La Cabana Antioquena in Tampa....

[deet13]

I plan on going there sometime in the next week with a friend of mine, and was curious if anyone on the forum has tried the food there yet?

http://www.lacabanaantioquena.com/men...

It's one of the few places in town which serves black sausage....

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La Cabana
8303 N Armenia Ave Ste 1, Tampa, FL 33604

[deet13]

Well I just got back from my second trip to La Cabana, and was impressed with their service, cleanliness, and the food.

Instead of ordering a bandeja, I went with the seafood casserole with a side of morcilla con arape y toston (AKA, the black sausage w/ corn cakes & Plantains). My girlfriend had the bandeja con pollo al carbone.

We had no complaints with either dish. The casserole, like most casseroles, was good and filling. The rotisserie chicken had a great flavor and was quite juicy.

The black sausages are good, filling, and slightly sweet flavored, and the plantains were good also. The corn cakes were fairly plain; but then again, they were just corn cakes.

Also, in many Caribbean, Central, South American, and some Cuban diners here in Florida, the soft drinks are served in the can. I was expecting it, but I noticed it surprised one of my friends when we went the first time (it was his first time in a Latino eatery).

Overall I think I spent approximately $30 for dinner for the both of us, and we both walked away happy and full. This joint is now in my regular restaurant rotation.

Next month we're planning to hit Machu Picchu on Hillsborough Ave, Brisa Del Valle just a block south of La Cabana on Armenia, Bua Siam off of Highway 19 in Palm Harbor, and La Hacienda Mexicana just north of the Hillsborough and Sheldon intersection...

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La Cabana
8303 N Armenia Ave Ste 1, Tampa, FL 33604

MacHu Picchu
3960 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33614

La Hacienda Mexicana
5537 Sheldon Rd, Tampa, FL 33615

Del Valle
1522 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33612

[Mild Bill]

I have much better places for you!!
The places you're planning to hit are bad news, comparably...

Antojitos' Arepa con Queso is sweet and spectacular!
No stupid bland hockey puck Arepas there!
Their Masa de Choclo (big corn fritter ball) is moist corny magnificence...
They have Morcilla and TONS of other great stuff...
It all tastes like someone's Abuela made it... Columbus & Howard Ave...

Mi Pueblo, on Lincoln off of Columbus Ave...
Right before you get to La Teresita you make a right on Lincoln (southbound) and drive a few blocks to Mi Pueblo...

Mi Bandera on Hillsborough Ave. in Town & Country has really nice food...
Around the Hanley Road area--- in the Ranch House strip center...

The three places I mentioned are Colombian. Latin, Puerto Rican, Spanish, Hybrids---- not necessarily Cuban...
That's another subject...

And Guadalajara is better than La Hacienda!

Go to these places first...
It's a scene man...

[deet13]

Cool, I've added them to my list of places to hit.

You know, I've passed by Mi Pueblo while dropping my son off at the Little League field next to MacFarlane park. Now I'll have to stop by there and grab a bite and a cup of coffee next time I'm waiting for him.

[rhnault]

Please skip the La Hacienda

[deet13]

Is it that bad?

[rhnault]

It is burrito with unseasoned beef bad

[deet13]

Heh, I just noticed this...

"And Guadalajara is better than La Hacienda!"

Hmm, I've been to Guadalajara quite a few times, and wasn't very impressed. The joint looks good on the inside, but as for the food, it was always hit or miss at best, and the service sucked in general. The chips were good though...

Nah, if I'm on Hillsborough, and am jonesing for some Mexican grub, I'll drive a few extra miles down the road and hit Taco Bus instead.

[Birdcage_Chef]

I keep reading about the Taco Bus, where is it?
BTW the only good thing about Hacienda is that the beer is always very cold and they make a pretty good margarita. Where can i find really good Mexican food?

[deet13]

Here's a link to the Taco Bus website.
http://tampatacobus.com/locations/ori...

Guadalajara isn't bad; although IMO, there are consistency issues. When it's good, it's pretty good; but when it's bad, it's pretty disappointing.

Casa Tina over in Dunedin is pretty good, though it isn't exactly "authentic".

Del Valle (next to Trang on Fowler) was so-so. They had almost the same consistency issues as Guadalajara, minus most of the redeeming the qualities of a good meal at Guadalajara...

Most of the other Mexican restaurants in this area aren't that great...

[Bergerman]

Here's a long thread on the topic of Tampa Bay Mexican restaurants. The Taco Bus should be near the top of any list:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/522640?tag=search_results;results_list
and a roundup, though not an exhaustive list, from the Times:

http://www.tampabay.com/features/food/restaurants/tampa-bay-taquerias-overflow-with-subtleties-in-tacos/1110081

And here's a link to a modest place in Pinellas Park:

http://www.elhuarachevelozpinellas.com/

and another review: http://www.tampabay.com/features/food...

Happy hunting.

[deet13]

Here's my quick summary of my meal at La Cabana...

We went around 3pm, and the place was quiet. The restaurant is clean and neat, and the service was quick.

I ordered the Bandeja Montanera, and my friends ordered the Bandeja Piesa, and the Flank steak platter.

We got our food quickly, the platters had large portions, and the food was pretty tasty. I especially enjoyed the Black sausage, and the large chunk of chicharron...

I'll be going back to eat there again.

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La Cabana
8303 N Armenia Ave Ste 1, Tampa, FL 33604

[askdrtodd]

Glad to hear you had a good experience. I'm not 100% sure, but I think I got to try some of their grub (I have the business cards with "so-and-so was delicious" written on them back at my office) at the Flavors of West Tampa festival over the weekend and really enjoyed it.

[deet13]

La Cabana's definitely a good place to go if you're looking for a good, solid meal that ranges from $10 to $15.

Just don't go there if you're on a diet, or a vegetarian. The chicarrons are huge. They serve one per platter, and it's about a foot long.

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La Cabana
8303 N Armenia Ave Ste 1, Tampa, FL 33604

[CFishman]

I like La Cabana Antioquena a lot. I always order the Baneja Paisa because it has a bit of everything. The chicken and chicharones are also very good. The chicken is a very good deal for takeout. I am eager to hear how you like it.

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La Cabana
8303 N Armenia Ave Ste 1, Tampa, FL 33604

[deet13]

I'm going there this weekend, so I'll probably be posting my opinion of the joint by Monday evening... :)

[CFishman]

That should have read Bandeja Paisa. My original post disappeared into the internets and I rewrote it without looking at it.