El Cubano Sandwich Shop — Restaurant in Coral Springs

Coral Springs now has a Calle Ocho-style Frita shop all of its own, El Cubano, on 99th Way, just off Sample Road, across from the Checkers.

The Frita itself ($6.99 regular, lunch special $5.49) is a prime specimen and having experienced this sandwich in a number of different shops, I think it gives the best ones in Little Havana a run for their money. I ordered mine with a fried egg and melted cheese on top, and it was utterly mouth-watering.

It has just the right amount of spiciness to it, and the blend of beef and pork keeps it nice and juicy. I could practically hear Salsa music in my head when eating it -- but it may have been the Bluetooth speaker on the counter.

Of course, you're going to want to have your burger with fries. You can get regular french fries -- which are nice commercial, thick fries with some of the skin on it -- or you can get Mariquitas, which are razor-thin fried plantains that are sliced lengthwise into crispy ribbons and are simply seasoned with salt.

The restaurant also has Croquetas, the ubiquitous ham and bechamel croquettes, which fried to order.

If you're not up for a Frita, of course, all of the major Cuban sandwiches are well-represented here. All of the bread is brought in each morning straight from Miami.

The standard Cubano ($6.99), which is layers of roast pork, sweet ham, swiss cheese, pickles and mustard -- and then panini-pressed with Cuban bread, is by far one of the most generous ones we've had in Broward County. You can certainly order it with extra meat, but I think that's totally unnecessary here.

The Medianoche ("Midnight") variant switches out the Pan Cubano for Pan Suave, an eggy bread that is similar to Brioche or Challah.

If you are extra-hungry, you can get El Super Cubano, which adds an entire marinated Palomilla steak on top. This is an utterly massive sandwich for $8.99, and you might have to share it. I had to take half of mine home, and my wife re-heated it in foil in the toaster oven. It was just as good the next morning!

I also recommend the Pan Con Lechon ($7.99), which is a pile of garlic mojo (sour orange) shredded marinated roast pork that is served with lettuce, tomato, cooked onions, and mayo. This again is another huge sandwich, as is the Vaca Frita, which gets the same marination treatment as the Lechon, but it's shredded, fried beef instead of pork

However, no self-respecting Frita shop is without Batidos, which are fruit milkshakes ($3.49). El Cubano's come in three flavors -- Papaya, Mamey, or Mango. Mamey has a subtle, almost custardy flavor, whereas Papaya -- or Fruta Bomba as you'll find it in Miami -- has a bold tropical fruit taste and has natural enzymes in it that aid in digestion.

In addition to the Cuban specialties, the restaurant serves breakfast sandwiches all day long, and has Cuban coffee as well, which is made on their Rancilio espresso machine with Cafe Bustelo.

Should you really need to wake up, get the Colada ($1.99) -- which is a triple ristretto shot of espresso mixed with three spoons of sugar served in a styrofoam cup. This comes with additional tiny thimble-sized shot cups if you are inclined to share this with a friend, which is customary.

If you want something to grab and go with your supercharged coffee in the morning, try the Pastelitos -- which are small pastries filled with your choice of Guava, Cheese, Guava/Cheese...

Well let’s start off that I order through DoorDash and I got my delivery I ordered a pork sandwich did not receive a poor sandwich it was a different sandwich I ordered some Pastelillos with guayaba and then getting those with a note with the delivery stating that they didn’t have that so they gave me one with cheese when we are allergic to cheese and don’t eat that I called him up to get my sandwich take him back and give me the correct one I was told that Eric which is the manager there said no because I didn’t order through his website I feel first of all no matter where it’s been ordered it was wrong and it was done wrong because on my receipt it indicates exactly what I want it so that’s their fault too how would you not want to keep customers going to you and try to fix the solution and three try to get the phone numbers whether or not they’re from DoorDash or not because you cannot deliver something to someone if they do not like what you’re deliveringAs a substitute if you don’t have the item and you don’t have a phone number then you just don’t send them that particular item then with the note on it I think the service was horrible nothing against the lady that I spoke to you but I think management which was Eric should’ve took out a care of that and handle it or even one on the phone with me I refuse to order from this restaurant again if this is a hassle people have when one they don’t have what you want so they substituted with what they want just to get their...

So disappointed, we went for a Cuban Sandwich, it wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t the best either, it wasn’t even toasted. When we arrived to the store, I see a guy siting down, looking at his phone, he is wearing gloves, so im paying attention to see if he is going to cook my food. He wiped his nose with the back of his hand (gloves on). He gets up and indeed starts to prepare my order. I asked the young guy to please tell him to change his gloves ( the cook doesn’t speak english) then he starts telling the young guy that I was lying, that he would never do that, I speak Spanish too and he kept saying to my face that I was lying, there are cameras and you can see that he wiped his nose, regardless he shouldn’t have been touching his phone, nor tell me I was lying, simply change your gloves, I was by no means rude or anything. Just common sense and hygiene. But not worth it. The young boy, (I think his name is Ariel) was very helpful, he was understanding and helpful with the situation, he kindly offered coffee and pastries for the bad experience ( I declined), I was in shock with the entire situation and couldn’t react in the moment, but I should have requested my money back and just leave the place. Humiliating and not even a good...