7 local places to find a Cuban sandwich, with its pork, ham and Swiss cheese goodness
So yeah, we don’t live in Tampa, Fla. – where the Cuban sandwich actually originated, but that doesn’t mean we have to buy a plane ticket just to get one.
There’s plenty of places in Charlotte offering the sandwich that has a variation of shredded pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, yellow mustard, and dill pickles – served either cold or hot-pressed on Cuban bread. Here’s where to find them…
A Piece of Havana
11126 S Tryon St.
Price: $8.99
Ingredients: Ham, Swiss cheese, roasted pork, mustard, mayonnaise and pickles
Pro Tip: Add a side of the plantains for $3.25
Toucan Louie’s
2753 Rozzelles Ferry Rd.
Price: The Cuban, $7.95 and the Cuban BBQ Sandwich, $6.95
The Cuban ingredients: Slow roasted picnic ham, black forest ham, Swiss cheese, bread and butter pickled. Slathered with dijon mustard and press grilled on an 8″ Italian roll.
The Cuban BBQ ingredients: Slow roasted picnic ham with their signature Caribbean BBQ sauce. Topped with jicama slaw and pineapple-mint relish on a kaiser roll.
Tip: Order a Pimento Cheese Steak sandwich while you’re at it…
The Sandwich Club
435 South Tryon St. (The Green)
Price: $8.25
Ingredients: Roasted pork, porketta seasoned with rosemary and pepper, finocchiona fennel salami, Swiss cheese warmed, pressed on a toasty ciabatta, mayo, spicy brown mustard and dill pickle slices.
Tip: The Cuban is their Sandwich of the Week, so you only have one more day to go get it. Hopefully they bring it back soon.
Babalu Tapas & Tacos
1511 East Blvd.
Price: $9.95
Ingredients: Citrus braised pulled pork, black forest ham, marinated cucumbers, sweet mustard BBQ sauce, Swiss cheese and Cuban bread.
Tip: Go on a Monday so you can get $3 off their house margaritas.
Havana Carolina Restaurant & Bar
11 Union St., S #108, Concord
Price: $8.99 for both sandwiches
Cuban ingredients: Roasted pork, ham topped with melted Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles in pressed Cuban bread.
Midnight Sandwich ingredients: Roasted pork, ham topped with melted Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles on sweet egg bread.
Tip: Treat yourself to the Copa Lolita (small caramel flan served with two scoops of ice cream) after your meal.
Havana Carolina Bakery
900 Cloverleaf Plaza, Kannapolis
Price: $6.99
Ingredients: The Cuban Sandwich/El Cubano holds roasted pork, ham, melted Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles on pressed Cuban bread.
Tip: Order the tres leches, too ($3.50). (Thanks to Lauren Au for the tip!)
Malabar
214 N Tryon St.
Price: $10.95
Ingredients: Pork, ham, Swiss cheese, house-made pickles and mustard on a baguette, served with patatas bravas and mixed greens.
Tip: Try one of their meat tapas to accompany the main course.
Honorable Mention
Suarez Bakery
4245 Park Rd.
The bakery sells Cuban bread on Saturdays only after 1 p.m. Then you can make your own Cuban at home.
Cover photo: via Instagram (michie_o29)
This story was originally published April 4, 2018 at 10:00 PM with the headline "7 local places to find a Cuban sandwich, with its pork, ham and Swiss cheese goodness."