I’ll have the Cubana, and That’s It.
By Chris • Sep 3rd, 2009 • Category: SpotsLast Saturday while driving around Mission Street looking for parking for the San Francisco’s Street Food Festival, I spotted a very familiar looking liquor store while we were at a red light.
Vaguely remembering the green signs and the art on the side of the building, I quickly said to Lando and Rose, “I think that’s where Bourdain got that giant sandwich.” Half an hour later, we found parking up the street from the liquor store.
After grabbing our passports, we decided that we’d come back to the festival in a few hours. While walking back to our car, we decided that to grab a torta. By now we were feeling the effects of hunger.
Once we stepped inside, we knew we were at the right place when we saw the “Cubana” Totra listed on the menu. A torta is a Mexican sandwich and this was my first time having one.
Without hesitation, we immediately ordered the Cubana with everything on it. We stood there watching as they tossed the components of the Cubana onto the flat top grill. The grill consisted of hot dogs, eggs, chorizo, breaded beef, bacon, ham. The torta bread is placed on the grill to be lightly toasted in a pool of melted butter.
After the bread was done toasting, they assembled the behemoth with mayonnaise, avocado, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and jalapeños. While we stood there intimidated by its sheer size, they transferred the Cubana onto a scale for weighing. We had it cut into quarters and then we were on our way to the Ferry Building for Saturday’s Farmers’ Market.
Once we arrived at Ferry Building, we were filled with eager anticipation. We found a seat and quickly unwrapped the torta.
A quarter of this sandwich was roughly half the size of a normal sandwich. With so many ingredients, we were surprised that nothing really over powered one another. The chorizo was definitely the standout ingredient in the torta.
For $10.00, the torta was more than worth it. If you’re in or around the Mission District for whatever reason, and you’re close to the That’s It Market, do yourself a favor and grab a Cubana. You won’t regret it.
That’s It Market
2699 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
Chris is checking out new restaurants to review.
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That thing is HUGE! For $10, you could feed a family of six on that. ;)
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