Seven of the top Cuban sandwiches in the Pensacola area to celebrate Cuban Sandwich Day

National Cuban Sandwich Day is Aug. 23, and this is our case for taking a trip around Pensacola to find your favorite sandwich.

The rumor stands that the farther South you go in Florida — the better the Cuban sandwiches get. But there are some Pensacola area restaurants that may pleasantly surprise you.

One of the trademarks of a traditional Cubano comes down to the bread and the crisp press that leaves it with the perfect crunch on the outside and soft on the inside. But a lot of what makes the sandwich the “best” comes down to preference — whether you like your Cubano close to tradition or something that bends the rules.

But if you are a Cuban sandwich aficionado then you know — the ingredients do make a difference.

Anyone can slap pork, ham, pickles and mustard on a sandwich and call it a Cuban — but there is far more that goes into it. The tender shred of the pork that’s been slow-roasting for a full eight-hour work day or longer. The melt of the cheese, the tangy pickles, the touch of spicy mustard.

These are seven of the Penscola Cubans that you need to try.

Joe’s Caribe, 6624 N. Ninth Ave.

"Cubano," $15

Joe’s Caribe is somewhat of a Pensacola hole-in-the-wall. The shop itself doubles as part sit-down restaurant, part-bakery where you can order a Pastelillo Guayaba, or guava turnover, on the go after your meal is finished.

Although it is not Pensacola’s best-known restaurant, it’s the place you want to pull over to snag a $15 Cubano that passes the seal of Caribbean authenticity. For this sandwich, the “pernil,” or slow-roasted, seasoned pork shoulder, is the mouthwatering ingredient that sets the sandwich apart. It is offset with a succulent ham, creamy swiss, thinly shaved pickles and a dabble of mustard that complements but avoids being domineering. The restaurant also chooses to include salami to the sandwich for additional flavor.

A bite in the sandwich provides just the right amount of crunch on the outside, while still offering the fresh flavor of the roll.  You don’t want to opt out of the squeeze bottle filled with creamy, garlic sauce served on the side that the owner calls his “everything sauce” because there is not a menu item it doesn’t make better. Pair it with a glass of guava sangria and enjoy the trip – it takes you straight to the shores of Havana.

Hub Stacey’s, 312 E. Government St.

“The Cuban,” $11.99

Hub Stacey’s is the neighborhood hangout near Seville Square that will usually draw you there with friends and won’t let you leave hungry. The Cuban is no exception to the casual eatery’s list of standout sandwiches.

If you can imagine a grilled cheese sandwich straight off the pan that leaves your fingers a little greasy – this sandwich is the meatier, juicer version of that. The crunch in each bite testifies to the toasted buttery bread that holds together the tender roasted pork, fresh cut banjo ham, smoked gouda cheese, spicy mustard and dill pickle chips. What makes this sandwich great is the smoked gouda cheese that gives it an extra layer of smoky flavor that perfectly complements the thinly sliced, crisped banjo ham.

Served with a bag of Lay’s on the side, this Cuban is the ultimate comfort food.

More Pensacola sandwich favorites: Where are the best places to grab a sandwich in Pensacola? Try one of these 8 places

Wine Bar, 16 Palafox Place, $13

"Cuban Press," $13

For a lighter afternoon delight, the Wine Bar brings you a classy Cuban Press, which is a light and flavorful panini style sandwich with all of the bold flavors of the Cuban packed in. The $13 sandwich is flat and wider than most, layered with mojo pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickle and a flavorful Cuban mustard, which is traditionally bolder in flavor the traditional yellow.

This sandwich is easy to eat and easy to hold. The standout ingredient being the long-thinly shaved pickles that stretch across the bread. The sandwich press also comes with a choice of house pasta salad, chips or a salad. The bread was nicely pressed as promised, packing flavor into every bite.

If you couldn’t tell from the restaurant’s name, it has an extensive wine list and generous happy hour for a little red wine day drinking to pair.

Havana West Express, mobile

"Cubano," $12.79

This food truck is first generation Cuban American owned and operated, so if you’re looking for someone who knows the components of a good Cubano, this food truck has it figured out.

Served on a tasty hot-pressed Cuban bread made from scratch by Pensacola’s Emerald Coast Bread Co., the Cubano comes loaded with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickle and mustard, and can be made Tampa style with salami for a $1 upcharge. The truck features a variety of other sandwiches made on the same tasty Cuban bread, including a marinated steak sandwich and a ham croquette. This sandwich is the Cuban's close cousin, but is made with fried, bite-sized, breadcrumb loaded pieces of ham. You can’t forget to load up on a side of crispy yuca fries or sweet plantains to go along with it.

Since the Havana West Express is mobile, follow along on their website and social media pages to find out where they will be next. Some of their hotspots include Gary’s Brewery & Biergarten on 208 Newman Ave. off Gulf Beach Highway and Paradise Beach Fillin’ Station on 13121 Lillian Highway.

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Delicias Latinas, 1741 E. Nine Mile Road

"El Domi Cuban Sandwich," $12.50

This newer restaurant to Pensacola’s University Town Center was created to bring a taste of the Dominican Republic to Pensacola. Which is why the “El Domi,” or Dominican-style Cuban sandwich, is too tempting not to try.

The sandwich follows the formula of the others, with roast pork, pickles, swiss cheese, ham and mustard, but is served on a fresh hoagie bread. This sandwich packs volume and flavor, and the melt-in-your mouth, slow-roasted pork and creamy swiss cheese serve as the star of the show. It comes with shoestring fries on the side. This one is for the yellow-mustard-lovers though, because there is plenty of it to go around.

JJ Chago’s, 8476 Navarre Parkway

"Joe's Cuban Sandwich," $12.80

This Navarre café’s reputation precedes it for its one-day-a-week Sunday Cuban special. The restaurant has an extensive description of the sandwich on its menu, with the owner taking pride in the labor of love of how the Mojo pork is slow roasted overnight and then smoked in the morning.

The bread is sourced from La Segunda Bakery out of Ybor City, Florida which specializes in Cuban cuisine. They then add cooked ham, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles. The menu warns that the restaurant opens at 8 a.m. and sells out well before 10 a.m., so you need to get there early if you want to try it for yourself.

Kingfisher Craft Sandwiches, 1500 Barrancas Ave.

"Cuban Sandwich," $14.50

Kingfisher is consistent favorite for sandwiches due to every item being made in-house, from scratch daily with locally sourced ingredients. It is no surprise that their house Cuban is second-to-none. It is listed online as one of the restaurant's most popular menu items, right next to their fried green tomato sandwich and pineapple Big Jerk soda.

The ingredients are the key to this Cuban, with a house ham, mojo pork shoulder, dill pickles, Swiss cheese and Cuban mustard. The restaurant has the signature Cuban press down pat that pulls the flavors together harmoniously, from the smoked pork shoulder to the house made pickles, with a variety of delicious Southern sides to accompany it. Don't sleep on this one.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Cuban Sandwich Day 2023 in Pensacola: Here are seven of our favorites