Miguel’s The Cubano

You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu at Miguel’s! I have been there 5+ times as well as had the owner, Alex and his crew cater events at my home and place of work. The guys are professional, reliable, personable, and fun to work with.
Alex and Rob were super accommodating and are willing to work with you on special requests and dietary restrictions (my mom can be a bit picky with her caterers). They even roasted an entire pig right in my backyard!
Don’t need catering? Go by the trailer on 7^th and Trinity (yes, you have to deal with the drunk 6^th street crowd, but it’s totally worth it). The ingredients are top notch, super fresh and slap-​your-​grandma good. I’m not a big red meat eater and I LOVE the El Don. Seriously, just go try it.

omg this place is the super bomb diggity. I forgot what its called, but the beef sandwich with the tomato wine sauce melts in your mouth! no joke. best late night munchies near 6^th ive ever had.

Amazing late-​night food trailer dinner right downtown off 6^th. Was way hungry the other night and walked by and thought to myself, ‘I’ve had enough tacos, it’s time for something else.’ It was SOOOO good.
Got the Grenadier sandwich for $ 7, which is basically like a better version of the falafel. Here’s the description: Four deep frid garbanzo bean, red onion, and bell pepper balls, topped with caramelized onions, cilantro, baby swiss, and our signature sauce.
I couldn’t really describe it any better than that. So yeah, get that especially if you are a veggie. Also, got the yuca fries with mojo. They were pretty good. Not the best yuca fries I’ve ever had, but good enough for bring $ 2.75.

Really like the food here. It’s been a while since i ate here but i remember really liking it. The counter person was pretty cool too and talked to me about his food.

First off the sandwiches are great. The sauce on the fries is KILLER – or maybe I was a bit tipsy… ANY-​who, loves how they play upbeat music at their truck. It’s like a dance party when you wait for the food to come out. Only downside it takes a while, but they make each one to order, so there is your upside. Agree it is a bit pricy for what you get, but it’s good stuff after a late-​night binge at the gay bar!

Can words properly describe Miguel’s? Probably not, but I’ll do my best.
Miguel’s is by far my favorite food trailer in Austin. I spent most of my childhood in Miami so I know Cuban food the likes of Versailles and let me tell you, these guys know Cuban. There are some secrets and important tips in this review, so pay attention!
I’ve had the pleasure of trying a good portion of the menu and can honestly say you’ll be happy with any selection you make. Everything is made fresh when you order it with top noch ingredients and lots of care. Here are some menu highlights to help you on your first visit to Miguel’s.
The Don and the De La Noche are delicious options for you pork lovers (and If you’re not partial to pork, these will surely make you a convert). If you’re a vegetarian, Miguel’s has something for you too! The Grenadier, the Cuban spin on falafel. Coming from a staunch carnivore, this might be the best vegetarian sandwich I’ve ever had. The croquetas are perfectly seasoned and toasted to perfection and are definitely my favorite side. They are big enough however, to be a meal all on its own… but lets be honest, this stuff is so good you’ll definitely want more. The maduros are basically sweet fried plantain heaven and a cup of arroz con frijoles will go well on the side of anything you order and if you get yucca fries ask for extra of their delicious homemade mojo.
Not only is the food great but the guys at Miguel’s really complete the experience. Alex will remember you after the first time you visit and treats all his customers like old friends and master chef Rob will expertly whip up your order quickly and with the upmost care, the new guy Ross has learned well under his tutelage and makes a mean sandwich too. If the food isn’t enough to bring you back time and time again the company definitely will.
My downtown late nights Thurs-​Sunday are almost always spent on 7^th and Trinity waiting for the best late night snack in Austin, and since I work downtown I often spend my lunch hour visiting the boys too. But before you run off to 7^th and Trinity, I’ll tell you about the single best thing that Miguel’s makes, their best kept secret, the Julliana. This sandwich is made on a roll of their delectable Cuban sweet bread. Ham, pulled pork, swiss cheese, caramelized onions, cilantro, crema, mojo and the rest of their delectable secret ingredients that come together to make what is quite possibly the best sandwich on this earth. It’s a secret menu item, only revealed to regular customers, but the time has come for it to be shared with the world. So if you love good food, do your tastebuds a favor and give Miguel’s a try, you won’t regret it. Awesome flavors, gratuitous portions, great people, Miguel’s has it all.

