cuban – ME SO HUNGRY

Bongo Brothers Cuban Food Truck

Dang. Long lines when Kimchi Taco Truck parks behind my work at 24th St and Broadway. No lines when Bongo Brothers parks there. Both look very similar to me –somewhat new, modern/trendy food truck, selling interesting ethnic food, similar pricing, (over?)use of social media. It’s not that Kimchi Taco has amazing reviews on Yelp. Presumably like Bongo Brothers, I suspected the parking location was hot …but it probably has to do with some Kogi (LA) effect. If you’re going to follow the food truck formula, might as well sell the same stuff.

Anyway, I’m a big fan of no lines. I ordered the Cubano sandwich ($7). Came out quick. Bread was a little chewy, Pork was a little too salty (but in such a way I don’t think it’s normally like that). Overall a decent sandwich.

I’m trying to root for Bongo Brothers. I wonder what would happen if they sold Korean tacos.

Check their website/twitter for their mobile location.

Casa Havana’s Cuban Sandwiches

I was craving a Cuban sandwich, but knew I wanted to try some place new and close to the office. So I headed over to Casa Havana in Chelsea, where they have a neon sign that says “Best Cuban Sandwich.” On the way there, there were two cracked out ladies with huge asses walking in front of me. They kept sweet talking all the men they passed, like walking up to them and saying, “You know you want a piece of this” and laughing really hard in their face. I was afraid I was going to be harassed when I passed them and braced myself. But they didn’t say anything to me. I felt a little offended.

Casa Havana’s Cuban sandwich ($5.75) is pretty good. The pork isn’t spilling out like at Margon or Cibao, but it’s the cleanest Cuban I’ve ever ate. Not too greasy, well-pressed. The ingredients were nicely proportioned. I wouldn’t say it’s a better tasting sandwich than Margon or Cibao, but I definitely felt lighter and more clear-headed afterwards.

Casa Havana – 190 8th Ave (btwn 19th & 20th St) New York, NY 10011