Reviews of Tropicaleo (Restaurant)

Jay Houston

Was delighted with my experience here. The bartender/waitress was very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and food items. The atmosphere was bright and colorful. They also have a patio area for dinning. Don't be discouraged by the limited dinning area and setup. The food was great. Definitely will be returning again

Maria Cruz

This was my first time in Alabama and was very excited to find out that there was a Puerto Rican restaurant! The decor was great but the food was disappointing.

Madison Jones

The food here is great and they have more vegan options than anywhere else I’ve been in Birmingham. Also, bonus points for the conscious effort to be more sustainable.

daniel hunter

Really enjoyed the visit, great little spot outstanding food

Richard Saari

Great authentic puertorican food, and I hope I'm a fair judge -my mother is puertorican

UcheBabii

Food was absolutely delicious!!

candice colston

This is a great spot! The food and drinks are excellent!

Carmelo Cardona

Excelente Puertorican food.

Noel Hall

Good was great but so was the service

allthatandsmore33 .

The grit sticks are wonderfully amazing. Nice staff.

Annaleigh Holloway

Food is great! Drinks are great! Salsa night on Fridays are a blast!

Sapphire Williams

If I could give you a negative star I would. I order from a VEGAN menu and got pork. Then was made to pay for the VEGAN SANDWICH.

Jessica M

Meh. To be honest. In my opinion it really wasn't good. Being Puerto Rican, eating Puerto Rican food my whole life, and cooking with and for my family, to me their food is not what it should be. I was very disappointed. And This, one more plate and 2 empanadas cost me about 60 dollars. Wouldn't recommend. EDIT. NOPE, NOT IMPOSSIBLE, 2 ADDITIONAL PHOTOS DID NOT UPLOAD. but that doesnt take away from the poor quality of the food.

Amy RuiZ

Worse place ever. We came around 8pm, the kitchen close at 9pm and since we walk in the cashier (blond girl) had a very rude attituded because of the time we came. I order some jibaritos and they gave me sandwiches because apparently they didnt have plantains. They never informed us they didnt have plantains and most of our order had plantains (mofongo, jibarito and canoa) when they gave me my daughter rice and beans (after an hour and 15 min) her Food was super COLD. Customer service was HORRIBLE. I will definitely choose to Miami cafe is i want some puertorrican food.

Yuri Valent

One star for the art, one star for the shy waiter, and one star for the pretender sandwich (though it was bland). Not an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant at all. Very disappointed with the melancholy cashier. She spent an hour crying because a customer politely told her she did not order what was bought to her. The menu was misleading, and owner didnt seem to care. Not the best PR restaurant In town. Downtown has a better one with a great vibe, great food, and excellent customer service.

Zeke

Great food with pricing as you'd expect. If you haven't been you sh9uld come at least once.

Clark Lopez

Just try it. Open yourself to new things Birmingham! These people are passionate and care about what they serve. Fantastic food.

hobby hobbit

Should have done this sooner! GREAT! Delicious! You won't be disappointed!!!

Becca Phillips Harris

Everything we ate was delicious! Tons of vegan and vegetarian options. Mofongo, Canoitas, and The Pretender were really good. We loved the Alcapurrias and house sauce! Friendly staff. Neat, unique restaurant. Will be going back ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

iamTHATGUY uknow

Service is wonderful

Emily Ness

I'd never had Puerto Rican food before and was excited to try Tropicaleo. I think the other reviewers are right, the food's main seasoning seems to be salt. It's not terrible, just not what I was expecting. It's nice that they have a flour free kitchen, but some of the dish names are not representative of what you get. For example, the avocado toast was good- but in no way shape or form would I consider it toast. Final downside, they still seem to be using Pizitz pricing- the food is pricey, especially considering the blandness and portion sizes. I imagine there are a lot of people who might like this style of food (especially if you like salty snacks), it's just not for me.

Cameron Mcdowell

Great staff great sandwiches

Justin Kirk

The food is always fresh, flavorful, and high quality. Highly recommend. Personal favorite is the bowl and a side of fried plantains

Joshua Griffin

I had dominican food that was better worst Spanish food ive ever had in my entire life god have mercy I miss NYC

Cody Mitchell

The people were extremely friendly and had wonderful service. The environment was beautiful, and the food was banging, super authentic. 10/10

Annie Pena

Great food!

Nick Kumpee

Great environment cool atmosphere great drink specials and the food is out of this world! I would highly recommend that you go out and try the tropicaleo out if you haven't already.

Robyn Nichols

Food was terrific, staff was awesome.

Patrick Williams

Good food, good people

Lindsay Ellinas

This place is amazing. The food is freshly prepared, and I have never been disappointed. One of my favorite things about Tropicaleo is that they have an entire printed menu dedicated to vegan choices, being one of the few vegetarian options in Birmingham. The kitchen is accommodating. The staff is friendly. The atmosphere is cozy and fun.

Brittany Irene Festin

Great food and wonderful service! The owner and everyone is super nice! Highly recommended!

Pete Johnson

Interesting fare. Not my cup of tea, but not bad. Service is very good.

silvia torres

Loved it .. very home made everything was delicious, atmosphere was really nice great for the family. Staff is super nice too.

J. P. Hargrove

Fabulous spot to eat. The menu has great selections and the staff is great. The bread - oh my God the bread - is out of this world! I highly recommend this place to everyone.

Jathan a

Very authentic restaurant that serves Puerto Rican food. The rice and meats and plantains were very fresh. Although the menu is short, and the establishment is very quaint, it is full of nice flavor! Nice portion size and extremely good customer service provided by the two owners.

Jay Houston

Was delighted with my experience here. The bartender/waitress was very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and food items. The atmosphere was bright and colorful. They also have a patio area for dinning. Don't be discouraged by the limited dinning area and setup. The food was great. Definitely will be returning again

Maria Cruz

This was my first time in Alabama and was very excited to find out that there was a Puerto Rican restaurant! The decor was great but the food was disappointing.

Madison Jones

The food here is great and they have more vegan options than anywhere else I’ve been in Birmingham. Also, bonus points for the conscious effort to be more sustainable.

daniel hunter

Really enjoyed the visit, great little spot outstanding food

Richard Saari

Great authentic puertorican food, and I hope I'm a fair judge -my mother is puertorican

UcheBabii

Food was absolutely delicious!!

candice colston

This is a great spot! The food and drinks are excellent!

Carmelo Cardona

Excelente Puertorican food.

Noel Hall

Good was great but so was the service

allthatandsmore33

The grit sticks are wonderfully amazing. Nice staff.

Annaleigh Holloway

Food is great! Drinks are great! Salsa night on Fridays are a blast!

Sapphire Williams

If I could give you a negative star I would. I order from a VEGAN menu and got pork. Then was made to pay for the VEGAN SANDWICH.

Jessica M

Meh. To be honest. In my opinion it really wasn't good. Being Puerto Rican, eating Puerto Rican food my whole life, and cooking with and for my family, to me their food is not what it should be. I was very disappointed. And This, one more plate and 2 empanadas cost me about 60 dollars. Wouldn't recommend. EDIT. NOPE, NOT IMPOSSIBLE, 2 ADDITIONAL PHOTOS DID NOT UPLOAD. but that doesnt take away from the poor quality of the food.

Amy RuiZ

Worse place ever. We came around 8pm, the kitchen close at 9pm and since we walk in the cashier (blond girl) had a very rude attituded because of the time we came. I order some jibaritos and they gave me sandwiches because apparently they didnt have plantains. They never informed us they didnt have plantains and most of our order had plantains (mofongo, jibarito and canoa) when they gave me my daughter rice and beans (after an hour and 15 min) her Food was super COLD. Customer service was HORRIBLE. I will definitely choose to Miami cafe is i want some puertorrican food.

