Glenn Lindgren: Sometimes it's easy to overlook the places in your own backyard.
Jorge Castillo: We've used the drive-up window at Islas Canarias in Kendall for years. It's a convenient way to pick up Cuban sandwiches, even complete meals to take home...
Raúl Musibay: ...or eat in the car as we travel around Miami.
Glenn Lindgren: Many times Jorge has stopped by just to pick up an order or two of one of the house specialties handmade and freshly fried potato chips.
Jorge Castillo: I love them so much.
Glenn Lindgren: It's not that we have never eaten inside the restaurant, it's just that we had forgotten how good it is. Lately we've made several visits here and the food is great.
Raúl Musibay: It's one of the top five Cuban restaurants in Miami.
Jorge Castillo: There appears to be two different Islas Canarias operations. The "original" Islas Canarias is located in Little Havana. It is run by Jesus and Santiago Garcia. The second operation includes two restaurants also run by the Santiago family, except that these are owned by other family members.
Raúl Musibay: Both operations descend from the original, but they now have two different websites. Anyway, this review is for the the restaurant on Coral Way. A second restaurant by the same owners, Islas Canarias Café, Restaurant & Bakery, offers a more limited menu and is a popular breakfast and lunch spot.
Glenn Lindgren: The Coral Way restaurant is a lot larger than it looks from the outside. It features a more formal section in the back, with linen tablecloths, and a less formal area in front that's totally casual.
Jorge Castillo: Wherever you sit, you'll get the same delicious dishes from an extensive menu of classic Cuban dishes. They also have a large list of daily specials.
Glenn Lindgren: Standouts include some of the most tender cuts of churrasco beef we've ever found. These skirt steaks are rich with flavor and so tender you can almost cut them with your fork.
Jorge Castillo: Be sure to ask for a side of chimichurri sauce, the garlic citrus flavor of the sauce is an essential complement to the beef flavor of the steak.
Glenn Lindgren: Keep in mind that medium here is closer to medium rare, so order your steak accordingly.
Jorge Castillo: Another delight is the Pollo al Ajillo, Chicken in Garlic Sauce. You get a generous serving of bite-size chicken pieces in a delicious garlic and lemon sauce. Served with a large order of white rice, you're free to mix the two or just eat the chicken separately.
Islas Canarias
Don't Overlook This Miami Dining Gem
Raúl Musibay: I couldn't even see the plate under all that chicken!
Jorge Castillo: The masas de cerdo, fried pork chunks, are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Glenn Lindgren: If your budget can handle it, try the lobster Creole. You get a very generous serving of sweet lobster meat in a Creole sauce of tomatoes, onions, and green pepper.
Raúl Musibay: It's not cheap.
Jorge Castillo: But worth it if you want to splurge.
The Details
ATMOSPHERE: Casual
PRICES: Dinner entrees from $8.00 to $20.00
HOURS:
Islas Canarias: Sunday through Thursday 7:30 am to 11:00 p.m. | Friday and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to midnight
Islas Canarias Café, Restaurant & Bakery: Sunday through Thursday 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. | Firday and Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
CREDIT CARDS: Yes
BAR: Full
WEBSITE: www.islascanariasrestaurant.com
ATMOSPHERE: Casual
PRICES: Dinner entrees from $8.00 to $17.00
HOURS: Monday through Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m | Sundays: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
CREDIT CARDS: Yes
BAR: Full
Start you meal with an order of fried yuca with cilantro sauce, then sample specialties such as tortilla española, or lacón con papa, a delectable ham hock and boiled potato dish seldom seen on Miami menus. The rueda de serrucho, fried King fish steak, is not to be missed.
The "Original"
13695 Southwest 26th Street
Miami, FL 33175
305-559-6666
3804 Southwest 137th Avenue
Miami, FL 33175
305-559-0111
285 Northwest 27th Avenue
Miami, FL 33125
305-649-0440
