Downright delicious Nicaraguan flavors at Jose’s Latin Food on Truman Avenue

BY TERRY SCHMIDA
KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER
A little over a year ago I was asked to dine at – and write an article about – Jose’s Latin Food at 1101 Truman Ave.
I hadn’t heard much about the place; just that it was the latest restaurant to try its luck in a space that had seen a number of eateries come and go in just a few years.
However, after just a few bites of my meal I realized that Jose’s would be around for a long time, serving up authentic tastes of Nicaragua, the owners’ homeland.
With a glide in my stride, I returned recently to Jose’s  to enjoy another stick-to-the-ribs repast of the hearty Central American cuisine the restaurant has had on offer here since 2015.
The chef cooks up occasional specials that diners are encouraged to inquire about, and I was fortunate to happen upon Jose’s on a day when Garbanzo Bean Soup was available.
This delicious appetizer contained chunks of pork belly, sausage and shredded pork, as well as cabbage, potatoes, and pumpkin. It warmed my cockles on a rare chilly Key West day and the taste was superb.
For my main course, I was presented a heaping Carne Asada platter which, as the menu pointed out, is a favorite dish of Nicaraguans. This mouth-watering marinated and charbroiled steak was juicy and spicy. On the side were house-made slaw, a lighter version than its American cousin; crispy fried plantain chips, a mound of black beans, and white rice, plus several sticks of fried queso fresca cheese.
“We make it the authentic way, like they make it in Nicaragua,” owner Clementina Amador said. “We want to keep our Nicaraguan customers happy, and treat other Key Westers who have never tried this food to something wonderful.”
A treat it certainly was, but there was no way I could finish the huge meal in one sitting. The portions were so large that I ended up having enough left over for a substantial dinner that night. Sadly I hadn’t left room for one of Jose’s tantalizing homemade desserts, but I will next time. And there will be a next time.
This is the real deal, folks. Real Nicaraguan food, made with imported ingredients by natives of that achingly beautiful land. Clementina and her husband Jose even drive up to Miami for their supplies – including the genuine Tona lager beer served nowhere else on the island. For non-imbibers, the restaurant serves a range of refreshing and healthy non-alcoholic juices.
Run, don’t walk, to this great eatery and sample the true tastes of a vibrant land, served in large portions and at reasonable prices.
What more could you want?
Jose’s Latin Food is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Some free parking is available behind the restaurant. Free delivery is available throughout Key West. Jose’s also offers a catering services.
For more information, call 305-304-6838, or 305-741-7818, email carias305@aol, or visit http://www.joseskeywest.com/
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