This place is such a gem The live music elevates the ambience. The seating and accommodations are perfect. Every seat in the house has a good view of the stage and the performers. Everything we ordered was delicious and cocktails were flowing! The service was great. Everyone was friendly and very accommodating.

excellent. the food, service, ambience, the live music performer amazing and added the cherry on top on our Miami trip. First time here and will come back every time we come to Miami. If you haven't been or are looking for all I mentioned above, come you will love it!!

We came on a Sunday without a reservation and we were seated right away. If you come on a Friday or Saturday make sure to make a reservation as this restaurant is quite small. The vibes were good with the music. They had a live performance and it seems like they have performers there on certain days. Service was great and they were quick to get our food! We got the Cuban crackers with the dip and it was absolutely delicious. We also got the calamari and it was amazing! I didn't get pictures of our main entrees since it smelled amazing and we were very hungry. We got the Pollo Guajiro and Lonjas Lechon de Asado and omg it was amazing! The chicken was quite delicious and big portion. My meal cut easily and the sauce was so good! We got the fried plantains and it was good as well! Recommend coming here next time you're in Little Havana!

We visited Sala'o for the birthday discount, and it did not disappoint! The place is super lively, with loud Jazz periodically throughout the night. Too loud to have a conversation during the music, but that's kinda the vibe. However, the space is very cramped, and our reservation for 4 was really a table for 2. I got elbowed in the head :/ BUT aside from that, the Empanadas (so pricey 2 for $12) were the best I ever had. The dough was crispy, doughey, and the filling was well-seasoned. The Chuleta de Cerdo (pork chop) was oh so juicey and paired well with the Arroz Moro (rice with black beans). Seriously, I'm not one to typically order a meat dish like this, but that was one good pork chop.

WOW! What a great place. Got here very early for lunch on a Saturday (I was literally the first one) and the weather was good enough to enjoy the outdoor seating. Ambiance: 5/5. Great people watching and some Latin music playing in the background. The service was also super friendly and warm! 5/5. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was just so nice and attentive. But, the FOOD...so delicious. I way over ordered because I wanted to try a little of a lot...I knew I wasn't going to be able to finish everything if I tried to eat it all, but I couldn't help myself. It was just that good. I started with an appetizer of empanadas de picadillo and a ceviche mixto (with fish and shrimp). The empanadas were perfect...flaky crust and filling that was so flavorful. The ceviche was light and fresh...perfectly balanced. By the time my ropa vieja arrived, I knew I was in trouble because I was already getting pretty full...but I had to press on! The ropa was tender, juicy and oh so flavorful. And the arroz moro (black beans and rice) was just a perfect accompaniment. My only sadness was that I wasn't able to finish it or have room to try the flan. Food: 5/5 I would DEFINITELY come back here in a heartbeat if I had the chance.

VACA FRITA I wasn't even hungry when I came in. My family and I were just bored. It started pouring rain so we sat for a few mojitos and ordered some food. What a surprise. The vaca Frita was better than the traditional restaurant down the street. Versailles is good, but it's good because it's been there for so long and it's consistent. But the vaca Frita was 10x better here. Sorry. Service was good, restaurant was nice and clean. Live music was playing. Nice little escape from the rain in Miami.

This place is a must visit. My mom and I have lived in Miami for 29+ years and we avoid going to Little Havana for various reasons. My husband found this place online and was raving about it so I made the reservations for us 3 to celebrate his birthday. We were all very happy and satisfied with this place. DECOR: So nice. Makes you want to come in. There's basically only 3 walls to this restaurant. The front is completely open to the public and you can just admire the decor, music, lights, and live music on stage. I heard that there's a time when they have salsa classes. Idk how or when because the place is small and although they did magic with the interior design, it's still cramped. The bar is beautiful. The music is great. We went when they had live music playing and WOW was it good. They had a phenomenal Cuban band playing. I almost wish that they had enough space for a dance floor because the music was that good. It's very loud when they play so if you're looking to have a quiet, nonchalant and intimate dinner then this place is not for you. SERVICE: I was very surprised... the service was actually very good. Our waiter was wonderful. Smiling, helpful, and detail oriented. Always smiling. I'm pretty easy going in restaurants my only thing is that I don't want ice in my water. So I take notice when the waiter does/doesn't do the one little thing that matters to me. Well Andy took note and also told the guy who was refilling our glass. FOOD: Excellent. Which really surprised us. My mom is a selective eater (aka she's extremely picky and very vocal about it) and she was satisfied. The only complain she had was that her sangria had a lot of sugar. We ordered the pollo guajiro, la ropa vieja, and the pulpo criollo. All of us enjoyed our dishes. We were very satisfied. My husband ended up ordering a daiquiri and he said it was good. They sang my husband happy birthday and brought him a dessert. The cool thing about this place is that the birthday person gets a discount on their plate and the discount depends on your age. So if you're turning 30 then you get a 30% discount on your plate, if you're turning 85 then you get a 85% discount on your plate. PRICES: It's pricey but that's to be expected in Little Havana. I think the cheapest entree I saw was $18. I posted a picture of the menu so you can take a look. They also have a professional photographer taking photos and you can buy them for $20 each (plus tax). They bring it to you in a nice frame. This place is strict with some things. If you made a reservation and you're a no show, the charge a fee. If you go over the 2hrs the reservation allows, you get charged a fee. If you show up 15 mins past your reservation, they cancel your reservation and you have to wait a while to get a seat. They charge an automatic 18% to the check. CONCLUSION: I recommend going to this place. The food is good, the service is good, the drinks are good, the ambiance is excellent, the music is phenomenal. Good place to go to for birthdays, fun dates, good dinner, get-togethers, drinks and even cigars ( they have a cigar store next door).

Really enjoyed trying out this place during Viernes Culturales. If you're looking for a quiet and comfortable place, this is not it! But if you're looking for a fun vibe with Latin music and dancers, this place is great! It does get crowded but they were able to accommodate us without a reservation at a table outside. The tables are small and close to the street but we had a great time. I enjoyed the music (mix of live music and Dj) as well as watching the performances. Food was good too. Tried the Miami Spice menu with tostones cups filled with ground beef, a churrasco as a main (add $5), and the fanguito as dessert. The churrasco was really yummy, the desert too but a bit too rich. Service was good but a bit all over the place not for the lack of effort but because there was a lot going on.

Being from Miami it is hard to eat in an area that feels like a tourist trap. But if I had to choose a solid representation of Cuban food and hospitality Sala'o is a fabulous choice. I came in on a Saturday night with a friend from out of town who wanted to hear live music. Sala'o delivered. They had a 5 piece band on stage singing an array of classic salsa songs. We sat at the bar and ordered dinner there as the restaurant was very busy. There were no tables available inside or out for dining. But there was some seating at the bar and we're happy with the service there. Our bartender was very sweet and accommodating. I had a shot of Don Julio, and was pleasantly surprised it was only $15. Given the prices in Miami and on 8 street, I genuinely expected to pay more. For dinner we tried the tostones rellenos de mariscos, the ropa vieja with moros, and the camarones al ajillo (an appetizer that comes with tostones). All were tasty and the portions were healthy so I felt like they were fairly priced especially for being on Calle Ocho. Overall, if you are looking for a place with a lovely and lively atmosphere to have dinner, this place checks all the boxes.