Sarussi Cafeteria and Restaurant

"Sarussi’s take on a cubano is an Italian-Cuban-American hybrid that either goes by the Sarussi Original or Original cuban Sandwich, depending on which location you visit. What makes it legit in our book is that it includes roast pork, ham, cheese, and pickles. But from there, Sarussi gets off the exit and speeds away from tradition. They use sweet shaved ham and mozzarella. And instead of pressed cuban bread, they use fluffy Italian rolls, toast the entire sandwich in a pizza oven, and then brush the warm, crispy crust with garlic butter. They also use a garlicky, tangy secret sauce over the traditional mustard." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino

"Sarussi's Calle Ocho location has a more lived-in feel to it than the snazzy Bird Road location, which we kinda like. This classic establishment is famous for its unique take on the Cuban sandwich. It's made on fluffy Italian bread, toasted in a pizza oven, and brushed with garlic butter. They use sweet shaved ham along with roasted pork and substitute mozzarella for the swiss cheese you find in traditional cubanos. The Sarussi original sandwich does include pickles, but instead of mustard the sandwiches are slathered with a tangy, garlicky secret sauce. The menu is pretty concise for a Cuban cafeteria, and besides sandwiches you'll find a short list of breakfast items and appetizers. After Sarussi's version of a Cuban sandwich, the most unique thing to order here is the vaina loca sandwich, which features ropa vieja and black beans." - Carlos C Olaechea