When Maria Isabel Marrero and husband Gabriel moved to Birmingham, they were thrilled to find a thriving, diverse food scene. But when they found themselves pining for the dishes of their native Puerto Rico, there was nowhere to go to scratch that itch. They would do it themselves! Beginning at pop-ups and festivals, Tropicaleo quickly gained an enthusiastic following. This lead to an awarded stint at Pizitz Food Hall's REVeal Kitchen, and culminated in their recently opened brick-and-mortar location. Using local ingredients whenever possible, Tropicaleo’s menu boasts Puerto Rican staples like tostones (crispy, twice-fried green plantain slices), canoitas, and the hearty mofongo. There’s also classic cubano sandwiches and jibaritos (sandwiches that use tostones in place of bread), savory empandas, and arroz con gandules. On the sweeter side, there’s vanilla flan and tembleque, best enjoyed with a Moka pot espresso. Or raise a glass with a mojito or ice cold coquito made with white Puerto Rican rum from Tropicaleo’s full bar. With plenty of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and paleo options, Tropicaleo’s menu is every bit as welcoming as its friendly, laid-back setting.
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