Tampa Bay's Latin Soul Kitchen
Flavor Born
in Tampa Bay
From golden Cuban toast at sunrise to slow-cooked Latin classics — El Jefe Cafe has been Tampa's heartbeat since 2020.
A Tampa Family Legacy
More than a cafe — a community gathering place born from love, food, and Latin heritage.
El Jefe Cafe was born from the legacy of Tampa's beloved Ruben's Cubans. In 2007, Ken Johnson purchased the restaurant, and in 2020 he reopened it as El Jefe — blending Latin soul food with Tampa's iconic culinary heritage.
From the first press of Cuban bread at 6:30 AM to the last slice of cheesecake before close, every plate we serve is made with care, community, and a whole lot of sabor.
With two locations — Citrus Park on Gunn Hwy and Temple Terrace on Busch Blvd — El Jefe has become the morning ritual and lunch destination for thousands of Tampa families.
Your favorites, straight to your door
Can't make it in? No worries — order our full menu through DoorDash and enjoy El Jefe's bold Latin flavors wherever you are.
Our Menu
Fresh ingredients, Latin soul, and Tampa tradition in every bite.
Build Your Own Bowl
The Kitchen Sink — loaded with eggs, seasoned potatoes, fresh veggies and your choice of protein.
Breakfast Platter
Crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, golden hash browns, and buttered Cuban toast. The full El Jefe morning.
Omelette Platter
Fluffy egg omelette topped with fresh avocado, roasted sweet potatoes and golden Cuban toast.
Avocado Cheese Toast
Creamy avocado and melted cheese pressed into golden Cuban bread. Simple, fresh, and satisfying.
Biscuits & Gravy
Southern-style biscuits smothered in rich savory sausage gravy. Pure comfort food on a plate.
Chorizo Egg & Cheese
Spicy chorizo, scrambled egg, and melted cheese pressed on Cuban bread. Bold and handheld.
Torrejas
Latin-style French toast dusted with powdered sugar, fresh strawberries, whipped cream and syrup.
Chicken & Waffle
Crispy fried chicken on a golden waffle with maple syrup. Southern comfort meets Latin soul.
Arroz con Pollo
Shredded chicken in rich tomato sofrito over vibrant yellow rice with sweet plantains.
Authentic Street Tacos
Three corn tortillas packed with seasoned chicken, cilantro, diced onion, and fresh lime.
Empanadas
Flaky hand-rolled empanadas stuffed with slow-cooked seasoned meat and house mojo dipping sauce.
Deviled Crabs
A Tampa Bay staple — spiced blue crab stuffed in a hand-rolled crust. Crispy and incredible.
Chef's Salad
Romaine, rolled ham, hard boiled egg, red onion, and crispy bacon bits. Fresh and filling.
Spinach Salad
Baby spinach, hard boiled eggs, red onion, cucumber, crispy bacon, and shredded parmesan.
Tampa Bay's Finest Cuban
Roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard — pressed golden on fresh Cuban bread. The classic.
Medianoche / Midnight
The Cuban's sweeter cousin on egg-enriched media noche bread. Loaded and pressed to perfection.
Tampa Bay Cheesesteak
Thin-sliced beef, sautéed peppers and onions, melted Swiss on pressed Cuban bread. Tampa done right.
The Reuben
Piled-high corned beef, melted Swiss, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island on thick pressed dark rye.
The Bivins Sandwich
Our signature loaded pressed sandwich — roast pork, ham, mustard, lettuce and all the fixings.
Shrimp & Cheese Grits
Gulf shrimp over creamy stone-ground cheese grits topped with shredded cheddar and cilantro.
Café Con Leche
Rich bold espresso blended with steamed whole milk. Our signature morning ritual in every cup.
Horchata
House-made iced cinnamon rice drink topped with real cinnamon sticks. Chilled and refreshing.
Hot Chocolate
Rich hot chocolate piled high with fresh whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa. Pure indulgence.
Ybor City Flan
Authentic silky-smooth Latin flan with caramel sauce. A Tampa Bay tradition served fresh daily.
Classic Cheesecake
NY-style cheesecake with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle.
Food Gallery
Why Tampa Loves Us
Real Cuban Bread
Baked fresh daily by local Tampa bakers using traditional methods. Every sandwich starts with the real thing.
Fresh Every Morning
We open at 6:30 AM and prep everything fresh daily. No freezers, no shortcuts — just real food made with love.
Tampa Heritage Since 2020
Born from the legacy of Ruben's Cubans and reimagined by Ken Johnson — 5 years of flavor, family, and community as El Jefe.
Authentic Latin Recipes
From mojo-marinated roast pork to hand-rolled empanadas — our recipes come from Tampa's Latin soul.
350+ Five-Star Reviews
Our guests keep coming back. Tampa's morning crowd knows where to find the best breakfast in the Bay.
Community First
Local sourcing, local hiring, local love. El Jefe gives back to the neighborhoods that built us.
Own an El Jefe Cafe
Join a proven Latin cafe concept with 37+ years of Tampa Bay heritage. Now franchising.
Apply Online
Submit your franchise inquiry through our contact form and tell us about your market.
Discovery Call
Meet with our franchise team to review numbers, territory, and the El Jefe opportunity.
Training & Setup
Complete our comprehensive operations program and build out your location with our support.
Grand Opening
Launch with full marketing support, social media coverage, and the El Jefe brand behind you.
Full Operations Manual
Marketing Support
Proven Menu System
Site Selection Help
POS & Tech Setup
Chef & Staff Training
Guest Reviews
"The Cuban sandwich here is absolutely legendary. I've been coming since this was Ruben's and the quality has never dropped. Best breakfast spot in Tampa, hands down."
"Arroz con Pollo brought me back to my grandmother's kitchen. The café con leche is perfect every single time. This place has serious soul."
"The deviled crabs are a Tampa treasure. El Jefe keeps this tradition alive better than anyone. My whole family comes here every Saturday morning."
Visit El Jefe Cafe
📍 Citrus Park
Sunday: Closed
📍 Temple Terrace
Sunday: Closed
Send Us a Message
Meet the Franchisors
The co-equal executive partners building El Jefe Café Franchise Co. into a national Latin cafe brand rooted in Tampa's heritage.
Natalie
The voice, vision, and cultural heartbeat of the El Jefe brand. Natalie leads brand strategy, PR, social media, and the authentic cultural standards that define the El Jefe franchise experience — ensuring every franchisee, customer, and community partner feels the warmth that made El Jefe a Tampa institution.
Jonathan
The operational engine behind El Jefe's national expansion. Jonathan owns the full franchise lifecycle — from prospecting and closing franchisees to building the systems that ensure every location delivers the authentic El Jefe experience. With a 75%+ closing ratio and $2.5M+ in direct sales, he leads franchise sales, operations, training, and business development.
Ready to join the El Jefe family? Connect directly with our franchise team.
Start Your Franchise Journey →
Find Us Online
Facebook
@ElJefeCafeTampa
Instagram
@eljefelatincafe
TikTok
@eljefelatincafe
Google
350+ Reviews
Yelp
El Jefe Cafe Tampa