El Rinconcito de Santa Barbara Restaurant is a family-run Cuban and Puerto Rican restaurant at 2050 W 56th St, Suite 33, in west Hialeah, Florida. Founded on April 4, 1997 by Rosa Rivera and Pedro Delgado as a small Cuban cafeteria, it has grown into La Casa del Mofongo, drawing diners for plantain-based mofongo, generous Latin comfort food, breakfast, and an easygoing all-day family meal.
What to Expect at El Rinconcito de Santa Barbara Restaurant
The menu is broad rather than narrowly focused, moving between Puerto Rican favorites, Cuban appetizers, house-specialty beef, chicken, pork and fish, plus pizzas, pastas, soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts, ice cream and a kids’ menu. Mofongo is the central order: mashed fried plantain, traditionally shaped into a savory mound and paired with the restaurant’s protein-led house preparations. It is the defining dish behind the restaurant’s long-standing “La Casa del Mofongo” identity.
Come early for breakfast, served from 8:00 to 11:45 a.m. Choices include avocado toast with eggs, Pan con Tortilla—an omelet sandwich on Cuban bread with fries and café con leche—and Huevos con Churrasco, grilled baby flat steak with eggs. The restaurant’s roots in a Cuban cafeteria still show in the breakfast-and-coffee rhythm, while the later menu gives groups enough range for a casual lunch, dinner, or family celebration. Online ordering, catering, Uber Eats and DoorDash are available through the official site.
- Mofongo: The house’s signature plantain preparation and the reason the restaurant calls itself La Casa del Mofongo.
- Puerto Rican favorites: A dedicated menu section anchors the restaurant’s Caribbean side alongside Cuban cooking.
- Cuban breakfast: Pan con Tortilla combines an omelet, Cuban bread, fries and café con leche; breakfast ends at 11:45 a.m.
- Huevos con Churrasco: Grilled baby flat steak with eggs makes a substantial morning choice for meat eaters.
- Family-menu range: Kids’ dishes, soups, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, desserts and ice cream accommodate mixed appetites.
El Rinconcito de Santa Barbara Restaurant at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 2050 W 56th St, Suite 33, Hialeah, FL 33016 |
| Neighborhood / Area | West Hialeah, Miami-Dade County |
| Operating Hours | Monday–Thursday and Sunday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. Breakfast is served 8–11:45 a.m. Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. |
| Admission / Price Range | No admission; $$ casual restaurant. Menu prices change, so check the official menu before ordering. |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 45 to 75 minutes for a meal; allow longer for a large family group. |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Located in a commercial-suite setting on W 56th Street; driving or rideshare is most practical, with plaza-area parking. |
| Official Website & Phone | elrinconcitorestaurant.net · (305) 819-5590 or (305) 824-3282 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
Arrive before noon for the full breakfast window, or come before the main lunch and dinner rush if your group wants faster seating. The restaurant is open daily, with later 11 p.m. closing on Friday and Saturday. Call for larger parties and catering arrangements; the official site also links to online ordering. Credit-card payments carry a 3% processing surcharge, while debit cards are not surcharged. As with many Latin restaurants, casual dress is appropriate.
Suite 33 is a ground-level commercial restaurant, making arrival straightforward from the plaza parking area; call ahead for current wheelchair-table, restroom, and large-stroller arrangements. Bucky Dent Park, around a 10-minute walk north near W 60th Street, is a useful pre- or post-meal stop for families. The shops and eateries along the West 49th Street/Palm Springs Mile corridor are also close by for errands or a second stop, while Hialeah Park Racing & Casino is best reached by a short drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are El Rinconcito de Santa Barbara Restaurant’s hours, and when is the best time to go?
It opens daily at 8 a.m.; it closes at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Go before 11:45 a.m. for breakfast, or arrive ahead of standard lunch and dinner periods for a more relaxed meal.
How much does it cost, and do I need a reservation?
This is a $$ casual restaurant with no admission charge; current dish prices are listed on the official menu and may change. Walk-in dining is the normal approach, while groups and catered events should phone ahead; credit cards incur a 3% surcharge.
How long should I plan for a meal?
Budget 45 to 75 minutes for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Allow 90 minutes for a larger table ordering mofongo alongside several appetizers, entrées, desserts, or kids’ dishes.
Is El Rinconcito suitable for families and guests with mobility needs?
Yes, the varied menu includes a dedicated kids’ section, and the ground-level commercial-suite setting is practical for family arrivals. Contact the restaurant before visiting to confirm current accessible seating and restroom details, especially for wheelchairs or large strollers.
When planning your Hialeah travel guide or browsing verified restaurants in Hialeah, pair this stop with standout local spots including Jungle Island, HistoryMiami Museum, Ceviches Peru. Restaurante Peruano, and Pollo Riko (0.4 km away).
