Hello dear
At El Cubano, we celebrate the vibrant flavors and rich traditions of Cuban cuisine. Nestled in Shoreline, WA, our black-owned, women-owned, and Latinx-owned restaurant serves up an array of mouthwatering sandwiches like the Classic Cubano and Pan con Bistec, crafted with authentic ingredients sourced from Florida. Our commitment to quality extends to our delectable desserts, including our signature Chocolate Cake and Mango Mousse. With options for takeout, delivery, and outdoor seating, El Cubano is a casual yet trendy spot for groups and solo diners alike. We take pride in fostering community and authenticity, ensuring every customer feels at home.
About
Welcome to El Cubano, a vibrant homage to Cuban culinary culture nestled in the heart of Shoreline, Washington. This unique eatery specializes in a menu bursting with flavor, featuring authentic Cuban sandwiches, salads, and an array of delectable sides. As a proud Black-owned, Latinx-owned, and women-owned business, El Cubano is a beacon of community empowerment and culinary excellence.
Conveniently located at 19920 Aurora Ave N, this casual and trendy spot is not just about great food; it's about creating an inclusive dining experience for everyone. With options for delivery, takeout, and even catering, El Cubano ensures that you can indulge in their delicious offerings whether you’re at home, at work, or planning a special event. The restaurant also features outdoor seating, making it an inviting option for groups and families enjoying a sunny day.
At El Cubano, a standout dish is the classic Cubano sandwich, which has garnered rave reviews for its authentic flavor and quality ingredients. Sourced from a traditional bakery in Florida, the bread is baked using a palmetto leaf to create that distinctive Cuban split—a testament to the attention to detail found in each dish. But sandwiches aren’t the only thing that shine here. Their Spicy Tuna Melt and pan con lechon are equally enticing, showcasing a perfect blend of flavors that will leave your taste buds dancing.
Complement your meal with one of their housemade sauces, like the zingy Uyuyuii Hot Sauce, which perfectly balances sweetness and heat. And for those with a sweet tooth, the rich dark chocolate cake or airy mango mousse is a must-try, received as delightful ends to a wonderful meal.
With friendly staff and a cozy atmosphere, El Cubano is a gem that beckons you to savor the essence of Cuban cuisine. Customer testimonials highlight not only the quality of food but also the warmth of the service, ensuring that every visit feels like coming home. As one enthusiastic patron noted, “Skip the Costco food court and indulge in some authentic food made with love.”
Whether you’re a local or just passing through, take a moment to explore this excellent eatery and rejoice in the incredible flavors they have to offer. For more information or to place your order, give them a call at (206) 629-4443 or visit them in person. El Cubano awaits to serve you a taste of Cuba you won’t soon forget!
“ I've stopped in for takeout periodically in 2021, 2023, and due to the pouring rain ordered ahead to pickup directly (1/31/25). There are several food apps to place orders. It was curious to me why despite paying online for two cubanos with tax & tip, there's an additional service charge. There is also an automatic 8 cents bag charge, despite that I brought my own bag. My focus has always to support local indie businesses whenever possible. I appreciated the time and transparency given with regards to my service charge inquiry. My original online order was cancelled and charged directly instead. This removed the added service fee and the business retained more of the final transaction. Pro tips: *Look at their website to decide what menu items you're interested in. *Avoid food apps which inflate costs and not much return back to El Cubano. *Call El Cubano directly to place your takeout order. 206-629-4443 ”
“ I really liked my classic Cubano sandwich and the rich, dark chocolate cake! I found it interesting that they source their bread from a bakery in Florida that makes it the traditional way - by placing a palmetto leaf on the dough when baking to create a split (the leaf is removed after). Ordering online for pickup was super easy and they email/text confirmations. Food was ready exactly when they said it would be. Parking is easy, behind the storefront. Inside is small and cute and the employee was friendly. This will definitely be a go-to for take out! ”
“ Been here four times and tried three different sandwiches, classic cubano, pan con lechon and pan con bistec. PCB is definitely my favorite now. All my sandwiches were fully loaded and packed, very good deal for the price in Seattle. Both pork ones were tender and juicy, like a light version of pulled pork, but slightly bland to my liking. I love the beef one, the sirloin steak was savory. I also drizzled some Bachan Japanese BBQ sauce on it, so it would be a bit more moist and flavorful. I love their chocolate cake. The cream was super creamy and rich, the slight bitterness of cocoa made the cake more enjoyable. Mango mousse was my partners favorite, it was airy and creamy, came with a subtle mango-y acidity after taste. The lady was very friendly and genuine, the shop was tiny and cute, parking lot was behind the shop. This is exactly the place we need in every neighborhood. ”
