EL JEFE CAFE – Mexican
This Tampa cafe brand serves Cuban breakfast and lunch across two branches, one in Citrus Park and one in Temple Terrace, after rebranding from an earlier Cuban sandwich shop under the same ownership. Mornings bring cafe con leche, Cuban toast, avocado-and-cheese toast, and made-to-order breakfast sandwiches, while lunch turns to slow-cooked Cuban classics such as ropa vieja, picadillo, roast pork, and arroz con pollo alongside deviled crabs and empanadas. Shrimp-and-cheese grits, street tacos, and salads round out the savory side, with cheesecake, flan, and horchata for dessert. Both locations open early and close by mid-afternoon, Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays.
4941 E BUSCH BLVD #140, TAMPA, FL, 33617 813-252-4428 https://www.eljefelatincafe.com/0Cuisine: Mexican
Price range: $
Dietary options: dairy-free, gluten-free, halal, high-protein, low-carb, nut-free, vegan, vegetarian, heart-healthy, low-fat, low-sodium, mediterranean, paleo, pescatarian, plant-based, whole30, anti-inflammatory, atkins, dash-sodium-reduced, gerd, high-fiber, low-cholesterol, south-beach, aip, alkaline, carnivore, low-fodmap, renal, tlc, volumetrics, zone, lectin-free, macrobiotic, slow-carb, sesame-free, soy-free
Diet fit at EL JEFE CAFE
Dairy-Free at EL JEFE CAFE
EL JEFE CAFE in Tampa has 9 dairy-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including The Bivins Sandwich, Authentic Street Tacos and Breakfast Platter. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Gluten-Free at EL JEFE CAFE
EL JEFE CAFE in Tampa has 6 gluten-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Breakfast Platter, Picadillo and Roast Pork. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Halal at EL JEFE CAFE
EL JEFE CAFE in Tampa has 14 halal-tagged dishes on its current menu, including The Bivins Sandwich, Ybor City Flan and Authentic Street Tacos. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
High-Protein at EL JEFE CAFE
EL JEFE CAFE in Tampa has 2 high-protein-tagged dishes on its current menu, including Shrimp & Cheese Grits and The Cuban. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Low-Carb at EL JEFE CAFE
EL JEFE CAFE in Tampa has 1 low-carb-tagged dish on its current menu, including Roast Pork. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Nut-Free at EL JEFE CAFE
EL JEFE CAFE in Tampa has 1 nut-free-tagged dish on its current menu, including Spinach Salad. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Vegan at EL JEFE CAFE
EL JEFE CAFE in Tampa has 4 vegan-tagged dishes on its current menu, including The Bivins Sandwich, Authentic Street Tacos and Spinach Salad. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Vegetarian at EL JEFE CAFE
EL JEFE CAFE in Tampa has 11 vegetarian-tagged dishes on its current menu, including The Bivins Sandwich, Ybor City Flan and Authentic Street Tacos. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
How tags work: Dish-level menu analysis by Chefi's rule-based diet engine with AI assistance; nutrition values are estimated from ingredients unless marked verified. Allergen and certification claims are never inferred.
What to order at EL JEFE CAFE
| Dish | Net carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Medianoche | 64.4 g | 60.4 g |
| Build Your Own Bowl | 55 g | 60 g |
| Breakfast Platter | 89.4 g | 46.2 g |
| The Cuban | 3 g | 43.3 g |
| Authentic Street Tacos | 41.5 g | 40 g |
| Chefs Salad | 26.7 g | 36.1 g |
| Shrimp & Cheese Grits | 19.1 g | 32.2 g |
| Chorizo Egg & Cheese | 2 g | 32 g |
| Chicken & Waffle | 18.9 g | 28.7 g |
| The Reuben | 25.4 g | 28.1 g |
| Cafe con Leche | 22.5 g | 14.8 g |
| Arroz con Pollo | 13.6 g | 10.4 g |
Nutrition values are estimated from ingredients.
