The ham and cheese sandwich has seen various interpretations from cultures around the world: the croque monsieur from France, the Francesinha from Portugal, Puerto Rico’s tripleta, and the Cubano from Florida.
While the Cubano’s parent sandwich came from Cuba, the Cubano (Cuban sandwich) as it is known today was created in the late 1800s in Tampa’s Ybor City as a result of the booming cigar industry. This created a demand for a convenient lunch for the many Cuban workers.
The traditional Cubano consists of buttered or oiled Cuban bread, yellow mustard, shredded roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, and dill pickles.
Genoa salami was added by Ybor City’s Italian immigrants, some of which were bricklayers that pressed the sandwich between hot bricks. Don’t expect salami from a Cubano in Miami, however. Proud Miami citizens consider it blasphemous.
Thankfully, the Cubano has made its way across the country to Tucson in various eateries.
Cup Cafe
311 E. Congress St.
Cup Cafe’s Cubano features the more traditional pressed bakery roll, braised pork, smoked ham, and dill pickles, but deviates with Gruyère cheese, caramelized onions, dijon mustard, and chipotle mayo. Jalapeño, cilantro, and fresh lime juice help cut through the fatty ingredients, but ask for a side of mustard for a flavor profile closer to a traditional Cubano.
For more information, visit hotelcongress.com.
DC Jumbie Latin Caribbean Food Truck
Mobile food truck
DC Jumbie has El Fidel, which features pork slowly roasted in mojo criollo (Cuban sour orange and garlic sauce), ham, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, dill pickles, mayo, and mustard on a grill-pressed sub roll.
Check out their current location and keep up with DC Jumbie Latin Caribbean Food Truck on Facebook.
Fini’s Landing
5689 N. Swan Rd.
El Cubano Torta at Fini’s Landing has Tucson flair. Barrio Brewing Co. makes Beached Ale exclusively for Fini’s, which is used in their aioli and to braise carnitas. Sandwich those two with a torta bun along with Swiss cheese, pickles, pecan-smoked bacon, and cabbage for a satisfying Mexican-Cuban fusion.
For more information, visit finislanding.com.
Firetruck Brewing Company
4746 E. Grant Rd. • 9155 E. Tanque Verde Rd. #177 9630 • N. Oracle Rd. #110
Pair a pint of Dew Point Dunkel with The Cubano at Firetruck Brewing. The medium-bodied beer complements the slow-roasted shredded pork, ham, and provolone, while the bubbles help contrast the richness with the pickles and stone-ground mustard.
For more information, visit firetruckbrewing.com.
Gigi’s Mexican Peruvian Fusion
Mobile food truck — check Gigi’s Fusion Food Truck on Facebook for their current location.
El Cubano at Gigi’s doesn’t discriminate against bacon. Roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, bacon, and beer mustard are sandwiched between garlic Cuban bread and grill-pressed with a side of sweet potato fries. A side of mojo sauce makes for extra-garlicky dipping.
For more information, visit gigisfusion.com.
To make your own Cuban sandwich, check out this recipe from Tyler Florence at Food Network.
Where’s your favorite Cuban sandwich from? Let us know in the comments.
[This article was originally written on August 23, 2016, and most recently updated on August, 23 2021]
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Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
