Benny’s Cuban Cafe

A Must-Visit Spot! Benny’s Cuban Cafe is an absolute gem! From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel incredibly welcome. The owner went above and beyond—not only to ensure we had a fantastic experience but also to share his inspiring story and the many ways the restaurant gives back to the community. The food? Simply amazing! But the service? That deserves 10 stars. My friends and I had such a wonderful time and can’t wait to return. What makes this place truly special is the heart behind it. Take the time to learn about the owner’s community work—you’ll fall in love with the restaurant and feel good supporting such a meaningful cause while enjoying delicious Cuban cuisine. P.S. The flamingo decor added such a fun, nostalgic touch, reminding me of my hometown, Miami. Highly recommend!

Benny’s Cuban Cafe Layout/atmosphere *Six tables inside; flamingos major theme in the decor; tables enclosed on sidewalk in front Food/drink *Cubano (roast pork, ham, Swiss, pickles, mustard) with plantain chips - quite good; the bread was perfect for the sandwich and the garlic mojo sauce on the side added something

It's been a week and I still can't stop thinking about this place. First of all, I got there like 20 mins before closing and they were still serving thank goodness. The server was absolutely amazing, her energy, recommendations and vibes were just top tier. She was soooo funny, I felt like I was ordering with my homie honestly. She recommended the cuban sandwich and the tostones. YO the sandwich was huge, like bigger than my face. It was so good, crispy bread and packed with flavors. I added some garlic to it and that just took it over the top. I also tried their ropa vieja, black beans and carne, all really good too. I dont even like beans but these were delish. For sure coming back for more! Check them out you surely won't be disappointed. <3

Weekend getaway and we found this hidden gem in Brooklyn. Benny himself made it a very welcoming and memorable experience. Authentic Cuban food, flavorful, and very generous portions. We ordered a Platillo for 6, with a group of 7, and had plenty of leftovers. Dessert and coffee were the cherry on top! If we ever come back this would be a first stop.

Delicious food and friendly staff! Highly recommend the vegan tacos, empanadas and friend rice. The garlic and special sauces added so much flavor.

Ate here with my husband and son and everything was so good and so fresh. Just ordered on Uber eats and the portions are big, have left overs for tomorrow. The beans are to die for. Rice is so good. The chicken with the red onions on top so delicious. The tostones arrived still crunchy. So happy we have a new spot to order food from for those days we are relaxing and not cooking. 5 stars.

Cuban food is one of my favorites and sadly there aren’t enough Cuban restaurants in the area, which makes Benny’s a must try. I got the ropa vieja with rice and beans and a side of croquetas to go. The ropa vieja itself was good but not my favorite. The beans were perfect and exactly what I would expect from a Cuban restaurant. I wish I lived closer so I could get the croquetas like everyday for breakfast. Prices are truly a great value for what you’re getting. I’ll def be back to try more things on the menu!

By far, the BEST overall restaurant experience I've had all summer 2024. The juicy flavorful foods Cuban infused accompanied with hospitality that made me feel like I was with family. Maria won me over with her hospitality, such a bubbly waitress full of sazon. Awesome vibes.

It's been a week and I still can't stop thinking about this place. First of all, I got there about 20 minutes before closing and they were still serving thank goodness. The server was absolutely amazing, her energy, recommendations, and vibes were just top-tier. She was soooo funny, I felt like I was ordering with my homie honestly. She recommended the Cuban sandwich and the tostones. YO, the sandwich was huge, like bigger than my face. It was so good, crispy bread, and packed with flavors. I added some garlic to it and that just took it over the top. I also tried their ropa vieja, black beans, and carne, all really good too. I don't even like beans but these were delish. For sure coming back for more! Check them out you surely won't be disappointed.

