The best Cuban Sandwich in the World

[El Presidente]

I have to say it does look very good!

http://www.lamag.com/digestblog/best-cuban-sandwich-los-angeles/

The Cuban Sandwich at This Silver Lake Spot Was Just Named Best in the World

The judges at the International Cuban Sandwich Festival have spoken

Located in a Sunset Boulevard strip mall between buzzy spots like Trois Familia and Fat Dragon (oh, and a Domino’s Pizza and Baskin-Robbins), family-run Cuban restaurant El Cochinito just earned major bragging rights—and a comically large trophy. Over the first weekend in April, El Cochinito joined restaurants from all over the world at the International Cuban Sandwich Festival in Ybor City, Florida (fun fact: as of the 2010 census, 70 percent of Cuban Americans lived in Florida), and walked away with a first-place finish in the traditional Cuban sandwich category. Through a nomination process, El Cochinito was selected to represent the entire West Coast.

Opened in 1988 by Gladys Gutierrez, who passed away four years ago and is the grandmother of the current owners, El Cochinito prides itself on its slow-roasted lechon asado. For the traditional sandwich competition, which was judged by a panel of Tampa-area chefs and local-celeb types, they had to abide by strict ingredient guidelines: Cuban bread, sweet ham, mojo-marinated pork, Swiss cheese, kosher pickles, and mustard. Butter was permitted, but only if the sandwich was pressed. The competition rules stressed: “No other ingredients can be used in the Traditional entry. Sandwiches may lose 10 points per rule violation.

 

 

Daniel Navarro, who co-owns the restaurant with his mother and sister, says the win was “super overwhelming.” “When they announced the second-place winner [Las Iguanas, a South American restaurant in London] we were like, oh man, I can’t believe we didn’t win anything,” he recalls. “Then they called our name.”

In other news, a Cuban sandwich sounds very good right now.

 

 

 

 

[ha_banos]

I keep watching triple D. They sometimes have Cuban sandwiches featured. We have next to nothing like that in London town. So to win second place, especially given the mediocre reviews is surprising.

And yes.. does sound pretty good about now...



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[Islandboy]

Crux Brewery in Bend, Oregon. The Cuban sandwich there Blew....my....mind.

[JamesKPolkEsq]

Oooo that's close enough to try! 

[Ethernut]

I will say the Cuban sandwich from the Hotel National is -not- the best in the world! Fair warning traveling blokes! It’s true. ???

[LLC]

I will say the Cuban sandwich from the Hotel National is -not- the best in the world! Fair warning traveling blokes! It’s true.

But it may be the best place in the world to have one.


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[Ethernut]

8 minutes ago, LLC said:

But it may be the best place in the world to have one.


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I can get behind that!

[Habana Mike]

1 hour ago, LLC said:

But it may be the best place in the world to have one.


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I can say the first one I had the first time I was there was pretty damn good - time, place and circumstance probably had a lot to so with that. The next one a day or so later at 3ish in the morning wasn't so bad either.

Last couple times down, not so good. I believe there must have been a pickle and mustard shortage on the island last year.....

There's a rough little place just west of the Tampa airport everyone swears has some of the best Cubanos on the planet and I'd agree they're not bad having tried them.

Thinking they're probably not aware there's an actual competition....

[BuzzArd]

Thatt's a big trophy for a SANDwich.... 

Used to get some fantastic Cuban food growing up in FL.  Miss it here in the desert SW...

[JoeyGunz]

On 13/04/2018 at 1:46 AM, ha_banos said:

I keep watching triple D. They sometimes have Cuban sandwiches featured. We have next to nothing like that in London town. So to win second place, especially given the mediocre reviews is surprising.

And yes.. does sound pretty good about now...



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Try Red Dog Sandwiches in Hoxton Square.

[ha_banos]

Try Red Dog Sandwiches in Hoxton Square.

There's one in Lakeside! . That looses points

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[ha_banos]

Ooh just found these guys ... Trying...

@ejmunchies

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[Puros Y Vino]

The Cubano at HNC is a staple for me anywhere after 2AM.    In Toronto, Mambo Lounge's Cubano is a real treat.

[Doctorossi]

... but how is their Media Noche?