Pros: Amazing place, quick service. Cons: None! Overall: Must go
(4)
Robert C.
came in after a funeral. isnt that what all cubans do? i had the best breaded steak ever here. it was so good i almost fat-assed it and ordered a second one! yeah, that good! i hadnt been here in a while but glad to say the food quality at this location has stayed tops. probably one of the better places to get real cuban in miami.
(5)
Gabriel Q.
I've eaten here with the family many times- but this was absolute garbage! Slow service, waiting 15 minutes before our table was even visited... One star because 0 is not an option. Oh, here we go!!!! 9:30 and they are out of their Carreta Salad? Seriously?! Lettuce and fixings - oh, by the way, they still have Caesar! And it only took 10 minutes to find out! Ordered boliche (pot roast with chorizo in the center of the slices). Got one and a half chunks of meat, no sides, no chorizo... Waitress actually brought me ONE small piece of chorizo on a plate before the sides arrived. Entire crap got sent back. (Just added one more star- they removed the entire thing from the bill without me having to say anything - but other than the waitress no manager or other person came to table. In fact, forget the second star! This was an insult to Cuban food and the reputation of La Carreta. Not worth a plug nickel tonight.
(1)
Jordana S.
Never been disappointed from La Carreta ! Live right by this joint and is a good alternative when I want homemade food and don't want to cook! Delicious every time !
(5)
natalie o.
Good food The WORST SERVICE imaginable The ladies there are so rude especially HAYDEE
(1)
Gabriel T.
Good place for Cuban food. Services are "Latin Style" which is why I won't recommend this place for a "nice family dinner".
(3)
Johnny L.
La Carreta is a staple amongst Cuban cuisine in Miami. I've been here quite a bit over the years, and they have several locations all across the Greater Miami Area, but this was the one I called the spot. The place itself doesn't look very big on the outside, but there are so many tables and it still gets packed all the time. Everybody loves the Cafe Con Leche with the Cuban bread, and though it's everywhere, I do enjoy ordering it here, as does the line of people outside by the cafe window. The Cuban sandwiches here are decent, but I don't like that they don't press all the sandwiches, like the Cuban Special. The meats are stacked high, but the bread is pretty crusty (in a stale way) and not as warm and crisp as others. If you like to try a bit of what they have to offer, there is the Cuban Sampler, which is a combination of Cuban classics like Picadillo, roast pork, plaintains, yucca, and moros rice. The picadillo (seasoned ground beef) here is solid, and is seasoned wonderfully, which is really the key. It does get greasy though, so that's a con. The roast pork is good, as is the plaintains. The yucca is meh. I've never been a fan of yucca that isn't deep fried so I'm a bit bias here. The moros rice is a tad dry and they should have it steamed before plating or maybe throw in some oil or fat...mhmmm... Service is great, but some of the servers do have some problems with English, so don't be alarmed if you get switched to a different server. The place is clean, spacious, and LOUD. You're in Miami so get used to it.
(3)
Patricio V.
Really good food and fast Service, I will come back with all my friends again , thanks guys for the great service and food
(4)
Caroline G.
Im new in town. My family and i have tried several cuban restaurants. We have noticed that you just cant expect much when it comes to "customer service" especially if you dont speak spanish..... The Carretta serves good food, but the service is harsh.... Tonight was different! Roland gave us the best service ever!!!! So just want to thank him for an outstanding job!!!! Next time you visit The Carretta on Bird rd. Ask for Roland!
To start, we only saw our waiter when we placed our order and we didn't see him again until I waved him down to get our check. I had a media noche and it was cold, not buttery and warm. Next time, I'm going to Sergio's.
(2)
Morgan C.
Moved away from Miami, Really miss this traditional cuban restaurant. where i live now they have Cuban food but not like this. This is amazing, you don't realize how good it is till you don't have it. And yes , its a busy place and sometimes they get a little slow , but the food is amazing. The sandwiches are perfect , and the pastries wow. The food, very good. Sure miss it.
(4)
Michael R.
Been coming here for many years. Love the churrasco definitely recommend it. Even if ur not Cuban u gotta try this place
(4)
Gaby F.
Very cuban-friendly and delicious.
(3)
Elizabeth G.
The Cuban food is okay, what's not okay is the Old DUST on the blinds, specially the second booth on the right by the entrance by the TV. I wonder why the health inspectors don't see this ? I wonder how the Kitchen is ? I asked why all the DUST and the answer was that it's been over a year that the person In charge of cleaning was let go in order not to pay health insurance And then you see all this waitress and waiters standing around talking and filing there nails What a shame!
(1)
Frank A.
Okay, This La Carreta on 40th street in Olympia Heights is the best Cuban food I ever had. I ordered the Churrasco with rice and black beans and tostonnes best food ever. My girlfriend ordered the fried Snapper with yellow rice. We enjoyed the food sooooo much, My entire plate was empty and to think I don't eat that much. We ordered a coconut flan afterwords, and mouth was just in an other dimension. I love that place and will drive the 20 miles to go there again. See pictures.
(5)
Natasha R.
We were starving and decided for some Cuban cuisine. My wife had the Chicken "Vaca Frita" with rice and plantains. She said it was delicious! The waitress was nice and very helpful. I had ordered a plantain soup, since I am currently transitioning to become vegetarian and not eating meat. When she brought it, I noticed that it had meat in it... She quickly apologized and offered me other options. I settled for a salad. We'll visit again, perhaps.
(3)
Jorge B.
I was on the hunt by the area and my wife wanted pancakes. This was the last place I thought for that type of breakfast. Very surprised. Breakfast was great. The food was brought almost immediately and great quality. Loved the prices. Had the best guava pantry ever.
(5)
Charity Z.
This restaurant is a staple in Miami. Whether it be for dinner or a quick stop for cafe, It doesn't disappoint. La Carreta also seems to be the late night hangout for the funeral goers in the area. After being in a funeral down the street I was in need of something comforting. Trying to escape from the somber situation a came to la Carreta. Only to find that most of the attendees had the same idea. Arriving at 830pm on a week night wasn't a problem. We got a table for 7 rather quickly. The restaurant was packed but service was on point. Immediately water was being poured in our glass and crunchy buttery bread was brought to our table. I absolutely love the ambiance here. It's like everyone knows each other. Patrons are mingling with each other as well as the staff. I especially love that my mom and grandmother love coming here and find joy in dining here. It may be a cultural thing that elicits a sense of nostalgia. The Cuban toast with a Cafe con leche is the best late night snack. Not to mention they have the best croquettas. The bean soups here are phenomenal. My favorite are the Garbanzos. The palomilla with a side of white rice and black beans is a good choice as well. The milk shakes are amazing. So thick and creamy and full of flavor, especially the Mamey. If looking for good service and great Cuban food than this is the place. The reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because the parking is a mission!
(4)
Isabel V.
The food is probably as good as other locations but the service is TERRIBLE. I tried calling to place an order for pickup and the phone rang for 4 minutes and then they hung up on me. Go to the one on 107th for the best service!
(1)
Martin R.
This is a reliable restaurant for Cuban food. The service is pretty good. It is usually pretty crowded. The menu is pretty extensive and it is good cuban food, just not the greatest I have ever had but it is good and very reasonable price. I like the ropa vieja and bistec a la milanesa.
(3)
Emily H.
When you want a great cortadito or a shot of Cuban coffee this is the place to go. I always order from their outside counter. When I want a great guava pastelito this beats any bakery. Their pastry is light and flaky and their guava is the real deal. No artificial red neon jelly like substance that they serve in some bakeries as a filling in their guava pastel. Croquetas and empanadas are also great. My favorite empanada is the ham and cheese. My review is only for the outside counter service.
(4)
Andrea V.
Authentic Latin American food at an affordable price. Best part is that they don't only serve deep fried food, but also have a healthy part which tastes just as good - maybe even better. The staff is friendly at this specific location.
(5)
Maria P.
Oh, it feels like home! I have been coming here since I was a little girl, and it hasn't changed one bit. Delicious, just like my grandma would make. There is no Cuban food like the Cuban food in Miami. Living in LA, makes you long for Cuban bread with ajo and ropa vieja. Guyaba, enough said! It is the fruit of the gods.
(5)
Eddie M.
Great place for authentic Cuban food and coffee. Come have a Cuban sandwich and a cafe con leche!
(5)
Amanda R.
As a Cuban I am ashamed to have this restaurant represent cubans! The food is what ever... getting takeout huge mistake they rip you off and will not toast break for you if it's a take out order. Everything with them is an argument. The employees r busy talking with each other and don't pay attention to anything and they r very very rude... only good thing about this place is I save money when I eat there because I don't tip from how bad the service is... the lemons there r beyond dry last time I swear I orders 16 lemons just for a small soup and chicken because they were so dry I got 3 drops out of each. The one in Kendall is so much better. It's honestly the employees there that ruin the place... I can not express enough how much I hate the people that work there they ruin your entire dining experience I suggest you go to a different restaurant!
(1)
Carolina S.
Pros -Food is very good value for the money, high quality, low cost -The best cuban coffee in all of miami!! (carretta in bird rd) This is coming from someone that loves strong coffee. -They have freshly squeezed orange juice -There is always an inviting activity level. Not for someone who is looking for a quiet sit down. Con -Service can be little delayed more so because of the waiters and waitresses. -The waiters will run over you if you dont move out of there way....but they'll pick you up ;)
(4)
John K.
In from out of town. I was impressed with this place, excellent local ethnic food. Loved it.
(4)
Erin L.
Cuban-American staple. 100% authentic. Busy, noisy, a little rude. Food is really good, and consistent. Please don't ever change. Vaca Frita or lechon asado (roast pork) are fabulous, but the menu is huge, and there is something new to try every time if you like. I seem to stick with a half dozen favorites.
(4)
Alberto R.
This place is a dump.. Poor excuse for Cuban food and even poorer excuse for a staff. The management is worse then the staff. There is no quality control nor any structure. If you like waiting 2.5 hours for a delivery order that is promised 5 times and never delivered then order from here. I have never yelped before I have never had a yelp account in order to review a place I opened an account just to review the poor service I received. Or should I say never received. Was not even offered a apology. I places review in the hopes that no one else will have to go through what my family and I went through.
(1)
Steve L.
This is defiantly a must for your late night eats adventure. It has been a local staple and watering hole for every local in the Miami metro area. You can never go wrong with any of the selections or daily specials they offer. All the cuisine is truly fantastic and have that Latin Sabor!!!! I can honestly say I have tried almost everything on the menu and each and every one was great. So the next time your in the mood for some authentic Cuban fare , or you just want to hang out and fit in with the local crowd hit up this place and you won't go wrong....
(4)
Guelsy D.
If you like Cuban cuisine.. Literally any item from the menu will satisfy you. It's usually very busy but service is quick. The bakery is spectacular... Ham and cheese empanadas are highly addictive!
(5)
Marlene R.
