Cubanos are more than just a sandwich, they are a way of life for the family behind El Cochinito in Silver Lake.

“I always thought of the restaurant as the glue that held the family together,” says owner Daniel Navarro.

Navarro took it upon himself to carry on the family business, all for his grandmother who passed away five years ago.

“When I found out that the restaurant could have been sold, it kind of broke my heart,” says Navarro.

Navarro's grandmother Gladys Gutierrez immigrated from Cuba and opened this restaurant in 1988 after buying out the previous owner. She kept the name, but changed the food to what she would cook at home. Everyone in the family has worked here in some capacity, keeping the tradition of Cuban food alive.

“We try to keep all the recipes exactly how she did it. The menu hasn’t changed much. It always has been the neighborhood restaurant serving really authentic, traditional food,” says Navarro.

Some of that tradition seen in the flan, which Navarro says is a mix of his grandmother, his mother, and his own recipes. Other recipes stayed exactly the same, even using the exact same ingredients from 30 years ago.

The star of the restaurant is the Cubano, the must-get item when visiting the restaurant. The recipe has come down to a science with the initial sandwich prep happening all day long. 

El Cochinito

3508 Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90026