MIAGuide
The Best Cuban Bakeries In Hialeah
photo credit: Tasty Planet
In Hialeah, mornings are filled with neighborhood roosters crowing, a cafecito on the stove, and a little white box stuffed con algo rico. Cuban bakeries are the heart and soul of Hialeah, keeping its people fueled with irresponsible amounts of caffeine and the occasional pastelito. It feels like there's a bakery on every corner of this neighborhood. So we narrowed it down to some of our favorites in case you ever want a proper pastelito de guayaba or a fresh loaf of Cuban bread to bribe that rooster next door to shut up.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Tasty Planet
Breadman has only been around since 2014, but it’s already one of the best Cuban bakeries in the city. In the spirit of the “la ciudad que progresa”, they make exceptional versions of the classics while also putting their own spin on things. What Breadman does so well is bring together traditional flavors to make some seriously delicious combinations. The alabao, a flan topped with arroz con leche, is a combo that’ll have you questioning your loyalties to flan de leche. The always-changing pastry game here is crazy too. The savory maduros y carne pastel, the pastel de croqueta, or the extra flaky Nutella pastelito are all great choices if you see them in the display case. Whether trying out something new or keeping it classic, Breadman’s innovation really makes them stand out amidst a sea of Hialeah bakeries.
photo credit: Tasty Planet
Casa Potin has been pumping out excellent Cuban bakery classics in a tiny plaza across the Sedano’s on Palm Ave since before they started working on the Palmetto. The croquetas de la casa, a traditional ham croqueta, is a staple of any good Cuban bakery. At Potin, they are so good they sell out by the afternoon. Their pizza pastel (a pastry layered with minced ham, cream cheese, and tomato sauce) is soft, crunchy, salty, and sweet all at once. The corner pieces are the best because you get maximum flakiness. The most important thing about Casa Potin is that they have, without a doubt, the best Cuban bread in the city. The crust is crisp but light, the inside is doughy, and the smell is so intoxicating you will want to stick your face in it. This actually makes for a refreshing morning facial, so wake up early for a loaf fresh out of the oven and add this to your skincare routine.
photo credit: Tasty Planet
El Indio has some history with Casa Potin. The story goes that a baker from Casa Potin quit, only to start their own rival shop a couple blocks away. Our sources are completely unreliable and this may be totally false, but who doesn’t love some good ol’ fashioned chisme? In any case, El Indio adds some delicious competition to the Hialeah Cuban bakery scene. They have the typical stuff, but they are known for their pan con chicharrón (Cuban bread with pork crackling mixed in). Hurry here before lunch because it sells out quickly. The desserts are also great. Our favorites are the tres leches cake—it’s super moist, not too sweet, and the meringue is silky smooth.
photo credit: Tasty Planet
Vicky Bakery is a Miami institution for Cuban baked goods. Although there are a bunch of locations across Dade County, this one in East Hialeah is our favorite. They have anything you could ever want from a Cuban bakery, plus some extras. The pastelitos are basically the textbook definition— oozing with guava, perfectly sweet, and toasted just right. For those of you who have PSL season alerts on your calendar, Vicky makes a pumpkin y queso pastelito that will make you want to wear flannel even if it’s 95 degrees outside. They also have an impressive variety of cakes and party platters if you’re ever in a bind for that work party you forgot about. Or if you just feel like having 50 mini croquetas for lunch.
photo credit: Tasty Planet
La Nueva Fe is an old school shop right off Red Road. They specialize in traditional cakes and sweets, including some of the best buñuelos we’ve ever had. The twists of fluffy cassava dough are fried and then drenched in rich housemade anise syrup. But don’t be fooled by their simplicity, these buñuelos are the only ones we’ve had that have ever come close to Abuela-approved status. They also have great fried empanadas. The ham and cheese ones are the best, using a perfect ratio of ground ham to queso fresco.
