Hugo's: Awesome cuban sammiches, made the traditional way. Up front: Assembled Cubans ready for dressing and pressing. Menu includes other Latin Tampa staples. Note: This is an authentic Tampa cuban sandwich. Keep in mind it was invented here, and the Miami copy is inferior. Decor: Comfortable. Service: usually good. You cannot deny the awesome that is Hugo's.
(4)
Daniel S.
I decided to try Hugo's solely because they have Cuban sandwiches, one of my favorite meals. I'd like to believe that I have high standards from my time at the Univ. of Miami, so as I walked down the generic, mini-strip of stores to Hugo's, my expectations were not high. However, the restaurant itself is very clean, the staff very nice, and the Cuban sandwich was AMAZING. Inexpensive and consistent. I have the sandwich for dinner about once a week.
(5)
Bruce L.
Cuban Sandwich. There, I said it. I have been known to shun carbs like a pox, but here, the sandwich reins supreme. Try it pressed, or cold. Doesn't matter because it's prepared perfectly every time. Did you know the order of the meat and condiments is important? The mustard must be on the top slice of bread, so it's the last thing you taste, when you bite through. That is just ONE of the reasons for the assembly being exactly right.
(5)
Carol M.
Decent Cuban sandwich. Co-worker had the black beans and rice which I must say looked yummy! Low key vibe and an affordable price.
(3)
Jennifer S.
I did not enjoy any part of my meal. My fish was not fresh and had bones in it, the black bean soup tasted spoiled, and the Cuban toast was stale. The service was nothing to write home about. I was very disappointed by the entire experience. There is much better Spanish/Cuban food in Tampa. We just have to leave south Tampa to find it.
(1)
Maria C.
Soho's place for good Cuban food. We went this week & my 8-year-old couldn't get enough of the Picadillo Sandwich. Of course their pressed cubans ate delish, too!
(4)
Sam S.
Yummy Cuban lunch. Lots of food for your buck. Great sandwiches.
(4)
Gil G.
Good food at a good price, but not top level Cuban cuisine (IMHO). La Teresita has better tasting food, but the service and value at Hugo's is very good. A great, low cost choice given the SoHo location.
(3)
Anish Z.
I live in Miami now but every time I am back in Tampa Hugo's is a definite stop. Go there with a friend and split a pressed Cuban, black beans and yellow rice and the plantains and you'll both leave stuffed and with leftovers and definitely not break the bank! Try it and tell me how it was :-)
(4)
David F.
Ok Cuban food, a bit on the bland side. Not open very late, but the beer is super cheap.
(3)
Anonymous P.
OK Cuban food, nothing to write home about. There are much better Cuban options in Tampa.
This is by far the best Cuban sandwich I've ever had. Other great food items too, and a mom and pop feel. I love the area too. It offers a lot of cute scenery. The service is good, and it's cheap, especially for the amount of food you get. It's definitely worth the drive.
(5)
Rachel C.
Affordable and delicious. They have a breakfast menu all day, sandwiches, and more. They are most known for the Cuban, which the half size is already a good amount for the average person. I recommend the fish sandwich as well!
(4)
Michelle B.
Nice place good staff. Way cheaper than take away and so much better.
(4)
Robin H.
Was visiting family back home in Florida and we went to try this restaurant. The food was delicious! We all got different meals and it was all great. I do not recommend the Sangria, it just tasted like chilled wine with some lemon wedges. Apparently they just switched owners and from what I heard from my dad it was a good switch - he was reluctant to go after being there under the previous management. After this trip, however, he said he will definitely be back.
(4)
Jamie K.