Menu
Breakfast
- Breakfast Platter - $10.99: Traditional breakfast selection Dietary tags: Halal, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Paleo, High-Fiber, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free, Soy Free Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Avocado Cheese Toast - $8.5: Fresh avocado and cheese on toasted bread Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory Available at: breakfast, brunch, lunch
- Biscuits and Gravy - $7.99: Fluffy biscuits topped with savory gravy Dietary tags: Low-Sodium Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Omelette Platter - $11.5: Custom omelette served with sides Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Chorizo Egg & Cheese - $9.25: Egg, cheese, and chorizo on Media Noche sweet bread Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Shrimp & Cheese Grits - $13.99: Creamy cheese grits topped with seasoned shrimp Dietary tags: High-Protein, Halal, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, TLC Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Chicken & Waffle - $12.5: Crispy fried chicken served over a sweet waffle Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Cuban Toast - $3.5: Buttered and pressed Cuban bread Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory Available at: breakfast, brunch
Sandwiches & Tacos
- The Cuban - $11.99: Tampa Bay's finest Cuban sandwich Dietary tags: High-Protein Available at: dinner, lunch
- Medianoche - $11.99: Midnight sandwich on sweet egg bread Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- The Reuben - $12.5: Classic Reuben sandwich Available at: dinner, lunch
- Tampa Bay Cheesesteak - $12.99: Local twist on the classic cheesesteak Available at: dinner, lunch
- Authentic Street Tacos - $10.5: Traditional style street tacos Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
- The Bivins Sandwich - $12: Signature house sandwich Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Macrobiotic Available at: dinner, lunch
Main Courses
- Build Your Own Bowl - $13.5: Customizable base, protein, and toppings Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Plant-Based, High-Fiber, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Lectin-Free, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Ropa Vieja - $14.99: Shredded beef in tomato-based sauce Dietary tags: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Paleo, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, Atkins, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, GERD-Friendly, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC, Slow-Carb, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Picadillo - $13.99: Ground beef hash with olives and raisins Dietary tags: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Paleo, Low-Sodium, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Roast Pork - $14.5: Slow-roasted marinated pork Dietary tags: Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Whole30, Paleo, Low-Sodium, South-Beach, AIP, Renal, Slow-Carb, Lectin-Free, Soy Free Available at: dinner, lunch
- Arroz con Pollo - $13.5: Classic chicken and yellow rice Dietary tags: Low-Sodium, TLC Available at: dinner, lunch
Appetizers & Salads
- Empanadas - $3.75: Homemade savory pastries Dietary tags: Anti-Inflammatory Available at: dinner, lunch
- Deviled Crab - $6.5: Tampa-style blue crab croquettes Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- Chefs Salad - $11.99: Fresh greens with assorted meats and cheeses Available at: dinner, lunch
- Spinach Salad - $10.99: Fresh spinach with seasonal toppings Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Mediterranean, Whole30, Pescatarian, Paleo, Heart-Healthy, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, Low-Fat, Anti-Inflammatory, Atkins, South-Beach, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, GERD-Friendly, Low-Fodmap, Carnivore, Zone, Volumetrics, TLC, Alkaline, AIP, Macrobiotic, Slow-Carb, Lectin-Free, Soy Free, Sesame Free Available at: dinner, lunch
Desserts
- Ybor City Flan - $5.5: Traditional caramel custard Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium
- Classic Cheesecake - $6.5: Rich and creamy cheesecake Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium
- Torrejas - $7: Cuban-style French toast dessert Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, GERD-Friendly, TLC Available at: brunch
Beverages
- Cafe con Leche - $4.25: Cuban coffee with steamed milk
- Horchata - $3.99: Sweet rice milk beverage
- Hot Chocolate - $3.5: Rich cocoa beverage
- Cappuccino - $4.75: Espresso with frothed milk
Frequently Asked Questions about EL JEFE CAFE
- Is EL JEFE CAFE dairy-free-friendly?
- Yes. EL JEFE CAFE has 9 dairy-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including The Bivins Sandwich, Authentic Street Tacos and Breakfast Platter.
- What can I eat at EL JEFE CAFE on a dairy-free diet?
- The Bivins Sandwich, Authentic Street Tacos and Breakfast Platter carry the dairy-free tag, out of 9 tagged dishes on the current menu. Every dish's diet tags are listed in the menu.
- Does EL JEFE CAFE have vegan options?
- Yes. 4 dishes are tagged vegan on the current menu, including The Bivins Sandwich and Authentic Street Tacos.
- Is EL JEFE CAFE gluten-free?
- 6 dishes are tagged gluten-free on the current menu. Chefi never infers allergen tags from a dish name alone, but a tag is not a certification — confirm preparation with the restaurant if you have celiac disease or a severe sensitivity.
- What is the highest-protein dish at EL JEFE CAFE?
- Medianoche, at roughly 60.4g of protein (estimated from ingredients).
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