Ladies bathroom disgusting - truly embarrassing. I told the cashiers in the front to have someone check the bathroom. The employees looked at me like if I was crazy. All three stalls were dirty and paper all over the bathroom. Trash cans overboard with paper. I hope the kitchen is cleaner than the women's restroom.
(1)
Renee K.
Service was great, even with as busy as it was. Food came out fast and hot. The onion soup was fantastic and they give big portions. We came during the lunch hour on a Tuesday and we did not have to wait.
(4)
Michele S.
My husband went here with his parents, and when he got to the door the hostess disregarded the fact that he was there. The hostess decided to sit the customers that came in after him. When my husband let the hostess know she began to scream at him telling him that he needs to keep his mouth shut because it's obvious she did not know. The blonde hostess then began bad mouthing my husband, took him along with his parents to a table and told them to sit. The food has not been and here, but their lack of hospitality has really began to be of notice as everytime you come here one of the hostesses is either giving an attitude or just lacking manners when it comes to working with the public.
(1)
Miah P.
3 entrees ordered to go came out to less than $50. Not bad at all. I have family very close by so we picked up the food, and it was delicious as to be expected. Three stars because the packaging for each meal was very greasy, as if the hands that packaged it all went directly from greasy food, to packaging, to bagging. Not a nice start to the meal when we had to wipe off each container to ultimately transfer everything to plates and wipe down the kitchen counters after.
(3)
James J.
I am among the cultures furthest from understanding what it means to know authentic cuban food, and until this visit I had only one other restaurant with which to compare. La Carreta, simply put, is the most outstanding cuban cuisine I have ever tasted and it is a shame that I am so far removed from its location. The Space: La Carreta appears pretty ample for seating, with a relatively large space dedicated to feeding dozens of people at a time. Though ample for serving numerous people, the overall decor of this spacious place is nothing to write home about. It's simple and comfortable for the type of regulars it seems to receive. The Food: My meal was the "Classic" (with a plantain chip appetizer, complimentary cuban bread and a tres leches cake for dessert): -Pork with mojo-laden onions -Black beans and rice -Ham croquette -Ground beef -Sweet plantains -Yuca The portion size was enormous with all of these items combined, first of all. If I had to pick my favorite item overall it would probably have to be the combination of the mojo onions with the pork or the ham croquette. The former was extremely flavorful when paired with one of the starch items, making for a very filling AND tasty experience. The ham croquette disappeared instantly off of my plate because of how delicious it was, coming hot and crispy with a smooth and savory filling that I fell in love with instantly. As a runner up I could not believe the difference between these sweet plantains and the ones I had tried from another cuban restaurant: these must have been cooked when at a more appropriate level of ripeness or perhaps accented with some other additions, but the flavor and texture were both incredibly desirable. Rice and beans were definitely solid, as well as the ground beef and yuca, but not items I would consider "stand out" in comparison to the aforementioned. Plantain chips were fair, coming with what I presume to be the same mojo used to flavor the onions, but applying this liquid to fried plantains made for a messy experience with not enough desirability to recommend to others (slightly-too-greasy chips dipped into a vinegar and garlic liquid does not really work effectively or all that harmoniously). And last but not least: the tres leches. What an incredible dessert. I am a huge fan of sweets and I could not help but to voraciously scarf this slice of heaven down even after my indulgent meal. The texture, moistness, sweetness...all completely satisfying and richly rewarding. I would be fighting myself tooth and nail not to order this if I should ever return. The Service: We got a table for 6 people late on a Friday night instantly, so I either consider that fortunate or awesome of La Carreta. I never found myself lacking in beverage throughout the meal and the staff were relatively friendly when interacting with the table, though I could sense a certain barrier in communicating beyond the basics (a mark of authenticity, so I harbor no resentment here). I will note that I ordered the chips as an appetizer and they came AFTER my meal did, which defeats the whole point to me, but they also brought out ample amounts of their soft and fluffy cuban bread beforehand which, by far, was the best medium for sopping up any of the broths/sauces that lingered from my actual meal. A small, obvious final note on this front: one of the members of my party is a vegan. We were aware that accommodations for this establishment would naturally be slim, but the server who mainly tended to us made sure to bring bread without the butter sauce on it for him as well as to prepare, as best as possible, an avocado salad with oil and vinegar to tide him over. Final Thoughts: As far as I can tell, cuban food does not get more legitimate than in Miami. The shortcomings of the food itself were not in disliking anything, but simply feeling neutral to certain aspects of the meal and the service barriers, though frustrating, are understandable given the area and the culture. With these aspects aside, the experience I had was remarkable and indicative of a very likely return if ever again I am in the area.
(4)
Jackie S.
A recent Yelp talk thread made me realize I've never reviewed this old school favorite!! La Carreta and this location in particular is a family favorite, always slammed and always fresh for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My favorites you ask? Hands down the palomilla w/ papitas fritas Chicken Carretero Boliche w/ white rice and on Tuesday Carne Guisada is the special! but trust me everything is good here and splurge...get the mariquitas, yes their worth the calories! :)
(4)
Aylem C.
Horrible, horrible service!!!!! Worse place in Miami. I was there Thursday night and the waitress told us that we used the table for the whole night and that she lost the table because of us!!!!!! This place used to be a restaurant for families, poor, rich, anybody!!! Now you can not enjoy a cafe in peace because the waitress "needs the table". The funny part is that I have been to the place many times, with my family, workers of my company and if you spend money they are happy and nice. Again, horrible place, horrible service, and no humanity at all!!!! The sense of family restaurant...gone. I recommend Sergio's or Versailles better!!!
(1)
Matski X.
Loooove this place. From west coast where we don't have huge Cuban population. Was in South Beach for a few days and took a drive here. The grilled salmon was perfect. The yellow rice was perfect. The black beans and plantains were perfect. The cortadito was phenomenal. And our two waitresses (one spoke Spanish only) were extraordinarily hospitable...made you feel like you were really being cared for.
(5)
Cordie C.
First time here, I just wanted to have authentic cuban food. I had picadillo with rice, black beans and yellow plantains. Taste was good, not salty like other places I have been before. The tres leches cake was decadent!
(4)
Sebas V.
The food used to be good about 3 months ago then out of nowhere the food quality became really bad and the costumer service even worse, this young cuban girls answering phones are rude and apparently deaf, I will not be going back to this place, the Kendall Carreta is miles better than this place.
(1)
B G.
Went here the other day for breakfast at the window. Everything was awesome. Pastries, croquettes, and empanadas! Yum.
(4)
Michael B.
After any special event or to enjoy a simple cafe con leche and tostadas, you can't go wrong coming here. Miami landmark!
(5)
Luis F.
Pretty much an institution for anyone that grew up in this area of Miami. It's always packed and you usually get seated very quickly. There's a special place in my heart for La Carreta. Whenever I fly down to Miami this is the first place me and my mom go to...before I even drop my luggage off. We go here first. The food is Cuban..and fattening. When grandma isn't in the kitchen this is one of the go to places to fill the void. ;-)
(4)
Daniel B.
Just got back from eating dinner here. La Carreta is a popular Cuban restaurant chain in Miami with nine locations. According to Sandra, the manager working tonight, this La Carreta location has been around for 29 years. IIRC, she said it is the company's second location. After passing by this restaurant many times and seeing the parking lot packed and after Pedro, our Cuban friend at the resort, mentioned La Carreta to us, we decided to check it out. It was a good decision. The restaurant is in its own standalone building. It looks a little old on the outside. Inside, it's lively and spacious. There's a bar and a few large dining areas with a combination of booth and table seating. In addition, there's an outdoor to-go counter, where there are always people lined up to buy food, snacks, drinks, and cigarettes. There were three of us and we ordered and shared the following: Mariquitas - fried plantain chips Vaca frita - grilled thinly shredded beef with onions, moros rice, plantains Classic Cuban sampler - picadillo (ground beef), roast pork, plantains, white rice and black beans, ham croquette, yuca, tamales Cuban flan Guava cheesecake This was a lot of food and we left with plenty of leftovers. The mariquitas are served in a miniature Cuban horse cart. At $2.95, you get a lot of mariquitas. These are like banana potato chips. It's served with a freshly minced garlic sauce that is very strong. The vaca frita was flavorful. I enjoy ropa vieja, another Cuban shredded beef dish, and this was a good alternative. Moros rice is basically Cuban rice. The beans are already mixed into the rice with other seasonings. It's good. The Cuban sampler had a nice selection of foods. The picadillo was delicious. The marinade was almost too strong. The roast pork was dry, but I haven't had Cuban roast pork that wasn't. The rice and black beans were on point. The ham croquette was yummy and had the texture of mashed potatoes. The yuca was flat, thin, and slightly chewy (not long and thick like french fries - yuca is often served like this). The tamales were hot and fresh. I ordered the regular Cuban flan. You can get it with coconut and other ingredients and flavors. The regular flan is caramel flavored. It's rich and very good. The guava cheesecake was OK. I'm not sure if the red guava on top of the cheesecake was fresh or not. I think it was candied. Our server was Gerardo and he was great. Props once again to Sandra, the manager. She was very sweet and even personally packed up our leftovers for us. Now I'm going to sleep all this food off.
(4)
Nicole A.
Want Cuban food? Come to La Carreta. You can never go wrong with anything on the menu. Everything from pan con bistec, croquetas, ropa vieja, palomilla de bistec, arroz and frijoles, is delicious!
(5)
Adalberto M.
Whether you're stopping in for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Or maybe from a funeral or a late night partying - this spot is one that will satisfy that craving. Their sandwiches are great, dinners are very good and breakfast is very decent. But what rocks is their cafe con leche! I have no idea what touch they put on it but it is delicious! Oh, and if you feel like protesting or rallying about anything, just stand outside and you'll be sure to get cars honking at you.
(4)
Gloria G.
Always enjoy meeting my friends there . Great place eat all types of Cuban food
This place never fails when it comes to great food. They are also open late if I am not mistaken. I had to take out a star due to the lack of service at times. At least 50% of the time service is slow.
(4)
Monica S.
If you're going for huevos revueltos (scrambled eggs), I found mine to be on the less desirable, overly dry side. For the standard Cuban fare however, La Carreta certainly satisfies. My mom and I have been coming for eons and my order always says the same: palomilla with chopped up cilantro and onions, white rice, black beans, maduros. Never fails to satisfy. My mom's order: masas de puerco, and the same sides as mine above, certainly brings out the Cuban lover in us all. Located on Miami's westside along the thriving Bird Road artery, La Carreta tends to attract the very local. Whether you're after a cortadito at the window or a full-fledged meal inside, everything here is speedily served and adoringly made.
(4)
Albert T.
This place is a commercial wash of authentic Cuban food. The food is bland, colorless, and unappealing. The only positive thing I can say about them is their coffee, which is dynamite.
(2)
Tony P.