“ I am a longtime Geo fan from his place in Shilshole Bay to his place on Greenwood and now here. The day was cold and rainy, and there was still no power at home. With errands to do, I found myself in the mood for one of his fantastic sandwiches. I chose the Spicy Tuna Melt - delicious Albacore mixed with homemade garlic cilantro sauce, layered atop toasted Cuban bread with melted cheddar, Cajun mayo, Mama Lil's spicy red peppers, sweet pickles, and sliced red onions. I am normally very good about taking a moment to photograph my sandwich but NOT THIS TIME! I finished the entire sandwich while it was still warm and I had zero regrets. The service was friendly and fast. Christina was exceedingly pleasant! The ambiance is simple, clean and welcoming takeaway spot for your sandwich needs. Ample free parking is available downstairs, the front entrance opens directly onto Aurora. Skip the Costco food court and indulge in some authentic food made with love. And tell Geo that Kristine said hello! ”
“ I have no notes. I really enjoyed the sandwich. Parking wasn't too difficult either if you head to the parking lot behind. Staff were really friendly and helpful. This is not a sit down place and the storefront is tiny. I'd recommend ordering ahead. ”
“ We got a lot of various things catered to my work and everyone was absolutely blown away at how amazing everything was! The (I'm guessing) owner was so helpful and kind and gracious! The spicy tuna melt was especially amazing and I will absolutely be going again! It might not look like a lot but it's a fantastic hole in the wall gem! Thank you so much!!! ”
“ I was in Seattle for the week apartment hunting and of course trying to find good restaurants with cuisines that I enjoy. I was really dismayed by the lack of Cuban options as someone that grew up in Miami. Thankfully this little place hit the spot when it comes to a Cuban sandwich. They sell a few more things which I'll have to try once I make my move. Service was fast and the ladies were very nice, had a chat with one of them while I waited. I'm only giving a 4 because I haven't tried the other options but I'll update once I do. ”
“ Yo. If you haven't already been here, you need to make the trip. Dope spot in the Shoreline area. Right on 99 just past Edmonds. It's just a small storefront so you'll be getting your food to go, but the plus is that it's fast but it's worth it. Parking is in the back. It was pretty open so as soon as I pulled in I just had to scan and decide in the same maneuver. I walked in and the chef was working on an order for a lady that was sitting on one of the two chairs available. I already knew what I wanted, cuz I'm like that hahahaha. I usually do my research before. I think had to wait for less than a minute to place my order but it was no problem. The lady came up with the prior customers order and was very nice as she greeted me. I ordered the cubano classic, the pan de lechon, and an order of the maduros plus a 20 oz plastic bottle coke. My total was something around 45$ I think. Kinda up there but the quality was good. The classic cubano was great. Ham, pork, Swiss, pickles and mayo and mustard on a white roll, or Cuban style bread which was panini'd and cut diagonally lengthwise. Wrapped in white paper, sandwich paper not butcher( there is a difference) and labeled with a sticker which was designer like and gave it flare. The lechon was PACKED with roasted pork. It had two sauces on it but to be honest I couldn't differentiate them from each other nor really taste them but it didn't matter because the sandwich was bangin'. It is salty so be prepared but it wasn't overwhelming. The coke helped it out. This sandwich was crowded with the roasted pork. There were onions and a single piece of romaine lettuce, which I removed after a few bites because I'd rather less interference with the meat but you might not mind. Same type of white bread or Cuban style bread. But this was not cut. Wrapped the same and adorned with a similar sticker which I dug. Had a small conversation with the lady. Very nice. They've been there I believe roughly 4 years but have been around longer in different locations. I forgot to mention that they had Cuban music playing and she was dancing. I kinda felt like cutting a rug too but didn't want to cause problems so restrained myself lol. I have to say that as good as the sandwiches were my favorite part was the Maduros. They were plantains fried. Sweet. Savory. Such a great bite and chew. The menu says you get approximately 7 but my container was packed. Definitely more than 7. I couldn't stop eating them. I ate half my order on the hood of my car which was a great choice. I highly recommend this place. Check em out. ”
“ Solid cubano! We weren't able to eat it right away but even an hour later it was still warm, crispy, juicy, and comforting just the way you want a cubano to hit ”