New Award-Winning Cuban Eatery on St. Pete Beach

St. Pete Beach just got introduced to a whole lot of flavor! If you haven’t already tried one of St. Pete Beach’s newest eateries, Kuba en la Playa, you’re missing out!

Located on Blind Pass Road in St. Pete Beach, Kuba en la Playa is a Latina-Owned, local business that opened its doors in May 2021. Kuba boasts a scratch kitchen– meaning every dish is made fresh to order and will leave you wanting more!

During our visit to Kuba, Chef Felicia and her staff prepared four delicious menu items for us to try: El Rey Kubano (Kuba’s award-winning Cuban sandwich, “The Cuban King”), Chicharrones (fried pork cracklings), Vegan Empanadas, and Kuban Fried Rice. Yum!

El Rey Kubano consists of mustard sauce, pickles, salami, ham, perfectly seasoned shredded pork, swiss cheese, all pressed on crunchy toasted Cuban bread. We had a side of the yucca fries with the sandwich and they were to die for.

Growing up, my grandmother would prepare Chicharrones quite often and these were just like abuela's! These delicious chunks of pork were fried to perfection with a crunchy first bite and juicy, moist meat just under the crunchy outer shell. And you can’t forget to dip these in one of the delicious sauces they are served with: Firewater Cilantro, for a spicy option, or Garlic Aioli and Fresh Lime, for a creamy, zesty flavor.

I am not a huge fan of veggies… I am very, very carnivorous and find most vegan dishes to be… dull and not super exciting. But oh MY, did these vegan empanadas change my mind! The outer shell of the empanada was fried to an excellent golden brown and was filled with amazing flavor: Black beans, mashed yucca with mojo, roasted red peppers, and spinach.

Last but most definitely not least we tried Kuba’s, Kuban Fried Rice. Bursting with flavor, this dish consists of rice, shrimp, ham, chorizo, shredded pork, green onions, peas, served with sweet plantains. This one made my carnivorous side very happy, as it's loaded with delicious, well-seasoned proteins. A must-try for sure.

By now, I’m sure you all are drooling, so don’t keep missing out and head on over to try some of Chef Felicia’s modern takes on Abuela's cooking. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing cocktail, light snack, Cafe Cubano, or a home-cooked meal, Kuba’s got you covered.