Yuri Valent

One star for the art, one star for the shy waiter, and one star for the pretender sandwich (though it was bland). Not an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant at all. Very disappointed with the melancholy cashier. She spent an hour crying because a customer politely told her she did not order what was bought to her. The menu was misleading, and owner didnt seem to care. Not the best PR restaurant In town. Downtown has a better one with a great vibe, great food, and excellent customer service.

Zeke

Great food with pricing as you'd expect. If you haven't been you sh9uld come at least once.

Clark Lopez

Just try it. Open yourself to new things Birmingham! These people are passionate and care about what they serve. Fantastic food.

hobby hobbit

Should have done this sooner! GREAT! Delicious! You won't be disappointed!!!

Becca Phillips Harris

Everything we ate was delicious! Tons of vegan and vegetarian options. Mofongo, Canoitas, and The Pretender were really good. We loved the Alcapurrias and house sauce! Friendly staff. Neat, unique restaurant. Will be going back ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

iamTHATGUY uknow

Service is wonderful

Emily Ness

I'd never had Puerto Rican food before and was excited to try Tropicaleo. I think the other reviewers are right, the food's main seasoning seems to be salt. It's not terrible, just not what I was expecting. It's nice that they have a flour free kitchen, but some of the dish names are not representative of what you get. For example, the avocado toast was good- but in no way shape or form would I consider it toast. Final downside, they still seem to be using Pizitz pricing- the food is pricey, especially considering the blandness and portion sizes. I imagine there are a lot of people who might like this style of food (especially if you like salty snacks), it's just not for me.

Cameron Mcdowell

Great staff great sandwiches

Justin Kirk

The food is always fresh, flavorful, and high quality. Highly recommend. Personal favorite is the bowl and a side of fried plantains

Joshua Griffin

I had dominican food that was better worst Spanish food ive ever had in my entire life god have mercy I miss NYC

Cody Mitchell

The people were extremely friendly and had wonderful service. The environment was beautiful, and the food was banging, super authentic. 10/10

Annie Pena

Great food!

Nick Kumpee

Great environment cool atmosphere great drink specials and the food is out of this world! I would highly recommend that you go out and try the tropicaleo out if you haven't already.

Robyn Nichols

Food was terrific, staff was awesome.

Patrick Williams

Good food, good people

Lindsay Ellinas

This place is amazing. The food is freshly prepared, and I have never been disappointed. One of my favorite things about Tropicaleo is that they have an entire printed menu dedicated to vegan choices, being one of the few vegetarian options in Birmingham. The kitchen is accommodating. The staff is friendly. The atmosphere is cozy and fun.

Brittany Irene Festin

Great food and wonderful service! The owner and everyone is super nice! Highly recommended!

Pete Johnson

Interesting fare. Not my cup of tea, but not bad. Service is very good.

silvia torres

Loved it .. very home made everything was delicious, atmosphere was really nice great for the family. Staff is super nice too.

J. P. Hargrove

Fabulous spot to eat. The menu has great selections and the staff is great. The bread - oh my God the bread - is out of this world! I highly recommend this place to everyone.

Jathan a

Very authentic restaurant that serves Puerto Rican food. The rice and meats and plantains were very fresh. Although the menu is short, and the establishment is very quaint, it is full of nice flavor! Nice portion size and extremely good customer service provided by the two owners.

Eunice Lopez

I love this place! I’m friends with the owner he is the nicest person ever ❤️ The best Puerto Rican food in Birmingham

Katrina Crandell

OMG. This place is amazing. Vegan and Gluten-free! The Cuban, the avo toast, yuka tacos! I want to party when they party here! The margarita was different but so good! They moved from the Pizitts Food Hall. Can’t wait to try rum flights!

Raphael Cohen

The carna frita is fantastic.

Greg Stein

I took my daughter here because of the vegetarian/vegan options. She loved her food and I had one of the best Cuban sandwiches I’ve ever had. This place is a great find. Can’t wait to go back and enjoy both the food and the entertainment!

Stuart Brooks

Best Margarita in town hands down. Can be on the pricier side but the food is worth it. Staff was knowledgeable on Vegan options for my wife. Loaded Plantains were delicious. Sandwiches are awesome.

orangefro868 .

Great chill place. Awesome fun staff. Decent food.

Elizabeth Guizar

First time Here and for what happen the last night it will be that last!!! Worse place ever We came around 8pm and since we walk in the cashier (Madison. I think thats what she told me that her name was )had a very rude attitude !!!! after an hour they brought Our Food and it was really Cold!! Customer service was horrible ! They didn’t even gave us an apology It look like they didn’t even care for what happen !!!

D'Aquarian Goddess

White washed establishment. No culture whatsoever!!!

Rachel Bates

Delicious. Fast service. Friendly owner.

Toya Neely

Always love this place! The food, the hospitality, and friendliness are all top notch.

Justin Marden

This place is the hidden gem of Avondale! Great food and a great atmosphere! The people are super nice and the food is delicious! Definitely coming back here again and again.

Shatay Jones

I actually went to the family dollar next door to this area.....never been here before but it's a hot spot for drink and good food. When I go back I will try it and update .

Mike B

I found the Cuban sandwich to be disappointing. It was missing ham and had their house sauce which I think is ketchup and Vegenaise (I could be wrong) either way it wasn’t my cup of tea. I also found some of the small plates to be bland. The guava mimosa was quite tasty.

Reyna Valerio

Food was bland, girl behind the counter not that friendly but for the people that came after us she was friendly, pricey for the amount of food. I had high expectations of it since I thought it was authentic, even down to the music (American rock) instead of salsa or Latin music but was a letdown. My whole family finished with stomach problems. Will not come back.

Yoruba Harris

I'm from The Bronx, and I guess this takeout visit really didn't wow me. When my husband and I walked in, it took awhile for them to acknowledge us and there were only three people in there. I ordered the vegan jackfruit sandwich with a side of r&bs and my husband had the Tropicabowl and he gave it a 5 on scale from 1-10. We get home and opened our takeout, the r&bs were just plopped in there. No presentation. I guess there was no real need to impress us, but if another group of ppl who don't look like us would have walked in the response would have been totally different and of that I am certain! Needless to say, that last time was my last time.

Isabel Medina

Went after seeing the Vegan Menu of FB. Tried the Pretender and it was the best sandwich I had in my life. My friend had the tofu "a caballo" and it was fantastic too. I was surprised that the drinks were only $4. Definitely coming back to try some of the other vegan items on the menu.

Carmen Fultz

Had lunch at this hidden gem today and the food and service was excellent. My mother is Puerto Rican and reminded me of her cooking growing up. Gabe (the owner) and Daniel were very friendly and I will definitely be back. Try a sampler plate and I promise you'll love it too!

sean williamson

Awesome food, owner and staff are great. Family owned and locally run, business that puts care into the community they live-in.

Idus Davis

The food is incredible and the owner is super nice.

Martha Bell

Good food, choice of indoor or outdoor dining.

vlad claros

Food was good, love the look of the place very relax.

RDaccord .

Favorite lunch spot hands down! The Cuban is magnificent and the sweet plantains are just wonderful. Can't say enough how delicious this place is.

Andrew Fitzgerald

Amazing place! The food was so good. I LOVED the mofongo. I’m Puerto Rican and I was very excited to see a Puerto Rican restaurant, specifically, in Birmingham because I just moved down here from Chicagoland for a job. The mofongo has a great taste with the pulled pork and I loved the house sauce, especially as a dip for the yuca fries. I was super happy to come across this place. I would love if they added other kinds of Puerto Rican rice, like yellow rice with vegetables or gandules, and other refreshing summery desserts or drinks like piragua. Either way, I’ll definitely be back. I felt like I was at home!

Cody Wright

Great food, friendly staff. I've yet to have a bad experience, and the food quality is consistent. Great spot for drinks and music.

Rob McDonald

Great sandwiches & friendly staff. I like the easy vibe.

Lique Mora

if you aren't familiar with traditionally made Puerto Rican food, you may consider the food to be good. at best for me, it was edible, but not Puerto Rican. the staff seemed very nice.

