El Palacio de los Jugos

Review by: Michael Stern

El Palacio de los Jugos | What to expect

A few years ago, Roadfood contributor Chris Gould wrote, “El Palacio de los Jugos, of which there are nine in the Miami area, is a combination produce stand and eatery — a truly authentic Cuban institution. Orange, mango, papaya, watermelon, and pineapple juices are squeezed on the spot, and if you want coconut water, an expert will deftly chop one open with a machete and insert a straw. True Cuban food, including exemplary Cuban sandwiches, are served in abundance and at very reasonable prices.”

There now are 10 locations around town, the original, on West Flagler Street, having opened in 1977. Customers order food and drinks and pay for them at several stand-up counters all around the open-air establishment, which also sells fruits, plants, and various Cuban-themed products. You pay (each counter is a separate vendor), then carry whatever you got to a shaded picnic table.

What to eat at El Palacio de los Jugos

Beyond every imaginable juice (and many I’ve never imagined), beyond smoothies and fine Cuban sandwiches (including deluxe versions that add salami to the mix), El Palacio offers a wide array of hot meals with all the fixins. These include shrimp, salmon, and paella, cuts of beef that range from oxtail to strip steak to shredded beef, and, of course, roast pork in various forms.

Among the house specialties at El Palacio de los Jugos are chicharones. There are bags of crisp ones to eat like potato chips, but the right way to do it is to select a long section of this recently-roasted hunk of pork belly — equal parts skin, fat, and meat — and have the man with the knife sever it into big bite-size hunks to munch. Chicharones in this form are succulent to the nth degree, one of the world’s great munchies.

Of course there is excellent Cuban coffee to drink throughout the day.

What To Eat

Cuban Sandwich

DISH
Chicharrones

DISH
Guarapo

DISH
Paella

DISH
Yuca

DISH
Coconut Water

DISH

El Palacio de los Jugos Recipes

Discuss

What do you think of El Palacio de los Jugos?

2 Responses to “El Palacio de los Jugos”

Terry m

February 8th, 2024

I was at Palacio Jugo on 152 Ave SW 56 St Miami I wanted to buy a salmon for my mom and asked girl if she can get me butter she said no we don’t have any butter. I said u all do mash potatoes w butter so you all have butter . She refused to try and to see if there was butter in back . She didn’t bother go above beyond dor customer . So I left somewhere else

Reply

Chris Gould

September 9th, 2012

El Palacio de los Jugos, a combination produce stand and eatery is one of the most authentic Cuban institutions in Miami, inspiring copycat establishments all over south Florida and the likes of Mitt Romney to make a campaign stop and connect with Latinos. This location at the intersection of Flagler Street and 57th Avenue not far from Miami International Aiport is the original, as evidenced by its always busy parking lot.

As the name suggests, El Palacio de los Jugos offers a wide assortment of tropical juices squeezed on premises. Orange, mango, papaya, and pineapple are popular, although my favorite is watermelon, the bright refreshing essence of that fruit. If you want coconut water, an expert will deftly chop one open with a machete and insert a straw. He’s fun to watch.

Various counters offer traditional Cuban specialties: seafood, meats, pastries, sandwiches, and Cuban coffee, strong and sweet. Whole roast pork is often seen along with good-tasting starches such as yucca, plantains, and fantastic rice. Sandwiches are huge and inexpensive as is all the food. They have one of the best Cuban sandwiches in Miami, pressed into perfect, slightly sweet Cuban bread that’s hard to find anywhere else. I haven’t been for breakfast, but they display signs touting a complete breakfast of eggs, ham, tostadas, and cafe con leche for under four bucks.

Of course, in as authentic a place as this, Spanish predominates. Credit card stickers are displayed at some of the cash registers and there’s an ATM as well. Seating is at modern picnic tables in a covered outdoor area with fans and misters to help beat the heat. At peak times, parking can be a little dicey, but there’s plenty of room in the parking lot to wait for a space to open up.

Reply

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