Mi madre estaba deseando comida Cubana .. I thought I would start off Cuban style. My mother was craving Cuban food thus I decided to try Benny's. Se le entojaba un sandwich Cubano.. specifically a Cuban sandwich craving. I ordered two Cubanos and flan; the other sandwich was for my sister. The delivery was punctual and packed safely. The portions were enormous. Let's start off with the sandwich: roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles mayo and mustard. Now the bread looked too thick; Cuban bread is usually the bread of choice for crispy and crunchy. I'm unsure what bread was used to make this Cubano. There were plantain chips accompanying the sandwich. Nevertheless, my mom didn't enjoy it ( didn't feel sandwich was authentic Cuban)but my sister loved it. One sandwich is enough for two people. Flan did not come but a substitute was delivered instead, banana bread. Well how many Que Ricos does Benny deserve ? Quattro out of cinco.. porque? The bread was a bit of a disappointment and although the banana bread was tasty, if flan was sold out the cafe should have called or communicated via text to ask if I wanted something else. Vale la pena probar el restaurante en general nuevamente. Translation: the restaurant is worth another try. Buenos Noches for now!

Casual cafe. Pretty quiet when I walked in on a Thursday afternoon. Seemed like they might have been geared a bit towards takeout. The menu is very approachable. They have all the Cuban hallmarks, but the signature item is undoubtedly the Cubano sandwich. The menu boosts it's the best Cubano in NYC and it's even boxed in red. I don't have enough expertise in Cubanos to refute their claim. I can vouch that's it's a well executed sandwich. The bread is pressed razor thin leaving you with a surprisingly bitable sandwich despite the laundry list of ingredients. For me, the roasted pork and the melted swish cheese stood out the most. Really liked the pickles too whenever those snuck into a bite. It came with a small side of sautéed garlic and sriracha Mayo. I like garlic a lot, so I used every bit; however, the flavor overshadowed the sandwich, so serving it as an accompaniment was prudent. Plate came with a side of plantain chips. They were thin, crispy, and just the right portion. Sandwich rang in at $17 plus tip. Food was ready quickly. There was one small, single occupancy restroom. Benny's has outdoor seating overlooking the intersection of Fresh Pond Road and Myrtle Avenue.

Being a pescatarian Latina has its challenges. When I went Miami all I wanted was veg friendly Cuban and had to settle on nibbles to curate some sort of meal. When my familia and I stumbled on Benny's Cuban Cafe I was apprehensive. The couple outside said they were torn but also decided on the place. I am more than happy to report it's veg friendly and even better than that, it's mouth watering. I ordered the "Plato Caribe". It comes with avocado (a must have), pickled onions, Cuban toast, two eggs and a fave, tostones! I loooove tostones. There was perfect garlic puree sauce that I was obsessed with. The toast was phenomenal. And it had the cutest flamingo toothpick sticking out of it. Also ordered a "cortadito" which is a Cuban espresso. I noticed they have guyaba pasties and some banana muffin that I need to try next time. My family got all the meat, empanadas and ropa vieja. Everyone left with full bellies and only good things to say. My dad was more than pleased with the bill. I told my boyfriend all about it the next day and this bartender over heard me. She's half Cuban and Colombian and was explaining the struggle to find a veg friendly Cuban spot. So glad to see there's a market. And we came with an appetite. See you soon!

Five stars is the only reasonable rating that can be given to an establishment if you make four visits in a matter of a few weeks. Benny's is solid and the no frills atmosphere filled with flamingo themed decor, friendly service, and most importantly very good food makes Benny's my go-to for Cuban cuisine. As old school spots dwindle and get replaced by the monotony of corporate establishments and franchises, Benny's is a throwback to the times when there was a sense of community and camaraderie between businesses and patrons beyond just transactions. The food here is excellent and it's rare to find places where you feel like you get good value for your money, and certainly this place is a steal concerning what you get for what you pay. The platter for two is legitimately enough to feed four and you get to try so many different appetizers, entrees, and sides that it feels to good to be true considering $50 is hardly enough to feed one person these days. The food always tastes fresh and delicious and I'm a big fan specifically of their empanadas, chicken, and their arroz frito Chino Latino is stellar! Clean, cozy, and consistent, I am glad to have Benny's in my roster of favorite spots and look forward to patronizing this establishment for years to come. Whether you're dining solo, organizing a group dinner, or in search of a casual date spot, Benny's is it! Highly recommended.

I love this place and order from here relatively frequently. Their plantain chips are so good. Their sandwiches pack a punch, my personal faves are the Cubano and tripleta. Their tostones and empanadas are very flavorful as well. Definitely recommend this spot.

