Cuban STREET FOOD in Havana!!! We Hit the JACKPOT!!

this thing is stuffed with seafood you can have this how you called a crab that handed the cloth [Music] our best ever Cuba food tour started on the west coast in the famous city of Venice where we stuffed ourselves with their unique take on Portland's own oh my god oh yeah today we're headed to the big city he was capital Havana welcome to Havana city of 2.1 million people today we're on the hunt for some street food by my side Cuban native and longtime friend or a patron that's right we're here in Havana and why does Sonny have the cool car and I get today we're on the search for street food in Havana I've been told don't expect a lot there's certain cultures that are hardcore Street food cultures like Vietnam certain places not so much maybe they're more in these places called palledorous what's that I bet or okay tell me paladar is a family-owned restaurant but at the same time any restaurant that is independent let's check out the food let's hop on and let's see if me and Sonny can handle a full day of q13 [Music] no no no no no no no no street food in Havana is about simplicity being creative in utilizing affordable ingredients that are easy to get here in el christo Park one food vendor plays by these exact rules at home he's baking up dozens of these his own creation then he hits the streets and starts to sell sir how long have you been something four years I see almost six years how long does it take to sell out usually I do two hours we're confident he's like this is coconut the one with the texture like that and this is what we cheap can I try this one with the cheese yeah let's do it let's do it you certainly can so it looks like a biscuit some bread with some jam and some cheese on top yeah and this is like a base kid with the Connaught on top what kind of coconut we call it coquito what they do is like they boil coconut sugar cinnamon for half an hour it feels that everything evaporates and this is a result both laugh ah it's a coconut and cinnamon reduction or amplification let's ride Oh hmm I like it it takes some getting used to it's kind of a dry biscuit and then okay oh no there's some jam on there and then you're like wait is that cheese that is cheese I won't see which one I like one you want sweater swish there's nothing better though what's your thoughts I'm looking at your face I still like it that more yeah but what are your thoughts on that I like this I love that this is like my love what do you tell your friend they should date somebody and they're like tell me about them and you're like they're nice they're pretty sure I got that treatment a lot in high school [Laughter] just down the street a food cart has caught my eyeballs do not tell me this is an avocado thousand level are you kidding me look at this I've never seen an avocado avocado yeah I think I remember you telling me a long time ago yes like we have avocados this big like a watermelon like no not possible yes okay right here there's a special machine I want to see this at work can we try it out yes it's super easy you just need to like rotate okay I can handle this yeah you got it look at that you got it and it's all the way like skin you see I got it you see how long it looks like grapefruit texture inside no we got a density all right good it's our right it's good I taste like an orange actually orange used to be bigger here in Cuba we used to produce a lot of mornings right now I think that pollution came down and the quality also came down a lot because they land he hasn't been take care of well as before that's why we don't have better quality of orange but there was a time that this was very important fire of the Cuban economy oh it's good it succinct it was all sad too that's Cuba that's nice brother that's reality yeah trust to bring me up from oral sad fruit trivia a much-needed sugar rush Cuban sidewalk churros and churros Lagos the most local stall you'll find in all of Havana this is churro evolution it is perfect Oh spare me even to finish a peek check it out man we're just standing on the street eating a churro you know about shoes right yeah invented in Cuba no no Mexico no it comes from Spain he was a lot of Spanish tradition that's why we'd inherit the churros in our culture cheers Cheers it looks like a cactus isn't it maybe that's what people think about Mexico because it looks like a cactus that's a good role in the future I like that like me it has some imperfections like some parts are fat some are thin and crispy do you know it is wise inside of the sugars second dense milk condensed milk you know I love condos yeah it's super su is really sweet in this case they put in some of the churro which is commissioned they're building on what the Spaniard started originally it wasn't stuff you see evolution I love it now one of the most unlikely non-cuban Cuban foods you'll find in Havana dude this is a pizza is have real peace Pizza Shops are everywhere in Havana and with good reason every single street food that we met they have something in common they have really few elements food shortages are not uncommon here seventy to ninety percent of the country's food is imported after the 60 when we have a huge crisis we have to create food that is simple easy to make and really hard to get wrong so if you're selling ham sandwiches