372324 Sun Feb 18 07:09:27 -0800 2007 34 18 Manhattan 0 2304103 OK-besides Mrs. GG's left over pork loin //smithfield ham /jarlsberg combo on a ciabatta roll toasted and pressed which clearly rules-what's the best in Manhattan? My contenders are Sophies, the now defunct Spanish American aka cuchifritos, Margon, Havana Chelsea, Havana Central, el Castillo de Jagua and Cibao on Clinton. Cast your votes or write-ins. Thanks. Sun Feb 18 07:09:28 -0800 2007 10173 guttergourmet 1 2304112 The cubano at the spotted pig is pretty darn good. Really great chunks of roast pork in it. I haven't really tried any of the more traditional places, but I thought I would throw that out there. Sun Feb 18 07:14:45 -0800 2007 2304103 14736 MBShapiro 1 2304203 My vote goes to Margon. Sun Feb 18 08:10:29 -0800 2007 2304103 10195 KTinNYC 2 2319289 Margon is great, but if you want to get super technical, it's not a traditional Cuban Sandwich. It has salami in it, which I believe is a Dominican thing. Delicious nonetheless! http://midtownlunch.com/blog/2006/11/15/margon-3/ Thu Feb 22 13:23:54 -0800 2007 2304203 11233 zGustibus 1 2304343 I really like Cafe Habana's. Sun Feb 18 09:25:30 -0800 2007 2304103 28257 haleyjen 1 2304401 Have you been to Downtown Bakery on 1st Ave. near 4th st.? They have a great no frills version and it is pretty damn good. Cafe cito on ave.c does a good one too but I have not really had too many in this city. Sun Feb 18 09:48:19 -0800 2007 2304103 75413 gonzo99 1 2304744 The best place is Milanes in Chelsea. It's such a hole in the wall but these people are the real deal. Sun Feb 18 12:11:57 -0800 2007 2304103 70550 hoon 1 2305095 Cafecito without a doubt. Sun Feb 18 14:50:52 -0800 2007 2304103 72815 slcorlis 1 2305127 I like Cafecito too. I've not been to Sucelt on 14th-looks promising.Anybody been recently? Sun Feb 18 15:08:16 -0800 2007 2304103 10173 guttergourmet 2 2306653 The bread at Sucelt is a deal breaker. Too doughy and not well toasted. Mon Feb 19 08:49:31 -0800 2007 2305127 10195 KTinNYC 2 2943541 cafecito's cubano is not good, it does not have real fresh cooked pernil on it and that is essential for a sandwich cubano. i have to say -as a cuban- that i do not like any of the ones that are mentioned here. for me the best cubano sandwich was on the bronx, on 161 and grand concourse but they closed a few months ago. Fri Sep 14 22:19:50 -0700 2007 2305127 120827 LRS 3 3961533 agreed. the service was really bad when i went too. Fri Aug 15 21:01:46 -0700 2008 2943541 145096 sugartoof 1 2309059 The cubano at 5 Ninth, while not traditional, is delicious. Mon Feb 19 20:43:37 -0800 2007 2304103 13586 tupac17616 1 2317953 Margon Thu Feb 22 09:14:20 -0800 2007 2304103 18198 Uptownflavor 1 2318099 for an unconventional cubano, i'd recommend (oddly enough) dinosaur barbeque. they use pulled pork, and it is quite good, if a bit non-traditional. Thu Feb 22 09:42:42 -0800 2007 2304103 12981 adam 2 3318609 Agreed...they are delicious! esp with the chipotle bbq sauce Mon Jan 21 18:11:16 -0800 2008 2318099 93566 kelea 1 2318560 I thought Sophie's and Schiller's cubanos were pretty good till i had the cubano at Spotted Pig. Tender tender pieces of real pork, right amount of mustard, crusty bread and i didn't stop eating to see if it was those little french pickles or if they were spicy peppers in the sandwhich. DELCIOUS! Thu Feb 22 11:06:21 -0800 2007 2304103 58535 banjolinana 1 2318946 Mambi on 177th and Broadway makes a pretty mean Cubano. Nothing fancy, but real deal. And the price isn't bad at something like $3.50. I remember them being rated as the best in the city a while back by one of the publications that does a best of list but can't rememebr which one. Thu Feb 22 12:15:25 -0800 2007 2304103 47293 Manhattan4Life 2 2357390 Yup, Mambi is goooood. Tue Mar 06 08:23:11 -0800 2007 2318946 56793 ballulah 2 2361752 I second Mambi's. Authentic Cubano Wed Mar 07 09:52:54 -0800 2007 2318946 72456 republix 1 2359603 for a traditional cubano, El Castillo de Madison on Madison St/Rutgers, is pretty tasty. their pernil is fantastic and makes the sandwich. at $4.00, it's a pretty good deal as well. Tue Mar 06 16:36:15 -0800 2007 2304103 13432 jimmyjazz 1 2360842 jimmyjazz: AMEN! i grew up on their cubanos. get