El Mago de las Fritas traces back to the 1950s in Cuba, where Ortelio Cardenas earned the nickname "El Mago" for his fritas. The family brought the recipe to Miami, opening this counter-service spot on Calle Ocho in 1984, where it has run ever since. Ortelio's daughter, Martha Cardenas, now operates the restaurant alongside him.
The frita remains the specialty: a ground beef patty with cooked and raw onions, topped with handmade potato wisps, sandwiched in Cuban bread. The menu has grown to include Cuban-inspired hot dogs and modern, innovative riffs on the original frita, all served in a no-frills, casual counter setting.
The frita remains the specialty: a ground beef patty with cooked and raw onions, topped with handmade potato wisps, sandwiched in Cuban bread. The menu has grown to include Cuban-inspired hot dogs and modern, innovative riffs on the original frita, all served in a no-frills, casual counter setting.