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Cuba de Ayer

Cuba de Ayer

Cuban Restaurant$$$$
Burtonsville
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8.4/10
147
ratings
  • Tips
    Brian F.
    "Get the ham croquettes!"(4 Tips)
    Ramona T.
    "Empanada's and arroz con pollo is delicious!"(6 Tips)
    Lauren B.
    "... of mojito, and the rum cake. You won't be disappointed!"(2 Tips)
    Davida A.
    "Guava Mojito fantastic!"(4 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon45 Tips and reviews
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  • Cuban food
  • good for dates
  • good for groups
  • cake
  • casual
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  • Washingtonian Magazine
    Washingtonian MagazineNovember 23, 2011
    The best dishes, such as the ground-beef-and-potato-hash picadillo, the warm, crunchy ham croquetas, and the chicken soup with rough-cut veggies and hunks of meat, have a soulful simplicity.
  • Tracy I.heart icon on user image
    Tracy IsaacJuly 6, 2015
    Been here 5+ times
    I enjoyed everything! The croquettes were great. The pernil, crunchy plantains, and black beans and rice were amazing. I enjoyed my meal so much, I ordered the tres leche cake and café con leche.
  • Arthur T.heart icon on user image
    Arthur TaylorJanuary 8, 2013
    Been here 25+ times
    Haven't had a bad dish yet! Very authentic, highly flavorful, great service, reasonable prices, it has everything you could ask for if you love Cuban cuisine!
  • Krystle H.
    Krystle HindsJanuary 4, 2015
    Food is delicious! Have had ropa vieja and pernil. They're so good I don't venture away except for appetizers. The place has been remodeled and expanded. Looks great! Highly recommend.
  • JàNayheart icon on user image
    JàNayNovember 9, 2019
    The cheese empanadas are hitting, can y’all sell them by the dozen and half-dozen tho? Thanks management.
  • Brian C.
    Brian CharlesFebruary 21, 2013
    Highly recommended! Fresh, delicious food! Victor-server-knew exactly what he was talking about! Recom. A dish for all tastes. Great service! Hole in the wall type place but clean and worth it!
  • Leslie L.heart icon on user image
    Leslie LinaresAugust 23, 2017
    As for the food, it was delicious and very authentic. Ambiance was pretty good, great music a bit loud. Staff seemed a bit scatterbrained, few plates were dropped. Don't recommend the mojitos.
  • Brent M.
    Brent MOctober 23, 2010
    I had the Lechon Asado with Moros Y Cristianos and sweet plantains and it was amazing!! I definitely recommend that if you are a fan of tender pork. Try a little of the house hot sauce with it too!
  • Lauren B.heart icon on user image
    Lauren BordlemayApril 25, 2014
    Our must haves are the empanadas w/homemade hot sauce, Ropa Vieja, any kind of mojito, and the rum cake. You won't be disappointed!
  • Roger M.
    Roger MullerAugust 2, 2018
    Excellent food, I recommend the pardo frito, tostones rellenos y cafe con leche. Servers a little lack of knoledge.
  • Kustom K.heart icon on user image
    Kustom KaneDecember 4, 2015
    Everything! But especially the empanadas and marinated skirt steak!
  • Michelle S.heart icon on user image
    Michelle SmithJanuary 16, 2015
    The garlic shrimp and rice can't think of what they call it in the menu but out is fabulous.also tres leches for dessert.
  • Jenn R.
    Jenn RodzSeptember 16, 2012
    Trully Delicious!!!! Pernil is awesome a must try! Mojitos are good too
  • Kenyan J.
    Kenyan JewelsJuly 8, 2012
    They have the best Emapanadas ever. When you find Cubans filling up a Cuban spot...you know the food is GREAT! Never been disappointed.
  • Nicoleheart icon on user image
    NicoleFebruary 15, 2016
    Empanadas were delicious! Waitress was super helpful. Will be back!
