Elena's Cuban Cafe — Restaurant in Lakeland

Elena’s is a wonderful gem in Lakeland, and certainly a hidden one. It’s tucked peacefully into a corner strip mall on Edgewood Drive and is more than easy to drive past and never notice. That’s what I did until I started working for DoorDash. This place is super popular on there and it’s really a great option if you want that delicious Cuban food (and let’s be real- you know you do).

I’ve put in several pickup orders through DoorDash and they are always ready super fast. Currently Elena’s drive thru is the only thing open so a to go order or delivery are your two options.

Their empanadas are absolutely fantastic- the chicken one has tiny chunks of chicken with cheese and it just melts in your mouth. The guava and cheese is a classically incredible empanada as well that I have to get every time- there’s no other option but TO get it.

They have juices and smoothies as well- and predictably the guava one is fantastic, though they have other fun options like mango, passionfruit, and more. Their chicken and rice is really good and a lot of the entrees come with fried sweet plantains- those are uniquely wonderful. I really do love and...

Man I just had the BEST lunch experience! I ordered from door dash and my "special request" was "EXTRA" and I honestly didn't think they would be able to do it, but they did! And it made my lunch that much better! I am very picky about my cuban food because I feel I can cook my gpa's recipes better than most restaurants, however Elena's did not disappoint! I ordered their daily special Chicken Fricassee and the chicken fell off the bone, so good. Their mojo yucca was not dry AT ALL, and their beef empanada was good too. All extremely GREAT prices, and the portions were HUGE! But most of all ~ My special request was my fav! Cold chopped tomatoes, vinegar, and hot sauce to put on top of my black beans and rice (which also very great flavor)! Also big shot out to how well it was packed! Plastic bags wrapped all my containers individually, the styrofoam had a cut out so my empanada wouldn't be soggy, and all of it was in a stapled brown bag with tape to ensure no one touched my food before me! Great job Elena's. Thank you so...

Primeramente los precios que tienen aquí en Google están incorrectos, cuando vas apagar te dicen un precio que no es. Una empanadilla pequeña es casi 3 dólares y lo más absurdo es el plato de comida, un plato de arroz con pollo casi ni tiene carne. Voy a poner una foto para que se den de cuenta que pilleria. Por un plato chiquito y una empanadilla me cobraron casi 15 Dollares. So first of all their prices have changed it's not the same prices as they show on Google. And they tell you that prices have changed once you get the bill. So then I ordered an empanada it wasn't even full size it was the small shell ones for almost $3. and then I ordered rice chicken beans and plantain for $7 and I thought it was going to be good enough for me and my other son, when I opened it this is what I found the rice barely had chicken. So the entire meal cost me nearly 15 bucks. And the food did not taste like it was worth the 15 bucks. It tasted like the day...