This Iconic Spot Houses a Surprising Menu Favorite

I’ve lived in Richmond for 14 years and anytime I have a friend visiting, I take them to Kuba Kuba. It’s been one of my favorite restaurants since I first visited and it just has the quintessential Richmond vibe that I love so much. It’s not a fancy place, but the crinkled paper menus offer some of the best-tasting food in Richmond. I love that the staff is familiar and the menu is consistent, but they also offer a few rotation specials, so it’s a good excuse to try something new.

Alex and I recently stopped in for lunch and split a spread of a tamale, plantains, empanadillas, and an avocado salad. Even though I’ve had this salad a million times, I have to get it because it’s so good.

The corn and poblano tamale was a special and I can’t resist a special. It reminded me of their cornbread and I liked the flavor of this, particularly paired with their homemade hot sauce. I left most of the plantains for Alex, and even though they’re not my thing but they are quite good. We split the empanadillas, which were filled with spinach and ricotta. This was my first time getting these and the pastry on the outside was perfectly crispy and flaky, while the inside was nice and creamy.

Now can I tell you my favorite part about this meal? It was the salad. I realize that most people don’t get excited about salads but if I’m being honest, I love a good salad. (I can relate to Elaine Benes with my love for big salads.) Oddly enough, one of my favorite things to order from Kuba Kuba isn’t one of their signature tortilla dishes or toasted panini. It’s their avocado salad.

This salad is giant, piled high with cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, and, of course, plenty of avocado. The dressing is a light but flavorful vinaigrette. The romaine is always nice and crunchy. And it’s served with a few slices of toasted Cuban bread on the side. (I’m still trying to figure out what makes the bread so addictive. Butter? Salt? Both?)

I’m telling you, it’s my favorite salad in Richmond, and I’ve tried a lot of salads. That deserves a blog post for another day.

If you’re looking for a cozy spot for lunch, brunch, or dinner, definitely check out Kuba Kuba. Our total for the whole spread with tip was $43.85. It’s on the corner of Park Ave. and Lombard St. in the Fan, right in the heart of Richmond. It’s also just a block away from Westray’s ice cream — so if you somehow still have room for dessert, that’s the perfect way to end a meal!