  • TantalizingTease O.heart icon on user image
    Everything to me but Vera Roja or Avacado Salmon or Red Snapper
  • Davida A.
    Davida AllenOctober 13, 2013
    Food was great! Guava Mojito fantastic!
  • Queen B.heart icon on user image
    Queen BApril 11, 2013
    Delicious authentic Cuban food! Great service! I had vaca frita and it was perfect!!!
  • Tyler M.heart icon on user image
    Tyler MSeptember 29, 2014
    The combinacio was sad; only two yuca fries, but the pork was flavorful. Empanadas were greasy, dry meat inside, and sugar sprinkled on the outside. I didn't sense pride in food or service from staff.
  • Clarence M.heart icon on user image
    Clarence MillerSeptember 23, 2016
    The food and the service is PERFECT. Super friendly staff
  • Alexis
    AlexisJune 4, 2013
    The pollo a la plancha is my go-to lunch item. So flavorful!
  • Joyceheart icon on user image
    JoyceMarch 6, 2016
    Rice and chicken. Ropa vieja. Garlic shrimp. Killer rum cake
  • Justin C.
    Justin CredibleAugust 26, 2013
    Small spot, but great food & excellent service. Ask for the server Gabby!!
  • Donna
    DonnaNovember 18, 2013
    Love love the food! The appetizers are all worth it!
  • Timmy
    TimmyJune 2, 2012
    Been here 5+ times
    Try the Combinacion appetizer for a good sample of the pork, yucca, and croquettes!
  • !i$@ b.
    !i$@ bee™September 21, 2011
    Try the ropa vieja... best in the area! Especially ~con plantanos~ :-)
  • Chris B.heart icon on user image
    Chris BJune 23, 2016
    Everything I tried was excellent
  • Realwildkutz B.heart icon on user image
    Service is great, just wished they gave complimentary garlic bread.
  • D. A.
    D. AlonsoMay 23, 2010
    The boliche is best in my book. The picadillo had raisins, not a big fan, they could've warned me. The Cuban coffee ( espresso) is maybe the only thing non-authentic, but the boliche is remarkable.
  • Deonte M.
    Deonte MaddflyNovember 2, 2013
    It's busy but service was great and will go back
  • Ramona T.
    Ramona ThorpeApril 20, 2013
    Empanada's and arroz con pollo is delicious!
  • Boris
    BorisOctober 12, 2013
    Be sure to try the hot sauce!
  • Elena Mariaheart icon on user image
    Elena MariaApril 1, 2013
    Their food NEVER disappoints!!
  • Jeff L.
    Jeff LanouetteNovember 12, 2011
    Been here 5+ times
    Food was excellent as well as service can't wait to come back again.
  • Brian F.
    Brian FloresJune 18, 2013
    Get the ham croquettes!
  • Beatriz R.heart icon on user image
    Beatriz RJanuary 9, 2014
    The food was amazing!
  • Antonio C.
    Antonio CMarch 20, 2011
    The 3 Leches is amazing! Don't leave without trying it
  • Michiko D.
    Michiko DibyApril 1, 2010
    Best Cuban in the dc metro area hands down. The piccadillo is awesome
  • David H.
    David HeymanApril 10, 2010
    Been here 5+ times
    Definitely try the vaca frita.
  • Liz S.
    Liz SchererMarch 27, 2011
    Don't even bother to make a reservation. They don't honor them. Great food. Lack of restaurant skills.
  • Dai L.
    Dai LeAugust 20, 2012
    Closed on Monday!!:(
  • Jason Z.
    Jason ZangariMarch 29, 2010
    Awesome Cuban food!
  • Fabiana M.
    Fabiana MartínezJanuary 31, 2017
    Tostones rellenos de ropa vieja! Muy ricos
  • Karma B.heart icon on user image
    Karma BellaJanuary 12, 2016
    Everything is amazing including trés leches
  • Juan S.heart icon on user image
    Juan SequeirosJuly 12, 2015
    Croquetas, todo es bueno.
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