Tia’s Authentic Latin Food

HIDDEN GEM! I’ve only been once. Very friendly. Ordered a Cuban to go. Did not take long at all and the CUBAN WAS ON POINT!!! So good. I know I will be giving this place 5 stars real soon. Just want to try a few more dishes. DEFINITELY check this place out!

I gave an extra star just because Tango on Missouuri closed. So, if you want emanadas in Largo this is the place to go. It’s not fancy but the food is good.

Met friends here for dinner and everyone was happy. We started with some empanadas and stuffed potatoes, both of which were quite yummy. I had the roast pork with black beans, yellow rice, and a side of plantains. Delicious! Good portions, too — I had enough left over for lunch the next day. I tried some of my friend’s baked chicken and it was juicy and flavorful. They lack a little bit in the way of service, but we didn’t have any problems and the food is great! Can’t wait to go back to try the Cuban sandwich!

The food here is every bit as delicious as other reviews suggest. I got the Cuban sandwich (tender meat and perfectly pressed) and plantains (just the right texture and addition of sweetness) to end my meal. Both were a wonderful treat! It was my first time visiting and cannot wait to try more of their menu. The only reason this authentic Cuban mom and pop (or son in this case) restaurant doesn’t get 5 stars from me is because the service was a bit lacking. It wasn’t overly busy but I had to request things like water, then straw, then silverware which all took long enough for me to feel forgotten. However, in their defense I did see they were looking for help, the people who did serve me were quite friendly and my food came out pretty quick. I can’t wait to go back!

I’d give 10 stars if I could! Best Cuban! So tasty, tender and juicy. Totally worth a drive! Great people! I ate here alone and was welcomed like family but treated like a honored guest. I also witnessed an act of kindness and generosity that I will never forget. Everything here is built on love, from the story on how the restaurant came to be, to how delicious the food is, to how they treat people. There is road construction slowing down business so please support them. You’ll be glad you did!

Great service, amazing food, good music, fair prices. Absolutely no complaints! Definitely coming back for a Cuban sandwich and nice beer selection!

Food is good but they could use a dose of professionalism in other aspects of the restaurant.
Specifically, more than twice I have seen Tia and her son argue and be critical of each other in front of customers (about things which had nothing to do with my order or even the restaurant). Maybe it’s a latin thing, but It really makes me and others uncomfortable to witness that.
Also, my orders have been mishandled at least twice (overcharged, delayed).
Basic things like offering knives and salt are almost always overlooked (no salt on table, only fork presented with food).
Often drink orders are forgotten (simple things like bringing sweet tea when unsweet was specifically asked for).
These are just points related to care – they show the level of care involved in the people who are running the establishment.
Also other fine points related to the food. For example, the veggies would be great as a side dish (the kinds of veggies used) except they are always without any seasoning (I’ve ordered them many times). So they are totally tasteless and require a ton of salt (but there’s no salt on the table).
I think they are worth trying (if you haven’t already) because the food is unique and tasty and the place has a lot of potential. They could easily fix these points at any time and if they did it would make it a really great place to eat.

YUMMY FOOD NICE PEOPLE CLEAN EATING AREA… Great chicken, great rice and black beans! The chicken was a tad bit salty but I Hate salt so it’s hard to say for others :) cute little place, clean, and not crammed!

Muy sabroso!!! This cook here is a vibrant Puerto Riquena. The food is excellent, I had their Cuban, rice and beans, a beef empanada, cold beer !! Heaven. Good music!

This place is freaking awesome and so glad I found it. Have been in a couple times now and I love the cuban sandwich here. By far my favorite in the Tampa Bay area. Something about the mustard they use puts it over the top for me. The prices are pretty good as well. Very authentic food.
Tias is in a small strip plaza but does not feel that way once inside. Very welcoming atmosphere. The owners are awesome as well. They take a lot of pride in the food and it shows. Was even asked if the Cuban tastes the same everytime to ensure the quality. Looking forward to coming back soon!

Wow! This is some tasty Cuban food! Truly a top choice in the state!
Tia’s black beans and rice are the best in the area, made with fresh garlic and other yet-​to-​be-​identified seasonings. Each bite was better than the last!
But, the ultimate dish we had is clearly the Cuban. Made with their own roast pork and pressed to a crunchy consistency, it’s literally the best Cuban sandwich we have ever had, anywhere! That’s saying something since we’ve enjoyed this delicacy from Key West to Miami to Tampa!
Tia came out to check on us and we had a nice conversation about her passion for makings things right, with homemade Sofrito, nothing from a can or jar, and only fresh herbs and seasonings, no matter the cost. It’s about passion, taste and the proper way to make Latin cuisine!
We look forward to coming back again and gain! We recommend you do the same!

Wow! Ive got to say this place is unbelievable! The cuban with pulled pork… Watch yourself Bodega! I think this was the best Cuban Sandwich I have ever had anywhere. The plantains were hot crispy and fresh as was all the rest of the food. We also tried both the chicken and beef empanadas which were surprisingly moist, tender and flavorful. I have never had an empanada in my life that was so good it didn’t need sauce. I will admit that we didn’t get any silverware when we sat but other than that the servers were very polite and made great recommendations. I will definitely return this is now my number 1 Cuban/​Latin Restaurant in the Bay. Well done team! Keep it up!
You have got to try this place! You will not be disappointed!

Wonderful family owned place. Their Cuban sandwich is easily 5 stars. The best I’ve ever had in the tampa Bay Area. They slow roast their pork and put a lot of it on their Cubans. Absolutely worth the drive.
I also tried their beef stew and it was very good. The beef was super tender. Check their hours before you head over as it doesn’t open til 3pm some days but so worth the drive.
I used to have the Cubans at the little place across from the nearby airport before they closed but Tia’s wins hands down for their Cuban sandwich.

