History

Pan con bistec descends from the Cuban palomilla steak, served on pan cubano with shoestring potatoes pressed inside the sandwich. Enriqueta's on NE 29th has anchored the dish in Miami since 1988; Sanguich elevated the technique with house-roasted beef and pickled onions. The potato sticks are non-negotiable; they go inside.

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Common allergens: Gluten

Make it at home

Yield 2Hands-on 20 minTotal 30 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 300g thin sirloin or palomilla, pounded thin
  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced thin
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 tbsp sour orange juice (or lime + orange)
  • Salt, black pepper
  • 1 loaf Cuban bread, cut into 2 sandwich lengths
  • Mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato slices
  • 1 cup shoestring potato sticks

Method

  1. Marinate beef in garlic, sour orange, salt and pepper for 15 minutes.
  2. Heat oil in a heavy pan. Sear steak fast on both sides, 1 minute per side. Remove.
  3. In the same pan, saute onions until soft and slightly caramelised, 6 minutes.
  4. Slice Cuban bread, spread mayo. Layer lettuce, tomato, steak, onions and a thick layer of shoestring potatoes.
  5. Press the sandwich on a hot plancha or in a foil-wrapped brick-press for 3 minutes per side. Serve immediately.

Tip from the editors. Put the potato sticks inside the sandwich, not on the side. The pressing crisps them into the bread.

Where to eat pan con bistec

Pan con bistec in Miami

Enriqueta's Sandwich Shop ★ 4.6

$$ Caribbean

Enriqueta's Sandwich Shop between Wynwood and Edgewater in Miami is a 1988 Cuban counter with pan con bistec under ten dollars, closed Sundays only.

Why locals goHidden between Wynwood and Edgewater since 1988, this Cuban counter still keeps a pan con bistec lower than ten dollars and locals know to arrive by 9am.

TipClosed Sundays. Counter only; the line moves fast but the dining-room seating is limited.

Directions

Sanguich de Miami ★ 4.6

$ Caribbean

Sanguich in Miami's Little Havana is the Cuban sandwich counter at 2057 SW 8th Street, a 2022 Bib Gourmand pick, with the city's reference pressed pan cubano.

TryCuban sandwich and pan con bistec

TipAdd a side croqueta. Closed evenings; this is a lunch stop. Card or cash both work.

Directions

Versailles ★ 4.5

$$ CaribbeanUntil Mon-Thu 00:00, Fri-Sat 01:00, Sun 00:00

Versailles in Miami is the 1971 Cuban institution at 3555 SW 8th Street, open until midnight every night and 1am on weekends with the ventanita pouring.

TryCuban full plates and ventanita cafecito

TipWeekend 1am closing on the dining room; the ventanita stays open later. Order vaca frita and a cortadito.

Directions

Sergio's ★ 4.0

$$ CubanCoral Gables

Sergio's in Coral Gables is the original family Cuban diner at 3252 SW 22nd Street, serving abuela-style Miami plates across South Florida since 1975.

OrderPan con bistec with crispy potato sticks and a cafe con leche.

TipOpen early for breakfast, late for after-show plates. The Coral Way location is the founding room.

Directions Book

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