Bakery Inka Havana

 

A photo of this sign on Nextdoor drew a lot of attention. When I saw it, commenters had recognized the word Havana and possibly the Cuban flag but there was little mention of the meaning of the word Inka or the second flag pictured - the Peruvian flag.  When it finally opened, many months later, the website identified a couple from Miami who had moved to Houston, the husband Cuban and the wife Peruvian.  

The menu offers many sandwiches, but there are also pastries, empanadas, sweets, even pizzas, plus daily specials.  The Peruvian Pollo a la Brasa - rotisserie chicken - is a special every Saturday, I think.  

I tried the Media Noche on my first visit.

Sandwiches are very large - this was close to a pound.  This is the interior of the second half of the sandwich showing the generous fillings

I noted a sign touting the Tamal Peruano and had to try one.  I've done quite a lot of investigating of  tamales available from many cuisines in Houston but wasn't even aware Peru had them, so I had to try this.  Per Wiki, while Peru is famous for it's potatoes and ceviche, there are 50 varieties of corn also grown there, including yellow, white and purple varieties and tamales can be made from several of them.  I tried the pork tamal and it was excellent.

From the cabinet at the far right of the counter I tried an empanada (ground beef) and yuca reina.  I had first encountered potato rellenos at a Colombian restaurant many years ago but this is the first time I had encountered the use of yuca.  Excellent also.

I liked the Pan con Bistec - steak sandwich - better than the Media Noche.  For years I have been eating beef sandwiches only involving thinly sliced roast beef from a deli and this was a pleasant change.  The steak involved is probably skirt and I was thrilled to have to do some serious masticating for a change!

I have not tried the Hamburguesa Inka Havana, which looks interesting, nor any of the breakfast or pastry offerings. 

The loaves are very large - this was almost 16 oz - made with lard and with a much lighter texture than any Cuban bread I've had or made before

The shop is located on West Bellfort just west of Chimney Rock (5361) right where the historic Westbury Square was located back in the 60s 70s and 80s.  There hasn't been a whole lot of commercial, much less restaurant, development in this neighborhood for years I think.

I have found the owners and all customers I have encountered to be very friendly.  I don't know if there is a Peruvian community in the area but Peru Gourmet is over on S. Post Oak, less than a mile away, and in the past there has been at least one Peruvian Pollo a la Brasa place further south  near Gassmer. 

The Cuban Cafe

4232 Decker Drive (Loop 330 westbound frontage road at Baker Drive), Baytown

In a mostly abandoned big shopping center with a huge parking lot (maybe that's why they can hang the big banner saying 'Welcome 18 Wheelers'), this clean little shop is run by some very friendly and helpful people.

I had the Cuban Sandwich - pulled roast marinated pork, ham, a thin slice of Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickle on a very well toasted Cuban roll plus a Cafe con Leche.  The sandwich was hot and tasty.  They also have Cuban Pulled Pork sandwiches, mini Cubanos and a Breakfast Cuban sandwich on a rather small menu plus Cuban coffee, lattes and Americanos.

I have heard of the marinated roast pork (lechon asado?) and the addition of the salami before but I don't think I've ever encountered those variations in Houston.  The salami is typical of a Cubano in Tampa, reflecting the ethnic make-up of the city where Italian immigrants worked and lived alongside Cubans, and I thought it added a nice note to the sandwich but what I really liked was how the sandwich was pressed down so thinly and the toasted bread was so crispy.   Unless the sign on the wall is meant just for decoration, they get their bread from the famous La Segunda Bakery in Tampa (Ybor City).

After several days, I'm still thinking of this sandwich and wanting to get back over there soon to confirm my memories.

I'm in Baytown regularly to visit family and I'm glad to happen on this place.  If you're  searching for someplace to eat in Baytown and wanting to avoid the chains, this place is worth a try.

The Cuban Cafe on Facebook

Rico Sabor Cubano - Updated 9/2017

Hillcroft @ Bellaire, in the Fiesta parking lot

NOTE:  THIS UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A SIMILAR VENDOR CALLED CARRITO CUBANO.

Most Fiestas have FPF (freshly prepared foods) options, either indoors or out.  This huge store, which I think of as the Mother Ship even though it wasn't the first one, has 4 indoors and 2 semi-permanent stands just outside the front door.  Now, add this mobile unit out at the edge of the parking lot, along Hillcroft.

They were doing a good business during the lunch hour when I checked it out.  The Ropa Viejo was not ready yet, unfortunately, my first choice, so I went for Pechuga de Pollo ($8) which was described as 'fried'  - everyone on the truck was very friendly but none speaks very good English, a little problem for me as my Spanish has gotten rusty since I haven't been frequenting taco trucks and taquerias much for a couple of years..

The chicken breast was served on a bed (about 2 C) of Moros y Cristianos (black beans and white rice cooked together) with a salad of tomato and cucumber slices, shredded onion and cabbage on lettuce leaves, and with a side of stewed yuca topped with shredded, marinated red onions.  A very vinegary hot sauce was offered as a condiment.

What? No Cuban sandwich?  One will be added soon, I was told.  The proprietor has gotten numerous requests for one.  Belated note:  The Cubano sandwich is an American invention.  As these operators, and the new ones at this location, seem to be more recent immigrants, it's not surprising they don't have one on the menu.

And I will be back to try it out.