El Oriental de Cuba

This is your best bet for delicious Cuban in Boston. For over 20 years, the cheerily appointed Jamaica Plain restaurant has been the go-to spot for pork tamales, perfectly dressed Cubano sandwiches and massive plates of shredded beef piled alongside rice, beans and fried plantains (ripe or green). Even if you just pop in for a tres leches cake and a fruit batido (shake), you’ll leave happy—everything on the menu is that good. Don’t forget to visit the premise for breakfast and order a Cuban espresso and a classic Cuban toast. The venue’s only flaw? The restaurant is no longer an under-the-radar gem—be prepared to wait for a table.