and you run out of ham you're out of luck but Pizza Pizza only really requires four ingredients water flour tomato sauce and cheese every Cuban pizza is a personal Pizza made for you and only you toppings range from ham - sausage or even hot dogs but the way they eat it is a style all its own you flip it like this like a taco exactly let's go for it this is rich is super doughy I love how doughy it is is that hot sauce it's just covered in like a sour hot sauce our tomato sauce yeah yeah this is good dude actually this is something that people eat it 8:00 in the morning it's just quick easy and you get filled and get going very nice [Music] this is where Havana goes to chill on weekends John Lennon Park in the corner a government-ordered statue created in his honor in the year 2000 this is kind of baffling considering the Beatles music was banned in Cuba when the band was most popular a decade prior these days a more culturally liberal Cuba blasts music of all kinds from this park luring in locals who might throw back a drink or grab some food what we have right here so right here we have honking croqueta which means Fanny's bread croquet table I come from France from Crockett does it cook it right just like seasoned fried mashed potatoes basically oh it's very nice and then this is the same thing but in a sandwich yeah does anything due to its simplicity and practicality can fill a lot of a space this used to be Cuba's go-to sandwich especially in the 90s bread fried Coquette and a little bit of ketchup that's all you need here for a good time in your mouth I like it there's not much to say about it just simple straightforward soft bread fried potato little bit of ketchup in there a little bit of tomato kick at the end he's not potato it's made out of flour me potato not potato it tastes potato way to me I'm sorry I'm so sorry but man this is filling it is feeling all right let's get some beers I saw someone with beer over there let's check that out beer until just a few years ago private restaurants in Cuba were illegal then due to an economic crisis the government made some reforms and that's how Paul the dollars were born they are family or privately owned restaurants originally they were run from people's homes and many still are today like here hidden away in the suburbs of Havana right in front of the paladar owner's home our home is right there sits cafeteria ala barbecue a place where filmmakers and artists share ideas and grab some grub this is Cuban diner food served fast making the most of what they have like their hamburger Banco mom will give tell bread at what hamburger since beef is scarce their burger patties is made with pork when I try that right now now I got a lot I don't know if I've ever had like a pork patty or a burger but it's really good very juicy this seems like Cuban fast food yeah but with good quality can she talk about how she prepares for the service what is fast is how she prefers her team to act fast everything is prepared today because her goal is keep everything fresh right what do you got there what I have here we call masa support for this dish epitomizes Cuban cuisine at least in orals eyes this is something that my mom used to make when I was a kid simple yet colorful and seductive or a huge portion of rice grilled pork chops and in seasoned locally grown veggies and sides this is a pork chop you know usually pork chop to me can be a little dry but this is so good it's exactly yeah but the way they make it here is super oily but she has a balance between that making not too dry by film nor oil which I love to finish dessert made inside a reused soda came right here the thing that you're drinking here they caught it they put all the ingredients they boil it when they cool down it becomes that thing that you're in that's really good very sweet and ability soft on my tongue perfect way to end lunch Cuba is a place of creation expression and fierce entrepreneurship waiting to unleash its innovation in this city one hardly known polidore is delivering seafood in a way completely unique to Cuba check it out we're doing an interview in an inconvenient location but it looks great it works it's ok I'm satisfied satisfied sir what is the name of your restaurant La Scala Hulu and you are none other than Julio himself did you live here before it was converted into a place where people could come and eat this was his family's house seven years ago is he decided to convert into a restaurant because you can see he has a beautiful view my understanding is that this is how the paladar has started yes right now there is people owning restaurants but back then that was impossible so the first step was the family the own constant it was like a test can you tell me about what makes your restaurant so special we're sort of at around that when we get into the home we don't feel like we are getting into a restaurant he's inviting us to his house he just want us to be welcoming what we're eating is what he will cook for his family sir thank you so much yes and wide shots joining us at the table mr. Julio and his wife it's a beautiful evening I know we missed the sunset but it still looks beautiful here all the seafood cooked here comes right from the ocean no not the faraway ocean I'm talking about the patch of ocean in front of his home the owner either