rather than designer digs. Indeed, inexpensive eats and friendly atmosphere are always on the menu at Rio Cristal, where Pepe and family serve up traditional grilled steak, frijoles negros (black beans), gran guinero steak with fried potatoes, and lobster enchilada with ripe plantains.
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Versailles

3555 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33130 305-445-7614

Description: LITTLE HAVANA. The name and decor may be French, but Versailles's cooking is Cuban all the way. Patrons swoon over deliciously authentic food and the dining room's opulence, complete with candelabras, gilt-framed mirrors and tuxedo-clad waiters. Still, everything's not as upscale as it sounds ­ the vibe is relaxed and dishes are happily affordable. Ropa vieja, made with zesty shredded beef, is a fine introduction to the bold cuisine, and arroz con pollo may forever change your opinion of chicken and rice.
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Yuca

501 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-532-9822

Description: SOUTH BEACH. This restaurant is a bit classier and more elegant than most Cuban favorites, with uncluttered decor and original Cuban tiles on the floor. If fact, YUCA stands for Young Upscale Cuban Americans, so there's no question about the demographic the restaurant seeks to attract. Clearly not aimed at traditionalists, the menu features innovative dishes that center around traditional Cuban ingredients, such as yucca stuffed with picadillo of wild mushrooms, served on a bed of sautéed spinach with beef and carrot vinaigrette. The chef skillfully blends Cuban and Italian cuisine with the sun-dried tomato and basil gnocchi, served with veal picadillo inside a basket made of yucca shoestring fries, the whole mixture topped with tangy Tetilla cheese. The bar upstairs draws crowds with live music.
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