Authentic Cuban Cuisine｜The Oxtail Stew That Stole the Show

🍲 The Internet-Famous Oxtail Spot Tucked in a Old Havana alley, this restaurant's wooden sign simply depicts a steaming oxtail pot—no frills needed for the line of locals in straw hats and camera-toting tourists. Here's why the rabo encendido has foodies buzzing ✨ 🥘 Menu Musts Decoded ✅ Braised Oxtail (Rabo Encendido) Why it's legendary: ✅ 8-hour slow-cooked oxtail, bones so tender they fall off with a fork ✅ Side dish secrets: Fried plantains (sweetness cuts the richness) + chicken-fat rice (cooked in oxtail broth, inherently flavorful) Diner spectacle: Friends wolfed down two plates of rice soaked in oxtail soup, a mountain of plantain peels as proof ✅ Cuban-Style Seafood (Mariscos a la Cubana) Flavor trap: ❌ Default Spanish red sauce is cloyingly sweet (like concentrated tomato paste) ✅ Fix it: Ask for "Salsa Verde" (green sauce) instead Green sauce recipe: Mint + lime + olive oil + chili flakes, 200% fresher ✅ Garlic Shrimp (Camarones al Ajillo) Ordering warning: ❗ Shares the same tomato base as seafood ，choose one Pro move: ✅ Request extra rum in the sauce, shrimps coated in caramelized garlic ✅ Wrap in complimentary corn tortillas for Cuban-style tacos 💡 Insider Hacks Off-menu orders: Ask for "Moros y Cristianos" black bean rice, perfect with oxtail soup Add "Flan de Leche" post-meal, milk custard so rich it sticks to lips Dish to skip: "Pescado a la Plancha" grilled fish—bony and under-seasoned Drink "Guanabana Shake" instead of mojito for better refreshment Photo spots: Second-floor terrace with oxtail soup and Old Havana rooftops Kitchen window for action shots of chefs sprinkling spices 📝 Key Details Name: La Casa de la Rabo Address: Callejon de Hamel, Old Havana (deep in the street art alley) Cost: 15 CUC/person ($105), includes oxtail soup + drink Hours: 11:00-22:00 (oxtail often sells out Sunday, arrive before 13:00) Magic words: Tell staff "Soy fan de la rabo" for free fried plantains #CubanCuisine #HavanaFoodie #OxtailGuide #AuthenticCuban #CaribbeanEats