catches it himself or has local fishermen do the deed reeling in fresh fish like this tuna his daughter and also our head chef Masha's it up then combines it with onions and mayonnaise to create a filling for these plantain cups slices of plantain are shaped and fried and took crisp and filled with creamy tuna goodness this is from a plantain and then inside they put this wonderful tuna and mayonnaise so far to get it hmm bingo simple delicious crunchy and then nice rich tuna salad if you're calling I've got a cross-section this is made with CGI you will put a laser so you can see how is inside is it is a joke happening right now next on our menu bite sized sections of lobster tail cooked in a secret tomato chili sauce let's try this office take robust delicious lobster tail this is a tradition to put sweet potato with any seafood oh really the sweetness of the sweet potato with the sourness and the saltiness of the seafood let's give it some tomato on there too yes thank you can I try it out like that and you kind of draws out the experience too usually I just kind of down the whole lobster tail in two seconds I like that our final dish garbanzo beans seafood soup this thing is stuffed with seafood there's so much they put in here julio tried it in spain during the holiday and has been cooking it ever since but with his own twist he's replaced unavailable ingredients like Spanish ham with seafood he caught in his backyard they cook it all in a big pot with a secret blend of spices garbanzo beans beer tomato sauce and garlic paste okay hold on I guess it's not really secret after all I got a dislodge some of this so I can get down to the broth for you bro they're not pretending meat to eat that whole thing right this is for you man you're the custom owner I mean that they hand how you called a clowder head yeah he's called crab hands nobody called Crescent well the cop hand how you how you eat the crab hands all right see right here oh you see tags we got technologic right here there we go oh that right there let's meet in the whole panel try it out [Music] you got it [Music] I've never seen a dish that has more seafood and more variety like every bite is a little different flavor to print texture there's just so much in there can I ask how much that cost because I know in the u.s. if you got that at a decent restaurant of like Arnold and you mr. probably like twenty five thirty dollars for just about what I say it cost $6 that's ridiculous he saved that is a hook there right yeah he's proud of it of that this is so fun so just want to say one more time mucho gracias adapt and overcome this is the ethos felt around Havana from Pizza to 5-star seafood what really makes cuba work isn't the ingredients it's heart hey guys before you go I wanted to read some of your comments TWA says great content stupid channel name Augusto ceilings says this is dumb you and your channel art Patrick Bateman commented cured stupid Channel there's too much hate in the world right now the things you say matter so next time don't spread insults don't spread hate spread cheese do you think I was gonna say love no cheese spread cheese you could put on anything awesome this is a message so important that we decided to put it on a t-shirt that you can buy now [Applause] how's that I think that can all be cut together mmm one take all right good cut from researching and shooting to editing and mastering our 10-person best ever food review show team works hard to roll out the highest quality travel food entertainment twice a week if you like what we do here please consider supporting our patreon patreon allows fans of the show to contribute a monthly sum and receive a load of extras like early video releases private q and A's and beyond to learn more about our patreon check out the link in the description box down below and if you can't give or don't even feel like it that's okay too we're just happy you're here that's it for or Oh guys check out ro on Instagram that's his main platform of interest he does all kinds of artistic endeavors it's quite a treat Aurel thank you so much that is it for this one guys I will see you next time peace [Music] you [Music]

Channel: Best Ever Food Review Show

Views: 3,780,711

Keywords: cuba, cuba food, cuban fod, cuba travel, cuban travel, havana food, havana travel, havana street food, where to eat havana, best ever food review show, Cuban food in cuba, sonny side, cuban pizza, panaderos, Cuban restaurants, oro padron

Id: 81CjGafFVH0

Length: 17min 25sec (1045 seconds)

Published: Wed Feb 19 2020

Reddit Comments

[u/YIMBYzus]

They explain it in the video, but since this is a sub that prefers things in writing, I will write a short explanation.

Paladares were only made legal in the past few years. Given the Cuban government's attempts to capitalize on tourism and the failure of government-run shops to appeal to them because they were and continue to be make-work programs that incidentally sell sub-par sandwiches, the Cuban government decided to legalize paladares (420° braise it).

Paladares are privately-owned-and-operated restaurants and bars that typically operate out of people's homes though some are able to get proper brick-and-mortar establishments. Given that most are still home businesses, space is limited and the reservations for the popular ones can get insane.