Bongos Cuban Cafe
- Cuisine: Cuban
- Meal Style: Sit-down
- Meal Seatings: Lunch and Dinner
- Character Dining: No
- Location: Downtown Disney West Side
- Disney Dining Plan Credits: 1 Sit-down Credit
- Tables in Wonderland: Yes
- Reservations: Recommended
- Price Range: $$
Bongos Cuban Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants that can be found in the Downtown Disney Area due to the Cuban Cuisine. Bongos Cuban Cafe is located in the West Side section of the Downtown area and considering the size of the building, it is rather hard to miss it. The exterior of the Bongos Cuban Cafe building is decorated in the style of classic Cuban restaurants and the interior is mainly decorated with leaves, whether we talk about the spiral ladder in the restaurant or the back of the chairs. There are even carvings of leaves on the wall, resembling a natural atmosphere that brings to mind the classical Cuban period of the 40’s and 50’s. The two-story building allows you to dine either outside or inside, and a reservation is suggested for you to be sure that you have the desired table, as you may prefer to sit closer or further from the stage.
Inside of Bongos Cuban Cafe, in the evening, concerts are played by different bands, although some of you may find the noise level a bit too high, but this is also a part of Cuban culture. However, the Bongos Cuban Café is not the place for a romantic dinner, but the place where you and your family can spend quality entertaining time, eating while listening to a live concert. Bongos Cuban Cafe also features an express window from which you can purchase easier meals that can be served to you in a matter of a couple of minutes, allowing you to eat outside. Even if the normal restaurant is open between 11:00 am and 11:00pm, the express window opens earlier, at 9:30 am, and closes ad midnight.
Bongos Cuban Cafe Menu
The menu of the Bongos Cuban Cafe is split in three different areas for breakfast, the lunch and the dinner. The Bongos Cuban Cafe menu is one of the largest that you will find at a Disney restaurant, and considering the fact that the cuisine is Cuban-inspired it will be really hard for you to make a choice from tens of delicious products. The entrees rotate around steaks and chicken dishes, and I my husband and I usually choose the Ropa Vieja and the Arroz con Pollo, both of which are delicious traditional Cuban dishes that are served sweet plantains called maduros. Ropa Vieja is a wonderful shredded beef dish served with white rice; while Arroz con Pollo is a chicken dish served with a yellow rice. Desserts are also great at Bongos Cuban Cafe and you might want to try a Flan dish, a traditional Cuban dessert made up with custard topped with caramel, although you may choose coconut or cheese as a topping.
Drinks are another powerful aspect of Bongos Cuban Cafe, they feature draft beer and also top-quality domestic and imported beers such as Becks, Presidente, La Tropical or Hatuey. Wines are another specialty of the restaurant, with Sandeman Port Reserve or Sangria being served by the glass. If alcoholic drinks are not your style, you might order delicious fresh juices of apple, cranberry, pineapple, grapefruit or orange. There are also available for purchase cocktails like Pina Colada, Bloody Mary but classic soft drinks too, if you feel like enjoying a Coke or a Fanta with your Cuban meal.
Bongos Cuban Cafe is a great restaurant worth a visit, especially if you have never tried Cuban cuisine. As my husband grew up with Cuban food, Bongos Cuban Cafe is a must stop for me and my family every time we are in Orlando. While the food is not home cooked, it is excellent Cuban cuisine.
