Cuban restaurant?

[Drover]

Originally Posted by sharkylittleton

Can I expect any of these places to serve those awesome little cuban sandwiches that I love so much?

Some of them do, but the places recommended so far are more upscale-ish tablecloth sit-down restaurants. There are several sandwich shacks that do it cheaper and, often, better. Sharky recommended Cafe Marianao, and that's definitely a favorite among Cuban sandwich aficionados. IMO the place is greatly overrated, but apparently I'm alone in my assessment. By far the best Cuban sandwich joint in the city is El Cubanito. Their steak sandwich is one of the best sandwiches in town, of any kind, much less Cuban-style. They have two locations, one at 2555 N. Pulaski in Logan Square/Hermosa and one at 5306 W. Fullerton in Belmont-Cragin.

Honorable Mention goes to Con Sabor Cubano at 2739 w. Lawrence in Ravenswood and La Unica at 1515 W. Devon in Edgewater/Rogers Park. La Unica is worth it for the experience alone -- it's a little sit-down cafeteria type place in the back of a tiny multi-ethnic Latino grocery store. It's a trip -- makes for some good people-watching, and you can pick up a few grocery items while you're there, like a six-pack of Materva.

I also like Borincuba at 3424 W. Irving Park in Irving Park for the Cubano. (Don't bother with their steak sandwich -- way bland.) The Cubano is not on their menu for some reason, but it's still a feature item. Unfortunately they can be a little inconsistent, (which is why it's not on my "honorable mention" list) but when they're on, they have the second-best Cubano in the city, second only to El Cubanito. Make sure to ask for extra cheese -- sometimes they get a little skimpy on it.

[sharkylittleton]

Originally Posted by Drover

Some of them do, but the places recommended so far are more upscale-ish tablecloth sit-down restaurants. There are several sandwich shacks that do it cheaper and, often, better. Sharky recommended Cafe Marianao, and that's definitely a favorite among Cuban sandwich aficionados. IMO the place is greatly overrated, but apparently I'm alone in my assessment. By far the best Cuban sandwich joint in the city is El Cubanito. Their steak sandwich is one of the best sandwiches in town, of any kind, much less Cuban-style. They have two locations, one at 2555 N. Pulaski in Logan Square/Hermosa and one at 5306 W. Fullerton in Belmont-Cragin.

Honorable Mention goes to Con Sabor Cubano at 2739 w. Lawrence in Ravenswood and La Unica at 1515 W. Devon in Edgewater/Rogers Park. La Unica is worth it for the experience alone -- it's a little sit-down cafeteria type place in the back of a tiny multi-ethnic Latino grocery store. It's a trip -- makes for some good people-watching, and you can pick up a few grocery items while you're there, like a six-pack of Materva.

I also like Borincuba at 3424 W. Irving Park in Irving Park for the Cubano. (Don't bother with their steak sandwich -- way bland.) The Cubano is not on their menu for some reason, but it's still a feature item. Unfortunately they can be a little inconsistent, (which is why it's not on my "honorable mention" list) but when they're on, they have the second-best Cubano in the city, second only to El Cubanito. Make sure to ask for extra cheese -- sometimes they get a little skimpy on it.

Drover.... to clarify Ramo Nash made that recommendation for Cafe Marianao, not me. With that said, great recommendations! I know where I'll be eating this weekend!

[tolife]

Thanks everyone for chiming in with recommendations...I didn't expect to get this much response. I guess Chicagoans love their cuisine.

I'll be sure to report back with a review.

[oakparkV]

Cafe LaGuardia, definitely... although I've only been to the one on the west side, by Oak Park Ave & North.

And about a block west from there is a 2nd Cuban restaurant called Cafe Cubano, (technically I think in Elmwood Park) which is a little cheaper and more casual, but almost just as good. They have awesome appetizers, and carry tons of Hispanic pop brands.

Either way, you can't go wrong!