Cubo started as a food cart in downtown Portland in 2010, opened by Havana-born musician Milko and American food-and-bar veteran Emily. By 2013 it had grown into a brick-and-mortar counter-service spot in Southeast Portland, and a second location later opened on North Mississippi Ave.
The kitchen takes a minimalistic approach to Cuban comfort food, built to serve vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free eaters alongside meat-lovers — even the empanadas and fryers are gluten-free. The cooking carries Italian, African, and Spanish threads that run through traditional Cuban flavors, served in a colorful, tropical-leaning space meant to counter Portland's gray.
Both locations run as casual, dog- and family-friendly counter service, with rum cocktails alongside the food.
The kitchen takes a minimalistic approach to Cuban comfort food, built to serve vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free eaters alongside meat-lovers — even the empanadas and fryers are gluten-free. The cooking carries Italian, African, and Spanish threads that run through traditional Cuban flavors, served in a colorful, tropical-leaning space meant to counter Portland's gray.
Both locations run as casual, dog- and family-friendly counter service, with rum cocktails alongside the food.