Appearing at random times every day—the mysterious Cuban sandwich food truck in Kaohsiung

Text and photos byShadow

A while back, I watched the movie “Chef” on Star Chinese Movies and became curious about Cuban sandwiches. Little did I know someone would act fast and bring a similar food truck to Kaohsiung. We first heard about this place online through someone’s recommendation and had been wanting to track down this very mysterious yellow food truck. The owner doesn’t have a fixed location and you have to check their official Facebook page daily to know where they’ll be operating. That day, we happened to have some free time and remembered this, so after checking that the owner would be around Aozihdi, we rushed over right after work.

Arriving at the vast Aozihdi area, we had no idea where to start. My clever husband called, and to our surprise, the owner herself answered the phone. After getting a rough idea of the location, we managed to find the truck. We had assumed the food truck was run by a man, but it turned out to be run by a genuine young female owner—she was laid-back, easygoing, and super chatty. At the time, she was making Cuban sandwiches, and as soon as we arrived, she told us we’d have to wait. So we ended up chatting with her while waiting.

They only sell three items here: besides the Cuban sandwich, there’s also hot-pressed toast and grilled meat, all sold daily until they run out. Just preparing these ingredients takes the owner a whole day, and she handles everything herself. Because it’s so time-consuming and labor-intensive, she often operates on alternate days.

Usually before heading out to sell, the owner pre-makes dozens of Cuban sandwiches to bring to the site. Part of the reason is to accommodate customers who book in advance via Facebook, but another reason is so that walk-in customers don’t have to wait as long. When we arrived that day, the pre-made Cuban sandwiches were all sold out, and the owner was just starting to make another batch. From prep to finish, it takes about ten to fifteen minutes per batch, and since larger batches take longer, we recommend that anyone wanting to try them should definitely call ahead to reserve.

The owner works alone, and without any assistants, it’s tough handling so many tasks on such a small cooking surface. But she’s also very upbeat, has a cheerful personality, and quickly bonds with customers—so much so that we lost track of time while chatting.

Before watching the movie “Chef,” I had barely heard of Cuban sandwiches. After seeing the film, aside from its thought-provoking story, what stood out most was the Cuban sandwich. I believe the owner was inspired by the movie to start this food truck.

Cuban sandwiches are quite similar to pressed submarine sandwiches—they’re flattened through grilling and baking. The bread is pressed flat and filled with ingredients like cured ham, ham slices, cheese, pickles, etc. What we saw the owner doing was pretty much the same. The bread seems to be a soft French-style roll, lightly grilled on one side, then layered with cured pork slices, ham, and pickles, followed by cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, and a blend of cheeses. The owner said she wants everyone to enjoy a rich, cheesy flavor.

The cured pork is also marinated by the owner herself. After placing all the ingredients, the blended cheese is added last, and the other half of the bread is brushed with Dijon mustard before the two halves are pressed together. Then it’s ready for pressing.

Another machine is dedicated to pressing the Cuban sandwiches, which takes about five minutes.

Besides the Cuban sandwich, we also ordered hot-pressed toast. The process is pretty simple—regular toast is spread with butter and grilled on the flat top, then topped with regular cheese slices and blended cheese. If you want to add ham, there’s an extra charge. It’s then grilled until both sides are golden brown and the cheese inside is melted.

Grilled meat isn’t always available—you’ll have to ask the owner. Sometimes it’s not available until after 9 PM. The meat used for the grilled skewers is the same as the cured pork in the Cuban sandwich, except it’s diced instead of sliced.

Hot-pressed cheese toast – NT$60
Not sure if it’s because the blended cheese and ham cost more or for some other reason, but it felt a bit pricier than your average hot-pressed toast.

It’s packed with cheese, which cheese lovers are sure to enjoy. Shadow isn’t a huge fan of cheesy things, but my husband really liked it.

Cuban sandwich – NT$120
The Cuban sandwich is pressed super flat, almost like it’s been run over by a tire. The outer bread is grilled and slightly crispy and hard, while the inside is overflowing with melted cheese. One bite gives you a burst of rich cheesy flavor. The pickles and Dijon mustard aren’t very prominent, but the cured pork and ham add texture. Overall, the cheese flavor dominates.

Grilled meat skewers – NT$45
It’s a bit charred and fragrant, and you realize the flavor isn’t as heavy as you’d expect.

The name “Five Cents” comes from the fact that Cuba’s most famous tavern is called “Cinco Centavos.” Seeing this sign on the road means the owner is out selling—time to go grab some food.

Food trucks like this are becoming more common in Kaohsiung. Whether it’s a gimmick or not, it at least catches the eye of many consumers. Coupled with the owner’s vibrant personality, she quickly connects with customers. This kind of relaxed dining experience is quite different from the usual restaurant vibe. For many, the Cuban sandwich is an unfamiliar dish, but thanks to this food truck, we get to explore international flavors. If you’re planning to visit, it’s best to check their official Facebook page for that day’s location and call ahead to reserve.

Five Cents
Address: Nanping Road in Aozihdi, Rehe Liberty, Guangdong 1st Street, and Linquan Street (location varies daily—check Facebook)
Phone: 0975-797825
Business hours: 17:00–00:00 (until sold out)
Official Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/5centcuban

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