Café Pinar

This place is just a short drive away from the mall and definitely worth a try if you’re in the area. All of the employees are friendly and will do their best to ensure everything is too your liking.
There is a list of various homemade fruit juices and smoothies available that taste amazing and incredibly refreshing. The mango and guava are great choices and even the papaya is really good if you’re looking for something not as sweet but still cool and fresh.
Between four of us, we each tried something different and we were all satisfied with what we got. The empanadas by the way, are a lot larger than what what you might expect. They were for me at least; I haven’t seen such a large empanada in NY so the beef or chicken is worth a try. I ordered the breaded steak which came with rice and plantains and the entire plate was filling and delicious.
What’s probably best about this place is that the menu prices are all incredibly reasonable for the quality and quantity of food you’re served. Therefore you should have plenty of incentive to come in, on several occasions, to try out everything this place has to offer. I know if I’m ever visiting Orlando again, coming back here will definitely be on my to-​do list.

Customer service was great, the food timely served, and the food was pretty good. The juices were to die for and the Energizer I ordered was very good. Overall very satisfied.

Great columbian restaurant with great service, the food was amazing and cooked to near perfection. Our group tried a verity of things n I can say we all were satisfied with our orders. The natural home made juice and smoothies were amazing. We tried the papaya guava and mango drinks and all tasted like the fruit itself. Will def come back next time I’m in Orlando.

This place is a little gem. Looked it up because we wanted something good and hearty to eat before going to the Florida mall. It totally surprised me. It was fast and friendly service. The food portion are big enough to share. But it was too good to share this time around.
I had the «bistec cebollado» onion steak with the white rice and red beans and an extra side of sweet plantains. Hmmm good stuff!

If I had to pick a restaurant that I would like to spend days at a time in because I was in a hostage situation; I would choose this one.
I could live here day and night and eat until I die.
The food flavor are authentic Cuban. The staff seems to be mostly Cuban. Staff is very friendly. The prices are very very affordable. I had the roasted chicken special for $ 4.99. Delicious!!! With a mango shake and a side of mariquitas.
I could not finish it. I could have shared with my wife and we would still be full.

A favorite lunchtime spot. I can get in and out quickly the food is always fresh, flavorful and the staff are great! Try the imperial rice and the smoothies!

My husband and I split chicken empanadas and the Cuban sandwich on our way to the airport from Universal studios! Both were good, but the best part was the Cuban espresso with milk that a waitress recommended because she could tell we were exhausted — it was unbelievably delicious! Also the staff (and I assume the family/​friends that own the restaurant) was very friendly and attentive. Our entire bill was only $ 11 dollars. If I lived in the area, I would frequent this place religiously.

What a great place to grab a meal! The restaurant is very clean, the staff is friendly, and the food isn’t bad either. The decorations are conservative but add to the feel of a quality café, without be distracting. Lots of natural lighting makes the space feel open.
It definitely has the family feel to it. The music is loud enough that you can hear it, but not overbearing. You can have a nice conversation without having to raise your voices.
The sandwiches are okay, but after seeing the plate lunches being served, I think that is what I should have gone with instead.

Hot damn this place is legit!!! Please eat here now!!! We had the Cuban sandwich, beef empanadas and café con leche! THis place is heaven! I want to kiss the cook and kiss Unilocal for telling me to come here!!!

The taste and quality of the food is always Amazing and consistent. I am Cuban, and am sure enough of the food here to bring the rest of my extended Cuban family here. Even my Mother. This is authentic Cuban food, nothing better in Orlando. His special and sandwiches are legit. Closest thing to eating in Cuba in Orlando.

Pan con lechon was ok, the pork chunks were a little salty, but overall the food was
was a very clean place and the service was great. A must try

This place is great my wife and i eat here on our last trip to orlando and she is dominican and she is very picky and she loved it i enjoyed it very much also

I had their chicken empanada, a ham and cheese empanada, and a tamal with a cup of café con leche.
The tamal had good flavour but was really greasy; it was swimming in oil and I had to soak it in a napkin to stomach it. It was also really small. I’ve had tamals 3 times the size for the same price.
The ham and cheese empanada had good flavour in the fillings but I wasnt a big fan of the crust. The sauce on the side was phenomenal, though I wish they gave more of it.
The chicken empanada had decent filling; the chicken had good flavour but was a little dry. Other than that the only complaint was the crust.
The café con leche was pretty good.

The ham sandwich I’d quite simple. Cuban bread pressed with ham and American cheese. That’s it. No pickle, no mayo, no mustard so be forwarned, pretty basic at only $ 3.70.
Beef empanada is good and Crunchy ad no need for salt.

I went here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon with a friend. Place was a little full but not packed. They served me a lot of food on my plate and it tasted very good The waitress was friendly but lacked customer services qualities. The other female waitress had a demeaning shirt and because of this I would not come with my kids. Other than that, this place was pretty kool

Great tasting food love the black beans it had great flavor and they had great prices as well… I will come back.

Was in town for work and was looking for a place to grab lunch. I was surprised to find a good Cuban food place in Orlando. I’ve been to others here and they don’t taste so well. This place has great food and great staff. They were very friendly and helpful even during the lunch rush. If you like Cuban food or pastries and fruit smoothies, give this place a try.

Never had Cuban food in my life, but this place was delicious! Their accents are the best! I’m Mexican and have never been to the East Coast it was the greatest experience meeting different Latinos and trying the foods! Thanks so much Café Pinar you will be definitely be recommended on the West Coast for those traveling.

