Islas Canarias Restaurant
Spanish restaurant · Sweetwater ·
Authentic Cuban classics like croquetas, vaca frita, and cafecito
Authentic Cuban classics like croquetas, vaca frita, and cafecito
"Islas Canarias Restaurant, visited by Anthony Bourdain, serves a Cuban sandwich with in-house roasted pork and bread made at their family bakery." - Carrie Honaker
"Croquetas de Jamon I’ll take any excuse to visit the classic Islas Canarias, and this week I had a good one: research for our Cuban sandwich guide (which is coming very soon). I’ll wait until then to talk about that sandwich, but I will say (and this is really news to no one) that Islas’ croquetas are incredible. If someone asks you, “Hey, what does a Cuban croqueta taste like?” you throw them in a cab and tell it to come here. We went with the jamon croquetas, which have a golden-brown crust and that soft interior Cuban croquetas are known for. I would like to carry around a suitcase full of these things." - ryan pfeffer, carlos c olaechea
"Miamians always have room in their stomachs for a croqueta or two. The bite-sized fried roll is a mouthful of flavors and textures, with its crispy exterior of breadcrumbs giving way to a creamy, delicately spiced core of meat, fish, or vegetables. Islas Canarias has been serving the city an old-school Cuban iteration of the snack for over four decades, and its heart-shaped croqueta box is one of the most coveted local Valentine’s Day gifts in town." - Juliana Accioly
"Islas Canarias has the best croquetas in town. Unlike a lot of ham croquetas we’ve eaten, Islas' aren’t a mixture of ground mystery meat. Biting through their crispy outer layer reveals thin pieces of fresh chives, a sight you almost never see in any other croqueta. Their vaca frita is also seasoned perfectly—citrusy, salty, and so juicy. Plus, their moros come with chunks of fatty pork. The dining room is always packed, and the walls are lined with bottles of Spanish anise as if they were crown molding. But they also have the most Miami (it’s an adjective too) drive-thru, with a long line of idling cars who are all probably going to loudly order those croquetas." - Virginia Otazo
"Since 1977, this Miami staple has been serving classic Cuban fare, gaining a cult following for its croquetas. Start with mariquitas (fried plantain strips) paired with garlic mojo or malanga fritters before moving on to mains such as vaca frita (shredded and flash-fried flank steak) or bistec empanizado (breaded beef steak) with two sides. Save room for the bunuelos (deep-fried twisted root mash). For a quicker experience, guests can visit the neighboring sister cafe and bakery." - Eater Staff