This particular restaurant has been around as long as I can remember. I always look forward to coming here with my family. Whether to eat or just to the window for a quick cortadito or colada. The service here is always with a smile and very friendly. Every single time I have been I have never been disappointed. Everyone asks how your day is. You always encounter someone from the old Cuba that someone you know or know someone who knows them. When that happens a quick stop for cortadito turns into hours of catching up. This place brings back memories of sitting around the table in Cuba. The food is just very tasty and succulent. Being Cuban i know it's food very well. i can honestly say that this is one of the few places where you can come and enjoy authentic Cuban food. When i took Guil here for his first time he loved it. We got for our appetizers a tamale, and mariquitas. For our entree i got the chicken milanese with congris and fried plantains. He got the vaca frita with congris also and to stones. Everything was excellent and we spent very little. I will be coming here on the days my mom doesn't feel like cooking. I hope she's not reading this.....lol
(5)
Megan G.
I used to be a fan of 'La Carreta', but I guess it was because I didn't know any better! This restaurant chain has degraded over the years, higher prices, less quality. Everyone there is Cuban, and most of the time with a BAD ATTITUDE. I am Cuban, and I'd rather eat any other place but here. Also, if you're in need of a show, go to this specific restaurant, it's ALWAYS loud, a bunch of old people discussing Fidel and the communist ideas... It's pretty sad! The last thing I wanna do is listen to a bunch of people talking 'government'
(1)
Lara R.
Food here is your typical Cuban fare for this area and take out service is unfortunately also typical to this area for a spanish restaurant nasty rude b_ _ _ ches! (FILL IN THE BLANKS). So hence the stars are for the food more than the service. Apparently you have to be a regular here and by regular I mean come here every day for "un cafecito" for them to treat you good and not like a dog with 3 heads. Parking can be a nightmare and so can be trying to get out of the parking lot and onto the street. All in all good place for some Cuban Chicken Soup aka Cuban Antibiotics to whip you into shape when you are sick.
(3)
Donald M.
I thought I'd give la carreta a try again. It's 10:50am on a Wednesday morning. They roll their eyes at you when you ask for the simplest things, like a straw for you drink. After ordering my steak &eggs (scrambled) with potatoes. They tell me their out of potatoes, when I asked what they have to replace it. I was responded to with a huge sigh as she slowly named two things to replace it with. It not my fault you were out of whatever you offer on your menu...
(1)
Marilis M.
They have good cuban food, affordable prices, and acceptable customer services. The dessert is excellent.
(4)
Jorge M.
What a better way to start your day than with a Cuban breakfast! I get the Special which includes 2 fried eggs, bacon, grits or fries, Cuban toast, 2 croquetas and cafe con leche! Breakfast of Champions!
(4)
Elizabeth B.
Terrible service, terrible food, not a happy girl. First we were seated behind a table full of employees counting their tips, talking, yelling and complaining about their job. Second we were approached by three very dry and apparently unhappy waiters. Third, our food was brought to the table by another unhappy employee and our food was thrown on the table. To finish, all the employees are rude, loud, unprofessional and have no customer service skills. I will never eat here again, not even for empanadas that I love so much. They lost my business completely and make me ashamed to be Cuban. P.S...the coffee was bitter....
(1)
Alberto D.
This Carreta has changed a LOT!! since the last time I was there a couple of months ago. I went today for Lunch and placed a To-Go order of Vaca Frita with mashed potato and fufu. First of all, when they told me $13.99 for a lunch of vaca frita with 2 sides which you can get almost anywhere for under $10 I was in shock. Blue Sky, Latin Cafeteria, Milan's, any bakery well you name it, you can get Vaca Frita for under $10, here it was $14 !!! Crazy, but this was not the shocker, when i got the food and I saw the amount of Vaca Frita that I got, I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. I got a little container with probably about a handful of vaca frita, 1 scoop of Fufu, and maybe like 4 ounces of mashed potato. I could not believe myself, when they first told me $14 dollars i was expecting a big container full of Vaca Frita like they used to serve it before, i barely ate 3-4 spoons and the food was gone. In one word INSANE. Everyone at the office was shocked, when i showed them the ticker for $13.99 for this amount of food. We work at a Bank here at Bird Rd and i can tell you no one here will order from there again, and any one that I run into, I will not recommend this place anymore. Unfortunately this is not La Carreta it used to be before and in really dissapointed about that, i will start going to Latin American, or Latin Cafeteria, or Blue Sky, anywhere but this place. I DO NOT RECOMMEND.
(1)
Meg S.
Can't say I've eaten a lot of Cuban food but I do like it and this place is amazing!! Must have some knowledge of Spanish, no English translation on menu. Very good!
(5)
Stephanie F.
Came here last night for Valentines. Got there at 10:30. Super late dinner. We were greeted with smiles and the staff was just so pleasant. The waiter was extremely attentive and the food was fresh and came out almost instantly! The boliche is to die for! Unfortunately it didn't have the chorizo like I'm used to having... But all in all it was still mouth watering. Definitely going back to try the breakfast lol
(4)
J M.
I have always told people visiting Miami to come and eat here, however, my recent experiences here have changed that. The service and food has gone down a lot at this location. Its missing the cuban flavors that they had. And there is a lack of coordination of the employees. Food comes out cold or reheated. I am going to start to avoid this place and go to Sergios instead.
(1)
Alejandra F.
I had some high expectations coming into this restaurant. I've been there several times before and always had great food with great service. This time we stopped by to get lunch before hitting the road for Orlando. Our group of 10 was seated rather quickly, but after that, it didn't seem like anything went well. It took a while before a waiter returned to take our orders. Seven of us ordered first and the other three ordered like 10 minutes after. All of the food arrived except for our two sandwiches. Cool. We figured we could wait a little longer, no big deal. Maybe our food was going to come with the second half of the order. Nope. The other three's food came and ours was no where to be seen. One guy even had to send back his order, because they gave him regular bread on his sandwich after he requested Cuban bread. The one lady who was waiting on us seemed like she couldn't be bothered with our requests. Lots of eye rolls. We realized both of our servers were just sitting around and we still didn't have our two croquetta sandwiches. When we asked about the sandwiches, they argued about who was supposed to deliver the sandwiches and why it hadn't been done. Our sandwiches came to us cold. All in all, I know this was just a one time thing, since we've had good service before.
(1)
Marta H.
Generally, you can't go too wrong in Miami for Cuban fare plus this location of La Carreta is infamous for it's late night shenanigans including but not limited to the Cazuela Miami Heat celebrations. The Cuban food here is typical of what you find all over Miami but it is not the best Cuban food there is by far. My abuela's cooking was way better, that is for sure. On this visit, I made it here for breakfast and I was not impressed. Breakfast at cuban restaurants is generally nothing to brag about anyways. Fast service and good prices are a plus. What I did find interesting is that weekday mornings, this location is like an adult day care. The "Cuban Men of Silver Hair" congregate here as if they were some type of secret society. If you want to feel extremely young, this place may just do the trick.
(3)
Rickie G.
Can't go wrong coming here, or any La Carreta, to eat. There is a lot of competition in Miami but if your looking for a consistent place to eat, come here and take a risk on a new place another day.
(4)
Alex H.
What do you do when you want to experience the microcosm of a culture without having to run around across a large city? The quickest and easiest way is to try their food. La Carreta is one of the two staples of Cuban cuisine in South Florida. I've gone to La Carreta dozens and dozens of times. Frankly, who keeps track? The food is always very consistent. By no means is it high quality Kobe beef or similar, but it is very tasty and flavorful. Try something. Anything. May it be the rice and beans, or the croquettas, or a breaded steak (bistec empanizado). Bottom Line: Staples never go bad. Go for it!
(4)
Alex G.
They can really use new menus, but always an old school favorite! I'm okay with what they serve, sandwiches always rock! Croquetas are the best in Miami. But their menus are literally coming apart and feel "greasy". Not appealing at all. Nonetheless, good Cuban food
(4)
Alison R.
Obsessed with their sign! It's a beacon of happiness.
(5)
Anthony R.
Went to this location over the weekend and I have been to other locations for this franchise as well. VERY VERY good food. I normally get the Bistec Empanizada (Hispanic Chicken fried steak ) with rice and black beans and think it is excellent as well as an ample amount. You don't leave full at all!!! I had the cuban sandiwich this time and it was good also but not as much as the other dish. I highly suggest getting the sampler appetizer that includes Chorizo, Ham slices, Croquettes and cheese. IT is very good also and enough to share with a few others. I would say i have been to 3 or 4 of these franchises because my wife spent time here when she was youger and it was a family favorite. All of them are similar but the Calle Ocho location has a really cool Big rooster in front of it. I would highly recommend this place to anybody passing through the area that would like to try good good cuban food in a nice atmosphere.
(5)
Karina R.
This is my new favorite Carreta. I'm sad to say that not all Carretas are created equally, so stick to the Bird Road location if possible. The service is friendly and attentive, the portions are enough to feed a small army, and their dessert selections are the best. I'm not going to tell you what to order because it's all pretty good. I typically get something different each time I visit, but if you must know, last time I went I had the Chicken Milanesa (Cuba's version of Chicken Parmesan) and it was tasty. Was it to die for? No, but it was definitely satisfying. However, you MUST try a dessert called the Eiffel, which looks like a little chocolate mousse dome with a layer of walnut cream, and a thin layer of sponge cake on the bottom. It's so good, and no, the other Carretas don't have it (I'm going to protest).
(4)
Charles B.
Always good.
(4)
NORI R.
This is typical Cuban cuisine but if you want to try authentic Cuban food and ambience and feel like you're in Havana go to this location ! This is the most Cuban corner in all of Miami and they love to hang out outside by the little window to sip expresso and water and pastries and croquetas. I don't live in Miami anymore and when I think of food that I miss I think of La Carreta. The service is good, they are very friendly and family like atmosphere but mostly all spanish speaking only. Try the flan de queso its creamier and thicker than the basic cuban flan de leche.
(3)
Tony E.
Great cuban food for a great price. Before I married my sassy cuban wife I would only come here to pick up a chicken soup whenever I was sick. Their chicken soup could cure a broken leg. After meeting my wife she introduced me to the incredible breakfast experience they serve here. From scrambled eggs with ham to croquetas preparadas (my favorite) you really can't go wrong. Try the fricasse de pollo. It'll change your life.
(4)
Jessica E.
Chicken soup is great! Try the Vaca Frita...mmmm!
(4)
Alicia P.
If there's one place that defines the Cuban dining experience, this is it. I'm not going to say it's better than Abuela's (that's just wrong in so many ways) but if Abuela isn't available, this will definitely do. I can't remember ever NOT going to La Carreta, but I visited last night to have a farewell Cuban dinner with my little cousin who was about to be away from Miami for a couple of months and was reminded of why I feel so comfortable every time I'm there. The staff is friendly and treats you more like you're a relative than a customer. The food could easily pass for homemade, and if you've never had Cuban breakfast on Saturday or Sunday morning, you're really missing out because there's nothing a cafe con leche and pair of croquetas can't fix. Yes, this place tends to get crowded and parking is sometimes more than a challenge. But there's more to this place than the simple restaurant facts and you'll know that after any visit.