After walking around the area and hitting up some stores it was time for dinner. We opted for Benny's Cuban Cafe. We started out with fried yucca, it was so light and delicious.. really addicting. Then we ordered a Cuban sandwich and Vaca Frita. The Vaca Frita served with rice, beans and maduros was a good version. The rice was a little on the dry side but the flavors were all good. However, the absolute star of the meal was the Cuban sandwich, which was out of this world. It was amazing, delicious and huge...it blew the Vaca Frita out of the water. I'll definitely be back for that sandwich.

Great food! First time ordering, loved the croquettas de jamon. All the food was nicely made. Cubano sandwich was a good portion.

honestly my favorite restaurant in ridgewood. the team at Benny's is so kind and helpful, and the food is heavenly.

Great food, spacious cozy ambiance m, and the staff were friendly. Totally recommend it!

I was trying to figure out a way to get in touch with the owner to share this feedback but couldn't find a way, maybe they will read this and get in touch. Food was decent but the service needed support, think our server was new which is totally okay but our food came out with stuff missing, we had no utensils, got charged for items we didn't order and I could get anyone's attention except by walking over and asking for help. Hopefully the team can get some support and improve over time

Been meaning to try this place for a while and I'm glad I did. By far the best Cuban sandwich I've ever had. The plantain chips are on another level. Staff was friendly and attentive. I'll be going back.

Small cozy cafe with decent, affordable sandwiches. Staff was friendly and food came out quick, but nothing out of the ordinary. I would not say the food is out of this world amazing like the other reviewers.. the cuban was just OK. Still a bit dry in my opinion, but I guess if you happen to be in the area, it would be a good place to go to. I would not go out of my way to eat this again.

honestly, god bless the croquetas at benny's. as a pseudo-cuban (colombian born and raised in hialeah), finding a good cuban croqueta in nyc is so tough. the inside is cute and the take out holds. the cuban sandwich hits, too. ty, benny.

Full of disappointment... When we walked in it smelled good and we were excited to try their food. We ordered 2 Vaca Fritas and an order of bacalitos. We were seated at the same time as a table next to us. Our orders went in at the same time if not right before theirs. They were served their food while we waited for ours. They managed to finish their food, get to go plates, paid for their food, and left before our server realized we had not received our order. When I realized they were scrambling to figure out what happened to our ticket I was devastated. Our server came over and apologized for the wait. Then brought over a guava pastry w plantain chips as a courtesy. Unfortunately we don't like guava. We finally received our food and were thrown off by the appearance of the Vaca frita. They rushed our order and it looked like we were served a version of Ropa vieja not Vaca frita. There were no crispy/ fried bits. Just soft stewed/braised beef. We both finished the majority of our food because it was edible and were starving and didn't want to wait another 15-20 mins for a new meal after waiting close to an hour for our food. But we were not pleased at all. The best thing about the plate was the beans. We finally received the bacalitos after getting halfway through our meal but by that time we were really turned off. They were well seasoned, my boyfriend thought they were too salty. Really wish we got what we ordered in a timely fashion. They comped the bacalitos which was nice but overall really disappointed. The experience really soured our day.

I used to love Benny's! I would go often before or after work! However after my last experience I will never go again! Friday morning my partner and I decided to get lunch during our break. We ordered the croqueta de jamon to start. I would say a 6/10. We then ordered the picadillo ( ground beef) and it comes with rice and beans. We also ordered the bistec which I have gotten numerous times before and loved. This time the steak I had was horrible. It smelled like old bad meat and it tastes bland and not good. The ground beef was extremely oily and greasy that the oil was overflowing from the plate spilling onto the table. The smell from the ground beef was horrible. Unfortunately we didn't finish the food. We had maybe 2-3 bites each, paid the bill and left. The restaurant is cute! It's a nice vibe nice theme. However after that experience I won't be going back.

I was craving a goooood Cuban sandwich and found this little gem in Ridgewood. Since I was nearby I decided to stop by and check them out. Upon arrival we were greeted and shown to a table. The front lady was super attentive and welcomed us with great hospitality. The ambiance was a cute pink flamingo vibe. I loved the simplicity overall. We decided on ordering cheese empanadas, Cuban sandwich and the toasted Cuban bread with butter. All of our choices were great but the Cuban sandwich was perfection! The bread was nicely toasted and crisp and the mustard with the roasted pork, ham and pickles was everything you love about a Cuban sandwich. We also had the lemonade and passion fruit natural juices which we also enjoyed. Definitely would recommend to anyone near the area to stop by! Will be coming back soon!