We returned to our old stomping grounds because my awesome husband won a free cruise through work! As soon as we found out the ship was out of Tampa, the first thing we said was we had to go to Hugo's. This is and always will be one of our favorite Cuban restaurants of all time! While the inside looked different than we remembered - the local artists paintings for sale weren't on the walls, a server from our college years was still there. While she didn't remember us of course, we appreciated that she was nice as always. We didn't have to look at the menu to order, it was a Cuban all the way for the hubs and arroz con pollo for me. (These two and the ropa vieja are our three favorite dishes.) I didn't think they gave you bread while you waited for lunch time but lucky for us, our server brought it anyway. There is something about that Cuban bread and butter that just melts in your mouth. We didn't have to wait long for our meals and man oh man, they were just as mouth watering as we remembered. My husband savored his first bite, eyes closed, enjoying the flavors of the meat and condiment combination. They put mayo, mustard and pickles on their Cuban sandwiches and press the bread, which I think is what really makes it taste amazing. My arroz con pollo was just as good as I remembered. The chicken was the size of the entire plate and was swimming in its own delicious juices. I love to tear off a piece of meat, drown it in the juice and mix it with the yellow rice. It really is muy delicioso. Oh and because the plantains there are out of this world, of course we had to get a side of those to share as well. I'm telling you, if you like plantains, this is the place. Hugo's can really do no wrong. It is a family owned/operated business that has been there for close to 40 years and it is comforting to know that the quality of the food has stayed the same. If you're ever in the South Tampa area and are craving incredible Cuban, Hugo's is the one to try!
(5)
Karen E.
Great place for lunch! Walk if you can since there is only valet parking but once inside the smell of Spanish food cooking gets you hungry! It's authentic and delicious! Talipia w yellow rice and plantains are the best! Friendly staff
(5)
Kim Chi V.
Awesome old school breakfast joint! I can't pick one favorite, they cover all bases well. I love this place for meeting up with friends for breakfast or lunch. Great location in South Tampa and newly renovated. Love the new vibe in there! Great job, guys!
(5)
S T.
There is a huge sign on the window that says "Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner." Yet the hours posted on the door are 7:30am-5pm. What kind of dinner hours are those? I grew up eating at Hugo's and loved the food and family atmosphere but over the past years it seems as though they were never open at the times I would try to go. Very frustrating. They should update their info online and signs in the window.
(2)
Emily C.
Good food for the price it offers! I got the Cuban which was delicious along with a side of yellow rice. The rice was mediocre but a nice complement. The tortilla was alright not a traditional one.
(3)
Benjamin M.
I'm surprised that Hugo's doesn't have more Yelp reviews. Hugo's was recommended to me by a friend who said it served his favorite Cuban in Tampa. He also mentioned that Hugo's Cuban was named as one of top ten sandwiches in America last year (the Tribune's article about the listing: www2.tbo.com/content/200… ). Hugo's lived up to my expectations. The Cuban sandwich was awesome. I'm currently in a mission to find the best Cuban in Tampa, and I still have several places to try before rendering a verdict. I'm not sure whether this is the best Cuban in Tampa, but--wow!--it was amazing. This is a very casual place in Hyde Park. Just because it's in the vicinity of some upscale restaurants doesn't mean you should dress up for lunch/dinner at Hugo's. This is just a great little restaurant run by friendly folks serving great Cuban sandwiches. A winner in my book.
(4)
Sam Q.
The quest for the best Cuban sandwich continues, today taking me to Hugo's Spanish Restaurant. Their menu says "the official Cuban of Tampa Bay". Let's put that statement to the test, shall we? I came today with friends to give the Cubans a spin. First thing I noticed is they have Coke Zero in a can. That's a big plus in my book. I also asked for and got a tiny sample of their black beans. Might as well try those but I didn't have room in my belly for a full order. The sample they gave me with chopped onions was delicious. As I've stated before, a good Cuban sandwich is made by the bread and the pork. What I got was a really good ham sandwich. The bread was delicious, and there was a lot of ham. After I disassembled the sandwich I found a single small sliced of what looked like processed pork. Sorry guys, but the official Cuban of Tampa needs more and better pork. I can't add this to my list of the best Cubans of Tampa Bay. The rest of the food was great, and I'd recommend this restaurant. I'll even come back. Just not for their Cuban sandwich though.
(3)
Mike S.
Ok....I am a bit amazed and quite pleased to confirm that Hugo's serves very good Cuban food despite the handicap of being located south of Kennedy and not having any chi-chi cocktails to offer. Its mojo-roasted pork is excellent, they do maduros right and their thick Spanish bean soup may be the best I have had, at least equal to my favorite spot, La Teresita. Prices are very reasonable, and table service is pleasant and speedy. Decor is not a high-point, but it serves a lot of take-out....with loaded Cuban sandwiches on display in the cooler. We used a Groupon for a dinner special at lunch without any objection...since they are no longer open for dinner. So yes, good ethnic food served at low prices and without pretension is available in the vicinity of Berns and SideBerns.
