La Casita Tropical — Restaurant in Hollywood

Went today for first time. I have been living in Hollywood for 1 year now and just recently found out about this place. I was skeptical when I entered as there was a line to order your food, which in hindsight is a good sign. But what first surprised me was the manager (owner?) Alex came out to apologize to the customers for the wait and that their chicharrones will be coming out shortly. He greeted many customers with a handshake so I assume these were regulars. I got his attention and asked if they had empanadas and he told me all they had ready were chicken. I told him I wanted 2 beef empanadas and he told me not to worry that he would put in an order for me in the kitchen. After I picked up and paid for my food I waited an additional 5 minutes for my empanadas to come out. WOW. Was I glad I ordered them. They were shredded beef (not ground beef) with cheese. They were HUGE and delicious. Easy the best empanadas I have had anywhere in Florida. For my main dish I ordered oxtail, white rice, red beans and sweet plantains. That was also delicious. Only ate half of my plate. Saving the other half for dinner. I will definitely be back. From Alex, the girls behind the counter serving the food and the cashiers, they treat everyone as if they are old friends. And I saw that repeatedly while I was waiting for my empanadas. All the workers were more than happy to answer any questions and accomodate the customer requests. I will certainly return to try their chicharrones. What a...

The place was total chaos...

Very disappointed.

No prices anywhere... They literally charge you whatever they want.

The food was ok, but the chaotic service negatively overshadowed the total experience.

Had sanitary concerns, as I watched people handle my food with no gloves and every time they would lay down the serving spoon the handle of the spoon would fall into the pile of food next to it.

No structure... No flow nor format to how they serve you and the dish portions.

There are no signs that indicate what you get when you order a dish nor how much the dishes are.

2 of the dishes I got had a satisfactory amount of protein... But the other 2 dishes had mostly bones... :(

There are no prices posted anywhere... So they literally charge whatever they want.

I ordered four dishes, but my receipt read 1 large dish, $64, which I felt was way over the top, given they failed to give me good portions of protein on 2 of the dishes.

They piled high the white rice and left no room for the most important part, the protein.

Sadly, first time... And last time for me.

My suggestion... Create a flow and structure... Post prices on your menus... Post a sign reflecting what you get, for what price... Have your staff wear gloves... Attention to details... Have your staff wear some sort of uniform... Everybody was dressed in...

I visited La Casita Tropical, a charming local eatery. It offers a cafeteria and convenience store with covered outdoor tables. The service was friendly. The menu offered a variety of traditional Hispanic dishes, and I was excited to try a few. I ordered the masita de cerdo (pork chunks), but unfortunately, they were a bit of a letdown. The pork chunks were overcooked, making them tough and hard to enjoy. However, the chicharrón (fried pork) was crispy and flavorful. The arroz blanco (white rice) and frijoles (beans) complemented the meal nicely, providing a good balance. To drink, I had the piña juice, which was incredibly sweet but still tasty. I found that adding ice and water helped balance out the sweetness. Overall, La Casita Tropical is a good spot for a quick, casual meal with good service and some tasty options. While the pork chunks didn’t hit the mark, there are definitely other dishes...