Victor's 1959 Cafe

This was only the 2nd time I've eaten here but as expected it was great! Service was great, and I really appreciated how relaxing and not rushed everything felt. Our food was great, I really loved the green sauce on the arroz a la cubana, and my friend enjoyed their ranchero cubano and pancake. Definitely a place to go back to time and time again.

I have had this restaurant bookmarked for many years and was truly excited to go! We walked in and didn't wait very long until a table opened up. The greeter and our server were polite and friendly. The restaurant is a bit small on the inside, maybe 8 tables total, but the ambiance is unlike any other restaurant I've been! Love the graffiti walls! As to the food, the best dishes were the Fricasee de Pollo and the empanadas. The chicken was stewed and cooked well, and I loved the olives with tomato sauce! The empanadas were stuffed full and tasted great! The other dishes had some issues that led to a somewhat unpleasant experience. The pork (Lechon Asado) was porky and this affected my overall enjoyment. The Ropa Vieja was cooked through, but the meat was not pull-apart/fork tender. Was difficult to eat and enjoy, especially the pieces I tried in a tortilla. The corn pancake came highly recommended so ordered a medium one to try. Came out looking beautiful, but the texture was claggy and had a burnt, bitter aftertaste. Not as much 'corn' flavor as I expected a Corn Pancake to have.

Genuinely my favorite breakfast/brunch in the entire Twin Cities metro!Victor's is a small place--maybe a dozen or so tables?--but man is the food delicious! If you go on a weekend, expect a wait, but it's so worth it.To start with the coffee, you can't go wrong with any of their espresso drinks--they're all delicious and made with their house-made sugar paste, and with any espresso drink, you can get topped up on drip coffee afterwards so it's SUCH a good deal. My go-to is the cafecito ($3.95), which is simply espresso with the sugar paste.For the food, you genuinely cannot go wrong with any of their Breakfast Cubano options, but regardless of what you get--pay the upcharge for cuban toast (+$1.25) with guava jam (+$.35). TRUST. My number one go-to as far as entrees is the arroz a la cubana ($15.95). 2 eggs, white rice, sweet plaintains, and yuca frita. Sounds simple but I genuinely cannot overstate how insanely good this is--the mojo sauce they put on the yuca is one of the best things I've tasted in my life and it's DIVINE topped with some of the house hot sauce they have on the tables.It's also a non-negotiable to get the mango pancake! At $7.25 for a large, it's a steal, because that thing is MASSIVE and packed with fruit. They have a itty bitty parking lot that literally fits two cars, but there's plenty of free street parking available--even on the busiest of days, I've never had to park further than a block away. Do NOT sleep on Victor's in 2025 folks!!

The food was absolutely AMAZING! I loved the Cuban hash, which perfectly blended sweet and savory flavors. It was my first time trying plantains, and they paired wonderfully with the hash. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful! As for the atmosphere--it's something you really need to experience for yourself. The restaurant is located in a fantastic neighborhood. Be sure to visit soon!

The first time I came here was when I was in high school & fell in love ever since. It's a place full of nostalgia for me & you can never go wrong with their café con leche. Staff were lovely & yes--it does get busy, but can you blame them?! Totally worth the wait. The vibes are immaculate & so is the food. Ordered a Spanish omelette with add-on mozzarella & wow. *chef's kiss* This visit around though, I ordered a chocolate con leche, which was a little spicy for me because of the sprinkle of cayenne but still so good. Also, tried their chicken & cheese empanadas for the first time... YUMMM.

If you go on a weekend morning expect a wait, but it's worth it for the ambiance alone. Every inch of the place is covered in quick scribbles, graffiti, names, stickers, and a curious amount of bitcoin website urls? But the vibe was great. I had the Cubano which was fine but didn't land as The Best Cubano I've Ever Had however my friends' breakfast platters were huge and hit the hangover cure spot. Above all else, the service was outstanding. Although packed, our server was extremely timely with orders, drinks and food, and he made sure to check in often without being obnoxious. Definitely will be going back to try something new and hopefully bump up to 5 stars

Victor's 1959 Cafe popped up on my radar when looking up restaurants to try in the Twin Cities. None other than Guy Fieri said that this is the best Cuban sandwich he has ever had. Add to the fact that this place is almost next door to where I was staying and I knew I had to stop by. This place is small so the first time I went I ordered a Sandwich Cubano and Cortadito coffee to go. The coffee was on point but the sandwich blew me away. I couldn't believe how good it was. The ham was top notch and the pulled pork was so flavorful and tender. This was beyond my expectations. I knew I had to go back and try something else. Two days later I arrived shortly after opening to dine in. Only about a 15-20 minute wait but well worth it. This time I decided to try the Ropa Vieja and a chocolate con leché.The Ropa Vieja was very good but this time I had some of the homemade hot sauce to add to my rice and beans and that took it next level. I always like to order a Sandwich Cubano to go before I head to the airport on my way home. The only downside to this place is the short hours (9-2:30) and being closed on Monday/Tuesday.

Victor's is (I feel like I say this every review) one of my favorite spots in the Cities. I think I've only ever been for their brunch menu, but it keeps me coming back!We came on a Saturday around 12:30 and waited probably 20-30 minutes for a table, which wasn't terrible. Once we were sat, our server was awesome; he was super attentive without being intrusive & gave us some really good recommendations, since we had a couple of folks who were going for the first time. I really haven't had anything bad here, ever. The breakfast plates are all delicious (you can't go wrong with rice, beans, eggs, yucca, & plantains). I also really enjoy their coffee selection. If you need some quiet time to stare at something, the walls covered in graffiti and stickers are excellent for zoning out. It's honestly incredible how every square inch seems to be covered!If you haven't been, GO! Their patio in the warmer months is also a fab option :)

The restaurant is incredibly tiny so you'll be placed on a waiting list and likely have to stand outside. We came during lunch on a Wednesday and had about a 20 min wait but thankfully it was a relatively mild winter day so it wasn't bad! The wait is absolutely worth it!! Ever since going to Little Havana in Miami (the closest I've gotten to authentic Cuban food, I'll get there someday), I had been craving some Cuban deliciousness. As soon as I saw Ropa Vieja on the menu, I. Was. Sold. I ended up ordered a beef empanada, the Lechon, shared a cubano sandwich with my nephew, and he also ordered the hash. It was a ton of food! We left with a lot of great eats for dinner and filled to the brim tummies. The Lechon had really great flavor and was incredibly juicy, same with the cubano! The empanada and hash seemed to have similar pulled beef, peas, and a few other veggies but like everything else - the flavor just bursts in your mouth. It was absolutely delicious!

Victor's is our go-to breakfast spot, and we are not alone. Going in the summer is the best option because they expand their seating outside and the wait time is shorter. The earlier you go the better, or just be prepared to wait a bit. You can't go wrong with their Cuban toast, guava jam, and a dish with their delicious black beans. Their yuca fries and sauce are also delicious. If you're sitting inside, it's always fun to see what's on the walls, which are covered in permanent marker drawings and signatures from guests over the years. Victor's is a unique experience that everyone should try at least once. Their café con léché is also a delight.