that and a bowl of mondongo (tripe soup) you have an amazing meal. Wed Mar 07 05:43:39 -0800 2007 2304103 80580 fun_seanny 1 2942770 ok....all you people that know about the best cubano sandwich have never mentioned the best kept secret in Manhattan ha! you are missing the deal of the century with THE best sandwich...138 st and B'way...that place has been there since the 60's and they make a kickass spanish coffee that could have you wallpapering at 2am. Take the 1 train and get off at 137st and cross the street and go to the little hole in the wall on the corner of 138th and broadway. I dare you!!!! Fri Sep 14 15:35:10 -0700 2007 2304103 127393 leandrolisa 2 2943315 Margon...Just had lunch there today...A mid-town bargain at 5 dollars per; expertly grilled and very tasty. And the people who work there are remarkable...nice, caring and proud. Fri Sep 14 19:43:21 -0700 2007 2942770 97984 Will4Food 2 2943682 Well, maybe not *that* well-kept a secret ( http://www.chow.com/digest/754 ). But how recently were you last there? NY magazine's listing says it's closed ( http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/la-flor-de-broadway ), and the phone is now disconnected. Sat Sep 15 02:20:40 -0700 2007 2942770 10496 squid kun 2 2987319 That place is called "La Flor de Broadway" and is totally amazing. It ruined me for cubanos at other places because they just can't compare. Get the "especial" and make sure you ask for garlic and pickles. It will blow you away. Oh man, I just read the above post about it being closed. What a bummer! Fri Sep 28 17:57:24 -0700 2007 2942770 130794 vinegarhill 3 3180624 It is now renamed "La Nueva Flor de Broadway" and has reopened at 3395 Broadway, between 137th and 138th Streets. Their cubano sandwiches are as good as ever! Tue Dec 04 22:05:30 -0800 2007 2987319 147888 toddg 4 3318568 Is La Flor really back?? You made my day! Their cubano was the real deal, with pickles and garlic, grilled flat and concentrated, almost crunchy on the outside, meaty and gooey on the inside. I loved standing at the counter with a cup of their killer coffee! Mon Jan 21 17:59:18 -0800 2008 3180624 18111 gypsy 1 2943873 Nice to see this thread resurrected. My updates are Havana Chelsea RIP :( . But Spotted Pig, though untraditional, is truly fantastic. Sat Sep 15 07:11:43 -0700 2007 2304103 10173 guttergourmet 2 3958879 I just went way uptown on the rec of this board to try La Nueva Flor- I must be missing something- the Cubano i had was dry, on soggy, bad bread, and just generally tasted bad. I think it is the first time I have thrown out half of something that came highly recommended by chowhound.... maybe I'm missing something? Hope to try Sophie's soon. Thu Aug 14 22:38:46 -0700 2008 2943873 68189 jeffffposc 3 3959243 sorry to hear that-I was planning a trip to try it myself. Anyone know whether it's gone downhill or just an off day? Fri Aug 15 05:52:22 -0700 2008 3958879 10173 guttergourmet 3 3959262 Ive had sofie's and i couldnt finish it...Awful. Cafe Habana is my favorite. The cubano app at Son Cubano is good, if you're really hungover...Greasy. Fri Aug 15 06:00:39 -0700 2008 3958879 123164 kcijones001 1 3959459 I haven't been to any of the downtown spots, but I really like Floriditia in Washington heights (not related to the harlem restaraunt). It's not as fancy as some others, very light on the sauce, pillowy enriched Cuban bread pressed down, and really crispy tasty pickles. If you are in the neighborhood pick one up :) Fri Aug 15 07:13:29 -0700 2008 2304103 216167 chargeorge 1 3960979 I'm still a big fan of Cafe Habana, which was only mentioned a couple times in this thread. Dependable if anything, and delicious. Gotta add my vote. Fri Aug 15 16:01:59 -0700 2008 2304103 164426 dwagner6 2 3966759 I don't think Cafecito's version is that great, I walk a block over to Joselito on 9th and D . ... for $4 it is a very solid option (cafecito charges $10), the clientele there is very local (not that it should be an automatic pass, just may mean that there are limited options). I know recession is bumping up the price of many of the cheap eats, but i just can't stomach paying $10 or more for what could be a mediocre sandwich. Mon Aug 18 13:07:54 -0700 2008 3960979 211877 cubeoccupant