Taste of Okinawa Scrumptious Cuban sandwich at Kissa Gitano

Cuban sandwich (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

Last year I visited Kissa Gitano, an eatery in the Sunabe Seawall known for their tasty Cuban sandwiches, a go-to when I lived in South Florida almost 10 years ago. Their sandwiches were amazing as it definitely brought be back to my time in Florida.

Recently I learned that shop had relocated to the neighborhood outside Camp Foster, much closer to my office. So, I decided to go to their new place for lunch.

A 5-minute drive from Foster’s Gate 5 took me to the new Kissa Gitano, located on the second floor of a building by the Chatan Kitamae branch of FamilyMart convenience store and sharing a space with Pizza & Sunset PLUS bar.

(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

When it shared a space with Timeless Chocolate shop near the seawall, this eatery had a fashionable look like a cool clothing store. The new location has the vibe of a beachside bar installed in a concrete building. Looking at a mirror ball hanging from the ceiling and photos on the walls of customers having a good time put me in a fun and relaxed mood.

The eatery’s menu book still listed some of the familiar menu items such as Chicken Seafood Paella (1,200 yen, approx. 8.53), Garlic Shrimp & Avocado Sandwich (1,200 yen), Caprese Sandwich (1,000 yen), and my favorite, the Cuban Sandwich (1,200 yen).

As I waited for my Cuban, I enjoyed the beautiful view of the ocean from the window and dreamed of my time in Florida.

When the food was to me, the scent of baked cheese, pork and the nice touch of burn on the baguette made my memory of my last visit to the eatery come back alive.

Just like before, the distinct taste of mustard and pickles made my mouth water, and the pork’s soft texture melding with the melting cheese dazzled me.

The Cuban is a simple sandwich consisting of pork, ham, cheese, pickles and mustard served on a baguette and toasted. The presentation might not be as visually appealing as pizza or a hamburger, but the flavor more than makes up for it.

Kissa Gitano carefully cooks and serves up the food very neatly. Eating my sandwich while enjoying the ocean view made me forget about my daily life for a while.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been spending a lot of time working from home. But with Kissa Gitano now in the neighborhood of Camp Foster, I just found a reason to go to the office more.

The history behind Cuban Sandwich

According to an illustrated story by the New York Times, the Cuban Sandwich, as its name suggests, originated in Cuba. It became a common lunch food for Cubans who fled Spanish rule and worked for cigar factories in Ybor City in Tampa in the 1800s. When Fidel Castro rose to power in 1959, exiles rushed to Miami, which further pushed the popularity of food in the state, according to the newspaper.

There is an ongoing feud between Tampa and Miami, two cities in Florida staking claim to being the new home of the Cuban Sandwich. For reference, Tampa Bay Times reported in 2012, “The humble Cuban Sandwich now has official standing as the signature sandwich of the city of Tampa.”

Kissa Gitano @ Pizza & Sunset PLUS