La Carreta
The Calle Ocho branch of a longtime Miami Cuban chain, serving abuela-style plates and espresso from 8 am to late.
Checked November 2026
For anyone in Little Havana who wants cheap, familiar Cuban classics at almost any hour. Expect dependable home cooking rather than anything ambitious, and a 4.2 average that says people come back more than they rave.
What to order
Ropa vieja and picadillo are the plates Google's summary singles out, and they're the right call: shredded beef, ground beef, rice, beans, the dishes somebody's grandmother made on Sundays. The menu covers breakfast, lunch and dinner plus dessert, and the kitchen calls its cooking "abuela style," which is fair marketing for once. Prices sit at a single dollar sign, so a full plate won't sting. Finish with a Cuban espresso; the house calls its coffee famous. It's not refined cooking. It's the reliable version of the classics, and that's the reason to go.
Breakfast through midnight
Doors open at 8 am every day and close at 11 pm, stretching to midnight on Friday and Saturday. That range is the real selling point. It works as a breakfast stop before a walk down Calle Ocho, a long family lunch, or a late plate after a night out when plenty of kitchens nearby have shut. About 10,600 Google reviews average out to 4.2, which reads like a place people treat as a regular habit rather than a special occasion.
Picking this branch
La Carreta has several locations around Miami, and this one sits at 3632 SW 8th St in Little Havana. If you're already in the neighborhood, it's the obvious pick: eating Cuban classics on Calle Ocho beats doing it at a suburban outpost. The room is casual and easygoing, so come as you are. Online ordering is available if you'd rather take it to go, and the site has a reservation page worth using if you're bringing a big group.
Reservations
The website has a reservation page, useful if you're coming with a large group.
Good to know
Online ordering is available if you want to grab ropa vieja to go.
Questions people ask
What are La Carreta's hours on Calle Ocho?
It opens at 8 am daily and closes at 11 pm, staying open until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
What should I order at La Carreta?
Ropa vieja and picadillo are the standout homestyle plates, and a Cuban espresso is the house specialty to finish.
Is La Carreta expensive?
No, it's priced at a single dollar sign, so it's one of the cheaper sit-down meals in Little Havana.