(4)
Gustavo M.
This is an unfair, one dish review. It was a Chicken Soup Day, so what better place for Chicken Soup than La Carreta. 'Eek! Methinks not'. A bowl of noodles, a thimbleful of broth, and a few strands of chicken will not lift your spirits. I ordered a side of rice and plantains, a good Latino, I am fond of adding rice to my chicken soup. The server tough rice and plantains was a main course, not a side dish, so she waited until I finished the soup to bring it to the table. When I complained, she said that I had not specified that it should be brought together to the table. Wow, the consummate professional server!! I am taking my time before coming back to the sausage factory of latin food.
(1)
Jordan N.
Standard Cuban food, if you know what that means. If you do, it won't disappoint. It is La Carreta, after all! This location, like the one on Calle Ocho, is one of the locations that stays open later in the night.
(3)
Sabrina Anna C.
Came here after my Bird Bowl experience for a late night dinner (it was like 9/10pm). I am a fan of the Calle Ocho location and I despise the Key Biscayne location, so I was kind of curious to try this one. There was a huge group of people that seemed to just be arriving from a funeral, so we decided to skip the wait and headed straight to sit at the bar. We were both starving and knew what we wanted. I ordered a Pan Con Bistec, my usual style, with the PixNix potatoes, sauteed onions, and American cheese. My friend ordered a Croquete Preparada. While we were waiting, I couldn't help but stare at the plate of the man who was sitting a couple seats down from us. He ordered some kind of salmon dish that looked and smelled outrageously good. He totally caught me staring, so I had to ask him if it was good and of course he said yes, and that he comes every week to have it. Our server/bartender was efficient, friendly, and quick. He had our water and beer out within a couple minutes. Our food was ready in about 15 minutes, and I was happily surprised at how tasty they made my sandwich here! It was perfect, juicy, and seasoned properly. :) Yay! I was glad that this location did not disappoint. My friend thoroughly enjoyed her sandwich as well, so we both scored. At the end, she had a cafe con leche, which I shared, and then we were off.
(4)
Jim G.
While places like Larios or Versailles have better notoriety in Miami for introducing non-Cubans to Cuban food, this branch of the local chain is more authentic in terms of both food and atmosphere, especially since it is in the non-touristy suburb of Westchester. Spanish is almost exclusively spoken, however, if you speak only English, you will likely not be intimidated. The cafe stand outside the restaurant rivals Versailles as one of the most lively and bustling in the city, and I am amazed how efficient they work with families and large groups (10-15 people). As for the food, it covers all the well-known Cuban comfort food standards such as lechon asado, sandwiches cubanos, ropa vieja, etc. For me, the last few times I've visited, I've been enamored of their vaca frita, and, of course, no meal is complete there without dessert and a cafe cubano. Definitely a place to eat well, and enjoy your company in a fun setting.
(5)
John C.
Third try, still no good. Reheated food, bad tasting food, small amount of food, bad service, dirty booth, etc. This Carreta is just like the one on 8th street (calle ocho): BAD! Goodbye and good riddance!
(1)
Arleen C.
3 1/2 STARS!!! We came to this location late at night after a long day at the office and (unfortunately) a visit to a funeral home. We were sad, tired and very hungry but we didn't want a heavy dinner. I am usually reluctant to visit any of La Carreta locations but this time it was convenient and I was in the mood for a cafe con leche, croquetas and cuban toast. Hubby and I sat at the counter and we had RUBEN be our very wonderful server. The coffee and toast came out quickly and exactly as we ordered them....very hot coffee for hubby and the toasts with lots and lots of butter and nicely pressed. I guess this place has it's moments and we were lucky enough to have one of their best (and few) great servers.
(3)
Virginia M.
Croquetas. Need I say more? My boyfriend and I stopped here and being the Cuban man that he is, well, he just had to get his cafe. Oh, while bringing me the most thick croquetas I have ever seen. Now I waited in the car so I honestly can't give a review on service or cleanliness of establishment but I can say this: can I please have some croquetas?!
(4)
Erik-Lizzie D.
Good cuban food at great prices. I always have something from the daily specials menu. That section of the menu has better prices and a lot of classic cuban plates. Breakfast is great but dont expect to have pancakes. Of course the cafeteria window serves up great pastelitos, croquetas, and empanadas.
(4)
Christie A.
La Carreta on 87th and Bird seems to be the local go-to place when celebrating communions, confirmations, or mourning deaths (and coming from one of the MANY funeral homes in the area). Last night was one of these nights for my family. Thankfully, we weren't there in mourning, but rather in celebration of my nephew's confirmation. Although the food doesn't seem to be exactly what it used to be, I cannot say that it was awful. My bistec de pollo empanizado...aka, breaded chicken breast....was very good. It was so big I had to take 1/2 home (Aw shucks,,,guess that means I'll have to snack on it later! lol) the morros were ok, nothing to go yelp apes over, and my tostones, which I usually LOVE were just TOO oily to consume. I had one and had to leave the rest to my brother for his take-home box bc he literally eats EVERYTHING and yes, his name IS Mikey! LOL I guess the good thing is that almost everyone in our party took home leftovers...so that means the portions are big and you get more bang for your buck. The not so good thing is that the service was VERY slow and it took a very long time to eat. Yes, the restaurant was full of other groups, but the fact that the people that sat down after us, got their food before us, was a bit upsetting...and they had the same aount of people we did! Oh well.... All in all, pretty decent meal. Will I be back, of course.....will I run back or crave it, no.
(3)
Joel C.
Since I am new to Yelp, I want to review some of my local favorites. I have been eating at this La Carreta since I was able to breathe. In fact my mother would eat there all the time while she was pregnant with me. Being of cuban descent La Carreta is a great place to enjoy the fun cuban culture at a great price. The parking for this one is great since the lot is very big. Expect it to be loud, because it is always packed and everybody is talking very loud. Especially, at the pick up window where all the elder cubans grab their coffee and talk about politics, sports, etc. What about the food? Amazing cuban food, just like how abuela (grandma) makes it. For those of you who are not from the area, you must check this place out to get a little taste of Miami. I highly reccomend the pan con bistec (steak sandwhich) and cuban skirt steak (Palomilla). The food may take some time because it is always packed, but it is worth the wait.
(4)
Sergio F.
Customer service is lacking at this La Carreta. I sat at the counter and it took a good five minutes for someone to come around and offer me a menu. On top of that, I never received the customary buttered Cuban toast until I requested it after my order was served. The food was just average and nothing spectacular. If you are looking for good Cuban cuisine, I suggest that you try Luis Galindo's Latin American on SW 8th St. and 57th Ave.
(2)
Drew H.
Awesome really cheap food. This location is good but i like the one on 88th more. I fail here and always eating the most American stuff on the menu especially when drunk. Chicken soup and Grilled Cheese sandwiches for the win. Super cheap though and better then fast food.
(4)
Mary e.
Typical Cuban food served in generous portions. The place is always packed but seating is generally quick. I frequent for breakfast and sometimes for lunch and the service has always been very good. The cost of their breakfast fare has been going up and up and so lately, I'm not there too often (there are plenty of other places nearby that offer the same for half the cost). But I love their big breakfast chorizo so when I get a craving, I go back. Recently, my family had a big getogether and they put us up on the 2nd floor where we all by ourselves. The service and food were ehh, and they got most of our orders wrong, or they forgot this or that, and some of the food was cold. They need to get better organized when they have large groups and perhaps supply more servers (we had 2 for 30 people). Parking is always plentiful as they are in a medium sized strip mall. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the food (not great, but not bad either), the portions and the service.
(3)
A G.
This five is just for the cafe con leche that I ordered at the window. On this last visit back home, I had cafe con leche from four different places and I liked this one the best!
(5)
Rob C.
My wife and I love this place! You can order all sorts of goodies from the pick-up window, and generally service is very fast, and friendly if you sit down in the restaurant. The food is consistently good, and is a fun cuban place to eat at. Try the croquetta completa or picadillo, they're "muy rico"!
(4)
Yvette K.
I go there about five times a week for my coffee fix at the counter. I sometimes go on Sunday with my kids for breakfast because they love to sit at the counter. Being a cuban place there is a lot of movement so you know that the food is fresh. The wait time is usually extrememly long on the weekends. The food is good, can't say the best. My rating is based on the cortaditos and empanandas that I have in the morning.
(4)
Joseph P.
It is definitely safe to say that over the years, the Cuban food at La Carreta has gotten progressively worse. The service is definitely nothing to write home about? Why you ask? Well for once the restaurant was actually not as crowded as usual, (it was a weeknight), yet we had to wait FOREVER for our waiter to even acknowledge we were there. Once he did, it seemed like he wasn't in a very good mood and did not want to work. On top of that, he decided to stand right by us and have a conversation about his personal life which I had no interest in hearing due to the content of the conversation. On top of that, the food was nothing to write home about. When I want Cuban food, I go to Mom's house or Grandma's. You want real Cuban food? Find yourself a Cuban friend, get on their good side and let them invite you over for dinner. More often than not, you will get better food.
(2)
luis s.
I cant believe I have not written a review on La Carreta! Well my non review hiatus is coming to a stop with this one... La Carreta aka The Oxcart for you non spanish speaking folk, is a staple on Cuban cuisine. The food here is extremely consistent the food is always prepared the same and always taste the same. This although does not seem like a big deal but it is. When you are eating frijoles or beans you want them to taste the same every time you order it don't you? I definitely do! LA Carreta is great for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you have never been most of them are quite large in size it amazes my how timely they serve your food when you see the size of the kitchen. If you go get the special for breakfast, croqueta preparada for lunch, and un bistec empanisado for dinner. PLEASE NOT NO MEAL IS DON'T UNTIL YOU HAVE CUBAN COFFEE! Once you do this my friend you are officially baptized in Cuban food culture!
(4)
cindy w.
This is my local late-night Cuban diner spot out in the 'burbs. The place gets crammed around midnight with families and weekend-partiers. I go here when the munchies strike. I go here for 2 things only that I eat in the same meal. 1) Fried Yucca, green sauce on the side (cilantro/garlic sauce, super good! i think of pomme frites when I dipp'em) 2) Arroz con leche. (dessert of sweetened milk rice porridge) Yeah, I'm simple and freaky like that.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Frank C.
Pros: Amazing place, quick service. Cons: None! Overall: Must go
(4)Robert C.
came in after a funeral. isnt that what all cubans do? i had the best breaded steak ever here. it was so good i almost fat-assed it and ordered a second one! yeah, that good! i hadnt been here in a while but glad to say the food quality at this location has stayed tops. probably one of the better places to get real cuban in miami.
(5)Gabriel Q.