Jaime Foley

Small places are usually the best, this one won't disappoint! Puerto Rican food, vegan and gulten free options available

Rachel Ruehmer

The food at Tropicaleo is amazing but the service is even more so. Everytime I come in I am greeted promptly and made sure to be handed a menu (even though I already know what I want, a juicy Cubano ;) ) and usually choose to sit at the bar. The employees are engaging and don't let me stay thirsty when I'm there. I have become a huge aguardiente fangirl. Who knew? But seriously ya'll, run don't walk to Tropicaleo.

Micah Hayden

This place is awesome.

Jarrod Eden Smith

Can't go wrong with vegan options of classic Puerto Rican dishes.

Edwin Diaz

Location could be better...a little pricey for the amount of food you get...far from being true puertorican food...

Michael

Fantastic! If you live in Birmingham and haven't eaten here yet you're doing yourself a disservice. Great drink specials, music, great atmosphere and artwork.

Barbara Martinez

Me and my family went to the restaurant to have some Hispanic food with my in laws on Sunday. The restaurant was very pretty, clean, the food was amazing! Everything was freshly cooked... But the cashier!!! Holly God!! Talking about first impressions. I will never go there because of her. She was rude as rude can be! She roll her eyes at my mother in law when my mother in law told me as a joke "you order we are on your territory " because they did not speak Spanish and they didn't wanted to look stupid ordering food they can't pronounced, my husband asked for coke by brand ( Coca-Cola) and she very rudely told him " we don't have that here" and roll her eye's at him. I was so mad that I really thought to turn around and go to Olive Garden.

Gottfried Kibelka

In brief: Fun place, nice people, bread is great, price on the high side, food on the dry side, and no pique! The side of tostones (5 disks for $4) came without salt and very little aioli. The Pretender, a sandwich for $10, came without any sides, and moisture was only provided by a tablespoon of slaw and about 1 teaspoon full of aioli. The amount of avocado and spinach was negligible. The taste was good but most of it was dry but delicious, slightly sweet and very soft bread. The Chicharrones turned out to be a full meal and the chicken was nicely spiced but tostones and chicken were dry and served without any moistening side and the teaspoon of aioli was barely enough to get through a 1/4 of the meal. My biggest gripe is that there was no salt or hot sauce on the table or anywhere (visible) in the restaurant. How can a Puerto Rican restaurant have no pique? Pique would have gone a long way to moisten the dishes we received. I would love to love this restaurant and give it 4 stars because I like the owners and the people working here, I like the fact that they are conscious about dietary choices, I like colorful, privately owned restaurants, and I like Puerto Rican food and music.

Eunice Lopez

I love this place! I’m friends with the owner he is the nicest person ever ❤️ The best Puerto Rican food in Birmingham

Katrina Crandell

OMG. This place is amazing. Vegan and Gluten-free! The Cuban, the avo toast, yuka tacos! I want to party when they party here! The margarita was different but so good! They moved from the Pizitts Food Hall. Can’t wait to try rum flights!

Raphael Cohen

The carna frita is fantastic.

Stuart Brooks

Best Margarita in town hands down. Can be on the pricier side but the food is worth it. Staff was knowledgeable on Vegan options for my wife. Loaded Plantains were delicious. Sandwiches are awesome.

orangefro868

Great chill place. Awesome fun staff. Decent food.

Elizabeth Guizar

First time Here and for what happen the last night it will be that last!!! Worse place ever We came around 8pm and since we walk in the cashier (Madison. I think thats what she told me that her name was )had a very rude attitude !!!! after an hour they brought Our Food and it was really Cold!! Customer service was horrible ! They didn’t even gave us an apology It look like they didn’t even care for what happen !!!

D'Aquarian Goddess

White washed establishment. No culture whatsoever!!!

Rachel Bates

Delicious. Fast service. Friendly owner.

Toya Neely

Always love this place! The food, the hospitality, and friendliness are all top notch.

Justin Marden

This place is the hidden gem of Avondale! Great food and a great atmosphere! The people are super nice and the food is delicious! Definitely coming back here again and again.

Shatay Jones

I actually went to the family dollar next door to this area.....never been here before but it's a hot spot for drink and good food. When I go back I will try it and update .

Autumn

Good place but the food is too salty

Mike B

I found the Cuban sandwich to be disappointing. It was missing ham and had their house sauce which I think is ketchup and Vegenaise (I could be wrong) either way it wasn’t my cup of tea. I also found some of the small plates to be bland. The guava mimosa was quite tasty.

Reyna Valerio

Food was bland, girl behind the counter not that friendly but for the people that came after us she was friendly, pricey for the amount of food. I had high expectations of it since I thought it was authentic, even down to the music (American rock) instead of salsa or Latin music but was a letdown. My whole family finished with stomach problems. Will not come back.

Yoruba Harris

I'm from The Bronx, and I guess this takeout visit really didn't wow me. When my husband and I walked in, it took awhile for them to acknowledge us and there were only three people in there. I ordered the vegan jackfruit sandwich with a side of r&bs and my husband had the Tropicabowl and he gave it a 5 on scale from 1-10. We get home and opened our takeout, the r&bs were just plopped in there. No presentation. I guess there was no real need to impress us, but if another group of ppl who don't look like us would have walked in the response would have been totally different and of that I am certain! Needless to say, that last time was my last time.

Isabel Medina

Went after seeing the Vegan Menu of FB. Tried the Pretender and it was the best sandwich I had in my life. My friend had the tofu "a caballo" and it was fantastic too. I was surprised that the drinks were only $4. Definitely coming back to try some of the other vegan items on the menu.

Carmen Fultz

Had lunch at this hidden gem today and the food and service was excellent. My mother is Puerto Rican and reminded me of her cooking growing up. Gabe (the owner) and Daniel were very friendly and I will definitely be back. Try a sampler plate and I promise you'll love it too!

sean williamson

Awesome food, owner and staff are great. Family owned and locally run, business that puts care into the community they live-in.

Idus Davis

The food is incredible and the owner is super nice.

Martha Bell

Good food, choice of indoor or outdoor dining.

vlad claros

Food was good, love the look of the place very relax.

RDaccord

Favorite lunch spot hands down! The Cuban is magnificent and the sweet plantains are just wonderful. Can't say enough how delicious this place is.

Andrew Fitzgerald

Amazing place! The food was so good. I LOVED the mofongo. I’m Puerto Rican and I was very excited to see a Puerto Rican restaurant, specifically, in Birmingham because I just moved down here from Chicagoland for a job. The mofongo has a great taste with the pulled pork and I loved the house sauce, especially as a dip for the yuca fries. I was super happy to come across this place. I would love if they added other kinds of Puerto Rican rice, like yellow rice with vegetables or gandules, and other refreshing summery desserts or drinks like piragua. Either way, I’ll definitely be back. I felt like I was at home!

KaTara Rice

First time going to a Puerto Rican restaurant! Didnt understand a lot of the menu but James was amazing in explaining the menu and what was what so I ordered the pollo sandwich and it was amazing! He also made awesome drinks he was great and had awesome customer service! Cant wait to come see him again!

Cody Wright

Great food, friendly staff. I've yet to have a bad experience, and the food quality is consistent. Great spot for drinks and music.

Rob McDonald

Great sandwiches & friendly staff. I like the easy vibe.

Lique Mora

if you aren't familiar with traditionally made Puerto Rican food, you may consider the food to be good. at best for me, it was edible, but not Puerto Rican. the staff seemed very nice.

Jaime Foley

Small places are usually the best, this one won't disappoint! Puerto Rican food, vegan and gulten free options available

Rachel Ruehmer

The food at Tropicaleo is amazing but the service is even more so. Everytime I come in I am greeted promptly and made sure to be handed a menu (even though I already know what I want, a juicy Cubano ;) ) and usually choose to sit at the bar. The employees are engaging and don't let me stay thirsty when I'm there. I have become a huge aguardiente fangirl. Who knew? But seriously ya'll, run don't walk to Tropicaleo.