I've walked by this place numerous times on the way to the pupusa spot. I worked remotely from here for a couple of hours and just ordered a couple of cafe con leches. Not hungry but def will return for the cuban sandwich i've heard so much about. They were setting up to market a Friendsgiving option which would invite friends to come share a meal or pick up which I think is such an amazing idea. They have a very friendly and inviting vibe so I'll def return here. Someone came over personally to thank me for being a customer which was a really genuine touch. As they were staging their marketing campaign, i offered to move tables to give them better photo ops and i was offered a free pastelito which again just speaks to the kindness of the staff here. They also offered me ropavieja con yuca mash and it was OUTSTANDING. Super impressive spread over all. I recommend this place for the atmosphere, the staff and the banging food! The pics don't even do it justice ! HEAD OVER HERE ASAP especially for the friendsgiving special

First time at this location, and my experience was phenomenal. We were first greeted by the staff two lovely ladies who sat us down and got us set up right away. Then Benny came out to introduce himself and suggested some awesome dishes. We agreed on the platter for 2. The food was made to perfection, and the flavor of the food was just delicious. The location had some beautiful cuban music playing in the background. The place is cozy and decorated beautifully. I highly recommend this location to anyone looking for some great Cuban cuisine, a relaxing environment. So, if you're ever in the neighborhood, stop by. You won't be disappointed

First time ordering, I must say I was pleasantly surprised. My bro Lives right next door and is always telling me I should try it. I was always hesitant because it's so pricey. Finally Ordered Some Cuban Sandwiches and i gotta say they were a pretty decent size and tasty. Still expensive, but worth it once in a while. Definitely going to try other dishes soon.

The food is super good. I love their sweet plantains. The meat is seasoned well and is flavorful. Will be ordering from them again!

This review is for the Cubano Sandwich takeout for lunch. Honestly I had no idea there was a Cuban place in Glendale/Ridgewood. We drove by and saw the place. It looks like a typical low key cafe. But then I saw the word "Cuban" and came to a screeching halt. What?? When did this pop up? It looked new and the interior décor looked nice and colorful. As you walked in, you smell unmistakably Cuban coffee brewing. I wanted to have a cup (shot) but just opted to get the sandwich first since I wasn't sure how good the joint was. So I get a takeout container, typical Spanish place aluminum container with a clear thin plastic cover. I took a look inside and thought, this looks legit! It came with some plantain chips. Pretty cool... First bite, wow! Instantly transported to Miami to a mom and pop Cubano shop. It was that legit! The pernil tasted homecooked. There was the perfect amount of pork, ham and pickles. Bread was on a painini press, toasted to perfection, beautiful symphony of crackle as you bit It but not with a lot of crumbs. After that, nothing stopped me from finishing the whole thing. Man was it filling! Wish I did get that Cuban coffee now.... Now I want to try all of the traditional Cuban food on the menu. Till next time!

Love ordering from here. Food is always great and the staff is so friendly and welcoming. My go to is the cubano sandwich. I've also had their tripleta sandwich, ropa vieja and picadillo dish- all delicious and does not disappoint.

I came to rescue food today through TooGood To Go so I can try their food without spending a lot. The food is absolutely delish. Owner and staff were nice and accommodating. Will definitely come back to try other food. BTW, I got a cafe con Leche while waiting. Thank you.

As a Cuban, this place reminded me of my Mami's cooking - which was great! We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals - even my "gringo" hubby lived his go-to dish "vaca frita" which he is very picky about! My pernil was delicious and the appetizers - yucca frita, croquetas & pan tostado hit the mark! Will definitely be returning!! Buen aprovecho!!

This place is the place to go. The whole menu is made of love. They don't miss. It's addictive. The service makes you feel like you aren't even in nyc. The people there are polite and provide great service. Makes you feel like you been going for years even tho I just found out about this place 2 months ago. This is becoming a weekly therapy. Keep up the amazing work.

AMAZING CUBAN SANDWHICH AND COFFEE!!!! Outstanding whole in the wall restaurant with great service. Went this morning for the 2nd time in two weeks. So worth it! Felix cooks with love!

