Islas Canarias Restaurant

 

5

34

Jayme M.

Los Angeles, CA

I love a good strip mall find. Islas Canarias completely exceeded all my expectations. Cuban food in Los Angeles (or Cuba for that matter) doesn't compare to the lunch I had here... makes me want to explore more of the Miami cuisine.

Arroz con camarones was the squidy inky version of my favorite (arroz con pollo). The sweet plantains were fat and caramel juicy... My husband had a chicken dish and our Miami host had the picadillo of which he ate every last bite.

2 cortaditos, 1 cafe cubano, and a pudding later, we were all very happy.  

The menu is extensive and there are images of Havana playing on the flat screen TVs to make you long for Cuba.

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Elite '08

103

894

Rob C.

Miami, FL

Cuban family chain with a couple locations.  Interior re-done nicely.  Menu has the usual suspects.  I'm still trying to get used to the cuban portion sizes.  I like my rice and beans separate rather than moros; they are very accommodating.

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Elite '08

68

144

Ethan H.

San Diego, CA

My favorite Cuban restaurant in the city!
I'm tempted to say: "The BEST Cuban food in the city!", but who could possibly even make such a claim without bringing on a ton of laughter (and perhaps gunfire)? All I know is that I lived in Miami for 20 years, I visit frequently, and this is the best I've found.

This place was also home to a great coincidence that provided years of laughter for me and a couple friends. I was with my brother, our friend Jerry (the only Cuban-American in the crowd), and a couple of visitors from out of town. Since our visitors had never even really heard of Cuban food before (we're talking, the kind of people who say: "Cuban food ... is that anything like Mexican?"), we decided to present them with a choice. We said:

We can take you to one of two Cuban restaurants: One is Versailles. It's fantastic. And to be sure, it's a place where many locals enjoy great food. But you should know that it's ALSO the place that every tourist book and every hotel recommends. In the meantime (we continued), there's this other place called "Islas Canarias". It's not nearly as famous. It's further off the beaten path. In fact, it's in a little strip mall. But we love it. In fact, it's probably not in any tourist guidebooks, but it's the place where you're more likely to meet actual Cubans.

Long story short: Our guests decide on Islas Canarias, we walk in, and who do we see, already seated there, but Jerry's parents, sitting right there half-way through their meal.

Our guests were shocked. I guess we were right in describing this place as a great one where actual Cubans are likely to go.

So, yes, if you're looking for an authentic experience, I won't tell you you won't get it at Versailles. But at Islas Canarias, you'll get equally good food, a story for the ages, and Jerry's parents might even buy you a drink!

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0

3

Fulano E.

Atlanta, GA

Easily one of the best Cuban restaurants in the world.  Extensive menu, listing dozens of dishes that are inexplicably ALL GOOD.  Even dishes I don't generally like are good at Islas Canarias.  If you want Cuban food in its most perfect form, served by an extremely professional and courteous staff, check out Islas Canarias.

This review is for the Islas Canarias on Coral Way and 137th Av.  The other one is likely about the same.

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Elite '08

27

821

JD N.

Miami, FL

Good, well made food, although the vaca frita was too salty for my taste.

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