Take it from The Julliana herself, Miguel’s is the only place to do Cuban in Austin, TX.

These guys REALLY care about food, and it shows. I had the De La Noche and, on the Austin sandwich scale, it ranks with Tam’s Bahn Mi. They offer free downtown delivery during lunch, Tues — Fri.

Best Cuban food I’ve had in Austin. No need to miss Miami any longer!

Really good will be back as I work downtown. I’m used to more of a crispy cuban bread; the bun was very soft but good flavor and quality ingredients all around.

Miguel is certainly not bringing a food ‘revolucion’ to the people with this food truck establishment. I think this is one of my lesser food trucks I have been to.
I had La Frita Cubana which was a-​ok and did not come with shoestring plantain fries like the menu suggests and a side of black beans and rice. I love black beans and rice and I have had them growing up my whole life but this was my least enjoyable time eating them. A lot of foods from Cuba are greasy but this was just a bit over the top and the flavor was lacking.

I’ve only tried one of their sandwiches, the De La Noche, but wow, it was good. Pulled pork, ham, baby swiss, and pickles were in good proportion to one another, but the best part of this sandwich was by far the bread that they used. They use a «homemade Cuban sweet bread», which really sets this sandwich apart from the rest. The way they toast the outside and flatten it in a press creates the perfect light crispy barely flaky shell/​crust that is just perfect. The only thing that would have made this sandwich better (IMHO) is if they added some peppers to it to give it a little more kick. Maybe I can ask to add that next time? Not sure, but I will definitely be coming back to try some of the other options. I also got to try one of their ham croquettes, and it was very delicious as well.
The owners are really nice. Service was fast and friendly. Definitely recommended…

We ordered the El Don and the yucca fries. Both were incredible. The El Don for its size is a little pricey but the TLC and quality ingredients they put into it is where that price comes from. The meat was so flavorful and the bread toasted to perfection. The guy added some crema onto it for us and this just took it over the top. The yucca fries were fried and served PERFECTLY. I’ve never had yucca fries here in Austin before but this place does them right. The mojo, crema and squeeze of lime that was served on top was the perfect balance of spicy, rich and fresh.
I’d love to go back and get more. I really want to try their pressed sandwich and their other sides. And that’s always the sign of a great place!
As others have said this place would succeed in the form of a restaurant. They already have a solid following after less than a year of serving and people are already more than willing to cough up the money.

A food trailer in Austin is hardly a Revolucion.
So, I feel the need to comment on yet another Cuban eatery in Austin. I’m torn on how to rate Miguel’s, not because the food is anything less than delicious but because it’s just not a great value for the buck.
You see, the food will charm your tastebuds if you enjoy Cuban food. The service is exceptional (meaning they are friendly fellows behind the counter), but let’s face it this a food trailer. It seems to me that if all I get is some tasty food in a paper dish I shouldn’t have to pay sit down waited upon prices.
Oh, it won’t break the bank to eat a pork sandwich (Cubano) from here, but it will cost you. My suggestion to Miguel’s is that they sell the trailer and open up business in a permanent establishment. The food is good enough and then they can justify the cost.
I have settled on a 4 star rating because by golly the food demands more than a 3 but the cost of the cuban treats demand a rating deduction. Sorry guys.

