The Gnarly Cuban

I LOVE this place and the fabulous owners. They genuinely care about their food and also how they treat their customers. I haven’t not liked anything! Fresh made to order with so much love and sabor! Don’t sleep on this amazing ventanita.

The food was outstanding. We had a pork bowl, a steak bowl, papá rellena, flan, and cafecito. Unfortunately I forgot the cafecito at the window. The pork had such tenderness and depth of flavor. My son was mmmmmmmm all the way home and I had a bite and it hit me in two waves. Soooo good! The ropa vieja was delicious too and very juicy and none of the meat had weird fat or anything like that. It was great quality and taste. You can taste the slow cooked and well seasoned process. The flans were so creamy, deliciously balanced milk and egg ratio! The caramel on the bottom was just right! My son ate two in a row. The papa rellena was crunchy and moist and so delicious with great flavor. I highly recommend the place. The only issue we had was the parking lot was full of screws and I had to park down further by another shop. Next time I will order ahead and park away from the construction so I don’t get a flat tire.

We had my birthday party catered, and it was AMAZING! So much food, so much flavor! Setup and presentation was clean and professional, and the food was so delicious! Guests and friends were impressed and we were lucky to have a few left overs. Everything was labeled, with clean branding and really classy. They went over the top on making sure we were setup for a successful event. We are trying to think of the next event now so we can try so much more on the menu! If you are wanting great food, presented perfectly, and that’ll please and impress - go no further! Just go Gnarly Cuban!

My new favorite find in College Park! I followed a small sign promising Cuban food and found The Gnarly Cuban. Started off my morning with three different empanadas (the Bodega (ham egg and cheese), the Gnarly Cuban (literally a Cuban sandwich as an empanada), and picadillo (beef)) because each one they described sounded amazing. Each one was PACKED with filling, and I loved the cilantro sauce to dip. I would put that sauce on anything. Also grabbed a cafecito (which they offer with whole milk or oat milk) that comes in a chilled bottle so it’s not watered down. Great on these hot and humid Florida mornings. Their online ordering makes it easy to order ahead and pick up at the window. Highly recommend stopping by! Welcome to College Park!

First, follow them in IG so you know where they are at! They pop-up at different spots and markets! I truly am so excited for them to open their own place! Had their “The Gnarly Cuban” empanada which is a cuban sandwich basically - but like FOR REAL! it really feels like a cuban sandwich but better because it’s in a crunchy empanada shell!! Thennn the “Frita Cubana” is a great kinda spicy situation with chorizo and potato sticks that take the textures to the next level. For $7 bucks each, I shared with my husband and I would not hesitate to go wherever they are to grab a few more!! Looking forward to trying their other flavors and desserts as well! Love supporting local and these ladies are killing it!! 10000% recommend!

Chanel Harris

Today I stopped by The Gnarly Cuban in College Park, and wow, what an experience! The location was a little tricky to find at first, but once we got there, it was so worth it. This women-owned gem is perfect for a quick pick-up or a casual bite if you’re craving quality Cuban food. I ordered a cafecito with oat milk, and let me tell you… it was creamy, smooth, and absolutely delicious. That alone will have me coming back! The food was fresh and full of flavor, and you could really taste the love that goes into it. At the window, we were greeted by the owners themselves, both super sweet and clearly passionate about what they’ve built. It was such a pleasure chatting with them and seeing the care they put into every detail. Definitely looking forward to visiting again soon! ☕✨

J Perez

First time at this place. Yes, the location is a bit hard to find, but once you discover this hidden treasure, you won't regret it. EVERYTHING was fantastic. The café con leche was exceptional and gave me a much-needed jolt of energy. The pastelito was absolutely delicious, and the mini Cuban empanada was gnarly (in the best way). Loved it. The cafecito reminded me of the tiny pocillo cups I grew up with in Puerto Rico. (Cuban and Puerto Rican cultures have so much in common....it felt like home.) The picadillo empanadas were my favorite....an absolute flavor bomb. So freaking good! The papa rellena rocked as well!. And that garlic cilantro sauce...chef's kiss. And last but definitely not least: the owners. They were amazing!. So friendly and clearly passionate about what they do, even while handling a long line of customers. That kind of vibe makes all the difference. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area to try one of their bowls. I should've ordered one today, but didn't have time. Give them a chance. You won't regret it.

Anthony

The absolute best cafecito (cold/hot) and empanadas in Florida, yes the entire state! Fresh, great flavors and always consistent. The lovely ladies there are genuinely passionate about their craft and offer amazing customer service! Poy Yo empanada with that garlic cilantro sauce! Good lord! **chefs kiss

larissa landrove

I visited the Gnarly Cuban recently in September, and absolutely loved it! Amazing service, and the best cuban food in Orlando. The gnarly cuban empanada, ham croquetas, guava & cheese pastelitos and a cafecito are a must! We also tried the Cuba-rrito which honestly should be for 2 because its huge and stacked with mojo pork, diced plantains, Pico, white rice, black beans and garlic cilantro sauce...what else needs to be said! We live in South Florida, so I can't go as often as I would hope but definitely will be back as soon as I can! See you at the ventanita soon!