Drove all the way from Lynbrook to eat at this gem and so glad we did! We were in the area and stopped here for dinner on Thursday night. Place was surprisingly not packed but walked into a super friendly staff that made you feel at home. Not only is this place very welcoming and cute, with their flamingo themed decor but might be some of the best croquetas, Ropa vieja and Cuban sandwich we've had in NY thus far. This coming from a Cuban spouse who grew up in a family owed Cuban bakery in Queens. My Ropa Vieja was perfectly seasoned and tender...his cuban sandwich was crispy, with all the right toppings and pernil cooked to perfection! We can't wait to go back!

Benny's did the thing! My friend group of 5 came here on national cuban sandwich day and boy did we leave well fed and with enough food for leftovers. We ordered the platillo (for 4) which allows you to get a taste of almost everything. It includes empanadas, fried bacalao, chicken, steak, fried yucca, rice and beans and 4 cuban sandwiches. Everything was tasty and the whole group left happy. Benny was a great host, was super welcoming and made sure we had everything we needed.

First time trying this place out. I had the TRIPLETA and wow it was amazing worth the money. Going back soon

First time at Benny's and it did not disappoint. The croquettes were tasty and nicely paired with the garlic sauce and aioli with tostones chips on the side. The Cuban sandwich was filling and delish. Not shown in the pics was the refreshing pineapple juice, had to order two!

I'm very disappointed and was hoping to have a better experience. We ordered the breakfast with eggs, tostones, avocado and tostada. I'm originally from Miami and this was definitley not a Cuban breakfast and the toast ( tostada) was brick hard. Also, they ran out of guava pastry and sent me something else, which was also disappointing. I would not order from here if you are looking for an authentic Cuban breakfast.

Unbelievable service and food - chef came to welcome us when we entered the restaurant - comparable to Cuban food in little Havana in Miami. Definitely coming back!!

The best Cuban sandwich I've ever had! I've had Cuban sandwiches in Miami and this is by far one of the best! The roast pork is amazingly marinated, juicy and flavorful. The portion was big - I had half of my sandwich and was full. I can't wait to eat the rest of my sandwich for dinner. The indoor flamingo theme decor was cute and gave this tropical vibe. My Cuban sandwich came with this adorable flamingo stick. The staff were lovely and respectful. I am definitely coming back for more and can't wait to try the other dishes. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking to satisfy their Cuban food cravings.

Was going to order the Cuban Sandwich but went with cuban shredded beef and back beans and rice instead. $17 for a Cuban Sandwich is ridiculous. This is not a ribeye steak sandwich. It's Roast Pork, ham swiss cheese , pickle yellow mustard. Even at $12 I had to pass Good luck at those prices.

Really delicious neighborhood Cuban food. Very fresh. Plato vegano hit the spot with hot fresh rice, black beans, Maduro and avocado. The chicken was pounded super thin and seasoned simply with garlic and salt. Tender and fresh. Will be back for sure.

The best Cuban food in queens. The waiters were very nice. It was very nice and warm. The restaurant looks amazing!

The best Cuban cuisine in NYC. Authentic Cuban food like in my hometown of Miami. Plus! Wonderful staff and service.

this food was so good! Delicious and authentic Cuban food. I honestly have nothing bad to say about this restaurant. I stubbled upon it while waiting for the bus after my Doctors appointment. The staff was so friendly and helpful when it came to understanding the menu. The food was soo good. Will definitely be going back next time I'm in Queens.

Food never fails always delicious. The rating is for the service we received from the young lady with long braided hair. Yes there were other customers but do not disregard us and then dump the food on the counter "here food ready", no eye contact, seemed flirtatious with the other customers. When the store first opened service and food my rating would have been a 5 across the board.

The food here is amazing, from the main course to the dessert. Other than that, the service is wonderful and genuinely kind. Would definitely visit again.

