In 2014, a regular customer suggested he add mofongo, a Puerto Rican staple built around fried plantains, to the menu. It is now one of the best sellers, Guerrero said.
“He says, ‘I really want mofongo,’” Guerrero said. “At that point, [our menu] was strictly Cuban. He told me, 'You have the ingredients in the kitchen; give me my mofongo.' Ever since then, we’ve been selling it.”
The Latin Pig’s most consistent top seller, though, remains its Sandwich Cubano, which features roasted pulled pork, ham and Swiss cheese. Other popular dishes include anything with brisket or pulled pork and Cuban coffee, he said.
Guerrero hails from the Dominican Republic and worked in the restaurant business and retail environments for 25 years before convincing Costello, who is from Cuba, that they should open their own eatery. They moved to Plano in 2011 from New York City and opened the Plano restaurant eight years ago.
The decor, including the artwork on the restaurant’s walls, “transports you back to the island,” Guerrero said.
“Before COVID[-19], everything was great. But once COVID hit, sales were down 75 percent at both locations,” Guerrero said of the Plano restaurant as well as one in The Colony that they ended up closing in October.
These days, they operate with a reduced staff but say they are still living their dream of delivering great homemade food from the Caribbean to their guests.
“Cuban food is super savory. It’s seasoned but not spicy,” Guerrero said. “We cook it here, and that’s why people like it.”
The Latin Pig
3131 Custer Road, Plano
972-895-9760
www.thelatinpig.com
Hours: Mon.-Sun. 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
