We are heading to Key West in January. Not our first time, but looking for the latest budget restaurants. Also, sushi recommendations and any thai food? Also, we love cuban sandwiches...help us find the ultimate. What are the locals doing nowadays down in Key West? We love to get the home town feel.

I'm not a sushi eater, but the restaurant that gets the best reviews is the one next to the Square One Restaurant. As for Cuban food, El Siboney is best.

I had a great Cuban sandwich at El Siboney just a few days ago. For great breakfast sandwiches on Cuban bread, go to the M&M Laundromat on White Street, a block or two off of Truman.

The wraps at Lobo's Grill, right off of Duval are good, and huge, for not too much money.

I saw some Thai places, but don't know a thing about them.

I read on another board that the raw oysters at Crabby Bill's were good and cheap.

Lots of locals at Harpoon Harry's for breakfast.

My husband just found a golf tee that we were given from our favorite sushi restaurant in Key West, Ambrosia -305-293-0304. Make sure you try the "playboy roll" the food was incredible and the owners wonderful. Can't help you out with cuban food, we didn't have any. If you are looking for a great breakfast, real cheap, check out Ricky's My Blue Heaven. The atmosphere is great, especially the roosters running around. The food was awesome. We love Key West so much..we are returning in May!

Thanks so much for your reply. I am getting so excited to return to Key West and your enthusiastic reply was wonderful!

We have always liked The Deli on Truman and Harpoon Harry's on Caroline (?). Both are good when you are on a budget. We also really liked Ambrosia for sushi.

Ambrosia is the restaurant I was trying to remember; it's obviously not the sushi place in Square One that I confused it with. Non-sushi eaters probably should not try and answer this question

I couldn't speak for "Key West locals," but I will say the last time I was in Key West, we enjoyed checking out the Hemingway House and the seance at the Porter Mansion.
BTW, if the Hyatt is still offering timeshare tours from that booth on the corner of Caroline & Duval, take it -- the tour takes maybe 90 minutes and they give you $75 in gift certificates that you can use at a long list of restaurants & attractions.

Might want to check out the Paradise Cafe, 1000 Eaton St. Heavy local trade, great prices and food!

We had a home on Cudjoe Key for 23 years. Some locals turned us on to a hole in the wall located on Roosevelt street that has some delish cuban sandwiches. The name I believe is Kim's Cuban Kitchen (something like that) it is a grocery (albiet very tiny) with a diner in the rear. The building has a smiley face painted on it. Great for take-out.