Micah Hayden

This place is awesome.

Jarrod Eden Smith

Can't go wrong with vegan options of classic Puerto Rican dishes.

Edwin Diaz

Location could be better...a little pricey for the amount of food you get...far from being true puertorican food...

Michael

Fantastic! If you live in Birmingham and haven't eaten here yet you're doing yourself a disservice. Great drink specials, music, great atmosphere and artwork.

Gottfried Kibelka

In brief: Fun place, nice people, bread is great, price on the high side, food on the dry side, and no pique! The side of tostones (5 disks for $4) came without salt and very little aioli. The Pretender, a sandwich for $10, came without any sides, and moisture was only provided by a tablespoon of slaw and about 1 teaspoon full of aioli. The amount of avocado and spinach was negligible. The taste was good but most of it was dry but delicious, slightly sweet and very soft bread. The Chicharrones turned out to be a full meal and the chicken was nicely spiced but tostones and chicken were dry and served without any moistening side and the teaspoon of aioli was barely enough to get through a 1/4 of the meal. My biggest gripe is that there was no salt or hot sauce on the table or anywhere (visible) in the restaurant. How can a Puerto Rican restaurant have no pique? Pique would have gone a long way to moisten the dishes we received. I would love to love this restaurant and give it 4 stars because I like the owners and the people working here, I like the fact that they are conscious about dietary choices, I like colorful, privately owned restaurants, and I like Puerto Rican food and music.

Alexis Busenlehner

Love bringing Puerto Rico to Birmingham! Mofongo is awesome. Amazing to enjoy authentic food. So happy to see sustainability efforts as well as vegan options!

Goom Goom

The food is delicious. The management is super friendly. I will be back!

Zach Hoffman

I love this place! I've been here for everything other than brunch, but from what I've heard it's something we'll need to schedule soon. I really enjoy coming here after work and setting up to enjoy a nice drink and pastry out on the back patio. The easy access to Mom's Basement and Cahaba makes it a great place to go in the evenings, as well, when you and your friends are looking to move around and have a good time. The events here are a blast too - just recently, they had an incredible fundraiser with the help of Max Rykov supporting planned parenthood that was one of the best local events I've been to in the Avondale area. I'm really glad they earned their worth from Pizitz and were able to establish a brick-and-mortar here in our backyard of Avondale.

Hunter Garrison

Great Puerto-Rican food in a cool spot near Cahaba brewing!

codie malone

I'm only giving this place 2 stars because the tea was delicious and the meat was good. My wife, my friends ,and I went here to eat last night. It was our first time. My friends ordered the sample appetizer so we could all try some different things. The portions were so small it WAS not worth what they charge. I ordered the Mofongo with chicken breast, rice & beans. My wife and our friends ordered sandwiches.. cheesesteak & cubanos. The cheesesteak was so salty it was like the top fell off the shaker and they didn't bother to cook new meat. The cubanos were good.. but nothing special.. especially for the price when all you get is the sandwich and a milliliter of sauce drizzled on the plate. The chicken on my Mofongo was really good.. but the plantain, rice, and beans had little to no flavor.. it was steamed rice and kidney beans with onion. The one (and pretty much only )time the waitress came to the table, we asked for sauce because everything was so dry.. she brought back 1 of the tiny metal bowls with less than a teaspoon in it.. so we asked for more.. she says.. and I quote, "it's usually .25, but I got yall" REALLY?! I just paid $15 for the smallest portion on earth.. sauce costs extra? And it took 30 or more minutes for my wife and I to get food. Idk what was going on in the kitchen.. but almost the whole time we were there, there were 4 people standing behind the counter.. with a line to the door. (Not sure why) and its kind of funny how they have you pay AND TIP before you get service.. and then you never get any service. it was just a really bad experience. We won't be back.

Nolan Carpenter

A wonderful little place. The tripeleta sandwich is delicious. The empanadas are crispy and very well seasoned. I laughed at the "avocado toast" but I could eat a whole plate of them after trying one. The atmosphere is festive and the prices are reasonable.

Jordan Hamilton

I had heard pretty good things about this place and decided to finally check it out last week. The good reviews certainly steered me toward coming here, and my experience absolutely leads me to believe there has been some sort of recent awful changes in the front of the house, back of the house, or both. Either way, this is not an establishment I will visit again. The cashier attempted to overcharge me, but hey that happens right? My order was incorrect, but ya know it can happen to anyone right? What sealed my opinion on this place was the quality of the food. The fried pork was overcooked and tasted like salty old grease. There was nothing special at all about the rice and beans other than the beans tasting like they were likely scooped from a can and popped in the microwave. The sauce that appears to be served with everything tastes like a 1:1 mix of mayo and ketchup. If you're looking for some decent PR food in town, look elsewhere. At least, until this place cleans up it's act.

Mindy runyans

Food was delicious. Staff was very friendly!

Tim Becker

Frickin delicious. They nail it every time. Both kinds of pork are great.

Nathan Zarzaur

Love the Cubano sandwich here, but the service was a little slow, even when I was one of the only people in the restaurant. That won't deter me from going back; a quality Cubano in Birmingham is something you don't come by easily.

Ladis Moran

Lovely atmosphere!! The art work is amazing. Food was ok.

Michael Bailey

Great food, great people. Highly recommended!

Chloe Lacey

I love Tropicaleo! They have some of the best vegan food in Birmingham. “The pretender” and “mofongo balls” are my absolute favorite, but they have a lot of other great vegan options. Would definitely recommend!

Redemption Dog Education

The food was AMAZING !!!! Service was exceptionally friendly. And fast. Will defiantly be back !!!

Waldemar Rodriguez

Flavor was there but not the Service .... I been all over the Country and I search for my PR ppl restaurants and the atmosphere is always hype and exiting . They are Proud of what they own and always welcoming every guest. One thing when I sell mofongo remember to always make sure Customer hace fluid available an empty cup is not a good sign ..... by courtesy please ask if the need something and interact for that extra tip ..... that isn’t was ask before the food wasn’t even serve .....

Danielle Spitzer

Beware if you are vegan! 2 of our food items which we ordered from the VEGAN menu had goats cheese instead of vegan cheese as advertised! Not a nice surprise when you take a bite! You would think that if you ordered from a vegan menu you would get vegan food. Guess wrong! Based on the reply I received below it appears that when you order from the vegan menu you then have to ask for it to be vegan. Laughable! The waitress did not apologize or even care that it was wrong. Other food not cooked fresh to order ( plantains) and was pretty much all dry and bland. I lost my condfidence in this establishment and won't be returning. Also note: very pricey for what you get .

Chris Jordan

My first experience at this restaurant was excellent. I love the mofongo. However this was before they moved to the new location. The water has a terrible metallic tast and seems to have affected the food and the cafe con leche. Bummer.

Esther Yonirka Munoz

So many vegan options! Great food with the borinquen flava!

Mary Cook

Good food, pulled pork , rice and beans or rice and pigeon peas, friendly admispher , great deserts, flan, guava pastry,, will definitely go and eat there again,,

Rachel Higgins

This cute spot is a nice addition to Avondale, and the food and drinks are great. There are multiple vegan/vegetarian options with a brunch menu 9a-9p on Saturday and a late-night menu on Friday/Saturday. The Unicorn Toast was great. We will be back!

Eric McGowan

Everything has been fast and fresh at each visit. I just tried the chicken Tropibowl with house sauce and rice and beans.

Jackson Bradford

This is the best Puerto Rican food in Alabama.

Bri Wright

Delicious food, great drinks, and awesome atmosphere

Ada Ramos

We took our family there,too small barely have any place to sit they didn't help us,and when we finaly got to sit and nobody came to offer anything

Rebecca Treat

A great hidden gem in the Avondale area, they serve the best margaritas in town made with fresh squeezed lime juice. The staff has been friendly and accommodating every time I've come in.

