FoodSided
Fansided

4 ethnic sandwiches that aren’t actually ethnic

By Jeremy Melendez

The three cheese grilled sandwich at By the Brewery cafe in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.By The Brewery Cafe
The three cheese grilled sandwich at By the Brewery cafe in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.By The Brewery Cafe /
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The Cuban Sandwich

The “Cubano,” as it’s also known, is truly a sandwich for the ages. But despite it’s misleading name, the Cuban sandwich was created right here in America, with Tampa, Florida being it’s birthplace.

The makeup of a Cuban sandwich is simplicity at it’s finest. It’s comprised of a combination of meats and cheese, typically ham, roasted pork and Swiss cheese. It’s then topped with pickles and mustard and sandwiched between two pieces of toasted Cuban bread.

The Cuban Sandwich has become a universal menu item in many cafes across the country, and will even find its way on fellow Caribbean cuisines such as various Puerto Rican restaurants.

It’s quite easy to see why this is often mistaken as a sandwich that comes from Cuba. The unique blend of ingredients is nothing short of spectacular, and it’s very easy to believe that something this good had to have been created somewhere other than the United States.

I’ve had my share of Cuban sandwiches in my lifetime. And while there aren’t many ways to screw this up, it’s definitely a possibility. So if you’re someone who’s never tried this sandwich, I’d recommend visiting a notable Cuban restaurant, preferably somewhere in the Florida area.

Where to enjoy: La Teresita – Tampa, Florida

The sandwich had a ton of flavor and truly embodied what a Cuban sandwich should taste like. While my experience with Cuban Sandwiches in Florida is still vague, this one was the best thus far.

Where it’s overhyped: Columbia restaurant – Ybor City in Tampa, Florida

Not only did this sandwich fall short of it’s major hype, it was quite possibly the worst Cuban sandwich I’ve ever had.