(3)
Thy C.
The cuban here is pretty good, but I would rather have their other food plates(especially with a side of fried plantains).
(4)
Michelle M.
Hugo's is a no-frills Cuban restaurant in South Tampa with a deli counter in the front for takeout orders and a dining room in the back. Not sure why it's been years since I've been to Hugo's. The food is good, the prices are cheap, and the restaurant is convenient to my office, but it's just one of those spots that I forget about. Decided to have lunch here with fellow yelper, Steve E., since neither of us had reviewed this spot yet. Steve ordered daily special (Boliche) and I ordered the Cuban sandwich. The Cuban was great, but I thought it was going to have roasted pork on it. Maybe I meant to order the media noche??? I always get the two sandwiches mixed up. Steve's rib eye steak looked pretty good so I might have to try the boliche next time I visit. The restaurant serves coke and pepsi products, but the coke products only come in the can so we decided to make a great sacrifice and order diet pepsi from the fountain so that we could get free refills. After beverages and tip we each only paid about $10 each; not bad for a dine-in lunch. My only other minor complaint (besides the canned Coke) is the parking lot. The parking is pretty small and is shared with The Green Lemon so chances are that you will have to park across the street as I did.
(4)
Marie W.
I wasn't impressed with the food but it could've been what I ordered. I've had better though. The environment itself-not something I would prefer to dine in-I say at a table while I waited for my food to go and the table was sticky. Service was excellent. They were friendly & courteous. I haven't ruled them out just yet, I intend on giving them another shot :)
(4)
Rob W.
Hugo's has a lot of character. This place was here before the neighborhood became upscale Solis Cuban food at low prices. I like it for lunch or dinner.
(4)
April S.
When I have to work on Saturdays my job orders lunch for us. So today we ordered from this Restaurant. I went and picked up our order and this is a cute little off the road place. The staff seems really nice. So on to the food. I must say I wasn't completely satisfied with that. We ordered the chicken and yellow rice and stuffed potato's. The rice was a little under cooked, the peas in there you could tell were frozen and there was no seasoning on it. However the mini stuffed potato's were really good. The food wasn't bad enough for me not to go back, just maybe not anytime real soon. When I do go I will want to try their Cuban sandwiches, I saw a couple people get those and the sandwich did look better. I meant to ask if they use the honey butter on their pressed Cubans.
(4)
Josiah G.
I've been eating here for almost 20 years starting from when my Mom would take me in a couple times a month. It's very simple, nothing fancy, and very inexpensive. Although they claim their Cuban is Tampa's official, it's not the best Cuban in Tampa, but it is very good. There is nothing super special or original about the food, but it's always consistent and always good. The Palomilla Steak can feed you twice and it comes with two sides for around $8. I still drop by there when I'm around Howard Ave for the steak and friendly service.
(4)
Cari E.
I LOVE Hugo's. Though, before I continue I should let you know that I love it for what it is. If you want a quaint little place with Spanish tiles on the walls that take you away to Cuba, this place is not for you. The decor is better than it used to be but it's still got the feeling of deli, not a fine cuban restaurant. I have been coming to Hugo's since I was in middle school so I'm obviously a fan. Why do I love it so much? Because it's good, quality food with no frills at a low cost. The black bean soup is great to eat, dip your cuban bread in or pour over the top of yellow rice. My favorite dish is the arroz con pollo. The chicken is so fall-of-the-bone tender that you don't need a knife. Their yellow rice is not mushy and overcooked like you get at some places. Everything is packed with flavor without being overly salty. My brother's favorite is the palomilla steak. Palomilla steak is a great cuban dish if you have never tried it. It's steak pounded thin, breaded and pan fried. Hugo's palomilla steak is delish. The breading doesn't flake off when you cut it and is seasoned just enough that it doesn't over power the flavor of the steak. The cuban's here are really good. I will say that I have had some where there wasn't enough pork on it. It's like they ran out of the pork that day or something. It's not enough to hold against them though. The food is good. There is a lot of it. And it expensive. I saw some comments that complained about the small things like canned soda, lack of alcoholic options and the fact that (I'm sorry I know it's mean) one of the waitresses looks like troll. In my opinion, if you go in with the right expectations and realize this is NOT the Columbia. You will love it as much as I do, troll and all.
