In the ’90s, I discovered the Atlanta Cuban Club in Doraville. It was a vibrant hub where people danced, ate, and shared stories about life in Cuba before the revolution. But the club closed about five years ago, leaving many of us longing for that special atmosphere.
“My friend Karina Reoyo wishes there was still a place that felt like home,” I recall. She’s a fellow Cuban American from Miami, and like me, she moved to Atlanta hoping to find a slice of our culture. With no club to visit now, we’ve kept our roots alive through food.
We’re not alone in this quest. A growing group of Cuban Atlantans explore the city like food detectives, hunting for the best pastelitos—flaky pastries filled with guava or savory meats. If a local grocery store stocks Materva, a Cuban soda, we make emergency runs just to grab it.
Things have changed since the days when Cuban food was relatively unknown in Atlanta. Debbie Benedit, co-owner of the Havana Sandwich Shop, remembers opening her restaurant in 1976. Back then, people often mistook Cuban cuisine for Mexican, asking for tacos and salsa when their menus didn’t feature them. Today, the scene is different. Benedit notes that more Atlantans are seeking out Cuban flavors, influenced by the growing Cuban population in the area.
The Atlanta Regional Commission reports that the number of Cubans has more than quadrupled in certain counties since 2010. With this rise, more locals are becoming curious about our culinary traditions.
Stacie Antich, who moved to Atlanta from Miami in 2007, longed for pastelitos but struggled to find recipes online. In 2016, she launched Buena Gente Cuban Bakery, initially as a food truck, and later as a brick-and-mortar shop. Her pastelitos are now local favorites, offering the right blend of sweetness and flakiness.
Places like Lazaro’s Cuban Cuisine in Roswell bring nostalgia with their rich flavors and homely decor. Chef Lazaro Tenreiro, who opened his restaurant in 2012, wanted to recreate the meals he loved growing up. His black beans and a clever vegan picadillo show his commitment to authentic tastes.
In Marietta, D’Cuban Cafe combines Colombian roots with Cuban classics. Co-owner Nicolas Angel ensures everything is made from scratch daily. Meanwhile, Papi’s Cuban Grill in Kennesaw offers a taste of the casual eateries from my childhood in Miami.
Even in Paulding County, the Cuban culture is making a comeback. Karina’s husband, Carell Rodriguez, is teaching Cuban salsa at Rosa Negra restaurant, reviving some of that communal spirit.
In every corner of Atlanta, from pop-up bakeries to established restaurants, the search for authentic Cuban food unites us. Maybe it’s the thrill of the hunt that makes our culinary adventures so rewarding. Whatever the reason, it brings us joy to savor flavors that remind us of home.
For further reading on the growth of Cuban culture in Atlanta, check out the resources from the Atlanta Regional Commission.