I've eaten here with the family many times- but this was absolute garbage! Slow service, waiting 15 minutes before our table was even visited... One star because 0 is not an option. Oh, here we go!!!! 9:30 and they are out of their Carreta Salad? Seriously?! Lettuce and fixings - oh, by the way, they still have Caesar! And it only took 10 minutes to find out! Ordered boliche (pot roast with chorizo in the center of the slices). Got one and a half chunks of meat, no sides, no chorizo... Waitress actually brought me ONE small piece of chorizo on a plate before the sides arrived. Entire crap got sent back. (Just added one more star- they removed the entire thing from the bill without me having to say anything - but other than the waitress no manager or other person came to table. In fact, forget the second star! This was an insult to Cuban food and the reputation of La Carreta. Not worth a plug nickel tonight.
(1)Jordana S.
Never been disappointed from La Carreta ! Live right by this joint and is a good alternative when I want homemade food and don't want to cook! Delicious every time !
(5)natalie o.
Good food The WORST SERVICE imaginable The ladies there are so rude especially HAYDEE
(1)Gabriel T.
Good place for Cuban food. Services are "Latin Style" which is why I won't recommend this place for a "nice family dinner".
(3)Johnny L.
La Carreta is a staple amongst Cuban cuisine in Miami. I've been here quite a bit over the years, and they have several locations all across the Greater Miami Area, but this was the one I called the spot. The place itself doesn't look very big on the outside, but there are so many tables and it still gets packed all the time. Everybody loves the Cafe Con Leche with the Cuban bread, and though it's everywhere, I do enjoy ordering it here, as does the line of people outside by the cafe window. The Cuban sandwiches here are decent, but I don't like that they don't press all the sandwiches, like the Cuban Special. The meats are stacked high, but the bread is pretty crusty (in a stale way) and not as warm and crisp as others. If you like to try a bit of what they have to offer, there is the Cuban Sampler, which is a combination of Cuban classics like Picadillo, roast pork, plaintains, yucca, and moros rice. The picadillo (seasoned ground beef) here is solid, and is seasoned wonderfully, which is really the key. It does get greasy though, so that's a con. The roast pork is good, as is the plaintains. The yucca is meh. I've never been a fan of yucca that isn't deep fried so I'm a bit bias here. The moros rice is a tad dry and they should have it steamed before plating or maybe throw in some oil or fat...mhmmm... Service is great, but some of the servers do have some problems with English, so don't be alarmed if you get switched to a different server. The place is clean, spacious, and LOUD. You're in Miami so get used to it.
(3)Patricio V.
Really good food and fast Service, I will come back with all my friends again , thanks guys for the great service and food
(4)Caroline G.
Im new in town. My family and i have tried several cuban restaurants. We have noticed that you just cant expect much when it comes to "customer service" especially if you dont speak spanish..... The Carretta serves good food, but the service is harsh.... Tonight was different! Roland gave us the best service ever!!!! So just want to thank him for an outstanding job!!!! Next time you visit The Carretta on Bird rd. Ask for Roland!
(5)John L.
WoW ! Muy delicioso ! Amazing place...if and when you come to Miami and as most people you're looking for that authentic Cuban cuisine; this is it ! You'll immediately be attended by a most professional staff. Upon seating you are greeted with water and bread (back in the island the prisoners get at least bread & water so it's customary that this staple is not ignored as you will not be treated less than the convicts). The Entres are copious amounts of your choice of meats and rice & beans in different forms blended with magic of the most savory varied spices (not spicy hot...not a Mexican experience) on earth... Don't forget to top it with a flan and , of course, café Cubano (espresso. Can't wait to try this again...
(5)Felix A.
To start, we only saw our waiter when we placed our order and we didn't see him again until I waved him down to get our check. I had a media noche and it was cold, not buttery and warm. Next time, I'm going to Sergio's.
(2)Morgan C.
Moved away from Miami, Really miss this traditional cuban restaurant. where i live now they have Cuban food but not like this. This is amazing, you don't realize how good it is till you don't have it. And yes , its a busy place and sometimes they get a little slow , but the food is amazing. The sandwiches are perfect , and the pastries wow. The food, very good. Sure miss it.
(4)Michael R.
Been coming here for many years. Love the churrasco definitely recommend it. Even if ur not Cuban u gotta try this place
(4)Gaby F.
Very cuban-friendly and delicious.
(3)Elizabeth G.
The Cuban food is okay, what's not okay is the Old DUST on the blinds, specially the second booth on the right by the entrance by the TV. I wonder why the health inspectors don't see this ? I wonder how the Kitchen is ? I asked why all the DUST and the answer was that it's been over a year that the person In charge of cleaning was let go in order not to pay health insurance And then you see all this waitress and waiters standing around talking and filing there nails What a shame!
(1)Frank A.
Okay, This La Carreta on 40th street in Olympia Heights is the best Cuban food I ever had. I ordered the Churrasco with rice and black beans and tostonnes best food ever. My girlfriend ordered the fried Snapper with yellow rice. We enjoyed the food sooooo much, My entire plate was empty and to think I don't eat that much. We ordered a coconut flan afterwords, and mouth was just in an other dimension. I love that place and will drive the 20 miles to go there again. See pictures.
(5)Natasha R.
We were starving and decided for some Cuban cuisine. My wife had the Chicken "Vaca Frita" with rice and plantains. She said it was delicious! The waitress was nice and very helpful. I had ordered a plantain soup, since I am currently transitioning to become vegetarian and not eating meat. When she brought it, I noticed that it had meat in it... She quickly apologized and offered me other options. I settled for a salad. We'll visit again, perhaps.
(3)Jorge B.
I was on the hunt by the area and my wife wanted pancakes. This was the last place I thought for that type of breakfast. Very surprised. Breakfast was great. The food was brought almost immediately and great quality. Loved the prices. Had the best guava pantry ever.
(5)Charity Z.
This restaurant is a staple in Miami. Whether it be for dinner or a quick stop for cafe, It doesn't disappoint. La Carreta also seems to be the late night hangout for the funeral goers in the area. After being in a funeral down the street I was in need of something comforting. Trying to escape from the somber situation a came to la Carreta. Only to find that most of the attendees had the same idea. Arriving at 830pm on a week night wasn't a problem. We got a table for 7 rather quickly. The restaurant was packed but service was on point. Immediately water was being poured in our glass and crunchy buttery bread was brought to our table. I absolutely love the ambiance here. It's like everyone knows each other. Patrons are mingling with each other as well as the staff. I especially love that my mom and grandmother love coming here and find joy in dining here. It may be a cultural thing that elicits a sense of nostalgia. The Cuban toast with a Cafe con leche is the best late night snack. Not to mention they have the best croquettas. The bean soups here are phenomenal. My favorite are the Garbanzos. The palomilla with a side of white rice and black beans is a good choice as well. The milk shakes are amazing. So thick and creamy and full of flavor, especially the Mamey. If looking for good service and great Cuban food than this is the place. The reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because the parking is a mission!
(4)Isabel V.
The food is probably as good as other locations but the service is TERRIBLE. I tried calling to place an order for pickup and the phone rang for 4 minutes and then they hung up on me. Go to the one on 107th for the best service!
(1)Martin R.
This is a reliable restaurant for Cuban food. The service is pretty good. It is usually pretty crowded. The menu is pretty extensive and it is good cuban food, just not the greatest I have ever had but it is good and very reasonable price. I like the ropa vieja and bistec a la milanesa.
(3)Emily H.
When you want a great cortadito or a shot of Cuban coffee this is the place to go. I always order from their outside counter. When I want a great guava pastelito this beats any bakery. Their pastry is light and flaky and their guava is the real deal. No artificial red neon jelly like substance that they serve in some bakeries as a filling in their guava pastel. Croquetas and empanadas are also great. My favorite empanada is the ham and cheese. My review is only for the outside counter service.
(4)Andrea V.
Authentic Latin American food at an affordable price. Best part is that they don't only serve deep fried food, but also have a healthy part which tastes just as good - maybe even better. The staff is friendly at this specific location.
(5)Maria P.
Oh, it feels like home! I have been coming here since I was a little girl, and it hasn't changed one bit. Delicious, just like my grandma would make. There is no Cuban food like the Cuban food in Miami. Living in LA, makes you long for Cuban bread with ajo and ropa vieja. Guyaba, enough said! It is the fruit of the gods.
(5)Eddie M.
Great place for authentic Cuban food and coffee. Come have a Cuban sandwich and a cafe con leche!
(5)Amanda R.
As a Cuban I am ashamed to have this restaurant represent cubans! The food is what ever... getting takeout huge mistake they rip you off and will not toast break for you if it's a take out order. Everything with them is an argument. The employees r busy talking with each other and don't pay attention to anything and they r very very rude... only good thing about this place is I save money when I eat there because I don't tip from how bad the service is... the lemons there r beyond dry last time I swear I orders 16 lemons just for a small soup and chicken because they were so dry I got 3 drops out of each. The one in Kendall is so much better. It's honestly the employees there that ruin the place... I can not express enough how much I hate the people that work there they ruin your entire dining experience I suggest you go to a different restaurant!
(1)Carolina S.
Pros -Food is very good value for the money, high quality, low cost -The best cuban coffee in all of miami!! (carretta in bird rd) This is coming from someone that loves strong coffee. -They have freshly squeezed orange juice -There is always an inviting activity level. Not for someone who is looking for a quiet sit down. Con -Service can be little delayed more so because of the waiters and waitresses. -The waiters will run over you if you dont move out of there way....but they'll pick you up ;)
(4)John K.
In from out of town. I was impressed with this place, excellent local ethnic food. Loved it.
(4)Erin L.
Cuban-American staple. 100% authentic. Busy, noisy, a little rude. Food is really good, and consistent. Please don't ever change. Vaca Frita or lechon asado (roast pork) are fabulous, but the menu is huge, and there is something new to try every time if you like. I seem to stick with a half dozen favorites.
(4)Alberto R.
This place is a dump.. Poor excuse for Cuban food and even poorer excuse for a staff. The management is worse then the staff. There is no quality control nor any structure. If you like waiting 2.5 hours for a delivery order that is promised 5 times and never delivered then order from here. I have never yelped before I have never had a yelp account in order to review a place I opened an account just to review the poor service I received. Or should I say never received. Was not even offered a apology. I places review in the hopes that no one else will have to go through what my family and I went through.
(1)Steve L.
This is defiantly a must for your late night eats adventure. It has been a local staple and watering hole for every local in the Miami metro area. You can never go wrong with any of the selections or daily specials they offer. All the cuisine is truly fantastic and have that Latin Sabor!!!! I can honestly say I have tried almost everything on the menu and each and every one was great. So the next time your in the mood for some authentic Cuban fare , or you just want to hang out and fit in with the local crowd hit up this place and you won't go wrong....
(4)Guelsy D.
If you like Cuban cuisine.. Literally any item from the menu will satisfy you. It's usually very busy but service is quick. The bakery is spectacular... Ham and cheese empanadas are highly addictive!
(5)Marlene R.
Ladies bathroom disgusting - truly embarrassing. I told the cashiers in the front to have someone check the bathroom. The employees looked at me like if I was crazy. All three stalls were dirty and paper all over the bathroom. Trash cans overboard with paper. I hope the kitchen is cleaner than the women's restroom.