Karen Harper

1st visit, I was not sure with what to order. The cashier was very patient with explaining the items on the menu. I decided on pollo sandwich. For the price, not enough chicken and I was not impressed with the bun.

Halley Cotton

Well this place is freaking delicious. I got the pork sandwich and it was divine and fair priced. All of their side items are 4 dollars so it can add up quickly. Was really pleased with the food. Got one of their handcrafted sodas. Not sure it was worth it for the price. It was faintly flavored. But someone else may find them light and refreshing. They serve cocktails and brunch. The music and the atmosphere was fun and laid back. Great little place with good eats. Also, whatever the house sauce is, I want it all and on everything!

Derrick Lovett

This is great place for food and fun. The food we had was great, very authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. Most of the drinks they make are pretty good to. Friday DJ and dance was the best. You can't ask for more. This is a must visit spot if you are in town or live here. We will certainly be back.

Cristina Dieni

The place is cozy the food is really good they have an entire menu also vegan. Great cocktails.I will come back soon!

Reauchann Richardson

Food is delicious, variety for meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. So great. Small on the inside but charming

Betsy Stewart

I wouldn't consider myself a big fan of Cuban food but this place is delicious!!! I could eat their plantain chips all day! The pork sandwich and breakfast sandwich are incredible! The bread is soft and slightly sweet! Plus the dollar mimosas are perfect!! A great casual spot for any day of the week!

greg carroll

Flan was out of this world! Loaded plantains were delicious and a meal by themselves. Chiccarones were seasoned well.

Angela Cotner

My husband surprised me with tacos from here while I was at work one day, trust and believe me when I say they were simply delicious and amazing! I am so glad we found another vegetarian option place for me to eat at!

Indigo Kid A

My girlfriend and I walked in at 2:00 on Sunday Aug 25 2019 and the place was empty but i was really excited to try the food because I had heard great reviews from a friend. But when we walked in my appetite quickly diminished due to the girl at the counter looking us directly in the face and not even saying hello or welcome. I don't know what her deal was, she was literally doing nothing and when I looked over at her she started looking up at the wall. I'm not easily offended, but I've worked in the service industry for many years...and I know for a fact that if you don't show your customers that you appreciate their business, they will leave the same way we left. We will go back when someone else is working so we can at least give the food the ol Oxford try. If you don't want to be at work just call in. We don't even get a head nod! Not even a half a smile!!!

Thuy Kim

Huge portion size on the mofongo. Make sure to ask for the hot sauce- it's pretty spicy but adds so much flavor!

Alejandro Skeete

Great traditional Puerto Rican food! The food was so delicious, and the staff was nice. We will definitely be back!

Pamela York

Excellent food & service & ambiance. You must go.

Shai White

Absolutely AMAZING food!!! The place is kinda small, but homely. The staff is very nice. This place has definitely become a staple in my family's diet!!

Angela Mccoy

today was my first time trying tropicaleo! i got the cubano and the sweet plantains with guava to drink. SO GOOD!!!!! i really wasn't sure what to expect but so glad i decided to stop here to grab some food!i didn't eat there but i did go inside to order food. the atmosphere is nice and cozy! has a lot of personality. i will most definitely be back!!

Jess Lewis

Authentic and delicious food! I have only been three times so far but it has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants to go to in Birmingham. Plus there are a lot of vegan and vegetarian options on the menu!

Willian Benitez

Very very bad service the waitres have a rude actitud

Rex McDonald

Fantastic food, truly different from most offerings around town. A little on the pricey side, but the food is fresh and made to order. Helpful staff, adult and specialty soft drinks available, flour-less kitchen for those concerned with it. Highly recommend!

Michael Montgomery

This restaurant ABSOLUTELY takes me back to my home in Rio Grande como si estuviéramos en la panadería and I would absolutely LOVE to see you branch out of Birmingham! Please open a restaurant in Prattville or Montgomery!!! La comida y el menú están brutales!! The food and the menu are awesome!!

Charles Saab

Great food and great people.

yolanda clark

Nothing short of amazing! You have to go!

Mr. Smith

Love it and they have some great vegetarian/vegan options!!!!

Jake G

This place is amazing. There are vegan and gotten free options and prices are reasonable. There is great outdoor seating as well as inside. The food was amazing. Truly delicious.

Alexis Busenlehner

Love bringing Puerto Rico to Birmingham! Mofongo is awesome. Amazing to enjoy authentic food. So happy to see sustainability efforts as well as vegan options!

Goom Goom

The food is delicious. The management is super friendly. I will be back!

Zach Hoffman

I love this place! I've been here for everything other than brunch, but from what I've heard it's something we'll need to schedule soon. I really enjoy coming here after work and setting up to enjoy a nice drink and pastry out on the back patio. The easy access to Mom's Basement and Cahaba makes it a great place to go in the evenings, as well, when you and your friends are looking to move around and have a good time. The events here are a blast too - just recently, they had an incredible fundraiser with the help of Max Rykov supporting planned parenthood that was one of the best local events I've been to in the Avondale area. I'm really glad they earned their worth from Pizitz and were able to establish a brick-and-mortar here in our backyard of Avondale.

Hunter Garrison

Great Puerto-Rican food in a cool spot near Cahaba brewing!

codie malone

I'm only giving this place 2 stars because the tea was delicious and the meat was good. My wife, my friends ,and I went here to eat last night. It was our first time. My friends ordered the sample appetizer so we could all try some different things. The portions were so small it WAS not worth what they charge. I ordered the Mofongo with chicken breast, rice & beans. My wife and our friends ordered sandwiches.. cheesesteak & cubanos. The cheesesteak was so salty it was like the top fell off the shaker and they didn't bother to cook new meat. The cubanos were good.. but nothing special.. especially for the price when all you get is the sandwich and a milliliter of sauce drizzled on the plate. The chicken on my Mofongo was really good.. but the plantain, rice, and beans had little to no flavor.. it was steamed rice and kidney beans with onion. The one (and pretty much only )time the waitress came to the table, we asked for sauce because everything was so dry.. she brought back 1 of the tiny metal bowls with less than a teaspoon in it.. so we asked for more.. she says.. and I quote, "it's usually .25, but I got yall" REALLY?! I just paid $15 for the smallest portion on earth.. sauce costs extra? And it took 30 or more minutes for my wife and I to get food. Idk what was going on in the kitchen.. but almost the whole time we were there, there were 4 people standing behind the counter.. with a line to the door. (Not sure why) and its kind of funny how they have you pay AND TIP before you get service.. and then you never get any service. it was just a really bad experience. We won't be back.

Nolan Carpenter

A wonderful little place. The tripeleta sandwich is delicious. The empanadas are crispy and very well seasoned. I laughed at the "avocado toast" but I could eat a whole plate of them after trying one. The atmosphere is festive and the prices are reasonable.

Jordan Hamilton

I had heard pretty good things about this place and decided to finally check it out last week. The good reviews certainly steered me toward coming here, and my experience absolutely leads me to believe there has been some sort of recent awful changes in the front of the house, back of the house, or both. Either way, this is not an establishment I will visit again. The cashier attempted to overcharge me, but hey that happens right? My order was incorrect, but ya know it can happen to anyone right? What sealed my opinion on this place was the quality of the food. The fried pork was overcooked and tasted like salty old grease. There was nothing special at all about the rice and beans other than the beans tasting like they were likely scooped from a can and popped in the microwave. The sauce that appears to be served with everything tastes like a 1:1 mix of mayo and ketchup. If you're looking for some decent PR food in town, look elsewhere. At least, until this place cleans up it's act.

Tim Becker

Frickin delicious. They nail it every time. Both kinds of pork are great.

Nathan Zarzaur

Love the Cubano sandwich here, but the service was a little slow, even when I was one of the only people in the restaurant. That won't deter me from going back; a quality Cubano in Birmingham is something you don't come by easily.