Some of the best Cuban food I've ever had. Great service and ambience. The owner could not have been more friendly. As a Cuban I highly recommend the place

I'm so glad that my brother and I came in this morning for breakfast. The coffee is always delicious and soothes the soul. I wanted to order everything (they have BEC empanada ya'll) but we decided on the tortas that were stuffed with swiss cheese, ham and pernil. It came with home fries and fresh hot pressed Cuban bread. A must try because I cleaned my plate lol. The owner was super friendly and even gave us flan and a tres leche to try out. The restaurant is super cute, reminds me of a rustic little cafe you find in the campo. A secret gem . Come check it out, the staff is awesome and friendly, the food is amazing and their building a bar so get ready for those amazing cocktails I'm sure their going to have.

Picked up some lunch from here and the food was delicious! Fries were crispy and the chicken avocado sandwich was so tasty and seasoned. Lucky to have this place so close to me!

Im originally from Miami so I had every intention on grading them hard. I have not one bad thing to say abt my experience. My son and I both split the bacalao fritters which comes with two. They were fresh and crispy around the edges you get a really good flavor from the bacalao but I wish it had more fish meat in it ( I make mines better) we also split the cubano sandwich and the steak sandwich both came with platano chips which weren't homemade if they were than they were subpar. The Cuban sandwich was my favorite nice and crispy Cuban bread on the outside juicy flavorful goodness on the inside the pernil (pork) was seasoned perfectly had that nice hint of mojo flavor to it cheese was nice melty and the sandwich was made fresh to order. Oh also I'm not a ham person because it tends to be dry but the ham wasn't dry at all you can tell it's wasn't cold cut ham it was a bake honey ham pickles were juicy and fresh. The steak sandwich was my sons fav it was good but they didn't put the shoestring chips in it and mixed with the avocado the texture was NOT giving it really needed those chips ! Aguacate was fresh tho I made sure to look. Next time I'd X the avo and add more onions The service was meh underwhelming they have abt 15-20 seats when we got there there was only one other diner there it's a small spot only one waitress/cashier she brings the food out but there isn't much more interaction. If they would've gotten a lunch rush I would've felt bad for her, they should have at least two ppl there in FOH. We also shared the cortadito (a little stronger than café con leche) delicious even though they didn't add the sugar I had to add it at the table it still gave what it needed too! Oh both sandwiches come with a mojo sauce which is supposed to be vinegar, garlic, oil and some salt but theirs just had oil and garlic which wasn't at all appeasing; I tried it and if you're a garlic person you'd like it, it has a strong garlic taste to it( the mojo I make is better) Overall whenever I'm having a Cuban food craving I'll def be coming back here; to have the Cuban again and maybe try to work my way thru their menu. I'll stick to rincón criollo for the bacalao fritter though.

I go here at least once a month with my family never fails great food great service great prices I highly recommend

Excellent food and service. Walked in and immediately got seated. Great menu options and the food tasted amazing. Portions are huge and the price is very reasonable. They have a bar full of hot sauces, but the food was so flavorful that you don't need them. The decor was very cute and there was plenty of seating available.

So I was looking for a new spot to eat in and came upon Benny's Cafe in queens Near Myrtle Ave and Fresh Pond Road. I happen to really enjoy the small Pupusa restaurant next door but figured I would give Benny a try. The restaurant is small but cozy. The staff is very kind and welcoming. While waiting for the person in front of me to finish ordering I hear one of the workers (possibly the manager) say that the food is going to take about 15 minutes because the food is made fresh. That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Home cooking made fresh! I was sold. I ended up getting a Cuban sandwich. Toasted bread with pernil (pork), ham, melted cheese, pickles and mustard. Seems simple but it was truly cooked to perfection. I HIGHLY recommend it. The portion Size was perfect. I actually didn't snap a photo because the first bite was so good that I had to give my wife a try and I simply devoured the sandwich. I also ordered a side of tostones which were cooked perfectly. Very thin with a nice crisp. The tostones come with a side of ojo(garlic) and a Mayo/ketchup. I will def be adding a photo of my next meal from Benny's. I will definitely be going back. Keep it up Benny's Cuban Cafe! 4 stars out of 5 just so you can keep working towards that 5th star. It was a 5 star in my heart and stomach but I figure I will Push you to be great!

A small menu, but a great selection. We opted to a sampler platter - empanadas, cuban sandwich, bisteca, pollo, plaintains, rice and beans and fish. Ordered a side of Cuban bread; one dessert (arroz con leche). All really, really, really good. If I had to tell you a drawback - no beer or wine! Will we be back. Definitely!