(1)Renee K.
Service was great, even with as busy as it was. Food came out fast and hot. The onion soup was fantastic and they give big portions. We came during the lunch hour on a Tuesday and we did not have to wait.
(4)Michele S.
My husband went here with his parents, and when he got to the door the hostess disregarded the fact that he was there. The hostess decided to sit the customers that came in after him. When my husband let the hostess know she began to scream at him telling him that he needs to keep his mouth shut because it's obvious she did not know. The blonde hostess then began bad mouthing my husband, took him along with his parents to a table and told them to sit. The food has not been and here, but their lack of hospitality has really began to be of notice as everytime you come here one of the hostesses is either giving an attitude or just lacking manners when it comes to working with the public.
(1)Miah P.
3 entrees ordered to go came out to less than $50. Not bad at all. I have family very close by so we picked up the food, and it was delicious as to be expected. Three stars because the packaging for each meal was very greasy, as if the hands that packaged it all went directly from greasy food, to packaging, to bagging. Not a nice start to the meal when we had to wipe off each container to ultimately transfer everything to plates and wipe down the kitchen counters after.
(3)James J.
I am among the cultures furthest from understanding what it means to know authentic cuban food, and until this visit I had only one other restaurant with which to compare. La Carreta, simply put, is the most outstanding cuban cuisine I have ever tasted and it is a shame that I am so far removed from its location. The Space: La Carreta appears pretty ample for seating, with a relatively large space dedicated to feeding dozens of people at a time. Though ample for serving numerous people, the overall decor of this spacious place is nothing to write home about. It's simple and comfortable for the type of regulars it seems to receive. The Food: My meal was the "Classic" (with a plantain chip appetizer, complimentary cuban bread and a tres leches cake for dessert): -Pork with mojo-laden onions -Black beans and rice -Ham croquette -Ground beef -Sweet plantains -Yuca The portion size was enormous with all of these items combined, first of all. If I had to pick my favorite item overall it would probably have to be the combination of the mojo onions with the pork or the ham croquette. The former was extremely flavorful when paired with one of the starch items, making for a very filling AND tasty experience. The ham croquette disappeared instantly off of my plate because of how delicious it was, coming hot and crispy with a smooth and savory filling that I fell in love with instantly. As a runner up I could not believe the difference between these sweet plantains and the ones I had tried from another cuban restaurant: these must have been cooked when at a more appropriate level of ripeness or perhaps accented with some other additions, but the flavor and texture were both incredibly desirable. Rice and beans were definitely solid, as well as the ground beef and yuca, but not items I would consider "stand out" in comparison to the aforementioned. Plantain chips were fair, coming with what I presume to be the same mojo used to flavor the onions, but applying this liquid to fried plantains made for a messy experience with not enough desirability to recommend to others (slightly-too-greasy chips dipped into a vinegar and garlic liquid does not really work effectively or all that harmoniously). And last but not least: the tres leches. What an incredible dessert. I am a huge fan of sweets and I could not help but to voraciously scarf this slice of heaven down even after my indulgent meal. The texture, moistness, sweetness...all completely satisfying and richly rewarding. I would be fighting myself tooth and nail not to order this if I should ever return. The Service: We got a table for 6 people late on a Friday night instantly, so I either consider that fortunate or awesome of La Carreta. I never found myself lacking in beverage throughout the meal and the staff were relatively friendly when interacting with the table, though I could sense a certain barrier in communicating beyond the basics (a mark of authenticity, so I harbor no resentment here). I will note that I ordered the chips as an appetizer and they came AFTER my meal did, which defeats the whole point to me, but they also brought out ample amounts of their soft and fluffy cuban bread beforehand which, by far, was the best medium for sopping up any of the broths/sauces that lingered from my actual meal. A small, obvious final note on this front: one of the members of my party is a vegan. We were aware that accommodations for this establishment would naturally be slim, but the server who mainly tended to us made sure to bring bread without the butter sauce on it for him as well as to prepare, as best as possible, an avocado salad with oil and vinegar to tide him over. Final Thoughts: As far as I can tell, cuban food does not get more legitimate than in Miami. The shortcomings of the food itself were not in disliking anything, but simply feeling neutral to certain aspects of the meal and the service barriers, though frustrating, are understandable given the area and the culture. With these aspects aside, the experience I had was remarkable and indicative of a very likely return if ever again I am in the area.
(4)Jackie S.
A recent Yelp talk thread made me realize I've never reviewed this old school favorite!! La Carreta and this location in particular is a family favorite, always slammed and always fresh for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My favorites you ask? Hands down the palomilla w/ papitas fritas Chicken Carretero Boliche w/ white rice and on Tuesday Carne Guisada is the special! but trust me everything is good here and splurge...get the mariquitas, yes their worth the calories! :)
(4)Aylem C.
Horrible, horrible service!!!!! Worse place in Miami. I was there Thursday night and the waitress told us that we used the table for the whole night and that she lost the table because of us!!!!!! This place used to be a restaurant for families, poor, rich, anybody!!! Now you can not enjoy a cafe in peace because the waitress "needs the table". The funny part is that I have been to the place many times, with my family, workers of my company and if you spend money they are happy and nice. Again, horrible place, horrible service, and no humanity at all!!!! The sense of family restaurant...gone. I recommend Sergio's or Versailles better!!!
(1)Matski X.
Loooove this place. From west coast where we don't have huge Cuban population. Was in South Beach for a few days and took a drive here. The grilled salmon was perfect. The yellow rice was perfect. The black beans and plantains were perfect. The cortadito was phenomenal. And our two waitresses (one spoke Spanish only) were extraordinarily hospitable...made you feel like you were really being cared for.
(5)Cordie C.
First time here, I just wanted to have authentic cuban food. I had picadillo with rice, black beans and yellow plantains. Taste was good, not salty like other places I have been before. The tres leches cake was decadent!
(4)Sebas V.
The food used to be good about 3 months ago then out of nowhere the food quality became really bad and the costumer service even worse, this young cuban girls answering phones are rude and apparently deaf, I will not be going back to this place, the Kendall Carreta is miles better than this place.
(1)B G.
Went here the other day for breakfast at the window. Everything was awesome. Pastries, croquettes, and empanadas! Yum.
(4)Michael B.
After any special event or to enjoy a simple cafe con leche and tostadas, you can't go wrong coming here. Miami landmark!
(5)Luis F.
Pretty much an institution for anyone that grew up in this area of Miami. It's always packed and you usually get seated very quickly. There's a special place in my heart for La Carreta. Whenever I fly down to Miami this is the first place me and my mom go to...before I even drop my luggage off. We go here first. The food is Cuban..and fattening. When grandma isn't in the kitchen this is one of the go to places to fill the void. ;-)
(4)Daniel B.
Just got back from eating dinner here. La Carreta is a popular Cuban restaurant chain in Miami with nine locations. According to Sandra, the manager working tonight, this La Carreta location has been around for 29 years. IIRC, she said it is the company's second location. After passing by this restaurant many times and seeing the parking lot packed and after Pedro, our Cuban friend at the resort, mentioned La Carreta to us, we decided to check it out. It was a good decision. The restaurant is in its own standalone building. It looks a little old on the outside. Inside, it's lively and spacious. There's a bar and a few large dining areas with a combination of booth and table seating. In addition, there's an outdoor to-go counter, where there are always people lined up to buy food, snacks, drinks, and cigarettes. There were three of us and we ordered and shared the following: Mariquitas - fried plantain chips Vaca frita - grilled thinly shredded beef with onions, moros rice, plantains Classic Cuban sampler - picadillo (ground beef), roast pork, plantains, white rice and black beans, ham croquette, yuca, tamales Cuban flan Guava cheesecake This was a lot of food and we left with plenty of leftovers. The mariquitas are served in a miniature Cuban horse cart. At $2.95, you get a lot of mariquitas. These are like banana potato chips. It's served with a freshly minced garlic sauce that is very strong. The vaca frita was flavorful. I enjoy ropa vieja, another Cuban shredded beef dish, and this was a good alternative. Moros rice is basically Cuban rice. The beans are already mixed into the rice with other seasonings. It's good. The Cuban sampler had a nice selection of foods. The picadillo was delicious. The marinade was almost too strong. The roast pork was dry, but I haven't had Cuban roast pork that wasn't. The rice and black beans were on point. The ham croquette was yummy and had the texture of mashed potatoes. The yuca was flat, thin, and slightly chewy (not long and thick like french fries - yuca is often served like this). The tamales were hot and fresh. I ordered the regular Cuban flan. You can get it with coconut and other ingredients and flavors. The regular flan is caramel flavored. It's rich and very good. The guava cheesecake was OK. I'm not sure if the red guava on top of the cheesecake was fresh or not. I think it was candied. Our server was Gerardo and he was great. Props once again to Sandra, the manager. She was very sweet and even personally packed up our leftovers for us. Now I'm going to sleep all this food off.
(4)Nicole A.
Want Cuban food? Come to La Carreta. You can never go wrong with anything on the menu. Everything from pan con bistec, croquetas, ropa vieja, palomilla de bistec, arroz and frijoles, is delicious!
(5)Adalberto M.
Whether you're stopping in for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Or maybe from a funeral or a late night partying - this spot is one that will satisfy that craving. Their sandwiches are great, dinners are very good and breakfast is very decent. But what rocks is their cafe con leche! I have no idea what touch they put on it but it is delicious! Oh, and if you feel like protesting or rallying about anything, just stand outside and you'll be sure to get cars honking at you.
(4)Gloria G.
Always enjoy meeting my friends there . Great place eat all types of Cuban food
(5)Keith P.
The hiring manager of La Carreta Restaurant must be flipping through the pages of "Cuban Beauty Monthly" because the staff here looks very prim, proper, and is always in proper uniform. Easy on the eyes! I came here last Saturday morning to have breakfast with a friend, and I am very pleased at their affordable breakfast prices. My friend ordered the cheese omelette which came with toast, café con leche, and grits, and I ordered side orders of sausage, one egg, and hash browns, which all added up to $13. Highly affordable! My sausage was crispy; my sunny side up egg was runny; and the hash browns were crunchy to my liking. My friend's egg omelette was delicious, but I was hoping it would have some type of exotic Hispanic cheese, rather than the slices of American cheese you can get in Publix. The reason I am giving it a 3 (more like a 3.5) is because it took the staff quite a while to take our orders. There was no one in our side of the restaurant, and it took 15 minutes to take care of us. I will definitely continue getting my Cuban fare and cuisine here. Good place to practice your espanol!
(3)Aida P.
This place never fails when it comes to great food. They are also open late if I am not mistaken. I had to take out a star due to the lack of service at times. At least 50% of the time service is slow.
(4)Monica S.