Jorge C Espino

The food is awesome and the ladies there are super nice and extremely friendly. It’s mostly a take out, but well worth it. I ordered empanada, Cuban coffee, toast, the works. Wanted to have a great breakfast to last me the entire day. What a treat! Hope they make it big and open up a place to sit and chat, like the Cubans do.

Frank G

The Gnarly Cuban burrito truly was gnarly, the flavors were tremendous. The empanadas brought me back to La Isla. Service was great too, staff had good suggestions and food came out promptly.

Amy Vacca

Have you ever been to a friends house and they cook you the most delicious meal, they’re treat you like family, and they send you off with well wishes? That’s what heading to La ventanita and seeing the Gnarly Cuban girls is like. The hospitality is unmatched, the food is outrageously flavorful, and the cafecito will make your eyes vibrate in the best way. Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, or catering… these are you go tos! The portions are large and packed with flavor so good it’ll make you smile. Our favorite is the bowl with chicken or vaca frita, the hibiscus tea, and of course the oat milk cafecito by the half gallon. We love the Gnarly Cuban so much and know you will too!!

Christine Greenman

I love it so much the Food Amazing . Cuban food best . Pumpkin flan empanadas and Bang bang pumpkin rum cake and beef empanadas. Amazing Cafe Con Leche. Very friendly 😃 . I love it 🇨🇺❤️😃

Alison Brooks

I LOVE this place and the fabulous owners. They genuinely care about their food and also how they treat their customers. I haven’t not liked anything! Fresh made to order with so much love and sabor! Don’t sleep on this amazing ventanita.

Silvia Anderson

The food was outstanding. We had a pork bowl, a steak bowl, papá rellena, flan, and cafecito. Unfortunately I forgot the cafecito at the window. The pork had such tenderness and depth of flavor. My son was mmmmmmmm all the way home and I had a bite and it hit me in two waves. Soooo good! The ropa vieja was delicious too and very juicy and none of the meat had weird fat or anything like that. It was great quality and taste. You can taste the slow cooked and well seasoned process. The flans were so creamy, deliciously balanced milk and egg ratio! The caramel on the bottom was just right! My son ate two in a row. The papa rellena was crunchy and moist and so delicious with great flavor. I highly recommend the place. The only issue we had was the parking lot was full of screws and I had to park down further by another shop. Next time I will order ahead and park away from the construction so I don’t get a flat tire.

Brian Applegate

We had my birthday party catered, and it was AMAZING! So much food, so much flavor! Setup and presentation was clean and professional, and the food was so delicious! Guests and friends were impressed and we were lucky to have a few left overs. Everything was labeled, with clean branding and really classy. They went over the top on making sure we were setup for a successful event. We are trying to think of the next event now so we can try so much more on the menu! If you are wanting great food, presented perfectly, and that’ll please and impress - go no further! Just go Gnarly Cuban!

Lauren McCool

My new favorite find in College Park! I followed a small sign promising Cuban food and found The Gnarly Cuban. Started off my morning with three different empanadas (the Bodega (ham egg and cheese), the Gnarly Cuban (literally a Cuban sandwich as an empanada), and picadillo (beef)) because each one they described sounded amazing. Each one was PACKED with filling, and I loved the cilantro sauce to dip. I would put that sauce on anything. Also grabbed a cafecito (which they offer with whole milk or oat milk) that comes in a chilled bottle so it’s not watered down. Great on these hot and humid Florida mornings. Their online ordering makes it easy to order ahead and pick up at the window. Highly recommend stopping by! Welcome to College Park!

Sharon

First, follow them in IG so you know where they are at! They pop-up at different spots and markets! I truly am so excited for them to open their own place! Had their “The Gnarly Cuban” empanada which is a cuban sandwich basically - but like FOR REAL! it really feels like a cuban sandwich but better because it’s in a crunchy empanada shell!! Thennn the “Frita Cubana” is a great kinda spicy situation with chorizo and potato sticks that take the textures to the next level. For $7 bucks each, I shared with my husband and I would not hesitate to go wherever they are to grab a few more!! Looking forward to trying their other flavors and desserts as well! Love supporting local and these ladies are killing it!! 10000% recommend!

Jashira Fernandez

I LOVE every experience I’ve had with The Gnarly Cuban. The ladies are so nice and great to work with. I had a last minute order for my baby shower and they were able to make it happen! The empanadas were all gone in a flash and everyone could not stop talking about them. I love supporting this small business so much and can’t wait to have some more yummy empanadas!

