Hialeah is a vibrant city located just northwest of Miami, Florida. Known for its Cuban culture and cuisine, Hialeah has become a destination for delicious and authentic Latin American food. From tasty Cuban sandwiches to flavorful empanadas, Hialeah offers an array of mouthwatering dishes to satisfy any palate.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the 12 best restaurants that Hialeah has to offer. From long-standing classics to exciting new hotspots, these eateries offer excellent service, delicious food, and an authentic taste of Cuban and Latin culture. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, these restaurants should not be missed on your culinary tour of Hialeah.
La Carreta
A Hialeah institution for over 40 years, La Carreta is considered by many to be one of the best Cuban restaurants not just in the city but across the United States. Family-owned and operated since 1976, La Carreta offers an extensive menu of Cuban classics like ropa vieja (shredded beef), vaca frita (fried cow), and their famous chicken soup.
Diners rave about the flavorful mojitos and other tropical drinks that perfectly complement the hearty Cuban cuisine. With a lively atmosphere and excellent service, La Carreta is a quintessential Hialeah restaurant perfect for large groups and celebrations.
Hours: Open daily from 8am-11pm
Address: 3632 W 16th Ave, Hialeah, FL 33012
El Rinconcito Latino 2
For delicious and affordable Peruvian fare in Hialeah, head to El Rinconcito Latino 2. Located in a small strip mall, this casual Peruvian restaurant looks unassuming but serves some of the most flavorful Peruvian food in town.
Their most popular dish is the arroz con mariscos, a mouthwatering plate of seafood rice cooked in a zesty red sauce. Other favorites include their tender and juicy lomo saltado as well as their refreshing ceviche loaded with fresh seafood. Expect friendly service and excellent value for money at this local favorite.
Hours: Open daily from 10am-10pm
Address: 7707 NW 186th St suite 102, Hialeah, FL 33015
98 Cubano Restaurant
Specializing in classic sandwiches Cubans crave, 98 Cubano Restaurant in Hialeah serves some of the most authentic and tasty Cubano sandwiches in town. This counter-serve restaurant may be small in size but it produces big flavor packed sandwiches loaded with slices of juicy roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard.
Beyond their signature Cubano, they also serve pan con bistec, medianoches, and pan con lechón if you prefer roast pork instead of the traditional roasted pork shoulder. Quick, affordable, and delicious, 98 Cubano Restaurant is a go-to for excellent Cuban sandwiches.
Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 7am-9pm
Address: 5000 W 16th Ave UNIT 98, Hialeah, FL 33012
Latin American
This ever-popular Hialeah restaurant lives up to its name by serving a wide variety of tasty Latin American cuisine. Their diverse menu ranges from Cuban classics like ropa vieja and vaca frita to Brazilian favorites like feijoada and picanha. You’ll also find excellent Peruvian dishes like lomo saltado, arroz chaufa, and ceviche as well as Argentinian specialties like parrillada and empanadas.
Latin American also offers an extensive drink menu with tropical cocktails, sangria options, wines and Latin American beers. Thanks to the variety and quality of food, lively ambiance and friendly service, Latin American continues to be a favorite gathering spot for locals.
Hours: Open daily from 11am-10pm
Address: 1000 E 16th St, Hialeah, FL 33010
Mi Casita Restaurant
For a more upscale Cuban dining experience in Hialeah, head to Mi Casita Restaurant located just across from the Hialeah Park Race Track. This refined restaurant offers a beautiful dining room as well as a lush outdoor patio, perfect for long lunches or romantic dinners.
Their culinary offerings match the elegant environment with dishes like tender braised oxtail, snapper fillet cooked in tomatoes and white wine, paella Valenciana, and a decadent Cuban flan for dessert. Mi Casita also offers an extensive mojito menu so you can sip on a classic Cuban highball while enjoying the fresh, flavorful cuisine.
Hours: Sunday to Wednesday from 12pm-9:30pm, Thursday to Saturday from 12pm-10:30pm
Address: 955 E 25th St, Hialeah, FL 33013
Havana Harry’s Cafe
For delicious Cuban food served cafeteria-style, Havana Harry’s Cafe is a go-to restaurant for locals and visitors alike. This counter-serve eatery allows you to easily sample a wide range of Cuban dishes by simply pointing to whichever specialties catch your eye.
From crisp fried pork chunks and tender shredded beef stew to black beans simmered in a hearty broth, their homestyle dishes are affordable, delicious, and abundant. You can also build your own Cuban sandwich just how you like it. Best of all, Havana Harry’s Cafe stays open late with their last seating at 4am on weekends so it’s perfect for a post-party meal.
