Malanga Cuban Café, a beloved neighborhood restaurant in Pinecrest known for its freshly made croquetas, malanga soup, and savory pan con lechón, has shuttered after 13 years of serving the community. Although no official statement was released regarding the unexpected closure, the restaurant had moved from its original location to a nearby shopping plaza, where it seems business didn’t take off like it had once before.
Founded in 2011 on the corner of 123rd Street and U.S. 1, Malanga wasn’t just your average Cuban restaurant. It was a community fixture with a loyal following, a soccer game always playing on TV, and enough abuela-style cooking to make even the most jaded Miami native nostalgic. It was also, for a time, a favorite quarantine takeout spot for Miami-born popstar Camila Cabello and her then-boyfriend Shawn Mendes. Cabello frequented the Cuban restaurant even before the pandemic, and was seen in photos with the owner’s daughters in 2019.
During the height of lockdown, Mendes gave a shout out to the restaurant in an Instagram video, calling it his go-to Miami restaurant. “My favorite place to order food from right now, currently from Postmates in Miami, is Malanga,” the Grammy nominee said, urging fans to support local businesses. “During this time, I think it’s incredibly important to take care of each other and order food locally from businesses in your city you live in.”
The pop star’s endorsement turned Malanga from a neighborhood gem to a social media darling overnight…