Ladis Moran

Lovely atmosphere!! The art work is amazing. Food was ok.

Chloe Lacey

I love Tropicaleo! They have some of the best vegan food in Birmingham. “The pretender” and “mofongo balls” are my absolute favorite, but they have a lot of other great vegan options. Would definitely recommend!

Redemption Dog Education

The food was AMAZING !!!! Service was exceptionally friendly. And fast. Will defiantly be back !!!

Waldemar Rodriguez

Flavor was there but not the Service .... I been all over the Country and I search for my PR ppl restaurants and the atmosphere is always hype and exiting . They are Proud of what they own and always welcoming every guest. One thing when I sell mofongo remember to always make sure Customer hace fluid available an empty cup is not a good sign ..... by courtesy please ask if the need something and interact for that extra tip ..... that isn’t was ask before the food wasn’t even serve .....

Danielle Spitzer

Beware if you are vegan! 2 of our food items which we ordered from the VEGAN menu had goats cheese instead of vegan cheese as advertised! Not a nice surprise when you take a bite! You would think that if you ordered from a vegan menu you would get vegan food. Guess wrong! Based on the reply I received below it appears that when you order from the vegan menu you then have to ask for it to be vegan. Laughable! The waitress did not apologize or even care that it was wrong. Other food not cooked fresh to order ( plantains) and was pretty much all dry and bland. I lost my condfidence in this establishment and won't be returning. Also note: very pricey for what you get .

Chris Jordan

My first experience at this restaurant was excellent. I love the mofongo. However this was before they moved to the new location. The water has a terrible metallic tast and seems to have affected the food and the cafe con leche. Bummer.

Esther Yonirka Munoz

So many vegan options! Great food with the borinquen flava!

Mary Cook

Good food, pulled pork , rice and beans or rice and pigeon peas, friendly admispher , great deserts, flan, guava pastry,, will definitely go and eat there again,,

Rachel Higgins

This cute spot is a nice addition to Avondale, and the food and drinks are great. There are multiple vegan/vegetarian options with a brunch menu 9a-9p on Saturday and a late-night menu on Friday/Saturday. The Unicorn Toast was great. We will be back!

Eric McGowan

Everything has been fast and fresh at each visit. I just tried the chicken Tropibowl with house sauce and rice and beans.

Jackson Bradford

This is the best Puerto Rican food in Alabama.

Bri Wright

Delicious food, great drinks, and awesome atmosphere

Ada Ramos

We took our family there,too small barely have any place to sit they didn't help us,and when we finaly got to sit and nobody came to offer anything

Rebecca Treat

A great hidden gem in the Avondale area, they serve the best margaritas in town made with fresh squeezed lime juice. The staff has been friendly and accommodating every time I've come in.

Karen Harper

1st visit, I was not sure with what to order. The cashier was very patient with explaining the items on the menu. I decided on pollo sandwich. For the price, not enough chicken and I was not impressed with the bun.

Halley Cotton

Well this place is freaking delicious. I got the pork sandwich and it was divine and fair priced. All of their side items are 4 dollars so it can add up quickly. Was really pleased with the food. Got one of their handcrafted sodas. Not sure it was worth it for the price. It was faintly flavored. But someone else may find them light and refreshing. They serve cocktails and brunch. The music and the atmosphere was fun and laid back. Great little place with good eats. Also, whatever the house sauce is, I want it all and on everything!

Derrick Lovett

This is great place for food and fun. The food we had was great, very authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. Most of the drinks they make are pretty good to. Friday DJ and dance was the best. You can't ask for more. This is a must visit spot if you are in town or live here. We will certainly be back.

Cristina Dieni

The place is cozy the food is really good they have an entire menu also vegan. Great cocktails.I will come back soon!

Reauchann Richardson

Food is delicious, variety for meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. So great. Small on the inside but charming

Betsy Stewart

I wouldn't consider myself a big fan of Cuban food but this place is delicious!!! I could eat their plantain chips all day! The pork sandwich and breakfast sandwich are incredible! The bread is soft and slightly sweet! Plus the dollar mimosas are perfect!! A great casual spot for any day of the week!

greg carroll

Flan was out of this world! Loaded plantains were delicious and a meal by themselves. Chiccarones were seasoned well.

Angela Cotner

My husband surprised me with tacos from here while I was at work one day, trust and believe me when I say they were simply delicious and amazing! I am so glad we found another vegetarian option place for me to eat at!

Indigo Kid A

My girlfriend and I walked in at 2:00 on Sunday Aug 25 2019 and the place was empty but i was really excited to try the food because I had heard great reviews from a friend. But when we walked in my appetite quickly diminished due to the girl at the counter looking us directly in the face and not even saying hello or welcome. I don't know what her deal was, she was literally doing nothing and when I looked over at her she started looking up at the wall. I'm not easily offended, but I've worked in the service industry for many years...and I know for a fact that if you don't show your customers that you appreciate their business, they will leave the same way we left. We will go back when someone else is working so we can at least give the food the ol Oxford try. If you don't want to be at work just call in. We don't even get a head nod! Not even a half a smile!!!

Chachi Curls

first time going with my family the service was amazing super friendly the food was amazing I really recommend it my new favorite place.

Thuy Kim

Huge portion size on the mofongo. Make sure to ask for the hot sauce- it's pretty spicy but adds so much flavor!

Pamela York

Excellent food & service & ambiance. You must go.

Shai White

Absolutely AMAZING food!!! The place is kinda small, but homely. The staff is very nice. This place has definitely become a staple in my family's diet!!

Angela Mccoy

today was my first time trying tropicaleo! i got the cubano and the sweet plantains with guava to drink. SO GOOD!!!!! i really wasn't sure what to expect but so glad i decided to stop here to grab some food!i didn't eat there but i did go inside to order food. the atmosphere is nice and cozy! has a lot of personality. i will most definitely be back!!

Jess Lewis

Authentic and delicious food! I have only been three times so far but it has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants to go to in Birmingham. Plus there are a lot of vegan and vegetarian options on the menu!

Willian Benitez

Very very bad service the waitres have a rude actitud

Rex McDonald

Fantastic food, truly different from most offerings around town. A little on the pricey side, but the food is fresh and made to order. Helpful staff, adult and specialty soft drinks available, flour-less kitchen for those concerned with it. Highly recommend!

Michael Montgomery

This restaurant ABSOLUTELY takes me back to my home in Rio Grande como si estuviéramos en la panadería and I would absolutely LOVE to see you branch out of Birmingham! Please open a restaurant in Prattville or Montgomery!!! La comida y el menú están brutales!! The food and the menu are awesome!!

Charles Saab

Great food and great people.

Mr. Smith

Love it and they have some great vegetarian/vegan options!!!!

Brendon Voelker

I really expected more out of this place as a vegan. It gets rave reviews on multiple platforms and WOM, so my experience may be abnormal. Everything was heavily fried and salted, to the point that it wasn't even edible. The yucca fries tasted of burnt fryer oil and had no flavor. The alcapurrias were overcooked and smelled rotten - the taste along lingered in my mouth the rest of the day. The rest of the fried food tasted burnt, but I couldn't say if it was an issue with the oil in the fryer or with the items simply being overcooked. The only part I enjoyed was the tofu, but it wasn't anything special - something you'd find at any Thai Restaurant. Almost all of the dishes came with a sauce or dip, but they were the exact same - just a dressing that tasted like it came from the grocery store. Otherwise, the portions were small and prices were high. We left without eating half our of food and felt sick to our stomachs the rest of the day.

Madelyn Brantley

This place is hands down the best new restaurant in Avondale. It looks like a hole in the wall, but it's fun and bright right when you walk in. They ran out of bread the night before because they hand make it, but they quickly offered crispy plantains as a substitute for the Cubano sandwich. DELICIOUS. Their coffee was out of this world, too. And all for a reasonable price!! (P.S. They also serve alcohol!)

