El Jefe Cafe

Drew Griffin

It's all about the family that owns the restaurant. Quality eats at reasonable prices. My family went for lunch on Saturday and took home the cuban sandwiches, loaded fries, deviled crab, BLT and as always (referring to the restaurant they used to own which shall remain nameless) the food was excellent. Try it - you'll be glad you did.

Norka Rodriguez

Great spot for cafe con lechè. Their croquttes are delicious. The biscuits and gravy with friend eggs was good! Everything was cooked to order. Staff was very warm and friendly. Can’t wait to try their sandwiches next time

Sharon Witsel

I saw this place as we pasted by it many times as I go by, and I felt that it was time to finally try it out. I went in with a friend of mine and we ordered the cuban sandwich and the cheese steak. We waited for our food for quite a while, and when we finally got the food, it was good. The cheese steak sandwich was a little salty for our liking, but everything else was pretty nice.

Brittany Griffin

Never in my whole life have I ever had coffee so good in my life every single time I order from there it’s hitting like it’s fire. I cannot make this up. Their Cuban toast is real Cuban toast, their burrito wraps, the salsa everything..I haven’t even tried the whole menu and oh my gosh when I tell you like everything is so good it’s just really that good and I never had coffee like that in my life like I’m already addicted to caffeine but like I just don’t anymore…I just might have to order coffee from them every single day now because Starbucks Dunkin’ Donuts any of these other places like they just cannot compare. They just can’t compare. It’s just there’s no comparison like I almost cried tears of joy because the coffee was good. And if the owner or a worker is seeing this, please remember my name because I will be ordering coffee again and you have to make it the same way I mean, I don’t think I have to ask because the other two times I ordered it was so good. It’s just way too good… And don’t get me wrong the food and everything is great. The Cuban toast is my favorite, but I just can’t understand like why the coffee was like so good is it legal like I’m not understanding. Also, I know this review is long, but might I just add that I ordered through DoorDash so it had to be picked up and I feel like the Dasher took forever to get there but that’s besides the point the point is is that the coffee had ice in it and it was not watered down and it was perfect It was just perfect and so is the customer service I spoke to a really nice girl she was so sweet. Well done!!!

Alvaro Torres

Killer Cuban food. What I’ve tried is just like mama’s cooking. Giant tostones! Excellent Cafe con Leche. The Devil Crab is amazing, ton of crab with very little breading. Mom & dad love the place. Prices are reasonable and service is very fast and friendly. If you’re in the Citrus Park area stop by. Sorry we started eating before I snapped pictures, it was later in the day and we were starving

Rebeca Messina

Love this place, west Tampa feel in carrolwood! Our first time here and definitely coming again! Cafe con leche was soo good and the food was fresh!

Linda B

Update 11/24/21: Went with my adult grandson for breakfast and were very pleased. Had iced caramel coffee of course, such a yummy treat! everything was well prepared. Cuban toast, bacon and scrambled eggs (with Cholula) for me and scrambled eggs, sausage patties, potato tots and biscuits with gravy for my grandson - all prepared well and with care. Those people really hustle and they're all so nice. Love the atmosphere. Called ahead for 2 iced caramel coffees. They were ready when I arrived. $9 for very large servings that weren't all ice. Very yummy treat, served with a smile. What more could you want?!

Charlie Gipson

I love Cuban food... and am lucky there are a couple Cuban restaurants very near to where I live. I decided to try a new one today, instead of my usual. El Jefe's did not disappoint! As I walked up to the restaurant at about 11:45am I could see it was busy. Several people waiting for takeout orders, and all the booths and tables were full. Always a good sign! Good service... I was helped as soon as I walked in, and Natalie was friendly and helpful. I ordered a Cuban sandwich and an order of Platanos Maduros to go. I received my order quickly, and it was "El Jefe" that handed it to me... also very friendly and helpful! Got home, and unpacked the food... and took pictures. Sandwich was gorgeous, and nicely pressed with some nice browning on the crust. Platanos looked perfect! Started eating, and the sandwich was delicious... crispy Cuban bread, succulent meat in nice portions, just the right amount of condiments. The best Cuban sandwich I have had in a good while! I really love Platanos Maduros... I will always order them with any meal I can. And these were some of the best I have had... so soft and flavorful with a little bit of crunch from the frying pan. Really, really tasty! I will be going back to try other dishes... and wish I had started going to El Jefe's much sooner!

Always drive to the restaurant and pick up the best Cuban Sandwiches in my area (Citrus Park) ...hands down best Cuban in town... me and my wife love them. ahhh don't forget the Cuban Coffee.