(5)
Diana A.
This review is for their cuban. Very consistent, very fast (10-15 min), and close to home. I prefer Brocato's but Hugo's comes through for lunch time on the cuban. They are also really sweet up front.
(4)
Jesus J.
When I arrived in Tampa, I searched for a local eatery that wasn't part of a chain and had decent reviews on Yelp. Hugo's was the place. We were immediately seated and our waitress and everyone working there was very nice (when we left, everyone waived goodbye). Prices are great on the wallet, and the food is even better. I ordered the pork sandwich with onions and Mojo (a citrus-y, Cuban marinade) . The girlfriend ordered the Ropa vieja sandwich. Both sandwiches were delicious. Note that each sandwich comes out in two large halves. We ordered a side of fries (OK - needed seasoning), so it was a bit too much food. Ambiance is very casual and very relaxed. Wooden tables, TVs on the wall, and servers wearing aprons. I definitely recommend this place for cheap, but tasty grub in the Tampa area.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jim B.
Hugo's: Awesome cuban sammiches, made the traditional way. Up front: Assembled Cubans ready for dressing and pressing. Menu includes other Latin Tampa staples. Note: This is an authentic Tampa cuban sandwich. Keep in mind it was invented here, and the Miami copy is inferior. Decor: Comfortable. Service: usually good. You cannot deny the awesome that is Hugo's.
(4)Daniel S.
I decided to try Hugo's solely because they have Cuban sandwiches, one of my favorite meals. I'd like to believe that I have high standards from my time at the Univ. of Miami, so as I walked down the generic, mini-strip of stores to Hugo's, my expectations were not high. However, the restaurant itself is very clean, the staff very nice, and the Cuban sandwich was AMAZING. Inexpensive and consistent. I have the sandwich for dinner about once a week.
(5)Bruce L.
Cuban Sandwich. There, I said it. I have been known to shun carbs like a pox, but here, the sandwich reins supreme. Try it pressed, or cold. Doesn't matter because it's prepared perfectly every time. Did you know the order of the meat and condiments is important? The mustard must be on the top slice of bread, so it's the last thing you taste, when you bite through. That is just ONE of the reasons for the assembly being exactly right.
(5)Carol M.
Decent Cuban sandwich. Co-worker had the black beans and rice which I must say looked yummy! Low key vibe and an affordable price.
(3)Jennifer S.
I did not enjoy any part of my meal. My fish was not fresh and had bones in it, the black bean soup tasted spoiled, and the Cuban toast was stale. The service was nothing to write home about. I was very disappointed by the entire experience. There is much better Spanish/Cuban food in Tampa. We just have to leave south Tampa to find it.
(1)Maria C.
Soho's place for good Cuban food. We went this week & my 8-year-old couldn't get enough of the Picadillo Sandwich. Of course their pressed cubans ate delish, too!
(4)Sam S.
Yummy Cuban lunch. Lots of food for your buck. Great sandwiches.
(4)Gil G.
Good food at a good price, but not top level Cuban cuisine (IMHO). La Teresita has better tasting food, but the service and value at Hugo's is very good. A great, low cost choice given the SoHo location.
(3)Anish Z.
I live in Miami now but every time I am back in Tampa Hugo's is a definite stop. Go there with a friend and split a pressed Cuban, black beans and yellow rice and the plantains and you'll both leave stuffed and with leftovers and definitely not break the bank! Try it and tell me how it was :-)
(4)David F.
Ok Cuban food, a bit on the bland side. Not open very late, but the beer is super cheap.
(3)Anonymous P.
OK Cuban food, nothing to write home about. There are much better Cuban options in Tampa.
(3)Steve E.