Jesus Rivera

We showed up unannounced seeing that it is a small place for all the people that we had invited. My expectations wasn't high, but boy was I wrong. They had room for everyone and more, the attention was great, along with the food. Will be back again great service, would give it more stars but only 5 was able to.

Glen White

New and exciting

Royalty

Good food but the prices aren't very low. My first visit the food was amazing. Second visit it was slight drop off in the quality. Food is generally very flavorful.

Colby Brooks

this place rocks. they have a full vegan menu and it's absolutely delicious

Joseph B.

The restaurant had an "sewage-like odor:" The food did not taste authentic. On a good note, the rice and beans tasted fairly well. I thought the dip for the sorullitos I ordered would be a mayo/ketchup blend but was surprised that it was thousand island dressing. Not impressed and will not be back.

craig mackinnon

Nice people and good food. Casual.

Bianca

GREAT food! OUTSTANDING customer service! A MUST TRY!!!

Lauren G

So good! The cubano is delish- crave it once a week at least! Plantains and avocado toast are couple more faves. Excellent drinks- enjoy the pina colada and organic red wine. The decor is bright, happy and transports me to the Caribbean!

Charles Boshell

On the night I visited, the place was packed due to a presentation of some type. Even so, the service was amazing. Friendly and helpful staff, and the food was excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant.

TJ Moore

If you need vegan food in B'ham, this is the place to go. They have a full veg menu!

Shelby Leeper

Going into this place, I was hoping to be able to give them 5 stars. I’ve been talking this place up in my head for so long. The piña colada and food were absolutely delicious. My biggest disappointments came from the customer service and finding a hair in my mofongo. That’s probably a rare incidence, so I’ll still try it again when my Puerto Rican friends come to visit.

Brendonherring522 .

Phenomenal, authentic Puerto Rican food with a young, trendy vibe. The tripleta is my personal favorite, but you can't go wrong with anything on their menu.

Jonathan Bautista

It was the closest thing I could find to a home cooked meal, the place was very nice. Very modern interior, which didn't give the typical latin vibe. The server was really shy and didn't seem to want to make conversation, especially since I was the only person in there. The food was fantastic, I had the bowl literally served in a green glass bowl. Rice, beans, the meat and the empanadas were superb. Drinks were super cheap which I loved! I mean 3 dollar shots?! What's better than that?! Nice place, has indoor and outdoor seating.....ok quick update, I've gone 4 times and 2 of those times the kitchen has forgotten about my food! And the servers were so chill about it. Oh they forgot your food let me tell them...um no! Absolutely disgusted by the service definitely not coming back to this place.

Lacey Humphries

Small restaurant; BIG Caribbean flavor! The mofongo is delicious! My husband got a bowl, and it was delicious as well. Nice and Helpful staff. Great experience.

Alexis Ginsburg

The most authentic and delicious Puerto Rican food in town!

RaJohn Edwards

Great atmosphere, food and people!

Olivia Cleveland

Amazing food and authentic people; the perfect formula for a great experience! Try the homemade ginger ale!

David Davis

Absolutely amazing!!! Drove down from Cullman for authentic vegan food! So happy we made the decision to go! They have a meat eaters menu as well as vegan... Definitely be coming back!

Blanca Johnson

It was a good event just to loud and the weather was cold

Deborah Kizziah

Fresh food. Ordered the Mofongo through the Waitr app. Came with lots of pork. Beans and rice were exceptional. Tasty sauce in separate container. Food was delivered within 15 minutes.

Brenda Richards

Great cubans!

Evelyn Rowe

Waited 30 minutes for two to go orders. Food was bland. I ordered the tropibowl. It was pretty much all white rice, canned red beans on top with a pork that was good but about a 1/4 cup in size. My husband ordered the Cuban. How can you mess up a Cuban? Soggy bread, and no ham?! That’s how. Very disappointed. And all for $22?!?!

Clint Jones

Very good. Had the carnoitas with chicken and provolone. It was all very fresh and well-prepared.

clarence muhammad

Food was reasonable very tasty very healthy great environment friendly staff clean, small but was cozy

Nicole Rossi

Rice had no flavor, beans were straight from the can. The jackfruit cubano was soggy and tasteless. The sauce they serve with everything is low rent thousand island. I was overcharged ten dollars before noticing the mistake. The atmosphere was fine.

Nicole Herzog

Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Tropibowl with pork, beans and rice with the house sauce. Bland. Lots of rice, few beans and a little pork in a dollar store bowl. (I know this bc I've bought them before! Lol) I was hoping for more. Between the lack of flavor and the presentation I felt like I could have been eating leftovers at home. The wait staff was friendly.

Katrisa Jackson

The pretender (which is a vegan fried chicken sandwich) is absolutely delicious! It had a very nice amount of avocado on it, spinach and pineapple cole slaw. Their breads are delicious. I paid ten dollars for the sandwich, however, it does not come with any sides. I came back on another occasion and ordered beef empanadas and right then I thought I found the hollow earth! There was nothing inside the empanada (the bread is delicious though). I called out for my long lost cat and there was an echo coming out of the empanada. STINGY WITH THE MEAT. Tisk tisk tisk! Smh at that- Still a great place to eat. Nothing is perfect. You can't go wrong with the sandwiches. I can't wait to try everything.

alesia adams

Good food, friendly people, and good vegan options.

Cory Sly

Excellent food, great to have a dedicated vegan menu. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff and speedy service. Will definitely be coming back!

Jacob Downard

Seriously some of the best food I've ever had in my life let alone Birmingham. Eat at this restaurant

joel vazquez

A couple of months ago we went to Tropicaleo and ate a Cuban sandwich, it was fantastic. You must try the Puerto Rican bread, it's the best you can find and takes you back to the island. Also, they now carry cigars. You can buy one and take it to the patio and enjoy the outdoors, a cigar and great food.

Justin Rogers

Their sandwich bread is more amazing than a sunrise. You will weep. But seriously, it's great food and drinks. If you haven't checked them out you need to!

Madeline Perkins

This place is the best!! The Cuban is the best in bham. The family that runs it couldn’t be nicer. Good for lunch, dinner, or late nights. Also love the crostini appetizer! And great for vegan options too.

Jackson Izor

Grabbed a light lunch and was very impressed. Got the vegetarian sandwich on what might have been the best bread/bun I’ve ever had. Some ball thing (should have made a note) I think is was a fried plantain balls with a dip sauce that was super tasty. All around great food and other menu items I look forward to trying in my next visit.

Cyrondys Jackson

Stopped in yesterday to get my usual dish, and was given my to go order in a paper bag that had been placed on the bar. The bag was wet under the bottom and the cashier actually stopped and looked at the dripping bag, and handed it to me anyway. It was at that moment I realized, I could spend $14.30 elsewhere. Not only was the brown bag soaked at the bottom, but the paper container that holds the food was soaked as well. I order the same thing at least 3xs weekly, and my meal was the most disappointing it has ever been. Not sure if this was because of the event taking place or what but my PR dining experience here is over.

Thomas Bennett

I just went here for the first time with my girlfriend. We were both super super happy with the experience. The food, atmosphere, staff, crowd, and drinks were all exceptional. We will DEFINITELY go again. A new favorite.

William Thompson

Don’t let the storefront location fool you…Fun, great Puerto Rican food... good value.

Rhonda Dodd

Best Cuban sandwich I’ve ever tasted

Shelly Edge McDonald

Tropicaleo has a flour free kitchen, and is always attentive to my family's food allergies. Their food is delicious!

Carmen Perez-De La Matta

We are Puertorricans and we know our food. Was very sad how the service was provided, the food was not to the par how we are Puertorricans cook, not even the drinks. I think the owner should take more pride in this business and take it to a level that brings a great experience to the customer.