Great Cuban find. The owner was so accommodating for my wife’s allergies and made a simple pollo ala plancha with beans, rice, and maduros (fried sweet banana).
No kids meal? No problem! He even went and offered a FRESH made chicken strips with rice, beans, and maduros. Plenty for 2
Cravings near Florida Mall? Stop here!

I had the Chicken with Rice/​Beans, Maduros and the Yucca con Mojo. The Yucca is some of the best I have ever had (sorry mamá). I would highly recommend!

I’ve only been here for coffee and toast but this place is nice. Very clean and friendly staff. The café con leche is superior. Would love to eat lunch or dinner here sometime. Prices are very reasonable and the food sounds very good. Great cuban place.

We ate here the first day we arrived in Orlando, and had to return again before we leave.
Their pernil is amazing. The family just had to have the Cuban sandwich here again with the hot sauce.
I had the arroz congri, roast chicken leg, fried sweet plantain and a side of boiled yuca. Everything was well seasoned and taste so good.
The owner recommended that I tried their white bean soup, and that did not disappoint.
Hubby had an order of the beef empanadas, and he loved every single bite of it despite being too full after eating his Cuban sandwich. The food is worth the trip to fly back to Orlando for.
We had tried several other Cuban and Latin American food places in the Orlando and Kissimmee area during our 6 day stay in Florida but every one of them fall short compared to Café Pinar. Best Cuban sandwich, congri rice, pernil, and boiled yuca in town.

Great service, great prices, try their fresh passion fruit juice!!! It’s amazing.
Their sandwiches are so yummy!!!
We will be back soon!!!

My new husband and I have been frequenting this place on occasion since they opened a short time ago and they always have great, fresh, authentic food and friendly service.
We liked them so much that we actually had them cater our wedding a couple weeks ago and they did wonderfully. They went above and beyond our expectations and we are still getting compliments from the guests about how good the food was. The portions were more than enough and they made sure it was very fresh and even brought us a special surprise at no extra charge. The prices were extremely reasonable compared to other places we considered.
I recommend the imperial rice if you go early enough in the day, otherwise they sell out. The paella is also fantastic, with a mixed variety of seafood. The pernil and steak also never disappoint me.

I am deducting 2 stars from my original review because of the sandwich I had the other day. I decided I wanted to try the Pan Con Bistec which is a traditional Cuban Steak sandwich. It’s supposed to consist of thinly sliced beef, onions, shredded lettuce, tomato and potato sticks. I was shocked when I got home and there was Cheese Whiz in the sandwich. Cheese Whiz, Really??? The cheapest cheese you can buy and someone in the kitchen thinks that’s a good idea? There were no onions, no lettuce or tomato and no potato sticks which is the best part of this sandwich! It was a complete letdown not only based on the cheese but the steak was dry and tasteless.
I have had many of these sandwiches in my life especially when I lived in Miami and I have never encountered Cheese Whiz on any of them until now. I can appreciate it when restaurants try and reinvent classics but this definitely does not work. If someone wanted a Philly Cheesesteak, they wouldn’t dine at a Cuban joint! I have lost all desire to return based on this experience.

This is the first place in Orlando that I have found a superbly perfect, authentic, mouth watering Cuban sandwich.
Every time I go to grab lunch I’m tempted to try something else on the menu, but the Cuban is so good, not to mention huge, that I cannot help but order it.
I hope it never changes because it’s such a wonder to finally have found this gem in Orlando. I only wish the location was closer to the center of the city and not hiding tucked past the Florida Mall.

I love love love this place.
I go twice a week to get my breakfast sandwich and croquetas. I haven’t had their food yet, but I can imagine it’s just as great. They are an authentic Cuban restaurant, spoke to the owner who says his goal is to continue maintaining this restaurant authentic. It’s a definite must and hidden gem.

I’ve eaten a lot of Cuban food, like A LOT, but this place is affordable, friendly, and delicious. I got the Ropa Vieja with plantains, beans, and rice and it was only $ 6! Can’t go wrong here, I promise you.
My friend ordered a Cuban sandwich also and it was delicious. The meat inside was great, the bread was perfect, and it was pressed to perfection.

Great and speedy service. Best Cuban sandwich I’ve had outside of south Florida. Can’t wait to go back to try the rest of the menu!

Holy cuban pork! One of the best cuban sandwiches ever! Also, their yellow rice, cuban fried rice, black beans and other sides are delicious too. The flan is to die for as well. Their passion fruit with tamarind juice drink is tart, sweet, cold and refreshing too.
The service is fantastic, super friendly and very attentive. I would highly recommend Café Pinar for some tasty cuban food if you are in the area, or even if you have to make a bit of a drive to get here.

What a great place to enjoy Cuban food! Café Pinar truly deserves a 5 star rating.
The staff here are all very kind and friendly, they all seem to be proud of the food they are serving, they never made me feel I had to hurry up and decide what to order, instead they were all very helpful, and so on and so forth.
The food, was also excellent.
Here is what I had today for lunch.
* Cuban Sandwich
* Yuca
* Black beans
* Cuban soup with veggies and meats
The Cuban sandwich (which a male staff or maybe the owner (?) told me it is the best in town, and I believe it is) was excellent. When was the bread baked? I wondered, because it was so soft inside. And the sandwich was not salty even with cheese, mayo and mustard.
Yuca with some onion was so good especially with the house made garlic oil sauce which had some vinegar in it.
Black beans were served very hot and nice.
The Cuban soup had a lot of veggies and the broth was very very delicious.
Since I am an out-​of-​towner who may not be able to come back to eat here for a long time, I ordered more than I could finish, but I did bring the left-​over home with me — Some of the Yuca and a half of the sandwich. They are too good to waste.
Great food, great staff, and very pleasant dining area.
I look forward to eating here again soon!