Slow-braised shredded flank steak in tomato, peppers, onion and white wine, served with yellow rice and black beans. Cuba's national dish and the staple.
Ropa vieja (literally 'old clothes' for the shredded appearance) is the national dish of Cuba and arrived in Tampa with the Cuban cigar workers of the 1880s. La Teresita and the Columbia Restaurant both run versions. The dish stretches flank or skirt steak by braising it in a tomato-pepper-onion sofrito until the meat falls apart.
3 editor picks for Ropa Vieja (Cuban braised beef) in Tampa, ranked by editorial score. All Tampa signature dishes · Ropa Vieja (Cuban braised beef) across every city.
Columbia Restaurant ★ 4.5
ybor-city · 2117 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
The Columbia Restaurant on East Seventh Avenue has plated 1905 Salad and Cuban sandwiches in Ybor City since 1905 and is Florida's oldest restaurant.
La Teresita ★ 4.5
west-tampa · 3246 W Columbus Dr, Tampa, FL 33607
La Teresita on Columbus Drive in West Tampa has run a Cuban counter and dining room since 1972, owned by the Capdevila family across two generations.
Cafe Don Jose ★ 4.4
west-tampa · 3019 W Columbus Dr, Tampa, FL 33607
Cafe Don Jose on West Columbus Drive runs a working-class Cuban counter with cafecito, pastelitos and Cuban breakfast plates for the West Tampa crowd.