From cozy neighborhood spots to intricately designed restaurants channeling nightclubs, there’s no shortage of places in D.C. to find Cuban food and no better day to do than National Cuban Sandwich Day! Blending influences from African, Spanish, indigenous Taino, and Caribbean cooking, Cuban cuisine has staple items that you can’t mistake such as signature pressed sandwiches, vaca frita (fried and shredded steak usually covered with onions), empanadas, and ropa vieja (shredded beef prepared in tomato sauce with spices) with sides of sweet plantains or black bean soup. Strong, rum-based cocktails are also a must when dining in Cuban style.
Mi Cuba Cafe in Columbia Heights is one of the best options in the area for such an experience. This traditional, and well thought out spot in Columbia Heights excels in one of the key elements of authentic Cuban food: its signature bread, which is prepared specifically for Mi Cuba. The ropa vieja here is divine, but also try the vaca frita. Wash it all down with a delicious and robust Spanish wine, a Cuba libre (white rum, lime and Coca-Cola), or the well known; traditional mojitos. With owners who are Havana natives, a bright interior and a menu that is in Spanish, Mi Cuba Cafe is the closest you’ll get to authentic Cuban food in the District.
The small restaurant, which is located in Columbia Heights at 1424 Park Road NW, only has about 25 seats and is decorated with hanging plants and vibrant paintings of papayas, watermelons and mangoes hung on green, yellow and orange painted walls to transport you to the the country of Cuba from the moment you step in the door. While the interior may appear more simplistic, you can easily look past the more subtle ambiance because the restaurant’s cuisine is more than worth your trip to Columbia Heights.
Mi Cuba Cafe tackles some of the more well-known Cuban dishes like Cuban sandwiches and empanadas to give visitors of the District a true experience of traditional Cuban fare. Serious attention to detail went into making sure that Mi Cuba is a fun place to enjoy a meal and drinks and the same level of love goes into the food as well and a visit here for National Cuban Sandwich Day or any day is not wasted time.