Tia has the unique way to cook the food. They use less fried or grill in the cooking. Which mean more in the broil bake type food. They are Cuban Latin Style food that make them special.
The interior setting is very modern and contemporary. They have booth sofa round section can seat 6 people. The seat is comfortable. The menu is simple base on the chef specialty. We have the Palomilla Entrée. Most Cuban restaurant grills the skirt steak but they did it a bit different. They broil with sauce that marinated into the skirt steak. The entrée come with two choices. We have the yellow seasoned rice and the sweet plantain. The rice has some flavor into it.
The restaurant not just have the regular menu. It has the catering menu if you want to host a party. The service is good. The food came out fast since we only have thirty minutes to eat.

All the great things we read about Tia’s are true. The food was excellent. We tried the empanadas, soft tacos, Cuban sandwiches, black beans and rice and Cuban coffee. Sublimely flavorful. Fresh, homemade food full of love.
The capper was that Tia herself waited on us. We enjoyed the food, the service and the atmosphere. Five stars!!!

I’ve had this place bookmarked for far too long, so I made a special trip today to knock it off of the bucket list.
The owner was very friendly, and she showed me their award for best cuban. She also explained that they season their pork differently as it’s all prepared fresh.
I ordered a the half cuban sandwich, and the roasted pork dinner. The cuban was everything you want in a sandwich, it was delicious. The roasted pork was different from any other place I’ve been. The seasoning was good, but I prefer Bodega’s pork over theirs, personal preference.
Overall great experience. Friendly owner, fast service, and tasty food. I look forward to a return visit to try the cuban reuben and the oxtail.

Best Cuban sandwich in America my ass, they put disgusting mustard and nasty pickles on it and don’t even tell you.
The owners son and his disgusting greasy hair will come up and hit on you and make you feel really uncomfortable. The black beans are mediocre and the sweet plantains are squishy.
This place is a hole in the wall and it taste like it. The food is not great, and the place looks like crap. Save yourself the trouble and go somewhere else. This is by far not the best Cuban sandwich in America

Thank you to Susan the owner of this restaurant for stopping by the table just to say «hello». She took a questionable experience and totally turned it around for the better.
Tia’s popped up when looking for a place to eat near the hotel when visiting Florida for the weekend. Some Unilocaler’s say «that Tia’s has the best Cuban sandwich in town» hmm o.k. what the hell let’s give it a go and try it. Keys in hand, got the car and the drive was less than two miles away.
The menu is pretty straight forward a couple of appetizers, a handful of sandwiches and a few dinners with your choice of two sides.
If I’m going to be reading good things about a Cuban sandwich you already know what is going to be ordered, unfortunately when it was delivered to the table parts of the sandwich was hot other parts cold. After a few minutes the server finally rolled around to check on things and let her know the issues with it and why it wasn’t being eaten. Instead of making a new one she put it back under the press burned it and reserved it.
Susan was checking on customers and happened to stop bye, we chatted for a minute and she offered to make another sandwich without being asked. When it was ready she personally brought it to the table with my change.
After a long day of driving went back to the room and settled in and tried this one WOW ! This is a damn good sandwich the roasted pork that is being used makes all the difference in the world.
Defiantly worth trying if your in the area Tia’s has even won an award for the best Cuban in Town.

Excelente muy buena comida, el sabor es muy original !!
Cada vez que este en Tampa volveremos a Tia!

First time to Tampa. I’m on a business trip and looking for the best food around. Unilocaled this place and found outstanding reviews. Walked in and we’re the only ones there, was a little worried about that, but, no need, read on.
We were briefly greeted by Regan, very sweet girl, turned out she would be taking care of us. The owner Tia (Aunt) Susan greeted us simultaneously and told us all about where she got the restaurant and how it’s run and how they cook, loved every second of chatting with her. She mentioned they just won «best Cuban sandwich in the world.» It was dinner time here in Florida, but lunch time in Arizona where I had just flown in from, knew I would need more than a sandwich to hold me over through the evening and until tomorrow morning. While I really wanted to try this world-​class sandwich, I ordered the entrée that included roast pork, yellow rice and black beans. Thought about grabbing a sandwich for later, but really trying not to turn into a massive fatty ;-)
The atmosphere here is very casual and chill. The service was outstanding, very attentive and friendly. The food is absolutely phenomenal. The roast pork was incredible as were the rice and beans. Clearly made from original family recipes and good sized portions. Had home made Flan for dessert, it was outstanding with a caramel, glazed, almost crème brûlée top. Ingredients are fresh and unique and flavors are clean and clearly Latin.
Susan’s son, Gabriel, came over and introduced himself to us and chatted for 10 or 15 minutes. Great guy, very laid-​back and down to earth. Definitely knows his way around the kitchen and cooking excellent Latin food, which he said he’s been cooking at home since the age of 10.
I may have to break my business travel rule and go back to this restaurant for a second time on the same trip to try one of their world famous Cuban sandwiches. Ssshhhhh, don’t tell anyone! I’ll update my review if I make it back: for a «worlds best» sandwich -)

I have one hand on my sandwich and one on my phone writing this review! I couldn’t wait to write how delicious it is. Uh-​M-​A-​Z-​I-​N-​G! I ordered the Cuban Reuben and as soon as I took my first bite I was In Heaven. There was nothing else in the room but me and the sandwich. I was fully focused on it. Usually, my friend and I are talking up a storm, but there was not a peep between us two while eating, and that is rare. If you haven’t been here, get here now! They just moved to this newer location which is 2 stores down from the old location a couple of months ago, So they’re back and re-​opened for business! It’s clean, spacious, new booths, and bar. The owners are very friendly too.