If you're going for huevos revueltos (scrambled eggs), I found mine to be on the less desirable, overly dry side. For the standard Cuban fare however, La Carreta certainly satisfies. My mom and I have been coming for eons and my order always says the same: palomilla with chopped up cilantro and onions, white rice, black beans, maduros. Never fails to satisfy. My mom's order: masas de puerco, and the same sides as mine above, certainly brings out the Cuban lover in us all. Located on Miami's westside along the thriving Bird Road artery, La Carreta tends to attract the very local. Whether you're after a cortadito at the window or a full-fledged meal inside, everything here is speedily served and adoringly made.
(4)Albert T.
This place is a commercial wash of authentic Cuban food. The food is bland, colorless, and unappealing. The only positive thing I can say about them is their coffee, which is dynamite.
(2)Tony P.
This particular restaurant has been around as long as I can remember. I always look forward to coming here with my family. Whether to eat or just to the window for a quick cortadito or colada. The service here is always with a smile and very friendly. Every single time I have been I have never been disappointed. Everyone asks how your day is. You always encounter someone from the old Cuba that someone you know or know someone who knows them. When that happens a quick stop for cortadito turns into hours of catching up. This place brings back memories of sitting around the table in Cuba. The food is just very tasty and succulent. Being Cuban i know it's food very well. i can honestly say that this is one of the few places where you can come and enjoy authentic Cuban food. When i took Guil here for his first time he loved it. We got for our appetizers a tamale, and mariquitas. For our entree i got the chicken milanese with congris and fried plantains. He got the vaca frita with congris also and to stones. Everything was excellent and we spent very little. I will be coming here on the days my mom doesn't feel like cooking. I hope she's not reading this.....lol
(5)Megan G.
I used to be a fan of 'La Carreta', but I guess it was because I didn't know any better! This restaurant chain has degraded over the years, higher prices, less quality. Everyone there is Cuban, and most of the time with a BAD ATTITUDE. I am Cuban, and I'd rather eat any other place but here. Also, if you're in need of a show, go to this specific restaurant, it's ALWAYS loud, a bunch of old people discussing Fidel and the communist ideas... It's pretty sad! The last thing I wanna do is listen to a bunch of people talking 'government'
(1)Lara R.
Food here is your typical Cuban fare for this area and take out service is unfortunately also typical to this area for a spanish restaurant nasty rude b_ _ _ ches! (FILL IN THE BLANKS). So hence the stars are for the food more than the service. Apparently you have to be a regular here and by regular I mean come here every day for "un cafecito" for them to treat you good and not like a dog with 3 heads. Parking can be a nightmare and so can be trying to get out of the parking lot and onto the street. All in all good place for some Cuban Chicken Soup aka Cuban Antibiotics to whip you into shape when you are sick.
(3)Donald M.
I thought I'd give la carreta a try again. It's 10:50am on a Wednesday morning. They roll their eyes at you when you ask for the simplest things, like a straw for you drink. After ordering my steak &eggs (scrambled) with potatoes. They tell me their out of potatoes, when I asked what they have to replace it. I was responded to with a huge sigh as she slowly named two things to replace it with. It not my fault you were out of whatever you offer on your menu...
(1)Marilis M.
They have good cuban food, affordable prices, and acceptable customer services. The dessert is excellent.
(4)Jorge M.
What a better way to start your day than with a Cuban breakfast! I get the Special which includes 2 fried eggs, bacon, grits or fries, Cuban toast, 2 croquetas and cafe con leche! Breakfast of Champions!
(4)Elizabeth B.
Terrible service, terrible food, not a happy girl. First we were seated behind a table full of employees counting their tips, talking, yelling and complaining about their job. Second we were approached by three very dry and apparently unhappy waiters. Third, our food was brought to the table by another unhappy employee and our food was thrown on the table. To finish, all the employees are rude, loud, unprofessional and have no customer service skills. I will never eat here again, not even for empanadas that I love so much. They lost my business completely and make me ashamed to be Cuban. P.S...the coffee was bitter....
(1)Alberto D.
This Carreta has changed a LOT!! since the last time I was there a couple of months ago. I went today for Lunch and placed a To-Go order of Vaca Frita with mashed potato and fufu. First of all, when they told me $13.99 for a lunch of vaca frita with 2 sides which you can get almost anywhere for under $10 I was in shock. Blue Sky, Latin Cafeteria, Milan's, any bakery well you name it, you can get Vaca Frita for under $10, here it was $14 !!! Crazy, but this was not the shocker, when i got the food and I saw the amount of Vaca Frita that I got, I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. I got a little container with probably about a handful of vaca frita, 1 scoop of Fufu, and maybe like 4 ounces of mashed potato. I could not believe myself, when they first told me $14 dollars i was expecting a big container full of Vaca Frita like they used to serve it before, i barely ate 3-4 spoons and the food was gone. In one word INSANE. Everyone at the office was shocked, when i showed them the ticker for $13.99 for this amount of food. We work at a Bank here at Bird Rd and i can tell you no one here will order from there again, and any one that I run into, I will not recommend this place anymore. Unfortunately this is not La Carreta it used to be before and in really dissapointed about that, i will start going to Latin American, or Latin Cafeteria, or Blue Sky, anywhere but this place. I DO NOT RECOMMEND.
(1)Meg S.
Can't say I've eaten a lot of Cuban food but I do like it and this place is amazing!! Must have some knowledge of Spanish, no English translation on menu. Very good!
(5)Stephanie F.
Came here last night for Valentines. Got there at 10:30. Super late dinner. We were greeted with smiles and the staff was just so pleasant. The waiter was extremely attentive and the food was fresh and came out almost instantly! The boliche is to die for! Unfortunately it didn't have the chorizo like I'm used to having... But all in all it was still mouth watering. Definitely going back to try the breakfast lol
(4)J M.
I have always told people visiting Miami to come and eat here, however, my recent experiences here have changed that. The service and food has gone down a lot at this location. Its missing the cuban flavors that they had. And there is a lack of coordination of the employees. Food comes out cold or reheated. I am going to start to avoid this place and go to Sergios instead.
(1)Alejandra F.
I had some high expectations coming into this restaurant. I've been there several times before and always had great food with great service. This time we stopped by to get lunch before hitting the road for Orlando. Our group of 10 was seated rather quickly, but after that, it didn't seem like anything went well. It took a while before a waiter returned to take our orders. Seven of us ordered first and the other three ordered like 10 minutes after. All of the food arrived except for our two sandwiches. Cool. We figured we could wait a little longer, no big deal. Maybe our food was going to come with the second half of the order. Nope. The other three's food came and ours was no where to be seen. One guy even had to send back his order, because they gave him regular bread on his sandwich after he requested Cuban bread. The one lady who was waiting on us seemed like she couldn't be bothered with our requests. Lots of eye rolls. We realized both of our servers were just sitting around and we still didn't have our two croquetta sandwiches. When we asked about the sandwiches, they argued about who was supposed to deliver the sandwiches and why it hadn't been done. Our sandwiches came to us cold. All in all, I know this was just a one time thing, since we've had good service before.
(1)Marta H.
Generally, you can't go too wrong in Miami for Cuban fare plus this location of La Carreta is infamous for it's late night shenanigans including but not limited to the Cazuela Miami Heat celebrations. The Cuban food here is typical of what you find all over Miami but it is not the best Cuban food there is by far. My abuela's cooking was way better, that is for sure. On this visit, I made it here for breakfast and I was not impressed. Breakfast at cuban restaurants is generally nothing to brag about anyways. Fast service and good prices are a plus. What I did find interesting is that weekday mornings, this location is like an adult day care. The "Cuban Men of Silver Hair" congregate here as if they were some type of secret society. If you want to feel extremely young, this place may just do the trick.
(3)Rickie G.
Can't go wrong coming here, or any La Carreta, to eat. There is a lot of competition in Miami but if your looking for a consistent place to eat, come here and take a risk on a new place another day.
(4)Alex H.
What do you do when you want to experience the microcosm of a culture without having to run around across a large city? The quickest and easiest way is to try their food. La Carreta is one of the two staples of Cuban cuisine in South Florida. I've gone to La Carreta dozens and dozens of times. Frankly, who keeps track? The food is always very consistent. By no means is it high quality Kobe beef or similar, but it is very tasty and flavorful. Try something. Anything. May it be the rice and beans, or the croquettas, or a breaded steak (bistec empanizado). Bottom Line: Staples never go bad. Go for it!
(4)Alex G.
They can really use new menus, but always an old school favorite! I'm okay with what they serve, sandwiches always rock! Croquetas are the best in Miami. But their menus are literally coming apart and feel "greasy". Not appealing at all. Nonetheless, good Cuban food
(4)Alison R.
Obsessed with their sign! It's a beacon of happiness.
(5)Anthony R.
Went to this location over the weekend and I have been to other locations for this franchise as well. VERY VERY good food. I normally get the Bistec Empanizada (Hispanic Chicken fried steak ) with rice and black beans and think it is excellent as well as an ample amount. You don't leave full at all!!! I had the cuban sandiwich this time and it was good also but not as much as the other dish. I highly suggest getting the sampler appetizer that includes Chorizo, Ham slices, Croquettes and cheese. IT is very good also and enough to share with a few others. I would say i have been to 3 or 4 of these franchises because my wife spent time here when she was youger and it was a family favorite. All of them are similar but the Calle Ocho location has a really cool Big rooster in front of it. I would highly recommend this place to anybody passing through the area that would like to try good good cuban food in a nice atmosphere.
(5)Karina R.
This is my new favorite Carreta. I'm sad to say that not all Carretas are created equally, so stick to the Bird Road location if possible. The service is friendly and attentive, the portions are enough to feed a small army, and their dessert selections are the best. I'm not going to tell you what to order because it's all pretty good. I typically get something different each time I visit, but if you must know, last time I went I had the Chicken Milanesa (Cuba's version of Chicken Parmesan) and it was tasty. Was it to die for? No, but it was definitely satisfying. However, you MUST try a dessert called the Eiffel, which looks like a little chocolate mousse dome with a layer of walnut cream, and a thin layer of sponge cake on the bottom. It's so good, and no, the other Carretas don't have it (I'm going to protest).
(4)Charles B.
Always good.
(4)NORI R.
This is typical Cuban cuisine but if you want to try authentic Cuban food and ambience and feel like you're in Havana go to this location ! This is the most Cuban corner in all of Miami and they love to hang out outside by the little window to sip expresso and water and pastries and croquetas. I don't live in Miami anymore and when I think of food that I miss I think of La Carreta. The service is good, they are very friendly and family like atmosphere but mostly all spanish speaking only. Try the flan de queso its creamier and thicker than the basic cuban flan de leche.
(3)Tony E.
Great cuban food for a great price. Before I married my sassy cuban wife I would only come here to pick up a chicken soup whenever I was sick. Their chicken soup could cure a broken leg. After meeting my wife she introduced me to the incredible breakfast experience they serve here. From scrambled eggs with ham to croquetas preparadas (my favorite) you really can't go wrong. Try the fricasse de pollo. It'll change your life.
(4)Jessica E.
Chicken soup is great! Try the Vaca Frita...mmmm!
