La Frita Cubana, or simply Frita, holds an distinctive place in my coronary heart. When you’ve by no means eaten one and are a fan of burgers, it’s best to most likely get with this system.
The Frita is a regional South Florida specialty. Giant Cuban communities like Miami and Tampa, Florida, and components of California and New Jersey are one of the best areas to seek out Fritas. On some menus throughout the U.S., the sandwich goes by Cuban Burger or Hamburger.
The frita was born as Cuban avenue meals, served out of small “puestos” (meals stands) very similar to American sizzling canine carts. After migrating to Miami within the early Sixties, it discovered a second life, thriving in specialty retailers like Fritas Domino and Morro Fortress, the place the spiced burger patty would grow to be an obsession for anybody fortunate sufficient to take a chew.
If you wish to discover La Frita Cubana‘s historical past additional, try my put up about its historical past.
This Greatest Frita Listing was not simply thrown collectively all through one night time. I retried all of the Fritas right here on the checklist and lots of others who didn’t make it. I take this Prime Frita checklist very critically as a result of I do know that folk do certainly use them as guides.
One facet be aware: if the restaurant didn’t make its julienne potatoes, they have been by no means even thought-about for greatest. No canned potato sticks have been allowed.
Amelia’s 1931
Eileen Andrade is a big fan of fusing flavors; on this case, it’s Korean and Cuban. Her different restaurant, FINKA, is all about that, with some Peruvian flavors thrown in.
The Amelia 1931 Frita is not any totally different and comes topped with candy plantains (maduros), white cheddar, housemade shoestring fries, and Huacatay mayo with a facet of truffled potato wedges. The Korean BBQ Frita is essentially the most distinctive frita to make my checklist.
Amelia’s 1931
13601 SW twenty sixth Road
Miami, FL
(305) 554-4949
Bored Cuban
It’s most likely the heftiest Frita out there anyplace. Two quarter-pound beef and pork patties are smashed with diced onions, then topped with Swiss cheese, selfmade matchstick potatoes, and Guava Sriracha Ketchup on a toasted Cuban roll.
Bored Cuban
831 NW forty second Avenue
Miami, FL
(305) 642-0323
Chug’s Diner
Chug’s Diner does have common Fritas on the menu, however this Frita Patty Soften blows my thoughts. I’m an enormous Patty Soften fan and the merging of the Frita and Patty Soften worlds is genius.
Whereas I’m not an enormous fan of thousand island dressing on burgers of any type, on this fella with Swiss cheese, papitas, caramelized onions on Rye bread, it kills. If a scrumptious Patty Soften isn’t your factor, order Pop’s Frita with blue cheese salsa, caramelized onions, and mojo ketchup; one other winner…huge time!
Chug’s Diner
3444 Primary Freeway Suite 21
Coconut Grove, FL
(786) 353-2940
Cuban Guys
There are two issues I have a look at earlier than consuming a frita. First is making their small shoestring julienne fries, and second, if it comes on a correct Cuban roll.
Cuban Guys has been a longtime fixture on this Greatest Frita Listing however they lately switched to brioche roll. However, make no bones about it; Cuban Guys’ frita tastes the actual deal; it’s legit. Decide Burger Beast has not made a closing ruling if they are going to be disqualified.
Cuban Guys
10801 Sundown Drive
Miami, FL
(786) 882-9420
Cuento Sandwiches
The Frita Cubana is called the Sancho Panza on the Cuento Sandwiches menu. This man is well-seasoned (bien sasonada) beef patty, Swiss or American cheese, malanga (starchy vegetable) sticks, shallot compote, and guava ketchup. Swiss cheese is the best way to go; I do know trigger I’ve tried each variations. These julienne malanga sticks are game-changers. Please promote these in to-go luggage.
Cuento Sandwiches
4237 NW 107th Avenue
Doral, FL
(305) 400-8374
El Mago de las Fritas
El Mago’s frita is straight-up lean floor beef with spices; don’t let your palate idiot you. This frita has a really distinct taste and can trigger a taste explosion in your mouth. And don’t order your frita with cheese until you need to seem like a vacationer. Fritas purists frown upon including any cheese to the sandwich.
El Mago de las Fritas
5828 SW eighth Road
Miami, FL
(305) 266-8486
El Rey de las Fritas
With regards to Miami’s most iconic bites, the Frita Cubana reigns supreme—and nobody does it higher than El Rey de las Fritas. For a lot of people round city. this family-run establishment perfected the spicy, beefy, crunchy masterpiece, aka the frita. When you’ve by no means had a frita from El Rey, are you even residing?
El Rey de las Fritas
1821 SW eighth Road
Little Havana, FL
(305) 644-6054
Morro Fortress
Let’s make clear a little bit of Frita historical past whereas we’re at it: the Morro Fortress in Hialeah and the now-closed one in Little Havana have been owned by kinfolk however there have been some delicate variations. This explicit Morro Fortress means rather a lot to me.
It’s the place I attempted my first Frita Cubana, courtesy of my dad. He known as it a “Cuban Hamburger,” which was intelligent—he knew I’d be down for a burger however possibly not one thing unfamiliar-sounding like a frita. Spoiler alert: It labored.
This fella comes on a hamburger roll however of their protection, they’ve been round since 1966, earlier than Cuban rolls have been available in South Florida. It has a really pronounced chorizo style and the crunch from their papas jullianas is unmistakable.
Morro Fortress
1201 W forty fourth Place
Hialeah, FL
(305) 556-4252
BEST FRITAS IN MIAMI MAP
Right here’s a Greatest Fritas Map to make your selecting that a lot simpler.