Glenn Lindgren: Sometimes you just want to stop someplace where you don't have to get dressed up, the service and décor are casual, and the food is served quickly.
Jorge Castillo: Glenn, you just described fast food!
Glenn Lindgren: Yes, but the place I'm thinking about puts the American fast food goliaths to shame. The place is called El Rey de las Fritas (The King of the Fritas) and it is a great place to stop in for a quick lunch or dinner. Sure Miami has the same collection of fast food joints you can find in Dubuque, but if McDonald's is your idea of a great burger, you are missing out on what is either the best or the worst kept secret of Cuban cuisine.
Jorge Castillo: If you are in Little Havana and stop at that place with the Golden Arches, shame on you!
Glenn Lindgren: You can eat plenty of McBurgers at home.
Jorge Castillo: Instead, why not try a Cuban hamburger?
Glenn Lindgren: The Cuban hamburger, called a frita, is a delicious spiced hamburger patty cooked with plenty of secret sauce and served on a bun piled high with shoestring potatoes.
Raúl Musibay: You have to try a frita and there is one place you don't want to miss.
Glenn Lindgren: When we're visiting Little Havana, the only times we don't stop at El Rey de las Fritas is when they're closed.
Jorge Castillo: And then we cry a lot!
Glenn Lindgren: Once you've had a few fritas, don't be afraid to branch out. El Rey also makes a really outstanding pan con bistec (steak sandwich), tamales, Cuban sandwiches, and more.
Raúl Musibay: You can't go wrong.
Glenn Lindgren: They even serve a perro caliente (hot dog) for the kids or adults-who-refuse-to-try-anything-new in your group.
Jorge Castillo: Hey, if you do have any of those adults-who-refuse-to-try-anything-new in your group, we suggest you ditch them!
- ANYONE can walk in here and they
- will make you feel welcome!
Jorge Castillo: And they have all the popular flavors mango, piña, coco, trigo – it's hard to make up your mind.
Glenn Lindgren: They also serve a few simple desserts. The flan is a nice sweet way to clear your palate after overdosing on the secret sauce.
Raúl Musibay: If you can't make it to Little Havana, El Rey de las Fritas has two other convenient Miami locations.
