Cubano Kings – 141 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5V 2K8
Country: Cuba      
Must-try dish: Classic Cubano 
Seating: Only limited outdoor seating.  
The high: The Spanish music playing outside of Cubano Kings made passersby smile and dance. 
The low: There isn’t a bathroom so don’t consume too much coffee, it’s more of a takeout spot.

This may be one of the smallest restaurant operations ever: 18 square feet. There’s only space for one person to make the coffees and the sandwiches with the espresso machine and the panini press. The concept is simple – they offer four Cubano variations alongside a coffee shop with a couple of snacks available. 

Cubanos are popular Cuban-style sandwiches stuffed with meat. The ones at Cubano Kings have a few more ingredients depending on which you order. We decided to split two sandwiches in half to be able to taste different flavours.  

Classic Cubano: Anyone with a palate for the ham and cheese marriage will be obsessed with this sandwich. It’s ham, cheese, mustard, and pickles wrapped up and finally grilled. All the ingredients get warm, especially the cheese that melts. 

Miami Style Cubano: This is a souped-up version of the Classic Cubano but with roasted pork added into the mix. It’s the one for you if you want an even meatier taste in your sandwich. 

Both of these Cubanos are worth ordering. If you want even more meat than above, then the Tampa Style Cubano is for you. The non-meat eaters have the option of bread and butter, which perhaps isn’t the best lunch option for our veggie friends, if thats the case, go for the coffee.

As for the coffee, the usual suspects are on the menu with several Cuban coffee options also available such as Cubano Cafécito, Café Con Leche, and Café Cortado. It’s not surprising that this would be a destination for people passing by or working in the area to go to for a quick caffeine fix. 

Although there are two tables with chairs outside, it’s more of a takeout restaurant as the drinks and the food are served in takeout packaging. There’s also no bathroom available so it’s assumed that it’s less of a place to spend a lot of time, and more of a grab-and-go idea. There are a number of offices in the area making it a perfect place to get a coffee and food, then return to your desk. 

The food is really good, so if you find yourself in the neighbourhood, you’ll have to go for a bite to eat and a coffee. You can even meet a friend for a quick lunch between meetings, especially if you get there in time for the lunch special or the sun is shinning!

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)