Venturing into mostly non-​kosher territory is somewhat daunting for me. Mainly because I’m embarrassed to walk up and read the menu, find nothing that would prevent the Gods from sending a lightening bolt down, and then walk away from said trailer. Nope, actually my dislike for pork is more of a personal preference. So, good thing the menu is online. And also, when you get to the trailer, you’ll see an icon of a chicken, pig or cow next to the menu item. That’s a great idea for the illiterate people out there.
I chose the ‘La Yuma’ sandwich. Maybe Yummy comes from Spanish, because that’s what this sandwich was. Just the right amount of chicken, a very tasty sherry-​pimiento-​garlic sauce and a touch of scallions. I could tell the chicken was organic. I’m the picky one who gets air-​chilled chicken from Central Market and if I could I’d drive out to the country and get a live organic chicken. So the bird was of top-​notch quality. And the bread was awesome!
I also had the Yuca fries with mojo. They should have been called Yuma too if Yuma means yummy. But wait, no — then the whole menu would be yuma. Or maybe it would be Yuma The Cubano (lo siento, Miguel.) Anyways, I highly recommend the Yuca fries, as a previous, more seasoned reviewer pointed out. I didn’t taste much of the mojo sauce on them but still, they were divine and a little off the beaten path compared to potatoes all the time.
Lastly, because I parked on 11^th street and had my dog with me, I walked to Miguel’s and therefore had to reward my dog for his company by getting him something (he stares me down with puppy eyes if I’m the only one eating.) Well, I personally didn’t try the Ham Croquettes but Zico REALLY, REALLY liked them. So, there’s that if I’m allowed to mention this without having tried them myself. Take it from Zico, he was most likely ready to walk up and order another side of the croquettes.
And lest I forget, the guy preparing the food was very meticulous. I was mesmerized just watching him cut an onion and put a sandwich together. And the cutie who took my order was super polite and extremely nice. I couldn’t finish my sandwich so I asked him for a bag. Even the way he opened and handed the bag showed an attention to detail and a sincere aim to satisfy everyone who wants to join the revolution.
If you haven’t made it out here just yet, I highly recommend you come try it. Now, don’t go joining any Central American armies just yet and don’t develop an addiction to cigars (although they do repel mosquitos and crane flies), but really, give these guys a whirl. It’ll be well worth your time and money and endless circling downtown blocks in search of parking. Hey, it’s a lot easier than booking your flight to Havana!
***EDIT 04/​19/​2012: How cool is it when the owner, Alexander, writes back and tells you the reasoning behind the «La Yuma» name? Apparently, the original movie «3:10 to Yuma» came out in the fifties. According to Alexander’s grandfather, Miguel, or General Miguel, the movie was so popular and cool that everything in Cuba back then that was cool was said to be «la yuma».
And Alexander gave me more info on the «La Yuma» sandwich. They use authentic Cuban sherry-​pimiento chicken and didn’t know what cheese to pair it up with, so they tried cream cheese (the same they use in their empanadas). So, in pairing a Cuban dish with American cream cheese, it got it’s name «La Yuma». It’s still LA YUMMY in my book, but a little bit of history is always welcome!***

Austin is seriously lacking in Cuban food establishments… until now.
Having lived in Miami for a few years, I became addicted to Cuban food and have had an insatiable craving since my return to Austin. I had been wanting to try Miguel’s food trailer immediately after I had seen it pop up on 6^th and Trinity, and FINALLY got an opportunity to go there.
It was late so I got something small– a side of black beans and rice and yuca frita. For those who dont know what yuca frita is, I implore you to go to Miguels and try it because once you do, you will scoff at the mere thought of a lowly french fry. The rice and beans were a generous serving and were steaming hot– I was so overjoyed I nearly cried. It had the cuban flavor that I had been desiring and that all the other cuban restaurants had gotten wrong. The yuca frita was the best I ever had… sorry Miami. The mojo on top was the perfect touch.
2 days later, I found myself at Miguel’s again. Miguel is SUPER nice and recognized me as the obsessed girl from 2 days before. My friend got the el Don and I had to beg her for a bite, it was that good. A random guy who was waiting for food with us ordered the de la Noche and when he got it forced me to take a bite so that I could experience its wonder.
I could go back to Miguel’s every day. I want to order one of everything off the menu and just sit at the picnic table outside gorging myself, and it would all be worth it. I cant wait to go back!

