I've got a Hankerin for a Cuban

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Where's the best spot to get one in Baton Rouge?

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You can't get a good Cuban sandwich anywhere in Baton Rouge, at least not anything close to authentic.

Closest one is in Kenner, off of the Loyola exit as soon as you hit the edge of NOLA. It's called "Cuban American Restaurant", they have the best Cuban in the state. The Medianoche isn't on the menu, but you can ask for it, and they'll make it.

Afreaux

Please remedy this. I see no reason that BR cannot produce a great cuban.

The Silver Spoon in the Bocage Shopping Center has a great version. It may not be authentic but it is better than some I've had in Miami. You don't have to travel to NOLA. I do wish someone would open a Cuban restaurant here in Baton Rouge.

I wrote a review on the Kenner restaurant a while back: Click Here

A number of restaurants in Baton Rouge have their own spin on Cuban sandwiches. That's not to say that what they serve isn't a good sandwich, but if you're used to the authentic version, it does make a difference (much like a muffuletta from Central Grocery, or po-boy from Acme/Pocorello's).

Place like Cuban American Restaurant in Kenner, or Union Supermarket (when it was on Carrollton) would use Cuban bread (lightly buttered on the outside), quality ham, swiss cheese, slow-roasted pork cooked in-house, and mustard (pickles optional). They use a traditional Cuban sandwich press (sandwichera), it won't cook evenly on a panini grill. If you ask for a medianoche, it's the same thing, but on sweet yellow egg bread. If it's got mayo, ketchup, lettuce, peppers, onions, spicy brown mustard, etc it's not a traditional Cuban.

Ultimately, the bread used and the quality of the roasted pork is what determines how good the sandwich will be. I make them at home from time to time, long ago a buddy of mine actually sold them hot from a little cart on Chimes street on weekends.

If you try the Cuban (particularly the medianoche) at the Cuban spot on Loyola out in Kenner, I promise that you won't look at another Cuban sandwich the same.

You and your chilito

Lafayette has a Cuban place (Habana City or something like that). I've never been, but I've heard good things from folks.

Have you been Afreaux?

I lived in Covington for a while and downtown was a place that served a pretty good pork Cuban sandwich. The place was named Juarez's or something like that. Not even sure if it's there any longer but it was as close as you can get near here.

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There a lots of Cuban in New Orleans...our history goes way back with Cuba.

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True: There are only about 5000 Cuban's in Louisiana.

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Yea, well, I lived in Tampa for about 5 years, and I was surronded by Cuban's. To me, saying there is 5000 Cuban's in New Orleans, doesn't mean there is a rich Cuban heritage.

FWIW, Tampa, has some pretty damn good Cuban sandwich's and some pretty damn good cigar's