Any good Cuban in SF? How about Puerto Rican?

[contessa]

For the life of me, I can't think of a single legit Cuban place in SF. I don't like the food at Laurel's in Hayes Valley, and Charanga in the MIssion is good but not really Cuban.

And how about some Puerto Rican? Anywhere? I had a friend ask me and I had no idea...

Thanks!

[rigel]

not that i can find. as a miami transplant, i have fairly exacting standards, and none of the places ive been to have even been close to the mark, and i've been looking since i got here two years ago. frutilandia is barely adequate. el rincon makes better cuban sandwiches. dont even think of trying to find a medianoche in this town.

it's kind of depressing, especially when i go back east and look at the contrast.

[AmySherman]

Sol Food in San Rafael serves terrific Puerto Rican food. They are finally moving to a bigger place after so many good reviews. I know it's not SF but It's worth the trip.

[Mick Ruthven]

And they have a very good Cubano. Good, that is, to me and to some others on this board. I've never had one anywhere else to compare...

[anna]

I believe Los Flamingos on Noe has Cuban food. I've only been there once and I enjoyed the food. Generous portions at good prices. The only reason we haven't been back is that parking was such a headache. It took us 40 minutes to find one....

[moto]

hello, is los flamingos the little cafe around 15th and Noe? I enjoyed a very large cubano sandwich there,with good quality meats,though I don't know what these are 'supposed'(Miami based template I guess) to be like. salud

[Robert Lauriston]

That's Los Flamingos--menu has both Mexican and Cuban dishes. The Cubano sandwich is good, quite traditional except for the bread, and about twice the size of most.

[contessa]

Los Flamingos flew away a while ago--they are now closed...

[bernalgirl]

Another vote for El Nuevo Frutilandia, a lovely neighborhood place even if not exactly Cuban/PRan (I really am not qualified to make that distinction).

[rootlesscosmo]

I can't remember if they have asopao de pollo or mofongo or arroz con gandules which I would consider quintessentially Puerto Rican dishes. They do have a portrait of José Marti, and one that I <i>think</i> is Don Pedro Albizu Campos, on the wall, and a calendar with a map of Cuba; the beer list includes Bohemia and Negra Modelo.

[Robert Lauriston]

Menupages lists mofongo! That's new, they definitely didn't have it last time I was there.

http://sanfrancisco.menupages.com/res...

[rootlesscosmo]

Thanks for that link--I didn't know about MenuPages. Yes, mofongo, arroz con gandules, alcapurrìas... I've fallen into the habit of always going on Friday (I don't mean <i>every</i> Friday) and always having bacalao, but I can see I'll have to get more imaginative.

[Robert Lauriston]

I think the current owners of Frutilandia are Dominican. Founders were Cuban.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/45128
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/45174
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[contessa]

Right on--I've always wanted to check out El Nuevo, now I know I should!

[rootlesscosmo]

El Nuevo Frutilandia, 24th St. between Harrison and Folsom. A real neighborhood place, been there a long time--bacalao special on Friday, lechòn on Saturday, moros y cristianos as a side, plàtanos maduros, guanabana soda pop, the whole deal. You can work up an appetite (or walk off a big lunch) strolling up and down Balmy Alley between 24th & 25th to check on the murals.

[ML8000]

Couldn't remember the name but remember the location. I haven't been there in a few years but if I recall, it's actually billed as a Cuban/PR restaurant. I think nice neighborhood place is a good description.

In Oakland, on International Blvd there's a PR place called "Sofrito" but only walked by.

[finchycocoa]

warning:service is crazy slow here. Also a friend of mine was treated very rudely several times by the same waitress. But the food is scrumptious...