642665 Thu Aug 06 18:40:22 -0700 2009 13 2 Los Angeles Area 0 4924514 Just got back from New York and had some iterations of the classic Cubano sandwich, sliced pork loin, sliced ham, sliced swiss, some sliced dill pickles and spread yellow mustard on a nicely crusted roll and then pressed like a panini except without the ridges. As a matter of fact there was a nice Cubano available even at the Balducci's at JFK. I'll take recs for places to get this classic sandwich in town but isn't there somewhere to get packaged or deli like Boar's Head sliced roast pork so I don't have to go to the trouble of roasting a pork lenderloin just to get a couple of slices for a sandwich? There's gotta be a place in town and I've tried Gelson's, Bristol Farms and Whole Foods. Thanks for any heads up. Thu Aug 06 18:40:22 -0700 2009 45635 eder 1 4924555 Oh, I know, I just love a cuban medianoche sandwich. I make them myself now, whenever I have leftover roast pork loin, and absolutely gorge myself on them. If you find out., let me know. But I think I'd rather roast my own, than rely on some overprocessed brand of lunchmeat. Thu Aug 06 18:55:58 -0700 2009 4924514 90755 Phurstluv 1 4924621 Cooked pork loin (and tenderloin) freeze pretty well if you can't stand too many leftovers. Truth be said, I've even substituted store bought carnitas (now ducking catcalls :-). In my part of town I hit Havana Mania, Varadero Cafe or the Havana Sandwich Company for a good cubano. In case you didn't know, the Mexican style cubano is something Very different. eder, where do you live? We all don't have the travel budget of Burger Boy..... Here's a one year search: http://search.chow.com/search?query=cuban&advanced=1&from_date=1+year+ago&type=Topic&sort_mode=newest&from_date_select=1+year+ago&search_boardgroup_id=1&search_board_id=2&user_name=&post_title=cuban Thu Aug 06 19:18:42 -0700 2009 4924514 23712 DiveFan 2 4924632 What travel budget?? All he does is eat at 26 Beach in Venice!! Sorry, B-boy, I just couldn't resist!! ;) And yes, it does freeze well, something I forgot to mention. As does carnitas & cubano lechon, no cat calls from me, we love 'em, just not a medianoche with carnitas! Will have to check those out next time I'm in the El Segundo / south bay area. Thanks. Thu Aug 06 19:22:17 -0700 2009 4924621 90755 Phurstluv 2 4924878 El Criollo is close enough. For 8 bucks including ff's who could resist? A cuban restaurant in the valley? Who knew? Muchisima gracia as lo cubano say..... Thu Aug 06 21:30:33 -0700 2009 4924621 45635 eder 2 4925575 I've driven by Varadero many times but haven't tried it out. Is the rest of their food as good as their sandwiches? Fri Aug 07 07:33:50 -0700 2009 4924621 15783 young_chower 1 4925845 for what it's worth...Cafe Habana (from NY) is getting ready to open two westside outposts (one in Venice and one in Malibu, I believe) and they make a pretty spectacular Cubano -- at the originals anyway. Fri Aug 07 08:46:09 -0700 2009 4924514 127538 wutzizname 1 4926085 PORTO in Glendale Fri Aug 07 10:04:38 -0700 2009 4924514 66416 orythedog 2 4926300 ...and Burbank. Cubano and lechon are both good, perhaps not great. Lots of people like the medianoche, but I don't care for anything sweet in a meat sandwich. Fri Aug 07 11:04:25 -0700 2009 4926085 11478 Will Owen 3 4926406 What's the sweet?? Fri Aug 07 11:42:22 -0700 2009 4926300 90755 Phurstluv 4 4926423 Medianoche is a cuban sandwich made with a sweet bread (it's pretty close to King's Hawaiian Sweet Bread). Fri Aug 07 11:47:35 -0700 2009 4926406 11646 Norm Man 5 4926425 Oh, that's what he meant. Okay, don't have to use that bread, I certainly don't, I use sourdough, mainly. Fri Aug 07 11:48:37 -0700 2009 4926423 90755 Phurstluv 6 4926641 MILK makes a good variation on a Medianoche. I think they use more of a cibatta roll. Fri Aug 07 13:08:04 -0700 2009 4926425 127538 wutzizname 1 4926325 Cafe Tropical on Sunset in Silver Lake has tasty Cuban sandwiches, coffee, and pastries. Fri Aug 07 11:10:29 -0700 2009 4924514 186101 chinchi