Florida News

Zaza Cuban Comfort Food Opening on S. Orange Ave

This will be Zaza's 11th location.

Picture courtesy of Zaza Cuban Comfort Food.

ORLANDO, FL — Zaza Cuban Comfort Food is expanding again with its 11th location planned for 1621 S. Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32806 in the city’s SODO district. Founder and president Ruben Perez told Business Debut the new restaurant is expected to open in late first quarter 2026 and will serve as a flagship for the brand’s next phase of growth across Central Florida.

What to Expect

The new SODO location will measure roughly 2,300 square feet, larger than most Zaza restaurants, and include seating for about 55 guests indoors plus outdoor terrace seating. The restaurant will feature a full coffee bar and fast-casual counter service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While it will not include a drive-thru, it will have pickup windows for online and mobile orders, supporting the brand’s strong takeout business which has grown to nearly 70 percent of total sales.

Zaza’s menu celebrates Cuban comfort food through family recipes passed down for generations. Guests can expect staples such as ropa vieja, lechon asado, vaca frita, Cuban sandwiches, and breakfast plates served all day. The restaurant will also offer freshly baked pastries and empanadas along with its proprietary roasted coffee blends.

Perez described the concept as a neighborhood diner with Cuban soul. “We’re a full coffee shop and restaurant in one,” he said. “You can come in for a Cuban espresso, grab a sandwich to go, or sit down for a full meal. That’s what makes Zaza special. It’s part of people’s daily routine.”

Pictures courtesy of Zaza Cuban Comfort Food

Coffee and Retail Expansion

Coffee remains central to the brand’s identity. Perez began roasting beans three years before opening the first Zaza in 2013, establishing a roasting facility in Longwood that now supplies every restaurant including airport and regional café operations. His sons, Ruben Jr. and Leonardo Perez, run the roasting business, producing Zaza Coffee for retail, subscription, and Amazon sales.

“Coffee is our heartbeat,” Perez said. “We buy directly from farmers in Central and South America and roast everything ourselves. Once people try it, they realize it’s something special.”

Each Zaza location now features a retail display showcasing the brand’s four signature coffee blends and with rotating limited-edition single-origin roasts curated by Zaza’s in-house master cupper, Pablo Juarez. “Having Pablo on our team gives us a major edge,” Perez said. “He ensures our blends are consistent, high-quality, and unique to Zaza.”

Leadership and Growth

The SODO opening follows the brand’s 10th restaurant, which debuted in Casselberry earlier this year. Zaza’s leadership team includes CEO Luis Fernandez, a former executive with Yum! Brands who previously opened more than 350 KFC locations in Spain and Portugal.

Fernandez began his restaurant career working under Perez in Orlando decades ago and returned to help lead Zaza’s expansion. “Luis knows this business inside and out,” Perez said. “He understands our culture because he started with us. Now he brings international systems and structure to our brand as we scale.”

Perez’s longtime business partner Robert Coyne, who has worked with him for more than 30 years, remains involved in strategy and development alongside his son, Kyle Coyne, Zaza’s project manager overseeing new store buildouts.

Pictures courtesy of Zaza Cuban Comfort food. Luis Fernandez (pictured left), Ruben Perez (pictured right)

Family Legacy

Zaza’s roots trace back to Puerto Padre, Cuba, where Perez’s grandfather ran a cafeteria serving sugarcane field workers. His father continued the family’s culinary tradition in New York before settling in Florida. Today, Zaza is a three-generation operation blending old-world tradition with modern fast-casual efficiency.

“These recipes are part of who we are,” Perez said. “My grandfather cooked for hundreds every morning in Cuba. Now we’re doing the same thing here, just with better equipment and more locations.”

Perez said his sons’ involvement ensures the legacy continues. “They’re entrepreneurs like I was,” he said. “I don’t want them to be me. I want them to love what they do. Watching them grow within the company is the best part of this journey.”

Expansion Plans

Zaza Cuban Comfort Food plans to open six additional locations in 2026, extending its reach throughout Florida. The company also continues to grow its airport café operations and wholesale coffee distribution network.