2014 started out much like 2013 -- lunch at a great little South Tampa spot with my wonderful Yelp friend, Michelle M. Our impromptu lunches always start out with a text or an Email saying, "What'cha doing for lunch? Let's go try someplace new...." and off we go! Today we visited Hugo's Spanish Restaurant which is located along S. Howard Avenue, diagonally across the street from SideBern's, and just north of the intersection of Morrison Avenue. Parking on the street can be tricky, but there is a free lot just north of the restaurant, and a second lot across the street and up the block. The restaurant is basically set up as two rooms. The entry room has a counter designed for carry-out orders with a refrigerated case loaded with pre-made Cuban and roast pork sandwiches, along with a cooler for drinks and the cashier stand. The second room is the dining room with a number of booths and waitress service. Michelle and I found a booth and looked over the menu at their selection of Spanish and Cuban cuisine, including sandwiches, soups, salads, and entrées. Hugo's also has a breakfast menu just in case you find yourself in SOHO at 7:30 in the morning, but the place closes by 5pm each day, and it is completely closed on Sundays. Today's luncheon special was the Boliche entrée which was marinated rib eye steak cooked in salsa criolla, and it came with two sides. I ordered that with a cup of the Garbanzo bean soup and some yellow rice for my two sides. The steak was fork-tender and seasoned perfectly in the peppery tomato sauce, and the Garbanzo bean soup was some of the best that I've ever had. There were lots of excellent entrée choices on the menu including Palolilla steak, roast pork, Ropa Vieja, Picadillo, and Arroz con Pollo to name a few. Michelle went straight for the Cuban sandwich, and pronounced that it was very delicious in between bites. We had a great laugh plotting to toilet paper Brett's house on Monday night while we enjoyed our excellent meal. Lunch for the two of us was well under $20, so it was lots of food for a very affordable price. Well worth a visit if you're in the area!
(4)Amber H.
This is by far the best Cuban sandwich I've ever had. Other great food items too, and a mom and pop feel. I love the area too. It offers a lot of cute scenery. The service is good, and it's cheap, especially for the amount of food you get. It's definitely worth the drive.
(5)Rachel C.
Affordable and delicious. They have a breakfast menu all day, sandwiches, and more. They are most known for the Cuban, which the half size is already a good amount for the average person. I recommend the fish sandwich as well!
(4)Michelle B.
Nice place good staff. Way cheaper than take away and so much better.
(4)Robin H.
Was visiting family back home in Florida and we went to try this restaurant. The food was delicious! We all got different meals and it was all great. I do not recommend the Sangria, it just tasted like chilled wine with some lemon wedges. Apparently they just switched owners and from what I heard from my dad it was a good switch - he was reluctant to go after being there under the previous management. After this trip, however, he said he will definitely be back.
(4)Jamie K.
We returned to our old stomping grounds because my awesome husband won a free cruise through work! As soon as we found out the ship was out of Tampa, the first thing we said was we had to go to Hugo's. This is and always will be one of our favorite Cuban restaurants of all time! While the inside looked different than we remembered - the local artists paintings for sale weren't on the walls, a server from our college years was still there. While she didn't remember us of course, we appreciated that she was nice as always. We didn't have to look at the menu to order, it was a Cuban all the way for the hubs and arroz con pollo for me. (These two and the ropa vieja are our three favorite dishes.) I didn't think they gave you bread while you waited for lunch time but lucky for us, our server brought it anyway. There is something about that Cuban bread and butter that just melts in your mouth. We didn't have to wait long for our meals and man oh man, they were just as mouth watering as we remembered. My husband savored his first bite, eyes closed, enjoying the flavors of the meat and condiment combination. They put mayo, mustard and pickles on their Cuban sandwiches and press the bread, which I think is what really makes it taste amazing. My arroz con pollo was just as good as I remembered. The chicken was the size of the entire plate and was swimming in its own delicious juices. I love to tear off a piece of meat, drown it in the juice and mix it with the yellow rice. It really is muy delicioso. Oh and because the plantains there are out of this world, of course we had to get a side of those to share as well. I'm telling you, if you like plantains, this is the place. Hugo's can really do no wrong. It is a family owned/operated business that has been there for close to 40 years and it is comforting to know that the quality of the food has stayed the same. If you're ever in the South Tampa area and are craving incredible Cuban, Hugo's is the one to try!
(5)Karen E.
Great place for lunch! Walk if you can since there is only valet parking but once inside the smell of Spanish food cooking gets you hungry! It's authentic and delicious! Talipia w yellow rice and plantains are the best! Friendly staff
(5)Kim Chi V.
