Gnarly Cuban & Bang Bang Bakehouse Review: Ghost Kitchen Empanadas and That Overhyped Rum Cake
I’m not immune to social media hype. Actually, I eat that stuff up like Joey Chestnut eats hotdogs. So if I see a lot of people hyping up a place or a certain thing, I’ll have to try even though most of the time I end up disappointed. Which leads me to Gnarly Cuban.
The main thing I wanted to try from them was the rum cake, which is made in partnership with Bang Bang Bakehouse. But since I was already here, I had to give the actual establishment a try.
The Ghost Kitchen Setup
I really like the setup of this place. It’s basically just a ghost kitchen with a window kiosk surrounded by warehouses and factories. The idea of starting small and lowkey in the middle of nowhere, away from the conventional brick and mortar store of traditional eateries, is something I’ve thought about if I were to ever do a popup or restaurant of some kind to test the market. I’m happy that Gnarly Cuban was able to grow a successful business out of this idea.
What We Ordered at Gnarly Cuban
Three Different Empanadas
I got three empanadas, all different flavors so I could have some variety. Most Latin countries have their own version of an empanada and they’re serious about it.
Picadillo Empanada
The traditional Cuban filling is picadillo, which I also got. Picadillo is a combination of ground beef cooked with spices, onions, bell peppers, and olives. The olive flavor was overwhelming in the empanada I got, and I’m not a fan of olives in general, so personal preference. Not something I’d get again.
Chicken Empanada
I also got their shredded chicken with citrus empanada. You can really taste the two flavors, very limey. I like that the chicken was not dried out, which I’ve commonly experienced in chicken empanadas. Overall this is okay but much better with creamy garlic sauce to balance out the sourness.
Cuban Sandwich Empanada
Their signature empanada is the Cuban sandwich empanada, and as expected, it tastes like a Cuban sandwich. It reminds me of an elevated hot pocket with the different ingredients and cheese filling. If you like Cuban sandwiches, this is the less bready version with a crisp flaky shell instead of buttery buns.
Cold Cafe Con Leche
The cold cafe con leche is a cute little package and tastes like a better version of the premade glass jar Starbucks lattes you get at the grocery store. Less sweet but still rich and smooth. I’d prefer a stronger coffee flavor, but this is a solid latte for those that enjoy sweetness with their caffeine.
The Rum Cake
Now for the rum cake. First off, this is a $9 rum cake, and when I opened the container, half of it is just empty space, which I find skimpy. Cake is a relatively cheap item and it’s not even one of those complicated crepe cakes where there’s a lot of labor involved. It’s just a cake cut into a round mold with some cinnamon crumbles on top and some frosting.
This tastes like a Dunkin Donuts coffee cake muffin except four times the cost. I would not get this again. The flavor is okay, but I find the portion size does not justify the cost. That’s more of a criticism of Bang Bang Bakehouse and not Gnarly Cuban.
The Verdict: Is Gnarly Cuban Worth It?
Overall, Gnarly Cuban is decent and the execution is all there, but the flavors are not suited to my taste. I like their business model of operating a whole kitchen with just a little walk up window. It feels cozy and personal.
Maybe I’ll stop by for their other entree offers like their ropa vieja if I’m ever in the area, but Bang Bang Bakehouse, which originally inspired this journey, was a big disappointment.
Tips for Visiting Gnarly Cuban
- Skip the picadillo empanada if you don’t like olives
- Ask for creamy garlic sauce
- Skip the Bang Bang Bakehouse rum cake unless you enjoy overpriced cake
- Ghost kitchen setup so it’s just a walk up window
- Order online to avoid a wait
- Cafe con leche is solid but not strong coffee flavor
Have you tried Gnarly Cuban?