The deviled crab was fantastic, perfectly seasoned and loaded with real crab meat. The Cuban sandwich was well made, with good quality meat and bread properly pressed. I’ve had both of these items from countless places throughout Tampa and I’d rate el jefe among the best. I will definitely be back to try other items.

Amazing breakfast sandwich on grilled Cuban bread! I never had a cafe con leche but equally amazing! Just a passer through so no ties to the restaurant. Service is friendly and fast as well!

It's a classic neighborhood diner serving comfort food. You go in and see the same faces every time. The food never misses. A lot of the time they know my order and I don't have to say a word. If you wanna have a nice meal served by family go to El Jefe.

I only got a cafe latte here. Big size for the price & absolutely phenomenal coffee... They have a serious coffee machine. Fast service. Seems like a new modern Cuban cafe, clean. Menu online. They do have plenty of seating if you are eating there.

The biscuits and gravy is outstanding, so is the Cuban sandwich. Our girl who served us was was terrific also.

T Milner

Everything I've had at their locations is good. My fave is their Cuban. I haven't found a better one yet.

Adam Singleton

It's a classic neighborhood diner serving comfort food. You go in and see the same faces every time. The food never misses. A lot of the time they know my order and I don't have to say a word. If you wanna have a nice meal served by family go to El Jefe.

Andrea Denequolo

Every single time. They are slammed today and out food came out fresh, hot and amazing. And the waitstaff is just fantastic, always smiling and right in top of it.

k a

I only got a cafe latte here. Big size for the price & absolutely phenomenal coffee... They have a serious coffee machine. Fast service. Seems like a new modern Cuban cafe, clean. Menu online. They do have plenty of seating if you are eating there.

A Class Pro Painting LLC

Always drive to the restaurant and pick up the best Cuban Sandwiches in my area (Citrus Park) ...hands down best Cuban in town... me and my wife love them. ahhh don't forget the Cuban Coffee.

Dalton

Amazingly yummy food with friendly staff and a comfortable and cultured experience. The Cafe con Leche is amazing, and you have to try the Torrejas, absolutely amazing! 10 out of 10 would recommend!!!

Fast and friendly service in a cafe with a distinct Latin atmosphere. Vegetarian dishes are not marked but the English speaking server was very helpful in identifying my options. The veggie sandwich that I had settled on was tangy, felt light without the cheese , and completely satisfied my lunch appetite. I splurged by adding a delicious cafe con leches as a dessert.

Gottfried Kibelka

Fast and friendly service in a cafe with a distinct Latin atmosphere. Vegetarian dishes are not marked but the English speaking server was very helpful in identifying my options. The veggie sandwich that I had settled on was tangy, felt light without the cheese , and completely satisfied my lunch appetite. I splurged by adding a delicious cafe con leches as a dessert.

I love the food it is awesome the staff is always helpful and very nice. the only thing I don't like is they add 20% tip to your bill and don't tell you about that. I feel that is very shady, if I wasn't paying attention today to the total I would of never new. when I asked the waitress why Is it so much, she simply just said we add the tip in that's it.I DO NOT LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN TIP TWICE WITHOUT KNOWING.

Dale Bakowski

I love the food it is awesome the staff is always helpful and very nice. the only thing I don't like is they add 20% tip to your bill and don't tell you about that. I feel that is very shady, if I wasn't paying attention today to the total I would of never new. when I asked the waitress why Is it so much, she simply just said we add the tip in that's it.I DO NOT LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN TIP TWICE WITHOUT KNOWING.

Paul Rodriguez

I’ve been coaching kids nearly 15 years. One of the requirements throughout all those years was to maintain CPR certification. In the CPR classes, they also taught the Heimlich maneuver. In those 15 years, I’ve never had to use the Heimlich maneuver. That is, until today after ordering your steak sandwich. My wife and I each ordered one. We picked them up and brought them home. I ate mine right away and while the flavor was terrific, I certainly did notice the steak was tough and almost rubbery. I hadn’t eaten in about 36 hours (had to fast for a medical procedure), so I wasn’t too worried about texture, I was just happy to eat. My wife, on the other hand, ate her sandwich a few minutes after I finished mine. She took one bite of that steak and began choking. We’ve been together over 10 years and have eaten all kinds of food, mostly meat and Italian dishes, and she’s never once choked. This was the first time I had to use the Heimlich maneuver. She’s fine but will definitely never eat your steak sandwich again. That was a very scary situation. I’m a 5th gen born/raised West Tampan, so I’ve had some good cuban sandwiches and the occasional steak sandwich. Your cuban is ok, but I think your steak sandwich has more potential. Please work on that steak. Thanks.