Awesome old school breakfast joint! I can't pick one favorite, they cover all bases well. I love this place for meeting up with friends for breakfast or lunch. Great location in South Tampa and newly renovated. Love the new vibe in there! Great job, guys!
(5)S T.
There is a huge sign on the window that says "Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner." Yet the hours posted on the door are 7:30am-5pm. What kind of dinner hours are those? I grew up eating at Hugo's and loved the food and family atmosphere but over the past years it seems as though they were never open at the times I would try to go. Very frustrating. They should update their info online and signs in the window.
(2)Emily C.
Good food for the price it offers! I got the Cuban which was delicious along with a side of yellow rice. The rice was mediocre but a nice complement. The tortilla was alright not a traditional one.
(3)Benjamin M.
I'm surprised that Hugo's doesn't have more Yelp reviews. Hugo's was recommended to me by a friend who said it served his favorite Cuban in Tampa. He also mentioned that Hugo's Cuban was named as one of top ten sandwiches in America last year (the Tribune's article about the listing: www2.tbo.com/content/200… ). Hugo's lived up to my expectations. The Cuban sandwich was awesome. I'm currently in a mission to find the best Cuban in Tampa, and I still have several places to try before rendering a verdict. I'm not sure whether this is the best Cuban in Tampa, but--wow!--it was amazing. This is a very casual place in Hyde Park. Just because it's in the vicinity of some upscale restaurants doesn't mean you should dress up for lunch/dinner at Hugo's. This is just a great little restaurant run by friendly folks serving great Cuban sandwiches. A winner in my book.
(4)Sam Q.
The quest for the best Cuban sandwich continues, today taking me to Hugo's Spanish Restaurant. Their menu says "the official Cuban of Tampa Bay". Let's put that statement to the test, shall we? I came today with friends to give the Cubans a spin. First thing I noticed is they have Coke Zero in a can. That's a big plus in my book. I also asked for and got a tiny sample of their black beans. Might as well try those but I didn't have room in my belly for a full order. The sample they gave me with chopped onions was delicious. As I've stated before, a good Cuban sandwich is made by the bread and the pork. What I got was a really good ham sandwich. The bread was delicious, and there was a lot of ham. After I disassembled the sandwich I found a single small sliced of what looked like processed pork. Sorry guys, but the official Cuban of Tampa needs more and better pork. I can't add this to my list of the best Cubans of Tampa Bay. The rest of the food was great, and I'd recommend this restaurant. I'll even come back. Just not for their Cuban sandwich though.
(3)Mike S.
Ok....I am a bit amazed and quite pleased to confirm that Hugo's serves very good Cuban food despite the handicap of being located south of Kennedy and not having any chi-chi cocktails to offer. Its mojo-roasted pork is excellent, they do maduros right and their thick Spanish bean soup may be the best I have had, at least equal to my favorite spot, La Teresita. Prices are very reasonable, and table service is pleasant and speedy. Decor is not a high-point, but it serves a lot of take-out....with loaded Cuban sandwiches on display in the cooler. We used a Groupon for a dinner special at lunch without any objection...since they are no longer open for dinner. So yes, good ethnic food served at low prices and without pretension is available in the vicinity of Berns and SideBerns.
(3)Thy C.
The cuban here is pretty good, but I would rather have their other food plates(especially with a side of fried plantains).
(4)Michelle M.
Hugo's is a no-frills Cuban restaurant in South Tampa with a deli counter in the front for takeout orders and a dining room in the back. Not sure why it's been years since I've been to Hugo's. The food is good, the prices are cheap, and the restaurant is convenient to my office, but it's just one of those spots that I forget about. Decided to have lunch here with fellow yelper, Steve E., since neither of us had reviewed this spot yet. Steve ordered daily special (Boliche) and I ordered the Cuban sandwich. The Cuban was great, but I thought it was going to have roasted pork on it. Maybe I meant to order the media noche??? I always get the two sandwiches mixed up. Steve's rib eye steak looked pretty good so I might have to try the boliche next time I visit. The restaurant serves coke and pepsi products, but the coke products only come in the can so we decided to make a great sacrifice and order diet pepsi from the fountain so that we could get free refills. After beverages and tip we each only paid about $10 each; not bad for a dine-in lunch. My only other minor complaint (besides the canned Coke) is the parking lot. The parking is pretty small and is shared with The Green Lemon so chances are that you will have to park across the street as I did.
