Eats: Sabor de Cuba

The Cuban restaurant in downtown has been opened since early 2012, and we have not tried it until late September of this year. Previously an Ethiopian restaurant, it is across two of our favorite Asian places, Sumittra and Lazy Fish.

There was also another Cuban restaurant in Frederick before until it closed down when one of the owners died in February of 2015, That Cuban Place.

From a Saturday photoshoot by the mister at Gravel & Grind, we planned on going to the last day of the Frederick Fair. We were outside the gates of the Frederick Fairgrounds when I asked the mister if he had enough cash. He had a $5 and I had a dollar which was not even enough for one fair ticket. The mister wanted to eat just a funnel cake, but I said it'll be a bit costly if we pay $8.00 per ticket just to eat one funnel cake. 'di ba?

When we decided to try this Cuban resto for the first time, it was around 5ish already, and just in time for an early dinner.

From the outside, it looked so small with probably about four tables only inside. I didn't know that the interior is big.



The server suggested for us to try their appetizer, shrimp ceviche.

The fried green plantain was surprisingly delicious with it. But the ceviche? It was just too sour for us. I still think the Filipino ceviche (kinilaw) is the best among the many versions of this dish.

I had Beef Enchilado, $17 (Marinated top sirloin, sautted with fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and jalapeno. Served with white rice and green plantains.)

This was spicy, but it had enough kick for me to enjoy the dish.

The mister had Pernil (Roasted pork leg), $15. (citurs marinated pork shank thinly sliced with garlic and onion. Served with white rice, black beans and fried sweet plantains.)


On the first Saturday of October, the young lady was home for the day. The mister needed to have his haircut done so we went to downtown. The boy was kind of unenthusiastic of trying Cuban, but he had no choice. It was three of us versus him. The children didn't come with us on that previous week we were here.


We were seated by the window. Thank God! I wished for it before we came in.


The first time the mister and I dined in, we were seated in the middle (check photo below, that table against a wall with a server standing up) and it was kind of dark. Taking photos of food in a not well-lit space does not produce a better photo especially that I used my phone camera only.


Milanesa de Pollo. $16 (Lightly breaded chicken breast topped homemade marinara sauce, served with white rice, black beans and sweet plantain)


Masitas de Puerco. $15 (Marinated porsels of pork deep fried until golden brown, served with white rice, black beans and sweet plantain)

This tasted like Filipino fried pork adobo.

The young lady decided to try their Pernil. $15.


Ropa Vieja (pulled flank steak), $16 (pulled and slowly cooked in tomato based sauce with olives and capers, served with white rice, black beans and sweet plantains)


Sabor de Cuba's dishes were good. However, I wasn't impress with my last dish, the Ropa Vieja. It would be better if the sauce was thicker. The best we've tried was the Pernil. It tasted closely to the Filipino lechon or roasted pig.

On a summer trip to Miami, Florida in 2012, our friends treated us to lunch at a Cuban resto near their place, and that was the first time we've tried Cuban oxtail stew. It was sooooo good. I don't know if they do serve it in downtown. It wasn't in their menu.

What I also noticed was that they served their food without fresh garnishes, just like how traditional Filipino food is served too. I really thought only Filipinos do that. I preferably want my plate with the fresh greens, some carrot or beet strings, or a few slices of cucumber. But even without it, I still love their plate because there were sweet plaintains in it. Love bananas!


Sabor de Cuba Restaurant
9 E Patrick St.
Frederick, Maryland
Tel. No. (301) 663-1036