The Miami Cuban sandwich: what goes in it and where it came from

A Cuban sandwich, or Cubano, is roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickles and yellow mustard on Cuban bread, pressed flat on a hot griddle until the bread is crisp and the cheese melts. In Miami it comes without salami, which is the single biggest point of difference from the Tampa version. It is sold at cafeterias, bakeries and walk-up windows all over the city, and it is one of the best quick lunches in Florida.

What is in a Cuban sandwich?

The core is short and every part matters:

Ingredient	What it adds
Cuban bread	A long, light loaf with a thin crust that crackles when pressed
Roast pork	Slow-roasted, citrus-marinated pork, the heart of the sandwich
Ham	Sweet, glazed deli ham layered with the pork
Swiss cheese	Melts into everything when the sandwich is pressed
Dill pickles	Thin slices for sharpness
Yellow mustard	Spread on the bread, never too much

Some places butter the outside of the bread before pressing. Lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise are not part of the classic sandwich, and in Miami asking for them will get you a look.

Why do Tampa Cubans have salami?

Tampa has its own claim to the Cuban sandwich. Its version picked up Genoa salami from the Italian immigrant community in Ybor City, the historic neighborhood where Tampa's Cuban sandwich grew up. A travel article from 1934 already described a Tampa Cuban with ham, pork, Swiss cheese, soft salami, pickle and mustard. Miami's version, shaped by the Cuban exiles who arrived after 1959, leaves the salami out. The question of which city does it right is an old, mostly friendly argument between the two.

How is Miami Cuban bread different?

Cuban bread is a long white loaf, lighter than a French baguette. Tampa's tends to be crustier, while the bread used for Miami Cubans leans smoother and softer. Pressed on a plancha, a good loaf flattens without shattering and turns golden and crisp at the edges while staying tender inside. Bread is often what separates a great Cuban sandwich from a forgettable one, which is why bakeries are such good places to buy them. A loaf baked that morning presses better than one from yesterday, so lunchtime is the best time to order.

What is a medianoche?

A medianoche, Spanish for "midnight," has the same fillings as a Cuban sandwich but is made on a soft, slightly sweet egg bread, similar to challah. It got its name from being sold late at night in Havana nightclubs. Most places that make one make the other. If you cannot decide, order one of each and share, and see which bread you prefer.

How do you tell a good Cuban sandwich?

• The pork tastes roasted, with garlic and citrus, not like plain sliced deli meat.
• The bread crackles when you bite it and is pressed flat all the way to the ends.
• The cheese is fully melted and binds the layers together.
• The pickles are thin and there are enough of them to cut the richness.
• It is made to order and comes off the press hot, not wrapped and sitting under a lamp.

A sandwich that has sat around for an hour goes soft and loses most of what makes it good, so busy places with a steady line are usually the better bet.

Where do you find Cuban sandwiches in Miami?

Almost everywhere. Little Havana along Calle Ocho is the obvious place to start, with cafeterias and walk-up windows that press sandwiches all day. But Cuban bakeries and cafeterias are spread across Miami-Dade, from busy neighborhood bakeries to counters in suburban strip malls, and some of the best sandwiches come from places that never appear in a guidebook. Because so much of Cuban Miami moved to the suburbs over the decades, the sandwich followed, and a local's favorite is often the bakery closest to home rather than anything famous. Look for a place where locals are ordering at the counter, where the bread is baked on site or delivered fresh each morning, and where the press is in constant use.

What goes with a Cuban sandwich?

At a window, the classic pairing is a cafecito or a cortadito, sometimes with a croqueta or two on the side. At a sit-down cafeteria you might add plantain chips or fried yuca. For a cold drink, a tropical fruit shake or a soda is the usual choice. A sandwich and a coffee at the counter is one of the cheapest good lunches in the city.

Can you get a Cuban sandwich to go?

Yes, and most people do. A Cuban sandwich is easy to eat in the car or at a park bench, and most cafeterias wrap them for takeout. Eat it soon, though, because the steam inside the wrapper softens the crust within about twenty minutes. If you are taking sandwiches somewhere for a group, ask the counter to leave them unpressed or lightly pressed, then warm them through in a dry pan when you arrive.

Found a Cubano worth crossing town for? Mosey lets you rate the dish itself, not just the place, with a photo, so the next person knows which counter gets the bread right.

More guides to read next:

• Little Havana food guide: Cuban food and how to order a cafecito
• Latin American food in Miami: Venezuelan, Colombian, Peruvian, Haitian
• Where to eat in South Beach without falling into a tourist trap

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