I’m not sure I really want to post a review of this place. I want it to remain my secret for damned good Cuban food in Austin.
Mexican is amazing in Austin, but Cuban… not so much. Most Cuban food we have had in the city is a legend in its own mind. It’s a bit like singles night at a bar… hype, expectations, disappointment, shame for going in the first place.
Miguel’s is the real deal. I picked up some food to go this weekend… primarily, we got a Cuban and the El Don. My husband is very picky about his Cubans. He has high standards and have been uniformly disappointed by every other place in Austin. He devoured his sandwich and was not in the mood for sharing. We have tried almost every place in the city that serves Cubans and in his opinion, Miguel’s is the best. period.
I snitched a small bite and it was a good sandwich, but I liked my El Don better. It was slightly spicy, meaty, and pure deliciousness.
The tostones are good though I’d love a bit of a dipping sauce… We also got the black beans and rice which were also excellent. I’m usually bored by beans, but they had an amazing flavor.
They are a bit expensive for a trailer, but you do get what you pay for. If you want great food, you have to pay for quality ingredients… I’d rather pay for the quality here than be disappointed elsewhere.
My only complaint is they are a bit slow… but in fairness, they are making all your food fresh, in front of you, and none of it is pre-​made. The wait time is on par if you ordered it from a restaurant and have to wait 10 minutes for it to show up at your table. If you show up with that expectation, it is totally reasonable and fair. However, if you are used to getting a cheap slice of pizza from a truck, you will have to wait a bit longer… but it is so worth it.
These guys are putting out amazing Cuban food and also serve in some non-​barfly friendly hours a few days of the week. I’ve tried most of the trailers around and I’d say these guys could hold their own against Odd Duck or Lukes in a food trailer throwdown.

El don, enough said. The pork was juicy and fantastic, the sauce amazing, the staff incredibly friendly. Couldn’t recommend this place any more.

I literally just finished the El Don, and the taste of pulled pork and mojo sauce has not yet left my taste buds. Thus, I may be still inebriated by the delightfully rich flavors of the sandwich when I say this, but… look out, East Side King. There’s another food cart in town deserving of such superlative titles as «best in Austin.»
I must admit, I’m not a Cuban cuisine aficionado. In fact, I’m not sure if I’ve had Cuban food before, and if I had a plan for lunch today, I would have never stumbled across Miguel’s. But the simple food cart caught my eye. As I veered toward it, even my ruined-​by-​burnt-​coffee sense of smell could not miss the magnificent scent of well-​seasoned meat.
The sandwich itself was a little bit small for the price, but it made up for it in flavor. The bread (apparently homemade) was toasted perfectly. I’m a big fan of Me So Hungry, but they can go either way with over-​toasted or under-​toasted bread, so it was a delightful surprise. The flavor was so rich and unique that I was glad — nay, enthralled — that I chose Miguel’s over other downtown fare (I was on my roundabout way to Jimmy John’s). I ordered it with a side of maduros, which are grilled plantain with a sweet cream dipping sauce. The sauce was brilliant and the plantains were grilled to perfection. (Although I’m not an expert on Cuban, I’ve had grilled plantains at a number of churrascarias and Columbian joints. This batch was streets ahead of any other I’ve tried.)
As I finish the review, there’s still a tinge of garlic-​y delight from the mojo sauce left floating around my taste buds. Each burp is a gentle reminder that I should go exploring for new food carts more often. Unlike Deji M., I hope Miguel’s stays exactly where it is — within walking distance of my workplace — so I can put all my coworkers on what may be the best new food cart in Austin.

Miguel’s Cubano is 100% wrong.
They are wrong for waiting on sloppy drunkies to roll over from 6^th Street, completely unaware and possibly half-​nude, to purchase delicacies of which they are utterly undeserving.
What they are doing 100% right is everything that can fit into their little trailer. Yeah, Miguel’s is a bit expensive — if you usually eat Roppolo’s off the ground where a homeless dude has slapped it off your plate at 3am. What they offer is quality burger bites, finely tuned to the taste buds of the sober-​to-​slightly-​buzzed, and served on homemade bread. YES. They provide delicious little empanadas dulces, organic delights, items built on flavors that have «soaked,» «simmered,» or been «basted,» «sauteed.» Their yucas fritas are the most succulent I’ve had, hands down. The process they use is serious.
Even their cheese comes from local farms. I kid you not. This isn’t vomit from the bottom of the Walmart reject barrel that tops the crap you eat while drunk-​dialing or text-​accidenting. This is stuff that should, at the very least, grace the lots of Odd Duck, Flip Happy Crepes and the like.
For the love of all that is holy: take your rich, decadent hot chocolates manufactured from the clouds of dessert fat heaven and find a better spot, with more accessible hours. You guys, please don’t make it so that I have to hit dirty 6 to find you. I fought through the skanky depths of early-​20s regret hell to get to you, but I can’t risk my pride, or the safety of my posterior, for much longer.

Love love love La Frita cubana and de la noche sandwich! Super tasty food, helpful customer service, and great prices! Miguel’s has become my go to place when I’m in the downtown area