(4)Marie W.
I wasn't impressed with the food but it could've been what I ordered. I've had better though. The environment itself-not something I would prefer to dine in-I say at a table while I waited for my food to go and the table was sticky. Service was excellent. They were friendly & courteous. I haven't ruled them out just yet, I intend on giving them another shot :)
(4)Rob W.
Hugo's has a lot of character. This place was here before the neighborhood became upscale Solis Cuban food at low prices. I like it for lunch or dinner.
(4)April S.
When I have to work on Saturdays my job orders lunch for us. So today we ordered from this Restaurant. I went and picked up our order and this is a cute little off the road place. The staff seems really nice. So on to the food. I must say I wasn't completely satisfied with that. We ordered the chicken and yellow rice and stuffed potato's. The rice was a little under cooked, the peas in there you could tell were frozen and there was no seasoning on it. However the mini stuffed potato's were really good. The food wasn't bad enough for me not to go back, just maybe not anytime real soon. When I do go I will want to try their Cuban sandwiches, I saw a couple people get those and the sandwich did look better. I meant to ask if they use the honey butter on their pressed Cubans.
(4)Josiah G.
I've been eating here for almost 20 years starting from when my Mom would take me in a couple times a month. It's very simple, nothing fancy, and very inexpensive. Although they claim their Cuban is Tampa's official, it's not the best Cuban in Tampa, but it is very good. There is nothing super special or original about the food, but it's always consistent and always good. The Palomilla Steak can feed you twice and it comes with two sides for around $8. I still drop by there when I'm around Howard Ave for the steak and friendly service.
(4)Cari E.
I LOVE Hugo's. Though, before I continue I should let you know that I love it for what it is. If you want a quaint little place with Spanish tiles on the walls that take you away to Cuba, this place is not for you. The decor is better than it used to be but it's still got the feeling of deli, not a fine cuban restaurant. I have been coming to Hugo's since I was in middle school so I'm obviously a fan. Why do I love it so much? Because it's good, quality food with no frills at a low cost. The black bean soup is great to eat, dip your cuban bread in or pour over the top of yellow rice. My favorite dish is the arroz con pollo. The chicken is so fall-of-the-bone tender that you don't need a knife. Their yellow rice is not mushy and overcooked like you get at some places. Everything is packed with flavor without being overly salty. My brother's favorite is the palomilla steak. Palomilla steak is a great cuban dish if you have never tried it. It's steak pounded thin, breaded and pan fried. Hugo's palomilla steak is delish. The breading doesn't flake off when you cut it and is seasoned just enough that it doesn't over power the flavor of the steak. The cuban's here are really good. I will say that I have had some where there wasn't enough pork on it. It's like they ran out of the pork that day or something. It's not enough to hold against them though. The food is good. There is a lot of it. And it expensive. I saw some comments that complained about the small things like canned soda, lack of alcoholic options and the fact that (I'm sorry I know it's mean) one of the waitresses looks like troll. In my opinion, if you go in with the right expectations and realize this is NOT the Columbia. You will love it as much as I do, troll and all.
(5)Diana A.
This review is for their cuban. Very consistent, very fast (10-15 min), and close to home. I prefer Brocato's but Hugo's comes through for lunch time on the cuban. They are also really sweet up front.
(4)Jesus J.
When I arrived in Tampa, I searched for a local eatery that wasn't part of a chain and had decent reviews on Yelp. Hugo's was the place. We were immediately seated and our waitress and everyone working there was very nice (when we left, everyone waived goodbye). Prices are great on the wallet, and the food is even better. I ordered the pork sandwich with onions and Mojo (a citrus-y, Cuban marinade) . The girlfriend ordered the Ropa vieja sandwich. Both sandwiches were delicious. Note that each sandwich comes out in two large halves. We ordered a side of fries (OK - needed seasoning), so it was a bit too much food. Ambiance is very casual and very relaxed. Wooden tables, TVs on the wall, and servers wearing aprons. I definitely recommend this place for cheap, but tasty grub in the Tampa area.
(4)