Cuban Delights Cafe

Little gem we went on a whim for
Take out… Cuban sandwiches. Everyone loved them including our 9 year old that stole ½ of mine :) we will return!

Have been going to eat there at least three times a month for the last year and a half. Needless to say that the food is incredible!!!
Portions are very well served, easily feed two with one order of anything. Everything comes with a big side of rice, beans (black are the best) and an option of plantains, tostones or fried yucca (cassava).
Unfortunately, for the last couple of month I have been going for supper instead than for lunch and i have to mention that the experience with the service received has not been GOOD. There is only one person attending the whole place in the afternoon and she doesn’t understand English enough to run the place alone. Had a couple of minor sour experiences with the service but last Thursday 01/​14, percent was the day that make me considering going back there at dinner time. She didn’t understand my order and brought chicken with shrimp and I asked for salmon with shrimp (tropical shrimp). Also, our glasses of water stayed empty for a very long time during the dinner, I had to remind her twice to refill the glasses. Piece of advice, I will be coming back for sure, but for lunch!!!

Nice experience. Food is good and they are not shy in serving a lot of it. Service is good and desserts great. Cozy small restaurant. It’s worth to try it. You’ll be hooked.

Our table ordered a Cuban sandwich, Ropa Vieja, Chorichicken and Lomo Salteado. The Lomo Salteado was unanimously our favorite. All our entrees came with black beans and rice and a choice of several sides. My friend got fried plantains which were perfect. I got fried yucca as a side. It was delicious. The beans were expertly cooked and seasoned. I would definitely come back.

Enjoyed everything especially the Cuban coffee. Had amazing service I’ve been going to eat there for a couple of years now it’s wonderful.

Food was good, however service was really slow, took 10 minutes for someone to take our drink order. Then another 15 minutes to take food order. After which one meal came out right away like it was precooked. The rest took 20 minutes so their food was cold if they didn’t eat it right away (he didnt eat it he was being polite). When we came in only two other tables with two people each table, after we came in two large groups came in but we still should have been before them.

Cuban Delight has pretty good food
The issue is they only open the doors for lunch when they feel like it
There are people standing around waiting to get in the door, and they open it when they get around to it
The posted hours say the open at 11:00 am
The bottom line is they appear to have an attitude

So easy to give this little jewel 5 stars. Both of us had the roasted pork. It is our favorite dish. And this place did not disappoint. It was perfect and the portions are abundant. We’re looking forward to our yummy leftovers. We will be back to explore their authentic Cuban dishes. Our server was so pleasant handling all the tables plus the many customer take outs. Has about 12 tables plus counter service. Kudos to this family business.

Great little place. The room isn’t much to rave about but the roast pork, black beans and fried plantains are delicious. And the portions are enormous — the food we brought home will be a whole other dinner. And cold beer in frosty mugs. Our server was a very sweet young lady —she was just fine. We’ll be back.

Favorite Cuban restaurant in Lakeland. All food is excellent; my favorite is the baked chicken, usually only served on Friday’s. Scrumptious homemade guava or coconut pastries. Delicious café con leche. Small dining area and close early.

I have dined at Cuban Delights Café on many occasions over the last two years and have always had a good experience. I had the Cuban Sandwich with Black Beans and Rice on my most recent visit. This is the best Cuban Sandwich in Lakeland. The bread is always flakey, the pork is meaty, juicy and tender, and the cheese is melty. The bowl of black beans and rice was large and pretty standard. The only thing added to the beans and rice were freshly diced onions, which really enhanced the flavor of the dish. On previous occasions I have also tried the Ropa Vieja. This dish was freshly made, the portions were huge, the meat was tender, juicy, and flavorful and the side of fried plantains were also very good. Overall, this is the best place for Cuban food in Lakeland.

I have only eaten Cuban food a few times, and I didn’t really understand the appeal. Then I came here for lunch today. Now I get it. The first bite of roasted pork made me close my eyes and savor the taste sensation. The $ 11 meal came with black beans, rice, and fried plantains, which were all excellent, too. There’s a lot of food. I could barely eat half of it. I’m just passing through, but I may return tomorrow to try the garlic chicken.

First time here, food was great. Had the roast pork. Come with rice, beans and sweet plantains. Will definitely come back!

Two words: Chicken Milanesa
Yay! Now we don’t have to drive out to Brandon to get excellent Cuban food. You know a place is special when the care they put in to rice and black beans is top rate (so good!). Beans and rice you say? Trust me, they have it down to a science in it’s tasty simplicity.
This is the place to go to in town for your Cuban fix. You will be pleased. Go there hungry!!!
I’m giving myself one star for not realizing they were around the corner from my house.

I love this little place. Great service, huge portions, quality food, clean and consistent.

I got out of class early last Thursday and had an hour and a half until I was due at work, so I got myself over to Cuban Delight to find out for myself if it lived up to the hype I hear from many people. Inside was very clean and in order which is something I really like. I read off of their menu board and made my selection. I think a paper menu is always better because it will say what sides come with what, what is only a sandwich, what sides/​desserts are available, etc. However, it was no big deal to ask instead. I decided on my staple meal, chicken and rice. I am half Cuban, so I feel like I critique these dishes more than others. Everything was well made. I would have liked my chicken cooked longer, I don’t like it to stay so white/​pale because it makes me feel like it’s still raw. The maduros were pretty good, one wasn’t fully cooked though. I loved the quantity of food that was given. I paid 9.99 before tax, so I do believe that the portion was worth the price. The taste was good, but I’ve had better. Overall, I would and WILL return for more. Next time, i was a pork sandwich. :)
I also had a guava pastry, very tasty. It was warm and even a tiny bit buttery which is a nice change from what I’m used to.

Some of the best Cuban I have ever had. I had the best fried pork cubes I have ever had an my fiancé had the rope vieja.

Great Cuban food! Very clean restaurant and outstanding staff. This place will be seeing me a lot!
Every time I come back the food gets better and better.

I had to update my review based on the meatball dish I had there, excellent! You can definitely tell the meatballs are fresh and probably handmade. Springy with a sweet light tomato based sauce. See the pic!
Also, they’ve updated the décor. More colorful and lively looking inside. This is a gem of a place, however it is still kind of small and fills up quick during lunch. When it does, service can be slow. That’s my only real complaint, but it’s minor.

I am so surprise people are not aware of this place as the food is simply to die for… the place is always busy and they just did some remodeling lately…
all kinds of Cuban foods and authentic taste really melts in your mouth… the staff is very helpful and nice… I would recommend this to anybody… a ten in my book…
Thanks Henry