A longstanding veteran on the list, Pambiche has been churning out freshly baked goods, slinging cafécito Cubanos, and serving an impressive range of Cuban classics for more than two decades. The casual spot on Glisan attracts regulars throughout the day, seeking afternoon coffee, Friday night daiquiris, or platos Cubanos — slow-roasted adobo-rubbed pork shoulder served with Caribbean cole slaw, rice, and beans. Pambiche’s house-made empanadas with sweet or savory fillings have become a crowd favorite, and a good starter. Dessert aficionados will love its tres leches cake, quite possibly one of the best you’ll find in Portland. Other well-executed desserts include the glazed guava cheesecake, which accentuates the flavor profile from the floral, sweet, and yet subtle fruit, commonly used in many Cuban desserts.

This brand new vegan cocktail bar on Southeast Belmont isn’t strictly Cuban, but the menu pulls heavily from owner Aaron Adams’s aunt’s Cuban recipes. Here, massive empanadas arrive stuffed with heavily seasoned tempeh picadillo, while dessert empanadillas get a sweet balance of guava and cashew queso blanco. Instead of the typical shrimp-laden camarones enchilados, Workshop’s version is a spicy tomato sauce loaded with charred carrots and tempeh. Adams, who is perhaps best known for his preservation palace next door, Fermenter, makes all of his cheeses and ferments in house, from the cashew cheese on the braised black beans to the tempeh in the empanadas.

Serving breakfast and lunch in the heart of downtown, Caiman Cafe has become a weekday hotspot for nearby workers, who pop in for quick breakfast burritos or a mid-day lunch break. A combination of Mexican and Cuban cuisine with American favorites, the menu is an eclectic mishmash of French toast, chilaquiles, and Cuban classics like lechón azado, marinated and roasted pork cooked with caramelized onions. Side orders like boiled yuca with garlic mojo are worth adding to any meal. In the caffeine department, Caiman pours classics like the cafe con leche and Cuban cortadito, while also offering playful concoctions like the horchata and cajeta lattes.

Brightening up the Portland bar scene with its Miami art deco stylings and well-balanced frozen daiquiris, Palomar’s tropical backdrop is inspired by owner Ricky Gomez’s Cuban American heritage. While Palomar’s subtle and sophisticated approach to tropical cocktails continues to be a major draw, Cuban small plates from the kitchen like the croquetas de jamón, crispy-fried fritters of ham and bechamel with a tangy guava dip, are worth a perusal. The Frita Cubana — a beef and chorizo patty with onion, American cheese, and fried shoestring potatoes served with a side of plantain chips — revamps the classic American hamburger in true Cuban style. End the night on a sweet note with a rich and silky flan, Gomez’s mother’s recipe.

Tucked away inside the Eastport Food Carts in Southeast Portland, La Perla del Sur serves traditional Cuban cuisine like picadillo Cubano, ground beef simmered in a medley of tomatoes and onions, accompanied by rice, black beans, and fresh Cuban slaw. The tostones rellenos sandwich cheese, pickles, green sauce, and a choice of slow-roasted pork or beef between two deep-fried smashed plantains, a messy and delicious combination. The pod offers both indoor and heated outdoor seating.

Nestled on the quaint Main Street of downtown Oregon City, Bistro Cubano brings Cuban and Caribbean fare beyond Portland city limits. Pros begin with a side of papitas, fried potato balls stuffed with Cuban picadillo and served alongside a garlicky dipping sauce. For a main course, the lechon asado is an excellent choice, especially when followed by flan smothered in guava sauce. Bistro Cubano is also one of the more family friendly options here, with a fun kid’s menu.