Brendon Voelker

I really expected more out of this place as a vegan. It gets rave reviews on multiple platforms and WOM, so my experience may be abnormal. Everything was heavily fried and salted, to the point that it wasn't even edible. The yucca fries tasted of burnt fryer oil and had no flavor. The alcapurrias were overcooked and smelled rotten - the taste along lingered in my mouth the rest of the day. The rest of the fried food tasted burnt, but I couldn't say if it was an issue with the oil in the fryer or with the items simply being overcooked. The only part I enjoyed was the tofu, but it wasn't anything special - something you'd find at any Thai Restaurant. Almost all of the dishes came with a sauce or dip, but they were the exact same - just a dressing that tasted like it came from the grocery store. Otherwise, the portions were small and prices were high. We left without eating half our of food and felt sick to our stomachs the rest of the day.

Madelyn Brantley

This place is hands down the best new restaurant in Avondale. It looks like a hole in the wall, but it's fun and bright right when you walk in. They ran out of bread the night before because they hand make it, but they quickly offered crispy plantains as a substitute for the Cubano sandwich. DELICIOUS. Their coffee was out of this world, too. And all for a reasonable price!! (P.S. They also serve alcohol!)

Glen White

New and exciting

Royalty

Good food but the prices aren't very low. My first visit the food was amazing. Second visit it was slight drop off in the quality. Food is generally very flavorful.

Colby Brooks

this place rocks. they have a full vegan menu and it's absolutely delicious

Joseph B.

The restaurant had an "sewage-like odor:" The food did not taste authentic. On a good note, the rice and beans tasted fairly well. I thought the dip for the sorullitos I ordered would be a mayo/ketchup blend but was surprised that it was thousand island dressing. Not impressed and will not be back.

craig mackinnon

Nice people and good food. Casual.

Bianca

GREAT food! OUTSTANDING customer service! A MUST TRY!!!

Lauren G

So good! The cubano is delish- crave it once a week at least! Plantains and avocado toast are couple more faves. Excellent drinks- enjoy the pina colada and organic red wine. The decor is bright, happy and transports me to the Caribbean!

Charles Boshell

On the night I visited, the place was packed due to a presentation of some type. Even so, the service was amazing. Friendly and helpful staff, and the food was excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant.

TJ Moore

If you need vegan food in B'ham, this is the place to go. They have a full veg menu!

Shelby Leeper

Going into this place, I was hoping to be able to give them 5 stars. I’ve been talking this place up in my head for so long. The piña colada and food were absolutely delicious. My biggest disappointments came from the customer service and finding a hair in my mofongo. That’s probably a rare incidence, so I’ll still try it again when my Puerto Rican friends come to visit.

Brendonherring522

Phenomenal, authentic Puerto Rican food with a young, trendy vibe. The tripleta is my personal favorite, but you can't go wrong with anything on their menu.

Jonathan Bautista

It was the closest thing I could find to a home cooked meal, the place was very nice. Very modern interior, which didn't give the typical latin vibe. The server was really shy and didn't seem to want to make conversation, especially since I was the only person in there. The food was fantastic, I had the bowl literally served in a green glass bowl. Rice, beans, the meat and the empanadas were superb. Drinks were super cheap which I loved! I mean 3 dollar shots?! What's better than that?! Nice place, has indoor and outdoor seating.....ok quick update, I've gone 4 times and 2 of those times the kitchen has forgotten about my food! And the servers were so chill about it. Oh they forgot your food let me tell them...um no! Absolutely disgusted by the service definitely not coming back to this place.

Alexis Ginsburg

The most authentic and delicious Puerto Rican food in town!

RaJohn Edwards

Great atmosphere, food and people!

Olivia Cleveland

Amazing food and authentic people; the perfect formula for a great experience! Try the homemade ginger ale!

David Davis

Absolutely amazing!!! Drove down from Cullman for authentic vegan food! So happy we made the decision to go! They have a meat eaters menu as well as vegan... Definitely be coming back!

Blanca Johnson

It was a good event just to loud and the weather was cold

Deborah Kizziah

Fresh food. Ordered the Mofongo through the Waitr app. Came with lots of pork. Beans and rice were exceptional. Tasty sauce in separate container. Food was delivered within 15 minutes.

Brenda Richards

Great cubans!

clarence muhammad

Food was reasonable very tasty very healthy great environment friendly staff clean, small but was cozy

Nicole Rossi

Rice had no flavor, beans were straight from the can. The jackfruit cubano was soggy and tasteless. The sauce they serve with everything is low rent thousand island. I was overcharged ten dollars before noticing the mistake. The atmosphere was fine.

Nicole Herzog

Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Tropibowl with pork, beans and rice with the house sauce. Bland. Lots of rice, few beans and a little pork in a dollar store bowl. (I know this bc I've bought them before! Lol) I was hoping for more. Between the lack of flavor and the presentation I felt like I could have been eating leftovers at home. The wait staff was friendly.

Katrisa Jackson

The pretender (which is a vegan fried chicken sandwich) is absolutely delicious! It had a very nice amount of avocado on it, spinach and pineapple cole slaw. Their breads are delicious. I paid ten dollars for the sandwich, however, it does not come with any sides. I came back on another occasion and ordered beef empanadas and right then I thought I found the hollow earth! There was nothing inside the empanada (the bread is delicious though). I called out for my long lost cat and there was an echo coming out of the empanada. STINGY WITH THE MEAT. Tisk tisk tisk! Smh at that- Still a great place to eat. Nothing is perfect. You can't go wrong with the sandwiches. I can't wait to try everything.

alesia adams

Good food, friendly people, and good vegan options.

Jacob Downard

Seriously some of the best food I've ever had in my life let alone Birmingham. Eat at this restaurant

joel vazquez

A couple of months ago we went to Tropicaleo and ate a Cuban sandwich, it was fantastic. You must try the Puerto Rican bread, it's the best you can find and takes you back to the island. Also, they now carry cigars. You can buy one and take it to the patio and enjoy the outdoors, a cigar and great food.

Justin Rogers

Their sandwich bread is more amazing than a sunrise. You will weep. But seriously, it's great food and drinks. If you haven't checked them out you need to!

Madeline Perkins

This place is the best!! The Cuban is the best in bham. The family that runs it couldn’t be nicer. Good for lunch, dinner, or late nights. Also love the crostini appetizer! And great for vegan options too.

Jackson Izor

Grabbed a light lunch and was very impressed. Got the vegetarian sandwich on what might have been the best bread/bun I’ve ever had. Some ball thing (should have made a note) I think is was a fried plantain balls with a dip sauce that was super tasty. All around great food and other menu items I look forward to trying in my next visit.

Cyrondys Jackson

Stopped in yesterday to get my usual dish, and was given my to go order in a paper bag that had been placed on the bar. The bag was wet under the bottom and the cashier actually stopped and looked at the dripping bag, and handed it to me anyway. It was at that moment I realized, I could spend $14.30 elsewhere. Not only was the brown bag soaked at the bottom, but the paper container that holds the food was soaked as well. I order the same thing at least 3xs weekly, and my meal was the most disappointing it has ever been. Not sure if this was because of the event taking place or what but my PR dining experience here is over.

note 8

Amazing place! Amazing people! Food so good you won't believe your face!

Thomas Bennett

I just went here for the first time with my girlfriend. We were both super super happy with the experience. The food, atmosphere, staff, crowd, and drinks were all exceptional. We will DEFINITELY go again. A new favorite.

William Thompson

Don’t let the storefront location fool you…Fun, great Puerto Rican food... good value.

Rhonda Dodd

Best Cuban sandwich I’ve ever tasted

Shelly Edge McDonald

Tropicaleo has a flour free kitchen, and is always attentive to my family's food allergies. Their food is delicious!

Carmen Perez-De La Matta

We are Puertorricans and we know our food. Was very sad how the service was provided, the food was not to the par how we are Puertorricans cook, not even the drinks. I think the owner should take more pride in this business and take it to a level that brings a great experience to the customer.