La Carreta

"If you want to visit a classic Calle Ocho Cuban spot for vaca frita, it should be La Carreta. Theirs is sweeter than others, thanks to thicker pieces of onion that are intertwined with the charred meat. It comes with your choice of two sides. But one of the best things about La Carreta is that free basket of pressed, buttered, and garlicky Cuban bread on every table. We like to use it to build little vaca frita toasts with any stray strands of meat left behind." - virginia otazo

"This is the meatiest elena ruz we’ve had in Miami. And if you’re looking for one that resembles a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich, go to La Carreta. The turkey slices are stacked on top of each other like those books you can’t seem to finish. But it’s not a dry sandwich. There’s enough jam and cream cheese that it drips down onto the plate. Just make sure you’re not operating any heavy machinery after you eat it—the amount of tryptophan in this sandwich will put anyone to sleep." - virginia otazo, mariana trabanino

"La Carreta is Versailles’ less famous sister restaurant. And while Versailles has a big-city feel, La Carreta is more rural. The ceiling is lined with straw hatching, the servers wear guayaberas, and it’s more casual. The place is huge—and so are the portions. The vaca frita is shredded into long delicious strips, and the maduros are crunchy around the edges. The mariquitas are crisp, and the mojo is so strong, it pricks the tip of your tongue. Despite their differences, the menus at Versailles and La Carreta are extremely similar—but the food is much better here. So next time someone visiting Miami insists on going to Versailles, take them to the ventanita for a colada and then cross the street to eat at La Carreta. " - virginia otazo

"La Carreta is Versailles’ less famous sister restaurant—but the food is actually much better here. And while Versailles has a big-city feel, La Carreta is more rural. The ceiling is lined with straw hatching, the servers wear guayaberas, and it’s more casual. The place is huge—and so are the portions. The vaca frita is shredded into long delicious strips, and the maduros are crunchy around the edges. The mariquitas are crisp, and the mojo is so strong, it pricks the tip of your tongue. So next time someone visiting Miami insists on going to Versailles, take them to the ventanita for a colada and then cross the street to eat at La Carreta. " - Ryan Pfeffer, Virginia Otazo

"La Carreta is less famous sister restaurant. And while Versailles has a big-city feel, La Carreta is more rural. The ceiling is lined with straw hatching, the servers wear guayaberas, and it’s more casual. The place is huge—and so are the portions. The vaca frita is shredded into long delicious strips, and the maduros are crunchy around the edges. The mariquitas are crisp, and the mojo is so strong, it pricks the tip of your tongue. Despite their differences, the menus at Versailles and La Carreta are extremely similar—but the food is much better here. So next time someone visiting Miami insists on going to Versailles, take them to the ventanita for a colada and then cross the street to eat at La Carreta. " - Virginia Otazo