Hours: Open 24 hours daily
Address: 963 E 25th St, Hialeah, FL 33013
El Tropico Restaurant
Maintaining a vintage Cuban restaurant atmosphere with its lush tropical patio, El Tropico Restaurant transports diners to the island with its tasty Cuban cuisine. Specializing in classic Cuban dishes like ropa vieja and picadillo as well as Cuban-style grilled steaks and seafood, El Tropico sources many ingredients straight from Florida farms to ensure freshness and quality.
Their lunch and dinner menus also include sandwich specialties like the Cubano, medianoche, and pan con lechón that pair nicely with a side of rice and beans or salad. Enjoy live Latin music on the weekends at this Hialeah mainstay.
Hours: Monday to Thursday from 7am-11pm, Friday to Sunday open 24 hours
Address: 1658 E 8th Ave, Hialeah, FL 33010
Busy Bee Cafe
If you have a late-night craving for Cuban food, look no further than Busy Bee Cafe open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As its name suggests, this little restaurant is always buzzing with hungry customers flocking in for cheap, tasty Cuban grub any time of day or night.
Their extensive menu ranges from Cuban sandwich classics to hearty plates of oxtail stew, ropa vieja, crispy fried pork belly, and other homestyle favorites. Open since the 1960s, Busy Bee Cafe has retained its nostalgic atmosphere with a retro counter and swivel stools that transport you to old school diners of the past.
Hours: Open 24 hours daily
Address: 839 W 29th St, Hialeah, FL 33012
Ay Bonita Restaurant
Just a quick drive from Miami sits Ay Bonita Restaurant located in a nondescript strip mall but serving incredibly delicious and authentic Peruvian cuisine. Easily earning a spot as one of Hialeah’s top Peruvian restaurants, Ay Bonita masters classics like arroz con mariscos, ceviche, and saltado while also offering a variety of Peruvian seafood and meat plates that satisfy any palate.
For dessert, you have to try their fluffy and sweet suspiro limeño. With wallet-friendly prices, this local favorite attracts visitors from across South Florida seeking an authentic taste of Peru without leaving the state.
Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm-10pm
Address: 7710 NW 186th St Unit B-5, Hialeah, FL 33015
El Tamarindo
Combining two vibrant culinary cultures, El Tamarindo serves up flavorful cuisine from Cuba and Mexico using fresh, high-quality ingredients. Their diverse menu covers Cuban specialties like ropa vieja and vaca frita while also featuring Mexican favorites like steak fajitas, enchiladas, flautas, quesadillas loaded with meat and melted cheese.
Daily lunch specials make El Tamarindo a popular spot among locals seeking a quick but tasty bite. They also serve plenty of tequila and margarita options to complement your hearty Cuban-Mexican meal.
Hours: Open daily from 8am-11pm
Address: 6991 W 4th Ave, Hialeah, FL 33014
Versailles Restaurant
With a flagship location on Little Havana and a sprawling Hialeah outpost, Versailles Restaurant has become one of the most famous Cuban restaurants in America. Regarded as somewhat of an institution since first opening in 1971, Versailles captures old-world, vintage Cuban charm with its elegant dining rooms, chandeliers, arched entryways, and tropical courtyard.
Guests flock here not just for the beautiful ambiance but also for authentic Cuban cuisine dished out cafeteria-style so you can sample a wide variety of dishes in one visit. Favorites include their snapper fillet, vaca frita, roast pork, and flan for dessert. Versailles also hosts lively dinner shows on weekends often with Latin music and dancing.
Hours: Open daily from 8:30am-1am
Address: 3555 E 4th Ave, Hialeah, FL 33013
Tejas Steakhouse
The only non-Cuban restaurant on our list, Tejas Steakhouse still deserves a spot for serving incredible Tex-Mex cuisine amid Hialeah’s bevy of Latin eateries. Locals and visitors alike rave about Tejas’ fajitas served sizzling hot at your table alongside made-to-order guacamole, creamy queso, rice, beans, and warm tortillas.
While fajitas are the star attraction, folks also flock here for chili con carne Texas-style, jumbo shrimp enchiladas, mesquite-grilled steaks, and fall-off-the-bone bbq ribs from their in-house smoker. With an expansive menu also featuring seafood, salads, combo platters and mouthwatering table-side desserts like sopapillas, Tejas Steakhouse offers a wonderful taste of Tex-Mex in the heart of Cuban Hialeah.
Hours: Open daily from 11am-10pm
Address: 7887 NW 103rd St, Hialeah, Florida
Conclusion
With its vibrant Latin culture and cuisine, Hialeah showcases some of the best Cuban and Latin American food Florida has to offer. From decades-old favorites like La Carreta to exciting newcomers like Ay Bonita, the restaurants featured here represent the very best dining experiences in this dynamic, delicious city. Whether it’s sizzling fajitas or slow-cooked ropa vieja, fluffy Cuban flan or zesty ceviche, Hialeah’s eclectic restaurant scene has something to satisfy any palate or craving so come hungry and prepare your taste buds for a flavorful culinary adventure.