About the Cubano
A Cubano is a pressed sandwich born of Cuban diaspora kitchens in Florida and the Caribbean. El Punto’s version follows the classic ratio — pernil-style pork, sliced ham, salami, Swiss cheese, dill pickles, and yellow mustard — but builds it on Italian bread instead of the more rigid Cuban bread you’ll find in Miami. The result is a softer, sweeter exterior with the same hot, savory, melty interior.
Reviewers consistently call El Punto’s Cubano the best Cuban sandwich within driving distance of Allentown. It’s pressed on the flat top until the cheese pulls and the bread crisps; sliced on the bias and served hot.
What's in it
- Roast pork · Pernil
- Ham · Jamón
- Salami
- Swiss cheese
- Pickles
- Yellow mustard
- Italian bread
Origin & story
The Cuban sandwich originated in late-19th-century Tampa and Key West cigar-worker cafes, with later evolution in Miami. It traditionally uses Cuban bread; Puerto Rican sandwicheras in the diaspora often substitute Italian bread, which presses softer and sweeter. Both versions are recognizable as Cubanos, with regional variation.
Cubano questions.
Is El Punto’s Cubano authentic?
It’s authentic to the Puerto Rican sandwichera tradition of the Cubano, which uses Italian bread instead of Cuban bread but otherwise follows the same recipe.
Is the Cubano pressed?
Yes — pressed hot on the flat-top griddle until the cheese melts and the bread crisps.
How much is a Cubano sandwich?
The Cubano is $11.99 for pickup at El Punto Sandwichera in Allentown.
