clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
A plate of Ropa Vieja from Havana Station in Portland, with rice and a salad.
Ropa Vieja from Havana Station.
Olivia Lee/Eater Portland

Where to Find Exceptional Cuban Food in Portland and Beyond

Where to find the best croquetas, ropa vieja, and Cuban sandwiches around the city

View as Map
Ropa Vieja from Havana Station.
| Olivia Lee/Eater Portland

Over the past five years, Portland has become a surprising hotspot for those craving empanadas, papa rellenas, and of course, cafécito Cubano. A scene that was once exclusively dominated by Pambiche in the early 2000s has diversified, with options like a Cuban cocktail bar and a vegan cocktail bar. Now, Portlanders seeking to satisfy a guava and cream cheese empanada craving or searching for a refreshing batido de mamey can easily find what they need all within the greater Portland area. Those craving ham croquetas on a night out, or searching for vegan versions of classic Cuban dishes, can find what they need everywhere from downtown Portland to Oregon City. Find our favorite spots for all of the above by checking out the map below. Those looking for a more general guide to the plentiful Caribbean fare in the area should check out this map.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Pambiche

Copy Link

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.

Pulled pork is swimming in gravy beside rice and salad.
Plato Cubano at Pambiche.
Ron Scott / Eater Portland

Workshop Food & Drink

Copy Link

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.

Caiman Cafe

Copy Link

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.

Cubo de Cuba

Copy Link

When passing through Hawthorne, the sight of Cubo de Cuba simply cannot be missed with its colorful exterior and palm trees posted by the entrance. Cubo’s bowls — ideal for those wanting a little bit of everything — come with mango, avocado, sweet maduros, crisp tostones, rice, beans, and your choice of protein, such as the mojo pork or ropita, shredded beef brisket. Opting for one of the plates, such as the ropa vieja, includes a larger portion and a side of choice. To drink, Cubo offers a range of refreshing rum-based cocktails like the guava colada and Havana Sunrise. For something nonalcoholic and sweet to sip on, the batido de mamey, a tropical fruit-based milkshake, is a classic favorite.

Palomar

Copy Link

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.

La Perla del Sur Cuban Food

Copy Link

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.

Havana Station

Copy Link

Tucked within the Portland Mercado, Havana Station serves some of the city’s finest Cuban plates for just under $15. Although it’s hard to go wrong here, Havana Station’s ropa vieja is a clear must-order: Gently spiced shredded beef, braised in a rich tomato sauce with onions, peppers, and olives, arrives over a bed of rice with black beans, sweet-crisp maduros (plantains), and slaw. The combination evokes the golden ratio of salt, fat, acid, and heat. Swap the rice and beans for arroz congri, Cuban black beans cooked with rice, which arrive here with bits of bacon for added textural contrast and salty bite. Alternatively, Havana Station’s Cubano sandwich — slow-cooked pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard stacked between two layers of buttery bread — is a substantial meal for those on the go.

Bistro Cubano

Copy Link

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.

Pambiche

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.

Pulled pork is swimming in gravy beside rice and salad.
Plato Cubano at Pambiche.
Ron Scott / Eater Portland

Workshop Food & Drink

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.

Caiman Cafe

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.

Cubo de Cuba

When passing through Hawthorne, the sight of Cubo de Cuba simply cannot be missed with its colorful exterior and palm trees posted by the entrance. Cubo’s bowls — ideal for those wanting a little bit of everything — come with mango, avocado, sweet maduros, crisp tostones, rice, beans, and your choice of protein, such as the mojo pork or ropita, shredded beef brisket. Opting for one of the plates, such as the ropa vieja, includes a larger portion and a side of choice. To drink, Cubo offers a range of refreshing rum-based cocktails like the guava colada and Havana Sunrise. For something nonalcoholic and sweet to sip on, the batido de mamey, a tropical fruit-based milkshake, is a classic favorite.

Palomar

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.

La Perla del Sur Cuban Food

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.

Havana Station

Tucked within the Portland Mercado, Havana Station serves some of the city’s finest Cuban plates for just under $15. Although it’s hard to go wrong here, Havana Station’s ropa vieja is a clear must-order: Gently spiced shredded beef, braised in a rich tomato sauce with onions, peppers, and olives, arrives over a bed of rice with black beans, sweet-crisp maduros (plantains), and slaw. The combination evokes the golden ratio of salt, fat, acid, and heat. Swap the rice and beans for arroz congri, Cuban black beans cooked with rice, which arrive here with bits of bacon for added textural contrast and salty bite. Alternatively, Havana Station’s Cubano sandwich — slow-cooked pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard stacked between two layers of buttery bread — is a substantial meal for those on the go.

Bistro Cubano

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.

Related Maps