My family was visiting Orlando from California over the Thanksgiving break and since we moved away from Florida several years ago, we were craving good Cuban food. I ordered the catering trays from the Gnarly Cuban and they did not disappoint! Our catered Thanksgiving meal included rice, black beans, pulled pork, chopped chicken, sweet plantains, and empanadas. Everything was phenomenal! The garlic cilantro sauce was delicious, and the pico de gallo was so fresh and flavorful. Serving sizes were generous, and there were plenty of leftovers for the next two days for our family of 8 (we ordered enough food for 15). The meats were lean and well-seasoned with no weird fatty or chewy bits. The rice was cooked perfectly to allow for reheating, and the beans were really good and packed with plenty of the bean juice for putting over all the food. The pico de gallo was SO elevated, with cherry tomatoes, cilantro and fresh red onions. I met Marley the day I picked up the food and she and her team were so friendly, helping us load trays into our car, giving tips on reheating the trays of food for the next day, and making sure we had everything correct in our order. Their service was great, and they were responsive when I asked questions online prior to placing my order. I 100% recommend this place and will be sure to visit again the next time I'm in Orlando.

Wish I could post a picture but I ate the empanadas so fast they were SO GOOD. Fresh juice. The nicest service. Visiting from out of town but will hit them up one more time before I leave!

First time at the Gnarly Cuban and wow, so delicious. We tried all the empanadas and the pollo bowl. We loved the empanadas so much we ordered 15 to take back to share with friends in Jacksonville Beach. Hope to be back soon for some more deliciousness. Great staff and awesome customer service.

Found this little gem this morning. Juicy and flavorful empanada, fresh croissant breakfast sandwich, delicious colada, and friendly staff. It’s a bit tucked away in an interesting industrial area with only to go option/ dine in car… but the flavors are with it. Check em out!

A must!! Everything was so tasty and fresh. My husband and I tried one of each and shared. The gnarly Cuban empanada was so unique and my favorite. The best croquettas I’ve ever had and we live in miami (we have them in every corner). Let’s not forget the cafecito 😍 soooo good!! Marley and Nina have really brought something special to Orlando. We can’t wait to go back.

Brian J

Found this little gem this morning. Juicy and flavorful empanada, fresh croissant breakfast sandwich, delicious colada, and friendly staff. It’s a bit tucked away in an interesting industrial area with only to go option/ dine in car… but the flavors are with it. Check em out!

Jennifer F.

My family was visiting Orlando from California over the Thanksgiving break and since we moved away from Florida several years ago, we were craving good Cuban food. I ordered the catering trays from the Gnarly Cuban and they did not disappoint! Our catered Thanksgiving meal included rice, black beans, pulled pork, chopped chicken, sweet plantains, and empanadas. Everything was phenomenal! The garlic cilantro sauce was delicious, and the pico de gallo was so fresh and flavorful. Serving sizes were generous, and there were plenty of leftovers for the next two days for our family of 8 (we ordered enough food for 15). The meats were lean and well-seasoned with no weird fatty or chewy bits. The rice was cooked perfectly to allow for reheating, and the beans were really good and packed with plenty of the bean juice for putting over all the food. The pico de gallo was SO elevated, with cherry tomatoes, cilantro and fresh red onions. I met Marley the day I picked up the food and she and her team were so friendly, helping us load trays into our car, giving tips on reheating the trays of food for the next day, and making sure we had everything correct in our order. Their service was great, and they were responsive when I asked questions online prior to placing my order. I 100% recommend this place and will be sure to visit again the next time I'm in Orlando.

John Lopez

First time at the Gnarly Cuban and wow, so delicious. We tried all the empanadas and the pollo bowl. We loved the empanadas so much we ordered 15 to take back to share with friends in Jacksonville Beach. Hope to be back soon for some more deliciousness. Great staff and awesome customer service.

Jessica Martinez

A must!! Everything was so tasty and fresh. My husband and I tried one of each and shared. The gnarly Cuban empanada was so unique and my favorite. The best croquettas I’ve ever had and we live in miami (we have them in every corner). Let’s not forget the cafecito 😍 soooo good!! Marley and Nina have really brought something special to Orlando. We can’t wait to go back.

Maria Rivera

Gnarly Cuban easily serve the best empanadas in Orlando, but you really can't go wrong ordering anything off their menu. And not only is the food packed with flavor and generously portioned, but the owners and team are so kind and welcoming.

Warehaus

Some of the best, most authentic Cuban food you'll find in Orlando, hands down. The Gnarly team shows you amazing hospitality as soon as that window opens. They know their Cuban food, and craft it with perfection. We've been eating their empanadas for many years and the taste always stays right on point. We've also enjoyed all their new offerings with rotating news dishes weekly (the bowls are SO good and filling), and the pastelitos are beyond delicious. Couldn't recommend this spot more. Pro tip: order online and skip the line if you're in a hurry, or order at la ventanita for the authentic Gnarly Cuban experience!