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I’ve never made it to Enriqueta’s because they close early on weekends. But I have a flight to San Francisco today, so Rachel and I finally decided to hit it for lunch before heading to the airport.
Let me tell you: this place is LEGIT locals. There is absolutely nothing touristy or manufactured about it. Stainless-steel tables, red plastic baskets, a busy counter, family photos covering the walls and a dining room full of people who clearly come here all the time.
And the sandwiches are HUGE.
Enriqueta’s, opened in 1964, is best known for its Cubano and pan con bistec, but Rachel and I shared a medianoche, a tortilla con chorizo y queso and something called the “Super Cheese” with bacon. That last one is basically an enormous griddled pile of bacon and molten cheese barely contained by Cuban bread. I also grabbed some empanadas to take on the plane.
The tortilla was beautifully browned, packed with chorizo and cheese, and substantial enough to be a meal by itself. The medianoche had the proper soft, slightly sweet bread, pressed crisp around a serious amount of pork, ham, Swiss, mustard and pickles. Nothing dainty happening here.
The iced café con leche is also extremely strong. I will not be falling asleep on the flight out.
Best of all, we got to meet the boss herself, Lucia Plá, the beloved matriarch on Saturday morning, greeting customers. Her husband, who bought the diner in 2000, Jose Luis, passed in 2019.
This is the classic Cuban diner experience—a completely different vibe from Versailles or La Carreta. Smaller, more personal and much more like Puerto Sagua: a real neighborhood restaurant serving real people, with no interest in becoming a theme park version of itself.
I’ll definitely be back.