We’ve never ordered from here but heard good reviews. I SHOULD HAVE JUST WENT TO DUNKIN Bc their microwaved food was better. We ordered breakfast sandwiches, and they sent us the wrong order like not even close to what we ordered. So we reordered and it was still wrong. After waiting over an 1h for the meal we were so annoyed we just said fine we’ll eat these hot overpriced breakfast sandwiches and they were COLD and flavorless I just threw the whole thing away. I rarely leave reviews but this whole experience got me so mad I just had too. Ps we paid for extra cheese and sauce and in the photo is what they gave us.

Frenchiee Christina

We’ve never ordered from here but heard good reviews. I SHOULD HAVE JUST WENT TO DUNKIN Bc their microwaved food was better. We ordered breakfast sandwiches, and they sent us the wrong order like not even close to what we ordered. So we reordered and it was still wrong. After waiting over an 1h for the meal we were so annoyed we just said fine we’ll eat these hot overpriced breakfast sandwiches and they were COLD and flavorless I just threw the whole thing away. I rarely leave reviews but this whole experience got me so mad I just had too. Ps we paid for extra cheese and sauce and in the photo is what they gave us.

I was there last Saturday with my son and daughter in law. My son was getting his brakes done on his car so we decided to grab a quick bite. We got there around 9:45am and had decided before even going inside, we wanted our food to go. The place was busy, as usual, but not jam packed. And I was placing an easy order to go, right? So we order 2 iced coffees, 1 large cafe con leche, 2 Cuban toasts with butter and a pressed guava and cheese pastry they have sitting in the little glass cases. We sat at the stools by the door, just chatting and enjoying each others company waiting for our order. We waited. And waited. And waited. At one point I asked what was the hold up. We needed to pick up my son’s car soon. It was at the shop getting his brakes replaced. They had a new girl at the coffee machine and she was either extremely unfamiliar with the process or just overwhelmed. So I patiently waited some more. After 45 minutes I told the one server closest to me to just give me a refund. I just wanted to leave since they called my son that his car was ready. We did not expect to wait this long. She gave me attitude and said if I “couldn’t see how busy it was”. I told her it was going on 1 hour for 2 toasts and 3 coffees. We were being ignored and FINALLY after one hour and 10 minutes we got our order. I can’t believe they worked on my son’s car quicker than it took these people to toast bread!!! So the toast was cold and stale. The coffee was ok. I got an apology from who looked like maybe one of the more experienced employees or maybe the manager, she could’ve been the owner, who knows! She said it should’ve NEVER taken this long to get our order. But it did. And I will NEVER step foot in there again. This is the second strike. Back in January I took my husband to breakfast for the first time at El Jefe and it took them FOREVER to bring our food. And the same server that snapped at me on Saturday, back in January had been apologetic about the delay. But at that time it was almost empty. What was the excuse then? Stupid me thought that because this time the food was to go it would be expedited quicker. Not! And I don’t expect express service just because I’m placing an order to go. But over an hour for mediocre coffee, and where it took them so long to give us our order that the toast was cold and stale and gummy, is unacceptable.

1st thing you'll notice, they add 20% tip on every order and they don't tell you. Upon walking in, you notice that the counter person was dealing with a lot of delivery orders, Uber drivers coming in and out, no care in the world that they have a live customer in front of them. I ordered a sandwich and it wasn't even toasted, or warm for that matter. I had noticed the waitresses talking back and forth about setting up the "Station" to one's reply "I don't really set up a Station" with that said, noticed my order was done, but it stood in kitchen pass for 10 minutes before wrapping it up and handing it to me, wonder why it was cold. The hard working people were the older generation workers in the kitchen, also noticing the owner coming in with her child and saying "I worry about you girls" to her waitresses, and you wonder why ... I paid $28 for 1 cold sandwich and tip that will put their kids through college.. Addedum: definitely hit a nerve with the owners daughter answering back, never once mentioned how long we had to endure waiting for a cold sandwich.

Andi Bello

1st thing you'll notice, they add 20% tip on every order and they don't tell you. Upon walking in, you notice that the counter person was dealing with a lot of delivery orders, Uber drivers coming in and out, no care in the world that they have a live customer in front of them. I ordered a sandwich and it wasn't even toasted, or warm for that matter. I had noticed the waitresses talking back and forth about setting up the "Station" to one's reply "I don't really set up a Station" with that said, noticed my order was done, but it stood in kitchen pass for 10 minutes before wrapping it up and handing it to me, wonder why it was cold. The hard working people were the older generation workers in the kitchen, also noticing the owner coming in with her child and saying "I worry about you girls" to her waitresses, and you wonder why ... I paid $28 for 1 cold sandwich and tip that will put their kids through college.. Addedum: definitely hit a nerve with the owners daughter answering back, never once mentioned how long we had to endure waiting for a cold sandwich.