(4)Alicia P.
If there's one place that defines the Cuban dining experience, this is it. I'm not going to say it's better than Abuela's (that's just wrong in so many ways) but if Abuela isn't available, this will definitely do. I can't remember ever NOT going to La Carreta, but I visited last night to have a farewell Cuban dinner with my little cousin who was about to be away from Miami for a couple of months and was reminded of why I feel so comfortable every time I'm there. The staff is friendly and treats you more like you're a relative than a customer. The food could easily pass for homemade, and if you've never had Cuban breakfast on Saturday or Sunday morning, you're really missing out because there's nothing a cafe con leche and pair of croquetas can't fix. Yes, this place tends to get crowded and parking is sometimes more than a challenge. But there's more to this place than the simple restaurant facts and you'll know that after any visit.
(4)Gustavo M.
This is an unfair, one dish review. It was a Chicken Soup Day, so what better place for Chicken Soup than La Carreta. 'Eek! Methinks not'. A bowl of noodles, a thimbleful of broth, and a few strands of chicken will not lift your spirits. I ordered a side of rice and plantains, a good Latino, I am fond of adding rice to my chicken soup. The server tough rice and plantains was a main course, not a side dish, so she waited until I finished the soup to bring it to the table. When I complained, she said that I had not specified that it should be brought together to the table. Wow, the consummate professional server!! I am taking my time before coming back to the sausage factory of latin food.
(1)Jordan N.
Standard Cuban food, if you know what that means. If you do, it won't disappoint. It is La Carreta, after all! This location, like the one on Calle Ocho, is one of the locations that stays open later in the night.
(3)Sabrina Anna C.
Came here after my Bird Bowl experience for a late night dinner (it was like 9/10pm). I am a fan of the Calle Ocho location and I despise the Key Biscayne location, so I was kind of curious to try this one. There was a huge group of people that seemed to just be arriving from a funeral, so we decided to skip the wait and headed straight to sit at the bar. We were both starving and knew what we wanted. I ordered a Pan Con Bistec, my usual style, with the PixNix potatoes, sauteed onions, and American cheese. My friend ordered a Croquete Preparada. While we were waiting, I couldn't help but stare at the plate of the man who was sitting a couple seats down from us. He ordered some kind of salmon dish that looked and smelled outrageously good. He totally caught me staring, so I had to ask him if it was good and of course he said yes, and that he comes every week to have it. Our server/bartender was efficient, friendly, and quick. He had our water and beer out within a couple minutes. Our food was ready in about 15 minutes, and I was happily surprised at how tasty they made my sandwich here! It was perfect, juicy, and seasoned properly. :) Yay! I was glad that this location did not disappoint. My friend thoroughly enjoyed her sandwich as well, so we both scored. At the end, she had a cafe con leche, which I shared, and then we were off.
(4)Jim G.
While places like Larios or Versailles have better notoriety in Miami for introducing non-Cubans to Cuban food, this branch of the local chain is more authentic in terms of both food and atmosphere, especially since it is in the non-touristy suburb of Westchester. Spanish is almost exclusively spoken, however, if you speak only English, you will likely not be intimidated. The cafe stand outside the restaurant rivals Versailles as one of the most lively and bustling in the city, and I am amazed how efficient they work with families and large groups (10-15 people). As for the food, it covers all the well-known Cuban comfort food standards such as lechon asado, sandwiches cubanos, ropa vieja, etc. For me, the last few times I've visited, I've been enamored of their vaca frita, and, of course, no meal is complete there without dessert and a cafe cubano. Definitely a place to eat well, and enjoy your company in a fun setting.
(5)John C.
Third try, still no good. Reheated food, bad tasting food, small amount of food, bad service, dirty booth, etc. This Carreta is just like the one on 8th street (calle ocho): BAD! Goodbye and good riddance!
(1)Arleen C.
3 1/2 STARS!!! We came to this location late at night after a long day at the office and (unfortunately) a visit to a funeral home. We were sad, tired and very hungry but we didn't want a heavy dinner. I am usually reluctant to visit any of La Carreta locations but this time it was convenient and I was in the mood for a cafe con leche, croquetas and cuban toast. Hubby and I sat at the counter and we had RUBEN be our very wonderful server. The coffee and toast came out quickly and exactly as we ordered them....very hot coffee for hubby and the toasts with lots and lots of butter and nicely pressed. I guess this place has it's moments and we were lucky enough to have one of their best (and few) great servers.
(3)Virginia M.
Croquetas. Need I say more? My boyfriend and I stopped here and being the Cuban man that he is, well, he just had to get his cafe. Oh, while bringing me the most thick croquetas I have ever seen. Now I waited in the car so I honestly can't give a review on service or cleanliness of establishment but I can say this: can I please have some croquetas?!
(4)Erik-Lizzie D.
Good cuban food at great prices. I always have something from the daily specials menu. That section of the menu has better prices and a lot of classic cuban plates. Breakfast is great but dont expect to have pancakes. Of course the cafeteria window serves up great pastelitos, croquetas, and empanadas.
(4)Christie A.
La Carreta on 87th and Bird seems to be the local go-to place when celebrating communions, confirmations, or mourning deaths (and coming from one of the MANY funeral homes in the area). Last night was one of these nights for my family. Thankfully, we weren't there in mourning, but rather in celebration of my nephew's confirmation. Although the food doesn't seem to be exactly what it used to be, I cannot say that it was awful. My bistec de pollo empanizado...aka, breaded chicken breast....was very good. It was so big I had to take 1/2 home (Aw shucks,,,guess that means I'll have to snack on it later! lol) the morros were ok, nothing to go yelp apes over, and my tostones, which I usually LOVE were just TOO oily to consume. I had one and had to leave the rest to my brother for his take-home box bc he literally eats EVERYTHING and yes, his name IS Mikey! LOL I guess the good thing is that almost everyone in our party took home leftovers...so that means the portions are big and you get more bang for your buck. The not so good thing is that the service was VERY slow and it took a very long time to eat. Yes, the restaurant was full of other groups, but the fact that the people that sat down after us, got their food before us, was a bit upsetting...and they had the same aount of people we did! Oh well.... All in all, pretty decent meal. Will I be back, of course.....will I run back or crave it, no.
(3)Joel C.
Since I am new to Yelp, I want to review some of my local favorites. I have been eating at this La Carreta since I was able to breathe. In fact my mother would eat there all the time while she was pregnant with me. Being of cuban descent La Carreta is a great place to enjoy the fun cuban culture at a great price. The parking for this one is great since the lot is very big. Expect it to be loud, because it is always packed and everybody is talking very loud. Especially, at the pick up window where all the elder cubans grab their coffee and talk about politics, sports, etc. What about the food? Amazing cuban food, just like how abuela (grandma) makes it. For those of you who are not from the area, you must check this place out to get a little taste of Miami. I highly reccomend the pan con bistec (steak sandwhich) and cuban skirt steak (Palomilla). The food may take some time because it is always packed, but it is worth the wait.
(4)Sergio F.
Customer service is lacking at this La Carreta. I sat at the counter and it took a good five minutes for someone to come around and offer me a menu. On top of that, I never received the customary buttered Cuban toast until I requested it after my order was served. The food was just average and nothing spectacular. If you are looking for good Cuban cuisine, I suggest that you try Luis Galindo's Latin American on SW 8th St. and 57th Ave.
(2)Drew H.
Awesome really cheap food. This location is good but i like the one on 88th more. I fail here and always eating the most American stuff on the menu especially when drunk. Chicken soup and Grilled Cheese sandwiches for the win. Super cheap though and better then fast food.
(4)Mary e.
Typical Cuban food served in generous portions. The place is always packed but seating is generally quick. I frequent for breakfast and sometimes for lunch and the service has always been very good. The cost of their breakfast fare has been going up and up and so lately, I'm not there too often (there are plenty of other places nearby that offer the same for half the cost). But I love their big breakfast chorizo so when I get a craving, I go back. Recently, my family had a big getogether and they put us up on the 2nd floor where we all by ourselves. The service and food were ehh, and they got most of our orders wrong, or they forgot this or that, and some of the food was cold. They need to get better organized when they have large groups and perhaps supply more servers (we had 2 for 30 people). Parking is always plentiful as they are in a medium sized strip mall. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the food (not great, but not bad either), the portions and the service.
(3)A G.
This five is just for the cafe con leche that I ordered at the window. On this last visit back home, I had cafe con leche from four different places and I liked this one the best!
(5)Rob C.
My wife and I love this place! You can order all sorts of goodies from the pick-up window, and generally service is very fast, and friendly if you sit down in the restaurant. The food is consistently good, and is a fun cuban place to eat at. Try the croquetta completa or picadillo, they're "muy rico"!
(4)Yvette K.
I go there about five times a week for my coffee fix at the counter. I sometimes go on Sunday with my kids for breakfast because they love to sit at the counter. Being a cuban place there is a lot of movement so you know that the food is fresh. The wait time is usually extrememly long on the weekends. The food is good, can't say the best. My rating is based on the cortaditos and empanandas that I have in the morning.
(4)Joseph P.
It is definitely safe to say that over the years, the Cuban food at La Carreta has gotten progressively worse. The service is definitely nothing to write home about? Why you ask? Well for once the restaurant was actually not as crowded as usual, (it was a weeknight), yet we had to wait FOREVER for our waiter to even acknowledge we were there. Once he did, it seemed like he wasn't in a very good mood and did not want to work. On top of that, he decided to stand right by us and have a conversation about his personal life which I had no interest in hearing due to the content of the conversation. On top of that, the food was nothing to write home about. When I want Cuban food, I go to Mom's house or Grandma's. You want real Cuban food? Find yourself a Cuban friend, get on their good side and let them invite you over for dinner. More often than not, you will get better food.
(2)luis s.
I cant believe I have not written a review on La Carreta! Well my non review hiatus is coming to a stop with this one... La Carreta aka The Oxcart for you non spanish speaking folk, is a staple on Cuban cuisine. The food here is extremely consistent the food is always prepared the same and always taste the same. This although does not seem like a big deal but it is. When you are eating frijoles or beans you want them to taste the same every time you order it don't you? I definitely do! LA Carreta is great for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you have never been most of them are quite large in size it amazes my how timely they serve your food when you see the size of the kitchen. If you go get the special for breakfast, croqueta preparada for lunch, and un bistec empanisado for dinner. PLEASE NOT NO MEAL IS DON'T UNTIL YOU HAVE CUBAN COFFEE! Once you do this my friend you are officially baptized in Cuban food culture!
(4)cindy w.
This is my local late-night Cuban diner spot out in the 'burbs. The place gets crammed around midnight with families and weekend-partiers. I go here when the munchies strike. I go here for 2 things only that I eat in the same meal. 1) Fried Yucca, green sauce on the side (cilantro/garlic sauce, super good! i think of pomme frites when I dipp'em) 2) Arroz con leche. (dessert of sweetened milk rice porridge) Yeah, I'm simple and freaky like that.
(3)