Cuban roast pork with crispy skin?

[RacerX]

While visiting Miami earlier this year, I sampled several Cuban eateries, but the dish that blew me away the most during my visit was a roast pork dish that came with some crispy skin attached. The skin was reminiscent of what you would find in a chinese roast pork.

Are there any cuban eateries that have something comparable? I know pork is big in Cuban cooking but I want the crispy skin as well and so far I haven't seen anything. Bonus points if its in the SFV.

I've been to Casa Don Rolondo in North Hills based on other board recs and they had a great arroz con pollo but no pork with crispy skin, and I've called El Ciroillo in Van Nuys and they said they didin't do it with the roast skin on.

TIA!

[Low Blood Sugar]

I would think that most Cuban restaurants will give you extra skin if you request it. I've done that when ordering carnitas at Mexican places. There's a bakery in Hawthorne called El Zorro. They do roast pork trays to-go around christmas time. There's a couple of square feet of crispy skin in there!

[Motherhubbard]

La Terza on Third St near La Cienega used to do a pig one night a week. Don't know if they still do.

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La Terza
8384 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[mucho gordo]

Isn't Porto's in Glendale / Burbank Cuban? They have a pork sandwich that sounds fantastic but haven't tried yet. So far I've limited myself to a couple of their pastries and yummy potato balls.

[Mr Taster]

LA Weekly answered your question today...

5 hour baked lechon at Havana Mania in Redondo Beach, and a Yucatecan version at Chichen Itza.

http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/la...

Mr Taster

[Mattapoisett in LA]

Also note that it was written by Fabulous Chowhound Poster and my lovely wife: Dommy!

[Mr Taster]

I see that now! Kudos to Dommy (and to you for recognizing her good taste!)

Mr Taster

[exilekiss]

Awesome! :) Please pass on my congrats to Dommy. Great job.

[FranklinJefferson]

After puzzling for a few hours, remembered J. Gold's 99 Before You Die review of Evas Lechon. Fillipino rather than Cuban, but roast pig with crackling skin nonetheless...

[whatsfordinner]

A new Cuban restaurant is just about to open at the Lumberyard in Malibu. It may be worth a call to see if they have it. Unfortunately the name escapes me!

[ozhead]

Habana? La Habana? something along those lines.

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Habana
2930 Bristol St Ste A110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

[FranklinJefferson]

Cafe Habana. And, according to another local Food site, only a limited menu at the moment (as well as limited lunch/dinner hours). Also, their website doesn't indicate the Caja Chinga style Pork, only the roast, pulled pork.

[Professor Salt]

There's a Cuban cafe / bakery / restaurant across from my Torrance workplace that advertises a Cuban pig roast held one night a week. I blow Dodge before dinnertime, so I've never tried it.

Call over and see if they're roasting a whole pig, skin on, or not.

http://www.tropicubacafebakery.com/

A few years ago, I went to a food & wine festival where Grace restaurant cooked up a whole pig in a Caja China. I don't know if Neil Fraser is doing that in the restaurant, but it might be worth a call.

[kanohli]

Havanamania in the South Bay on Inglewood and Manhattan Beach Blvd.

[wienermobile]

I second Havana Mania.
http://www.havanamania.com/

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Havana Mania
3615 Inglewood Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90278

[Tari]

I agree with Havania Mania, but go on Tuesday evening when they actually roast the pork. That is when you will get the pork skin